DE3008592A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR BLOCKING OUT AN UNDERGROUND ZONE CONTAINING A FLUID - Google Patents

Description

DIPL.-ING. H. MARSCH, «,,.» 4οόο Düsseldorf ι,

DIPL-ING. K. SPARING "3- mndsmannstbassb 31 _o Π Π OC η Ο

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F Jl Υ Ss. JJK. WH KOHL phone (0811) β7 83 40

phone (0811) β7 83 40 PATENT LAWYERS

ZtTOXL. TZKTRSTBR BKIH XUROrXlSCHKH PiTEITTAMT

FEDPETEDL Services, Inc., 81, Picadilly, London WIV 9HF / England

"Device and method for closing off a subterranean zone containing a fluid"

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for closing off an underground zone containing a fluid, such as Crude oil or natural gas. The invention is particularly suited to recommissioning oil wells by making it possible to pulling the production string or putting the wellbore back into operation without having to shut it down.

Certain oil wells known as semi-eruptive naturally produce hydrocarbons, especially petroleum, in unstable Way, since the natural pressure of the production zone is insufficient is to counteract the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid column that fills the borehole.

Other wells have insufficient natural daily production. In these cases an electrical one is generally used Pump placed near and above the production zone in such a way

is that it causes the fluid to rise to the surface of the earth by cfer hydrostatic pressure of the liquid column is reduced. The pump, which is arranged at the lower end of the delivery line, consists from an electric motor that rotates blades or blades. The pump is powered by an electric power Cable that connects the pump to a source of electrical energy on the earth's surface. The supply voltage is generally between 44o and 48oo V and can achieve a mechanical power of 1000 hp.

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In the event of a malfunction or failure of the pump (the electric motor or the blades) or in the event of the electric one breaking Supply cable, it is necessary to pull the pump and therefore the entire delivery line. To do this, one must beforehand shut down the borehole, i.e. exert a hydrostatic pressure on the production zone greater than the pressure in this zone, in order to avoid each Prevent eruption. Therefore, a saline solution or a slurry with a density greater than that is injected into the conveying line of the outflowing fluid in order to increase the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid column on the reservoir. If the latter cracks or Has gaps, it is further necessary to previously set the gaps by injection, for example by casing, into the fluid-carrying To seal rock. If the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the producing layer is increased and the crevices does not fill, the mud infiltrates into these crevices, causing the Borehole is not shut down and at the same time the outflow of hydrocarbons is very difficult. The steps that are necessary are to shut down the borehole and the crevices of the hydrocarbon-bearing Closing rocks sometimes takes up to two weeks, during which time the borehole cannot produce. It results Hence there is a very great loss, which can be of the order of magnitude of 50,000 to 100,000 barreis of oil.

If one wants to restart the borehole, it is necessary to reintroduce the production string into the borehole, with a new or repaired pump attached to its lower end. It is also necessary in the hydrocarbon-bearing Gastein to introduce an acid-based solution to loosen the formwork that was used to fill the crevices. This often adversely affects the production zone and leads to a decrease in production of the well. It therefore results in a further loss of production.

The re-commissioning of oil wells is increasing due to the constant increase in the price of crude oil. One looks at one Production zone as empty if its natural pressure is insufficient,

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to let the oil rise to the surface by itself; However, it is economically interesting to pump up some of the oil that remains in the layer.

It is therefore important to find a solution to any malfunctions to be able to remove the pumping device, i.e. to be able to remove the production string and in particular the pump, without the borehole to have to shut down.

The invention provides an apparatus and a method which make it possible to overcome these disadvantages. The invention enables In particular, it is necessary to shut off the production zone by inserting shut-off means in the piping between the production zone and the Hanne their closing and opening hydraulically from the surface is controllable. When the annulus between the casing and the production string is adjacent to the production zone by a packer is closed, the hydraulic control can be carried out, by appropriately reducing the pressure difference in the lower part of the conveying line, which is caused by the liquid in the conveying line and through the Liquid is exerted in the annulus, is varied. If, on the other hand, the annulus is closed by a packer adjacent to the In the production zone, the hydraulic control of the shut-off means is provided by using only the hydrostatic one Pressure of the liquid that fills the conveyor line is acted upon. To this end, the invention proposes a shut-off device an underground zone that carries a fluid and is connected to the earth's surface via a borehole, which has a packer, which is arranged as an anchor tightly and immovably in the borehole above this zone, the packer having an opening for passage of fluid through the packer, and has a valve which is tightly attached to the packer and has a ^ locking device, wherein the valve can be opened or closed to prevent the passage of fluid to the earth's surface through the opening in the To enable or prevent packers while hydraulic means are provided to cause the valve to open and close, which can be coupled to the valve and from the earth's surface via the

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in the borehole, fluid located are controllable.

The control means have means which are attached to the lower part of a drill string and according to a first embodiment address the difference in hydrostatic pressures, on the one hand through the column of fluid in the drill string and on the other hand through the liquid column can be exerted in the interspace between the tubing string and the borehole wall. According to a second embodiment, the control means are responsive to the pressure generated by the Liquid column is exerted in the pipe string. The invention also relates to a system for restarting an oil well, the one conveying line and a pump device arranged at the lower end thereof, an electrical supply cable, the supplies the pumping device with a surface electrical power source, a double packer, which is located in the borehole is anchored and two tight openings, one for receiving the strand and another for the passage of the electrical cable, wherein the system at the same time comprises the device for cordoning off a subterranean zone as defined above, wherein the hydraulic control means for the valve are mounted under the pumping device.

The invention also relates to a method for shutting off a subterranean zone and method of recommissioning a well having the isolation device and recommissioning system be used.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying figures.

1A and 1B show a section with respect to the essential elements of the lower section of a conveyor line, which is provided with a device to shut off the production zone, the latter being in the open state, while

Fig. 1C shows in detail a section of part of the barrier in the open state, the

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schematically in Fig. 1 B is shown,

Big. 2A shows the lower part of the conveyor line, wherein the shut-off device according to FIG. 1B is closed, while FIG. 2B shows in detail a part of the Shows the barrier in the closed state,

3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the method according to the invention for inserting the shut-off device for the production zone in a borehole,

4A and 4B illustrate the insertion of the conveyor line and the opening of the shut-off device,

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate the pulling of the conveyor string

and leaving the locking device closed Position,

Figures 6A and 6B schematically illustrate another embodiment especially for the case where the packer is close to the production zone «

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method that make it possible to isolate the hydrocarbon-bearing rock by the device is arranged and operated at a point in the piping between the pump and the hydrocarbon-bearing rock. It can be determined here whether the production zone is cordoned off without using the pump, as it may not be operational is. For this purpose, for example, liquid can be introduced into the delivery line by pumping it from the surface of the earth Has opened the flow valve by operating the cable. When the pressure in the production string and therefore in the annulus by connecting increases with the conveyor line through the slide, the zone is well cordoned off. Then the column of fluid is made heavier by

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in the conveying line and in the annulus by means of a second flow valve introduces a saline solution to avoid any eruption of the well in the event of a malfunction in the cordon of the production zone. The increase in hydrostatic pressure does not affect the hydrocarbon-bearing (solid and the salt solution csäer the mud penetrates not in this one. The conveyor string can then be brought to the surface of the earth.

If you want to resume production through the well, the production string is lowered into the borehole, the latter connecting to the shut-off device. This is then taken from the earth's surface opened and the pump is started again.

In FIG. 1A, a conveying line 3 is concentrically located in a casing 2. The conveying line 3, at its lower end is attached with the help of a hydraulic double packer 4, which is not far from the production zone, has on his lower end a pumping device 5, which mainly consists of an electric motor that drives blades. This engine is going over an electrical cable 6, which runs through the double packer 4, is supplied with electrical energy and connects the pump device 5 with it an energy source located on the Erciböerflache. Over and below the packer 4 there are two flow valves 7 and 8 of the type of a guided socket, which allow the Compensate for pressures between the conveying line 3 and an annular space 9 outside the conveying line 3 above or below the packer 4. A hydraulic cylinder 1o (Fig. 1B) is screwed to the lower part of the pumping device 5 (Fig. 1A). The cylinder 1o forms one Part of a control device for a valve 11, which a single packer 12 is assigned. The production zone is located below the packer 12.

The hydraulic cylinder 1o (Figs. 1B and 2A) becomes main formed from a Kairmer 13 in which a piston 14 is slidably disposed that is balanced, i.e. his two

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opposite surfaces on which the same pressure acts that have the same area. The piston 14 is on a piston rod 36 attached, which is screwed to an actuating sleeve 34. The bucket 13 is divided by the piston 14 into two sections 15 and 16 divided into the corresponding hydraulic lines 17 and 18 open. The lines 17 and 18 are made of stainless steel. The open one The end 19 (FIG. 1A) of the hydraulic line 17 opens into the annular space 9 so that the chamber 15 is under the pressure of the annular space 9. The hydraulic line 17 is through the Dcppelpacker 4 via a means Inertia working shut-off lap 21 out. A side connector 23 makes it possible to connect the cfoere end of the hydraulic line 18 tightly to the delivery line 3. The chamber 16 is located below the piston 14 and thus on the pressure in the delivery line 3 * The piston 14 is therefore on the one hand due to the pressure in the annular space 9 and on the other hand acted upon by the pressure in the conveyor rod 3. The pressure difference between the annular space 9 and the delivery line 3 therefore enables the piston 14 to be deflected downward, if the pressure in the annulus 9 was above the pressure in the Föirfc3erstang 3 lies, or just in the opposite case. When the two pressures are the same, the piston 14 remains immobile, as do the pressure values also are. The hydraulic cylinder 1o forms part of the control device to open and close the valve 11.

The valve 11 (Figs. 1B and 2A) has a valve body 2o in the form of a cylinder with a longitudinal axis 22 sc as a shut-off sleeve 24, which is also cylindrical and has the same longitudinal axis 22 as the valve body 2o. The shut-off sleeve 24 surrounds a part of the valve body 2o and can be moved parallel to the longitudinal axis 22, openings 26 and 28 are laterally in the Valve body 2o and attached in the shut-off sleeve 24. The openings 26 and 28 can be arranged in a ring on a perpendicular section to the longitudinal axis 22.

In the open position of valve 11 (Figs. 1B and 1C) the openings 26 and 28 are one above the other to form a passage to flow through a fluid, e.g. smell oil, to form, which is the.

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Path indicated by arrows 1B follows. In the closed Position (Fig. 2A and 2B) the openings 26 and 28 are shifted against each other.

The valve body 2o is at its upper end by shut-off means 3o, for example a stopper, which is a well-known device in the oil production industry! ·. The plug 3o, which is shown schematically in 1B and 2A, essentially has sealing means, Means for pressure equalization, locking means and means for positioning. The plug 3o can in a known manner over the cable be placed or drawn. J-shaped windows 32 are at the top of the valve body 2o and are used to position the tool which is used to close the valve 11 and the packer 12 set or pull. The stopper 3o makes it possible if necessary. Access under the packer 12 or to the lower part of the valve 11 to if this remains blocked in the closed position despite all attempts to open it.

The locking sleeve 24 can be moved with the aid of a control device which in particular comprises the actuating sleeve 34 which is fastened to the lower part of the piston rod 36. The actuating sleeve 34 therefore follows the movement of the piston 14. In an embodiment, which is not shown, in which the locking sleeve 24 within of the valve body 2o is arranged, the closure sleeve in the case of a flow valve and in the absence of the plug. 3o and the cylinder 1o by shaking in a known manner over the cable be moved.

The actuating sleeve 34 is firmly coupled to the blocking sleeve 24 via elastic locking fingers 38 which are fastened to the actuating sleeve 34 at 4o. The ends 42 of the resilient locking fingers 38 are seated in a circumferential groove 44 on the outer surface of the upper part of the locking sleeve 24 (FIG. 1B). UsS. lower end of the locking sleeve 24 ends in elastic locking fingers 46. The lower ends of the locking fingers 46 rest on a slope 5o of the valve body 2o in the closed position of the valve 11 (Fig. 2A) to prevent unintentional opening of the valve, for example as a result of

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Avoid vibrations. For the same reason, the ends of the elastic finger 46 in a groove 48 when the valve 11 is in its opened position (Fig. 1D), unintentional Avoid closing the valve.

The tightness of the valve in the closed position is ensured on the one hand by toroidal seals 52 and 54 (Fig. 1C and 2B), which are in circumferential grooves on the outer surface of the valve body 2o below the openings 26, and on the other hand effected by a toroidal seal 56, which is in a Qnfangsnut on the outer surface of the valve body seated below the opening 26. The seals are towards one Section arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 22 of the valve body.

The seals 52 and 54 are protected by a protective sleeve 6o (Fig. 1B and 1C or 2A and 2B), the cylindrical shape with has the same axis as the longitudinal axis 22 of the valve body 2o. The protective sleeve 6o is displaceable between the valve body 2o and the shut-off sleeve 24 is mounted. The protective sleeve 6o can be in one piece, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 2B, but can also advantageously the end . two parts separated by a washer forming a spring (not shown). Section 6oB carries a shoulder 73 which can come to rest against a shoulder 71 of the valve body 2o. The shift of the protective sleeve 6o depends from the displacement of the shut-off sleeve 24 due to locking devices, the protective sleeve times with the valve body 2o for the open position of the valve (Fig. 1) and times with the shut-off sleeve 24 for the closed position of the valve (Fig. 2) to unite. These locking means mainly consist of a system of Balls 62 which are arranged in seats 64 of the protective sleeve 6o.

The seats 64 allow a lateral displacement of the balls 62 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 22. The balls 62 can therefore either in a ttnfangsnut 66 in the valve body 2o for connecting the protective sleeve 6o with the valve body 2o (Fig. 1C) or in a Qnfangsnut 68 for Connect the shut-off sleeve 24 to the protective sleeve 6o (FIG. 2B). In the latter case, the displacement of the shut-off sleeve 24 causes the displacement with the protective sleeve 6o. The side parts of the grooves 66

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and 68 are formed by slopes that allow the balls 62 to to come out of engagement with respect to the grooves 66 and 68.

The distances on the one hand between the inner edge 7o of the openings 28 and the center of the groove 68 and on the other hand between the inner edge 72 of the protective sleeve 6o and the center of the groove 66 of the valve body 2o are chosen such that when the shut-off sleeve 24 through the Actuating sleeve 34 is moved upwards, the balls 62 are located with respect to the groove 68 opposite when the edge 7o with the inner edge 72 of the protective sleeve 6o comes into contact.

A sleeve 74 extends the walls of the chamber 13 of the piston 14 and surrounds the actuating sleeve 34. The lower end of the sleeve 74 comes to rest against a shoulder 78 of the valve body 20. The sleeve 74 is provided with openings 8o which are arranged at the level of the passage which is formed by the openings 26 and 28. The sleeve 74 has a shoulder 82 which separates an inner part of the sleeve 74 with a slightly smaller diameter from a part with a slightly larger diameter. The lower end of the actuating sleeve 34 ′ ends in a twist 84 which is guided in the section with the smaller diameter of the sleeve 74 and displaceable. The valve body 2o has a ring 86 with two inclined surfaces 88 and 9o. When the valve is lowered into the borehole, the valve is held in the closed position by a shear pin, the two parts 92 and 94 of which are shown in FIG. 1B after absorption. The shearing is done by moving the piston % A downwards.

Un from that in the Fig.iB and ic shown open Steliungin in FIGS. Arrive illustrated closed position 2A and 2B, is raised from the surface establishes the pressure in the conveying line 3 with respect to the pressure in the annular space 9 _t so that the Piston 14 rises, as a result of which the actuating sleeve 34 is displaced upwards, the latter, which is firmly connected to the shut-off sleeve 34 via the elastic locking fingers 38, takes the locking sleeve 24 with it along with its displacement. The sealing sleeve 6o, which is fixed with respect to the valve body 2o due to the balls 62 (FIG. 1C), remains immobile until the edge 7o of the shut-off sleeve 24 and the edge 72 of the

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Protective sleeve 60 come into contact. In this position there are the balls 62 opposite from the groove 68. The balls 62 then move out of the groove 66 into the groove 68 (Pig. 2B), whereby on the one hand the protective sleeve 60 is decoupled from the valve body 2o and, on the other hand, the protective sleeve is coupled to the shut-off sleeve 24. With further Raising the piston 14 move the shut-off sleeve 24 and the Protective sleeve 60 together upwards, the two edges 7o and 72 remain adjacent. The seals 52 and 54 are covered in this way by the inner surface of the shut-off sleeve 24, which is located above the openings 28. In this respect, there is a continuity between the inner surfaces of the protective sleeve 60 and the shut-off sleeve 24 such that the seals 52 and 54 are permanently covered.

The valve is closed when the inner surface of the blocking sleeve 24, which is located above the openings 28, comes into contact with the seals 52 and 54 is. True, there is only one seal necessary, but for safety reasons several seals are preferred. When the piston 14 continues to move upwards (Fig. 2A), the lower part of the elastic fingers 38 comes into contact with the slope 88 of the rim 86, whereby the end 42 the finger 38 comes out of engagement with the groove 44 of the shut-off sleeve 24. The latter is therefore decoupled from the actuating sleeve 34 (Fig. 2A). Now, by pulling the conveyor line, the entire conveyor system can be brought to the surface of the earth, including the hydraulic cylinder Fetch 1o while the packer 12 and valve 11 remain in the closed position at the bottom of the borehole. In this closed Position of the valve (Fig. 2A), the lower part of the elastic locking fingers 46 is in contact with the slope 5o of the valve body 2o. The slope 9o of the ring 86 of the valve body 2o allows it is to bring the ends 42 of the fingers 38 into engagement with the groove 44 of the shut-off sleeve 24 again.

Qn from the closed position of the valve 11 to the open To get to the position, the piston 14 is moved downwards by from the surface of the earth the pressure in the annular space 9 with respect to the Pressure in the conveyor line 3 is increased so that the Actuating

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sleeve 34 uid the locking sleeve 24 are moved downwards. When the bullets 62 reach the groove 66 of the valve body 2o (FIG. 1C), on the one hand the protective sleeve 6o is decoupled from the blocking sleeve 24, the balls 62 leave the groove 68 and enter the groove 66, and on the other hand the protective sleeve 6o is coupled to the valve body 2o. By the Piston 14 is moved further down, the locking sleeve 24 is guided further down, while the protective sleeve 6o remains immobile, because the two shoulders 71 and 73 of the valve body 2o and the protective sleeve 6o are in engagement with one another, the downward movement taking place until the ends of the fingers 46 into the groove 48 of the valve body Engage 2o in this way to lock the locking sleeve 24 in the open position.

The method according to the invention for locking off the production zones is shown in Figs. In the majority of cases, the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid column lies in the annulus 9 over the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in the delivery line 3. In other words, the density of the liquid in the annular space is often higher than the density of the liquid in the delivery line. That Process described below in connection with FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 corresponds to this case, under this condition there is a positive pressure difference in the amount of the double packer 4 between the Annular space and the delivery line, the valve 11 is opened. On the valve 11 to close, it is necessary to reduce the pressure in the conveying string in such a way to increase that a negative pressure differential between the annulus and the conveyor line occurs.

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the installation of the Valve 11 for shutting off the production zone and the packer 12. According to Fig. 3A is the unit consisting of valve 11 and packer 12, the is screwed under the valve, lowered in the piping 2 with the help of an actuating pipe string 1oo until this unit is slightly is above the production zone 1o2. The valve 11 is at the lower end of the actuating pipe string 1oo with the aid of a setting tool 1o4 held, which has projections with the J-shaped Work together recesses 32.

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The setting tool 104 is of a conventional type, as is often used in the oil conveying industry. The slots or recesses 32, which are provided on the upper circumference of the valve body 2o, are used for this purpose, tilter the packer 12 and in the extension of a longitudinal axis of the valve are eir, Sit; 1o6 for receiving a ball which forms a valve, and a connecting piece 1) 8 is attached which is provided with holes and serves to prevent solid particles from being carried away into the conveyor strand from the hydrocarbon-bearing layer. On the one hand, the valve 11 and the packer 12 are lowered into the borehole without a cylinder 1o for controlling the opening and bottoming of the valve 11 and, on the other hand, the valve 11 is lowered in the closed position. The elastic fingers 45 are therefore in engagement with the slope 5o (FIG. 2A), whereby the valve 11 remains closed. A shear pin can also be used for this purpose. When the valve 11 and the packer 12 have reached the intended depth above the production zone 1o2, the packer 12 is anchored in the casing 2. For this purpose, a ball is introduced into the actuating pipe string 1oo from the surface of the earth. This ball falls in the actuating pipe string 1oo up to the seat 1o6 and forms a flap valve. By pumping liquid from the Erdobex surface into the actuation string 1oo, the pressure in this is increased, whereby the packer 12 is anchored in the casing 2. When the pressure reaches a certain value, the seat 1o6 collapses and falls with the ball to the bottom of the nozzle 1o8. The production zone 1o2 is then closed off by pumping liquid from the surface of the earth into the annulus, and it is found that if the valve 11 is closed and the packer 12 seals well, the pressure in the annulus increases. The plug 3o (FIG. 3B) is then inserted from above into the valve in the usual manner through the cable. The tightness of the plug 3o is determined by pumping liquid into the actuating tubing 1oo and determining that the pressure therein increases. The actuating pipe string 1oo (FIG. 3C) is then pulled by turning it to the right in the example described and pulling it upwards with a certain force, as a result of which the setting tool 1o4 is released from the upper part of the valve body 2o. the

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Production zone 1o2 is completely cordoned off in this way, since the valve 11 is closed because the Äbsperrhülse 24 the through openings closes, and the packer 12 is tightly anchored in the casing 2 and. the plug 3o tightly blocks the upper end of the valve 11.

4A and 4B are the setting of the production string or the commissioning of the borehole and the opening of the valve 11 for the actual product uptake through the borehole is shown. The conveyor line 3 is with the hydraulic cylinder 1o, which is under the Pump device 5 is screwed, lowered. The lower part of the Eörderstranges 3 has the hydraulic double packer 4, which with the Closure flap 21 is provided, which is shown in Fig. 1A, as well the two passage slide 7 and 8, which have a guided slide sleeve and a connection between the conveyor line and the The annular space above and below the packer 4, the hydraulic lines 17 and 18 and the puncturing device 5, which have a check valve 11o to avoid backflow of liquid from the Eörderstrang is provided in the production zone 1o2. The ends of the hydraulic lines 17 and 18 open into chambers 112 and 114, whose Its function is to avoid contamination of the hydraulic fluid for controlling the cylinder 1o (the sludge that the hydraulic fluid, generally oil, which could contaminate, is heavier and therefore settles on the bottom of this chamber). The electric Cable (6 in FIG. 1A, but not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) for supplying the pump device 5 runs through the double packer 4 to the pumping device 5. In the Eörderstrang 3, a plug 116 is attached under the connecting piece 23 in order to anchor the Doppelpackers 4 in a known manner by increasing the pressure inside of the conveyor line 3 to enable. When the packer 4 is anchored, remove the plug 116. It should be noted that none of the hydraulic lines reach the surface of the earth. The sleeve 74 surrounds the valve 11, the lower end 76 of the sleeve 74 in Comes into contact with the shoulder 78 of the valve body 2o. The actuating sleeve 34 of the valve 11 surrounds the upper part of the valve body 2o corresponding to Fig. 2A.

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In Fig. 4B, the opening of the valve 11 is shown. For this one leads liquid from the earth's surface into the annulus in this way one that the hydrostatic pressure in the annular space 9 is increased. This pressure is applied via the chamber 112 and the hydraulic line 17 up to the section 15 of the Karmer 13 of the cylinder 1o. Of the Piston 14 is thereby lowered, causing valve 11 to open. The pumping device 5 is then removed from the earth's surface set in motion. Petroleum from the production zone 1o2 then flows through the valve 11 on the one indicated by the arrows 118 Path, penetrates into the parking facility 5 according to the arrows 12o through openings 122 in order to get from there into the conveyor line 3. The fluid that fills the borehole and was used to start the borehole is heavier than the smell oil. However, through the activation of the pumping device 5 progressively through the fluid used to start the borehole in the production string replaces the smell oil. The hydrostatic pressure in the delivery line is therefore reduced. It therefore follows that the pressure difference between the annulus and the delivery line rises until all the liquid used to start up has been replaced by smell oil, whereby the valve 11 is held in the open position.

The closure flap 21 in the double packer 4 plays an important role in terms of safety. If one of the two hydraulic lines 17 or 18 tears or leaks, the hydraulic cylinder can 1o can always be operated by acting on the fluid pressure of the hydraulic line, which is OK. If against it Both hydraulic lines could be damaged, for example break, in the absence of the closing flap 21 of the hydraulic cylinder 1o no longer be actuated, and it would become a state of equilibrium form, thter assuming that the hydraulic line 17, which is exposed to the pressure of the annulus, below the packer 4 tears, the oil can get into the annulus above the packer 4 via the hydraulic line, in order to reduce the pressures in the To bring the annular space and in the conveyor line into balance. Due to the closure flap 21, this cannot occur because it is

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closes to seal the pipe when oil flows through this pipe rises through the packer 4 through.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B, the removal of the conveyor string to the surface is shown, the production zone 1o2 with the aid of the closed valve 11 and that anchored in the piping 2 Packers 12 is cordoned off. The pulling of the delivery line 3 may be necessary, for example, due to a fault in the pumping device 5 will. The well is productive beforehand, so the valve is open. It is therefore first necessary to close the valve 11. To do this, a plug 124 lowers and installs a plug 124 over the cable Production line between the connection piece 23 and the pumping device 5. The pressure in the production line 3 is then increased from the surface of the earth forth, whereby the valve 12 is closed. To the valve 11 in closed To hold position, one must keep the pressure in the hydraulic line 18 above the pressure in the annular space 9. One therefore lowers in a known manner a sideshifter 126 in the connecting piece 23 in such a way that the connection of the hydraulic line 18 to the conveyor line 3 is closed. This process is necessary because it was initially assumed that the hydr ο static pressure in the annulus is naturally higher than the hydrostatic pressure Pressure in the conveyor line is. The leak test is carried out by opening the flow valve 8 and inserting it into the Conveyor line is pumped in. To determine the pressures of the annulus and the To balance the conveying line below and above the double packer 4, the flow valve 7 is opened via the cable. For safety reasons a liquid is introduced into the borehole in such a way that the hydrostatic pressure at the level of the valve 11 is slight is greater than the pressure of the production zone 1o2. The packer 4 will then unblocked by pulling the conveyor line, which is then connected to the cylinder 1o, which is screwed to the lower end of it, can be removed. The packer 12 therefore remains tightly anchored in the piping 2 and the valve 11 remains in the closed position provided with the plug 3o in the borehole (Fig. 5B). The production zone 1o2 is closed off in this way and opposite the one above

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of the packer 12 located liquid protected.

If one now assumes that the hydrostatic pressure in the delivery line is above the hydrostatic pressure in the annulus, is the method described in connection with FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 Practically identical except for a few changes. The valve 11 is kept open by the pressure of the conveyor line, which is greater than the pressure in the annulus. It is therefore necessary that the Hydraulic lines 17 and 18 of the cylinder 1o opposite ovens protruding To swap designs. Anchoring the packer 12 and valve 11 in the closed position is the same as in context with Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C. With regard to the introduction of the conveyor line and the opening of the valve, in context Described with the Fig. 4, the plug 116 must this time be arranged between the double packer 4 and the connecting piece 23, whereby the packer 4 can be set. To open the valve 11 is which increases in the conveyor line after the plug 116 is removed from the seat, which is included in the flow valve 8 has been removed is.

With respect to known production strings for use in wellbores are according to the invention additionally the packer 12, the valve 11, the one Hydraulic cylinder 1o is assigned to control this, the hydraulic lines 17 and 18, chambers 112 and 114, the side connector 23 and the inertia-operated shutter 21 are provided.

The method and the device that have been described above work satisfactorily when the double packer (Fig.iA, 4A, 4B and 5A), which closes the rest area, is arranged adjacent to the production zone. If, on the other hand, the packer leaves the production zone is removed, the annulus is generally not completely filled with liquid, the upper part of the annulus can be of a Gas. This space is sometimes used to separate gas and liquid when the production zone is gas and Releases liquid. Then the solution described above can no longer be used, since you cannot access the directly from the earth's surface hydrostatic pressure of the annulus at the level of the shut-off valve

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11 can act. ¥ ss \ is no longer a hydraulic control line would be very long, use the van to the control device for the valve to above the Doppelpacker extends since the latter vcn too far is the valve removed. This distance came for example

... _. . ,. ^, illustrated embodiment be more than 1,000 m. The in Fig. 6A and 6B ^ allows this To eliminate disadvantage.

According to this embodiment, the production zone is cordoned off, by arranging shut-off means in the piping between the production zone and the pump, opening and closing them hydraulically is controlled by the surface of the earth by acting solely on the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in the conveying string.

According to FIG. 6A, the conveying line 15o is arranged concentrically in the tubing 2. The lower end of the string becomes adjacent and arranged above the production zone 102. The delivery line has a pumping device 5, which mainly consists of an electric motor that propels wings to IM run. This tfotor is supplied with electrical energy via an electrical cable 6 which runs through a double packer 152 which is not far from the Earth's surface is arranged. The double packer 152 holds the conveyor string inside the piping. It is located under a ball valve that enables the conveyor line to be removed from the surface of the earth close here. The device for actuating the valve 154 controls at the same time the position of a sleeve 156, which enables the annular space 158 to connect to the discharge line when the ball valve 154 is closed. This interconnection is shown in Fig. 6B, according to which the passage 16o enables the circulation of liquid from the conveying line in a closed circuit. This avoids damaging the electric pump when the valve 154 is closed. The unit, consisting of valve 154 and double packer 152, is commercially available wild for example from the. From Otis, Dallas, USA.

The lower end of the conveyor line below the pumping device 5 is provided with a shut-off device for the production zone

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connect as described above. This shut-off device has a simple packer 12 and a valve 11, the shut-off sleeve of which can be actuated with the aid of a hydraulic cylinder 1o.

Dar hydraulic cylinder 1o has a piston 14 which has a Piston rod 36 is connected to the shut-off sleeve of the valve. The piston 14 delimits two cables 15 and 16 on one and the other, respectively Piston side 14.

The two cans 15 and 16 are via hydraulic lines 17 and 18 with certain points of the conveyor line above the puncturing device 5 connected via corresponding 162 and 164. The connectors 162 and 164 can be arranged with the help of shut-off devices are to be closed from the surface via the cable. When the connecting pieces are locked, the connection between the hydraulic cylinder and the delivery line is interrupted. It however, it should be noted that these connectors cannot be locked. In this case the connection between the Hydraulic cylinder and the delivery line interrupted with EBLfe a plug, the one above the connecting piece to be closed is placed.

The piston 14 is a differential piston as opposed to that according to the first embodiment, which has two identical actable surfaces, while in the present case the two through the surfaces that can be acted upon by hydraulic fluid have different sizes. So is the area where the piston rod 36 attaches to the piston 14 is Löfestigt, not equal to the opposite surface of the piston

14. It follows that the hydraulic fluid has a

the area of the piston in which the bucket 15 acts is greater than the area of the piston in the bucket 16 is. Because of this the difference will the piston is exposed to a force that pushes it downwards, where- ' is held in the open position by the valve, as shown in Fig. 6A (the distance between the two connecting pieces for the hydraulic lines 162 and 164 is relatively small, so that the hydrostatic pressures of the liquids in bins 15 and 16

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are practically identical). It is sufficient to move the piston upwards it is to place a plug 166 between the connectors 162 and 164, then the pressure of the fluid in the hydraulic line 18 and the Kanmer 16 increase by from the surface of the earth Liquid is pumped into the conveyor line. Older piston moves up and takes the shut-off sleeve of the valve, which is closes. The liquid in the chamber 15 is over into the annulus the hydraulic line 17 and the outlet openings 22 of the pumping device 5 are pressed.

According to an embodiment (not shown) of the hydraulic cylinder 1o the piston 14 can be provided with means that it allow this to be used as both a "differential" and a balanced piston. The area of the piston in the kairmer 15 has for this purpose a threaded hole into which the lower part of a rod can be screwed analogously to rod 36, the upper Part is guided tightly in a bore which is arranged in the upper wall of the Kanmer 15. This hole can be through a plug be tightly closed.

Because of the great length of the conveyor line, which is at two points by the double packer 152 not far from the surface and through the simple packer 12 is fixed adjacent to the production zone, results in the escape of warm liquid from the production zone 1o2 in the conveyor line to an increase in the temperature of the conveyor line and therefore its length. This extension can bend or kinking of the conveying strand and also causing damage to the pumping device 5 by subjecting the latter to compression forces will. A telescopic connection can eliminate this disadvantage 168 is provided above the connectors 162 and 164 be. This telescopic connection 168 is not far from the putting device 5 removed in order to reduce the weight exerted on the pumping device 5. Such a telescopic connection is commercial available and commonly used in the petroleum industry.

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Assuming that the piston, which is in its upper position, does not move when the pressure in the hydraulic line 17 and therefore in the chamber 15 is increased (the piston jams for one reason or another), the resulting Force which is exerted on the lower part of the chamber 15, that the part of the conveyor line between the chamber 15 and the Teleskopverbin ¹ -dung 168 is raised. The valve can then no longer be operated and the safety of the shut-off system for the production zone is impaired. In order to avoid this disadvantage, weights 17o are arranged between the pump device 5 and the hydraulic cylinder 1o. For example, a mass of 7m is 1t. In addition to these weights, the weight of the delivery line between the pumping device 5 and the telescopic connection 168 must also be taken into account.

The valve is operated by the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid held in the open position in the conveyor line.

In Fig. 6A, the lower part of the annulus is filled with liquid, while there is gas in the upper part. The annulus can in this way used to separate gas and liquid when the production zone 1o2 produces gas and liquid or liquid containing dissolved gases. The discharge line is with liquid filled, since the pumping device 5 pumps liquid from the annular space through the openings 122 in the conveying line to the surface of the earth. It it should be noted that the embodiment according to FIG. 6A also works when the annulus is completely filled with liquid between the two packers 15o and 12. This embodiment can therefore be used in can be used in any case.

Regarding the setting of the shut-off device for the production zone, i.e. the valve 11, the packer 12 and the hydraulic cylinder are operated in the same way as in FIG. You can either be set with a pipe string or with the conveyor string.

The valve 11 is inserted in the closed position. To open it is sufficient to increase the pressure in the delivery line by Liquid is pumped from the surface of the earth into the conveying line.

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The piston 14 lowers as a result and the valve opens. After it has been established that the valve has opened, the pumping device 5 can be started.

To pull the conveyor line, the valve 11 must first be closed to shut off the production zone 1o2. To this end, a plug 166 is installed under the connector 164 by means of a cable. The pressure in the delivery line is increased, as a result of which γ ] ρτ- pressure in the hydraulic line 18 is increased and the piston is therefore displaced upwards. The valve 11 is closed in this way. The pressure in the hydraulic line 18 is maintained when a shut-off sleeve is installed in the connector 164. The piston 14 is blocked in its upper position, which is closed in the valve 11. If the valve is properly closed, one can determine by pumping liquid into the annulus. The pressures between the conveying line and the annular space above the connecting piece 164 are then equalized by opening the flow valve 172. The conveying line can then be removed with the masses 17o and the hydraulic cylinder 1o. The valve 11 and the packer 12 remain in place to shut off the production zone.

The invention makes it possible to control a production zone which is arranged below a pumping device, from the surface of the earth without additional means only via the liquid columns shut off in the annulus and in the conveying string, whereby many advantages are achieved. For example, there is a considerable one Time savings for attaching and removing the conveyor line as well as an effective protection of the product zone, which your production capacity maintains. The opening and closing of the valve takes place without any further transmission means made via the liquid column in the conveying line and optionally in the annular space. The conveyor line is located above the valve, from which it can only be separated by pulling or shaking, without the need for a rotary movement, which involves the risk of damaging the electrical cable that supplies the pump by wrapping it around the pipe will.

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Instead of the valve shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, can

another can also be used, and the device does not need any

for protection
Facility to contain the seals.

Although the valve is preferably in the closed position lowered into the borehole, but it can also be inserted in the open position. The same applies to the exemplary embodiments, that the packer 12 is fastened under the valve 11, however other designs are also possible.

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Claims (22)

EDOBETRDL SERVICES INC. Claims 1. Device for cordoning off an underground zone which contains a fluid and is connected to the earth's surface via a borehole is characterized by a packer designed to be tightly and immovably anchored in the borehole above this zone the packer having an opening for the passage of the fluid through the packer, a valve which is tightly attached to the packer and is provided with a shut-off device, the valve with respect to the Passage of fluids through the opening is opened or closed and hydraulic means to open and close the Valve, which is immovably connectable to the valve and from the surface of the earth over the fluid in the borehole are controllable. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulic means means for fixing the lower part of a Having drill string extending from the surface of the earth in the center of the borehole, the means being based on the difference address of hydrostatic pressures, on the one hand from the column of liquid that fills the pipe string, and on the other hand from the column of liquid that fills the annulus between the tubing string and the borehole wall. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the means responsive to the pressure difference comprise a hydraulic cylinder with a piston which is in a chamber for limiting two variable spaces can be displaced, the piston being mechanically connectable to the shut-off element of the valve, and means for sealing Connecting one of the spaces with the pipe string and the other space with the pipe string and the other space with the annulus is provided are. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the means for connecting comprise two hydraulic lines. 030039/0671 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized / that the Means for connecting a transmission chamber comprise each is assigned to a hydraulic line. 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulic control means for the valve on the lower part of a drill string can be fixed and activated from the surface of the earth, in »-clein they respond to the pressure exerted by the column of liquid is exerted in the pipe string, wherein they have a hydraulic cylinder having a piston which is in a Karrmer to limit can be moved from two spaces with variable volume, whereby the piston can be mechanically connected to the shut-off element of the valve, while means are provided for connecting the variable volume spaces to two specific locations on the pipe string. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the connecting means comprise two hydraulic lines, each of which with a space of variable volume the chamber of the cylinder and with is connected to a certain point of the pipe string, 8. Device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that that the piston can be locked immovably with the shut-off element for the valve via elastic locking means. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that that the shut-off element is formed from a displaceable sleeve, the valve having a valve body, one of which End attached to the packer and the other end tightly closed by means of an immovable closure, the valve body has at least one side opening which can be closed or opened by the shut-off sleeve in order to close the valve close or open, while sealing means for closing the valve are arranged on both sides of the lateral opening. 10. Apparatus according to claim 8 and 9, characterized in that the piston immobile with the shut-off device via one on the piston 030039/0671 attached sleeve and is connected by elastic locking fingers, which are attached to the actuating sleeve, the ends of which önfangssitzen can be brought into engagement with the shut-off device so that the displacement of the piston and the shut-off element take place together can. 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 and 1o, characterized in that the valve also has a protective device for the sealing means, which are slidable with respect to the valve body to the sealing means to cover when these are exposed by the shut-off device, while means for moving the protective means and the joint Äbsperrorganans are provided when the latter reaches an intermediate position between the open and the closed position of the valve. 12. System for commissioning a petroleum well with one production string, a pump device arranged at the lower end thereof, an electrical cable for supplying the pump device Energy from an electrical energy source on the earth's surface, a double packer which can be anchored in the borehole and which has two tight passages to hold the production string and around the to be able to pass electrical cables through, characterized in that a device according to one of claims 1 to 11 is used, wherein the hydraulic means for controlling the valve are arranged below the pumping device. 13. System according to claim 12 and one of claims 4 and 5, characterized characterized in that the delivery line connecting means for one of the hydraulic lines with the interior of the delivery line below of the double packer, the double packer having an additional tight passage for the other hydraulic line, whose End opens into the annulus above the double packer. 14. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the additional tight passage of the double packer means to inertia 030039/0671 " ⁴ " Closing the ^1st Has through-passage in order to avoid a possible rise of crude oil through the hydraulic line in the event that it breaks under the double packer. 15. System according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that that means for maintaining the hydraulic pressure of the fluid are provided in at least one of the hydraulic lines. 16. System according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that that the conveyor line has a sliding connection above the Purrpeinrichtung having. 17. System according to claim 16, characterized in that the conveyor line additionally at least one ballast mass below the pumping device having. 18. Method of commissioning a well in which production of fluid takes place via a conveyor line, characterized in that that the Prodükticnszcne with the help of a shut-off device with a Packer and a shut-off valve which is provided with a shut-off device which is displaceable in a direction parallel to the axis of the borehole, and in the borehole above the production zone with the aid of a setting tool is attached, blocked off ^ at the lower end of the Eörderstrang Means for hydraulically controlling the shut-off valve attached, said Means comprise two hydraulic lines which are connected to two connecting pieces of the conveying string, these means being responsive to the pressure, which prevails in the conveying line and due to this can be actuated from the surface of the earth via the liquid in the conveying line are arranged, daiaii the production string in the borehole, wherein the Means for the hydraulic control are immovably connected to the shut-off element of the shut-off valve, and then the means for the hydraulic Steering from the earth's surface to move the shut-off device in the open position of the shut-off valve can be actuated. 19. Learn according to claim 18, characterized in that for 030039/0671 Pulling the conveyor string isolates the production scene by successively a shut-off is arranged in the conveying line between the two connecting pieces, the valve by adjusting the Pressure in the conveying line from the surface of the earth closed, the connection between the hydraulic means for controlling with the conveying line to keep the valve closed in a closed position, the pressures between the conveying line and the surrounding one Annular space is compensated and the conveying line with the means for controlling the valve is removed, the production zone through the shut-off device and the packer remains locked. 20. A method for commissioning a borehole, in which the production of the fluid takes place via a drill string, characterized in that the production zone with the aid of a shut-off device from a packer and a shut-off valve with a shut-off device, which in a direction essentially parallel to the axis of the borehole is displaceable and in Äbsperrposition engageable, wherein the shut-off device is mounted in deft well bore above the production zone by means of a setting tool, isolated, and then at the lower end of the transport line to a hydraulic control device for the shut-off valve, the rence to the differential ¹ of the hydrostatic pressure between the Responds to the production string and the surrounding annular space and due to which is actuatable from the surface of the earth via the liquid in the production string and in the annular space, the production string is fixed in the borehole by connecting the hydraulic control device in an immovable manner to the shut-off device and the hydraulic control arrangement is actuated from the surface of the earth to move the shut-off element into the open position of the valve. 21. The method according to claim 2o, characterized in that for removal of the production string from the well, the production zone is shut off by opening the shut-off valve by adjusting the hydrostatic pressure difference between the production string and the annulus closed from the surface of the earth, the connection between the hydraulic control device and the conveyor line to hold the 030039/0671 Shut-off valve shut off in the closed position, the pressures between the discharge line and the ring chamber by opening flow valves equalized, through fluid circulation a · hydrostatic pressure at the level of the shut-off valve above the pressure in the Production scene reached and the conveyor line and the hydraulic Control device for the shut-off valve is removed, the production scene being shut off by the shut-off valve and the packer remain. 22. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that that after shutting off the connection between the hydraulic control device and the conveyor line, the tightness of the The shut-off device is checked by increasing the pressure in the space above the shut-off valve. 030039/0671