AU2017202448B2

AU2017202448B2 - Wireline intervention sub

Info

Publication number: AU2017202448B2
Application number: AU2017202448A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kianoosh Rouzbahani
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-12
Filing date: 2017-04-12
Publication date: 2022-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-12
Also published as: AU2017202448A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wireline intervention sub apparatus for use on an oil and gas well comprising a drive passage for connection with a top drive and a wireline passage for carrying a wireline on which a grease injection head is mountable, both passages opening to a single passage connectable to a bottom hole assembly, thereby enabling full well control during wireline operations, wherein entry ofthe wireline to the device is substantially vertical. 1/5 10 134 12 Figure 1 Figure 2 Fgr

Description

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WIRELINE INTERVENTION SUB FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireline intervention sub.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Each document, reference, patent application or patent cited in this text is expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, which means that it should be read and considered by the reader as part of this text. That the document, reference, patent application or patent cited in this text is not repeated in this text is merely for reasons of conciseness.

[0003] The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge of the person skilled in the art in any jurisdiction as at the priority date of the invention.

[0004] In the oil and gas industry, drilling into the earth to collect resources from reservoirs within the ground is common practice. Often, and for various reasons, the drill string becomes stuck downhole. Stuck pipe situations prevent the drill rig from continuing operations, resulting in costly downtime. Therefore it is critical to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

[0005] Pipe recovery is the process by which the location of the stuck pipe is identified, and the free pipe is separated from the stuck pipe. This allows fishing tools to subsequently be run down hole to latch onto and remove the stuck pipe. Wireline intervention is used by operators of oil and gas wells to perform pipe recovery, as well as for other procedures, such as pressurised cement bond evaluations, pump down operations in horizontal wells, perforations and open hole logging in gas reservoirs.

[0006] Currently, there exists a lack of industry-wide standards for wireline intervention operations. Poor well control during wireline intervention can lead to disaster. Many Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) incidents are caused by a lack of control over the well, torque release and possible spillages while wireline operations take place.

[0007] Additionally, operators are presently unable to safely pull and/or rotate the bottom hole assembly during pipe recovery operations using traditional wireline methods. This means that, amongst other effects, the wireline must be removed before the result of the attempt to free the stuck pipe is known. Also, the use of additional equipment, such as long bails, pump-in sub and exposed high pressure mud lines are currently required for pipe recovery and other wireline interventions. Further, there are a number of control issues with High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) wells with the current under-designed wireline intervention solutions.

[0008] The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of previous wireline intervention apparatus and techniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a wireline intervention sub apparatus for use on an oil and gas well comprising a drive passage for connection with a top drive and a wireline passage for carrying a wireline on which a grease injection head is mounted, both passages opening to a single passage connectable to a bottom hole assembly, thereby enabling full well control during wireline operations, wherein entry of the wireline to the device is substantially vertical.

[0010] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for wireline intervention using the wireline intervention sub apparatus as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wireline intervention sub in accordance with the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an upper part of the wireline intervention sub of Figure 1;

[0014] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a lower part of the wireline intervention sub of Figure 1;

[0015] Figure 4 is a sectional view (through C-C of Figure 5) of the wireline intervention sub of Figure 1;

[0016] Figure 5 is a sectional view of a lower part of the wireline intervention sub of Figure 1;

[0017] Figure 6 is a sectional view of an upper part of the wireline intervention sub of Figure 1;

[0018] Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view of the encircled portion of the upper part of Figure 6; and

[0019] Figure 8 is a top plan view of the wireline intervention sub of Figure 1

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a wireline intervention sub (WIS) generally indicated by reference numeral 10, for use on an oil or gas well for maintaining full well control during wireline operations. The WIS 10 comprises an upper part 12 and a lower part 14, being arranged in that operative order during normal use of the WIS 10. The WIS 10 is generally cylindrical in shape with a tapered mid-section of the upper part 12 such that an upper end 20 has a greater diameter than a lower end 22. The symmetrical cylindrical shape of the WIS 10 allows it to be handled, included rotated using torque, with conventional pipe handling tools. The lower end 22 of the upper part 12 comprises a female threaded portion 24 to which a male threaded portion 26 of an upper end 32 of the lower part 14 is connectable.

[0021] Referring now to Figure 5, the lower part 14 comprises a single passage 30. The single passage 30 extends from its upper end 32 to a lower end 34 of the lower part 14. Accordingly, the single passage 30 runs the entire length of the lower part 14 of the WIS 10. An upper diameter of the single passage 30 corresponds with a diameter of a chamber 28 of the upper part 12. The single passage 30 then tapers inwards such that a diameter of the single passage 30 at its lower end corresponds somewhat to the diameter of a usual drill pipe for ease of connection thereto, for example, about 80 mm. A swivel (not shown) is provided at the lower end 34.

[0022] With particular reference to Figure 6, the upper part 12 comprises a drive passage 16 extending the length thereof, through a central vertical axis of the upper part 12. It is preferred that at internal diameter of the drive passage 16 also corresponds somewhat to that of a usual drill pipe and hence is preferably about 80 mm. The upper part 12 further comprises a wireline passage 18 also extending from the upper end 20 to the lower end 22. The wireline passage 18 is disposed outward of, and tapering in towards the drive passage 16 at a preferred angle of about 8. Proximal to the lower end 22, the two passages 16, 18 open to the chamber 28.

[0023] With reference to Figure 7, an end of the wireline passage 18 proximal to the upper end 20 of the upper part 12 has a diameter of about 103.2 mm. As such, it is conveniently complementary to a known wireline grease injection head, such as the ElmarTMgreaseinjection unit, as well as being complementary to all standard pressure control equipment. As can be seen, this upper end of the wireline passage 18 is vertical, resulting in vertical entry of a wireline cable into the wireline passage 18. It has been found that a vertical wireline entry provides the advantage of reducing damage to the cable in wireline stuck situations. Also, the vertical entry allows the cable tension to be fully transferrable downhole. Further, the lack of threaded connection between the WIS 10 and wireline cable eliminates thread damage and wear, a problem with existing wireline devices. An end of the drive passage 16 proximal to the upper end 20 of the upper part 12 is dimensioned such that it is conveniently connectable to a known top drive of a well drill, such as a NC50 box connection.

[0024] Referring to Figure 8, the upper end 20 of the upper part 12 of the WIS 10 is shown. As can be seen, the upper end 20 comprises a wireline entry point 38, aligned with the wireline passage 18. The upper end 20 further comprises a drive connection point 36 which is aligned with the drive passage 16. Also disposed on the upper end 20 is at least one attachment point 40 to which a lifting means may be attached for ease of movement of the WIS 10. Preferably, the attachment point 40 comprises a lifting eye.

[0025] The dual connection of the wireline grease injection control head as well as the top drive, possible with the WIS 10, has been advantageously found to eliminate the need for a pump-in sub and high pressure mud lines on the drill rig floor. Additionally, there is no need to change to long bails for pipe recovery, drilling fluid spillage on the rig floor is prevented and there is the ability to cut the cable during wireline operations in case of a well kick. Full well control is maintained during wireline intervention with the use of the WIS 10.

[0026] In use, the WIS 10 is brought to a catwalk of a drill rig at an appropriate time when wireline intervention is required, for example in order for pipe recovery. Other situations in which the WIS 10 may be used include pressurised cement bond evaluations, pump down operations in horizontal wells, perforations and open hole logging in gas reservoirs. The grease injection head, including a ball check valve and cable cutter, are aligned with the wireline entry point 38 before passing a wireline cable through these apparatus, feeding the cable through the wireline passage 18, through the single passage 30 of the lower part 14 and out the lower end 34. Once all necessary activities on the cable (including connection of tool string and grease injection head) are completed, the WIS 10 is connected to the bottom hole assembly through the swivel in a manner as would be understood by the skilled person. As provided, the tool string gets connected to the cable after the cable is passed through the WIS 10. Accordingly, operators can run any type of wireline tool string, regardless of the length and outer diameter, as long as it is within the limits of the wireline cable used on the job. Conversely, with other existing subs, the wireline tool string enters from the side. A high angle of entry is present, causing limitations to the type and size of the tool string run on the wireline.

[0027] The drill top drive is connected to the drive connection point 36, preferably through a pop joint, as is known. The drive passage 16 provides a mud line. Then, the WIS 10 is prepared for run in hole with the wireline.

[0028] Use of the WIS 10 enables wireline operations simultaneously with top drive well control. Accordingly, torque may be applied in either direction to the bottom hole assembly using rotary table. Safe and controlled stretch on the drill string is enabled during pipe recovery operations. Pipe recovery success is able to be verified before pulling wireline out of the hole. Safe monitoring and control of pressure is possible throughout wireline intervention.

[0029] Current average operational costs of an offshore rig is around $1 to $1.3 million per day, which equates to about $42K per hour. Using the WIS 10 of the present invention rather other methods will save an average of between 3 and 6 hours, depending on the type of operation it is being used for. This results in around $125 to $250 thousand per day in savings, which is a significant amount especially on deep-water rigs. Great time, cost and safety benefits are obvious through the use of the WIS 10.

[0030] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0031] Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0032] Furthermore, throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "include" or variations such as "includes" or "including", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. A wireline intervention sub apparatus for use on an oil and gas well comprising a body comprising a drive passage for connection with a top drive and a wireline passage for carrying a wireline on which a grease injection head is mountable, both passages opening to a single passage connectable to a bottom hole assembly, thereby enabling full well control during wireline operations, wherein the drive passage extends along the body concentrically with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the body.

2. A wireline intervention sub apparatus according to claim 1, wherein entry of the wireline to the device is vertical.

3. A wireline intervention sub apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the wireline passage is angled centrally towards the drive passage after its initial vertical disposition at an upper end of the apparatus.

4. A wireline intervention sub apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the angle between the wireline passage and the drive passage is about 8.

5. A wireline intervention sub apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising an upper part and a lower part.

6. A wireline intervention sub apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the upper part and the lower part are threadably connectable to one another, and wherein the upper part comprises the separate wireline passage and drive passage and the lower part comprises the single passage to which the separate passages separately open.

7. A wireline intervention sub apparatus according claim 5, wherein the upper part comprises a tapered mid-section such that an upper end thereof has a greater diameter than a lower end thereof.

8. A wireline intervention sub apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the single passage of the lower part tapers inwardly from top to bottom such that a diameter of the single passage is greater at its upper end than its lower end.

9. A wireline intervention sub apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising at least one attachment point at an upper end thereof to enable attachment of a lifting means to the apparatus.

10. A wireline intervention sub apparatus according to any one of claims I to 9, wherein an upper diameter of the wireline passage is about 103.2 mm.

11. A wireline intervention sub apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein an inner diameter of the drive passage is about 80 mm.

12. A method for wireline intervention comprising the use of a wireline intervention sub apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11.