CA2279374A1 - Device by a retrievable bridge plug - Google Patents

Device by a retrievable bridge plug Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2279374A1
CA2279374A1 CA002279374A CA2279374A CA2279374A1 CA 2279374 A1 CA2279374 A1 CA 2279374A1 CA 002279374 A CA002279374 A CA 002279374A CA 2279374 A CA2279374 A CA 2279374A CA 2279374 A1 CA2279374 A1 CA 2279374A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
chain
packer
pin
packer element
bridge plug
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002279374A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Dag Ravn Pedersen
Frode Andersen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bronnteknologiutvikling AS
Maritime Well Service AS
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2279374A1 publication Critical patent/CA2279374A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/1208Packers; Plugs characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means
    • E21B33/1216Anti-extrusion means, e.g. means to prevent cold flow of rubber packing
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B23/00Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells
    • E21B23/01Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells for anchoring the tools or the like
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/129Packers; Plugs with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing
    • E21B33/1293Packers; Plugs with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing with means for anchoring against downward and upward movement

Landscapes

  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Consolidation Of Soil By Introduction Of Solidifying Substances Into Soil (AREA)
  • Pens And Brushes (AREA)
  • Pipe Accessories (AREA)
  • Endoscopes (AREA)
  • Devices For Opening Bottles Or Cans (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Seal Device For Vehicle (AREA)

Abstract

A device for use with a retrievable bridge plug (30) comprising an upper packer element (3) and a lower packer element (11). The upper packer element (3) is connected to an upper chain (6), which can rotate around a first pin (5). Upper chain (6) is rotatably connected to a lower chain (8) by a second pin (7). Lower chain (8) can rotate around a third pin (9). An angle (.alpha.) is formed between the longitudinal axis of the bridge plug and a line extending through the first pin (5) and the second pin (7), and correspondingly through the second pin (7) and the third pin (9), which is greater than zero when upper chain (6) and lower chain (8) is drawn. Upper chain (6) and lower chain (8) are arranged for, at setting, to expand radially by compression of upper packer bracket (3) against lower packer bracket (12), for forming a mechanical barrier for upper packer element (3) and lower packer element (11).

Description

DEVICE BY A RETRIEVABLE BRIDGE PLUG
The present invention concerns generally retrievable bridge plugs, but more specifically a drawable mechanical barrier having a packer element, according to the introductory part of patent claim 1.
Among other things, bridge plugs are used for oil- and gas wells. Such bridge plugs have a packer element which seals against fluid and pressure. The packer element is comprised mainly of an elastic rubber body sealing against the pressure, and mechanical barriers preventing extrusion of the rubber at pressure load. In oil and gas wells the bridge plug will, in many cases, have to pass restrictions such as, for example, valves and nipples, for subsequent location in a larger diameter.
Known retrievable bridge plugs have a limited degree of expansion at a high pressure and a high temperature. The limitation in the degree of expansion is mainly caused by the construction of the drawable mechanical barrier.
It is thus an object with present invention to provide a drawable mechanical barrier, which stabilizes and prevents extrusion of the packer elements at high pressure/temperature and has a large degree of expansion.
The object of the invention is achieved by a device having features as stated in the characterizing part of patent claim 1. Further features are stated in the dependent claims.
According to the invention, a mechanical barrier is developed, which through an axial movement is expanded and then drawn through an opposite movement.
In some oil and gas wells it is desirable that the bridge plug changes pressure direction from one side to the other side. In this case, two packer elements are installed, having a mechanical barrier inbetween. When the packer elements are expanded, the rubber will be forced out radially along the mechanical barrier, and up against the casing. In expanded position, the mechanical barrier has a wedge shape up against the casing. By applying pressure, the packer element will creep into the radial wedge shape, and seal. This wedge shape also has a positive effect to the sealing property of the packer element at increasing pressure load. If the bridge plug should WO 98r35130 PCT/N098/00009 seal against differential pressure from one side, a mechanical barrier with a packer element is installed at the pressure side.
Upon expansion of two packer elements with a mechanical barrier inbetween, a fluid volume will form between the packer elements. When one of the packer elements is pressurized, it will move and cause a pressure build-up on the enclosed volume.
This pressure build-up will again cause a movement of the packer element at the non-pressure side. This involves an extra strain on the packer element at the non-pressure side, and is unfortunate, however. This is solved by draining unwanted fluid volume causing pressure build-up. Drainage is performed by way of U-shaped packers installed in a packer bracket at the non-pressure side. These U-shaped packers act as check valves, and are described below.
When setting the bridge plug in horizontal oil and gas wells, the mechanical barrier positions the mechanical bridge plug in the centre, and thus avoids the extra strain on the packer element from the bridge plug's own weight.
When drawing the bridge plug from the well, the mechanical barrier according to the present invention has a construction whereby it is possible to be actively drawn when running into restrictions. This is performed when the mechanical barrier is subjected to tension, which then leads to the chain pairs rotating around their belonging bolts, thus forcing them against the centre of the bridge plug.
According to the present invention, the mechanical barrier has a construction making it functionally reliable during the aggregation of sand above the bridge plug.
The mechanical barrier being situated between two.packer elements is advantageous in this respect.
In the following, the invention will be explained further by means of examples of embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, where Fig. 1 shows a sketch of a retrievable bridge plug with packer elements having a mechanical barrier according to present invention, Fig. 2 shows a partly sectioned view of packer elements with a mechanical barrier according to present invention, in drawn (not expanded) condition, Fig. 3 shows packer elements with the mechanical barrier in Fig. 2 in expanded condition, Fig. 3a shows a detail of the packer element in Fig. 3, Fig. 4 shows a section of the mechanical barrier in Fig. 3, viewed along the line X-X, and Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a chain pair located by the mechanical barrier in Fig. 3.
Fig. 1 shows a sketch of a retrievable bridge plug, generally denoted 30, set in a casing 31 in a horizontal well. The bridge plug 30 comprises an anchoring part 32 and a mechanical barrier 1 with packer elements, which are expanded against the casing 31.
Fig. 2 illustrates a device according to the present invention, in the form of a mechanical barrier 1 having two packer elements 3, 11 which are arranged at the bridge plug (not shown in Fig. 2), in order to be inserted in, and expanded in the casing (not shown in Fig 2). The device includes a through axle 15 with an external upper packer bracket 2, connecting the upper end (not shown) with upper packer element 3. The upper packer element 3 is connected through an upper clamping section 4 via first pin 5 to an upper chain 6. The upper chain 6 is rotatably connected with lower chain 8 by a second pin 7. The lower chain 8 is connected to a lower clamping section 10 by a third pin 9. Lower clamping section 10 is connected with the lower packer element 11 that is then connected with the lower end of the bridge plug, through a lower packer clamp 12. Within upper clamping section 4 is connected a thin, flexible pipe 18, which forms an expandable cover over the rotatable chain pairs 6 and 8, and is the connected to lower clamping section 10.
In Fig. 2, the device according to the present invention is shown with the mechanical barrier 1 and the packer elements 3, 11 in drawn (not expanded) condition. An angle a is formed through the longitudinal axis of the bridge plug and a line extending between first pin 5 and second pin 7. The angle a is larger then zero, and preferably less then 45 ° when the mechanical barrier is in this drawn condition.
In Fig. 3, the device is shown in expanded position, where upper packer bracket 2 is forced against lower packer bracket 12 with the result that upper packer element 3 is compressed and expanded radially. The axial force propagates further down to the upper chain 6 that due to the angle of departure a (Fig. 2) will rotate around the pin 5 and tip out radially . This will cause the split pipe 18 to bend outwards and be formed around the periphery of the chain pairs 6 and 8. When upper chain 6 and lower chain 8 are compressed, the lower clamping section 10 will compress the packer element 11 which then will expand radially.
An upper U-shaped packer 13 is installed in the upper clamping section 2 and a lower U-shaped packer 14 is installed in the lower clamping section 12. Upper U-shaped packer 13 has the function of sealing when the packer element 3 is pressurized, and to drain an enclosed volume C when the packer element 3 is pressurized. Lower U-shaped packer 14 is shown in detail in Fig. 3a.
Fig. 4 shows a section view of the mechanical barrier 1 in expanded condition.
The pipe 18 is split in a number corresponding to the number of rotatable chain pairs 6 and 8. The pipe 18 is oriented in relation to chain pairs 6 and 8) so that each axial split of the pipe 18 is situated above the middle of each chain pair 6 and 8. In expanded condition, the split pipe 18 is supported by the chain pairs 6, 8, so that the mechanical barrier in expanded condition forms a completely sealed barrier.
Fig. 5 shows a chain pair comprising rotatable chain b and rotatable chain 8.
The chain pair 6, 8 is shown in expanded condition, and without belonging pins.
Each of the chains 6, 8 is comprised an arm section 19a, 19b with belonging holes 20a, 20b for first and third pin 5 and 9, respectively . The arm sections 19a, 19b are rigidly connected to head section 21 a, 21 b . The head sections 21 a, 21 b are at their upper end, formed so that the chains 6, 8 can engage each other, as the second pin (not shown) is brought through hole 25 at the upper end. The head sections 21a, 21b have profiled support surfaces 22a, 22b that are rounded in the axial direction of mechanical barrier 1. The support surfaces 22a, 22b recede into inclined covering surfaces 23, which again recede into inclined end surfaces 24a, 24b.
The chains 6, 8 are constructed so that they, in expanded condition, shall form as large an external supporting surface as possible, in order to give the best possible support for the split pipe 18. Thus, the chains 6, 8 and the split pipe 18 form a complete barrier against the packer elements 3, 11. The optimum width of the chain pairs 6, 8 is the length of the cord belonging to the arc calculated from the wo 9sr~si3o rcrn~o9sroooo9 circumference of unexpanded bridge plug divided by the number of chain pairs 6, 8.
Where the width is the distance between the two external limitations of the chains 6, 8, consisting of the points where the inclined cover surface 23 recedes to inclined end surfaces 24a, 24b. The desired expansion height of a chain pair 6, 8, corresponding to 5 the radial distance between the unexpanded bridge plug 30 and the inner wall of the casing 31, determines the height of the head sections 21a, 21b.
The chains 6, 8 are constructed for achieve a large mechanical strength, so that they can bear the influence from the pressure forces that can occur. In order to achieve an optimum combination of mechanical strength and size of the supporting surface, the end surfaces 24a, 24b are shaped with an inclination as described above.

Claims (4)

Claims:
1. Device for use with a retrievable bridge plug (30) comprising a through axle (15), with an external upper packer bracket (2) that is connected with an upper packer element (3), and with an external lower packer bracket (12) that is connected with a lower packer element (11), characterized in that the upper packer element (3) is connected through an upper clamping section (4) to a chain (6), said upper chain (6) being rotatably connected with the upper clamping section (4) by a first pin (5), the upper chain (6) is rotatably connected to a lower chain (8) by a second pin (7), and lower chain (8) is rotatably connected to a lower clamping section (10) by a third pin (9), so that an angle (.alpha.) is formed between the longitudinal axis of the bridge plug and a line extending through the first pin (5) and the second pin (7), and correspondingly through the second pin (7) and the third pin (9) which is greater then zero when upper chain (6) and lower chain (8) is drawn, whereas upper chain (6) and lower chain (8) are arranged for, at setting, to expand radially by compression of the upper packer bracket (3) against lower packer bracket (12), for forming a mechanical barrier for upper packer element (3) and lower packer element (11).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that upper chain (6) and lower chain (8) are covered by a flexible split pipe (18), that in expanded condition together with the chain pairs (6, 8) forms a mechanical barrier that forms a sealed wall between a casing (31) and the bridge plug (30).
3. Device according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterized by a plurality of chain pairs (6, 8), preferably two, three, four, five or six, being arranged around the circumference of axle (15).
4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an upper U-shaped packer (13) is installed in upper clamping section (2) and lower U-shaped packer (14) is installed in lower clamping section (12), wherein upper U-shaped packer (13) is arranged for sealing when the packer element (3) is pressurized, and draining an enclosed volume (C) at the chain pairs (6, 8) when the packer element (11) is pressurized, and lower U-shaped packer (14) is arranged for sealing when the packer element (3) is pressurized, and draining a volume (C) when the packer element (3) is pressurized.
CA002279374A 1997-02-06 1998-01-13 Device by a retrievable bridge plug Abandoned CA2279374A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO970561 1997-02-06
NO970561A NO304615B1 (en) 1997-02-06 1997-02-06 Device for retrievable bridge plug
PCT/NO1998/000009 WO1998035130A1 (en) 1997-02-06 1998-01-13 Device by a retrievable bridge plug

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2279374A1 true CA2279374A1 (en) 1998-08-13

Family

ID=19900355

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002279374A Abandoned CA2279374A1 (en) 1997-02-06 1998-01-13 Device by a retrievable bridge plug

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0960262B1 (en)
AU (1) AU726860B2 (en)
BR (1) BR9807558A (en)
CA (1) CA2279374A1 (en)
NO (1) NO304615B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1998035130A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9528341B2 (en) 2014-03-25 2016-12-27 Baker Hughes Incorporated Continuous expandable backup ring for a seal with retraction capability

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4554973A (en) * 1983-10-24 1985-11-26 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Apparatus for sealing a well casing
US4588029A (en) * 1984-09-27 1986-05-13 Camco, Incorporated Expandable metal seal for a well tool
US5010958A (en) * 1990-06-05 1991-04-30 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Multiple cup bridge plug for sealing a well casing and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU726860B2 (en) 2000-11-23
WO1998035130A1 (en) 1998-08-13
EP0960262B1 (en) 2003-07-16
NO304615B1 (en) 1999-01-18
EP0960262A1 (en) 1999-12-01
NO970561D0 (en) 1997-02-06
AU5782298A (en) 1998-08-26
BR9807558A (en) 2000-02-01
NO970561L (en) 1998-08-07

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Discontinued