US20140224807A1 - Removable plug arrangement and method of removing a plug arrangement - Google Patents
Removable plug arrangement and method of removing a plug arrangement Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140224807A1 US20140224807A1 US13/764,153 US201313764153A US2014224807A1 US 20140224807 A1 US20140224807 A1 US 20140224807A1 US 201313764153 A US201313764153 A US 201313764153A US 2014224807 A1 US2014224807 A1 US 2014224807A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- plug
- plugs
- portions
- arrangement
- plug arrangement
- 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 description 10
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 31
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 25
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 claims description 17
- 230000003313 weakening effect Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000003801 milling Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004090 dissolution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012267 brine Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010790 dilution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012895 dilution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;chloride;hydrate Chemical compound O.[Na+].[Cl-] HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D39/00—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
- B65D39/0005—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers made in one piece
-
- 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
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/13—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices, or the like
- E21B33/14—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices, or the like for cementing casings into boreholes
- E21B33/16—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices, or the like for cementing casings into boreholes using plugs for isolating cement charge; Plugs therefor
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (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)
- Pipe Accessories (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
Abstract
A removable plug arrangement includes at least one plug configured to lead or follow a hardenable material that is pumped through a tubular, the plug has one or more portions made of a material configured to weaken when exposed to an activation fluid.
Description
- Cementing of a liner or a casing in a well is done to, among other things, prevent flow in an annular space between the liner or casing and the open borehole. It is common to perform several cementing operations within a single deep well. When additional drilling is required after a cementing operation has been completed, the cementing plugs, shoe and cement located at the bottom of the section of well just cemented need to be drilled through before the drill bit can begin drilling into the earth formation again. Drilling through a plug can damage or dull a drill bit, can generate undesirable debris within the wellbore and can delay drilling progress in the earth formation. Systems and methods that alleviate the foregoing concerns are well received in the industry.
- Disclosed herein is a removable plug arrangement. The arrangement includes at least one plug configured to lead or follow a hardenable material that is pumped through a tubular, the plug has one or more portions made of a material configured to weaken when exposed to an activation fluid.
- Further disclosed herein is a method of removing a plug arrangement. The method includes exposing one or more portions of at least one cementing plug to an activation fluid capable of weakening the one or more portions, weakening the one or more portions, and drilling or milling through the weakened one or more portions.
- Further disclosed herein is a removable plug arrangement. The arrangement includes a volume of hardenable material, and at least one plug configured to lead or follow the volume of hardenable material that is pumped through a tubular, the plug has one or more portions made of a material configured to weaken in response to being exposed to an activation fluid.
- The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
-
FIG. 1 depicts a cross sectional view of a removable plug arrangement disclosed herein; -
FIG. 2 depicts a partial cross sectional view of an alternate removable plug arrangement disclosed herein in a first position; -
FIG. 3 depicts a cross sectional view of the alternate removable plug arrangement ofFIG. 2 in a second position; -
FIG. 4 depicts a cross sectional view of the alternate removable plug arrangement ofFIG. 2 in a third position; and -
FIG. 5 depicts a partial cross sectional view of the alternate removable plug arrangement ofFIG. 2 . - A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
- Referring to
FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a removable plug arrangement is illustrated at 10. Thearrangement 10 includes asingle plug hardenable material 18, illustrated herein as cement, being pumped through a tubular 22 such as a casing, liner or drill string, for example. The plug 14 in the illustrated embodiment is shown followingcement 18. The plug 14 includes aportion 26, shown as a core of the plug 14 that is made of a material configured to weaken when exposed to an activation fluid. The plug 14 also includes aseal 30, made of a flexible material, such as an elastomer, for example, to allow theseal 30 to deformingly sealingly engage withwalls 36 of the tubular 22 while moving therethrough. - The
foregoing arrangement 10 allows an operator to clear the tubular 22 ofcement 18 when finishing the pumping of thecement 18. This is accomplished by pumping the plug 14 following thecement 18, through the tubular 22 while sealing the plug 14 to thewalls 36. Thecement 18 remains separated fromdisplacement fluid 40 on an opposing side of the plug 14 by the plug 14 itself. This separation prevents dilution and contamination of thecement 18 during the pumping operation. The plug 14 can be configured to engage with a landing device 44 (seeFIG. 2 ) such as a landing collar, for example, positioned at a selected location within the tubular 22. An activation fluid, which causes dissolution of theportion 26, can then be pumped to expose theportion 26 of the plug 14 thereto to weaken theportion 26 thereby facilitating its removal via a drilling or milling process, for example. The weakening of theportion 26 prior to removal of the plug 14 can simplify and expedite the process and lessen chances of generating undesirable contamination from residual parts of the plug 14 residing within the tubular 22. Theportion 26 may be configured to weaken significantly after being exposed to the activation fluid in about a few hours to about a few days. Additionally, the weakening can include substantially dissolving theportion 26. - Some embodiments of the
arrangement 10, include abore 52 formed through theseal 30 to assure theportion 26 is exposed to the activation fluid. Without thebore 52, activation fluid would be prevented from coming into direct contact with theportion 26 when pumped thereagainst due to theseal 30 blocking such exposure. Thebore 52 can extend a significant depth into theportion 26 to increase surface area of theportion 26 that is exposable to the activation fluid to increase a rate of dissolution of theportion 26 and to cause more uniform weakening of theportion 26. Alternatively, thebore 52 could be post-drilled into the plug 14 only at such time exposure to the activation fluid is desired. It should also be noted that activation fluid could be employed as thedisplacement fluid 40 with either alternative of the plug 14 (i.e. pre-bored or post-drilled). In the case wherein the plug 14 is pre-bored, exposure of theportion 26 begins as soon as the displacement/activation fluid 40 begins urging the plug 14 through the tubular 22. Consequently, the weakening of theportion 26 is timed (based on the chemical make-up of the portion and the displacement/activation fluid 40) to prevent over-weakening of theportion 26 until the cementing operation has been completed. - In some embodiments of the removable plug arrangement the
portion 26 is manufactured from a high strength controlled electrolytic metallic material and is degradable in response to exposure to an activation fluid such as brine, acid, an aqueous fluid or combinations of one or more of these. A variety of suitable materials and their methods of manufacture are described in United States Patent Publication No. 2011/0135953 (Xu et al.), that is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. - Referring to
FIGS. 2-4 , an alternate embodiment of a removable plug arrangement is illustrated at 110. Thearrangement 110 includes two of the plugs 14, designated in this embodiment as 14A and 14B. Additionally thearrangement 110 includes twoplugs plugs plugs port 116 that is sealingly receptive to theplugs plugs cement 18 to thereby maintain separation of thedisplacement fluid 40 from thecement 18. Determination of which of theplugs - The nesting of the
plugs plugs cement 18 from thedisplacement fluid 40 with one of theplugs cement 18 from thedisplacement fluid 40 while pumping thenested plugs plug 114A, for example, in the larger tubular downstream of a smaller tubular through which theplug 14A is first pumped. Theplug 114A is initially open to flow through thebore 52. When theplug 14A engages with theplug 114A it seals thebore 52 thereby preventing additional flow therethrough. As such, the pair ofplugs 14A with 114A or 14B with 114B can be used to lead or to follow thecement 18. - In
FIG. 2 the pair ofplugs cement 18 and have landed on alanding collar 44 positioned within a tubular 124. Thelanding collar 44 forms anannular flow path 128 that allows thecement 18 to flow past theplugs FIG. 3 . InFIG. 4 the second set ofplugs plugs displacement fluid 40 positioned upstream thereof. This designates the end of the cementing operation. - Referring to
FIG. 5 , the twoplugs plugs port 116 for purposes of simplicity. Each of theplugs seals portions seal 30, theseals seals portions portions portion 126A of theplug 114A compared to the parts that make up theportion 126B of theplug 114B. Theportion 126A includes anose 132, abody plug 134, abottom insert 138, abottom sleeve 142, abottom collet 146, aconnector 150 and aslip 154. Theportion 126B includes a retainingcollet 158, abody plug 162, atop insert 166, atop sleeve 170 and atop collet 174. In this embodiment, all of the parts that make up theportions plugs portions ports 116. As such, weakening of all parts of theportions - While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
Claims (16)
1. A removable plug arrangement comprising at least one plug configured to lead or follow a hardenable material being pumped through a tubular, the plug having one or more portions made of a material configured to weaken when exposed to an activation fluid.
2. The removable plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the material is a controlled electrolytic metallic material.
3. The removable plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one plug also includes a seal configured to flexibly sealingly engage walls of the tubular while moving therethrough.
4. The removable plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one plug includes a plurality of plugs.
5. The removable plug arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of plugs includes at least one plug leading the hardenable material and at least one plug following the cement.
6. The removable plug arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the at least one plug leading the hardenable material includes two plugs, a first of the two plugs being sealingly attachable to plug a port through a second of the two plugs when engaged therewith.
7. The removable plug arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the second of the two plugs is sized and configured to sealingly engage walls of a tubular having a larger diameter than a tubular that the first of the two plugs is sized and configured to sealingly engage walls of.
8. The removable plug arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the at least one plug following the hardenable material includes two plugs, a first of the two plugs being sealingly attachable to plug a port through a second of the two plugs when engaged therewith.
9. The removable plug arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the second of the two plugs is sized and configured to sealingly engage walls of a tubular having a larger diameter than a tubular that the first of the two plugs is sized and configured to sealingly engage walls of.
10. The removable plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least weakening of the one or more portions includes substantially dissolving the one or more portions.
11. The removable plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one plug has at least one bore configured to facilitate expose or portions of the one or more portions to the activation fluid.
12. The removable plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the material is configured to weaken significantly after exposure to the activation fluid in about a few hours to about a few days.
13. The removable plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the hardenable material is cement.
14. A method of removing a plug arrangement comprising:
exposing one or more portions of at least one cementing plug to an activation fluid capable of weakening the one or more portions;
weakening the one or more portions; and
drilling or milling through the weakened one or more portions.
15. The method of removing a plug arrangement of claim 14 , further comprising dissolving the one or more portions with the activation fluid.
16. A removable plug arrangement comprising:
a volume of hardenable material; and
at least one plug configured to lead or follow the volume of hardenable material being pumped through a tubular, the plug having one or more portions made of a material configured to weaken in response to being exposed to an activation fluid.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/764,153 US20140224807A1 (en) | 2013-02-11 | 2013-02-11 | Removable plug arrangement and method of removing a plug arrangement |
PCT/US2014/010859 WO2014123657A1 (en) | 2013-02-11 | 2014-01-09 | Removable plug arrangement and method of removing a plug arrangement |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/764,153 US20140224807A1 (en) | 2013-02-11 | 2013-02-11 | Removable plug arrangement and method of removing a plug arrangement |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20140224807A1 true US20140224807A1 (en) | 2014-08-14 |
Family
ID=51296786
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/764,153 Abandoned US20140224807A1 (en) | 2013-02-11 | 2013-02-11 | Removable plug arrangement and method of removing a plug arrangement |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20140224807A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014123657A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2019078828A1 (en) * | 2017-10-17 | 2019-04-25 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Removable core wiper plug |
US20190128087A1 (en) * | 2016-05-16 | 2019-05-02 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Wiper dart with reinforced drive element |
US11255146B2 (en) * | 2017-06-21 | 2022-02-22 | Drilling Innovative Solutions, Llc | Plug activated mechanical isolation device, systems and methods for controlling fluid flow inside a tubular in a wellbore |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2547617B (en) * | 2015-01-26 | 2021-03-03 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | Dissolvable and millable isolation devices |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5117915A (en) * | 1989-08-31 | 1992-06-02 | Union Oil Company Of California | Well casing flotation device and method |
US5762139A (en) * | 1996-11-05 | 1998-06-09 | Halliburton Company | Subsurface release cementing plug apparatus and methods |
US7699101B2 (en) * | 2006-12-07 | 2010-04-20 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Well system having galvanic time release plug |
US20100270031A1 (en) * | 2009-04-27 | 2010-10-28 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Downhole dissolvable plug |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6196311B1 (en) * | 1998-10-20 | 2001-03-06 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Universal cementing plug |
US7096949B2 (en) * | 2003-09-04 | 2006-08-29 | Msi Machineering Solutions Inc. | Wiper plug with packer |
US9200499B2 (en) * | 2011-03-14 | 2015-12-01 | Smith International, Inc. | Dual wiper plug system |
US8695714B2 (en) * | 2011-05-19 | 2014-04-15 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Easy drill slip with degradable materials |
US9139928B2 (en) * | 2011-06-17 | 2015-09-22 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Corrodible downhole article and method of removing the article from downhole environment |
-
2013
- 2013-02-11 US US13/764,153 patent/US20140224807A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2014
- 2014-01-09 WO PCT/US2014/010859 patent/WO2014123657A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5117915A (en) * | 1989-08-31 | 1992-06-02 | Union Oil Company Of California | Well casing flotation device and method |
US5762139A (en) * | 1996-11-05 | 1998-06-09 | Halliburton Company | Subsurface release cementing plug apparatus and methods |
US7699101B2 (en) * | 2006-12-07 | 2010-04-20 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Well system having galvanic time release plug |
US20100270031A1 (en) * | 2009-04-27 | 2010-10-28 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Downhole dissolvable plug |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20190128087A1 (en) * | 2016-05-16 | 2019-05-02 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Wiper dart with reinforced drive element |
US10767440B2 (en) * | 2016-05-16 | 2020-09-08 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Wiper dart with reinforced drive element |
US11255146B2 (en) * | 2017-06-21 | 2022-02-22 | Drilling Innovative Solutions, Llc | Plug activated mechanical isolation device, systems and methods for controlling fluid flow inside a tubular in a wellbore |
WO2019078828A1 (en) * | 2017-10-17 | 2019-04-25 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Removable core wiper plug |
GB2580241A (en) * | 2017-10-17 | 2020-07-15 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | Removable core wiper plug |
US11066900B2 (en) * | 2017-10-17 | 2021-07-20 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Removable core wiper plug |
GB2580241B (en) * | 2017-10-17 | 2022-03-02 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | Removable core wiper plug |
US11608707B2 (en) | 2017-10-17 | 2023-03-21 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Removable core wiper plug |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2014123657A1 (en) | 2014-08-14 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:RAMON, MICHAEL;REEL/FRAME:030364/0792 Effective date: 20130318 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |