EP2202383A1 - Verfahren zur Erweiterung eines röhrenförmigen Elements in einem Bohrloch - Google Patents

Verfahren zur Erweiterung eines röhrenförmigen Elements in einem Bohrloch Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2202383A1
EP2202383A1 EP08172918A EP08172918A EP2202383A1 EP 2202383 A1 EP2202383 A1 EP 2202383A1 EP 08172918 A EP08172918 A EP 08172918A EP 08172918 A EP08172918 A EP 08172918A EP 2202383 A1 EP2202383 A1 EP 2202383A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tubular element
expander
expansion
wellbore
radially
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08172918A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Johannes Louis Leonardus Hessels
Serge Mathieu Roggeband
Djurre Hans Zijsling
Antonius Leonardus Maria Wubben
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Original Assignee
Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV filed Critical Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Priority to EP08172918A priority Critical patent/EP2202383A1/de
Publication of EP2202383A1 publication Critical patent/EP2202383A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
    • E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
    • E21B43/10—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
    • E21B43/103—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
    • E21B43/105—Expanding tools specially adapted therefor
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing, or removing tools, packers or the like in the boreholes or wells
    • E21B23/04—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing, or removing tools, packers or the like in the boreholes or wells operated by fluid means, e.g. actuated by explosion
    • E21B23/0411—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing, or removing tools, packers or the like in the boreholes or wells operated by fluid means, e.g. actuated by explosion specially adapted for anchoring tools or the like to the borehole wall or to well tube
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing, or removing tools, packers or the like in the boreholes or wells
    • E21B23/01—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing, or removing tools, packers or the like in the boreholes or wells for anchoring the tools or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of radially expanding a tubular element against a wall in a wellbore using an expansion assembly comprising an expander adapted to expand the tubular element against said wall by movement of the expander from a radially retracted mode to a radially expanded mode.
  • Expansion of tubular elements finds increasing use in the industry of hydrocarbon fluid production from an earth formation, whereby boreholes are drilled to provide a conduit for hydrocarbon fluid flowing from a reservoir zone to a production facility to surface. Conventionally such borehole is provided with several tubular casing sections during drilling of the borehole.
  • EP 1438483 B1 discloses a method of radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore, whereby the tubular element is suspended on a drill string extending from a drilling rig at surface into the wellbore.
  • an upper portion of the tubular element is expanded using a radially expandable mandrel to anchor the tubular element to an existing casing.
  • an expansion cone arranged at the lower end of the tubular element is pulled through the tubular element to fully expand the tubular element.
  • a method of radially expanding a tubular element against a wall in a wellbore using an expansion assembly comprising an expander adapted to expand the tubular element against said wall by movement of the expander from a radially retracted mode to a radially expanded mode, and an anchoring device for anchoring the expansion assembly to the tubular element and to suspend the tubular element in the wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
  • the tubular element By suspending the tubular element on the anchoring device, the tubular element is held in a position to allow the expander to expand the tubular element. Once an initial portion of the tubular element has been expanded against the wall, frictional forces between the expanded portion and the wall are sufficient to suspend the tubular element in the wellbore so that the anchoring device may be released from the tubular element. Further, since the tubular element is expanded by radial expansion of the expander rather than by pulling or pushing the expander through the tubular element, no drilling rig at surface is needed to provide such high pulling of pushing force. The expansion process does not require a significant axial force (push or pull) to be applied to the tubular element.
  • the tubular element can be suspended, for example, on coiled tubing through which hydraulic or electric power is supplied to the expansion assembly to expand the tubular element. This saves on rig mobilization costs. In view of the absence of a high pulling force, there is the additional benefit that the tubular element is not subjected to axial forces that may lead to unintended axial displacement of the tubular element during the initial stage of the expansion process.
  • the method suitably further comprises: (d) inducing the expander to move from the radially expanded mode to the radially retracted mode, moving the expander axially forward in the tubular element, and repeating step (c) so as to expand another portion of the tubular element against said wall.
  • Step (d) defines an expansion cycle
  • the method suitably comprises a plurality of expansion cycles including a first expansion cycle in which the expander is expanded to a first maximum diameter and a second expansion cycle in which the expander is expanded to a second maximum diameter different from the first maximum diameter.
  • the compliant expansion process minimizes variations in the sealability and expansion forces associated with the hanger of the expandable tubular element. If, for example, elastomer seals are applied on the outer surface of the hanger joint of the expandable tubular element, the compliant expansion process reduces the degree of deformation imposed on the elastomer seals. In this manner undesired squashing, extrusion or tearing of the elastomers is prevented. Since the expander is compliant to the cross-sectional dimension of the well bore, the expansion method of the invention is more efficient than conventional expansion methods using an expansion cone of fixed diameter. With the method of the invention there is no need to pump or pull an expansion cone at high force through the tubular element when clearances are tight. Neither does the wall against which the tubular element is clad, such as a casing or the rock formation, have to be expanded.
  • the expansion stroke of the expander is set to a fixed magnitude, the expanded tubular element has a substantially constant diameter over its length.
  • the expander is collapsible to a largest diameter equal or less than the outer diameter of the tubular element before expansion.
  • step (c) the tubular element is fixedly connected to said wall
  • the method further comprises releasing the anchoring device from the tubular element after the tubular element has been fixedly connected to said wall.
  • a suitable expander for practicing the method of the invention comprises a plurality of segments arranged around an expansion actuator, the segments being movable in radial direction, the expansion actuator being operable to move the segments in radial direction by axial movement of the expansion actuator relative to the segments.
  • step (c) the expansion actuator is axially moved relative to the segments so as to move the segments radially outward.
  • the expansion actuator is hydraulically operated using a hydraulic fluid supply conduit onto which, in an advantageous embodiment, the expansion assembly is suspended in the wellbore.
  • the anchoring device suitably comprises an anchor movable between a radially retracted position in which the anchor is free from the inner surface of the tubular element and a radially expanded position in which the anchor is fixedly connected to the inner surface of the tubular element, and a suspension actuator operable to move the anchor in axial direction relative to the expander.
  • step (a) the anchor is moved to the radially expanded position and the suspension actuator is induced to move the anchor in axial direction so that the expander is located in the tubular element.
  • the suspension actuator is, for example, hydraulically operated and may extend below the expander.
  • the expansion assembly is suspended in the wellbore on a string selected from drill pipe and coiled tubing.
  • the expander can have an outer surface shaped to create a corrugation in the tubular element during step (c) so that the tubular element has a corrugated profile after expansion.
  • the method of cladding a tubular element against a wellbore wall allows that multiple clads can be placed in a well.
  • a new clad can be run through, and expanded below, a previously installed clad.
  • This functionality provides a flexible remediation of water or gas break-through during the production phase of a wellbore.
  • multiple clads of the same size can be set in an open hole, for example if a severe fluid loss zone or an unstable formation is encountered during the drilling phase.
  • tubular element is clad against an existing casing or liner in the wellbore, high collapse strength is achieved since the strength of the combination of the two tubular elements against external pressure (collapse loading) is significantly higher than in case there is a gap between the two tubular elements.
  • the tubular element is not subjected to high internal fluid pressure to push a cone through the tubular element. Therefore, the method of the invention can be applied in cases wherein such high fluid pressure would exceed the pressure level up to which the connections are leak tight.
  • the expandable tubular element can have the full wall thickness, and hence associated strength, over its entire length.
  • the expandable tubular element is run open-ended and thereafter expanded over its entire length. Therefore there is no need to drill-out a shoe or launcher after running in, which otherwise would require additional rig time. Further, the expansion method is compatible with well construction applications that do not rely on cement for zonal isolation. In such applications there is no longer a need for a float shoe at the lower end of the tubular element during running in, compatible with the method of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown a wellbore 1 formed in an earth formation 2, wherein an expandable tubular element 4 is located in the wellbore 1 prior to radial expansion of the tubular element 4 against the wall 6 of the wellbore.
  • An expansion assembly 8 extends into the wellbore, comprising an expander 10 having a set of segments 18 circumferentially spaced around an expansion actuator 20. The segments are radially movable relative to a central longitudinal axis 22 of the expansion assembly 8.
  • the expansion actuator 20 is axially movable relative to the segments 18 and has an upwardly tapering outer surface 24.
  • Each segment 18 has an inner surface 26 in contact with the tapering outer surface 24 of the expansion actuator, whereby said inner surface 26 is substantially complementary in shape to said outer surface 24.
  • the segments 18 move radially outward if the expansion actuator 20 moves axially upward, and the segments 18 move radially inward if the expansion actuator 20 moves axially downward.
  • the expander 10 is in a radially expanded mode when the segments 18 are in the radially outermost position, and in a radially retracted mode when the segments 18 are in the radially innermost position.
  • the size of the expander 10 is such that, when in the radially retracted mode, a lower portion of the set of segments 18 fits inside the unexpanded tubular element 4 while an upper portion of the expander has a larger diameter than the inner diameter of the unexpanded tubular element 4. Further, when the expander is in the radially expanded mode, the tubular element 4 is expanded against the wellbore wall 6 at the level of the expander 10.
  • the expansion actuator 20 is connected to a multistage hydraulic piston / cylinder assembly 28 operable to move the expansion actuator 20 axially upward or downward relative to the segments 18. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the piston / cylinder assembly 28 via a string of coiled tubing 29 extending from surface to the expansion assembly 8. Instead of a string coiled tubing, any other suitable string can be used, such as a string of jointed drill pipe.
  • the expansion assembly 8 further comprises an anchoring device 30 located below the expander 10, including an anchor 31 movable between a radially retracted position in which the anchor 31 is free from an inner surface 32 of the tubular element 4 and a radially expanded position in which the anchor 31 is fixedly connected to said inner surface 32.
  • the anchoring device 30 also includes a hydraulic suspension actuator 34 operable to move the anchor 31 in axial direction relative to the expander 10. The suspension actuator 34 is controlled from surface by hydraulic fluid supplied via the string of coiled tubing 29.
  • the anchor 31 in a first step the anchor 31 is in the radially retracted position, and the anchoring device 30 is positioned inside the tubular element 4 while the expander 10 remains located above the tubular element 4.
  • the anchor 31 is then induced to move to the radially expanded position so as to be fixedly connected to the tubular element 4.
  • the expansion assembly 8 with the tubular element 4 suspended therefrom, is then lowered into the wellbore 1 on the string of coiled tubing 29.
  • tubular element 4 is to be located below another tubular (not shown) element already present in the wellbore, for example a casing or liner, and with a short overlapping section between the two tubular elements, suitably the tubular element 4 is at its upper end portion provided with a lock spring or similar device that snaps into a corresponding opening or groove provided at the lower end portion of the other tubular element during lowering of the tubular element 4 into the wellbore.
  • a lock spring can be an annular lock spring connected to the outer surface of the tubular element 4.
  • the expander in a second step the expander is in the radially retracted mode, and the suspension actuator 34 is hydraulically controlled from surface to move the anchor 31 with the tubular element 4 connected thereto axially upward relative to the segments 18 until the segments become partially located in the tubular element 4 and the tubular element 4 stops against the segments 18 of the expander. Then the suspension actuator 34 is controlled so that the tubular element 4 remains pressed against the segments 18.
  • the multistage piston / cylinder assembly 28 is hydraulically controlled to move the expansion actuator 20 axially upward and thereby to move the segments 18 radially outward while the tubular element 4 remains pressed against the segments 18 by suspension actuator 34. As a result, a portion of the tubular element 4 is radially expanded against the wellbore wall 6.
  • a fourth step the piston / cylinder assembly 28 is controlled to move the expansion actuator 20 axially downward so that the segments 18 radially retract. With the segments 18 radially retracted, the expander 10 is moved axially downward until the segments 18 stop against the inner surface of the unexpanded portion of the tubular element 4. Such axial downward movement of the expander 10 occurs by gravity and, if necessary, by operation of the suspension actuator 34 to pull the expander 10 downward.
  • the third and fourth steps are repeated a sufficient number of times until the tubular element becomes fixedly connected to the wellbore wall 6 so that the anchoring device is no longer necessary to suspend the tubular element 4.
  • the anchor 31 is radially retracted from the inner surface 32 of the tubular element 4.
  • the third and fourth steps are repeated until the entire tubular element 4 has been radially expanded against the wellbore wall 6.
  • the expander 10 is brought to the radially retracted mode, and the expansion assembly 8 is retrieved through the expanded tubular element 4 to surface.
EP08172918A 2008-12-24 2008-12-24 Verfahren zur Erweiterung eines röhrenförmigen Elements in einem Bohrloch Withdrawn EP2202383A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08172918A EP2202383A1 (de) 2008-12-24 2008-12-24 Verfahren zur Erweiterung eines röhrenförmigen Elements in einem Bohrloch

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08172918A EP2202383A1 (de) 2008-12-24 2008-12-24 Verfahren zur Erweiterung eines röhrenförmigen Elements in einem Bohrloch

Publications (1)

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EP2202383A1 true EP2202383A1 (de) 2010-06-30

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012037130A1 (en) * 2010-09-15 2012-03-22 Baker Hughes Incorporated Pump down liner expansion method
US8453729B2 (en) 2009-04-02 2013-06-04 Key Energy Services, Llc Hydraulic setting assembly
GB2497148A (en) * 2011-11-30 2013-06-05 Mohawk Energy Ltd An expansion tool with a swage
US8684096B2 (en) 2009-04-02 2014-04-01 Key Energy Services, Llc Anchor assembly and method of installing anchors
US9303477B2 (en) 2009-04-02 2016-04-05 Michael J. Harris Methods and apparatus for cementing wells

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004005669A1 (en) * 2002-07-06 2004-01-15 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Corrugated downhole tubulars
EP1438483A1 (de) * 2001-10-23 2004-07-21 Shell Internationale Researchmaatschappij B.V. Vorrichtung zum verrohren eines teiles des bohrloches
GB2401127A (en) * 2003-05-01 2004-11-03 Weatherford Lamb Expandable hanger with compliant slip system
GB2401890A (en) * 2003-05-20 2004-11-24 Weatherford Lamb Anchoring an expandable tubular by use of a packer
GB2402952A (en) * 2003-06-16 2004-12-22 Weatherford Lamb A method of expanding a tubing in a multiple stage process
EP1942248A1 (de) * 2007-01-03 2008-07-09 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. System und Verfahren für Röhrenausdehnung

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1438483A1 (de) * 2001-10-23 2004-07-21 Shell Internationale Researchmaatschappij B.V. Vorrichtung zum verrohren eines teiles des bohrloches
EP1438483B1 (de) 2001-10-23 2006-01-04 Shell Internationale Researchmaatschappij B.V. Vorrichtung zum verrohren eines teiles des bohrloches
WO2004005669A1 (en) * 2002-07-06 2004-01-15 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Corrugated downhole tubulars
GB2401127A (en) * 2003-05-01 2004-11-03 Weatherford Lamb Expandable hanger with compliant slip system
GB2401890A (en) * 2003-05-20 2004-11-24 Weatherford Lamb Anchoring an expandable tubular by use of a packer
GB2402952A (en) * 2003-06-16 2004-12-22 Weatherford Lamb A method of expanding a tubing in a multiple stage process
EP1942248A1 (de) * 2007-01-03 2008-07-09 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. System und Verfahren für Röhrenausdehnung

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8453729B2 (en) 2009-04-02 2013-06-04 Key Energy Services, Llc Hydraulic setting assembly
US8684096B2 (en) 2009-04-02 2014-04-01 Key Energy Services, Llc Anchor assembly and method of installing anchors
US9303477B2 (en) 2009-04-02 2016-04-05 Michael J. Harris Methods and apparatus for cementing wells
WO2012037130A1 (en) * 2010-09-15 2012-03-22 Baker Hughes Incorporated Pump down liner expansion method
US8397826B2 (en) 2010-09-15 2013-03-19 Baker Hughes Incorporated Pump down liner expansion method
GB2497148A (en) * 2011-11-30 2013-06-05 Mohawk Energy Ltd An expansion tool with a swage
US9010415B2 (en) 2011-11-30 2015-04-21 Mohawk Energy Ltd. Apparatus and method for expanding tubulars in a wellbore
GB2497148B (en) * 2011-11-30 2018-02-07 Mohawk Energy Ltd Apparatus for expanding tubulars in a wellbore

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