US20140338925A1 - Wiper plug having disintegrable flow passage obstructing portion and method of using same - Google Patents
Wiper plug having disintegrable flow passage obstructing portion and method of using same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140338925A1 US20140338925A1 US13/895,631 US201313895631A US2014338925A1 US 20140338925 A1 US20140338925 A1 US 20140338925A1 US 201313895631 A US201313895631 A US 201313895631A US 2014338925 A1 US2014338925 A1 US 2014338925A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- wiper plug
- obstructing portion
- wiper
- plug
- string
- 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 9
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 51
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 12
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 10
- 239000011162 core material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 5
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrochloric acid Chemical compound Cl VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 4
- WCUXLLCKKVVCTQ-UHFFFAOYSA-M Potassium chloride Chemical compound [Cl-].[K+] WCUXLLCKKVVCTQ-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 3
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 description 3
- 241000282472 Canis lupus familiaris Species 0.000 description 2
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 2
- PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium oxide Inorganic materials [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Al+3].[Al+3] PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000011247 coating layer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052593 corundum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910052761 rare earth metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910001845 yogo sapphire Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- UXVMQQNJUSDDNG-UHFFFAOYSA-L Calcium chloride Chemical compound [Cl-].[Cl-].[Ca+2] UXVMQQNJUSDDNG-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052684 Cerium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052691 Erbium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052779 Neodymium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052777 Praseodymium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012267 brine Substances 0.000 description 1
- WGEFECGEFUFIQW-UHFFFAOYSA-L calcium dibromide Chemical compound [Ca+2].[Br-].[Br-] WGEFECGEFUFIQW-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000001413 cellular effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001805 chlorine compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004090 dissolution Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 e.g. Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052746 lanthanum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052748 manganese Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011572 manganese Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004005 microsphere Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000001103 potassium chloride Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000011164 potassium chloride Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012858 resilient material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052706 scandium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;chloride;hydrate Chemical compound O.[Na+].[Cl-] HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 229910052721 tungsten Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052727 yttrium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- VNDYJBBGRKZCSX-UHFFFAOYSA-L zinc bromide Chemical compound Br[Zn]Br VNDYJBBGRKZCSX-UHFFFAOYSA-L 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
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
-
- 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
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
- E21B33/1204—Packers; Plugs permanent; drillable
-
- 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
- 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
Definitions
- the cementation operation may include pumping a wiper plug downhole to assist in directing the cement through a port, e.g., of a shoe, located at a distal end of a casing string in order to fill an annulus between the casing string and the wall of the borehole with cement.
- a port e.g., of a shoe
- the presence of the wiper plug within the casing sting after the cementation operation may hinder the ability to perform subsequent fluid circulation operations, e.g., which may be used for enabling tools to be pumped downhole. While systems such as drillable wiper plugs have been devised to enable the wiper plugs to be removed, and work sufficiently for their intended purpose, the industry would well receive alternative wiper plug systems.
- a wiper plug including a body having one or more wiping elements radially extending therefrom; and an obstructing portion disintegrable upon exposure to a selected fluid in order to permit fluid communication across the wiper plug when the obstructing portion is disintegrated.
- a method of using a wiper plug including engaging one or more wiping elements of the wiper plug within a string; moving the wiper plug through the string; impeding fluid flow across the wiper plug with an obstructing portion of the wiper plug; exposing the obstructing portion to a selected fluid; disintegrating the obstructing portion with the selected fluid; and communicating fluid across the wiper plug.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a system for performing a cementing operation in a borehole
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a wiper plug according to one embodiment disclosed herein;
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a wiper plug according to another embodiment disclosed herein.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a wiper plug according to yet another embodiment disclosed herein.
- FIG. 1 a completion system 100 for performing a downhole cementing operation is schematically illustrated.
- an annulus 102 located radially between a casing string 104 and a borehole 106 is intended to be cemented by use of the system 100 .
- the casing string 104 includes a liner 108 that is hung from a relatively up-hole portion of the casing 104 and is also cemented.
- the casing string 104 includes a shoe 110 permitting communication of cement and other fluids between the casing string 104 and the annulus 102 .
- the shoe 110 can be equipped with one or more floats or check valve devices, e.g., as a so-called float shoe, to permit fluid flow in primarily one direction, e.g., to prevent the cement or other fluids from entering the casing string 104 from the annulus 102 .
- a float collar 112 can also be included having one or more floats or other check valve devices for a similar purpose.
- Cement can be supplied via a running string 114 that is insertable into the casing string 104 .
- a wiper plug 10 can be pumped through the running string 114 .
- the wiper plug 10 may also be referred to as a pump down plug or wiper dart.
- a pressurized fluid can be supplied to the up-hole side of the wiper plug 10 to propel the plug 10 through the running string 114 , thereby displacing the cement downhole of the plug 10 as the plug 10 progresses through the running string 114 and/or the liner 108 .
- the plug 10 urges the cement out through the casing string 104 , e.g., via a port or ports in the shoe 110 , in order to fill the annulus 102 with the cement.
- the wiper plug 10 includes one or more wiper elements 12 that sealingly engage the walls of the running string 114 .
- the wiper plug 10 is arranged to prevent fluid communication across the plug 10 , e.g., in both the up-hole and downhole directions. That is, the engagement of the wiper elements 12 within the running string 114 facilitates the ability of pressurized fluid to propel the plug 10 downhole as well as to urge cement and other fluids (e.g., spacer fluid separating the cement and the wiper plug 10 ) in the downhole direction while preventing the cement or other fluids from flowing back up-hole across the plug 10 .
- cement and other fluids e.g., spacer fluid separating the cement and the wiper plug 10
- the wiper elements may be formed from any suitable material, e.g., resilient and/or elastomeric material, take any shape, e.g., be in the form of wiper cups.
- the plug 10 also includes a flow bore or passage 14 formed therethrough.
- An obstructing portion 16 is initially present in the flow passage 14 in order to prevent fluid flow through the passage 14 . In this way, the obstructing portion 16 enables pressurized fluid to propel the plug 10 through the running string 114 and prevents cement from flowing up-hole past the plug 10 , as noted above.
- a liner wiper 116 is included at the end of the running string 114 .
- the plug 10 is configured to land in and sealingly engage the liner wiper 116 .
- the liner wiper 116 includes wiping elements 118 configured to sealing engage against the liner 108 and operate similar to the wiping elements 12 of the plug 10 , but with respect to the liner 108 .
- Continued pressurization releases the liner wiper 116 , together with the plug 10 , to continue to urge cement and/or other fluids through the liner 108 and into the annulus 102 via the shoe 110 .
- a landing collar 120 is arranged to receive the liner wiper 116 at the end of its movement through the liner 108 .
- a perforation gun or other tool is carried or urged to a desired position within the casing string 104 in a pumped flow of fluid within the casing 104 .
- the wiper plug 10 is sealingly engaged with the liner wiper 116 , and the liner wiper 116 sealing engaged with the liner 108 , thereby blocking fluid flow through these components and hindering the ability to pump fluid through the casing string 104 .
- the obstructing portion 16 of the plug 10 is disintegrable upon exposure to a selected fluid in order to remove the obstructing element 16 from the fluid passage 14 and thereby permit fluid to flow through the plug 10 via the passage 14 .
- disintegrable refers to a material or component that is consumable, corrodible, degradable, decomposable, dissolvable, or otherwise removable in response to the selected fluid. It is to be understood that use herein of the term “disintegrate,” or any of its forms (e.g., “disintegration”, etc.), incorporates the stated meaning.
- the selected fluid could be a fluid present or naturally occurring within the borehole 106 , e.g., a downhole fluid such as brine, water, oil, etc., a fluid that is delivered or pumped downhole specifically for the purpose of disintegrating the obstructing portion 16 , e.g., solvents, acids, etc., or combinations thereof
- FIGS. 2-4 Three specific embodiments for the plug 10 are illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 , labeled as plugs 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c, respectively. It is to be understood that any description generally with respect to the plug 10 applies generally to the plugs 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c and that the plugs 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c are provided as examples only and are not to be considered limiting. Additionally, it is to be understood that the plugs 10 , 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c may include components that share a similar structure and purpose and are provided with the same reference numeral.
- the primary difference between the plugs 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c is the structure of the obstructing portion included in each embodiment, identified with the numerals 16 a, 16 b, and 16 c, respectively.
- the obstructing portion 16 generally applies to each of the members 16 a, 16 b, and 16 c.
- the plug 10 a is arranged generally as described above with respect to the plug 10 , i.e., having a plurality of the wiping elements 12 radially extending from a body 18 and with the flow passage 14 formed therethrough.
- An obstructing portion 16 a is disposed within the flow passage 14 in order to impede the flow of fluid through the flow passage 14 when the obstructing portion 16 a is present (e.g., as with the obstructing portion 16 in general).
- the obstructing portions 16 is disposed in the flow passage 14 between the body 18 and a nose member 20 of the plug 10 .
- the nose member 20 is couplable to the body 18 , e.g., via a threaded connection, which enables the obstructing portion 16 a to be so positioned. Connection of the nose member 20 to the body 18 traps the obstructing portion 16 a in the flow passage 14 .
- the obstructing portion 16 a includes a pair of seal elements 22 a to sealingly engage within the passage 14 to facilitate the blockage, impedance, or hindrance of fluid flow through the passage 14 .
- the seal elements 22 a can be any desired sealing element, e.g., o-rings or other elastomeric sealing elements.
- the nose member 20 includes one or more ports 24 that enable fluid communication through the flow passage 14 when the obstructing member 16 a is disintegrated.
- the plug 10 b resembles the plug 10 a in many respects, e.g., including the wiper elements 12 , flow passage 14 , body 18 , nose 20 , ports 24 , etc.
- the plug 10 b includes the corresponding obstructing portion 16 b, which differs from the portion 16 a discussed above (and the portion 16 c discussed below). Accordingly, only the section of the plug 10 b illustrating the portion 16 b is illustrated in FIG. 3 .
- the portion 16 b includes a flange 26 that becomes pinched, pressed, or gripped between the nose member 20 and the body 18 when coupled together, thereby firmly holding the portion 16 b in position in the flow passage 14 .
- the portion 16 b includes a seal element 22 b that sealingly engages with the body 18 (e.g., as opposed to the seal elements 22 a engaging with the nose 20 ) in order to block, impede, or otherwise hinder fluid from flowing through the passage 14 .
- the plug 10 c is shown in FIG. 4 and generally resembles both the plugs 10 a and 10 b, discussed above, but includes the obstructing portion 16 c in lieu of the portions 16 a and 16 b, respectively.
- the portion 16 c shares the flange 26 of the portion 16 b, e.g., in order to enable the portion 16 c to be firmly held in position between the nose 20 and the body 18 .
- the obstructing portion 16 c includes a seal element 22 c that sealingly engages with the nose 20 (similar to the sealing elements 22 a ).
- the obstructing portion 16 can be sealingly engaged with any component of the plug 10 , e.g., the body 18 , the nose 20 , or some other part.
- any suitable sealing device or element or manner of sealing could be utilized.
- metal-to-metal seals are formed by wedging the obstructing portion 16 in place between the nose 20 and the body 18 and a separate sealing element (e.g., the elements 22 a, 22 b, and/or 22 c ) are not included.
- a separate sealing element e.g., the elements 22 a, 22 b, and/or 22 c
- the obstructing portion 16 resembles a combination of the portions 16 b and 16 c, including a flange, e.g., the flange 26 and sealing elements to seal the portion with both the body 18 and the nose 20 , e.g., both the sealing elements 22 b and 22 c.
- obstructing portions can take forms different than those illustrated.
- the entirety of the nose member 20 is disintegrable and forms the disintegrable portion 16 .
- some or all of the body 18 is disintegrable to form the obstructing portion 16 .
- the body 18 and the nose 20 are integrally formed, and the obstructing portion 16 is either integral or separately disposed therewith, e.g., held in place with dogs, ratchets, set screws, etc.
- the obstructing portion 16 is made of disintegrable material, e.g., only the component holding the obstructing portion 16 within the flow passage 14 such as the flange 26 , or the aforementioned dogs, ratchets, set screws, etc.
- the obstructing portion 16 is a cap, film, or layer that is secured on or about the body 18 , e.g., at the end opposite to the nose 20 , on the nose 20 , about the ports 24 , etc.
- obstructing portion 16 and/or other disintegrable portions of the plug 10 include those commercially available from Baker Hughes Incorporated under the trade name IN-TALLICTM. A description of suitable materials can also be found in United States Patent Publication No. 2011/0135953 (Xu et al.), which Patent Publication is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
- These lightweight, high-strength and selectably and controllably degradable materials include fully-dense, sintered powder compacts formed from coated powder materials that include various lightweight particle cores and core materials having various single layer and multilayer nanoscale coatings.
- These powder compacts are made from coated metallic powders that include various electrochemically-active (e.g., having relatively higher standard oxidation potentials) lightweight, high-strength particle cores and core materials, such as electrochemically active metals, that are dispersed within a cellular nanomatrix formed from the various nanoscale metallic coating layers of metallic coating materials, and are particularly useful in borehole applications.
- various electrochemically-active e.g., having relatively higher standard oxidation potentials
- lightweight, high-strength particle cores and core materials such as electrochemically active metals
- Suitable core materials include electrochemically active metals having a standard oxidation potential greater than or equal to that of Zn, including as Mg, Al, Mn or Zn or alloys or combinations thereof
- tertiary Mg—Al—X alloys may include, by weight, up to about 85% Mg, up to about 15% Al and up to about 5% X, where X is another material.
- the core material may also include a rare earth element such as Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd or Er, or a combination of rare earth elements.
- the materials could include other metals having a standard oxidation potential less than that of Zn.
- suitable non-metallic materials include ceramics, glasses (e.g., hollow glass microspheres), carbon, or a combination thereof
- the material has a substantially uniform average thickness between dispersed particles of about 50 nm to about 5000 nm.
- the coating layers are formed from Al, Ni, W or Al 2 O 3 , or combinations thereof
- the coating is a multi-layer coating, for example, comprising a first Al layer, an Al 2 O 3 layer, and a second Al layer. In some embodiments, the coating may have a thickness of about 25 nm to about 2500 nm.
- the fluids may include any number of ionic fluids or highly polar fluids, such as those that contain various chlorides. Examples include fluids comprising potassium chloride (KCl), hydrochloric acid (HCl), calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ), calcium bromide (CaBr 2 ) or zinc bromide (ZnBr 2 ).
- KCl potassium chloride
- HCl hydrochloric acid
- CaCl 2 calcium chloride
- CaBr 2 calcium bromide
- ZnBr 2 zinc bromide
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
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- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
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Abstract
A wiper plug including a body having one or more wiping elements radially extending therefrom. An obstructing portion is disintegrable upon exposure to a selected fluid in order to permit fluid communication across the wiper plug when the obstructing portion is disintegrated. A method of using a wiper plug is also included.
Description
- It is common in the downhole drilling and completions industry to cement a borehole after drilling and installing casing in the borehole. The cementation operation may include pumping a wiper plug downhole to assist in directing the cement through a port, e.g., of a shoe, located at a distal end of a casing string in order to fill an annulus between the casing string and the wall of the borehole with cement. The presence of the wiper plug within the casing sting after the cementation operation may hinder the ability to perform subsequent fluid circulation operations, e.g., which may be used for enabling tools to be pumped downhole. While systems such as drillable wiper plugs have been devised to enable the wiper plugs to be removed, and work sufficiently for their intended purpose, the industry would well receive alternative wiper plug systems.
- A wiper plug, including a body having one or more wiping elements radially extending therefrom; and an obstructing portion disintegrable upon exposure to a selected fluid in order to permit fluid communication across the wiper plug when the obstructing portion is disintegrated.
- A method of using a wiper plug including engaging one or more wiping elements of the wiper plug within a string; moving the wiper plug through the string; impeding fluid flow across the wiper plug with an obstructing portion of the wiper plug; exposing the obstructing portion to a selected fluid; disintegrating the obstructing portion with the selected fluid; and communicating fluid across the wiper plug.
- The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a system for performing a cementing operation in a borehole; -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a wiper plug according to one embodiment disclosed herein; -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a wiper plug according to another embodiment disclosed herein; and -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a wiper plug according to yet another embodiment disclosed herein. - 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 now to
FIG. 1 , acompletion system 100 for performing a downhole cementing operation is schematically illustrated. Specifically, anannulus 102 located radially between acasing string 104 and aborehole 106 is intended to be cemented by use of thesystem 100. Thecasing string 104 includes aliner 108 that is hung from a relatively up-hole portion of thecasing 104 and is also cemented. Thecasing string 104 includes ashoe 110 permitting communication of cement and other fluids between thecasing string 104 and theannulus 102. Theshoe 110 can be equipped with one or more floats or check valve devices, e.g., as a so-called float shoe, to permit fluid flow in primarily one direction, e.g., to prevent the cement or other fluids from entering thecasing string 104 from theannulus 102. Afloat collar 112 can also be included having one or more floats or other check valve devices for a similar purpose. Cement can be supplied via a runningstring 114 that is insertable into thecasing string 104. - In order to promote the progression of cement through the
casing string 104 and into theannulus 102, awiper plug 10 can be pumped through the runningstring 114. Thewiper plug 10 may also be referred to as a pump down plug or wiper dart. Generally, a pressurized fluid can be supplied to the up-hole side of thewiper plug 10 to propel theplug 10 through the runningstring 114, thereby displacing the cement downhole of theplug 10 as theplug 10 progresses through the runningstring 114 and/or theliner 108. In this way, theplug 10 urges the cement out through thecasing string 104, e.g., via a port or ports in theshoe 110, in order to fill theannulus 102 with the cement. - The
wiper plug 10 includes one or morewiper elements 12 that sealingly engage the walls of the runningstring 114. Thewiper plug 10 is arranged to prevent fluid communication across theplug 10, e.g., in both the up-hole and downhole directions. That is, the engagement of thewiper elements 12 within the runningstring 114 facilitates the ability of pressurized fluid to propel theplug 10 downhole as well as to urge cement and other fluids (e.g., spacer fluid separating the cement and the wiper plug 10) in the downhole direction while preventing the cement or other fluids from flowing back up-hole across theplug 10. The wiper elements may be formed from any suitable material, e.g., resilient and/or elastomeric material, take any shape, e.g., be in the form of wiper cups. Theplug 10 also includes a flow bore orpassage 14 formed therethrough. An obstructingportion 16 is initially present in theflow passage 14 in order to prevent fluid flow through thepassage 14. In this way, the obstructingportion 16 enables pressurized fluid to propel theplug 10 through the runningstring 114 and prevents cement from flowing up-hole past theplug 10, as noted above. - A
liner wiper 116 is included at the end of the runningstring 114. Theplug 10 is configured to land in and sealingly engage theliner wiper 116. Theliner wiper 116 includeswiping elements 118 configured to sealing engage against theliner 108 and operate similar to thewiping elements 12 of theplug 10, but with respect to theliner 108. Continued pressurization releases theliner wiper 116, together with theplug 10, to continue to urge cement and/or other fluids through theliner 108 and into theannulus 102 via theshoe 110. Alanding collar 120 is arranged to receive theliner wiper 116 at the end of its movement through theliner 108. - After cementing, it may be desired to circulate and/or pump fluids through the
casing string 104. In one embodiment, a perforation gun or other tool is carried or urged to a desired position within thecasing string 104 in a pumped flow of fluid within thecasing 104. As noted above, however, thewiper plug 10 is sealingly engaged with theliner wiper 116, and theliner wiper 116 sealing engaged with theliner 108, thereby blocking fluid flow through these components and hindering the ability to pump fluid through thecasing string 104. To this end, the obstructingportion 16 of theplug 10 is disintegrable upon exposure to a selected fluid in order to remove the obstructingelement 16 from thefluid passage 14 and thereby permit fluid to flow through theplug 10 via thepassage 14. As used herein, “disintegrable” refers to a material or component that is consumable, corrodible, degradable, decomposable, dissolvable, or otherwise removable in response to the selected fluid. It is to be understood that use herein of the term “disintegrate,” or any of its forms (e.g., “disintegration”, etc.), incorporates the stated meaning. The selected fluid could be a fluid present or naturally occurring within theborehole 106, e.g., a downhole fluid such as brine, water, oil, etc., a fluid that is delivered or pumped downhole specifically for the purpose of disintegrating the obstructingportion 16, e.g., solvents, acids, etc., or combinations thereof - Three specific embodiments for the
plug 10 are illustrated inFIGS. 2-4 , labeled asplugs plug 10 applies generally to theplugs plugs plugs plugs numerals plug 10, and description of the obstructingportion 16 generally applies to each of themembers - The
plug 10 a is arranged generally as described above with respect to theplug 10, i.e., having a plurality of thewiping elements 12 radially extending from abody 18 and with theflow passage 14 formed therethrough. An obstructingportion 16 a is disposed within theflow passage 14 in order to impede the flow of fluid through theflow passage 14 when the obstructingportion 16 a is present (e.g., as with the obstructingportion 16 in general). The obstructingportions 16 is disposed in theflow passage 14 between thebody 18 and anose member 20 of theplug 10. Thenose member 20 is couplable to thebody 18, e.g., via a threaded connection, which enables the obstructingportion 16 a to be so positioned. Connection of thenose member 20 to thebody 18 traps the obstructingportion 16 a in theflow passage 14. The obstructingportion 16 a includes a pair ofseal elements 22 a to sealingly engage within thepassage 14 to facilitate the blockage, impedance, or hindrance of fluid flow through thepassage 14. Theseal elements 22 a can be any desired sealing element, e.g., o-rings or other elastomeric sealing elements. Thenose member 20 includes one ormore ports 24 that enable fluid communication through theflow passage 14 when the obstructingmember 16 a is disintegrated. - The
plug 10 b resembles theplug 10 a in many respects, e.g., including thewiper elements 12,flow passage 14,body 18,nose 20,ports 24, etc. As noted above, theplug 10 b includes the corresponding obstructingportion 16 b, which differs from theportion 16 a discussed above (and theportion 16 c discussed below). Accordingly, only the section of theplug 10 b illustrating theportion 16 b is illustrated inFIG. 3 . Specifically, theportion 16 b includes aflange 26 that becomes pinched, pressed, or gripped between thenose member 20 and thebody 18 when coupled together, thereby firmly holding theportion 16 b in position in theflow passage 14. Theportion 16 b includes aseal element 22 b that sealingly engages with the body 18 (e.g., as opposed to theseal elements 22 a engaging with the nose 20) in order to block, impede, or otherwise hinder fluid from flowing through thepassage 14. - The
plug 10 c is shown inFIG. 4 and generally resembles both theplugs portion 16 c in lieu of theportions portion 16 c shares theflange 26 of theportion 16 b, e.g., in order to enable theportion 16 c to be firmly held in position between thenose 20 and thebody 18. Unlike theportion 16 b, the obstructingportion 16 c includes aseal element 22 c that sealingly engages with the nose 20 (similar to the sealingelements 22 a). - It is to of course be appreciated that the obstructing
portion 16, regardless of particular form, can be sealingly engaged with any component of theplug 10, e.g., thebody 18, thenose 20, or some other part. Additionally, any suitable sealing device or element or manner of sealing could be utilized. For example, in one embodiment, metal-to-metal seals are formed by wedging the obstructingportion 16 in place between thenose 20 and thebody 18 and a separate sealing element (e.g., theelements portion 16 resembles a combination of theportions flange 26 and sealing elements to seal the portion with both thebody 18 and thenose 20, e.g., both the sealingelements - It is additionally to be appreciated that obstructing portions can take forms different than those illustrated. For example, in one embodiment the entirety of the
nose member 20 is disintegrable and forms thedisintegrable portion 16. In one embodiment, some or all of thebody 18 is disintegrable to form the obstructingportion 16. In one embodiment thebody 18 and thenose 20 are integrally formed, and the obstructingportion 16 is either integral or separately disposed therewith, e.g., held in place with dogs, ratchets, set screws, etc. In one embodiment, only a portion of the obstructingportion 16 is made of disintegrable material, e.g., only the component holding the obstructingportion 16 within theflow passage 14 such as theflange 26, or the aforementioned dogs, ratchets, set screws, etc. In one embodiment, the obstructingportion 16 is a cap, film, or layer that is secured on or about thebody 18, e.g., at the end opposite to thenose 20, on thenose 20, about theports 24, etc. - An example of materials that are suitable for use in manufacturing the obstructing
portion 16 and/or other disintegrable portions of theplug 10 include those commercially available from Baker Hughes Incorporated under the trade name IN-TALLIC™. A description of suitable materials can also be found in United States Patent Publication No. 2011/0135953 (Xu et al.), which Patent Publication is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. These lightweight, high-strength and selectably and controllably degradable materials include fully-dense, sintered powder compacts formed from coated powder materials that include various lightweight particle cores and core materials having various single layer and multilayer nanoscale coatings. These powder compacts are made from coated metallic powders that include various electrochemically-active (e.g., having relatively higher standard oxidation potentials) lightweight, high-strength particle cores and core materials, such as electrochemically active metals, that are dispersed within a cellular nanomatrix formed from the various nanoscale metallic coating layers of metallic coating materials, and are particularly useful in borehole applications. Suitable core materials include electrochemically active metals having a standard oxidation potential greater than or equal to that of Zn, including as Mg, Al, Mn or Zn or alloys or combinations thereof For example, tertiary Mg—Al—X alloys may include, by weight, up to about 85% Mg, up to about 15% Al and up to about 5% X, where X is another material. The core material may also include a rare earth element such as Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd or Er, or a combination of rare earth elements. In other embodiments, the materials could include other metals having a standard oxidation potential less than that of Zn. Also, suitable non-metallic materials include ceramics, glasses (e.g., hollow glass microspheres), carbon, or a combination thereof In one embodiment, the material has a substantially uniform average thickness between dispersed particles of about 50 nm to about 5000 nm. In one embodiment, the coating layers are formed from Al, Ni, W or Al2O3, or combinations thereof In one embodiment, the coating is a multi-layer coating, for example, comprising a first Al layer, an Al2O3 layer, and a second Al layer. In some embodiments, the coating may have a thickness of about 25 nm to about 2500 nm. These powder compacts provide a unique and advantageous combination of mechanical strength properties, such as compression and shear strength, low density and selectable and controllable corrosion properties, particularly rapid and controlled dissolution in various borehole fluids. The fluids may include any number of ionic fluids or highly polar fluids, such as those that contain various chlorides. Examples include fluids comprising potassium chloride (KCl), hydrochloric acid (HCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), calcium bromide (CaBr2) or zinc bromide (ZnBr2). - 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 wiper plug, comprising:
a body having one or more wiping elements radially extending therefrom; and
an obstructing portion disintegrable upon exposure to a selected fluid in order to permit fluid communication across the wiper plug when the obstructing portion is disintegrated.
2. The wiper plug of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a flow passage formed therein and the obstructing portion is initially disposed to block flow through the flow passage.
3. The wiper plug of claim 2 , further comprising one or more seal elements sealingly engaging the obstructing portion within the flow passage.
4. The wiper plug of claim 2 , further comprising a nose member couplable to the body, the flow passage formed also through the nose member, and wherein the obstructing portion is located between the nose member and the body.
5. The wiper plug of claim 4 , wherein the obstructing portion includes a flange that is trapped between the nose member and body to hold the obstructing portion in the flow passage.
6. The wiper plug of claim 4 , further comprising one or more seal elements sealingly engaging the obstructing portion within the flow passage.
7. The wiper plug of claim 6 , wherein the one or more seal elements sealingly engage the obstructing portion with the body, the nose, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing.
8. A completion system including the wiper plug of claim 1 .
9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a casing string disposed in a borehole and a running string disposed in the casing string, the wiper plug configured to travel through the running string to urge cement through the running string and out through the casing string into an annulus between the casing string and the borehole.
10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a liner wiper configured to sealingly receive the wiper plug and to together travel through a liner of the casing string to urge the cement into the annulus.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the casing string includes at least one float for enabling cement or other fluids to flow from the casing string into the annulus while preventing the flow of cement or other fluids into the casing string from the annulus.
12. A method of using a wiper plug comprising:
engaging one or more wiping elements of the wiper plug within a string;
moving the wiper plug through the string;
impeding fluid flow across the wiper plug with an obstructing portion of the wiper plug;
exposing the obstructing portion to a selected fluid;
disintegrating the obstructing portion with the selected fluid; and
communicating fluid across the wiper plug.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the obstructing portion is disposed in a flow passage formed through a body of the wiper plug.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the string is a running string disposed in a casing string installed in a borehole.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein moving the wiper plug includes urging cement out of the running string and the casing string into an annulus formed between the borehole and the casing string.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising landing the wiper plug in a liner wiper and moving the liner wiper together with the wiper plug through a liner of the casing string before communicating fluid across the wiper plug.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/895,631 US20140338925A1 (en) | 2013-05-16 | 2013-05-16 | Wiper plug having disintegrable flow passage obstructing portion and method of using same |
PCT/US2014/033647 WO2014186077A1 (en) | 2013-05-16 | 2014-04-10 | Wiper plug having disintegrable flow passage obstructing portion and method of using same |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/895,631 US20140338925A1 (en) | 2013-05-16 | 2013-05-16 | Wiper plug having disintegrable flow passage obstructing portion and method of using same |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20140338925A1 true US20140338925A1 (en) | 2014-11-20 |
Family
ID=51894863
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/895,631 Abandoned US20140338925A1 (en) | 2013-05-16 | 2013-05-16 | Wiper plug having disintegrable flow passage obstructing portion and method of using same |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20140338925A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014186077A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
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US20180045014A1 (en) * | 2016-08-15 | 2018-02-15 | Janus Tech Services LLC | Wellbore plug structure and method for pressure testing a wellbore |
US10718180B2 (en) * | 2014-01-07 | 2020-07-21 | Top-Co Inc. | Wellbore sealing systems and methods |
CN112064445A (en) * | 2020-08-31 | 2020-12-11 | 郑州地铁集团有限公司 | Method for blocking track traffic engineering exploration drilling |
US11066900B2 (en) * | 2017-10-17 | 2021-07-20 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Removable core wiper plug |
US20220372842A1 (en) * | 2021-05-19 | 2022-11-24 | Vertice Oil Tools Inc. | Methods and systems associated with converting landing collar to hybrid landing collar & toe sleeve |
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US6196311B1 (en) * | 1998-10-20 | 2001-03-06 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Universal cementing plug |
US8276670B2 (en) * | 2009-04-27 | 2012-10-02 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Downhole dissolvable plug |
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GB0425098D0 (en) * | 2004-11-13 | 2004-12-15 | Caledus Ltd | Apparatus for use in a well bore |
US7647975B2 (en) * | 2006-03-17 | 2010-01-19 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Gas lift valve assembly |
US9080422B2 (en) * | 2011-09-02 | 2015-07-14 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Liner wiper plug with bypass option |
-
2013
- 2013-05-16 US US13/895,631 patent/US20140338925A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2014
- 2014-04-10 WO PCT/US2014/033647 patent/WO2014186077A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US6196311B1 (en) * | 1998-10-20 | 2001-03-06 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Universal cementing plug |
US8276670B2 (en) * | 2009-04-27 | 2012-10-02 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Downhole dissolvable plug |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10718180B2 (en) * | 2014-01-07 | 2020-07-21 | Top-Co Inc. | Wellbore sealing systems and methods |
US20180045014A1 (en) * | 2016-08-15 | 2018-02-15 | Janus Tech Services LLC | Wellbore plug structure and method for pressure testing a wellbore |
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 |
CN112064445A (en) * | 2020-08-31 | 2020-12-11 | 郑州地铁集团有限公司 | Method for blocking track traffic engineering exploration drilling |
US20220372842A1 (en) * | 2021-05-19 | 2022-11-24 | Vertice Oil Tools Inc. | Methods and systems associated with converting landing collar to hybrid landing collar & toe sleeve |
US11913304B2 (en) * | 2021-05-19 | 2024-02-27 | Vertice Oil Tools, Inc. | Methods and systems associated with converting landing collar to hybrid landing collar and toe sleeve |
Also Published As
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WO2014186077A1 (en) | 2014-11-20 |
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Owner name: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WARLICK, GEOFFREY S.;FILYUKOV, RUSLAN V.;LONDA, MICHAEL AARON;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20130626 TO 20130712;REEL/FRAME:031034/0149 |
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