US2891620A

US2891620A - Method of perforating well casing

Info

Publication number: US2891620A
Application number: US618937A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter J Bielstein
Original assignee: Jersey Production Research Co
Current assignee: Jersey Production Research Co
Priority date: 1954-09-07
Filing date: 1956-10-29
Publication date: 1959-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1976-06-23

Description

June 23, 1959 w. J. BlELsTElN METHOD OF PERFORATING WELL CASING K l 5 sheets-'sheet 1 v Original Filed Sevpt. "7, 1954 INVENTOR.

illilllllllllll June 23, 1959v w. J. BIELsTElN METHOD OF PERFORATING WELL CASING original'Filed sept. fr.' 1954 5 sheets-sheet 2 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR.

Wa/er J. Bie/stein,

ATTOR E 1 June 23, 1959 w. J. BlELs-rElN "2,891,620

. ,METHOD 0F PERFORATING WELL CASING Original Fild Sep. 7, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 "4 mw' IN1 Illar/ I VENTOR. 42 Walter J. 'elsfein,

W. J. BIELSTEIN METHOD OF PERFORATING WELL 'CASING June 23, .1959

5 sheets-snaai 4 Original Filed Sept. 7,

FIG. 8.

FIG; /l.

` INVENTOR. Walter J. Bie/s fein,

ATTOR June 23, 1959 w. J. BlELsTElN METHOD oF PERFORMING WELL CASINGY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed'Sept. F7. 1954' F/G. lola'.

FIG. lO.

INVENToR.

. Walter J. Bie/stein,

ATT

UnitedStates Pam Y `2,391,620 METHOD or PERFoRArlNG wnL-L cAslNG Walter J. Bielstein, Corpus Christi, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production Research Company, Tulsakla., a corporation of Delaware Original application September 7, 1954, Serial No. 454,342, now Patent No. 2,781,098, dated February "12, 1957. Divided and this application October 29,

1956, Serial No. 618,937

forming new perforations in the casing by tiring va gun perforator in a clean liquid and the like. l

The present invention also comprises apparatus for conducting permanent well completions wherein the tub` ing string is permanently arranged in the casing ata level above a plurality of hydrocarbon productivestrata. This apparatus comprises a mandrel adapted to be con#v nected to the lower open vend of theV tubing'string having a passageway adapted to communicate with the tubing on connection thereto. A tubular member is connected to the lower end of the mandrel on an axis oiset oni the longitudinal axis of the tubing. The tubular'mem-j ber may be of a length s'uiicientlygreat to extend from the lower open en d of the tubing'to' a level below the' hydrocarbon productive stratumor may extend to With-v in the series .or plurality of hydrocarbon productivestrata.: A packer assembly may be connected to the mandrel for This vapplication is a division of U.S Serial No. 454,342,

filed September 7, 1954, for Walter I. Bielstein,'now U.S. Patent 2,781,098 issued February l2, 1957.

The present invention may be fbriey described as a methodior treating'a cased wellhaving a tubingpermanently arranged in the cased well with the lower open end Yof the tubing arranged ata level above a plurality of hydrocarbon productive strata. In the present invention the casing is perforated in the rst of thehydrocarbon productive -stratajiollowing which' the lower open end offthe'tubingis closed. A treating iiuid, such as fresh or salt water, lis then circulated down the, annulus between the'trubing and casing and along the length of the casing below the tubing at least in contact with the perforations. The treating liquid is then conducted to the tubing and flows up the tubing. Thereafter, the lower end of thetubingisopened and the well is then produced up the tubing." v

`It is contemplated that the'present invention will involve the conducting uof a treating uid, such as a lowV water loss iiuid cement, down` the tubing and spotting the huid cement in the region of the perforations in the rst stratum under conditionsl to seal the perforations following 'which a washing liquid, such as fresh or salt water, will be circulated down the' annulus to remove excess iiuid cement from the casing `follow-ing which the washing liquid and fluid cement is conducted to the 'tubing and ilowed upwardly therein before the lower end of the tubing is opened and the casing perforated' in second hydrocarbon 'productive stratum. v

i The perforating of the casingv inthe second hydrocarbonproductive-stratum may be performed by lowering afgfunv perforator .through the open end of the tubing andring thev gun through the casing inthe second hydrocarbon productive stratum. fffitfis'contemplated in the practice vof the present Vinvention that the cement may be allowed to iill the perforations tof-form a filter cake therein to seal the`4 perforations, or a body of cement may be arranged in the casing in contact with the perforations and pressure 'appliedV tothe cement `to squeeze same into the perforations or into thestrata to seal the perforations.

It isV contemplated -in the method of the present in-- vention that a treating liquid, such as uid cement, acid, acid geLtresh orsalt water, suspensions of solids of oil andthelike, maybe flowed down the tubing to treat the well'. or formation. ySuch treating operations mayinclude washing-the well to remove sand, cementing operations, fracturingV of the formation t through the periorations, treatment oi a formation With4 acid @with acid gel, or

closing off the annulus between the tubing and the easy' ing. Arranged in the mandrel co-axially with the longi-` tudinal axis of the tubingis flow directing means for :di-l recting uid flow from the` tubing through the mandrel to the tubular member andfr'om the vannulus .to 'the'packer assembly. A nipple is connected to the mandrel co-axiale' 1y with the longitudinal axisof the'tubing' and retrievablejmeans, such as a plug, is arranged in the nipple for opening and closing the nipple. The nipple may beused to direct -uid ow from the tub-ing through the mandrel to the tubular member. Y

The tubular member maybe'provided with 'aftack which extends substantially the length of the tubular menil ber land the nipple is provided on its internal surface with a spiral indexing means for positioning an'clorigatedcarf'4 riage, such as a tubing gun perforator, lowered through the tubing and nipple on the track member.

- The iiowk directing means'for directing fluid now through the mandrel and through the packer assembly `may be a rotatable polish joint having a flow Vpassage arranged present invention in a cased and tubed well;

therein or may |be `a retrievable plug provided with 'ii'ow' passages.

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

Fig. 1 shows'an arrangement of Vthe apparatus of the Fig. 2 is a sectional -view taken'along the lines'Z-J-Z of Fig. l; Y

Fig. 3 is a sectional v iew taken along the linesV 3-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is la sectional view showing a detail ofthe? indexing means and plug illustrated vin Fig. l;

Fig. 5 vis a detailed sectional View of the indexingmeans and track member of Fig. 1

of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows a detail of they device of the presentA inventionwith a packer assembly;

Fig. 9` is a view taken along the lines .9-9 of FigtdS.j

showing'the ow directing means;

Figs. 10 and 10a show a modification of the apparatus" of Fig. 8; and A I Y.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a production plugalso:

shown in Fig. 10a.

'Referring now to the drawing in which identicalnumeralswill be employed to designate identical parts,.

f numeral 11 designates a well `casing which has been 1 4. to penetrate e yslrqsarpoarmdustioa A;

arranged in a well bore 12 drilled from the earthssur-v face 13. The well casing 1.1 has been cementedin place with cement 14 and the casing 11 has been perforated to form perforations 15 through the casing 11 .and cement Fig. 7 -is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus. oi 4 which has been penetrated by the well 12 and from which production of hydrocarbons -has 'been obtained.

A tubing string 16 has been arranged in the casing 11 from the wellhead 17 and is provided with Christmas tree 18. The vcasing 11 has a conduit 19 controlled by casing annulus valve 20. The Christmas tree is provided with valves 18a and 18h.

' Arranged on the vlower end of the tubing 16 is a mandrel 21. This mandrel is provided with a passage way 22 which communicates with the 'interior of the tubing `16 and has connected to it on an axis olisetting the longitudinal axis of the tubing a tubular member 23 which has a 4track member 24 arranged on the exterior surface thereof extending substantially the length of the tubular member. Connected to the mandrel 21 co-,ax'ia'lly with the tubing 16 is a nipple 25 which is ,provided with a spiral indexing means 26 which serves to position a gun .perforator lowered through the tubing onto the track 24.

The tubing -16 is provided with a plurality of wire line gas-lift valve mandrels 27 which are arranged on the tubing V16 at vertically spaced-apart intervals as is conventional to the art.

, It is to be noted that the tubular member 23 extends from the lower open end of the tubing 16 to the lower end of the casing 11. Itis possible to direct lluid through the tubing 16 and through passageway 22 in the mandrel 21- by providing in the nipple 25 a retrievable tubing plug 28 which serves to close the open end of the tubing 16 and to direct fluid into the tubular member 23.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the mandrel 21 is connected to the lower end of the 4tubing 16 by mating threads 29 and the nipple 25 is connected to 'the mandrel 21 by mating threads 30. The tubular extension member 23 is also connected to the mandrel 21 by mating threads 31. It is to be noted that the plug 28 closes the nipple 25 and directs flow from the tubing 16 by way of passageway 22 into the tubular member 23.

Referring now to Fig. 6, a tubing gun perforator 41, which may be provided with conventional bullets or shaped charges 42, has an upper housing 40 which is provided with slots 43 through which spherical followers 44 project to engage with `the spiral or indexing means 26 in nipple 25. These spherical followers 44 are carried on rocker arms 45 which are arranged on a rocker arm pin 46, as shown. The rocker `arms 45 are biased outwardly through slots 43 by biasing means such as :coil springs 47. The gun perforator is designed to -be run through tubing 16, out nipple 25, along track -member 2 4 to a position for perforating casing 11.

Referring now to Fig. 8, set in the casing 11 is a packer assembly 61 having a mandrel 60 forming an integral part thereof. The -packer assembly 61 closes off the annulus 62 between the tubing 16 and the casing 11. The packer assembly 61 is provided with

bypass conduits

63 and 63a while the mandrel 60 has a passageway 6'4 communicating with the extension member 23 which is connected to the mandrel 60 by mating threads 31.

Rotatably arranged in the mandrel 60 and packer assembly 61 is a polish joint 65 which is connected rigidly to the tubing 16 such as by welds 66. The tubing 16 has a window or slot 67 therein which serves to .communicate with the passages 64 and the packer assembly 61 has a port 68 which allows communication between the passageways `63 and annulus 62.

`The mandrel 60 and the packer assembly 61 are suitably-sealed'by a sealing means 69, 70 and 71 arranged, respectively, in recesses 72, k73 and 74. A sealing member V75lis likewise arranged Iin recess 76 for providing a seal between the `packing assembly 61 and the member 65.

y*Referring Anow to -Figs. l and 10u, iset ein the Icasing -171v is a mandrel assembly 81 'to lwhich the 4extension member '.153 is-connected vby -niating threads '31. -'The mandrel assembly 81 is provided with

packers

80 and 80a. The mandrel assembly 81 is also provided with a first bypass conduit 82 opening ,into port 83 of tubing 16 and a second bypass conduit 85 opening into port 86 of tubing 16. The mandrel 81 has a passageway 87 communicating with a port 88 in the tubing 16.

In (Fig. l0 wire line ilow directing means 89 fis arranged in the tubing 16 for directing flow through the extension member 23. The wire line plug 89 is provided with a .fishing neck 9 0 and is provided with a central passageway 91 which has an opening 92 which communicates with the opening 88 and the passagewayjfl allowing iluids to flow through the tubing 16, the passageway 91 and through the extension member 23. It will be noted with respect to Fig. l0 that the plug 89 isv provided with sealing members 93 and Y94.

In the embodiment of Figs. 10a and l1 the plug 89 has been replaced by a production plug 100 provided with a fishing neck 101 which serves to close the flow through the

bypasses

82 and 85 .and through the

passageways

87 and 91 allowing production from the well through passageway 102 and through openings 103.

The plug 100 is provided with

seals

104 and 105 which serve to close off ow through the .bypassing conduits and through the extension member. The external shoulder 106 effectively closes ,the ow between

passageways

82 and 85.

The invention operates as follows:

It will be noted that the tubing 16 is arrangedin basing 11 having the tubular member 23 connected .thereto and made up with the tubing 16 as it is arranged in the casing. For purposes of .this description it may be assumed that production from stratum A has -reached a point where water and/or gas invasion has made the .production of liquid hydrocarbons noncommercial and it is desirable to open up production in stratum B which is separated from stratum A by a non-productive stratum, such `as C, which may be shale or the like. Under these conditions, a clean fluid, such as saltwater or the like, will be circulated down the annulus 62 following the direction of the arrows fand upwardly through the lower open end of `the tubular member 23 and upwardly through the tubing .16

` tothe wellhead 17 and outwardly through the Christmas tree 18. This circulation is continued until the well is completely washed yand the circulation of clean iluid is terminated. A treating agent, such as cement, whichmay be a low water loss fluid cement, such yas described by Salathiel inA U.S. 2,482,459, or other low water loss fluid cements available on the market may be used. This cement is flowed downwardly through the tubing 16 and is directed into the extension member 23 by the wire line tubing plug 28 which has been placed in the nipple 25 before the circulation, as :has been described, is initiated. The cement flows downwardly through the tubing Iand tubing extension and upwardly in the casing `to the region of the perforations 15. This cement may be allowed to fill the perforations 15 and form a lter cake or buttons therein as shown and indicated generally by the numeral 15a which serves to seal off the stratum A. It may be desirable, however, to spot a body of uid cement in the region of the perforations 15 and to impose pressure on the cement, such as with a Bradenhead squeeze, the'technique of which is well known to the art. In any event, after the perforations 15 have been closed and sealed againstfluid intrusion from stratum A, clean ud-is circulated down -the annulus 62 to wash out the excess 'fluid cement remaining inthe casing 11. This 'washing duid and fluid cement are directed up the tubular rmember 23 and through the ltubing 16 to the surface of the earth 13, through wellhead 17 and Christmas tree 18.

Thereafter the tubing plug 28 Vis pulled by running a wire lline with a suitable fishing tool on the end of `it to pull theplug 28 from the tubing 16. A tubing gun perforator, such as illustrated `in Fig. 6, is then .attached to the wire-'line yand lowered 4through the tubing lland through the mandrel 21 into the nipple 25. The spiral followers engage with the spirals 26 which on continued lowering of the tubing gun 41 cause the tubing gun and the upper housing 40 to be positioned Von the track 24, one of the spiral followers engaging with the track 24 and positioning the gun. By virtue of positioning the gun perforator 41 on the track 24, it is possible to perforate the casing 11 in the stratum sand or interval B which is hydrocarbon productive and also to perforate the casing 11 in the stratum B ina predetermined direction without damaging the tubular member 23. After the casing 11 has been perforated in the stratum B, the tubing gun is pulled by means of a wireline and production is then had from the stratum B through the perforations 15b opened up therein. This series of operations may be repeated for as many producing intervals or strata :as may be encountered below the lower `open end of the tubing 16.

In the apparatusV of Figs. 8 and 9 wherein a packer assembly 61 is used, it is possible to direct the flow of uid through the extension member 23 yand through the packer assembly by rotating the tubing 16 to allow communication between the

passageways

63 and 63a and between the tubing 16 and the extension member 23 utilizing the treating sequence of operations as described with respect to Fig. 1.

The same result may be achieved by cementing and circulating out with respect to Figs. a and 11 as described with respect to Fig. 1 and Figs.8 and 9, in this Ilatter instance the plug 89 being used when circulating and cementing and the plug 100 being used when producing.

As stated, the present invention is susceptible to many well servicing operations and has considerable utility in that all operations may be conducted without requiring heavy-duty lifting equipment. In fact, the tubing is permanently set in the casing and completing and servicing operations are conducted by use of wire line tools as has been described of by simply rotating the tubing to achieve the desired circulation patterns which are required.

The rinvention m-ay be used in fracturing Iformations, in acidizing operations, in washing for removal of sand from casing and for gum perforating operations.

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 is:

l. In a method of perforating a well casing having parallel first and second pipes arranged therein in side-byside relationship with the second pipe extending a substantial distance below the lower open end of the first pipe, the steps of lowering a perforator through the first pipe, orienting said perforator in said casing below the iirst pipe and adjacent the second pipe such that the operative surface of said perforator is directed toward the casing and away from the second pipe, and operating said perforator to perforate only said casing below the first pipe and adjacent the second pipe.

2. In a method of perforating a well casing having parallel first and second pipes arranged therein in side-by side relationship with the second pipe extending a substantial distance below the lower open end of the first pipe, the steps of lowering a gun perforator through the first pipe, orienting said perforator in said casing below the first pipe and adjacent the second pipe by at least partially rotating same such that the operative surface of said perforator is directed toward the casing and away from the second pipe, and ring said perforator to per- -forate only said casing below the rst pipe and adjacent the second pipe.

3. In a method of perforating a well casing having parallel iirst and second pipes arranged therein in sideby-side relationship with the second pipe extending a substantial distance below the lower open end of the first pipe, the steps of lowering a bullet gun perforator through the iirst pipe, orienting said perforator in said casing below the first pipe and adjacent the second pipe such that the operative surface of said perforator is directed toward the casing Iand away from the second pipe, and operating said perforator to perforate only said casing below the first pipe and adjacent the second pipe.

4. In a method of perforating a well casing having parallel first and second pipes arranged therein in sideby-side relationship with the second pipe extending a substantial distance below the lower open end of the first pipe, the steps of lowering a shaped charge perforator through the first pipe, orienting said perforator in said casing below the rst pipe and adjacent the second pipe such that the operative surface of said perforator is directed toward the casing and away from the second pipe, and operating said perforator to perforate only said casing below the first pipe and adjacent the second pipe.

5. In a method of perforating a well casing having parallel rst and second pipes arranged therein in sideby-side relationship with the second pipe extending a substantial distance below the lower open end of the first pipe, the steps of lowering a gun perforator through the first pipe, orienting said perforator in said casing be low the first pipe and adjacent the second pipe such that the operative surface of said perforator is directed toward the casing and away from the second pipe, firing said perforator to perforate only said casing below the first pipe and adjacent the second pipe, and then retrieving said perforator through said first pipe.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,238,165 Lynn Aug. 28, 1917 2,679,898 Forsyth June l, 1954 2,745,497 Dale May l5, 1956 2,749,989 Huber June 12, 1956 2,781,098 Bielstein Feb. 12, 1957 2,785,754 True Mar. 19, 1957 2,796,023 Abendroth June 18, 1957