US20110266007A1 - Method of radially expanding a tubular element - Google Patents

Method of radially expanding a tubular element Download PDF

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Publication number
US20110266007A1
US20110266007A1 US12/745,768 US74576808A US2011266007A1 US 20110266007 A1 US20110266007 A1 US 20110266007A1 US 74576808 A US74576808 A US 74576808A US 2011266007 A1 US2011266007 A1 US 2011266007A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
tubular section
wellbore
expanded
section
remaining
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Abandoned
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US12/745,768
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English (en)
Inventor
Fu Joseph Hou
Petrus Cornelis Kriesels
Pieter Van Nieuwkoop
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Shell USA Inc
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Individual
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Assigned to SHELL OIL COMPANY reassignment SHELL OIL COMPANY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KRIESELS, PETRUS CORNELIS, HOU, FU JOSEPH, VAN NIEUWKOOP, PIETER
Publication of US20110266007A1 publication Critical patent/US20110266007A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
    • E21B43/10—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
    • E21B43/103—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore.
  • casing and “liner” refer to tubular elements for supporting and stabilising the wellbore wall, whereby it is generally understood that a casing extends from surface into the wellbore and that a liner extends from a downhole location further into the wellbore.
  • casing and “liner” are used interchangeably and without such intended distinction.
  • EP 1438483 B1 discloses a method of radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore whereby the tubular element, in unexpanded state, is initially attached to a drill string during drilling of a new wellbore section. Thereafter the tubular element is radially expanded and released from the drill string.
  • a conical expander is used with a largest outer diameter substantially equal to the required tubular diameter after expansion.
  • the expander is pumped, pushed or pulled through the tubular element.
  • Such method can lead to high friction forces that need to be overcome, between the expander and the inner surface of the tubular element. Also, there is a risk that the expander becomes stuck in the tubular element.
  • EP 0044706 A2 discloses a method of radially expanding a flexible tube of woven material or cloth by eversion thereof in a wellbore, to separate drilling fluid pumped into the wellbore from slurry cuttings flowing towards the surface.
  • one of the tubular element and the wellbore wall is provided with at least one seal member arranged to induce sealing of the expanded tubular section relative to the wellbore wall.
  • the tubular element is effectively turned inside out during the bending process.
  • the bending zone of a respective layer defines the location where the bending process takes place.
  • each seal member is provided at the tubular element, wherein the seal member is positioned at one of the outer surface and the inner surface of the expanded tubular section.
  • the seal member can be fixedly connected to the expanded tubular section by suitable connecting means, or it can be integrally formed with the expanded tubular section.
  • the wall of the tubular element includes a material that is plastically deformed in the bending zone, so that the expanded tubular section retains an expanded shape as a result of said plastic deformation. In this manner it is achieved that the expanded tubular section remains in expanded form due to plastic deformation, i.e. permanent deformation, of the wall. Thus, there is no need for an external force or pressure to maintain the expanded form. If, for example, the expanded tubular section has been expanded against the wellbore wall as a result of said bending of the wall, no external radial force or pressure needs to be exerted to the expanded tubular section to keep it against the wellbore wall.
  • the wall of the tubular element is made of a metal such as steel or any other ductile metal capable of being plastically deformed by eversion of the tubular element.
  • the expanded tubular section then has adequate collapse resistance, for example in the order of 100-150 bars.
  • the weight of the remaining tubular section can be utilised to contribute to the force needed to induce downward movement of the bending zone.
  • the bending zone is induced to move in axial direction relative to the remaining tubular section by inducing the remaining tubular section to move in axial direction relative to the expanded tubular section.
  • the expanded tubular section is held stationary while the remaining tubular section is moved in axial direction through the expanded tubular section to induce said bending of the wall.
  • the remaining tubular section is subjected to an axially compressive force acting to induce said movement.
  • the axially compressive force preferably at least partly results from the weight of the remaining tubular section. If necessary the weight can be supplemented by an external, downward, force applied to the remaining tubular section to induce said movement. As the length, and hence the weight, of the remaining tubular section increases, an upward force may need to be applied to the remaining tubular section to prevent uncontrolled bending or buckling in the bending zone.
  • the remaining tubular section is axially shortened at a lower end thereof due to said movement of the bending zone, it is preferred that the remaining tubular section is axially extended at an upper end thereof in correspondence with said axial shortening at the lower end thereof.
  • the remaining tubular section gradually shortens at its lower end due to continued reverse bending of the wall. Therefore, by extending the remaining tubular section at its upper end to compensate for shortening at its lower end, the process of reverse bending the wall can be continued until a desired length of the expanded tubular section is reached.
  • the remaining tubular section can be extended at its upper end, for example, by connecting a tubular portion to the upper end in any suitable manner such as by welding.
  • the remaining tubular section can be provided as a coiled tubing which is unreeled from a reel and subsequently inserted into the wellbore.
  • annular space is formed between the unexpanded and expanded tubular sections.
  • a pressurized fluid can be inserted into the annular space.
  • the fluid pressure can result solely from the weight of the fluid column in the annular space, or in addition also from an external pressure applied to the fluid column.
  • the expansion process is suitably initiated by bending the wall of the tubular element at a lower end portion thereof by any suitable means.
  • the wellbore is being drilled with a drill string extending through the unexpanded tubular section.
  • the unexpanded tubular section and the drill string preferably are lowered simultaneously through the wellbore during drilling with the drill string.
  • the bending zone can be heated to promote bending of the tubular wall.
  • the remaining tubular section advantageously is kept centralised within the expanded section.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a wellbore system during an initial stage of eversion of a liner
  • FIG. 2 schematically shows the first embodiment during a subsequent stage of eversion of the liner
  • FIG. 3 schematically shows detail A of FIG. 2 ;
  • FIG. 4 schematically shows a second embodiment of a wellbore system during an initial stage of eversion of a liner
  • FIG. 5 schematically shows the second embodiment during a subsequent stage of eversion of the liner
  • FIG. 6 schematically shows a third embodiment of a wellbore system during an initial stage of eversion of a liner
  • FIG. 7 schematically shows the third embodiment during a subsequent stage of eversion of the liner
  • FIG. 8 schematically shows detail B of FIG. 7 ;
  • FIG. 9 schematically shows the first embodiment, modified in that a drill string extending through the wellbore liner.
  • FIGS. 1-3 there is shown, in longitudinal section, the first embodiment comprising a wellbore 1 extending into an earth formation 2 , and a tubular element in the form of liner 4 extending downwardly into the wellbore 1 .
  • the liner 4 has been partially radially expanded by eversion of the wall of the liner whereby a radially expanded tubular section 10 of the liner 4 has been formed, which has an outer diameter substantially equal to the wellbore diameter.
  • a remaining tubular section 8 of the liner 4 extends concentrically within the expanded tubular section 10 .
  • the wall of the liner 4 is, due to eversion at its lower end, bent radially outward and in axially reverse (i.e. upward) direction so as to form a U-shaped lower section 16 of the liner interconnecting the remaining liner section 8 and the expanded liner section 10 .
  • the U-shaped lower section 16 of the liner 4 defines a bending zone 18 of the liner.
  • the expanded liner section 10 is axially fixed to the wellbore wall 19 by virtue of frictional forces between the expanded liner section 10 and the wellbore wall 19 resulting from the expansion process.
  • the expanded liner section 10 can be anchored to the wellbore wall by any suitable anchoring means (not shown).
  • the liner 4 is provided with a plurality of annular seal members 20 axially spaced along the liner 4 .
  • each seal member 20 is positioned at the inner surface of the remaining liner section 8 ( FIG. 1 ).
  • the seal members 20 become positioned at the outer surface of the expanded liner section 10 ( FIG. 2 ). Further, each seal member 20 is pressed against the wellbore wall 19 so as to form a seal between the expanded liner section 10 and the wellbore wall 19 .
  • the seal members 20 can be made of any suitable material adapted to withstand compression against the wellbore wall 19 , such as, for example, steel, rubber, composite material etc.
  • seal members 20 can be fixedly connected to the liner 4 by suitable connecting means, or the seal members 20 can be integrally formed with the liner 4 .
  • annular seal members 25 are connected to the wellbore wall 19 .
  • the seal members 25 can be fixedly connected to the wellbore wall 19 by suitable means, or the seal members 25 can be integrally formed with the wellbore wall. In the latter case, the seal members 25 can be formed, for example, as annular ridges extending radially inward from the wellbore wall 19 .
  • FIGS. 6-8 there is shown, in longitudinal section, the third embodiment, which is substantially similar to the first embodiment.
  • annular seal members 30 are provided at the outer surface of the remaining liner section 8 , rather than at the inner surface thereof.
  • the seal members 30 can be connected to the liner 4 by any suitable connecting means, or the seal members 30 can be integrally formed with the liner 4 .
  • the seal members 30 become located at the inner surface of the expanded liner section 10 after the eversion process whereby, at the position of each seal member 30 , the wall of the expanded liner section 8 extends further radially outward than at adjacent locations where no seal member is positioned ( FIG. 8 ).
  • a drill string 40 extends from surface through the unexpanded liner section 8 to the bottom of the wellbore 1 .
  • the drill string 40 has a bottom hole assembly including a downhole motor 42 and a drill bit 44 driven by the downhole motor 42 .
  • the drill bit 44 comprises a pilot bit 46 with gauge diameter slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the remaining liner section 8 , and a reamer section 48 with gauge diameter adapted to drill the wellbore 1 to its nominal diameter.
  • the reamer section 48 is radially retractable to an outer diameter allowing it to pass through unexpanded liner section 8 , so that the drill string 40 can be retrieved through the unexpanded liner section 8 to surface.
  • a lower end portion of the liner 4 is initially everted, that is, the lower portion is bent radially outward and in axially reverse direction.
  • the U-shaped lower section 16 and the expanded liner section 10 are thereby initiated.
  • the short length of expanded liner section 10 that has been formed is anchored to the wellbore wall by any suitable anchoring means.
  • the expanded liner section 10 alternatively can become anchored to the wellbore wall automatically due to friction between the expanded liner section 10 and the wellbore wall 19 .
  • a downward force F of sufficient magnitude is then applied to the unexpanded liner section 8 in order to move the unexpanded liner section 8 gradually downward.
  • the unexpanded liner section 8 is progressively everted thereby progressively transforming the unexpanded liner section 8 into the expanded liner section 10 .
  • the bending zone 18 moves in downward direction at approximately half the speed of movement of the unexpanded liner section 8 .
  • the seal members 20 move from the inside of the remaining liner section 8 to the outside of the expanded liner section 10 . Since the outer surface of the expanded liner section 10 is of a diameter substantially equal to the wellbore diameter, and because the seal members 20 extend radially outward from said outer surface, the seal members become compressed between the expanded liner section 10 and the wellbore wall 19 . The seal members are thereby subjected to a radially inward reaction force from the wellbore wall 19 , which induces a slight elastic deformation of the wall of the expanded liner section 10 . Due to this elastic deformation, the seal members 20 remain pressed against the wellbore wall 19 so that the expanded liner section 10 is permanently sealed against the wellbore wall 19 .
  • the diameter and/or wall thickness of the liner 4 can be selected such that portions of the expanded liner section 10 inbetween adjacent seal members 20 become pressed against the wellbore wall 19 as a result of the expansion process so as to seal against the wellbore wall and/or to stabilize the wellbore wall.
  • the seal members 20 provide additional sealing capacity.
  • the magnitude of downward force F can be decreased gradually in correspondence with the increased weight of section 8 .
  • Normal operation of the second embodiment is substantially similar to normal operation of the first embodiment, however differing in that the seal members 25 are connected to, or integrally formed with, the wellbore wall 19 prior to eversion of liner 4 .
  • the seal members 25 successively become compressed between the expanded liner section 10 and the wellbore wall 19 ( FIG. 5 ).
  • Normal operation of the third embodiment is substantially similar to normal of the first embodiment.
  • the seal members 30 become located at the inner surface of the expanded liner section 10 after the eversion process.
  • the bending resistance of the wall of the liner 4 is higher at locations where the seal members 30 are connected to the liner, than at adjacent locations where no seal members are located. Therefore, at the location of each seal member 30 , the wall of the liner 4 bends at a larger bending radius during the eversion process than at adjacent locations where no seal member is positioned.
  • a portion 32 of the wall of the expanded liner section 8 extends further radially outward than at the adjacent locations ( FIG. 8 ).
  • Each wall portion 32 thereby become pressed against the wellbore wall 19 and is subjected to a radially inward reaction force from the wellbore wall 19 , which induces a slight elastic deformation of the wall portion 32 .
  • This elastic deformation causes the wall portions 32 to remain pressed against the wellbore wall 19 so that the expanded liner section 10 is permanently sealed against the wellbore wall 19 .
  • the diameter and/or wall thickness of the liner 4 can be selected such that portions of the expanded liner section 10 inbetween the wall portions 32 also become pressed against the wellbore wall 19 as a result of the expansion process. In such case, the wall portions 32 provide additional sealing capacity.
  • Normal operation of the modified first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is substantially similar to normal operation of the first embodiment regarding eversion of the liner 4 .
  • the downhole motor 42 is operated to rotate the drill bit 44 so as to deepen the wellbore 1 by further drilling. Thereby, the drill string 40 gradually moves downward into the wellbore 1 .
  • the remaining liner section 8 is simultaneously moved downward in a controlled manner, and at substantially the same speed as the drill string 40 , whereby it is ensured that the bending zone 18 remains at a short distance above the drill bit 44 .
  • Such controlled lowering of the remaining liner section 8 can be achieved by controlling the downward force F referred to hereinbefore.
  • the downward force F needs to be applied to the unexpanded liner section 8 to induce lowering thereof simultaneously with lowering of the drill string 40 .
  • the magnitude of downward force F can be gradually decreased, and eventually may be replaced by an upward force to prevent buckling of the unexpanded liner section 8 .
  • Such upward force can be applied to the remaining liner section 8 at surface, or it can be applied to the drill string 40 and transmitted to the remaining liner section 8 by suitable force transmission means (not shown).
  • the weight of the unexpanded liner section 8 in combination with the force F (if any), also can be used to provide a thrust force to the drill bit 44 during drilling of the wellbore 1 .
  • Simultaneous lowering of the remaining liner section 8 and the drill string 40 also can be achieved by axially restraining the remaining liner section 8 to the drill string 40 .
  • the drill string 40 can be provided with a bearing device (not shown) that supports the U-shaped lower section 16 of the liner 4 .
  • the reamer section 42 brought to its radially retracted mode. Subsequently the drill string 24 is retrieved through the unexpanded liner section 8 to surface.
  • seal members may be provided at the inner surface of the remaining liner section, at the outer surface of the remaining liner section, and at the wellbore wall in a single application.
  • each annular seal member preferably is made of, or include, a swellable elastomer susceptible of swelling upon contact with wellbore fluid and/or formation fluid. It is thereby achieved that sealing of the seal members against the wellbore wall, after swelling of the swellable elastomer, is enhanced.
  • each annular seal member is provided with a protective coating that ruptures upon radial expansion of the seal member as it passes through the bending zone, or upon compression of the seal member between the expanded liner section and the wellbore wall. After rupturing of the protective coating, the swellable elastomer becomes exposed to the wellbore fluid or formation fluid and thereby starts swelling. If there is little or no space for the seal member to swell, the seal member becomes more firmly compressed between the wellbore wall and the expanded liner section thereby enhancing its sealing functionality.
  • the length of unexpanded liner section 8 that is still present in the wellbore 1 can be left in the wellbore or it can be cut-off from the expanded liner section 10 and retrieved to surface.
  • one or more holes are provided in the U-shaped lower section 16 to allow the pumped fluid to be circulated.
  • C) cement is pumped into the annular space in order to create, after hardening of the cement, a solid body between the unexpanded liner section 8 and the expanded liner section 10 , whereby the cement may expand upon hardening.
  • D) the unexpanded liner section 8 is radially expanded (i.e. clad) against the expanded liner section 10 , for example by pumping, pushing or pulling an expander through the unexpanded liner section 8 .
  • expansion of the liner is started at surface or at a downhole location.
  • an offshore wellbore whereby an offshore platform is positioned above the wellbore, at the water surface, it can be advantageous to start the expansion process at the offshore platform.
  • the bending zone moves from the offshore platform to the seabed and from there further into the wellbore.
  • the resulting expanded tubular element not only forms a liner in the wellbore, but also a riser extending from the offshore platform to the seabed. The need for a separate riser from is thereby obviated.
  • conduits such as electric wires or optical fibres for communication with downhole equipment can be extended in the annular space between the expanded and unexpanded sections.
  • Such conduits can be attached to the outer surface of the tubular element before expansion thereof.
  • the expanded and unexpanded liner sections can be used as electricity conductors to transfer data and/or power downhole.
  • any length of unexpanded liner section that is still present in the wellbore after the eversion process is finalised is subjected to less stringent loading conditions than the expanded liner section, such length of unexpanded liner section may have a smaller wall thickness, or may be of lower quality or steel grade, than the expanded liner section.
  • it may be made of pipe having a relatively low yield strength or relatively low collapse rating.
  • the entire liner can be expanded with the method of the invention so that no unexpanded liner section remains in the wellbore.
  • an elongate member for example a pipe string, can be used to exert the necessary downward force F to the unexpanded liner section during the last phase of the expansion process.
  • a friction reducing layer such as a Teflon layer
  • a friction reducing coating can be applied to the outer surface of the tubular element before expansion.
  • Such layer of friction reducing material furthermore reduces the annular clearance between the unexpanded and expanded sections, thus resulting in a reduced buckling tendency of the unexpanded section.
  • centralizing pads and/or rollers can be applied between the unexpanded and expanded sections to reduce the friction forces and the annular clearance there-between.
  • the expanded liner section can be expanded against the inner surface of another tubular element already present in the wellbore.
US12/745,768 2007-12-04 2008-12-02 Method of radially expanding a tubular element Abandoned US20110266007A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07122208 2007-12-04
EP07122208.7 2007-12-04
PCT/EP2008/066620 WO2009071536A1 (fr) 2007-12-04 2008-12-02 Procédé d'expansion radiale d'un élément tubulaire

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US20110266007A1 true US20110266007A1 (en) 2011-11-03

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US12/745,768 Abandoned US20110266007A1 (en) 2007-12-04 2008-12-02 Method of radially expanding a tubular element

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US20110266007A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN101883909B (fr)
AU (1) AU2008333299B2 (fr)
BR (1) BRPI0819650A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2704076C (fr)
GB (1) GB2469399B (fr)
WO (1) WO2009071536A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100263859A1 (en) * 2007-12-13 2010-10-21 Petrus Cornelis Kriesels Wellbore system
US20100270036A1 (en) * 2007-12-13 2010-10-28 Petrus Cornelis Kriesels Method of expanding a tubular element in a wellbore
US8281879B2 (en) 2008-01-04 2012-10-09 Shell Oil Company Method of drilling a wellbore

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101952543B (zh) * 2007-12-13 2014-07-02 国际壳牌研究有限公司 在井筒中膨胀管元件的方法
WO2013004610A1 (fr) 2011-07-07 2013-01-10 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Procédé et système d'expansion radiale d'un élément tubulaire dans un puits de forage
US9695676B2 (en) 2012-10-29 2017-07-04 Shell Oil Company System and method for lining a borehole
CA2888328A1 (fr) 2012-11-09 2014-05-15 Shell Internationale Research Maatschapij B.V. Procede et systeme pour le transport d'un fluide d'hydrocarbure

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4431069A (en) * 1980-07-17 1984-02-14 Dickinson Iii Ben W O Method and apparatus for forming and using a bore hole
ATE18158T1 (de) * 1981-12-21 1986-03-15 Insituform Int Inc Verfahren zum dichten von rohren.
US4602974A (en) * 1981-12-31 1986-07-29 Eric Wood Method of sealing pipe
FR2701751B1 (fr) * 1993-02-19 1995-05-19 Lionel Richard Tube flexible qui se dispose dans une galerie en s'appliquant progressivement sur tout le diamètre intérieur de celle-ci.
BR0316540A (pt) * 2002-11-26 2005-10-04 Shell Int Research Método para instalar um conjunto tubular expansìvel em um poço perfurado formado em uma formação geológica, e, sistema para iniciar expansão radial de um elemento tubular em um poço perfurado
GB0320979D0 (en) * 2003-09-08 2003-10-08 Bp Exploration Operating Method
CA2588008A1 (fr) * 2004-12-15 2006-06-22 Shell Canada Limited Procede d'etancheification d'un espace annulaire dans un puits de forage
CN101542070B (zh) * 2006-11-21 2013-10-30 国际壳牌研究有限公司 使管状部件径向膨胀的方法

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100263859A1 (en) * 2007-12-13 2010-10-21 Petrus Cornelis Kriesels Wellbore system
US20100270036A1 (en) * 2007-12-13 2010-10-28 Petrus Cornelis Kriesels Method of expanding a tubular element in a wellbore
US8316932B2 (en) * 2007-12-13 2012-11-27 Shell Oil Company Wellbore system
US8387709B2 (en) 2007-12-13 2013-03-05 Shell Oil Company Method of expanding a tubular element in a wellbore
US8281879B2 (en) 2008-01-04 2012-10-09 Shell Oil Company Method of drilling a wellbore

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2008333299B2 (en) 2011-09-15
CA2704076A1 (fr) 2009-06-11
BRPI0819650A2 (pt) 2015-05-19
CN101883909A (zh) 2010-11-10
AU2008333299A1 (en) 2009-06-11
CN101883909B (zh) 2013-06-12
CA2704076C (fr) 2016-05-10
GB201009804D0 (en) 2010-07-21
GB2469399A (en) 2010-10-13
GB2469399B (en) 2011-11-23
WO2009071536A1 (fr) 2009-06-11

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