EP3309351A1 - Ensemble expansif - Google Patents

Ensemble expansif Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3309351A1
EP3309351A1 EP16193476.5A EP16193476A EP3309351A1 EP 3309351 A1 EP3309351 A1 EP 3309351A1 EP 16193476 A EP16193476 A EP 16193476A EP 3309351 A1 EP3309351 A1 EP 3309351A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
expansion
unit
ball
assembly according
expansion assembly
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Withdrawn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
EP16193476.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Ricardo Reves Vasques
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.)
Welltec Oilfield Solutions AG
Original Assignee
Welltec AS
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 Welltec AS filed Critical Welltec AS
Priority to EP16193476.5A priority Critical patent/EP3309351A1/fr
Priority to US16/341,416 priority patent/US11242729B2/en
Priority to EP17783476.9A priority patent/EP3526440B1/fr
Priority to DK17783476.9T priority patent/DK3526440T3/da
Priority to PCT/EP2017/075882 priority patent/WO2018069366A1/fr
Publication of EP3309351A1 publication Critical patent/EP3309351A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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 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
    • E21B33/127—Packers; Plugs with inflatable sleeve
    • E21B33/1272—Packers; Plugs with inflatable sleeve inflated by down-hole pumping means operated by a pipe string

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an expansion assembly for connection with a drill pipe for expansion of a completion component in a well and to a downhole system.
  • an expansion assembly for connection with a drill pipe for expansion of a completion component in a well having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
  • the positioning unit may be fluidly connected with the drill pipe and pressurised fluid in the drill pipe may be supplied to the positioning unit in order to move the fixation element from the retracted position to the projected position.
  • the positioning unit may be fluidly connected with the outlet of the expansion unit.
  • the positioning unit may be fluidly connected with the outlet through a fluid channel in the wall.
  • the expansion unit may have a first opening in the first end, said first opening being in fluid communication with the second opening in an end part arranged between the second end and the second sealing element.
  • the positioning unit may comprise a second fixation element arranged opposite the first fixation element.
  • Said fixation element may be a projectable element.
  • fixation element may be an inflatable element.
  • sealing elements may be cup seals.
  • the expansion unit may comprise two first sealing elements and two second sealing elements.
  • the expansion assembly according to the present invention may further comprise a ball catching unit having a first end and a second end, the first end of the ball catching unit being connected to the positioning unit and the second end of the ball catching unit being connected to the drill pipe.
  • the ball catching unit may comprise a ball seat.
  • the ball catching unit may further comprise a fluid bypass channel which is in fluid communication with the positioning unit, so that the pressurised fluid bypasses the ball seat.
  • the ball catching unit may further comprise an aperture between the ball seat and the positioning unit.
  • the ball catching unit may have a bore between the aperture and the second end of the ball catching unit.
  • the ball catching unit may further comprise a sliding sleeve comprising the ball seat and being arranged within the bore.
  • annular cavity may be arranged between the bore and the sliding sleeve, in which annular cavity a spring is arranged, the sliding sleeve having a projection for compressing the spring as the sliding sleeve moves towards the aperture.
  • the ball seat may be constituted by several pins projecting radially inwards.
  • the ball catching unit may have a first recess configured to receive the pins as the sliding sleeve moves towards the aperture.
  • the ball catching unit may comprises a second ball seat constituted by several pins projecting radially inwards as the sliding sleeve moves towards the aperture, and the ball catching unit further comprises a second recess configured to receive the pins of the second ball seat as the sliding sleeve moves away from the apertures.
  • the recess may have an inclined face for moving the pins radially inwards.
  • the present invention also relates to an expansion assembly for connection with a drill pipe for expansion of a completion component in a well having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
  • the expansion assembly according to the present invention may further comprise a pump and a motor powered through wireline.
  • the sliding sleeve may have a sleeve bore having an inner diameter which is larger than an outer diameter of the ball.
  • the present invention relates to a downhole system comprising:
  • the expansion assembly may further comprise a driving unit/downhole tractor.
  • the positioning unit may be a driving unit/downhole tractor.
  • the present invention also relates to an expansion method for expansion of an annular barrier, comprising:
  • Said expansion method may further comprise connecting a ball catching unit between the drill pipe and the positioning unit.
  • the expansion method may comprise:
  • the ball seat may be constituted by a plurality of pins which engage a first recess when the sliding sleeve moves and the ball moves further to engage a second ball seat constituted by pins.
  • the expansion method as described above may further comprise:
  • the present invention relates to an expansion method for expansion of an annular barrier, said method comprising:
  • Fig. 1 shows an expansion assembly 1 for connection with a drill pipe 2 for expansion of a completion component 3 in a well 4 having a longitudinal axis 5, comprising an expansion unit 6 and a positioning unit 20.
  • the expansion unit 6 comprises a tubular element 7 comprising a first end 8 and a second end 10 and a wall 11 having an outer face 12 and an outlet 14 for ejection of pressurised fluid.
  • the expansion unit 6 further comprises a first sealing element 15, 15a and a second sealing element 15, 15b arranged on the outer face on each side of the outlet.
  • the positioning unit 20 comprises a body 21 and a first fixation element 22, 22a movable between a projected position and a retracted position in relation to the body.
  • the positioning unit is connected with the second end of the tubular element in order to maintain the expansion unit in a position during expansion.
  • the first fixation element 22, 22a is shown in its expanded and projected position.
  • the sealing elements are maintained in a predetermined position and thus not damaged compared to known expansion tools not having such positioning unit, and thus, the sealing elements do not have to be replaced between two successive expansions of a completion component, and expansion of several completion components in one run is then made possible.
  • the positioning unit is fluidly connected with the drill pipe 2, and pressurised fluid in the drill pipe is supplied to the positioning unit in order to move the fixation element from the retracted position to the projected position.
  • the positioning unit is furthermore fluidly connected with the outlet 14 of the expansion unit, so that pressurised fluid from the drill pipe flows into the positioning unit in order to move the fixation element to its projected position, and flows further into the expansion unit and out of the outlet to expand the completion component 3 which in Fig. 1 is an annular barrier 102.
  • the expansion assembly retracts the fixation element and moves further down the well to expand the unexpanded annular barrier 102, 102b in order to expand the next completion component 3.
  • the sealing elements are cup seals enclosing an annular space 107 opposite the completion component to be expanded.
  • the cups are pressed further against the inner face 93 of the well tubular structure 101, sealing the annular space accordingly.
  • the expansion assembly is arranged in the well tubular structure, and the drill pipe is pressurised, and the pressurised fluid is led into the positioning unit to project the fixation element of the positioning unit, and the fluid is led further into the expansion unit and out through the outlet in the wall to expand the completion component.
  • the expansion unit comprises two first sealing elements 15, 15a and two second sealing elements 15, 15b, so that if one of the sealing elements arranged closest to the outlet 14 fails, there is a back-up sealing element arranged further away from the outlet 14.
  • the expansion unit of Fig. 3 comprises only one set of cups, and a fluid channel 9 in the wall 11 of the tubular element 7 is fluidly connected with the outlet 14 in order to provide fluid to the annular space 107 between the cups 15a, 15b and the well tubular structure 101.
  • the positioning unit is fluidly connected with the outlet through the fluid channel 9 in the wall.
  • the expansion unit 6 has a first opening 16 in the first end 8, and said first opening 16 is in fluid communication through an expansion bore 25 with a second opening 18 in an end part 17 arranged between the second end and the second sealing element 15, 15b.
  • part of the tubular element 7 of the expansion unit 1 is a drill pipe and in this way, the expansion unit can straddle over several completion components, e.g. annular barriers, and expand several completion components in one pressurising step.
  • the positioning unit 20 may comprise a second fixation element 22, 22b arranged opposite the first fixation element 22, 22a.
  • the positioning unit 20 comprises two first fixation elements 22, 22a and two second fixation elements 22, 22b.
  • the fixation elements are a projectable element 23, and in Fig. 1 , the fixation element is an inflatable element 24.
  • the projectable elements 23 of Fig. 4 are projectable to their projected position by pressurised fluid entering fixation chambers 26 into which the projectable elements 23 extend, and fixation springs 27 are compressed as the fixation elements move radially outwards by means of the pressurised fluid flowing in the fluid channels 28.
  • the expansion assembly further comprises a ball catching unit 30 having a first end 31 and a second end 32, and the first end of the ball catching unit is connected to the positioning unit 20 and the second end of the ball catching unit is connected to the drill pipe 2.
  • the ball catching unit comprises a ball seat 33 in which a ball 29 is seated, as shown in Fig. 5A .
  • the ball catching unit 30 further comprises a fluid bypass channel 34 which is in fluid communication with the positioning unit 20, so that the pressurised fluid bypasses the ball seat when the ball 29 seats in the first ball seat 33.
  • the ball catching unit 30 further comprises an aperture 35 between the ball seat 33 and the positioning unit 20 near the first end 31 of the ball catching unit.
  • the ball catching unit has a bore 46 between the aperture and the second end 32 of the ball catching unit 30.
  • the ball catching unit 30 further comprises a sliding sleeve 36 comprising the ball seat 33 and being arranged within the bore 46.
  • the aperture 35 is in fluid communication with the surrounding well fluid in the well tubular structure, so that when the sliding sleeve moves towards the first end 31, the fluid in the bore flows out of the aperture 35.
  • An annular cavity 37 is arranged between the bore 46 and the sliding sleeve 36, in which annular cavity a spring 38 is arranged.
  • the sliding sleeve 36 has a projection 45 for compressing the spring 38 as the sliding sleeve moves towards the aperture 35, as shown in Fig. 5B .
  • the sliding sleeve has a sleeve bore 40 having an inner diameter ID SS which is larger than an outer diameter OD B of the ball.
  • the ball seat 33 is constituted by several pins 39 projecting radially inwards for catching the ball 29.
  • the ball catching unit 30 has a first recess 41 configured to receive the pins as the sliding sleeve moves towards the aperture, as shown in Fig. 5B , and thus the pins are forced into the recess by means of the ball being pushed further towards the first end 31 by means of the pressurised fluid.
  • the ball catching unit 30 also comprises a second ball seat 42 constituted by several pins 39 projecting radially inwards as the sliding sleeve moves towards the aperture 35. The pins of the second ball seat 42 are shown in their retracted position in Fig.
  • the pins 39 are retracted in a second recess 43, and in their projected position in Fig. 5B .
  • the second recess 43 is configured to receive the pins of the second ball seat 42 as the sliding sleeve 36 moves away from the apertures 35.
  • the recesses have an inclined face 44 for moving the pins radially inwards.
  • the ball catching unit 30 functions by a ball being dropped in the drill pipe, which ball lands on the pins of the first ball seat 33 in the sliding sleeve, and by means of the pressurised fluid, the sliding sleeve is moved in a bore in the first direction in order to compress the spring 38.
  • the pins of the first ball seat 33 engage the first recess when the sliding sleeve 36 moves, and the ball 29 moves again and engages the pins of the second ball seat.
  • the pressurised fluid enters the expansion unit in order to expand the completion component.
  • the pressure is somewhat released, and the spring 38 pushes the sliding sleeve in the second direction opposite the first direction, so that the pins of the second ball seat return into engagement with the recess 43 and the ball passes the pins of the second ball seat and moves further towards the aperture 35 into the ball catching chamber 48.
  • the expansion assembly 1 is then ready to receive a second ball when the expansion assembly is arranged opposite the next completion component to be expanded.
  • the second ball follows the same procedure as the first ball by being received firstly in the first ball seat 33 and then, as the sliding sleeve moves, in the second ball seat 42, and subsequently the second ball is received in the ball catching chamber 48.
  • the ball catching unit 30 is in Figs. 5A and 5B arranged between the drill pipe 2 and the positioning unit 20, but may also be arranged so that the ball catching unit 30 is arranged in front of the expansion unit 6 and thus connected with the first end of the expansion unit 6, as shown in Fig. 6 .
  • the positioning unit is supplied with pressurised fluid before the expansion unit, and when the pressure is reduced after expansion of the completion component, the fixation element is also retracted.
  • the expansion assembly 1 is connected with a drill pipe 2 for expansion of a completion component in a well, and the expansion assembly 1 comprises an expansion unit 6 and a ball catching unit 30.
  • the expansion unit 6 comprises a tubular element 7 comprising a first end 8 and a second end 10 and a wall 11 having an outer face 12 and an outlet 14 for ejection of pressurised fluid.
  • the expansion unit 6 further comprises a first sealing element 15, 15a and a second sealing element 15, 15b arranged on the outer face on each side of the outlet.
  • the ball catching unit 30 has a first end 31 and a second end 32, the first end 31 of the ball catching unit 30 being connected to the second end 10 of the expansion unit 6 and the second end 32 of the ball catching unit 30 being connected to the drill pipe 2.
  • the pressurised fluid in the drill pipe is then supplied to the ball catching unit 30 as described above, but the pressurised fluid by-passing the sliding sleeve is directly fed to the expansion unit.
  • the ball catching unit 30 may also be connected to the first end 8 of the expansion unit 6 and the second end of the ball catching unit 30 is connected to the drill pipe, and the ball is then passing the expansion bore 25 (shown in Fig. 3 ) of the expansion unit 6 before the ball is received in the first ball seat.
  • the ball catching unit 30 functions in the same way as described above, and the expansion assembly can be reused by dropping a second ball into the drill pipe.
  • the ball catching unit 30 may also be connected to the first end 8 of the expansion unit 6, and the ball then passes first the positioning unit 20 and then the expansion bore 25 (shown in Fig. 3 ).
  • the expansion assembly 1 is not connected with a drill pipe but with a wireline.
  • the expansion assembly 1 comprises an expansion unit 6, a pump 51 and a motor 52, which is powered through wireline 53, for driving the pump, generating the pressurised fluid which is supplied to the expansion unit 6.
  • the downhole system 100 shown in Fig. 1 , comprises a well tubular structure 101 and two annular barriers 102.
  • Each annular barrier comprises a tubular part 103 having an expansion opening 104 and mounted as part of the well tubular structure, an expandable sleeve 105 surrounding and connected with the tubular part, and an expandable space 106 between the expandable sleeve and the tubular part.
  • the expandable sleeve is expandable when pressurised fluid is let in through the expansion opening into the expandable space.
  • the downhole system 100 further comprises an expansion assembly as described above and which is arranged in the well tubular structure, so that the first sealing element and the second sealing element are arranged on opposing sides of the expansion opening to provide an annular space 107 which is pressurised with pressurised fluid in order to expand the expandable sleeve.
  • a stroking tool may be used as a pressure intensifier and is a tool comprising a piston pump.
  • the stroking tool comprises an electrical motor for driving the pump.
  • the pump pumps fluid into a piston housing to move a piston acting therein.
  • the piston is arranged on the stroker shaft.
  • the pump may pump fluid into the piston housing on one side and simultaneously suck fluid out on the other side of the piston.
  • fluid or well fluid any kind of fluid that may be present in oil or gas wells downhole, such as natural gas, oil, oil mud, crude oil, water, etc.
  • gas is meant any kind of gas composition present in a well, completion, or open hole
  • oil is meant any kind of oil composition, such as crude oil, an oil-containing fluid, etc.
  • Gas, oil, and water fluids may thus all comprise other elements or substances than gas, oil, and/or water, respectively.
  • the tubular part of the annular barrier may be a tubular metal part mounted as part of a well tubular metal structure and the expandable sleeve may be an expandable metal sleeve surrounding and connected to the tubular part defining the space.
  • a well tubular structure is meant any kind of pipe, tubing, tubular, liner, string etc. used downhole in relation to oil or natural gas production.
  • a driving unit such as a downhole tractor can be used to push the expansion assembly all the way into position in the well.
  • the downhole tractor may have projectable arms having wheels, wherein the wheels contact the inner surface of the casing for propelling the tractor and the expansion assembly forward in the casing.
  • a downhole tractor is any kind of driving tool capable of pushing or pulling tools in a well downhole, such as a Well Tractor®.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
EP16193476.5A 2016-10-12 2016-10-12 Ensemble expansif Withdrawn EP3309351A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16193476.5A EP3309351A1 (fr) 2016-10-12 2016-10-12 Ensemble expansif
US16/341,416 US11242729B2 (en) 2016-10-12 2017-10-11 Expansion assembly
EP17783476.9A EP3526440B1 (fr) 2016-10-12 2017-10-11 Ensemble expansif
DK17783476.9T DK3526440T3 (da) 2016-10-12 2017-10-11 Ekspansionssamling
PCT/EP2017/075882 WO2018069366A1 (fr) 2016-10-12 2017-10-11 Ensemble de prolongement

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16193476.5A EP3309351A1 (fr) 2016-10-12 2016-10-12 Ensemble expansif

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3309351A1 true EP3309351A1 (fr) 2018-04-18

Family

ID=57130265

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16193476.5A Withdrawn EP3309351A1 (fr) 2016-10-12 2016-10-12 Ensemble expansif

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3309351A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7017670B2 (en) * 2003-02-13 2006-03-28 Read Well Services Limited Apparatus and method for expanding and fixing a tubular member within another tubular member, a liner or a borehole
WO2010136806A2 (fr) * 2009-05-27 2010-12-02 Read Well Services Limited Packer de tubage externe actif (ecp) pour opérations de fracturation dans des puits de pétrole et de gaz
EP2818631A1 (fr) * 2013-06-26 2014-12-31 Welltec A/S Ensemble de pompage de fond de trou et système de fond de trou
GB2526596A (en) * 2014-05-29 2015-12-02 Meta Downhole Ltd Morphable apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7017670B2 (en) * 2003-02-13 2006-03-28 Read Well Services Limited Apparatus and method for expanding and fixing a tubular member within another tubular member, a liner or a borehole
WO2010136806A2 (fr) * 2009-05-27 2010-12-02 Read Well Services Limited Packer de tubage externe actif (ecp) pour opérations de fracturation dans des puits de pétrole et de gaz
EP2818631A1 (fr) * 2013-06-26 2014-12-31 Welltec A/S Ensemble de pompage de fond de trou et système de fond de trou
GB2526596A (en) * 2014-05-29 2015-12-02 Meta Downhole Ltd Morphable apparatus

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