US2810442A

US2810442A - Flexible tubular extension member for wells

Info

Publication number: US2810442A
Application number: US523964A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gilbert H Tausch
Original assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co
Current assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
Priority date: 1955-07-25
Filing date: 1955-07-25
Publication date: 1957-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1974-10-22

Description

Oct. 22, 1957 G. H. TAUSCH 2,810,442

FLEXIBLE TUBULAR EXTENSION MEMBER FOR WELLS Filed July 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Gilbert H. Tausch,

Oct. 22, 1957 G. H. TAUSCH 2,810,442

FLEXIBLE TUBULAR EXTENSION MEMBER FOR WELLS Filed July 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G/lber) H. Tausch,

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United States Patent FLEXWLE TUBULAR EXTENSION lVIEMBER FOR WELLS Gilbert H. Tausch, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Esso Research and Engineering Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application July 25, 1955, Serial No. 523,964

11 Claims. (Cl. 166218) The present invention is directed to a tubular extension member for use in wells. More particularly, the invention is directed to apparatus for extending the effective length of tubing in wells deviated from the vertical. In its more particular aspects, the invention is directed to apparatus and method for completing and servicing wells located oflshore at a marine or water location.

The present invention may be briefly described as an apparatus for use in a well bore comprising a flexible tubular member having means on its upper end for suspending the tubular member in the well. The flexible metallic member is particularly adapted for use in a tubing arranged in a well casing in a well and is provided with suspending means which is removably connected to the upper end of the tubular extension member for suspending the tubular extension member in the tubing and/ or well. The suspending means may suitably be removably connected to the flexible metallic tubular extension member by screw threads, latching devices, latching dogs, pipe engaging means, and the like.

The suspending means which is removably attached to the flexible metallic extension member may suitably be a hanger, such as described in the Composite Catalog of Oil Field and Pipe Line Equipment, 1954 edition, pages 3977 and 4000, and may comprise pipe engaging means such as pipe slips, latching dogs, anchoring means, and the like. The tubular extension member and the hanger are suitably provided with packing, such as chevron packing, for engaging with the walls of a landing seat and supporting means or landing nipple, such as has been described in the Composite Catalog of Oil Field and Pipe Iiine Equipment, 1954 edition, page 3977.

' The present invention also comprises apparatus in combination with a well drilled in the earths surface having a casing extending substantially the depth of the well and having a tubing arranged in the casing with its lower end at a level above at least one productive interval, the well casing and tubing being closed at the upper end by a well head. A pipe is connected to the well head and tubing having a permanent, substantially short radial bend and a laterally extending conduit means is connected to the pipe for introducing into the tubing through the pipe a flexible metal tubular extension member which is adapted to be and is supported and/or suspended at its upper end in sealing engagement with the tubing in the lower end of the tubing such that it projects therefrom.

. It is contemplated that the laterally extending conduit means may extend from a well head connected to a well drilled at a marine location with the well head being arranged below the level of the water and with the conduit extending laterally to the shore of the Water location.

It is' further contemplated that the Well, whether it be at a marine location or drilled on dry land, may be deviated substantially from the vertical such that it is necessary, when the eifective length'of the tubing is extended, to move the flexible metallic tubular extension member through the well bore deviated substantially from the vertical. The flexible tubular extension member is admirably suited for moving through a deviated well or moving through a passage which is deviated from the vertical and which traverses a path from the horizontal to the vertical or at an angle from the vertical.

In the practice of the present invention, it is contemplated that the fiexible metallic tubular extension member may be moved through the passageway or through the tubing by attaching same to a wire line and lowering the tubular extension member or the tubular extension member may be moved by pumping fluid or flowing fluid into contact with the tubular extension member. For example, at least one end of the tubular member may be closed and fluid pumped thereagainst to cause same to move through the tubing and the lateral conduit. When running the tubular extension member into the well, the lower end of the tubular member may be closed by an expendable plug and when retrieving the tubular extension member from the well, the upper end thereof may be closed and/or sealed to allow fluid to be pumped against the tubular extension member to retrieve same from the well.

' The present invention will be further illustrated by ref erence to the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic showing of a well drilled at a water location illustrating the flexible tubular extension member in place and at various stages of running in;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the lower end of the tubular member in a closed position;

Fig. 3 shows a tubular member run through a deviated well bore;

Fig. 4 illustrates the lowering of the flexible tubular member on a wire line;

a Fig. 5 illustrates means for retrieving the tubular member from the well;

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of a suspending means removably attached to the flexible tubular extension member;

. Fig. 7 is an illustration of a latching means for releasably connecting the hanger to the tubular extension member;

Fig. 8 is a partial cutaway view of the flexible construc-, tion of the tubular member;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view of a bellows-type flexible extension member and showing the metallic covering of the bellows-type extension member.

Referring now to the drawing in which identical numerals will be employed to designate identical parts and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, numeral 11 designates a well drilled from the water bottom 12 of a water location 13 v at a substantial distance from a shore line 14. Arranged in the well bore 11 is a casing 15 which is cemented in place with primary cement 16, the casing 15 extending substantially the depth of the well. Arranged in the casing 15 is a tubing 17 having its lower open end 18 arranged at a level above a hydrocarbon productive interval 19.'

The tubing 17 has arranged adjacent the lower open end 18 a landing nipple 20 in which is suspended a hanger assembly 21. Releasably or permanently connected to the hanger assembly 21 is a flexible tubing extension member 22. The hanger assembly 21 and extension member 22 are provided on the upper end of the h'anger'assembly 21 with a fishing neck 23. The extension member 22 is run into the tubing 17 with its lower end 24 closed by an expendable plug 25 which is also attached thereto by shear pins or other releasable attaching means 26. Plug 25 is i also provided with a cup-type packer 25a for the purpose of pumping extension member 22 into the tubing.

. The tubing 17 and the casing 15 are closed in by a well head 27 which has attached thereto and to the tubing 17 a short radius ben'd pipe 28 which may be of any desired degree; The pipe 28 is connected to a laterally extending conduit 29-by'a pipe-connecting meansbl), the latera lly I pump 82 arranged therein;

The conduit 29 'is provided '-Witha blowout" preventer 33- which -serves as 'a' supporting means for the tubular extension member 22 as will -be desc'ribedi Giannectedflto the blowout 'preventer or supporting means 33 is lubricator 34 provided with a valve 35; Connected to the lubricator 34 by a laterally extending conduit 36*is-a pump 37 which'connects to-a sourceof fluid, not shown, bya conduit 38. The pump 32 also connects toa source of fluid by a conduit 39 'I'hefluidsourcemaybe drilling mud, oil, fresh or-saltwateras may be desired or maybe a suitabletreating agent, such as acid, acid gel, cement slurry, andmany. other fluid materials used in oil wellservicing and completion operations.

Shown in the running in-positionis a" tubular extension member 22 being run in-through'the blowout preventer 33 into the conduit34, the flexible extension member being wound or spooled on a reel or drum 40 mounted by a mounting means-41'on a service truck 42, the flexible tubular extension member being run ofi" the reel 40 over a sheave 43 carried by the truck 42.

The-flexible, metallic extensionmember may conveniently be formed in sections of apredetermined length coupled together by a removable connection means. Such sections may be of 50, 100, 200, 300, 500 feet in length as may be desired.

It-is to be noted in Fig. 1 that the hydrocarbon productive interval 19 has'been perforated to form a flow path fromthe interval 19 into the casing. This has been accomplished by previously inserting through the tubing 17 a tubing gun perforator and firing same to form the perforations 44 through the casing 15 and cement 16. Thereafter, as shown in .Fig. l, a body of cement 45 has been deposited to seal the perforations 44.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that a Well casing 50 has been arranged in a well bore 51 which is deviated from the vertical and cemented in place with primary cement 52. A tubing string 53 follows the-devi-. atedcasing 50 and well bore 51 and has arranged in'the lower end thereof a landing nipple 20 suspended from a hanger assembly 21, a flexible metallic tubular extension member 22 provided with a fishing head 23. Like the'illustration of Fig. 1 a production interval 19 has been penetrated by perforating the casing 50 to form perforations 54 through the casing 50 and the cement 52.

Referring now to Fig. 4, a well 60 drilled from the earths surface61 has penetrated the hydrocarbon-produ-ctive interval 19. The well has a casing 62 arranged therein and cemented in place with primary cement 63. In the casing 62 is a tubing 64 having. its lower open end arranged above the hydrocarbon productive interval 19. Shown lowered on a wire line 65 and attached thereto by a fishing means 66 attached to fishing neck 23 is a flexible metallic tubular member 22 which has been landedin the landing nipple 20.

The wire line 65 extends through a lubricator 66 attached to a blowout preventer 67 which, in turn, is attached to the well head 68. The wire line runs over a sheave 69 on a truck crane 70 and runs to a reel thereon, not shown. The sheave 69 may be mounted on the lubricator 66 if desired.

Connected to the tubing 64 below the blowout preventer 67 and above well head 68 is a flow line 71 and connected to the casing 62 is a pipe or conduit'72 provided with a pump 73 therein which connects to a source of fluid, not shown. Flow line 71'also connects to a pump and source of fluid, not shown.

In Fig. means are provided in the apparatus of Fig, 4 for retrieving the extension member. 22. Shown being pumped down is a retrieving assembly 7 5{provided with l a fishing neck 76. a sealing member 77, and grab hooks 78 for engaging with-the fishing neck 23.

It is to be noted that like the other figures, the casing 62 and cement 63 in Figs. 4 and 5 have been perforated in the interval 19 to form the perforations 79.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the hanger assembly 21 is releasably connected to the extension member 22 by screw threads:80 .on the lower end of the hanger 21 which Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, the extension member 22 is made up of a bellows construction 86, which is covere'di by a woven metal covering 87.

In employing the device of the present invention with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the tubular extension member 22 is spooled 011 the reel 40 and inserted'into the lubricator 34 as shown. After the desired length has beeninserted, ahanger, such as 21, shown in Figs. 6'and' 7, isreleasably attached thereto and the complete assembly manually inserted in the lubricator 34. Thereafter, the

valve 35 is opened and the pump 37 started to force the.

extensionmember 22 through the lubricator 34,.conduit 29 andthrough the curved pipe 28 into the tubing 17.

Thedotted lines show the extension member 22 traversing, thepipeof short radius and entering into the tubing 17,. while the full lines show the tubular extensionmember22.

seating in the landing nipple 20. After the tubular extension member is seated in the landing nipple-20, pressure-is applied. thereto to. shear the shear pins 26 and cause the plug 25 to drop to the bottom of the well. Thereaftenthe. pipe 38 connected to pump 37 is connected to a source of fluid for treating the well; for example, a cement slurry,

such as described in the Salathiel'Patent 2,582,459 to seal. the perforations 44 which have been made previously by lowering a tubinggun perforator through the tubing 17.

Thereafter, the assembly 22 may-beretrieved either by engaging with a wire line, such, as 65, carrying a grab hook 61 or-preferablyr an assembly, such as shown in.Fig. 5, is pumped down toallowthe grab hooks 78-to engage the;

fishing neck 23 andform a seal with'the innerwalls of; the tubing with the sealingmember 77. Thereafter, fluidis pumped down'the annulus A from a source not shown by: conduit means 39 and pipe 31 by means of pump 32:to force the extension member 22 back up the tubing and. through the curved pipe 28 and conduit 29 intothe sup porting means or blowout preventer 33 which serves to hold the conduit in that position-and allow it to be re-- trieved through the lubricator 34.for spooling again on the reel 40 after detaching the removable hanger 21 by unscrewing the screw threads 80 or depressing the latches 22a.

The extension member 22 maybe run in or removed from a deviated well, such as shown in Fig. 3, in the samemanner as has been described with respect to' Fig; 1. Likewise, with respect to Fig. 4, buoyancy may'be provided tothe tubular extension member 22 during-its-lowering and raising operation by circulating fluid down the" annulus'A' by way of pump 73 connected tothe casing 62 by conduit 72. In the running in position, the extension member 22 may be provided with a plug, suchas shown in- Figs. 1 and 2, and buoyancy provided by trap.- p'ing air within the extension member 22, whereas onremoving same reverse circulation will provide buoyancy asrthe device isbeingraisedon thewire-line .65.

. In .theembodiment of Fig. 5, the tubular extension:

member may be run in, either on the wire line or pumped in as shown in Fig. l and then retrieved by pumping down the retrieving assembly shown in Fig. 5 to engage with the fishing neck 23. Thereafter by reverse circulation, the assembly may be retrieved by virtue of the seal formed by sealing member 77 with the tubing 62.

After retrieving the assembly 22, as has been described, the well 11 may be reperforated in the same interval or vertically displaced therefrom such as in interval 19 or productive interval 19a.

The flexible tubular extension member may be constructed of flexible metal as illustrated but may be constructed of suitable reinforced flexible, deformable or resilient material such as natural and/0r synthetic rubber, and the like. For example, the rubbers mentioned may be reinforced internally with metallic braids, bands, cords, cables, wires, and the like, or may be reinforced with suitable fabric and/ or fiber in the form of ribbons, cords, and the like. Specific reinforcing fibers are cotton, silk, ramie, linen, the synthetic fibers, such as rayon, nylon, Orlon, Dacron, and the like.

In the specification and claims where the term ribbon has been employed, ribbon is used in the sense as defined in Websters New International Dictionary, second edition, unabridged (1936), and in the sense it is used in the textile industry; for example, Carmichael, Linton and Price, Callaway Textile Dictionary, first edition, Callaway Mills, La Grange, Georgia, 1947, define ribbon as follows: Ribbon: a fillet or narrow woven fabric of varying widthscommonly to 3 incheshaving selvage edges, principally of rayon, silk or velvet and used for trimminings, decorations, etc.

Thedevice of the present invention is quite advantageous and allows the effective length of a tubing to be lengthened or increased in wells for flow passage and/or tubing and casing which deviate from the vertical. Thus, for example, deviated wells are no longer a problem in well servicing and completion where flexible tubular extension members, as set out herein, are employed. By virtue of the flexible nature of the flexible tubing extension the extension may be carried on a reel or service truck and run in or retrieved in a fraction of the time required for rigid extension members. Deviated or deflected bore holes do not limit the scope of utility of the flexible extension member of the present invention since it may be used offshore with all the well connections on shore and all service and completion operations for the marine location conducted from the shore location.

The present invention may be used in all well servicing operations such as cleaning mud from a well bore to the total well depth where the tubing is arranged at a level above a plurality of hydrocarbon productive intervals, sand removal may be afforded in deviated wells, cementing operations where a slurry of cement is deposited in regions adjacent perforations and excess fluid cement then removed therefrom and other treatments of wells or servicing operations where fluid is deposited in a well below the lower open end of the tubing which is arranged at a high level in the well.

The present invention has greatly utility and is particularly useful at water locations and/or deviated and/or deflected wells where the well tubing, well casing, or other flow passages deviate substantially from the vertical or where connections having short radial bends are connected to the well tubing or to the casing.

This application contains subject matter common to copending application Serial No. 523,963, filed July 25, 1955, for Gilbert H. Tausch, John W. Kenneday, and Martin E. True and entitled Tubular Extension Member for Wells.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new and useful and to secure by Letters Patent 1. Apparatus for use in a well bore having a casing ing arranged in said casing with its lower open end above a plurality of productive subsurface earth intervals and having a supporting means adjacent its lower end, a continuous walled flexible tubular member arranged in the lower endvof said tubing to project therefrom and provided with means on its upper end engageable with said supporting means for retrievably supporting said tubular member in the lower end of said tubing, said tubular extension member being open on both ends and being freely lowerable in and retrievable from said well bore.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the tubular member is metallic.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the tubular member is constructed of resilient material.

4. Apparatus for use in a well bore having a casing arranged therein which comprises, in combination, a tubing arranged in said casing with its lower open end above a plurality of productive subsurface earth intervals and having a supporting means adjacent its lower end, a continuous walled flexible tubular member arranged in the lower end of said tubing to project therefrom and provided with means on its upper end engageable with said supporting means for retrievably supporting said tubular member in the lower end of said tubing, said means engageable with the supporting means being removably connected to said flexible tubular member, said tubular extension member being open on both ends and being freely lowerable in and retrievable from said well bore.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which the means engageable with the supporting means is a hanger assembly.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which the means engageable with the supporting means is removably connected to the flexible tubular member by screw threads.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which the means engageable with the supporting means is removably connected to the flexible tubular member by a latch.

8. Apparatus for use in a well bore having a casing arranged therein which comprises, in combination, a tubing arranged in said casing with its lower open end above a plurality of productive subsurface earth intervals and having a supporting means adjacent its lower end, a continuous walled flexible tubular member arranged in the lower end of said tubing to project therefrom and provided with means on its upper end engageable with said supporting means for retrievably supporting said tubular member in the lower end of said tubing, said flexible tubular member being provided with means thereon for forming a seal between the tubing and the upper end of said tubular extension member, said tubular extension member being open on both ends and being freely lowerable in and retrievable from said well bore.

9. Apparatus for use in a well bore having a casing arranged therein which comprises, in combination, a tubing arranged in said casing with its lower open end above a plurality of productive subsurface earth intervals and having a supporting means adjacent its lower end, a continuous walled flexible tubular member arranged in the lower end of said tubing to project therefrom and provided with means on its upper end engageable with said supporting means for retrievably supporting said tubular member in the lower end of said tubing, said flexible tubular member being provided with means thereon for forming a seal between the tubing and the upper end of said tubular extension member, said tubular extension member being open on both ends and being freely lowerable in and retrievable from said well bore and being provided with sealing means on its lower end.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which the sealing means on the lower end of the tubular member is a releasably attached cup-shaped packing means.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which the sealing means on the lower end of the tubular member 7 8 cgmpl isesr a rcleasably attached plug; provided with a, 1,937,107 McDowell --.-V--. 1933. cup-shaped packing means. Y 2,187,347 Guarnaschelli Jan. 16, 1940' V r 2,434,239 Zublin J an. 6, 1948 References Cited in the file of this patcnt 1 2,567,009 Calhoun et a1, Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PA 5 2,6 6, R01lins P 1953 1,608,575 Bannister Nov. 30, 1926