EP2368010A1 - Plug device and method of using same - Google Patents

Plug device and method of using same

Info

Publication number
EP2368010A1
EP2368010A1 EP09830631A EP09830631A EP2368010A1 EP 2368010 A1 EP2368010 A1 EP 2368010A1 EP 09830631 A EP09830631 A EP 09830631A EP 09830631 A EP09830631 A EP 09830631A EP 2368010 A1 EP2368010 A1 EP 2368010A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fluid
piston
plug device
plug
accordance
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Withdrawn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
EP09830631A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2368010A4 (en
Inventor
Geir Ueland
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.)
Completion Technology Resources
Original Assignee
Completion Technology Resources
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 Completion Technology Resources filed Critical Completion Technology Resources
Publication of EP2368010A1 publication Critical patent/EP2368010A1/en
Publication of EP2368010A4 publication Critical patent/EP2368010A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/1208—Packers; Plugs characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means
    • 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
    • E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
    • E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
    • E21B34/063—Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc
    • 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
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/13—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
    • E21B33/134—Bridging plugs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a plug device. More particularly, it concerns a plug device for use when temporarily sealing a fluid bore in a pipe, wherein the plug device includes a plug body disposed in a sealing manner in the fluid bore.
  • the completion string When preparing e.g. wells for the recovery of oil and gas from the earth's crust, a so-called completion string is set.
  • the completion string includes a temporary well barrier structured in a manner allowing it to withstand the pressure from the well until a hydraulically operated production packer has been set and function tested.
  • the temporary well barrier is removed.
  • the production tubing string Upon having removed the temporary well barrier, it is desirable for the production tubing string to be free of constrictions .
  • a so-called glass packer is known, the packer of which is blown to pieces by means of an explosive when the glass packer is to be removed, the detonation being controlled from the surface of the well. The fragments or pieces are then produced out of the well.
  • the glass packer may be crushed by means of, for example, a body introduced into the well from surface. The crushed packer is then produced out of the well.
  • explosives also represents a safety risk with respect to preparation of the plug device, typically onshore, and in connection with transport to the well.
  • the object of the invention is to remedy or to reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.
  • positional references such as “upper”, “lower”, “upstream” and “downstream”, refer to positions shown in the figures, the positions of which will be natural in the situation of use.
  • a plug device for use when temporarily sealing a fluid bore in a pipe
  • the plug device includes a plug body disposed in a sealing manner in the fluid bore, and wherein the plug device further comprises a piston arrangement structured in a manner allowing it to provide a pressure increase in an activation fluid having been introduced to the plug body via at least one channel .
  • the pipe may, for example, be a well pipe used in connection with the recovery of petroleum.
  • the piston arrangement may be disposed between a drive fluid and the plug body, the drive fluid being arranged to drive the piston arrangement from a first position onto a second position.
  • the activation fluid is at a first pressure when the piston arrangement is located in the first position, and at a second, higher pressure when the piston arrangement is located in the second position, and wherein the plug body is structured to disintegrate at a disintegration pressure being equal to or lower than the second pressure.
  • disintegrate is taken to mean that the plug body becomes sufficiently deformed to allow it to be produced out through the well pipe, for example by virtue of the plug body being crushed or split into two or more smaller pieces.
  • the piston arrangement may include a first piston which, by means of a piston rod, is connected to a second piston. It is to be appreciated, however, that the piston arrangement may be comprised of more than two pistons connected in series with one another by means of a piston rod connecting one piston to a consecutive piston.
  • the first piston may be provided with an outer piston surface exposed to the drive fluid, and an inner piston surface exposed to a first fluid located in a first fluid chamber, and wherein the second piston is exposed to the activation fluid located in a second fluid chamber.
  • the first fluid chamber is an annular space defined by a portion of the piston arrangement and a jacket portion of the plug device.
  • the first fluid is more compressible than the activation fluid.
  • the effect thereof is that the fluid in the first fluid chamber offers little resistance, relatively speaking, upon movement of the first piston, whereby as much as possible of the power of the drive fluid is transmitted to the activation fluid located in the second fluid chamber.
  • the first fluid chamber will provide a travel path for the first piston.
  • the first fluid is a gas
  • the activating fluid preferably is a liquid
  • the first fluid chamber may, for example, contain air at atmospheric pressure.
  • the second fluid chamber may, for example, contain oil.
  • the fluid pressure in the second fluid chamber initially is in the order of 1-500 bars, preferably 1-250 bars. In some instances, a higher fluid pressure in the second fluid chamber may also be required.
  • the area of the piston surface of the first piston, the area of which is exposed to the drive fluid is larger than the area of the bottom piston surface of the first piston, the area of which is exposed to the first fluid chamber.
  • the effect thereof is that the pressure transmitted to the fluid in the first fluid chamber becomes larger, relatively speaking, than the pressure of the drive fluid because the pressure is inversely proportional to the area of the piston surface.
  • the area of the piston surface of the first piston, the area of which is exposed to the drive fluid is larger than the area of the portion of the second piston, the area of which is exposed to the second fluid chamber containing the activation fluid.
  • each piston will be exposed to a corresponding fluid chamber, as explained above.
  • the piston area of one piston must be larger than the piston area of the piston following, as explained above.
  • the plug body is comprised of a hollow body made of a frangible material.
  • a frangible material is more readily disintegrated into two or more pieces than a resilient material .
  • the hollow body is filled with the activation fluid.
  • the pressure of the activation fluid is increased, the internal pressure of the plug body will increase until the plug body is disintegrated.
  • At least portions of the fluid-filled plug body are provided with an outer surface being convex in the longitudinal direction of the well pipe. Having such a design, the plug body will be able to better withstand external forces than internal forces .
  • the activation fluid may exert such a large external pressure on the plug body that it disintegrates, either by virtue of the very fluid, or by virtue of a body being pushed against the plug body by means of the activation fluid so as to be disintegrated. Tests have shown that the best disintegration effect is achieved by allowing said body to be pushed at great speed or to be rammed against the plug body.
  • the frangible material is one of, or a combination of, a ceramic material or a glass material, both of which are capable of being crushed into two or more pieces, or a composite material of a type capable of being crushed into two or more pieces.
  • the composite material may be comprised of a material made from carbon, plastics or bakelite.
  • the plug device may be provided with a rupture element structured to fix the piston arrangement against movement until the drive fluid exceeds a predetermined pressure at which the rupture element ruptures.
  • the rupture element may be a shear ring or a sleeve provided with a pre-weakened portion constituting a so-called failure locator, or the rupture element may be comprised of so-called shear pins capable of fixing the piston arrangement against movement.
  • An example of a failure locator in a shear ring is indicated by broken lines in figure 1.
  • the purpose of a rupture element is to render possible to increase the pressure on the piston arrangement whilst being retained, and simultaneous with the pressure being increasing until the rupture element ruptures and the piston arrangement is put into rapid, downward movement. Such a rapid movement will bring about a considerable activation fluid pressure surge against the plug body.
  • a method of removing a plug body placed in a plug device and disposed in a sealing manner in a fluid bore in a pipe wherein the method includes the steps of :
  • the method may further include producing the disintegrated plug body out of the well.
  • the invention relates to the use of a fluid at high pressure in order to disintegrate a plug body in a fluid bore.
  • Figure 1 shows a front elevation, in section, of a plug device according to the present invention before a supplied drive pressure has severed a rupture element in the form of a shear ring fixing a piston arrangement to the plug device;
  • Figure 2 shows the plug device of figure 1 after the drive pressure has severed the shear ring, whereby the piston arrangement has been moved downwards in the plug device and thus has produced an activation pressure having disintegrated a plug body in the plug device.
  • reference numeral 1 denotes a plug device in accordance with the present invention, wherein the plug device 1 is defined, in the longitudinal direction thereof, by an upper adapter 3 and a lower adapter 5.
  • Each of the adapters 3, 5 is connected to a well pipe 7 by means of threaded connections.
  • a person skilled in the art will appreciate that also the lower portion of the lower adapter is connected to a well pipe.
  • the adapters 3 , 5 are connected to connectors known per se (three shown) denoted in general by reference numerals 9, 9', 9", whereby the plug device 1 includes a train of adapters 3, 5 and connectors 9, 9', 9" screwed together and skilfully adapted to allow them to be disposed at dedicated places in the plug device 1.
  • the plug device 1 has an external diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the well pipe 7 at the upstream and downstream sides of the plug device 1.
  • the plug device 1 comprises a piston arrangement 20, which includes a first annular piston 22 and a second annular piston 24.
  • the first annular piston 22 is connected to the second annular piston 24 by means of a first piston rod 26 extending from the first annular piston 22 and being thread- connected to a lip portion 28 of the second annular piston 24.
  • the piston arrangement 20 may comprise more than the two annular pistons 22, 24 shown, 5 wherein the pistons are arranged in series according to the same principle explained in this document and shown in the figures.
  • first fluid chamber 30 The movements of the first annular piston 22 and the second annular piston 24 are restricted by a first fluid chamber 30 and a second fluid chamber 32, respectively.
  • first fluid chamber 30 will also be referred to as an annulars space 30.
  • the second fluid chamber 32 is in fluid communication with the interior of a plug body 36.
  • the piston arrangement 22, 24, 26 is fixed in an initial position by means of a rupture body, which is a shear0 ring 40 in the embodiment shown.
  • the shear ring 40 is fixed to the first annular piston 22 for the locking thereof, hence the entire piston arrangement 22, 24, 26, to the upper adapter 3.
  • the annular space 30 and the second fluid chamber 32 assume a maximum volume of fluid5 and a corresponding minimum fluid pressure.
  • the fluid chambers 30, 32 are secured against leakage by means of gaskets known per se.
  • the gaskets are shown in the figures but are not denoted specifically with reference numerals. o
  • the fluid of which is located in e.g. the well pipe 7 above the plug body 36 of the plug device 1
  • the increased pressure will be absorbed initially by the shear ring 40 fixing the piston arrangement 20 against movement.
  • the pressurized fluid will discharge through openings 42 in the jacket of the shear ring 40 so as to exert a compressive force on a piston surface 22 ' of the first annular piston 22.
  • said fluid will also be referred to as a drive fluid.
  • the first fluid chamber or annular space 30 contains a compressible fluid.
  • the annular space 30 may contain air at atmospheric pressure.
  • the first fluid chamber 30 may be filled with other gases having another pressure than atmospheric pressure, also pressures being lower than atmospheric pressure, whereby the annular space 30 is at underpressure.
  • air at atmospheric pressure is that it simplifies the manufacturing process of the plug device while, at the same time, it becomes safer.
  • the air in the annular space 30 offers little resistance, relatively speaking, to the force transmitted via an inner piston surface 30 ' upon movement of the first annular piston 22, insofar as the air is easily compressible, relatively speaking, by the drive fluid acting on the piston surface 22 '.
  • the upper adapter 3 is provided with one or more bores extending between the first 5 fluid chamber 30 onwards to the outside of the adapter 3.
  • the purpose of the bore(s) is to allow the fluid in the first fluid chamber 30 to be evacuated upon being compressed in response to the downward movement of the first annular piston 22. o
  • the movement of the first annular piston 22 will be transmitted via the piston rod 26 onto the second annular piston 24, and the downward movement of the annular pistons 22, 24 will continue as long as the resultant force from the drive fluid, together with the kinetic energy of the pistons arrangement 20 and the severed shear ring 40, exceeds the counter-forces exerted by the fluids located in the first fluid chamber 30 and the second fluid chamber 32.
  • an incompressible0 fluid for example oil
  • an incompressible0 fluid for example oil
  • the fluid pressure therein will increase.
  • the plug5 body 36 will be disintegrated and open to fluid throughput in the production bore 11, 11'.
  • the plug body 36 disintegrates into several fragments. It is therefore o advantageous for the plug body 36 to be made from a frangible material, for example such as, but not limited to, a ceramic material known per se or a glass material.
  • thes plug body 36 exhibits a convex surface towards said well fluid.
  • a concave shape towards the internal fluid of the plug body 36 will facilitate the disintegration of the plug body 36 as the internal fluid exerts a pressure against the internal jacket surface of the plug body 36.
  • plug body o also may be disintegrated by virtue of means known per se, which are released or introduced into the fluid bore 11.
  • Such known means may, for example, be " a ball, a rod or a so-called "prong".
  • the disintegrated plug body may then be produced out of the well .

Landscapes

  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Safety Valves (AREA)
  • Beans For Foods Or Fodder (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Lift Valve (AREA)

Abstract

A plug device (1) and a method of using same is described for use when temporarily sealing a fluid bore (11, 11') in a pipe (7). The plug device (1) includes a plug body (36) disposed in a sealing manner in the fluid bore (11), wherein the plug device (1), in order to disintegrate the plug body (36), further comprises a piston arrangement (20) structured in a manner allowing it to provide a pressure increase in an activation fluid having been introduced to the plug body (36) via at least one channel (34).

Description

PLUG DEVICE AMD METHOD OF USING SAME
The present invention relates to a plug device. More particularly, it concerns a plug device for use when temporarily sealing a fluid bore in a pipe, wherein the plug device includes a plug body disposed in a sealing manner in the fluid bore.
When preparing e.g. wells for the recovery of oil and gas from the earth's crust, a so-called completion string is set. The completion string includes a temporary well barrier structured in a manner allowing it to withstand the pressure from the well until a hydraulically operated production packer has been set and function tested.
Upon having found the production packer to be in good order, the temporary well barrier is removed.
Upon having removed the temporary well barrier, it is desirable for the production tubing string to be free of constrictions .
A so-called glass packer is known, the packer of which is blown to pieces by means of an explosive when the glass packer is to be removed, the detonation being controlled from the surface of the well. The fragments or pieces are then produced out of the well.
Experience goes to show that problems sometimes arise with respect to detonating the explosive. In such incidents, the glass packer may be crushed by means of, for example, a body introduced into the well from surface. The crushed packer is then produced out of the well.
Even though such a crushing operation normally will not affect the production of the well, the well will contain an undetonated explosive not possible to control . Such explosives are relatively powerful and may represent a considerable safety risk for the installation associated with the well.
The use of explosives also represents a safety risk with respect to preparation of the plug device, typically onshore, and in connection with transport to the well.
The object of the invention is to remedy or to reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.
The object is achieved by virtue of features disclosed in the following description and in the subsequent claims.
In this document, positional references, such as "upper", "lower", "upstream" and "downstream", refer to positions shown in the figures, the positions of which will be natural in the situation of use.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a plug device for use when temporarily sealing a fluid bore in a pipe is provided, wherein the plug device includes a plug body disposed in a sealing manner in the fluid bore, and wherein the plug device further comprises a piston arrangement structured in a manner allowing it to provide a pressure increase in an activation fluid having been introduced to the plug body via at least one channel .
The pipe may, for example, be a well pipe used in connection with the recovery of petroleum.
The piston arrangement may be disposed between a drive fluid and the plug body, the drive fluid being arranged to drive the piston arrangement from a first position onto a second position.
In a preferred embodiment, the activation fluid is at a first pressure when the piston arrangement is located in the first position, and at a second, higher pressure when the piston arrangement is located in the second position, and wherein the plug body is structured to disintegrate at a disintegration pressure being equal to or lower than the second pressure. In this document, the term disintegrate is taken to mean that the plug body becomes sufficiently deformed to allow it to be produced out through the well pipe, for example by virtue of the plug body being crushed or split into two or more smaller pieces.
The piston arrangement may include a first piston which, by means of a piston rod, is connected to a second piston. It is to be appreciated, however, that the piston arrangement may be comprised of more than two pistons connected in series with one another by means of a piston rod connecting one piston to a consecutive piston.
The first piston may be provided with an outer piston surface exposed to the drive fluid, and an inner piston surface exposed to a first fluid located in a first fluid chamber, and wherein the second piston is exposed to the activation fluid located in a second fluid chamber. In one embodiment, the first fluid chamber is an annular space defined by a portion of the piston arrangement and a jacket portion of the plug device.
Advantageously, the first fluid is more compressible than the activation fluid. The effect thereof is that the fluid in the first fluid chamber offers little resistance, relatively speaking, upon movement of the first piston, whereby as much as possible of the power of the drive fluid is transmitted to the activation fluid located in the second fluid chamber. For such an embodiment, the first fluid chamber will provide a travel path for the first piston.
Preferably, the first fluid is a gas, and the activating fluid preferably is a liquid.
The first fluid chamber may, for example, contain air at atmospheric pressure.
The second fluid chamber may, for example, contain oil.
Typically, the fluid pressure in the second fluid chamber initially is in the order of 1-500 bars, preferably 1-250 bars. In some instances, a higher fluid pressure in the second fluid chamber may also be required.
Preferably, the area of the piston surface of the first piston, the area of which is exposed to the drive fluid, is larger than the area of the bottom piston surface of the first piston, the area of which is exposed to the first fluid chamber. The effect thereof is that the pressure transmitted to the fluid in the first fluid chamber becomes larger, relatively speaking, than the pressure of the drive fluid because the pressure is inversely proportional to the area of the piston surface. Advantageously, and for the same reason, the area of the piston surface of the first piston, the area of which is exposed to the drive fluid, is larger than the area of the portion of the second piston, the area of which is exposed to the second fluid chamber containing the activation fluid.
It is to be appreciated that, in the case of the piston arrangement comprising more than two pistons, each piston will be exposed to a corresponding fluid chamber, as explained above. To be able to achieve a pressure increase from one piston to another, following piston, the piston area of one piston must be larger than the piston area of the piston following, as explained above.
In a preferred embodiment, the plug body is comprised of a hollow body made of a frangible material. A frangible material is more readily disintegrated into two or more pieces than a resilient material .
In one embodiment, the hollow body is filled with the activation fluid. When the pressure of the activation fluid is increased, the internal pressure of the plug body will increase until the plug body is disintegrated.
Advantageously, at least portions of the fluid-filled plug body are provided with an outer surface being convex in the longitudinal direction of the well pipe. Having such a design, the plug body will be able to better withstand external forces than internal forces .
The above-mentioned combination of a gas-filled first fluid chamber, a liquid- filled second fluid chamber and the differences between the areas of the pistons, provides a very good effect with respect to disintegrating the plug body.
In an alternative embodiment, the activation fluid may exert such a large external pressure on the plug body that it disintegrates, either by virtue of the very fluid, or by virtue of a body being pushed against the plug body by means of the activation fluid so as to be disintegrated. Tests have shown that the best disintegration effect is achieved by allowing said body to be pushed at great speed or to be rammed against the plug body.
Preferably, the frangible material is one of, or a combination of, a ceramic material or a glass material, both of which are capable of being crushed into two or more pieces, or a composite material of a type capable of being crushed into two or more pieces. For example, and not limited thereto, the composite material may be comprised of a material made from carbon, plastics or bakelite.
The plug device may be provided with a rupture element structured to fix the piston arrangement against movement until the drive fluid exceeds a predetermined pressure at which the rupture element ruptures. For example, and not limited thereto, the rupture element may be a shear ring or a sleeve provided with a pre-weakened portion constituting a so-called failure locator, or the rupture element may be comprised of so-called shear pins capable of fixing the piston arrangement against movement. An example of a failure locator in a shear ring is indicated by broken lines in figure 1. The purpose of a rupture element is to render possible to increase the pressure on the piston arrangement whilst being retained, and simultaneous with the pressure being increasing until the rupture element ruptures and the piston arrangement is put into rapid, downward movement. Such a rapid movement will bring about a considerable activation fluid pressure surge against the plug body.
In a second aspect, a method of removing a plug body placed in a plug device and disposed in a sealing manner in a fluid bore in a pipe is provided, wherein the method includes the steps of :
- pressurizing a drive fluid located at a downstream side of a fluid flow against which the plug body seals;
- providing movement of a piston arrangement, which is included in the plug device, from a first position onto a second position in order to produce an increase in the fluid pressure of an activation fluid being in fluid communication with a portion of the plug body; and
- allowing the pressure of the drive fluid to increase until the plug body disintegrates, and then terminating the pressurization at the downstream side of the plug device.
The method may further include producing the disintegrated plug body out of the well.
In a third aspect, the invention relates to the use of a fluid at high pressure in order to disintegrate a plug body in a fluid bore.
Hereinafter, an example of a preferred embodiment is described and is depicted in the accompanying drawings, where :
Figure 1 shows a front elevation, in section, of a plug device according to the present invention before a supplied drive pressure has severed a rupture element in the form of a shear ring fixing a piston arrangement to the plug device; and
Figure 2 shows the plug device of figure 1 after the drive pressure has severed the shear ring, whereby the piston arrangement has been moved downwards in the plug device and thus has produced an activation pressure having disintegrated a plug body in the plug device.
In the figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a plug device in accordance with the present invention, wherein the plug device 1 is defined, in the longitudinal direction thereof, by an upper adapter 3 and a lower adapter 5. Each of the adapters 3, 5 is connected to a well pipe 7 by means of threaded connections. Although not shown in the figures, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that also the lower portion of the lower adapter is connected to a well pipe.
The adapters 3 , 5 are connected to connectors known per se (three shown) denoted in general by reference numerals 9, 9', 9", whereby the plug device 1 includes a train of adapters 3, 5 and connectors 9, 9', 9" screwed together and skilfully adapted to allow them to be disposed at dedicated places in the plug device 1.
Together the adapters 3 , 5 and connectors 9 form the outer housing or enclosure of the plug device 1. In the embodiment shown, which is also a preferred embodiment, the plug device 1 has an external diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the well pipe 7 at the upstream and downstream sides of the plug device 1.
A production bore 11, which extends coaxially through the plug device 1 with respect to the centre axis of the plug device 1, is in fluid communication with the well pipe's production bore 11 ' located at the upstream and downstream sides (not shown) of the plug device 1.
Further, the plug device 1 comprises a piston arrangement 20, which includes a first annular piston 22 and a second annular piston 24. The first annular piston 22 is connected to the second annular piston 24 by means of a first piston rod 26 extending from the first annular piston 22 and being thread- connected to a lip portion 28 of the second annular piston 24. It is to be appreciated that the piston arrangement 20 may comprise more than the two annular pistons 22, 24 shown, 5 wherein the pistons are arranged in series according to the same principle explained in this document and shown in the figures.
Due to the connection between the annular pistons 22, 24, a movement of the first annular piston 22 will bring about ao corresponding movement of the second annular piston 24.
The movements of the first annular piston 22 and the second annular piston 24 are restricted by a first fluid chamber 30 and a second fluid chamber 32, respectively. Hereinafter, the first fluid chamber 30 will also be referred to as an annulars space 30.
' By means of a fluid line 34, the second fluid chamber 32 is in fluid communication with the interior of a plug body 36.
In figure 1, the piston arrangement 22, 24, 26 is fixed in an initial position by means of a rupture body, which is a shear0 ring 40 in the embodiment shown. The shear ring 40 is fixed to the first annular piston 22 for the locking thereof, hence the entire piston arrangement 22, 24, 26, to the upper adapter 3. In the initial position, the annular space 30 and the second fluid chamber 32 assume a maximum volume of fluid5 and a corresponding minimum fluid pressure.
It is to be appreciated that the fluid chambers 30, 32 are secured against leakage by means of gaskets known per se. The gaskets are shown in the figures but are not denoted specifically with reference numerals. o Upon exposing a fluid to a pressure increase in a manner known per se, the fluid of which is located in e.g. the well pipe 7 above the plug body 36 of the plug device 1, the increased pressure will be absorbed initially by the shear ring 40 fixing the piston arrangement 20 against movement. By so doing, the pressurized fluid will discharge through openings 42 in the jacket of the shear ring 40 so as to exert a compressive force on a piston surface 22 ' of the first annular piston 22.
Hereinafter, said fluid will also be referred to as a drive fluid.
As the fluid pressure gradually increases, finally it will exert a compressive force against the piston surface 22 ', hence against the shear ring 40, exceeding the shear strength of the shear ring 40. When this happens, the shear ring 40 will be divided in two, and the piston arrangement 20 will be put into downward movement .
The first fluid chamber or annular space 30 contains a compressible fluid. Advantageously, tests have shown that the annular space 30 may contain air at atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, it is to be appreciated, however, that the first fluid chamber 30 may be filled with other gases having another pressure than atmospheric pressure, also pressures being lower than atmospheric pressure, whereby the annular space 30 is at underpressure. One of the advantages of using air at atmospheric pressure is that it simplifies the manufacturing process of the plug device while, at the same time, it becomes safer.
The air in the annular space 30 offers little resistance, relatively speaking, to the force transmitted via an inner piston surface 30 ' upon movement of the first annular piston 22, insofar as the air is easily compressible, relatively speaking, by the drive fluid acting on the piston surface 22 '.
In one embodiment (not shown) , the upper adapter 3 is provided with one or more bores extending between the first 5 fluid chamber 30 onwards to the outside of the adapter 3. The purpose of the bore(s) is to allow the fluid in the first fluid chamber 30 to be evacuated upon being compressed in response to the downward movement of the first annular piston 22. o The movement of the first annular piston 22 will be transmitted via the piston rod 26 onto the second annular piston 24, and the downward movement of the annular pistons 22, 24 will continue as long as the resultant force from the drive fluid, together with the kinetic energy of the pistons arrangement 20 and the severed shear ring 40, exceeds the counter-forces exerted by the fluids located in the first fluid chamber 30 and the second fluid chamber 32.
As the second annular piston 24 is being moved downwards (in the direction towards the plug body 36) , an incompressible0 fluid, for example oil, in the second fluid chamber 32 will be forced out therefrom and will flow via the fluid line 34 and into the plug body 36. As the incompressible fluid gradually flows into the plug body 36, the fluid pressure therein will increase. At a predetermined pressure, the plug5 body 36 will be disintegrated and open to fluid throughput in the production bore 11, 11'.
Upon having disintegrated the plug body 36, as shown in figure 2, the fluid in the second fluid chamber 32 has been drained into the production fluid flowing within the o production bore 11, 11'.
Until establishing fluid flow in the production bore 11, H', the drive fluid, which caused the shear ring 40 to be divided, will fill a volume 33 above the piston arrangement 20.
Due to the piston arrangement 20 having experienced a 5 downward movement, an annular space 33 ' will form above the second piston 24.
Advantageously, and in order to allow the disintegrated plug body 36 to be produced out of the well, the plug body 36 disintegrates into several fragments. It is therefore o advantageous for the plug body 36 to be made from a frangible material, for example such as, but not limited to, a ceramic material known per se or a glass material.
To be able to withstand the pressure from the well fluid in the well pipe 7 at the upstream side of the plug body 36, thes plug body 36 exhibits a convex surface towards said well fluid. Correspondingly, a concave shape towards the internal fluid of the plug body 36 will facilitate the disintegration of the plug body 36 as the internal fluid exerts a pressure against the internal jacket surface of the plug body 36. 0 From the description above, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the shear ring 40 must be structured to be severed by a force being smaller than the force for which the plug body 36 is structured to withstand, whereby the shear ring 40 is severed before the plug body 36 ruptures. 5 Thus, the plug body 36 in the plug device 1 according to the invention may be disintegrated in a controlled and safe manner without the use of explosives or objects introduced into the well.
It is to be appreciated, however, that the plug body o according to the present invention also may be disintegrated by virtue of means known per se, which are released or introduced into the fluid bore 11. Such known means may, for example, be " a ball, a rod or a so-called "prong".
The disintegrated plug body may then be produced out of the well .

Claims

C l a i m s
1. A plug device (1) for use when temporarily sealing a fluid bore (11, 11') in a pipe (7), wherein the plug device (1) includes a plug body (36) disposed in a
5 sealing manner in the fluid bore (11), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the plug device (1) further comprises a piston arrangement (20) structured in a manner allowing it to provide a pressure increase in an activation fluid having been introduced to the plug bodyo (36) via at least one channel (34) .
2. The plug device (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the piston arrangement (20) is disposed between a drive fluid and the plug body (36) , the drive fluid being arranged in a manner allowing it to drive the pistons arrangement (20) from a first position onto a second position.
3. The plug device (1) in accordance with claims 1 and 2, wherein the activation fluid is at a first pressure when the piston arrangement (20) is located in the first 0 position, and at a second, higher pressure when the piston arrangement (20) is located in the second position, and wherein the plug body (36) is structured to disintegrate at a disintegration pressure being equal to or lower than the second pressure . 5
4. The plug device • in accordance with claim 1, wherein the piston arrangement (20) includes a first piston (22) which, by means of a piston rod (26) , is connected to a second piston (24) .
5. The plug device in accordance with claim 4, wherein theo first piston (22) is provided with an outer piston surface (22 ') exposed to the drive fluid, and an inner piston surface (30') exposed to a first fluid located in a first chamber (30) , and wherein the second piston (24) is exposed to the activation fluid located in a second fluid chamber (32) .
6. The plug device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the first fluid is more compressible than the activation fluid.
7. The plug device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the first fluid is a gas, and the activation fluid is a liquid.
8. The plug device in accordance with claim 6 or 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the first fluid chamber (30) contains air at atmospheric pressure.
9. The plug device in accordance with claim 6 or 7, wherein the fluid pressure in the second fluid chamber (32) initially is in the order of 1-500 bars, preferably 1-250 bars .
10. The plug device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the area of the piston surface (22') of the first piston (22) , the area of which is exposed to the drive fluid, is larger than the area of the lower piston surface (30 ') of the first piston (22) , the area of which is exposed to the first fluid chamber (30) .
11. The plug device in accordance with claim 5 or 10, wherein the area of the piston surface (22') of the first piston
(22) , the area of which is exposed to the drive fluid, is larger than the area of the portion of the second piston (24) , the area which is exposed to the second fluid chamber (32) containing the activation fluid.
12. The plug device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plug body (36) is comprised of a hollow body made of a frangible material .
13. The plug device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the 5 hollow plug body (36) is fluid-filled.
14. The plug device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the frangible material is one of, or a combination of, a ceramic material, a glass material or a composite material . o
15. The plug device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least portions of the plug body (36) are provided with an outer surface being convex in the longitudinal direction of the fluid bore (11) .
16. The plug device in accordance with claim 2, wherein as rupture element (40) is structured to fix the piston arrangement (20) against movement until the drive fluid exceeds a predetermined pressure.
17. A method of removing a plug body (36) placed in a plug device (1) and disposed in a sealing manner in a fluid0 bore (11) in a pipe (7) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the method includes the steps of :
- pressurizing a drive fluid located at a downstream side of a fluid flow against which the plug body seals;
- providing movement of a piston arrangement (20) , which5 is included in the plug device (1) , from a first position onto a second position in order to produce an increase in the fluid pressure of an activation fluid being in fluid communication with a portion of the plug body (36) ; and
- allowing the pressure of the drive fluid to increaseo until the plug body (36) disintegrates, and then terminating the pressurization at the downstream side of the plug device (1) .
18. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the method further includes producing the disintegrated plug body (1) out of the well.
19. Use of high pressure in order to disintegrate a plug body
(36) in a fluid bore (11) .
EP09830631.9A 2008-12-05 2009-12-03 Plug device and method of using same Withdrawn EP2368010A4 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO20085082A NO332958B2 (en) 2008-12-05 2008-12-05 Plug device
PCT/NO2009/000416 WO2010064925A1 (en) 2008-12-05 2009-12-03 Plug device and method of using same

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2368010A1 true EP2368010A1 (en) 2011-09-28
EP2368010A4 EP2368010A4 (en) 2015-09-09

Family

ID=42233426

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09830631.9A Withdrawn EP2368010A4 (en) 2008-12-05 2009-12-03 Plug device and method of using same

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20110315398A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2368010A4 (en)
NO (1) NO332958B2 (en)
WO (1) WO2010064925A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7806189B2 (en) * 2007-12-03 2010-10-05 W. Lynn Frazier Downhole valve assembly
CA2819681C (en) 2013-02-05 2019-08-13 Ncs Oilfield Services Canada Inc. Casing float tool
US9359863B2 (en) 2013-04-23 2016-06-07 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Downhole plug apparatus
US10208560B2 (en) 2013-08-22 2019-02-19 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Pressure actuated disintegration of bulk materials and oilfield related components
CA2937076C (en) * 2015-07-24 2021-11-23 Lakhena Yong Interventionless frangible disk isolation tool
CA2944297C (en) * 2015-10-06 2020-09-15 John Ravensbergen Tubular airlock assembly
NO341312B1 (en) * 2015-11-03 2017-10-09 Vosstech As Plugging device with glass disc made of industrial glass
CA2987655C (en) * 2016-12-02 2019-11-12 Armor Tools International Inc. Frangible-disc subassembly with novel seat, seal and pressure equalization ports
WO2020223815A1 (en) * 2019-05-06 2020-11-12 Armor Tools International Inc. Field-adjustable, seal-less frangible downhole pressure control and isolation device and subassembly for conduit in wellbore

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5765641A (en) * 1994-05-02 1998-06-16 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Bidirectional disappearing plug
DE69829650T2 (en) * 1997-12-12 2006-02-09 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION
NO325431B1 (en) * 2006-03-23 2008-04-28 Bjorgum Mekaniske As Soluble sealing device and method thereof.
GB0618687D0 (en) * 2006-09-22 2006-11-01 Omega Completion Technology Erodeable pressure barrier
NO329454B1 (en) * 2007-04-17 2010-10-25 Tco As Test Plug.
NO331150B1 (en) * 2008-03-06 2011-10-24 Tco As Device for removing plug
NO328577B1 (en) * 2008-04-08 2010-03-22 Tco As Device by plug

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2010064925A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2368010A4 (en) 2015-09-09
NO20085082L (en) 2010-06-07
US20110315398A1 (en) 2011-12-29
WO2010064925A1 (en) 2010-06-10
NO332958B2 (en) 2016-08-08
NO332958B1 (en) 2013-02-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20110315398A1 (en) Plug device and method of using same
EP2276907B1 (en) Plug construction comprising a hydraulic crushing body
US5479986A (en) Temporary plug system
US10119354B2 (en) Well emergency separation tool for use in separating a tubular element
US9382778B2 (en) Breaking of frangible isolation elements
EP1875040B1 (en) Stimulation tool having a sealed ignition system
EP2147188B1 (en) Device of a test plug
CN111395991B (en) Recyclable high-resistance high-pressure drilling sealing device and using method
CN104563955B (en) Steel pipe hydraulic expansion type external casing packer
AU2012301910B2 (en) Well emergency separation tool for use in separating a tubular element
EP3218572A1 (en) Multiple gas generator driven pressure supply
CN210660024U (en) Soluble bridge plug for oil field
CN217106938U (en) Bridge plug assembly
CN115341873A (en) Toe end sliding sleeve with perforation function and construction method thereof
CN114320221A (en) Bridge plug assembly
CN114585799A (en) Adjustable in situ, sealless and frangible downhole pressure control and isolation device and subassembly for conduits in a wellbore
CN115492552A (en) Drilling-free oil removal casing temporary plugging nipple and application thereof

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20110624

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
RA4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched (corrected)

Effective date: 20150807

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: E21B 33/134 20060101ALI20150803BHEP

Ipc: E21B 33/12 20060101AFI20150803BHEP

Ipc: E21B 34/06 20060101ALI20150803BHEP

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20160305