RU2583389C2 - Drill pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: oil and gas industry.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to oil and gas industry, in particular expansion devices, placed in casing or well tubular structure to expand annular partition within well. Annular partition comprises tubular structure installed in tubular structure of well, expandable sleeve enclosing tubular structure, and connecting part connecting expandable sleeve with tubular structure. Tubular structure has a hole and two protruding elements, reducing inner diameter of tubular structure. Device comprises tubular part, which passes between a first end part and a second end part and comprises between first and second ends at least one hole, an inner surface enveloping inner space, and an outer surface. Expansion device comprises at least first and second sealing elements tightly connected with external surface of tubular part.

EFFECT: higher reliability and tightness, simple structure of well.

24 cl, 14 dwg

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to an expansion device placed in a casing or in a tubular structure of a well to expand an annular septum within the well. The annular partition comprises a tubular structure installed as part of the tubular structure of the well, an expandable sleeve covering the tubular structure, and a connecting part connecting the expandable sleeve to the tubular structure. In addition, the invention relates to a drill pipe and coiled tubing containing the proposed expansion device, to a method of expanding an annular septum outside the casing inside the well, and also to a method of placing the expansion device in the casing inside the well.

State of the art

In boreholes, annular partitions are used for various purposes, for example, as a barrier to flow between the inner and outer tubular structures or between the inner tubular structure and the inner wall of the well. Annular partitions are installed as part of the tubular structure of the well. The annular partition has an inner wall covered by an annular expandable sleeve. In the general case, the expandable sleeve is made of an elastomeric material, however, it can also be made of metal. The ends of the sleeve are fixed on the inner wall of the annular partition.

To seal the area between the inner and outer tubular structures or between the tubular structure and the well, a second annular partition is used. On the one hand, the area to be sealed carries out the expansion of the first annular partition, and on the other hand, the expansion of the second annular partition, thereby sealing the specified area.

The expansion of the annular partition is carried out by means of expansion devices forcing pressure in the space outside the expandable annular partition. Moreover, often known expansion devices have a complex structure, which may complicate their use.

For this reason, there is a need for a device for expanding an annular partition having a simple and reliable design.

Disclosure of invention

The objective of the present invention is to fully or partially overcome the above disadvantages inherent in solutions known from the prior art. In particular, the object of the invention is to provide an improved device for expanding an annular septum outside the casing inside the well.

To solve these and various other problems, as well as to obtain the advantages and opportunities disclosed in the present description, an expansion device is proposed that is placed in the casing or in the tubular structure of the well to expand the annular partition inside the well, and the annular partition contains a tubular structure installed in the composition the tubular structure of the well, an expandable sleeve covering the tubular structure, and a connecting part connecting the expandable sleeve to the tubular structure her, and the tubular structure is equipped with a hole and two protruding elements that reduce the inner diameter of the tubular structure, while the proposed expansion device contains:

the tubular part passing between the first and second end parts and containing:

at least one hole between the first and second ends,

- the inner surface covering the inner space,

- outer surface;

at least first and second sealing elements hermetically connected to the outer surface of the tubular part,

moreover, each sealing element is installed at a distance corresponding to the distance between the protruding elements, so as to have a tight connection with the protruding parts, forming between them an outer space.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the tubular portion may be a flush.

In addition, the invention relates to an expansion device placed in a casing or in a tubular structure of a well to expand an annular partition inside the well, wherein the annular partition comprises a tubular structure installed in the tubular structure of the well, an expandable sleeve surrounding the tubular structure, and a connecting part, connecting the expandable sleeve with a tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure is provided with an opening, wherein the expansion device comprises:

a tubular part passing between the first end part (4) and the second end part (5) and containing:

at least one hole between the first and second end parts,

- the inner surface covering the inner space,

- outer surface;

at least the first and second sealing elements, hermetically connected to the outer surface of the tubular part from opposite sides and at a distance from the hole in the tubular structure,

each sealing element has an annular part and an annular flange partially protruding in the direction of the hole, the annular flange of the first sealing element protrudes in the direction of the hole and the annular flange of the second sealing element protrudes in the direction of the hole so that together the first and second sealing elements, the outer surface the tubular part and the inner surface of the tubular structure limit the external space (14).

The expansion device may also include a sliding sleeve with an opening of the movable sleeve connected to the tubular portion on the outer surface with the possibility of displacement from the closed position to the open position in which the opening of the sliding sleeve is aligned with the tubular hole.

In this case, the shift of the sliding sleeve from the closed position to the open position can be achieved by means of a ball locking the hole in the sliding sleeve.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the annular flange may protrude from the annular portion at an angle, the angle being less than 60 °, preferably less than 45 °.

According to another embodiment, the sealing element may have a V-shaped, U-shaped, L-shaped, M-shaped or S-shaped cross-section or other similar cross-section.

In addition, the sealing element may be an annular lip seal.

Between the first and second ends of the tubular part, a group of sealing elements can be placed.

In this case, the sealing elements can be placed at a predetermined distance from each other.

At least the annular flange can be made of flexible / resilient material. In addition, the annular flange may have internal resilience.

Moreover, this material may be an elastomer.

In addition, at least the annular flange may include a reinforcing element.

The reinforcing element may be a lattice or mesh embedded in a flexible material.

In this case, the flexible / elastic material may be a shape memory metal.

The expansion device includes holding means for holding the annular flange at the annular part in order to reduce the outer diameter of the annular part.

The holding means may be a spring device, a rubber band, a tearing thread, or other similar means.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the tubular portion may comprise a group of holes.

In addition, it is possible to seal the tubular part from at least one end.

In this case, the sealing of one of the end parts of the tubular part can be achieved by means of a locking ball.

The inner space can be made with the possibility of forcing pressure in it.

The expansion device may include a pressure boosting device and a heating device for heating the liquid medium.

In the inner space, it is possible to ensure the injection of pressure by increasing the pressure in a liquid or gaseous medium.

The invention further relates to a downhole system comprising the expansion device described above and a drive device, such as a downhole tractor.

The invention also relates to a drill pipe containing the expansion device described above.

The invention also relates to coiled tubing containing the expansion device described above.

In addition, the invention relates to a method for expanding an annular septum located outside the casing inside the well, comprising the following steps:

placing the expansion device described above opposite the hole in the casing, opposite which an annular partition is installed; pressurization in the internal space of the expansion device, as a result of which pressure through the hole presses the first and second sealing elements against the inner surface of the casing wall, thereby creating an external space with excess pressure; the expansion of the annular septum by forcing pressure in the inner space of the annular septum through an opening in the casing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the interior of the expansion device can be sealed at one end portion prior to pressure injection and / or during pressure injection.

In addition, the expansion device can be sealed at one end by means of a locking ball.

Finally, the invention relates to a method for placing the expansion device described above into a casing string inside a well, comprising the following steps:

reducing the outer diameter of the annular flange of the sealing element of the expansion device by pressing the annular flange to the annular part;

maintaining a reduced diameter of the annular flange using retaining means;

placing the expansion device in the casing;

shifting the expansion device to a position opposite the hole in the casing opposite which an annular baffle is installed, unlocking the holding means in order to restore the ring flange to its original diameter, thereby ensuring the readiness of the expansion device for expansion.

According to one embodiment of the invention, it is possible to unlock the holding means by pressurizing the inner region of the expansion device.

In addition, it is possible to reduce the outer diameter of the annular septum after expanding the annular septum and to the stage of removing the expansion device from the casing.

Finally, it is possible to reduce the outer diameter when pressurizing in the inner region of the expansion device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention and its many advantages are described below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which depict some embodiments of the invention, given exceptional for the purpose of illustration and not limiting the scope of patent claims in this application.

In the drawings:

figure 1 - the expansion device placed in the casing inside the well;

figure 2 - the expansion device of figure 1 with one closed end,

figure 3 - the expansion device of figure 1 with an expanded annular partition;

4 is another embodiment of an expansion device;

5 is another embodiment of an expansion device;

6 is a sealing element;

7 is another embodiment of a sealing element;

figa and 8B - sealing element with a reinforcing element;

figa and 9B is another embodiment of a sealing element;

10A and 10B are another embodiment of an expansion device;

11 is a part of a cross section of an expansion device.

All drawings are made very schematically and not necessarily to scale, with the details shown only to the extent necessary to explain the essence of the invention, while the presence of other parts is either not displayed or is only assumed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows the expansion device 1, placed in the casing 2 inside the well opposite the annular septum 15 to expand the annular septum. The annular baffle includes a tubular structure 2A, installed in the tubular structure of the well, also called casing. The annular partition comprises an expandable sleeve 17 spanning the tubular structure and a connecting portion 23 connecting the expandable sleeve to the tubular structure. The tubular design has an opening 16 for pressurizing the annular partition and thereby expanding the expandable sleeve.

The expansion device 1 comprises a tubular part 3, the inner surface 7 of which limits the inner space 8 and on the outer surface 9 of which two sealing elements 10, 11 are hermetically fixed. The tubular structure 3 has an opening 6 located opposite the opening 16 in the annular partition 15. The hole 6 may have an offset relative to the hole 16, however, only to the extent that fluid communication is maintained between the holes 6 and 16. The first of the two sealing elements, element 10, is located on the first end 4 of the tubular part 3, and the second sealing element 11 is located on the second end 5 of the tubular part, so there is some distance between them. Each of the elements 10, 11 has an annular part 12 with an annular flange 13. The annular flange 13 projects from the annular part 12 in the direction of the hole 16. Thus, the first and second sealing elements 10, 11, the outer surface 9 of the tubular part 3 and the inner surface 24 the casing 2 together form an outer space 14 in which pressure is pumped to expand the annular septum 15.

The expansion device 1 also contains a locking element 20 in the form of a ball interacting with the ball seat. The ball 20 moves in the inner space 8 of the tubular part 3 with the flow of the injected liquid medium, and when the ball contacts the specified seat, the tubular part 3 is locked, as shown in FIG. 2.

The extension device 1 is connected to a conventional drill pipe 25 or coiled tubing by means of a threaded connection 26 so that the tubular part 3 forms a part of the drill pipe 25.

As shown in figures 1-3, the annular flanges 13 of the sealing elements 10, 11 are protrusions directed inwardly into the hole 16, and after locking the ball 20 of one of the ends of the drill pipe 25 increases the pressure in the inner space 8 and, accordingly, in the outer space 14. At the same time, the pressure shifts the flanges 13 close to the inner surface 7 of the casing 2 with the formation of a tight connection between the surface 7 and the flanges 13, which leads to an increase in pressure inside the outer space 14. Moreover, as shown in figure 3, the injected liquid medium continues to flow into the inner space 8 of the annular partition 15, and the pressure increases until the expansion of the expandable sleeve 17 of the annular partition.

In Fig. 4, the tubular part 3 of the expansion device 1 is closed at one end, therefore, an additional locking element 20 is not needed to pressurize the expansion device 1. In this form, the extension device 1 is the end portion of the drill pipe 25.

The expansion device 1 of FIG. 5 comprises two first sealing elements 10 from the first end 4 of the tubular part 3 and two second sealing elements 11 from the second end 5 of the tubular part. Due to the fact that at each end there are two sealing elements 10, 11, a double safety barrier is created.

Instead of connecting to the drill pipe 25, the expansion device 1 can be connected to a drive device, such as a downhole tractor.

The sealing element 10, 11 has a base in the form of an annular part 12, hermetically enclosing the tubular part 3. The annular part 12 projects in the radial direction of the tubular part 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the annular flange 13 protrudes from the annular part 12 at an angle α to the radial direction. The angle α is less than 60 °, preferably less than 45 °. The sealing element 10, 11 is a lip seal of a hard and flexible, resilient material, such as an elastomeric polymer.

The sealing element 10, 11 of FIG. 7 has a V-shaped cross section, that is, in cross section, the protruding flange 13 and the annular part 12 form a V-shaped profile. In other embodiments, the sealing element 10, 11 may have a V-shaped, U-shaped, L-shaped, M-shaped or S-shaped cross section.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the sealing element 10, 11 may also include a reinforcing element 18. The reinforcing element 18 is made in the form of a coil spring of an alloy with shape memory, the diameter of which increases under the influence of heat, as shown in FIG. 8B. Heating can be obtained by supplying a heated fluid medium through a drill pipe.

On figa and 9B, the reinforcing element 18 is made in the form of pins, the elastic force of which is released after removing the holding means 19. Up to this point, the holding means 19 can save the reduced diameter of the flange 13 of the sealing element 10, 11 - as shown in figa.

On figa-9B, the reinforcing element 18 is embedded in the sealing part 10, 11, however, other options provide that the reinforcing element may be located outside the flange 13. You can use the reinforcing element 18 in the form of a lattice, mesh, pins or crossbars embedded in a flexible material or located outside the sealing element 10, 11.

The holding means 19 may be of any suitable design, such as that shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. The holding means 19 are connected to the ball seat of the locking element 20, and when the ball is moved and comes into contact with the specified seat, the specified seat is displaced until the axial groove 21 stops it. The result of this axial movement is the axial movement of the holding means 19, wherein the holding means are disengaged from the flange 13 of the sealing element 10, 11. After the holding means 19 are withdrawn from the flange 13, said flange is straightened outward by elastic force.

The holding means 19 may be of any suitable design.

As shown in FIG. 9A, they can break down when the flange 13 is displaced to the inner surface 7 of the casing string 2 under pressure. As a holding means 19, a rubber tape can also be used to roll along the inclined surface of the back side of the flange 13 when the pressure increases front flange flange out. The holding means 19 can also be a tearing thread, torn when the pump pressure presses the flange 13 outward.

11, an expansion device 1 placed in a casing for expanding an annular septum 15 inside the well interacts with the annular septum to obtain two tight connections between the device and the annular septum in order to increase the pressure inside the expander, inside the annular space around the expander and inside the space between the expandable sleeve and the tubular structure 2a of the annular partition. The annular partition 15 contains a tubular structure installed as part of the tubular structure of the well 2. The expandable sleeve 17 covers the tubular structure, and the connecting part 23 connects the expandable sleeve with the tubular structure. The tubular structure has an opening 16 and two protruding elements 22, reducing the inner diameter of the tubular structure and thereby the thickness of the tubular structure in two places on opposite sides of the hole in the tubular part 3. The tubular part 3 of the expansion device 1 extends between the first and second end parts 4, 5 wherein at least the first and second sealing elements 10 and 11 are hermetically connected to the outer surface 9 of the tubular part 3. Each sealing element 10, 11 is installed at a distance, respectively there is a distance between the protruding elements 22, so as to have a tight connection with the protruding elements 22. Thus, the sealing elements 10, 11 of the expansion device 1 are hermetically adjacent to the protruding elements 22 of the tubular part 3, forming an external space 14.

The expansion device 1 contains a sliding sleeve 34, inside which there is a seat, in which there is a ball 20, lowered into the fluid flow in the tubular part 3 with the aim of locking the hole in the specified saddle inside the sliding sleeve. When the ball 20 locks the sliding sleeve 34, the pressure in the inner space 8 rises until the pressure on the ball becomes sufficient to move the sleeve from the closed position to the open position. In the open position, the opening of the sliding sleeve 34 and the hole in the tubular structure are aligned with each other, and the pressure continues to increase, expanding the expandable sleeve 7.

In this embodiment, the tubular portion 3 may be a flush, a drill pipe or other conduit.

The tubular part 3 of the expansion device 1 is connected to the flush, drill pipe or similar component as a part thereof, and then lowered into the well.

The protruding elements 22 may have o-rings 25 or similar sealing means placed in grooves in order to obtain better sealing. In addition, the connecting parts connecting the expandable sleeve to the tubular structure may have o-rings 25 or similar sealing means placed in grooves in order to obtain better sealing.

In addition, the expansion device 1 may include a pressure boosting device, for example, a pump mounted on a surface on a drill rig or on a ship.

By a liquid medium or a wellbore fluid is meant any kind of liquid medium that may be present in oil and gas wells, such as natural gas, oil, oil sludge, crude oil, water or other liquid medium. By gaseous medium is meant gas of any composition present in a well, a developed well, or an open hole. Oil refers to oil of any composition, for example, crude oil, oil containing liquid, or other oil. Thus, gaseous, and petroleum, and aqueous liquid medium may contain other components or substances in addition to gas, oil and / or water.

Casing string is any kind of pipe, pipe, pipe product, inner pipe, string or the like, used inside wells for oil or gas production.

If the tool does not sink to the full depth of the casing, a downhole tractor can be used to advance it to the end of the well. A downhole tractor is any type of drive unit that enables tool advancement along a well, such as Well Tractor®.

Despite the fact that the above description relates to preferred embodiments of the proposed technical solution, the specialist in the art will be apparent various options for its modification without departing from the essence of the proposed solution defined by the claims.

Claims (24)

1. The downhole system containing:
- casing or tubular structure (2) of the well,
- an annular partition containing:
- a tubular structure (2A) for installation in the casing or tubular structure of the well,
- expandable sleeve (17), covering the tubular structure, and
- a connecting part (23) connecting the expandable sleeve to the tubular structure, the tubular structure having an opening and two protruding elements (22) that reduce the inner diameter of the tubular structure, and
- an expansion device (1) intended for placement in a casing or tubular structure (2) of a well for expanding an annular partition inside the well, the expansion device comprising:
- a tubular part (3) passing between the first end part (4) and the second end part (5) and containing:
at least one hole (6) between the first and second ends,
- the inner surface (7), covering the inner space (8), and
- the outer surface (9),
at least a first sealing element (10) and a second sealing element (11), hermetically connected to the outer surface of the tubular part,
moreover, each sealing element is installed at a distance corresponding to the distance between the protruding elements in order to hermetically connect to the protruding parts, thereby forming an external space (14) between them. 2. The downhole system according to claim 1, in which the expansion device further comprises a sliding sleeve (34) with an opening of the sliding sleeve connected to the tubular portion on the outer surface with the possibility of displacement from the closed position to the open position, in which the opening of the sliding sleeve is aligned with the tubular hole. 3. The downhole system according to claim 2, in which the sliding sleeve is displaced from the closed position to the open position by means of a ball (20) that locks the hole in the sliding sleeve. 4. The downhole system according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which the sealing of one end part of the tubular part by means of a locking ball (20) is provided. 5. The downhole system according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which in the inner space pressure is provided by increasing pressure in a liquid or gaseous medium. 6. The downhole system according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, further comprising a drive device, such as a downhole tractor. 7. The downhole system according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which the sealing element has a V-shaped, U-shaped, L-shaped, M-shaped or S-shaped cross-section, or other similar cross-section. 8. An expansion device (1) intended for placement in a casing or tubular structure (2) of a well for expanding an annular partition (15) inside the well, the annular partition comprising a tubular structure for installation in the tubular structure of the well, an expandable sleeve (17) covering the tubular structure and a connecting part (23) connecting the expandable sleeve to the tubular structure, the tubular structure having an opening, wherein the expansion device comprises:
- a tubular part (3) passing between the first end part (4) and the second end part (5) and containing:
at least one hole (6) between the first and second end parts,
- the inner surface (7), covering the inner space (8), and
- the outer surface (9),
at least a first sealing element (10) and a second sealing element (11), hermetically connected to the outer surface of the tubular part from opposite sides and at a distance from the hole in the tubular structure,
each sealing element has an annular part (12) and an annular flange (13) partially protruding in the direction of the hole, the annular flange of the first sealing element protruding in the direction of the hole and the annular flange of the second sealing element protruding in the direction of the hole, with the first sealing the element (10) and the second sealing element (11), the outer surface (9) of the tubular part (3) and the inner surface (24) of the tubular structure define the outer space (14). 9. The expansion device according to claim 8, further comprising a sliding sleeve (34) with an opening of the sliding sleeve connected to the tubular portion on the outer surface with the possibility of displacement from the closed position to the open position in which the opening of the sliding sleeve is aligned with the tubular hole. 10. The expansion device according to claim 9, in which the displacement of the sliding sleeve from the closed position to the open position is provided by means of a ball (20), locking the hole in the sliding sleeve. 11. The expansion device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-10, in which the annular flange protrudes from the annular portion at an angle, the angle (α) being less than 60 °, preferably less than 45 °. 12. The expansion device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-10, in which the sealing element has a V-shaped, U-shaped, L-shaped, M-shaped or S-shaped cross-section or other similar cross-section. 13. The expansion device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-10, in which at least the annular flange is made of flexible / elastic material. 14. The expansion device according to claim 13, wherein said material is an elastomer. 15. The expansion device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-10 and 14, in which at least the annular flange contains a reinforcing element (18). 16. The expansion device according to claim 15, wherein the reinforcing element is a lattice or mesh embedded in a flexible material. 17. The expansion device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-10, 14 and 16, in which the sealing of one end part of the tubular part is provided by means of a locking ball (20). 18. The expansion device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-10, 14 and 16, in which pressure is injected in the interior by increasing pressure in a liquid or gaseous medium. 19. The expansion device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-10, 14 and 16, further comprising a drive device, such as a downhole tractor. 20. A drill pipe containing an expansion device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-19. 21. Coiled tubing containing an expansion device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-19. 22. A method of expanding an annular septum (15) located outside the casing inside the well, comprising the following steps:
- placement of the expansion device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-19 opposite the hole in the casing, opposite which there is an annular partition;
- pressurization in the inner space (8) of the expansion device, as a result of which pressure through the hole (6) presses the first and second sealing elements against the inner surface (24) of the casing wall, thereby creating an external space with excess pressure; and
- expansion of the annular septum by forcing pressure in the inner space of the annular septum through an opening in the casing. 23. The method according to p. 22, in which the internal space of the expansion device is sealed at one end portion before the injection of pressure and / or during the injection of pressure. 24. The method of placing the expansion device according to any one of paragraphs. 8-19 into the casing inside the well, comprising the following steps:
- reducing the outer diameter of the annular flange of the sealing element of the expansion device by pressing the annular flange to the annular part;
- maintaining a reduced diameter of the annular flange using holding means;
- placing the expansion device in the casing;
- shifting the expansion device to a position opposite the hole in the casing, opposite which an annular partition is located, and
- unlocking the holding means in order to restore the annular flange to its original diameter, thereby ensuring the readiness of the expansion device for expansion.

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