US20140158368A1 - Flow bypass device and method - Google Patents
Flow bypass device and method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140158368A1 US20140158368A1 US13/694,509 US201213694509A US2014158368A1 US 20140158368 A1 US20140158368 A1 US 20140158368A1 US 201213694509 A US201213694509 A US 201213694509A US 2014158368 A1 US2014158368 A1 US 2014158368A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- port
- sleeve
- plug
- plug seat
- passageway
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 29
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 65
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 24
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 18
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 claims description 9
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000012163 sequencing technique Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 241000282472 Canis lupus familiaris Species 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 15
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 15
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 11
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 3
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003466 anti-cipated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003100 immobilizing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003112 inhibitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002455 scale inhibitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002195 soluble material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
- E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
- E21B34/08—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
- E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
- E21B34/14—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools
- E21B34/142—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons
-
- 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
- E21B2200/00—Special features related to earth drilling for obtaining oil, gas or water
- E21B2200/06—Sleeve valves
Definitions
- This disclosure provides methods, systems and devices for re-directing flow through tubing in a well, inside other tubing, or other enclosed space.
- valve assemblies having a plug, such as a ball or dart, and a plug seat, such as a ball seat or dart seat, have been used for a number of different operations in wells for oil gas and other hydrocarbons. These tools may be incorporated into a string of pipe or other tubular goods inserted into the well.
- the valve assemblies provide a defined location at which the flow of fluid past may be obstructed and, with the application of a desired pressure, a well operator can actuate one or more tools associated with the assembly.
- Remotely operated valve assemblies may be used in the treatment of a subterranean formation adjacent to a well.
- Valves used for this purpose open ports in the tubing to facilitate treatment of a selected area or section of the formation.
- the treatments are performed by pumping fluid through the wellhead, into the tubing string and out of the selectively opened ports. Examples of such well treatments include acidizing or fracing. Acidizing cleans away acid soluble material near the well bore to open or enlarge the flow path for hydrocarbons into the well. Fracing may occur by injecting fluids from the surface through the wellbore and into the formation at high pressure to create and force fractures to open wider and extend further.
- the injected frac fluids may contain a granular material, such as sand, which holds fractures open after the fluid pressure is reduced. Such granular materials are not necessarily required, however. While acidizing and fracing are two examples of treatments that may be performed through the valve assemblies, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to any particular formation treatment(s) and may include any other treatment, such as, without limitation, CO2 injection, treatment with scale inhibitors, iron control agents, corrosion inhibitors or others.
- Treatments in multiple-stage production wells may require selective actuation of downhole tools, such as sleeve assemblies, to control fluid flow from the tubing string to the formation.
- downhole tools such as sleeve assemblies
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,926,571 entitled Cemented Open Hole Selective Fracing System which is incorporated by this reference, describes a system using multiple valve assemblies having ball-and-seat seals, each having a differently sized ball seat and corresponding ball.
- Such ball-and-seat arrangements are operated by placing an appropriately sized ball into the well bore and bringing the ball into contact with a corresponding ball seat. The ball engages on a section of the ball seat to block the flow of fluids past the valve assembly.
- valve assembly may create a pressure differential across the valve assembly, causing the valve assembly to “shift” and thereby open fluid flow the sleeve to the surrounding the formation.
- plugs such as darts, or any other shape that can be used to selectively operate the valve assemblies, may also be used to seal the seat and facilitate the creation of a pressure differential to shift the valve assembly and open the sleeve, or actuate a different tool, such as a plug and seat actuated flapper valve, associated with the valve assembly.
- the well or tubing contains multiple plug seats, methods, systems or apparatuses must be employed for passing a plug through certain plug seats, including passing through at least some plug seats without actuating any devices associated with such seats.
- One such method is to use a ball, dart or other plug that is small enough so that it will not seal against any of the seats it encounters prior to reaching the desired seat. For this reason, the smallest ball to be used for the planned operation is the first ball placed into the well or tubing and the smallest ball seat is positioned in the well or tubing the furthest from the wellhead. After the desired treatments are completed, the direction of fluid flow is reversed so that the treating fluids and formation fluids may be produced through the wellhead. Because each plug is smaller than the seats past which it traveled, the plugs simply move with the fluids through the previously passed plug seats and out of the well.
- Valve assemblies which rely solely on the size of the plug and the seat opening for selecting the tool to actuate, significantly limit the number of valves that can be used in a given tubing string.
- each ball size is only able to actuate a single valve and, generally, each plug must have a diameter of at least 0.125 inches larger than the immediately preceding plug.
- the size of the liner restricts the number of valve assemblies with differently-sized ball seats.
- the devices, methods, and assemblies described in these applications place one or more plugs downstream of plug seats with openings smaller than the diameter or other cross sectional dimension of the plug.
- plugs When the fluid flow is reversed, i.e., fluid begins flowing toward the wellhead, such plugs may seat on the back or outlet side of a previously passed plug seat, blocking the reverse flow.
- the methods for removing such blockages, such as drilling out the tubing string are both time consuming and expensive. Therefore, there exists a need for cost effective and time efficient devices and/or methods for circumventing such blockages and thereby allowing the flow of fluids from the well bore to the surface.
- the present disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatuses for allowing fluid flow to bypass such a blockage. Further, the bypass of such present disclosure is not limited to blockages caused by plugs traveling upstream. Rather, the bypass may operate in response to any event or events that limit flow and/or create a pressure differential at a pre-identified point in the tubing string.
- the present disclosure further encompasses valve assemblies including a sequencing mechanism which prevents fluid from flowing through the bypass assembly until after the pre-determined triggering event has occurred.
- the sequencing mechanism may be a locking assembly configured for use in a tubing string to prevent actuation of one or more tools until after the lock is released. Further, the locking mechanism may be used in connection with the flowback bypass of the present disclosure, though the locking mechanism of the present disclosure is in no way limited to use with the flowback bypass or any other specific tool, method, or assembly.
- Embodiments of this disclosure generally provide devices, methods and systems for use in a tubing string.
- An apparatus of the present disclosure may comprise a housing, with an interior passage for the flow of fluids, an obstruction in the interior passage, and a flow bypass around the obstruction.
- the obstruction is preferably a plug seat, but may be any feature of the tubing or apparatus that may obstruct, or cooperate with fluids or solids in the tubing to obstruct, fluid flow towards the wellhead.
- the obstruction may not prevent fluid flow by itself, but instead define a location at which fluid flow may be blocked during operations performed using, in, or on the tubing string.
- the flow bypass may be blocked by a barrier, and the barrier may be held in place, either wholly or partially, by a locking mechanism.
- such locking mechanism is released in response to a particular event, such as a predetermined pressure differential created across the plug seat, preferably with the higher pressure occurring on the wellhead side of the plug seat.
- a particular event such as a predetermined pressure differential created across the plug seat, preferably with the higher pressure occurring on the wellhead side of the plug seat.
- the bypass is then allowed to open in response to a pressure differential across the plug seat in the opposite direction.
- a method of the present disclosure may include engaging a first plug on an uphole side of a first plug seat in a first sleeve assembly and opening, at least partially, a first set of ports located on the first sleeve assembly. Further, a second plug may be engaged on a downhole side of the first plug seat, and opening, at least partially, a second set of ports on the first sleeve assembly, wherein at least part of a fluid flow passes through the second set of ports to exit the first sleeve assembly, bypasses the first plug seat and re-enters the first sleeve assembly at the first set of ports.
- a system in another embodiment, includes a first plug engaging an uphole side of a first plug seat in a first sleeve assembly. Further, the system includes a first set of ports at least partially opened on the first sleeve assembly. Further still, the system includes a change, subsequent to the first set of ports being opened, of a fluid flow to upstream in the tubing string. Yet further, the system includes a second plug engaging a downhole side of the first plug seat, and a second set of ports at least partially opened on the first sleeve assembly, wherein the fluid flow bypasses the first plug seat.
- FIG. 1 depicts a cross sectional view of an example embodiment of a first sleeve assembly that may be found in a tubing string, such as in a well for oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons.
- FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged portion of the example embodiment from FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 depicts another enlarged portion of the example embodiment from FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 a depicts a tubing string installed in a well, showing the relative locations of a a first sleeve assembly and a second sleeve assembly.
- FIG. 4 b conceptually illustrates a cross section from the first sleeve assembly of FIG. 4 a .
- example embodiment of a first sleeve assembly and a second sleeve assembly each of which have various features, including a first plug that moves through the second sleeve assembly's plug seat and is stuck on the inlet of the first sleeve assembly's plug seat in the tubing string and in accordance with this disclosure.
- FIG. 4 c conceptually illustrates a cross section from the second sleeve assembly if FIG. 4 a.
- FIG. 5 a depicts a flowback bypass device after the plug seat and first sleeve have been shifted by a differential pressure created across the plug seat.
- FIG. 5 b depicts an enlargement of a portion of the flowback device from FIG. 5 a to further highlight certain aspects of the device.
- FIG. 6 depicts a tubing string installed in a well, showing the relative locations of a first sleeve assembly and a second sleeve assembly, the locations of plugs used to seal against the plug seats of the sleeve assemblies and direction of fluid flow effecting the movement of the plugs within the tubing string.
- FIG. 7 depicts a flowback bypass device with a plug engaged on the outlet or downhole side of the plug seat.
- the second set of ports are open due to the pressure differential caused by such engagement and fluid is bypassing the plug set by exiting the device through the second set of ports and re-entering the device through the first set of ports.
- methods and systems for use in a tubing string are contemplated.
- the methods and systems permit mechanical control of fluid flow from a wellhead to a formation through use of at least two plugs, such as plugs, balls or darts, wherein the plugs are optionally dissimilar.
- the methods and systems provide for a flow bypass around a plug that may be trapped in the tubing string.
- the fluid may comprise treating fluids, hydrocarbons, water, impurities or other mined substances, for example, which may be carried to the wellhead through use of solutions under pressure.
- the substances comprising the fluid may or may not be completely or partially dissolved, and may exist in one or more physical states of gas, liquid, or solid.
- FIG. 1 depicts a sleeve assembly 100 having two sleeves, namely a first sleeve 110 and a second sleeve 120 .
- the sleeves 110 , 120 lie within a housing 105 with upper housing ports 130 and lower housing ports 140 , such that shifting the first sleeve 110 along the longitudinal axis of the tubing string will open the upper housing ports 130 and shifting the second sleeve 120 along the longitudinal axis of the tubing string will open the lower housing ports 140 .
- the housing ports 130 , 140 are opened by shifting the first sleeve 110 or second sleeve 120 , respectively, completely off of the effected housing ports 130 , 140 .
- the sleeve assembly 100 has a plug seat 160 , that may engage an appropriate plug such as a ball, dart, plug, or other blocking and/or sealing device. Further, the shape of the plug seat 160 may vary in some embodiments from the shapes illustrated in this disclosure provided that a plug seat 160 may accomplish the system and methods disclosed herein.
- the housing 105 comprises multiple sections, including a crossover section 180 .
- the various sections of the housing of the illustrated embodiment are present for purposes of assembling the tool and are not required as part of the present disclosure.
- the housing of the illustrated embodiments may be of one piece of or a plurality pieces.
- FIG. 1 is further depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 .
- FIG. 2 generally depicts the embodiment device on one side of the crossover 180
- FIG. 3 generally shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 on the other side from crossover 180 .
- shear pins 101 engage housing 105 and the first sleeve 110 to control movement of the first sleeve.
- the plug seat 160 , first sleeve 110 and locking sleeve 170 and, if present, plug seat carrier 161 are interconnected such that they move as unit inside the housing.
- the force of the pressure differential is transferred to the shear pins 101 via the first sleeve 110 and the shear pins 101 can be, and typically are, configured to break when the pressure differential across the plug seat 160 exceeds a desired pressure.
- the shear pins 101 prevent the first sleeve 110 , plug seat 160 , and locking sleeve 170 from shifting until a desired pressure differential is created across the plug seat 160 . While the shear pins 101 are illustrated to connect the first sleeve 110 with the housing 105 , the shear pin may penetrate any portion of the first sleeve 110 , plug seat 160 , plug seat carrier 161 , or locking sleeve 170 provided that the shear pin prevents movement of the plug seat 160 and/or first sleeve 110 when intact and does not interfere with operation of the tool once it has broken.
- shear pins are present are desirable for certain embodiments of the present disclosure, use of shear pins or other devices for preventing movement of the first sleeve 110 , plug seat 160 , and locking sleeve 170 are not required for the apparatus and method of the present disclosure.
- Plug seat 160 comprises an inlet 162 and an outlet 164 .
- the inlet 162 generally comprises the surface of the plug seat 160 that fluids, a plug, or other materials will first encounter when travelling from a well head or from fluid pumps positioned at an end of the tubing string.
- the inlet 162 will also typically function as the plug seat 160 surface against which a plug traveling from the well will form a seal. It will be apparent that, in the illustrated embodiment, the illustrated shear pins 101 will generally be broken as a result of a pressure differential across the plug seat 160 where the fluid pressure is higher at the inlet 162 than at the outlet 164 .
- FIG. 1 Additional features of the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 1 include opposing sets of a complimentary wicker teeth 150 a , 150 b wherein a first set of teeth 150 a is associated with the locking sleeve 170 and a second set of teeth 150 b is associated with the second sleeve 120 .
- the sleeve's 120 , 170 incorporation of complimentary set of teeth 150 is not consequential; only the ability of the sleeves to engage upon movement of either or both of the sleeves 170 , 120 is required.
- the inner sleeve assembly comprising plug seat 160 , first sleeve 110 , and locking sleeve 170 move 115 toward second sleeve 120 , opening the first housing ports 130 and, contemporaneously, causing the first set of teeth 150 a and the second set of teeth 150 b of the complimentary wicker teeth 150 to engage and bring the second sleeve 120 into mechanical communication with the plug seat 160 .
- the second sleeve 120 may move in coordination with the first sleeve 110 to engage the first 150 a and second 150 b sets of the complimentary set of teeth 150 , or such first 150 a and second 150 b sets may become engaged through the movement of the second sleeve 120 without or apart from movement by the first sleeve 110 .
- the locking sleeve 170 may be adjacent to, and in this embodiment, overlapping the second sleeve 120 . Further, the locking sleeve 170 is in communication with the housing 105 through the locking assembly 600 .
- locking assembly 600 comprises a moveable bar 610 , also referred to as a housing lock, a ball 620 , and a stationary bar 630 , also referred to as a sleeve lock.
- the ball 620 rests against an outer surface of locking sleeve 170 , between sleeve lock 630 and housing lock 610 .
- the size of ball 620 is sufficiently large that, when resting on the outer surface 172 of locking sleeve 170 , the ball engages sleeve lock 630 , and housing lock 610 , preventing movement of housing lock 610 . Because the second sleeve 120 is connected to housing lock 610 , this arrangement prevents movement of the second sleeve 120 . Further, the locking sleeve comprises a recessed surface 174 positioned such that actuation of the tool moves the recessed surface 174 towards the ball 620 .
- a first plug 225 may move 235 in the fluid flow direction 215 in a tubing string, such as, for example, in a well for water, or for oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons.
- the first plug 225 may have been passed, e.g., dropped, from a wellhead 255 and passed through a first sleeve assembly 205 arranged to provide a fluid flow bypass, such as the sleeve assembly of FIG. 1 .
- the plug 225 has a larger cross sectional area than the opening of a plug seat 260 in first sleeve assembly 205 and thus plug seat 260 may be an expandable plug seat or an expandable split ring plug seat, or the plug 225 is configured to extrude through the plug seat 260 while retaining its ability to seal against later engaged plug seats.
- plug seat 260 may be an expandable plug seat or an expandable split ring plug seat, or the plug 225 is configured to extrude through the plug seat 260 while retaining its ability to seal against later engaged plug seats.
- pumping into the tubing string may create a differential pressure across the plug seat 260 .
- the differential pressure is sufficiently high, the plug 225 is forced through the plug seat 260 , creating the condition of the tubing string illustrated by FIG. 4 .
- a shear pin ( 101 in FIG.
- the plug 225 does not break at the pressure required to extrude the plug 225 through plug seat 260 .
- the plug 225 therefore is moved between the first sleeve assembly 205 and second sleeve assembly 210 , without shifting the plug seat or otherwise actuating the tool of first sleeve assembly 205 .
- a slotted sleeve or other guide element may be used to facilitate passing of the plug 225 through the plug seat, through an expandable plug seat or through an expandable c-ring plug seat without opening the first set of ports ( 130 FIG. 1 ) or without leaving the first ports open after the plug has passed.
- a shear pin may be included that will break at a pressure below the pressure required for the plug to extrude and that the plug will actuate the tool prior to moving between the first sleeve assembly and second sleeve assembly. Such an arrangement is within the scope of the present disclosure.
- the first plug 225 may encounter a second assembly 210 , which, generally speaking, will not allow the plug 225 to pass further through the tubing string.
- the passage through a second plug seat 265 in the second assembly 210 may be too small for extrusion of the plug 225 at the pressure differentials created across the plug 225 and second plug seat 265 .
- the second assembly 210 may be a second sleeve assembly, a plug and plug seat actuated flapper valve, any other plug and plug seat actuated tool, a blind plug seat with no associated tool, or any other device for stopping travel of the plug 225 through the tubing string.
- FIGS. 5 a and 5 b depict the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1 engaged with a second plug 327 .
- FIG. 5 b is an enlargement of FIG. 5 a in the region containing and adjacent to the second sleeve 320 of FIG. 5 a .
- the second plug 327 seals against the plug seat 360 to facilitate creation of a pressure differential sufficient to break the shear pins 301 .
- the second plug 327 may be larger than the first plug ( 225 FIG. 2 ) or may be made of a different material.
- the at least one shear pin 301 may be configured to break at a desired pressure differential across the plug seat 360 .
- Any desired pressure differential may be chosen provided only that such pressure differential may not be so high that the pressure differential is difficult to impossible to reach without extruding or breaking the available plugs and may not be so low that the at least one shear pin will break at a pressure differential below which any of the selected plugs will extrude.
- the at least one shear pin 301 of the present disclosure is preferably selected to break at pressures between 400 and 1800 psi and more preferably selected to break between 800 and 1400 psi.
- a first plug that extrudes through plug seat 360 at a pressure of below 1400 psi, such as 800 to 1100 psi, may be selected, thereby allowing the first plug to pass plug seat 360 without breaking the at least one shear pin 301 .
- a second plug may then engage the plug seat 360 .
- the second plug may be selected such that it will not extrude through plug seat 360 until the pressure differential across the plug seat 360 exceeds the pressure required to break the at least one shear pin 301 . Therefore, rather than extrude the second plug through the plug seat 360 , the at least one shear pin 301 is broken allowing the plug seat 360 as well as the attached first sleeve 310 and the locking section 370 to move in the downward direction.
- This movement of plug seat 360 and first sleeve 310 opens the first set of ports 330 thereby creating fluid communication between the passageway through the assembly and the exterior of the assembly and facilitating treatment of the adjacent formation.
- the second sleeve 320 remains closed in this embodiment so that fluid may not flow around the ball seat and back into the tubing string rather than into the adjacent formation or other areas to be treated.
- the first plug 225 and second plug 327 of the illustrative embodiment may each be selected based on their respective sizes relative to the plug seats, the material or materials from which a selected plug is manufactured, combinations of the above, or any other factor provided that the selected plug performs the desired function of sealing against the plug seat 360 and either extruding through the plug seat 360 at a pressure differential insufficient to break the at least one shear pin 301 or maintaining its seal with plug seat 360 up to at least a pressure differential sufficient to break the at least one shear pin 301 .
- the recessed surface 374 is brought adjacent to the ball 620 of locking mechanism 600 , such that ball 620 now has sufficient clearance to fit between recessed surface 374 and the stationary bar 630 , unlocking the locking mechanism.
- the locking sleeve 370 and second sleeve 320 are now interlocked through adjoining their complimentary portions of wicker teeth 350 , connecting these two sleeves. It will be apparent that any adjoining method or system is acceptable and is not limited to teeth as described herein.
- the sleeves 310 , 320 may permanently or temporarily interlock by use of retaining rings, locking rings, gears, or any other method of joining the ends upon movement of the locking sleeve 370 relative to the second sleeve 320 .
- the first plug 425 and the second plug 427 are in motion as a result of fluids flowing 450 from the well toward the wellhead 455 , i.e. the fluid flow is reversed, or the well is flowed back or produced after treatment is finished.
- the plugs 425 , 427 are no longer engaged with the plug seats in the second assembly 410 and first assembly 405 respectively, because reversal of the fluid flow occurred, for example, by opening a valve at the wellhead to alleviate pressure and/or collect fracing and production fluids.
- the direction of fluid flowing 450 towards the well head will case the first ball 425 to engage the first assembly 405 on the outlet ( FIG. 2 164 ) of the plug seat ( FIG. 2 160 ).
- the first plug 525 formerly engaged on the plug seat ( 265 FIG. 4 ) of second assembly ( 210 FIG. 2 , 410 FIG. 6 ), moves upstream and engages on the downhole, or outlet, side of the plug seat 560 located in the first sleeve assembly ( 405 FIG. 6 ).
- the first plug's 525 new engagement blocks the flow of fluid through the tubing string to the wellhead.
- blocking the flow of reservoir fluids causes a pressure differential across the plug seat 560 , thereby exerting force on the second inner sleeve assembly and the now connected second sleeve 520 .
- This pressure causes the inner sleeve assembly and second sleeve 520 to shift, opening a second set of ports 540 .
- the travel of the combined first sleeve 510 , plug seat 560 , locking sleeve 570 , and second sleeve 520 is limited by engagement of a shoulder 176 of the moveable bar 610 with the stationary bar 630 so that the first set of ports 530 are not closed, or are not closed entirely by movement of the first sleeve 510 .
- the fluid flow 520 bypasses the blockage occurring at the first plug 525 engaged on the outlet 564 of plug seat 560 .
- the fluid flows according to the path partially defined by the second set of ports 540 , the annulus between an exterior of the second sleeve assembly 500 and the geologic formation into which the tubing string is installed, and the first set of ports 530 first sleeve assembly 500 .
- the path for fluid flow defined by the annulus, first set of ports 530 , and second set of ports 540 avoids and otherwise circumvents the blockage caused by engagement of the plug 525 on the outlet 564 of plug seat 560 .
- the embodiment locking mechanism illustrated in the figures is shown such that the moveable bar moves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string upon release of the lock.
- the locking bar, moveable bar, bolt, and stationary bar may also be arranged to prevent rotational movement around a circumference or perimeter of the tubing string.
- the direction in which the locking bar moves does not necessarily dictate the direction of movement the locking bar prevents, e.g., a locking bar may hold a tab in place to prevent rotation movement of the locked piece.
- the ball 620 acts as a bolt, cam, or similar restrictor element of a lock to create communication between the generally moveable sleeve lock 630 and the generally stationary housing lock 610 , thereby immobilizing the sleeve lock 630 .
- Other bolts or cams, including dogs, collets, pins, bars, or other structure, may be substituted for the ball 620 provided that such structure engages or otherwise causes mechanical communication between a stationary element and a moveable element, and is removeable from such engagement or communication upon movement of the support structure or support element.
- the illustrated embodiments show the obstruction in the passageway is bypassed by flowing fluids along the exterior of the tubing, but other arrangements are within the scope of the present disclosure.
- the bypass around the obstruction in the passageway may be contained within the housing, between a valve seat and the housing, or other arrangement that provides fluid communication around the obstruction.
- the embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in both open hole and cemented tubing strings.
- the well treatments may be used to mechanically break, dissolve, or otherwise create a flow path through the cement connecting the first and second at least one ports along the outside of the assembly.
- the first and second at least one port may be connected.
Landscapes
- 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)
- Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
Abstract
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for re-directing fluid flow from the interior of tubing placed in a well to the exterior of the tubing by use of selectively actuatable valves operable by engagement of a plug on a plug seat. The devices, systems, and methods disclosed may provide a flowback bypass for the flow of fluids around obstructions in the tubing when those obstructions occur at a predicted location within the tubing. The systems, devices and methods may also include a locking system operable by, among other things, plug and plug seat valves, and such locking system may be used to prevent opening of the flowback bypass until after a predetermined event has occurred.
Description
- This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/423,154 filed on Mar. 16, 2012 and entitled “Downhole System Incorporating Valve Assembly with Resilient Deformable Engaging Element”, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/453,281 filed Mar. 16, 2011 and entitled “Multistage Production System Incorporating Downhole Tool with Deformable Ball”, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.
- This disclosure provides methods, systems and devices for re-directing flow through tubing in a well, inside other tubing, or other enclosed space.
- Tools incorporating valve assemblies having a plug, such as a ball or dart, and a plug seat, such as a ball seat or dart seat, have been used for a number of different operations in wells for oil gas and other hydrocarbons. These tools may be incorporated into a string of pipe or other tubular goods inserted into the well. The valve assemblies provide a defined location at which the flow of fluid past may be obstructed and, with the application of a desired pressure, a well operator can actuate one or more tools associated with the assembly.
- Remotely operated valve assemblies may be used in the treatment of a subterranean formation adjacent to a well. Valves used for this purpose open ports in the tubing to facilitate treatment of a selected area or section of the formation. The treatments are performed by pumping fluid through the wellhead, into the tubing string and out of the selectively opened ports. Examples of such well treatments include acidizing or fracing. Acidizing cleans away acid soluble material near the well bore to open or enlarge the flow path for hydrocarbons into the well. Fracing may occur by injecting fluids from the surface through the wellbore and into the formation at high pressure to create and force fractures to open wider and extend further. The injected frac fluids may contain a granular material, such as sand, which holds fractures open after the fluid pressure is reduced. Such granular materials are not necessarily required, however. While acidizing and fracing are two examples of treatments that may be performed through the valve assemblies, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to any particular formation treatment(s) and may include any other treatment, such as, without limitation, CO2 injection, treatment with scale inhibitors, iron control agents, corrosion inhibitors or others.
- Treatments in multiple-stage production wells may require selective actuation of downhole tools, such as sleeve assemblies, to control fluid flow from the tubing string to the formation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,926,571 entitled Cemented Open Hole Selective Fracing System, which is incorporated by this reference, describes a system using multiple valve assemblies having ball-and-seat seals, each having a differently sized ball seat and corresponding ball. Such ball-and-seat arrangements are operated by placing an appropriately sized ball into the well bore and bringing the ball into contact with a corresponding ball seat. The ball engages on a section of the ball seat to block the flow of fluids past the valve assembly. Application of pressure to the valve assembly, such as through use of fluid pumps at the surface, may create a pressure differential across the valve assembly, causing the valve assembly to “shift” and thereby open fluid flow the sleeve to the surrounding the formation. Other types of plugs such as darts, or any other shape that can be used to selectively operate the valve assemblies, may also be used to seal the seat and facilitate the creation of a pressure differential to shift the valve assembly and open the sleeve, or actuate a different tool, such as a plug and seat actuated flapper valve, associated with the valve assembly.
- If the well or tubing contains multiple plug seats, methods, systems or apparatuses must be employed for passing a plug through certain plug seats, including passing through at least some plug seats without actuating any devices associated with such seats. One such method is to use a ball, dart or other plug that is small enough so that it will not seal against any of the seats it encounters prior to reaching the desired seat. For this reason, the smallest ball to be used for the planned operation is the first ball placed into the well or tubing and the smallest ball seat is positioned in the well or tubing the furthest from the wellhead. After the desired treatments are completed, the direction of fluid flow is reversed so that the treating fluids and formation fluids may be produced through the wellhead. Because each plug is smaller than the seats past which it traveled, the plugs simply move with the fluids through the previously passed plug seats and out of the well.
- Valve assemblies, which rely solely on the size of the plug and the seat opening for selecting the tool to actuate, significantly limit the number of valves that can be used in a given tubing string. In such systems each ball size is only able to actuate a single valve and, generally, each plug must have a diameter of at least 0.125 inches larger than the immediately preceding plug. Thus, the size of the liner restricts the number of valve assemblies with differently-sized ball seats.
- Devices and assemblies have been introduced to increase the number of valve assemblies that may be actuated by a single plug, such as a ball, dart, or other plug. Such devices and assemblies include those described in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/702,169, filed Feb. 28, 2010 and entitled “Downhole Tool With Expandable Seat;” U.S. application Ser. No. 13/423,154, filed Mar. 16, 2012 and entitled “Downhole System and Apparatus Incorporating Valve Assembly With Resilient Deformable Engaging Element;” and U.S. application Ser. No. 13/423,158, filed Mar. 16, 2012 and entitled “Multistage Production System Incorporating Downhole Tool With Collapsible or Expandable C-Ring,” each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The devices, methods, and assemblies described in these applications, however, place one or more plugs downstream of plug seats with openings smaller than the diameter or other cross sectional dimension of the plug. When the fluid flow is reversed, i.e., fluid begins flowing toward the wellhead, such plugs may seat on the back or outlet side of a previously passed plug seat, blocking the reverse flow. The methods for removing such blockages, such as drilling out the tubing string, are both time consuming and expensive. Therefore, there exists a need for cost effective and time efficient devices and/or methods for circumventing such blockages and thereby allowing the flow of fluids from the well bore to the surface.
- The present disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatuses for allowing fluid flow to bypass such a blockage. Further, the bypass of such present disclosure is not limited to blockages caused by plugs traveling upstream. Rather, the bypass may operate in response to any event or events that limit flow and/or create a pressure differential at a pre-identified point in the tubing string.
- In some embodiments of the present disclosure, it is desirable that the flow bypass remain closed until a pre-determined triggering event has occurred. Such triggering events include, without limitation, shifting of a valve assembly in response to a pressure differential across that valve assembly. Therefore, the present disclosure further encompasses valve assemblies including a sequencing mechanism which prevents fluid from flowing through the bypass assembly until after the pre-determined triggering event has occurred. The sequencing mechanism may be a locking assembly configured for use in a tubing string to prevent actuation of one or more tools until after the lock is released. Further, the locking mechanism may be used in connection with the flowback bypass of the present disclosure, though the locking mechanism of the present disclosure is in no way limited to use with the flowback bypass or any other specific tool, method, or assembly.
- Embodiments of this disclosure generally provide devices, methods and systems for use in a tubing string. An apparatus of the present disclosure may comprise a housing, with an interior passage for the flow of fluids, an obstruction in the interior passage, and a flow bypass around the obstruction. The obstruction is preferably a plug seat, but may be any feature of the tubing or apparatus that may obstruct, or cooperate with fluids or solids in the tubing to obstruct, fluid flow towards the wellhead. In other words, the obstruction may not prevent fluid flow by itself, but instead define a location at which fluid flow may be blocked during operations performed using, in, or on the tubing string. The flow bypass may be blocked by a barrier, and the barrier may be held in place, either wholly or partially, by a locking mechanism. In certain embodiments, such locking mechanism is released in response to a particular event, such as a predetermined pressure differential created across the plug seat, preferably with the higher pressure occurring on the wellhead side of the plug seat. The bypass is then allowed to open in response to a pressure differential across the plug seat in the opposite direction.
- A method of the present disclosure may include engaging a first plug on an uphole side of a first plug seat in a first sleeve assembly and opening, at least partially, a first set of ports located on the first sleeve assembly. Further, a second plug may be engaged on a downhole side of the first plug seat, and opening, at least partially, a second set of ports on the first sleeve assembly, wherein at least part of a fluid flow passes through the second set of ports to exit the first sleeve assembly, bypasses the first plug seat and re-enters the first sleeve assembly at the first set of ports.
- In another embodiment, a system includes a first plug engaging an uphole side of a first plug seat in a first sleeve assembly. Further, the system includes a first set of ports at least partially opened on the first sleeve assembly. Further still, the system includes a change, subsequent to the first set of ports being opened, of a fluid flow to upstream in the tubing string. Yet further, the system includes a second plug engaging a downhole side of the first plug seat, and a second set of ports at least partially opened on the first sleeve assembly, wherein the fluid flow bypasses the first plug seat.
- So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
- It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
-
FIG. 1 depicts a cross sectional view of an example embodiment of a first sleeve assembly that may be found in a tubing string, such as in a well for oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons. -
FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged portion of the example embodiment fromFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 depicts another enlarged portion of the example embodiment fromFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 a depicts a tubing string installed in a well, showing the relative locations of a a first sleeve assembly and a second sleeve assembly. -
FIG. 4 b conceptually illustrates a cross section from the first sleeve assembly ofFIG. 4 a. example embodiment of a first sleeve assembly and a second sleeve assembly, each of which have various features, including a first plug that moves through the second sleeve assembly's plug seat and is stuck on the inlet of the first sleeve assembly's plug seat in the tubing string and in accordance with this disclosure. -
FIG. 4 c conceptually illustrates a cross section from the second sleeve assembly ifFIG. 4 a. -
FIG. 5 a depicts a flowback bypass device after the plug seat and first sleeve have been shifted by a differential pressure created across the plug seat. -
FIG. 5 b depicts an enlargement of a portion of the flowback device fromFIG. 5 a to further highlight certain aspects of the device. -
FIG. 6 . depicts a tubing string installed in a well, showing the relative locations of a first sleeve assembly and a second sleeve assembly, the locations of plugs used to seal against the plug seats of the sleeve assemblies and direction of fluid flow effecting the movement of the plugs within the tubing string. -
FIG. 7 depicts a flowback bypass device with a plug engaged on the outlet or downhole side of the plug seat. The second set of ports are open due to the pressure differential caused by such engagement and fluid is bypassing the plug set by exiting the device through the second set of ports and re-entering the device through the first set of ports. - The following is a detailed description of example embodiments of the invention depicted in the accompanying drawings. The amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. The detailed descriptions below are designed to make such embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
- Generally speaking, methods and systems for use in a tubing string are contemplated. The methods and systems permit mechanical control of fluid flow from a wellhead to a formation through use of at least two plugs, such as plugs, balls or darts, wherein the plugs are optionally dissimilar. Further, the methods and systems provide for a flow bypass around a plug that may be trapped in the tubing string. The fluid, of course, may comprise treating fluids, hydrocarbons, water, impurities or other mined substances, for example, which may be carried to the wellhead through use of solutions under pressure. The substances comprising the fluid may or may not be completely or partially dissolved, and may exist in one or more physical states of gas, liquid, or solid.
- Turning to the drawings,
FIG. 1 depicts asleeve assembly 100 having two sleeves, namely afirst sleeve 110 and asecond sleeve 120. Thesleeves housing 105 withupper housing ports 130 andlower housing ports 140, such that shifting thefirst sleeve 110 along the longitudinal axis of the tubing string will open theupper housing ports 130 and shifting thesecond sleeve 120 along the longitudinal axis of the tubing string will open thelower housing ports 140. In the illustrated embodiment, thehousing ports first sleeve 110 orsecond sleeve 120, respectively, completely off of the effectedhousing ports upper housing ports 130 andlower housing ports 140, such as shifting a sleeve to align sleeve ports with the housing ports, is within the scope of the present disclosure. Thesleeve assembly 100 has aplug seat 160, that may engage an appropriate plug such as a ball, dart, plug, or other blocking and/or sealing device. Further, the shape of theplug seat 160 may vary in some embodiments from the shapes illustrated in this disclosure provided that aplug seat 160 may accomplish the system and methods disclosed herein. - In the illustrated embodiment, the
housing 105 comprises multiple sections, including acrossover section 180. The various sections of the housing of the illustrated embodiment are present for purposes of assembling the tool and are not required as part of the present disclosure. Thus, the housing of the illustrated embodiments may be of one piece of or a plurality pieces. - The embodiment of
FIG. 1 is further depicted inFIGS. 2 and 3 .FIG. 2 generally depicts the embodiment device on one side of thecrossover 180, whileFIG. 3 generally shows the embodiment ofFIG. 1 on the other side fromcrossover 180. - Turning to
FIG. 2 , shear pins 101 engagehousing 105 and thefirst sleeve 110 to control movement of the first sleeve. Further, theplug seat 160,first sleeve 110 and lockingsleeve 170 and, if present, plugseat carrier 161 are interconnected such that they move as unit inside the housing. Thus, when a pressure differential is created across theplug seat 160, the force of the pressure differential is transferred to the shear pins 101 via thefirst sleeve 110 and the shear pins 101 can be, and typically are, configured to break when the pressure differential across theplug seat 160 exceeds a desired pressure. In other words, the shear pins 101 prevent thefirst sleeve 110, plugseat 160, and lockingsleeve 170 from shifting until a desired pressure differential is created across theplug seat 160. While the shear pins 101 are illustrated to connect thefirst sleeve 110 with thehousing 105, the shear pin may penetrate any portion of thefirst sleeve 110, plugseat 160, plugseat carrier 161, or lockingsleeve 170 provided that the shear pin prevents movement of theplug seat 160 and/orfirst sleeve 110 when intact and does not interfere with operation of the tool once it has broken. While such shear pins are present are desirable for certain embodiments of the present disclosure, use of shear pins or other devices for preventing movement of thefirst sleeve 110, plugseat 160, and lockingsleeve 170 are not required for the apparatus and method of the present disclosure. -
Plug seat 160 comprises aninlet 162 and anoutlet 164. Theinlet 162 generally comprises the surface of theplug seat 160 that fluids, a plug, or other materials will first encounter when travelling from a well head or from fluid pumps positioned at an end of the tubing string. Theinlet 162 will also typically function as theplug seat 160 surface against which a plug traveling from the well will form a seal. It will be apparent that, in the illustrated embodiment, the illustrated shear pins 101 will generally be broken as a result of a pressure differential across theplug seat 160 where the fluid pressure is higher at theinlet 162 than at theoutlet 164. - Additional features of the embodiment illustrated by
FIG. 1 include opposing sets of acomplimentary wicker teeth teeth 150 a is associated with the lockingsleeve 170 and a second set ofteeth 150 b is associated with thesecond sleeve 120. The sleeve's 120, 170 incorporation of complimentary set of teeth 150 is not consequential; only the ability of the sleeves to engage upon movement of either or both of thesleeves sleeve assembly 100, typically by creating a pressure differential across theplug seat 160, the inner sleeve assembly comprisingplug seat 160,first sleeve 110, and lockingsleeve 170move 115 towardsecond sleeve 120, opening thefirst housing ports 130 and, contemporaneously, causing the first set ofteeth 150 a and the second set ofteeth 150 b of the complimentary wicker teeth 150 to engage and bring thesecond sleeve 120 into mechanical communication with theplug seat 160. In alternate embodiments, however, thesecond sleeve 120 may move in coordination with thefirst sleeve 110 to engage the first 150 a and second 150 b sets of the complimentary set of teeth 150, or such first 150 a and second 150 b sets may become engaged through the movement of thesecond sleeve 120 without or apart from movement by thefirst sleeve 110. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , the lockingsleeve 170 may be adjacent to, and in this embodiment, overlapping thesecond sleeve 120. Further, the lockingsleeve 170 is in communication with thehousing 105 through the locking assembly 600. In the illustrated embodiment, locking assembly 600 comprises amoveable bar 610, also referred to as a housing lock, aball 620, and astationary bar 630, also referred to as a sleeve lock. Theball 620 rests against an outer surface of lockingsleeve 170, betweensleeve lock 630 andhousing lock 610. The size ofball 620 is sufficiently large that, when resting on theouter surface 172 of lockingsleeve 170, the ball engagessleeve lock 630, andhousing lock 610, preventing movement ofhousing lock 610. Because thesecond sleeve 120 is connected tohousing lock 610, this arrangement prevents movement of thesecond sleeve 120. Further, the locking sleeve comprises a recessedsurface 174 positioned such that actuation of the tool moves the recessedsurface 174 towards theball 620. - With reference to
FIG. 4 , afirst plug 225 may move 235 in the fluid flow direction 215 in a tubing string, such as, for example, in a well for water, or for oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons. Thefirst plug 225, for instance, may have been passed, e.g., dropped, from awellhead 255 and passed through afirst sleeve assembly 205 arranged to provide a fluid flow bypass, such as the sleeve assembly ofFIG. 1 . Theplug 225 has a larger cross sectional area than the opening of aplug seat 260 infirst sleeve assembly 205 and thus plugseat 260 may be an expandable plug seat or an expandable split ring plug seat, or theplug 225 is configured to extrude through theplug seat 260 while retaining its ability to seal against later engaged plug seats. When thefirst plug 225 engages at thefirst plug seat 260, pumping into the tubing string may create a differential pressure across theplug seat 260. When the differential pressure is sufficiently high, theplug 225 is forced through theplug seat 260, creating the condition of the tubing string illustrated byFIG. 4 . In some embodiments, a shear pin (101 inFIG. 1 ) does not break at the pressure required to extrude theplug 225 throughplug seat 260. In the illustrated embodiment, theplug 225 therefore is moved between thefirst sleeve assembly 205 andsecond sleeve assembly 210, without shifting the plug seat or otherwise actuating the tool offirst sleeve assembly 205. In other embodiments, a slotted sleeve or other guide element may be used to facilitate passing of theplug 225 through the plug seat, through an expandable plug seat or through an expandable c-ring plug seat without opening the first set of ports (130FIG. 1 ) or without leaving the first ports open after the plug has passed. - It will be appreciated that a shear pin may be included that will break at a pressure below the pressure required for the plug to extrude and that the plug will actuate the tool prior to moving between the first sleeve assembly and second sleeve assembly. Such an arrangement is within the scope of the present disclosure.
- The
first plug 225 may encounter asecond assembly 210, which, generally speaking, will not allow theplug 225 to pass further through the tubing string. For example, the passage through asecond plug seat 265 in thesecond assembly 210 may be too small for extrusion of theplug 225 at the pressure differentials created across theplug 225 andsecond plug seat 265. Thesecond assembly 210 may be a second sleeve assembly, a plug and plug seat actuated flapper valve, any other plug and plug seat actuated tool, a blind plug seat with no associated tool, or any other device for stopping travel of theplug 225 through the tubing string. -
FIGS. 5 a and 5 b depict the illustrative embodiment ofFIG. 1 engaged with asecond plug 327.FIG. 5 b is an enlargement ofFIG. 5 a in the region containing and adjacent to thesecond sleeve 320 ofFIG. 5 a. In this embodiment, thesecond plug 327 seals against theplug seat 360 to facilitate creation of a pressure differential sufficient to break the shear pins 301. Thesecond plug 327 may be larger than the first plug (225FIG. 2 ) or may be made of a different material. For example, and by way of illustration, not limitation, the at least one shear pin 301 may be configured to break at a desired pressure differential across theplug seat 360. Any desired pressure differential may be chosen provided only that such pressure differential may not be so high that the pressure differential is difficult to impossible to reach without extruding or breaking the available plugs and may not be so low that the at least one shear pin will break at a pressure differential below which any of the selected plugs will extrude. The at least one shear pin 301 of the present disclosure is preferably selected to break at pressures between 400 and 1800 psi and more preferably selected to break between 800 and 1400 psi. A first plug that extrudes throughplug seat 360 at a pressure of below 1400 psi, such as 800 to 1100 psi, may be selected, thereby allowing the first plug to passplug seat 360 without breaking the at least one shear pin 301. - A second plug may then engage the
plug seat 360. The second plug may be selected such that it will not extrude throughplug seat 360 until the pressure differential across theplug seat 360 exceeds the pressure required to break the at least one shear pin 301. Therefore, rather than extrude the second plug through theplug seat 360, the at least one shear pin 301 is broken allowing theplug seat 360 as well as the attachedfirst sleeve 310 and thelocking section 370 to move in the downward direction. This movement ofplug seat 360 andfirst sleeve 310 opens the first set ofports 330 thereby creating fluid communication between the passageway through the assembly and the exterior of the assembly and facilitating treatment of the adjacent formation. Thesecond sleeve 320 remains closed in this embodiment so that fluid may not flow around the ball seat and back into the tubing string rather than into the adjacent formation or other areas to be treated. Thefirst plug 225 andsecond plug 327 of the illustrative embodiment may each be selected based on their respective sizes relative to the plug seats, the material or materials from which a selected plug is manufactured, combinations of the above, or any other factor provided that the selected plug performs the desired function of sealing against theplug seat 360 and either extruding through theplug seat 360 at a pressure differential insufficient to break the at least one shear pin 301 or maintaining its seal withplug seat 360 up to at least a pressure differential sufficient to break the at least one shear pin 301. - When locking
sleeve 370 shifts, the recessed surface 374 is brought adjacent to theball 620 of locking mechanism 600, such thatball 620 now has sufficient clearance to fit between recessed surface 374 and thestationary bar 630, unlocking the locking mechanism. Further, the lockingsleeve 370 andsecond sleeve 320 are now interlocked through adjoining their complimentary portions ofwicker teeth 350, connecting these two sleeves. It will be apparent that any adjoining method or system is acceptable and is not limited to teeth as described herein. For example, thesleeves sleeve 370 relative to thesecond sleeve 320. - Moving on to
FIG. 6 , thefirst plug 425 and thesecond plug 427 are in motion as a result of fluids flowing 450 from the well toward thewellhead 455, i.e. the fluid flow is reversed, or the well is flowed back or produced after treatment is finished. Here, theplugs second assembly 410 andfirst assembly 405 respectively, because reversal of the fluid flow occurred, for example, by opening a valve at the wellhead to alleviate pressure and/or collect fracing and production fluids. It will be appreciated that the direction of fluid flowing 450 towards the well head will case thefirst ball 425 to engage thefirst assembly 405 on the outlet (FIG. 2 164) of the plug seat (FIG. 2 160). - Finally, with reference with
FIG. 7 , subsequent to reversing the fluid flow, thefirst plug 525, formerly engaged on the plug seat (265FIG. 4 ) of second assembly (210FIG. 2 , 410FIG. 6 ), moves upstream and engages on the downhole, or outlet, side of theplug seat 560 located in the first sleeve assembly (405FIG. 6 ). The first plug's 525 new engagement blocks the flow of fluid through the tubing string to the wellhead. However, blocking the flow of reservoir fluids causes a pressure differential across theplug seat 560, thereby exerting force on the second inner sleeve assembly and the now connectedsecond sleeve 520. This pressure causes the inner sleeve assembly andsecond sleeve 520 to shift, opening a second set ofports 540. The travel of the combined first sleeve 510, plugseat 560, locking sleeve 570, andsecond sleeve 520 is limited by engagement of a shoulder 176 of themoveable bar 610 with thestationary bar 630 so that the first set ofports 530 are not closed, or are not closed entirely by movement of the first sleeve 510. As a result, thefluid flow 520 bypasses the blockage occurring at thefirst plug 525 engaged on theoutlet 564 ofplug seat 560. Instead, the fluid flows according to the path partially defined by the second set ofports 540, the annulus between an exterior of thesecond sleeve assembly 500 and the geologic formation into which the tubing string is installed, and the first set ofports 530first sleeve assembly 500. It will be appreciated that the path for fluid flow defined by the annulus, first set ofports 530, and second set ofports 540 avoids and otherwise circumvents the blockage caused by engagement of theplug 525 on theoutlet 564 ofplug seat 560. Once the fluid reenters the tubing string at first set ofports 530, it then may continue flowing through the tubing string toward the wellhead. - The embodiment locking mechanism illustrated in the figures is shown such that the moveable bar moves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string upon release of the lock. However, the locking bar, moveable bar, bolt, and stationary bar may also be arranged to prevent rotational movement around a circumference or perimeter of the tubing string. Further, the direction in which the locking bar moves does not necessarily dictate the direction of movement the locking bar prevents, e.g., a locking bar may hold a tab in place to prevent rotation movement of the locked piece.
- Further, it will be appreciated that the
ball 620 acts as a bolt, cam, or similar restrictor element of a lock to create communication between the generallymoveable sleeve lock 630 and the generallystationary housing lock 610, thereby immobilizing thesleeve lock 630. Other bolts or cams, including dogs, collets, pins, bars, or other structure, may be substituted for theball 620 provided that such structure engages or otherwise causes mechanical communication between a stationary element and a moveable element, and is removeable from such engagement or communication upon movement of the support structure or support element. - Additionally, the illustrated embodiments show the obstruction in the passageway is bypassed by flowing fluids along the exterior of the tubing, but other arrangements are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the bypass around the obstruction in the passageway may be contained within the housing, between a valve seat and the housing, or other arrangement that provides fluid communication around the obstruction.
- The embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in both open hole and cemented tubing strings. In cemented tubing applications, the well treatments may be used to mechanically break, dissolve, or otherwise create a flow path through the cement connecting the first and second at least one ports along the outside of the assembly. In other embodiments, the first and second at least one port may be connected.
- While the foregoing is directed to example embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
Claims (25)
1. An apparatus for use in a well for oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons, the apparatus comprising:
A housing with an exterior and an interior, the housing having a passageway therethrough, a first port, and a second port, the first port and second port capable of the connecting the passageway with the exterior of the housing;
A plug seat within the housing, the plug seat having an inlet and an outlet;
A bypass sleeve within the housing, the bypass sleeve positioned to prevent fluid communication between the passageway and the exterior of the housing through the second port;
Wherein, the bypass sleeve is moveable within the housing in response to a pressure differential across the plug seat, the pressure differential comprising a higher pressure at the outlet than at the inlet.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a treatment sleeve slidably mounted within the housing, the treatment sleeve positioned to prevent fluid communication between the passageway and the exterior of housing through the first port.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a treatment sleeve slidably mounted within the housing in communication with the plug seat, the treatment sleeve positioned to prevent fluid communication between the passageway and the exterior of housing through the first port.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising the treatment sleeve having a first position and a second position, wherein the treatment sleeve is movable from the first position to the second position in response to a pressure differential across the plug seat, the pressure differential comprising a higher pressure at the inlet than at the outlet.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a treatment sleeve slidably mounted within the housing the treatment sleeve having a first position between the passageway and the first port and a second position, and
a sequencing element responsive to a predetermined event.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the predetermined event comprises movement of the treatment sleeve from the first position to the second position.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sequencing element for holding the bypass sleeve in place until a predetermined event has occurred.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sequencing element comprises a locking assembly.
9. An apparatus for use in a well for oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons, the apparatus comprising:
A housing with an exterior and an interior, the housing having a first passageway therethrough, and at least partially defining a bypass flowpath;
A first port and a second port, the first port and the second port each capable of connecting the passageway and a passageway bypass;
An obstruction in the interior of the housing, the obstruction positioned between the first port and the second port;
A barrier positioned to prevent fluid communication between the passageway and the passageway bypass through the second port;
Wherein, the barrier is removable in response to a pressure differential across the obstruction, the pressure differential comprising a higher pressure on the side of the obstruction adjacent to the second port in comparison with the pressure on the side of the obstruction adjacent to the first port.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , the passageway bypass further defined, in part, by the well.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , the passageway bypass further defined by tubing in the well.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , the housing further comprising a passageway bypass member in fluid communication between the first port and the second port.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 , the obstruction comprising a plug seat.
14. A method for treating a well for oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons, the well including a tubing string with a passageway therethrough, at least one plug seat within said passageway, at least one plug downwell of said at least one plug seat and having a diameter larger than the diameter of an opening through the at least one plug seat; a first at least one port creating fluid communication between the passageway and the exterior of the tubing string; a second at least one port with a sleeve to isolate said second at least one port from the passageway; said sleeve moveable to cause fluid communication between said passageway and said second at least one port in response to a flowback pressure differential across the least one plug seat, said flowback pressure differential comprising a higher pressure at an outlet of the at least one plug seat than at the inlet of said plug seat; the method comprising:
pumping fluids through the tubing string and out of the first at least one port.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising creating the flowback pressure differential across the first plug seat, thereby shifting the bypass sleeve to allow fluid communication through the second port.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising creating a first pressure differential, across the plug seat before creating the flowback pressure differential, the first pressure differential comprising a higher pressure at the inlet than at the outlet.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising creating a first pressure differential across the plug seat to initiate fluid communication between the passageway and the exterior of the housing before creating the flowback pressure differential, the first pressure differential comprising a higher pressure at the inlet than at the outlet.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein the treatment is a fracturing treatment.
19. The method of claim 17 , the well further comprising at least one shear pin in mechanical communication with the at least one plug seat, the at least one shear pin configured to break at a second pressure differential, the second pressure differential being higher than the pressure differential required for the at least one plug to pass the at least one plug seat.
20. A locking mechanism for use in a tubular device such as tools for oil, gas, and other hydrocarbons, said locking mechanism comprising:
a stationary bar;
a moveable bar;
a restrictor element; and
a support element mounted to said tubular device the support element being in contact with the restrictor element and having a first diameter and a second diameter;
wherein, the locking mechanism is locked when the restrictor element contacts the first diameter.
21. The locking mechanism of claim 20 wherein the locking mechanism is unlocked when the restrictor element contacts the second diameter.
22. The locking mechanism of claim 20 wherein the restrictor element comprises at least one of the group consisting of balls, dogs, collets, pins, bars, bolts or cams.
23. The locking mechanism of claim 20 wherein the second diameter comprises a passage through the support element.
24. The locking mechanism of claim 20 wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are spaced longitudinally relative to the tubular device.
25. The locking mechanism of claim 25 wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are spaced radially around a circumference of the tubular device.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/694,509 US20140158368A1 (en) | 2012-12-07 | 2012-12-07 | Flow bypass device and method |
US14/301,020 US9500064B2 (en) | 2011-03-16 | 2014-06-10 | Flow bypass device and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/694,509 US20140158368A1 (en) | 2012-12-07 | 2012-12-07 | Flow bypass device and method |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/423,154 Continuation US9121248B2 (en) | 2010-10-21 | 2012-03-16 | Downhole system and apparatus incorporating valve assembly with resilient deformable engaging element |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20140158368A1 true US20140158368A1 (en) | 2014-06-12 |
Family
ID=50879706
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/694,509 Abandoned US20140158368A1 (en) | 2011-03-16 | 2012-12-07 | Flow bypass device and method |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20140158368A1 (en) |
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140069654A1 (en) * | 2010-10-21 | 2014-03-13 | Peak Completion Technologies, Inc. | Downhole Tool Incorporating Flapper Assembly |
US20150068752A1 (en) * | 2011-03-16 | 2015-03-12 | Peak Completion Technologies, Inc. | Flow Bypass Device and Method |
US20160258251A1 (en) * | 2014-01-30 | 2016-09-08 | Haliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Shifting sleeves with mechanical lockout features |
CN106481318A (en) * | 2015-08-26 | 2017-03-08 | 地球动力学公司 | Adverse current sleeve actuating method |
US9617826B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2017-04-11 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow catch-and-engage tool and method |
US9689232B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2017-06-27 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow actuation apparatus and method |
US9702222B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2017-07-11 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow multiple tool system and method |
US10184319B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2019-01-22 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow seat forming apparatus and method |
US10208581B2 (en) * | 2012-09-24 | 2019-02-19 | Flowpro Well Technology a.s. | System and method for detecting screen-out using a fracturing valve for mitigation |
US10221654B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2019-03-05 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow arming and actuation apparatus and method |
US10240446B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2019-03-26 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow seat forming apparatus and method |
US10294752B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2019-05-21 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow catch-and-release tool and method |
US10472927B2 (en) | 2015-12-21 | 2019-11-12 | Vanguard Completions Ltd. | Downhole drop plugs, downhole valves, frac tools, and related methods of use |
US20240084682A1 (en) * | 2022-09-09 | 2024-03-14 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Fracture system and method |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5048611A (en) * | 1990-06-04 | 1991-09-17 | Lindsey Completion Systems, Inc. | Pressure operated circulation valve |
US6065541A (en) * | 1997-03-14 | 2000-05-23 | Ezi-Flow International Limited | Cleaning device |
US6189618B1 (en) * | 1998-04-20 | 2001-02-20 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Wellbore wash nozzle system |
US6253861B1 (en) * | 1998-02-25 | 2001-07-03 | Specialised Petroleum Services Limited | Circulation tool |
US7021389B2 (en) * | 2003-02-24 | 2006-04-04 | Bj Services Company | Bi-directional ball seat system and method |
US20090056952A1 (en) * | 2005-11-24 | 2009-03-05 | Andrew Philip Churchill | Downhole Tool |
US7628213B2 (en) * | 2003-01-30 | 2009-12-08 | Specialised Petroleum Services Group Limited | Multi-cycle downhole tool with hydraulic damping |
US20110030947A1 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2011-02-10 | Halliburton Energy Boulevard | Stimulating subterranean zones |
US7954555B2 (en) * | 2009-04-23 | 2011-06-07 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Full function downhole valve and method of operating the valve |
US8291988B2 (en) * | 2009-08-10 | 2012-10-23 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Tubular actuator, system and method |
-
2012
- 2012-12-07 US US13/694,509 patent/US20140158368A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5048611A (en) * | 1990-06-04 | 1991-09-17 | Lindsey Completion Systems, Inc. | Pressure operated circulation valve |
US6065541A (en) * | 1997-03-14 | 2000-05-23 | Ezi-Flow International Limited | Cleaning device |
US6253861B1 (en) * | 1998-02-25 | 2001-07-03 | Specialised Petroleum Services Limited | Circulation tool |
US6189618B1 (en) * | 1998-04-20 | 2001-02-20 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Wellbore wash nozzle system |
US7628213B2 (en) * | 2003-01-30 | 2009-12-08 | Specialised Petroleum Services Group Limited | Multi-cycle downhole tool with hydraulic damping |
US7021389B2 (en) * | 2003-02-24 | 2006-04-04 | Bj Services Company | Bi-directional ball seat system and method |
US20090056952A1 (en) * | 2005-11-24 | 2009-03-05 | Andrew Philip Churchill | Downhole Tool |
US7954555B2 (en) * | 2009-04-23 | 2011-06-07 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Full function downhole valve and method of operating the valve |
US20110030947A1 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2011-02-10 | Halliburton Energy Boulevard | Stimulating subterranean zones |
US8291988B2 (en) * | 2009-08-10 | 2012-10-23 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Tubular actuator, system and method |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140069654A1 (en) * | 2010-10-21 | 2014-03-13 | Peak Completion Technologies, Inc. | Downhole Tool Incorporating Flapper Assembly |
US20150068752A1 (en) * | 2011-03-16 | 2015-03-12 | Peak Completion Technologies, Inc. | Flow Bypass Device and Method |
US9500064B2 (en) * | 2011-03-16 | 2016-11-22 | Peak Completion Technologies | Flow bypass device and method |
US10208581B2 (en) * | 2012-09-24 | 2019-02-19 | Flowpro Well Technology a.s. | System and method for detecting screen-out using a fracturing valve for mitigation |
US10030477B2 (en) * | 2014-01-30 | 2018-07-24 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Shifting sleeves with mechanical lockout features |
US20160258251A1 (en) * | 2014-01-30 | 2016-09-08 | Haliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Shifting sleeves with mechanical lockout features |
CN106481318A (en) * | 2015-08-26 | 2017-03-08 | 地球动力学公司 | Adverse current sleeve actuating method |
US9689232B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2017-06-27 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow actuation apparatus and method |
US9702222B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2017-07-11 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow multiple tool system and method |
US9617826B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2017-04-11 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow catch-and-engage tool and method |
US10161241B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2018-12-25 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow sleeve actuation method |
US10184319B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2019-01-22 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow seat forming apparatus and method |
US9611721B2 (en) * | 2015-08-26 | 2017-04-04 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow sleeve actuation method |
US10221654B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2019-03-05 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow arming and actuation apparatus and method |
US10240446B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2019-03-26 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow seat forming apparatus and method |
US10294752B2 (en) | 2015-08-26 | 2019-05-21 | Geodynamics, Inc. | Reverse flow catch-and-release tool and method |
US10472927B2 (en) | 2015-12-21 | 2019-11-12 | Vanguard Completions Ltd. | Downhole drop plugs, downhole valves, frac tools, and related methods of use |
US20240084682A1 (en) * | 2022-09-09 | 2024-03-14 | Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc | Fracture system and method |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20140158368A1 (en) | Flow bypass device and method | |
US9874067B2 (en) | Sliding sleeve sub and method and apparatus for wellbore fluid treatment | |
US9909392B2 (en) | Wellbore frac tool with inflow control | |
US10487626B2 (en) | Fracturing valve and fracturing tool string | |
EP1999337B1 (en) | Frac system without intervention | |
DK2673462T3 (en) | Method for individually inspecting a plurality of zones in an underground formation | |
AU2007323940B2 (en) | Valve for equalizer sand screens | |
US10669820B2 (en) | Frac and gravel packing system having return path and method | |
US20150300120A1 (en) | Segmented seat for wellbore servicing system | |
US9388661B2 (en) | Methods and systems for treating a wellbore | |
US9441467B2 (en) | Indexing well bore tool and method for using indexed well bore tools | |
US20150047837A1 (en) | Multi-Zone Single Trip Well Completion System | |
US20170241237A1 (en) | Remotely operated production valve and method | |
US20240151118A1 (en) | Releasable downhole component for subterranean deployment along a wellbore string | |
US10844695B2 (en) | Treatment tool for use in a subterranean well | |
US10119365B2 (en) | Tubular actuation system and method | |
US9500064B2 (en) | Flow bypass device and method | |
US20180320478A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for wellbore fluid treatment | |
CA2854073A1 (en) | Flow bypass device and method | |
GB2547110A (en) | Treatment Tool and method |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PEAK COMPLETION TECHNOLOGIES, INC., TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HOFMAN, RAYMOND;FITZHUGH, BRYAN;MUSCROFT, WILLIAM SLOANE;SIGNING DATES FROM 20131002 TO 20131003;REEL/FRAME:035419/0757 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |