EP1220972B1 - Perforation en sous-pression - Google Patents

Perforation en sous-pression Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1220972B1
EP1220972B1 EP00964443A EP00964443A EP1220972B1 EP 1220972 B1 EP1220972 B1 EP 1220972B1 EP 00964443 A EP00964443 A EP 00964443A EP 00964443 A EP00964443 A EP 00964443A EP 1220972 B1 EP1220972 B1 EP 1220972B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
well
chamber
casing
fluid
liquid
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00964443A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1220972A1 (fr
Inventor
James Anderson
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Andertech Ltd
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Andertech Ltd
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Publication of EP1220972A1 publication Critical patent/EP1220972A1/fr
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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
    • E21B21/08—Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure
    • E21B21/085—Underbalanced techniques, i.e. where borehole fluid pressure is below formation pressure
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
    • E21B21/16—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor using gaseous fluids

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the extraction of fluids, especially hydrocarbons.
  • a method of removing these hydrocarbons, and apparatus suitable for performing the method, is described hereinafter.
  • the invention finds particular use in the oil and gas industry during the extraction of natural gas or oil from a low pressure reservoir.
  • Extracting hydrocarbons from deep wells or at these previously worked sites requires an artificial lifting system to bring the hydrocarbons to the surface.
  • the system includes pumping means associated with a well head assembly or "tree" and a riser tubing within a well casing. Poor natural pressure reservoirs may be worked using fluid displacement systems e.g. pumping brine into a reservoir to displace hydrocarbons to surface.
  • Reservoir pressure is detectable as a fluid pressure in a borehole or well whenever an oil or gas reservoir has been intercepted by that borehole or well.
  • hydrostatic pressure or head of drilling fluid (commonly "mud")
  • the hydrostatic head is the pressure exerted by a column of liquid, having a given density, above a point a given distance below. If the hydrostatic column of mud is greater than the reservoir pressure then an overbalance exists. This overbalance keeps the well stable and prevents the hydrocarbon being produced into the well bore.
  • US-A-5,636,636 discloses a method of determining the inflow rate of solely gas or solely liquid into a well being completed in an underbalanced state and monitoring the pressure in this well after perforation.
  • This document describes a tubing string extending downwardly inside the bore of a well casing string which in turn extends into a formation containing fluid.
  • the well is then conditioned to create an underbalanced state which leaves a gas f illed space above any residual liquid in the well bore.
  • the levels of the liquid in both the bore of the tubing and the annulus formed between the casing and the tubing can be determined by testing.
  • the casing is then perforated to permit fluid from the formation to flow into the wellbore.
  • An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate at least some or all of the disadvantages of the known underbalance methods and to further improve hydrocarbon production techniques.
  • a further object of the invention is to offer the industry an environmentally acceptable method of underbalancing a well.
  • a still further object of the invention is to provide a tool for use in underbalancing a well which tool is of a relatively simple design, offering advantages in ease of installation and safety.
  • the present invention provides a method of initiating production as specified in claim 1.
  • a key feature recognisable in the method is that the steps required to achieve the pressure underbalance adjustments are undertaken "topside" of the well, rather than down at the reservoir depths. Furthermore, the pressure adjustments are achievable using environmentally safe methods utilising gas and fluids which are recoverable within the proposed protocols. Furthermore, the simplicity of the method is recognisable in that the invention selectively substitutes a part of the volume of the fluid standing over the hydrocarbon with a corresponding volume of gas to effect the necessary pressure adjustments.
  • the displaceable liquid to be used in the underbalance method of the invention may be a typical completion fluid or brine, containing sodium chloride or calcium chloride, for example.
  • the sealing step may further include cementing the casing in place by filling the annular space between the casing and the bore hole. This prevents any unwanted fluids entering the annular space.
  • the gaseous material used may consist of, or include nitrogen.
  • a method of underbalancing a well which does not have sufficient pressure to provide flow from a reservoir to be tapped, by introduction of a gas to displace fluid from tubing forming part of the well characterised by installing in an upper part of the well tubing remote from the reservoir an underbalance tool having means for pumping fluids separately therethrough and an associated tool tubing of narrower bore than the well tubing and of a pre-selected length capable of penetrating into the well tubing to a predetermined depth to permit exchange of fluid in the well for gas, locating the tool tubing within the well tubing, operatively connecting the tool and its tubing to permit fluid flow therein, providing a controllable gas supply to said tool, operating the tool to deliver gas and displacing fluid from the well tubing by means of said gas to achieve underbalance.
  • Such a method is useful at the stage of completion, ideally on new wells with cemented casings or liners, but is applicable whenever the well is in a dead, killed or overbalance status.
  • the method is also applicable for minimising the risks of hydrate formation when a well has been suspended and re-entered.
  • the well has been pre-perforated or uses slotted liners, it is possible to apply the method by utilising the tool in conjunction with a downhole plug system.
  • the proposed method is particularly suited to low pressure reservoirs which cannot be underbalanced using a fluid medium.
  • the invention further provides an apparatus for use in the start up of production of hydrocarbon from a well as specified in claim 12.
  • said tubing attachable to said body is provided with a foraminated bull nose distal end.
  • the present proposal offers a quick, technically simple and cheap opportunity for underbalancing a well with a minimum risk of environmental discharge into the sea.
  • the invention offers a simple cost effective way of ensuring full hydra testing is carried out on wells requiring re-entry thereby minimising the risks of hydrate formation and reducing re-entry costs.
  • the present invention is also ideally suited to low pressure reservoirs which cannot be underbalanced using a fluid medium.
  • a well borehole 10 being drilled with a conventional drill bit 20 and a drill pipe 40 to the depth of the reservoir section 20.
  • Casing 30 is placed inside the borehole 10 as a lining to secure the hole and prevent the walls from collapsing.
  • the casing 30 is run soon after drilling the first hundred metres or so of the hole 10.
  • Sections of the casing are coupled together as with drill pipe, but they may be welded together, threaded or interlocked, and when the string reaches the required depth it is cemented in position, as shown in Fig.2. With the drill pipe in place an annulus is formed, up which drilling fluid and cuttings may travel to the surface. A deep hole will need several concentric runs of reducing diameter to make up a casing programme.
  • Primary cementing is the first job in a casing cementing programme, which takes place soon after the casing has been run. After the drill string has been removed cement is pumped down the inside of the casing to clear the hole of mud. A cementing plug is then inserted, followed by drilling fluid, which forces the cement to the bottom of the hole and up into the space between casing and hole, or between casings, until it reaches the surface along with any remaining mud. This is known as cementing up. When set, the cement 60 keeps the casing 50 in place and secures the hole against the ingress of unwanted fluids by filling the annular space between the casing and the bore wall. This provides an added barrier to the well over and above the mud column used in the drilling phase.
  • the unperforated cemented casing 50 also retains the reservoir pressure at the reservoir depth.
  • the well bore fluid is exchanged from a relatively high density drilling mud to a lower density completion fluid 110 such as a brine containing for example sodium chloride or calcium chloride which has a weight of 10ppg (997.763kg/m 3 ).
  • a relatively high density drilling mud such as a brine containing for example sodium chloride or calcium chloride which has a weight of 10ppg (997.763kg/m 3 ).
  • a lower density completion fluid 110 such as a brine containing for example sodium chloride or calcium chloride which has a weight of 10ppg (997.763kg/m 3 ).
  • the blade type or wire brush scrapers are used as a mechanical means to scrape the internal wall of the casing down to the bottom of the well. This process removes any mud cake, which has built up on the casing well by pumping sea water into the wellbore until the fluid returns have reached the required level of cleanliness.
  • the prefiltered completion brine is circulated into the wellbore.
  • the fluid column is still overbalanced by 80psi (551.58kN/m 2 ) at this stage.
  • the well 10 is completed by installing a down hole safety valve 70, a packer 80, connection tubulars 90, and a wellhead 100. After completion, the well is still overbalanced by 80psi (551.58kN/m 2 ).
  • the well After completion of the well has been successfully carried out, the well is in a condition which enables it to be underbalanced with a view to facilitating production.
  • the underbalance is achieved by running 600 feet (182.88m) of slip pipe 120 into the completion zone 130. Nitrogen 150 is then pumped under pressure into the well to remove the upper part-volume of the fluid column down to a level 160 at the end of the slim pipe 120.
  • the pump pressure required through the system is a function of how deep the slim pipe 120 is run into the well and the density of the completion fluid 110.
  • the pressure range is a function of the differential pressure at the drilling tool 20 and the rate at which the nitrogen is being pumped
  • the return line 140 for the completion fluid/nitrogen to the surge tank on deck (not shown) is choked back. This ensures that a back pressure is maintained during the nitrogen pumping operation.
  • the system can be operated from a minimum pressure of 50psi (344.74kN/m 2 ) to a maximum operating pressure of 5000psi (34473.8kN/m 2 ).
  • each productive horizon is completed by making permanent contact between it and the well bore, and installing tubing and the appropriate equipment for controlling fluid flow. Contact with each horizon may be achieved directly or by perforating the casing, as shown in Fig.5, using wireline guns 180. Completions may be single or multiple completions and separate tubings are run according to the number of productive zones. This causes the fluid level 160 to rise, offloading the well in the process.
  • Fig. 6 shows the well in the production phase after a production tree 190 has been fitted.
  • the method described eliminates the complex mechanisms and procedures utilised by existing methods. Benefit is gained from the fact that the present invention can be used to underbalance a well extremely quickly and at a far lower cost than can be achieved using existing methods.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Perforating, Stamping-Out Or Severing By Means Other Than Cutting (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
  • Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
  • Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
  • Extraction Or Liquid Replacement (AREA)
  • Drilling And Boring (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Procédé de lancement de la production d'hydrocarbures à partir d'un puits perdu ou arrêté comportant un arbre avec une enveloppe ou un doublage (30) à l'intérieur ; et un conduit d'écoulement (40) situé à l'intérieur de l'enveloppe ou du doublage (30) ; lequel puits comportant une colonne de liquide pour procurer une marge hydrostatique, lequel procédé étant caractérisé par les étapes consistant à :
    insérer un organe tubulaire (130) à l'intérieur de l'enveloppe ou du doublage jusqu'à une profondeur requise dans le liquide pour ménager une chambre (110) ;
    sceller la chambre (110) par rapport à l'environnement extérieur ;
    faire en sorte qu'une substance gazeuse s'écoule dans la chambre (110) pour créer une différence de pression entre la chambre (110) et l'environnement extérieur et occasionner ainsi un déplacement du liquide présent à l'intérieur du puits et un écoulement de celui-ci le long du conduit d'écoulement (40) ;
    recueillir le liquide déplacé à partir du puits ; et
    perforer l'enveloppe (30) pour permettre aux hydrocarbures de s'écouler.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite substance gazeuse est un gaz inerte.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel ledit gaz inerte est de l'azote.
  4. Procédé selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit fluide déplacé est un fluide aqueux de remplissage ou de terminaison.
  5. Procédé selon la revendication 4, dans lequel ledit fluide de remplissage est du chlorure de sodium, du chlorure de calcium ou de l'eau salée.
  6. Procédé selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le scellement de la chambre comprend une cémentation de ladite enveloppe ou doublage en place, en remplissant l'espace annulaire compris entre l'enveloppe ou doublage et le trou de forage.
  7. Procédé selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le scellement de la chambre comprend l'aménagement d'un scellement statique au sommet du puits pour compléter le puits.
  8. Utilisation du procédé selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes afin de lancer la production d'hydrocarbures à partir d'un nouveau puits, d'un puits en suspension ou d'un puits de ré-entrée.
  9. Utilisation du procédé selon la revendication 8 avec un système de bouchon de fond de puits.
  10. Utilisation du procédé selon la revendication 9, dans lequel le puits a été pré-foré.
  11. Utilisation du procédé selon la revendication 9, dans lequel le puits utilise des doublages fendus.
  12. Appareil susceptible d'être utilisé pour le lancement de la production d'hydrocarbures à partir d'un puits perdu ou arrêté comportant une enveloppe (30), lequel puits ayant une marge hydrostatique de liquide dans celui-ci au cours du forage, l'appareil comprenant :
    un organe tubulaire (130) pour une insertion dans l'enveloppe (30) du puits afin de ménager une chambre (110) et un conduit d'écoulement (40) ;
    des moyens d'alimentation en gaz (150) pour délivrer un gaz sous pression jusqu'à la chambre ;
    des moyens de mise en circulation de fluide pour permettre au liquide déplacé à partir du puits de s'écouler en traversant le conduit d'écoulement (40) et d'être recueilli ;
    et caractérisé en ce que des moyens pour sceller la chambre (110) par rapport à l'environnement sont prévus et comprennent un scellement statique pour sceller la chambre au sommet du puits et, en outre, caractérisé en ce que des moyens sont prévus pour perforer l'enveloppe (30).
  13. Appareil susceptible d'être utilisé pour le lancement de la production d'hydrocarbures à partir d'un puits selon la revendication 12, dans lequel les moyens pour sceller la chambre au sommet du puits sont constitués par :
    un outil incluant un corps adapté à être inséré, de manière amovible, dans un puits et ayant au moins deux canaux discrets de fluide dans celui-ci ;
    un desdits canaux de fluide étant pourvu à une extrémité d'un couplage étanche aux fluides pour une fixation sur une alimentation en gaz susceptible d'être contrôlée ;
    un des autres canaux comportant un couplage étanche aux fluides pour effectuer une ventilation du fluide vers un collecteur ; dans lequel
    ledit corps comprend, en outre, des moyens pour fixer une longueur de tubulure pour son insertion dans la tubulure du puits et pour ajuster la pression dans la tubulure du puits.
  14. Appareil selon la revendication 13, dans lequel ladite tubulure susceptible d'être fixée audit corps est pourvue d'une extrémité distale foraminée en nez de bison.
EP00964443A 1999-10-01 2000-09-29 Perforation en sous-pression Expired - Lifetime EP1220972B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9923200 1999-10-01
GBGB9923200.1A GB9923200D0 (en) 1999-10-01 1999-10-01 Fluid extraction
PCT/GB2000/003741 WO2001025595A1 (fr) 1999-10-01 2000-09-29 Perforation en sous-pression

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1220972A1 EP1220972A1 (fr) 2002-07-10
EP1220972B1 true EP1220972B1 (fr) 2003-12-10

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EP00964443A Expired - Lifetime EP1220972B1 (fr) 1999-10-01 2000-09-29 Perforation en sous-pression

Country Status (7)

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EP (1) EP1220972B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE256247T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU7537900A (fr)
DE (1) DE60007162D1 (fr)
DK (1) DK1220972T3 (fr)
GB (1) GB9923200D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001025595A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6732798B2 (en) 2000-03-02 2004-05-11 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Controlling transient underbalance in a wellbore
US7036594B2 (en) 2000-03-02 2006-05-02 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Controlling a pressure transient in a well
US7284612B2 (en) 2000-03-02 2007-10-23 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Controlling transient pressure conditions in a wellbore
US6598682B2 (en) 2000-03-02 2003-07-29 Schlumberger Technology Corp. Reservoir communication with a wellbore
US7290617B2 (en) 2004-01-13 2007-11-06 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Running a completion assembly without killing a well
US7243725B2 (en) 2004-05-08 2007-07-17 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Surge chamber assembly and method for perforating in dynamic underbalanced conditions
AU2009300240B2 (en) 2008-10-03 2013-02-21 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Method and system for predicting performance of a drilling system
US9759048B2 (en) 2015-06-29 2017-09-12 Owen Oil Tools Lp Perforating gun for underbalanced perforating
CN106930715B (zh) * 2017-05-15 2018-12-14 中国石油化工股份有限公司 油水井自推进式氮气负压返排免投捞装置及其使用方法
US11346184B2 (en) 2018-07-31 2022-05-31 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Delayed drop assembly

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4175042A (en) * 1976-10-26 1979-11-20 Texas Brine Corporation Well completion and work over fluid and method of use
US4650010A (en) * 1984-11-27 1987-03-17 Halliburton Company Borehole devices actuated by fluid pressure
US6065550A (en) * 1996-02-01 2000-05-23 Gardes; Robert Method and system for drilling and completing underbalanced multilateral wells utilizing a dual string technique in a live well
US5635636A (en) * 1996-05-29 1997-06-03 Alexander; Lloyd G. Method of determining inflow rates from underbalanced wells

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2001025595A1 (fr) 2001-04-12
DK1220972T3 (da) 2004-04-13
GB9923200D0 (en) 1999-12-01
DE60007162D1 (de) 2004-01-22
AU7537900A (en) 2001-05-10
ATE256247T1 (de) 2003-12-15
EP1220972A1 (fr) 2002-07-10

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