FR2672934A1 - LAUNCHER RELEASE SYSTEM FOR CEMENT HEAD OR SUBSEA BOTTOM TOOL, FOR OIL WELLS. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for releasing one or more launchers (12). The system comprises rotary valves (7,8) and an annulus (16,18). Reliable launch. Possibility of more than two launchers. Compact, balanced and light system.

Description

LAUNCHER RELEASE SYSTEM FOR CEMENT HEAD

  SUBSEA SUBSEA TOOL FOR OIL WELLS

  The present invention relates to the field of drilling oil wells or the like from the seabed from a working structure which may be a floating or fixed platform of any type. If the technique more particularly interested is that of off-shore drilling, the definition of well

  submarine drilling should be considered as-

  covering all the cases of application where a well is drilled from a surface covered with a height

  of water, salty or not, stagnant or not.

  The invention relates, more particularly, to the material

  riel, installation or equipment to be installed

  used to cement the inter- casing

do from such drilling.

  Without the need to describe very precisely

  the internal casing cementing technique ("inter-

  nal casing ") of a drilled well, due to the knowledge-

  knowledgeable in those skilled in the art, it should, however

  to remember that this cementing technique consists

  te to launch, inside the internal casing, a plug

  tight plug, called bottom plug, intended to clean by scraping the internal surface of the casing 1 to eliminate traces of drilling mud and avoid

the mud / cement contact.

  The launching of the so-called lower plug is ensured by means of a pressurized fluid such as,

  as much as cement After positioning, ma-

  known method, of the lower plug on the "float collar" or foot valve or retaining sleeve or the like, the overpressure which appears punctures the rupture membrane of the lower plug In a manner also known, a plug, called the top ("top

  plug "), is launched in the same casing to be pro-

  also pulsed by a pressurized fluid ("chas-

  se ") in a subsequent separate transaction,

  usually after pumping the cement slag.

  The function of the upper plug is to push back, through the lower plug, the cement or similar product previously pumped, so as to bring it up into the annular space ("annulus") between the internal casing and, or the adjacent formations,

or an external casing.

  It is understandable that such a process is difficult to implement

  used in the case of underwater drilling, because

  sound due to the fact that the ordinary cementing head carrying the plugs is 1 usually adapted to the working structure ("rig") In the case of underwater drilling, such an approach would lead to traversing, at the various traffic jams, a long path of travel between the working structure and the seabed, with all the disadvantages and problems that such

technique would induce.

  French patent application NO 90-03 129 filed

  March 07, 1990 describes an under-cementing head

  improved marine (sub-sea cementing head).

  The present invention is intended to cooperate with said cementing head and the teaching of

  request FR 90 03 129 is therefore incorporated here by re-

  In particular, the details of the operation of the cementation head and the launching of the plugs do not

will not be repeated here.

  However, the present invention relates to a system

  release of one or more "launchers" ("darts") which uses conventional launchers: it is therefore obvious that the present invention can also

  be used in cooperation with concrete heads

  underwater tation of any type, activated by the launchers in question or launchers of a type

equivalent.

  1 A release system for art launcher (s)

  is described in the patent application FR -

  03 129 (Fig 1 reference 10 and Fig 2) Such systems

  temes are well known to those skilled in the art, as well as their drawbacks: high weight, presence of tubing

  distribution of the fluid pumped under high pressure

  sion ("manifold"), lack of flexibility of use, danger of handling, fairly long installation time etc. Such a system of the prior art is also described in European patent application EP-A-0167

285, Fig 1.

  The present invention relates to a release system.

  launcher ration (s) whose design is totally

  original, to the point that it brings improvements

extremely significant.

  Said launcher (s) release system (hereinafter the "system") has three main parts:

  1 a bottom part.

  2 a modular part fixed to the

above the bottom.

  3 a rotary joint comprising side inlets of pumped fluid ("side inlet swivel") This joint is

  itself fixed above the modular part cen-

  trale The upper part of this body is adapted to form in a known manner a connection which can 1 cooperate with an appropriate part of a lifting tool or drill rod of conventional type. The central part is described as "modular".

  because, as we will see below, it can include

  carry one or more, in particular two, modules, which makes it possible to launch either two or more than two,

namely three launchers.

  The lower part can be fixed directly below the swivel fitting, allowing

launch a single launcher.

  The great interest of this concept is to be able to launch one, two or three cementing plugs

  ("cementing plugs") with a relative modification-

quick and easy system.

  This was absolutely unthinkable with systems as described for example in Fig 2 of the

  application FR -A-90 03 129 which are massive systems.

  The whole system is designed so that the fluids

  pumping in the well crosses the system from top to bottom and can circulate around the launchers or, alternatively, propel the first, then the

second launcher etc.

  This avoids the obligation of a heavy and bulky "manifold" which unbalances the tool during its

installation.

  In addition, this arrangement allows the system to be rotated, which is very important in the context of modern cementing operations, and the

  system can also be animated by an alter-

  native from top to bottom and from bottom to top ("recipro-

  cating ") which is also important in many

  lengthy operations to obtain a good quality of cementing Both movements can be performed

  killed simultaneously or separately.

  Other elements and advantages of the invention are

  described in the description which follows, as well as

in the drawings where:

  Fig 1 shows a general view in section along

  tudinal of the system according to the invention, in the con-

figuration with two launchers;

  Fig 2 shows a general view in long section

  tudinal of the submarine cementing head (or "bottom tool") described in the patent application

  aforementioned French (as indicated above, the

  details of the construction and operation of this head will not be recalled here);

  Fig 3 shows in longitudinal section the system

  teme according to the invention, during the release operation

  ration of the first launcher ("bottom dart"); Figs 4 and 5 show in longitudinal section

  1 the action of this first launcher on the head of cimen-

  tation (ejection of the first plug or "bottom plug"). Fig 6 shows in longitudinal section the system

  teme according to the invention, during the launching operation

  ment of the second launcher ("top dart").

  Figs 7 and 8 show in longitudinal section

  the action of this second launcher on the head of cimen-

  tation (ejection of the second plug or "top plug").

  In all the figures, the same numerical references

  that designate the same elements.

  1 lower part ("bottom part") 2 modular part ("modular part") 3 rotating joint with lateral fluid inlets ("side inlet swivel") 4 two lateral fluid inlets 5 connection with the lifting tool (or rod 6 connection with the drilling rod 7 pivoting plug 8 plug opening 9 positioner assembly of the system according to the invention 1 11 wiring or remote control piping 12 launcher 13 system basket 14 interior cavity of the rotating joint 15.17 areas adjacent to the upper side of the launchers 16.18 annular spaces 19 fluid outlet tube drill rod 21 casing 22 piston body (ram ram) 23 radial holes in the piston body 24 piston seat 26 underwater head basket 27 first cement plug ("bottom plug") 28 second cement plug ("top plug") 29 plug surface closing the ring finger 16,18 upper surface of the launcher 31 rupture means calibrated Pl 32 medium breaking calib re P 2 (P 2> P 1) 33 annular of the bottom tool With reference to Fig 1, the system is generally designated by (10) It is composed of three main elements which are, from bottom to top, the lower part 1 ("bottom part") (1), the modular part

  ("modular part") (2) and the rotating joint (3) at the rear

sideways (4) of fluid.

  Note that the rotating joints are natural-

  well known in the industry. These three elements are connected together in a conventional manner for the skilled person, in particular

  by suitable threads, the assembly in front of

  bear pressures of up to around

70 M Pa (10,000 psi).

  The upper part (5) of the rotary joint (3) is designed so as to form in a conventional manner a connection capable of mechanically cooperating with a lifting tool or drill rod or ("top drive"), as usually used on drilling platforms and similar installations such as drilling vessels etc. The lower part (6) of the lower part (1) of the system (10) is intended to be fixed on the

drill pipe.

  Various connection concepts can be envisaged in a conventional manner, but an advantageous concept of

  this connection (6) consists in making it mechanical-

  compatible with a (bottleneck lifting sub).

  1 This preferred version is shown in Fig 1 and allows the system to support a tensile load of up to about 250 t (500,000 pounds). Preferably, the two connections (5) and (6) will be threads known in the petroleum industry and capable of withstanding pressure constraints and

aforementioned load.

  Also preferably, the rotary joint (3) has two lateral inlets (4) of fluid in order to allow high flow rates. Naturally,

  equivalent achievements are easily achievable.

  As mentioned above, one of the great advantages

  of the system is to offer great freedom to the operators

  teurs to put the system, and all the drill rods, casings etc in rotation and /

  or reciprocating up and down ("reciproca-

  ting ") We know indeed that such movements are

  recommended in modern cementing techniques

  tion to significantly improve the quality

operation.

  The launchers (12) are of a conventional type which

  needless to describe in detail here.

  However, most preferably, they will contain a magnetic insert producing a magnetic field sufficient to be positively detected.

  from the outside of the drill pipe.

  The launchers are held in position, positively, by pivoting plugs (7),

  the central hole (8) is aligned with the longitu-

  dinal of the launchers and whose diameter is sufficient

to let the launchers pass.

  When the launchers are in place, the

  plugs (7) are arranged vertically, as shown

shown in Fig 1.

  When it is advisable to release a launcher, the corresponding plug is pivoted by a quarter of a turn, about its axis of rotation which is perpendicular

  to the longitudinal axis of the system and launchers.

  This pivoting is obtained by a positioner (9) which preferably consists of an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic motor which can be controlled by

  distance through wiring or piping (11).

  The result of this pivoting is to open to the launcher considered a passage downward through

  the bushel orifice considered The launcher is then

  propelled you to the well by the pumped fluid, as

this will be indicated below.

  1 If it has a magnetic insert, its launch can be detected positively by the detector

magnetic above.

  Finally, note that the launchers (12) are housed in the system (10) in baskets (13) Each launcher

is contained in his basket.

  Each basket is held in place by appropriate mechanical means as shown in FIG. 1 These mechanical means include means for fixing in the vertical direction and means

  centralization in the body of the system (10).

  Several routes are available to the

fluid pumped in (4).

  The fluid which is pumped at (4) first flows into the interior cavity (14), preferably

  cylindrical, of the rotating joint (3).

  In the zone (15) the fluid exerts a pressure on the upper face of the upper launcher (12) This launcher ensuring the seal with respect to the wall

  inside the basket (13), and the launcher being main-

  held in position by the vertical position of the wood-

  bucket (7), the fluid can only flow into the annu-

  laire (16) The same phenomenon occurs when

  said fluid reaches the level of the lower launcher.

  Finally, the fluid, in the configuration of 1 Fig 1, flows through the annulars (16) and (18) then through the outlet tube (19) towards the well, without launching

launchers (12).

  Fig 2 shows an entirely preferred example,

  but not limiting of the downhole tool, whose elements

  essential elements are connected under the drill rod (20), and contained in the casing (21) to be cemented: a piston body (22) ("ram piston") comprising radial orifices (23), a piston (24) sliding in said body and which comprises at its

  upper part a seat (25) for receiving the

  cores (12), and a basket (26) containing, for example, two cement plugs: (27) first plug

  ("bottom plug") and (28) second plug ("top plug").

  These elements are supplemented by various means of fixing, holding in position, pressure equalization, and release, of which, as was said above, the details are given in French patent application NO 90 03 129, to which we can

report to.

  Fig 3 shows the release of the first lan-

  heart (12) To do this, rotate the plug

  (7) from the lower part (1) of a quarter turn.

  This movement produces two simultaneous effects, that of aligning the orifice (8) with the launcher (12) and that 1 of closing down the annular space (18), at the level of the surface (29) Pumping the fluid in (4) which circulates in the modular part (2)

  around the launcher blocked in this part by the po-

  the vertical position of the plug then produces a pressure effect on the upper face (30) of the first launcher, which propels the launcher into the

  drill pipe through the conduit (19).

  Fig 4 shows the arrival of the first launcher

  (12) on the seat (25) of the piston of the downhole tool.

  The pressure of the fluid continuing to be exerted, the pressure will lead to the rupture of a first means of restraint to rupture in shear calibrated for

a pressure Pl (31).

  FIG. 5 represents the movement which then takes place: the means (31) having been broken, the launcher (12) actuates the piston (24) until the

  radial orifices (23) The fluid can then circulate

  1st towards the ring finger and the pressure Pl drops to a low P'l value The piston is braked by the

  resistance to movement of the plug (28)

  the pressures around the piston are balanced

  and no longer exert pushing force.

  A second means of restraint at break in shears-

  calibrated for a pressure P 2> PJ (32) limit

  positively the axial displacement of the piston.

(Back up).

  1 The extent of this movement is calculated, as explained in French patent application FR 90 03 129, to produce two effects: expulsion of the plug (27) from the basket (26) and release by the launcher (12) of the orifices radial (23) The fluid is then forced towards the annular (33) and propels the

  plug (27) towards the bottom of the well.

  When it becomes necessary to launch the second

  plug (28), the procedure is analogous.

  As shown in Fig 6, the plug (7) is pivoted from the modular part (2), which releases the second launcher (12), which is then propelled by

  the fluid because the surfaces (29) prevent any

  fluid flow to or through the annulars (16) (18).

  At the exit of the tube (19), the passage of the launcher

  ("dart") can be detected magnetically.

  FIGS. 7 and 8 represent the action of the second launcher on the bottom tool: the pressure accumulated behind the launcher (12) causes the means (32) to rupture and therefore a second downward movement of the piston (24), which expels the plug (28) and, at the end of the race, the radial orifices (23) will be released The pumped fluid then passes into the annular (33) and propels

  plug (28) towards the bottom of the well.

  1 The invention therefore provides a launcher release system for an underwater cementation head which, despite the complexity of the operations, and the requirements linked to the obligation to ensure 100% the release of a launcher given to a given moment, and with the obligation to avoid for example the simultaneous launching of the two launchers, manages to appear in a much more manageable form than in the prior art, with in addition the remote control from the floor of drilling which improves operator safety, and

of the operation.

  Other advantages are the balancing with respect to the vertical axis, the compatibility with the "top drive" system and the possibilities of rotary and up and down movements, as well as the very high capacity.

  pressure and lifted weight (approx 250 t; 500,000 lbs).

  COMPATIBILITY WITH "TOP DRIVE" / "ROTARY TABLE" (drilling table) Two versions of the head can be manufactured 1st version: with threaded connections, not on the right 2nd version: with threaded connections, not on the left 1 The first version allows rotation and / or reciprocation of the system with a

"top drive".

  reciprocation only with a "rotary table" (rotation would tend to loosen the threads). The second version allows reciprocation only with a "top drive" (rotation would tend to loosen the threads

with step to the left).

  rotation and / or reciprocation with a "rotary

table".

  Finally, its modular aspect and the possibility that

  as a result of launching more than two launchers is capi-

tale in the industry considered.

Claims (5)

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S   1 launcher release system ("darts") intended   born to cooperate with a bottom tool or head of ci-   underwater reporting of oil, gas and similar wells, of the type according to which launchers   are initially mechanically held in position   launching into a "high pressure" body, then released, and propelled towards the bottom of the well in a predetermined sequence by the fluid to be pumped into the well, characterized in that: the "high pressure" body (1,2 , 3) has a fluid inlet (4) in its upper part (3); the launcher (s) (12) are placed in individual baskets open at both ends and themselves positioned in the center, and along the axis   longitudinal of said body, in the general cavity-   cylindrical ment (14,15,16,18) formed in said body;   these baskets being placed between the upper arrival   lower fluid (4) and the lower fluid outlet conduit (19) to the drill pipe; 1 and in that, substantially immediately under each basket, is a mechanical retaining means (7)   and mobile which, in a position, opposes the passa-   age of the launcher down but does not oppose the passage of the fluid and which, in another position, does not oppose the passage of the launcher down but opposes the passage of the fluid.   2 System according to claim 1, characterized in   that said retaining means (7) are constituted   killed by a bushel (7) positioned transversely-   ment relative to the longitudinal axis of the system and launchers, pivotally mounted around an axis also transverse, and comprising an orifice (8) centered on the longitudinal axis of the system and launchers, of sufficient diameter to allow the passage of launchers, which bushel: in vertical position opposes the passage of the launcher by its part (a) but leaves the   fluid flow through the grooves (b).   in horizontal position (obtained by swiveling-   quarter turn) lets the lan-   heart through the hole (8) but opposes the passage fluid through its surface (29).   1 3 System according to claim 1 or 2 charac-   terized in that said retaining means   (7) are mechanically controlled by a system   teme acting through the wall of the body 1,2,3), preferably by an electric motor or a hydraulic or pneumatic system with remote control   4 System according to any one of the res-   dications 1 to 3 characterized in that the launchers (12) are slightly prestressed   resiliently in the basket (13).   System according to any one of the claims   cations 1 to 4, characterized in that the par-   upper tie (3) consists of a round joint   with one or more entries la- fluids.   6 Use of the system according to any one   claims 1 to 5, in the fields of   oil, parapetroleum, geothermal drilling water, gas and the like.