DK202370225A1

DK202370225A1 - A drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) and a method for forming and verifying a cement plug

Info

Publication number: DK202370225A1
Application number: DKPA202370225A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Alexanteri Mikalsen Stangeland Kimmo; Herabakka Glinda Harald
Original assignee: Archer Oiltools As
Priority date: 2020-12-10
Filing date: 2023-05-09
Publication date: 2024-02-07
Also published as: NO20201359A1; NO346135B1; GB2606996A; GB202105275D0; NO346135B2; DK202170597A1; DK181465B1

Abstract

A method of forming and verifying a cement plug in a single run in a casing bore, comprising the steps of: - assembling a bridge plug (200) on a drill-pipe string conveyed through-bore bridge plug running tool (100), - said bridge plug running tool (100) comprising a cementing stinger portion (103) releasably connected to an upper part of said bridge plug (200), - said bridge plug running tool further comprising dress-cutting wings arranged about a base of said cementing stinger portion (103), - running into a well said bridge plug (200) on said running tool (100) to a target depth, - setting said bridge plug (200) in the casing, - pulling up on said drill pipe string to disconnect said stinger portion (103) from said bridge plug (200), - using said stinger portion (103), circulating in cement slurry on top of said bridge plug (200) to form a cement plug in said casing, - allowing said cement plug to set and harden, - using said running tool (100) dressing a top of said cement plug, - using said running tool (100) tagging said dressed cement plug to verify its quality.

Description

l DK 2023 70225 A1

Title:

A drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) and a method for forming and verifying a cement plug

Introduction

The present invention relates to a running tool for a mechanical bridge plug in a petroleum well.

More specifically, it relates to a running tool also arranged for working as a cementing tool, while further also arranged for working as a dressing and tagging tool.

Background Art

A petroleum well section may be cement plugged in the casing at a given depth for several reasons.

The plug may be formed either for permanent plug and abandon (PPA), temporary plug and abandoning (TPA) or for drilling a sidetrack or removing and replacing or otherwise remedying the casing above the plug. The cement plugging process is usually conducted by the following steps: - Run in, into the cased well, a bridge plug conveyed on a J-slot tool at the lower end of a wireline or drill pipe string. - Set the bridge plug in the casing, either by mechanical manipulation or hydraulic setting.

The bridge plug is now set in the casing to form a basis for forming a later circulated in cement plug. - LH rotating the drill pipe string while slacking off / weight loading the J-slot running tool in order to disconnecting the J-slot running tool from a corresponding J-slot stinger at the top of the bridge plug, - POOH the J-slot running tool, - RIH a cementing stinger to bridge plug and PU while cementing entire length of cement plug, i.e. 50m. - POOH cementing stinger. - RIH a DP conveyed dress and tag tool and dress away low quality upper part of cement plug until expected proper quality hardened cement is exposed to the dress and tag tool, - Weight load the tag tool to tag the top of the cement plug exposed, to verify the cement plug.

It is possible, but not desirable from a cement plug quality point of view, to shorten the above sequence by replacing, after disconnecting the J-slot running tool from the J-slot stinger, by circulating in the cement through the J-slot running tool" connector sleeve and imperfectly dress and tag, if at all possible, the so formed cement plug. However, a J-slot connector sleeve has a rather

; DK 2023 70225 A1 broad inner Ø and large outer Ø and is poorly designed for cementing, and would dress and tag the cement plug only peripherally thus imperfectly.

A petroleum oil tool provider usually has a repository of drill pipe conveyed J-slot running tools adapted for being connected to a J-slot stinger on top of a wide variety of diameters and types of casing plugs. The plugs may be of various types such as - removable bridge plugs (RBP), - temporary DP string hang-off plugs, - pressure test plugs, and —-permanent bridge plugs such as for forming a cementing base.

It is desirable to have a common J-slot stinger interface on top of most or all of such casing plugs in order to keep the logistics' number of tools low, both to reduce required on-board storage space on the drilling or intervention platform, and offshore or land transport costs.

US2019/0390527A1 Telfer, Ardyne Holdings Ltd, UK, "Improvements in or relating to well abandonment and slot recovery", describes a method and apparatus for single-trip cementing and casing cutting for well abandonment and slot recovery. Using a tool string including a casing cutter and a stinger, where the casing cutter has a central through bore including a wall to isolate the cutting assembly from the cement, cement can be passed through the cuter and deposited using the stinger to form a plug. The method preferably includes the additional steps of incuding a bridge plug on the tool string and setting the bridge plug in the well before passing fluidised plugging material through the stinger to deposit a quantity of fluidised plugging material into the well bore to form a cement plug.

NO20151699A1 Sørhus, Archer Oiltools AS, NO, "Drill pipe string conveyed pressure integrity test tool and method for testing the pressure integrity of a casing", describes a method of testing the pressure integrity of a casing, comprising: - providing a drill pipe string conveyed pressure integrity tool section for a casing, comprising: - a cylindrical tool stem having an axial bore and upper and lower tool joints to said drill pipe string and a drilling or milling bit; - a relative downward annulus flow closing check valve comprising a check valve body on said tool stem, - running said testing tool section to a target depth in the casing with the check valve open, - halting the test tool section at target depth, - increasing pressure in the casing bore to displace the check valve to its lower, closing position, - verifying integrity of the casing above the swab cup.

2 DK 2023 70225 A1

Brief summary of the invention

The present invention provides a solution to the problems which may arise when one wants to take into account this overall goal of having a common stinger interface on top of the variety of plugs on board the drilling or intervention platform. The invention further facilitates the onshore preparation of plugs so as for all or most DP conveyed plugs, also those for permanent plug and cementing, to have a common stinger type top interface.

The invention is a drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) comprising - an axially extending mandrel (1) with an upper connection (101) to a drill pipe string and provided with a through bore (102); wherein said through bore (102) extending to a lower portion of said mandrel (1) and continued into a cylindrical sleeve-shaped stinger portion (103), - said cylindrical stinger portion (103) further arranged for being releasably connected into a main bore (224) of a top stinger (226) of a bridge plug (200) arranged for being set in a casing, - said cylindrical stinger portion (103) arranged for being released from said bridge plug (200) and for depositing cement on top of said bridge plug (200), - said mandrel (1) having two or more radially extending dress-cutter blades (108) arranged for dress- cutting into a top of said deposited cement when hardened, - said dress-cutter blades (108) provided with two or more dress-cutter edges (182) extending radially beyond said cylindrical stinger (103) and arranged for cutting axially into the top of said cement when set and hardened, - said dress-cutter blades (108) and said cylindrical stinger portion (103) arranged for tagging the resulting dressed cement surface. — The invention is defined in the attached independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are defined in the claims depending on those independent claims.

Brief Figure captions

Fig. 0 is a series of simplified vertical sections of the method of the invention, comprising running in and setting of the plug, releasing from the plug, circulating in cement slurry via the running tool's stinger, pulling up and circulating excess cement slurry, and allowing the cement plug to set and harden, dressing off the top of the set cement plug, and tagging the cement plug, and pulling up or out of hole.

2 DK 2023 70225 A1

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of a bridge plug running tool according to the invention, the running tool assembled and connected to a bridge plug J-slot stinger top section. It is also shown an end view.

Fig. 2 is an axial section view of the same. A section view at B-B illustrates a section of the connector —/J-slot stinger portion of the running tool mounted with shear screws inside the top portion of the J- slot top stinger of the plug. Fig. 2 shows an assembled running tool (100) and a bridge plug top, longitudinal section view.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bridge plug running tool assembled for running in with the J-slot top stinger of the bridge plug. Fig. 3 is a perspective view in assembled state of the running tool (100) and the bridge plug's (200) (not shown) top stinger (226).

Fig. 4 is an elevation view of a bridge plug running tool according to the invention, the running tool disconnected to the bridge plug J-slot stinger top section.

Fig. 5 is an axial section view of the same as Fig. 4, here in the disconnected state. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section view after disconnect of the running tool (100) from the bridge plug's (200) (not shown) top stinger (226)

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bridge plug running tool assembled for running in with the J-slot top stinger of the plug. Fig. 6 shows a perspective view after disconnect of the running tool (100) from the bridge plug's (200) (not shown) top stinger (226). Shear screws are broken.

Embodiments of the invention

The invention provides a drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) comprising, please see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2; - an axially extending mandrel (1) with an upper connection (101) to a drill pipe string and provided with a through bore (102), - said through bore (102) extending to a lower portion of said mandrel (1) and continued into a cylindrical sleeve-shaped stinger portion (103), - said cylindrical stinger portion (103) further arranged for being releasably connected to a bridge plug (200) arranged for being set in a casing, please see Fig. 0, leftmost illustration,

. DK 2023 70225 A1 - said cylindrical stinger portion (103) arranged for being released from said bridge plug (200), please see Fig. 0, second illustration, and for depositing cement on top of said bridge plug (200) please see Fig. 0, third illustration, and thus in said casing, - said mandrel (1) having two or more radially extending dress-cutter blades (108) arranged for dress- cutting into a top of said deposited, hardened cement, please see Fig. 0, fifth illustration, - said dress-cutter blades (108) provided with two or more dress-cutter edges (182) extending radially beyond said cylindrical stinger (103) and arranged for cutting axially into the top of said cement when set and hardened, - said dress-cutter blades (108) and said cylindrical stinger portion (103) arranged for tagging the resulting dressed cement surface, please see Fig. 0, sixth illustration.

The cylindrical stinger portion (103) may cut its way into the central, smaller area portion in the center of the deposited without further cutting elements, but in a further embodiment it may be provided with cutter elements, particularly in an embodiment a front cutter element (162) arranged transversely on the lower end of the cylindrical stinger portion, and arranged for efficiently dress- cutting and tagging into the central area of the deposited, hardened cement. It will still work as a cement stinger. The stinger portion further contributes to laterally stabliizing the dress-cutting blades from lateral wobbling in the casing.

In other words, the bridge plug running tool (100) of the invention is arranged for drill pipe string conveyed running in a bridge plug (200) into a well casing, the running tool comprising a cementing stinger portion (103) at its lower end, the cementing stinger portion (103) also arranged for being releasably connected into a central bore of the bridge plug (200), and dress cutter blades (108) arranged about the base of the cementing stinger portion (103), the dress cutter blades also used for — tagging after dressing. In this way a bridge plug may be set in the casing, disconnected by pulling up, cementing on top of the plug, allowing the cement plug to set and harden, dress the top of the cement plug, and tag the dressed top to verify cement quality, all in one run.

In an embodiment of the invention said cylindrical sleeve-shaped stinger portion (103) is arranged for being connected into a main bore (224) of a J-slot top stinger (226) of said bridge plug (200).

The J-slot top stinger (226) is otherwise arranged for fitting into a J-slot sleeve of an ordinary DP conveyed J-slot plug running tool not used in this invention. A great advantage of this feature of being connectable to an ordinary J-slot top stinger (226) is the fact that one may use bridge plugs having a common type of J-slot top stinger which are usually and otherwise run in hole using a J-slot cylinder running tool. In an embodiment only a simple slotting of the J-slot top stinger (226) is required, a modification which is easily made by the on-site personnel or workshop personnel.

In an embodiment of the invention said cutting edges (182) are generally axial-transverse to the tool axis so as for when dressing axially into said deposited cement plug forming a transverse, plane surface to be tagged, please see Fig. 0.

In an embodiment of the invention the dress-cutter blades (108) are arranged for spanning a significant portion of an interior diameter of said casing, such as illustrated in Fig. 0. The dress cutter blades (108) may be arranged for dress cutting out to a full casing bore radius and down to a depth in deposited cement plug of proper hardened cement quality.

In an embodiment of the invention said cylindrical stinger portion (103) is provided with a transversely arranged front cutter blade (162) having a cutting width corresponding to an outside diameter of said cylindrical sleeve-shaped stinger portion (103).

In an embodiment of the invention said dress-cutter blades (108) have a part-helical shape about said mandrel (100). This may be done in order to increase rotational force bending resistance and to stabilize the rotation in the casing bore.

In an embodiment of the invention said dress-cutter blades (108) have an axial-parallel directed, radial straight shape about said mandrel (100). This is shown in the attached drawings.

The dress-cutter blades (108) may in an embodiment be screwed onto the mandrel as shown in the drawings. The dress-cutter blades (108) may in an embodiment be welded onto the mandrel for providing ruggedness against rotational impact forces.

In an embodiment of the invention, a slot (208) is formed for each of said dress-cutter blades (108), said slots (208) cut into the top of said J-slot top stinger. An advantage of this embodiment is that the slot edges transfer torque from the blades to the plug stinger and generally stabilize the plug during run-in.

In an embodiment of the invention, a circulation sub is arranged below said J-slot top stinger (226) of said plug. An advantage of this embodiment of the invention, the circulation sub allows circulating

, DK 2023 70225 A1 well fluid during the run-in of the bridge plug (200), particularly when the plug has no through bore, no ball valve as opposite to some through bore plugs which one may circulate while running in.

In another aspect of the invention it is a method of forming and verifying a cement plug in a single run in a casing bore, the method comprising the steps of: - assembling a bridge plug (200) on a drill-pipe string conveyed through-bore bridge plug running tool (100), - said bridge plug running tool (100) comprising a cementing stinger portion (103) releasably connected to an upper part of said bridge plug (200), - said bridge plug running tool further comprising dress-cutting blades arranged about a base of said cementing stinger portion (103), - running into a well said bridge plug (200) on said running tool (100) to a target depth, - setting said bridge plug (200) in the casing, please see Fig. 0, - pulling up on said drill pipe string and disconnect said stinger portion (103) from said bridge plug — (200), - using said stinger portion (103), circulating in cement slurry on top of said bridge plug (200) to form a cement plug in said casing, please also see Fig. 0, - allowing said cement plug to set and harden, - using said running tool (100) dressing a top of said cement plug, - using said running tool (100) tagging said dressed cement plug to verify its quality.

There may be arranged flushing ports (109) from the axial bore and having their mouths between the dress-cutter blades, please see Fig. 1. these flushing ports may be used for flushing out debris cut away during dressing.

Claims

2 DK 2023 70225 A1 Claims

1. A drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) comprising - an axially extending mandrel (1) with an upper connection (101) to a drill pipe string and provided with a through bore (102) ; characterized in that - said through bore (102) extending to a lower portion of said mandrel (1) and continued into a cylindrical sleeve-shaped stinger portion (103), - said cylindrical stinger portion (103) further arranged for being releasably connected into a main bore (224) of a top stinger (226) of a bridge plug (200) arranged for being set in a casing, - said cylindrical stinger portion (103) arranged for being released from said bridge plug (200) and for depositing cement on top of said bridge plug (200), - said mandrel (1) having two or more radially extending dress-cutter blades (108) arranged for dress- cutting into a top of said deposited cement when hardened, - said dress-cutter blades (108) provided with two or more dress-cutter edges (182) extending radially beyond said cylindrical stinger (103) and arranged for cutting axially into the top of said cement when set and hardened, - said dress-cutter blades (108) and said cylindrical stinger portion (103) arranged for tagging the resulting dressed cement surface.

2. The drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) of claim 1, wherein said cutting edges (182) are generally axial-transverse to a tool axis so as for when dressing axially into said deposited cement plug forming a transverse, plane surface to be tagged.

3. The drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the dress-cutter blades (108) are arranged for spanning a significant portion of an interior diameter of said casing.

4. The drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein said cylindrical stinger portion (103) being provided with a transversely arranged front cutter blade (162) having a cutting width corresponding to an outside diameter of said cylindrical sleeve-shaped stinger portion (103).

5. The drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein said dress-cutter blades (108) have a part-helical shape about said mandrel (100).

2 DK 2023 70225 A1

6. The drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) of any of the preceding claims 1 - 4, wherein said dress-cutter blades (108) have a axial-parallel directed, radial straight shape about said mandrel (100).

7. The drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein a slot (208) is formed for each of said dress-cutter blades (108), said slots (208) cut into the top of said top stinger (226).

— 8. The drill pipe string conveyed bridge plug running tool (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein a circulation sub is arranged below said top stinger (226) of said plug.

9. A method of forming and verifying a cement plug in a single run in a casing bore, wherein the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - assembling a bridge plug (200) on a drill-pipe string conveyed through-bore bridge plug running tool (100), - said bridge plug running tool (100) comprising a cementing stinger portion (103) releasably connected into a main bore (224) of a top stinger (226) of an upper part of the bridge plug (200), - said bridge plug running tool further comprising dress-cutting blades (108) arranged about a base of said cementing stinger portion (103), - running into a well said bridge plug (200) on said running tool (100) to a target depth, - setting said bridge plug (200) in the casing, - pulling up on said drill pipe string to disconnect said stinger portion (103) from said bridge plug — (200), - using said stinger portion (103), circulating in cement slurry on top of said bridge plug (200) to form a cement plug in said casing, - allowing said cement plug to set and harden, - using said running tool (100) dressing a top of said cement plug, - using said running tool (100) tagging said dressed cement plug to verify its quality.