WO2003074837A1 - Expandable well tubing - Google Patents

Expandable well tubing Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2003074837A1
WO2003074837A1 PCT/EP2003/002257 EP0302257W WO03074837A1 WO 2003074837 A1 WO2003074837 A1 WO 2003074837A1 EP 0302257 W EP0302257 W EP 0302257W WO 03074837 A1 WO03074837 A1 WO 03074837A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tubing
well
expansion member
upper portion
diameter
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2003/002257
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Michael John Betts
Original Assignee
Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V.
Shell Canada Limited
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V., Shell Canada Limited filed Critical Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V.
Priority to AU2003222755A priority Critical patent/AU2003222755A1/en
Publication of WO2003074837A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003074837A1/en

Links

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
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
    • E21B43/10—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
    • E21B43/103—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
    • 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
    • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/22—Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes
    • 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
    • E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells
    • E21B23/08—Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and a system for providing a tubing in a well.
  • a well is normally provided with a tubing for the production of hydrocarbon fluid or for performing certain other tasks in the well.
  • Such tubing could for example consist of lengths of pipes which are attached to each other during lowering the tubing into the well.
  • a coiled tubing is used, which is wound onto a reel and wherein the wound length is sufficient for the necessary depth into the well.
  • the object is reached by a method according to the invention, which method comprises the steps of: a) inserting a tubing into the well so that a lower portion of the tubing extends into the well and an upper portion of the tubing extends outside the well; b) arranging an expansion member into said upper portion of the tubing; and c) pumping the expansion member from said upper portion of the tubing into the lower portion of the tubing so as to expand the diameter of said lower portion of the tubing.
  • a tubing with a small diameter is inserted into the well and afterwards an expansion member is advanced through the tubing in order to expand the diameter of the tubing to a diameter which could not be inserted into the well without the method according to the invention.
  • the upper portion of the tubing includes an insert member of enlarged inner diameter
  • step b) comprises arranging the expansion member into the insert member prior to pumping the expansion member through the tubing. With this insert member the expansion member can easily be arranged in the tubing.
  • the well is provided with an injector having an opening through which the tubing passes, said opening being adapted to be enlarged to a larger diameter to allow passage of the expansion member into the lower portion of the tubing, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of enlarging the diameter of said through-opening, and advancing the expansion member through the tubing whereby the expansion member passes through the injector.
  • the invention relates also to a system for providing a tubing in a well, the system comprising: - a tubing extending into the well so that a lower portion of the tubing extends into the well and an upper portion of the tubing extends outside the well; an expansion member arranged in said upper portion of the tubing; and - pump means for pumping the expansion member from said upper portion of the tubing into the lower portion of the tubing so as to expand the diameter of said lower portion of the tubing.
  • the expansion member has a generally tapered shape. So by providing a pressure behind the expansion member in the tubing, the expansion member will be propelled and due to its tapered shape it performs a wedge-like action which will expand the diameter of the tubing.
  • the upper portion of the tubing is provided with an insert member of enlarged inner diameter, wherein the expansion member is arranged in the insert member. In this insert member the expansion member can be placed and be connected to the tubing.
  • said upper portion of the tubing includes a length of running tubing connectable to the insert member for running the length of tubing into the well.
  • the running tubing suitably provides the pressure for the propelling of the expansion member.
  • the running tubing could also be of a diameter larger than the initial diameter of the tubing. After expansion of the tubing the diameter of both the running tubing and the tubing are substantially the same.
  • an injector is arranged at the top of the well, the injector having a through-opening for passage of the tubing therethrough, said through-opening being adapted to be enlarged to a larger diameter to allow passage of the expansion member through the tubing and into the well.
  • said tubing is a coiled tubing, for example a coiled tubing stored on a reel, and being adapted to be uncoiled during insertion of the tubing into the well.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a system according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 shows an enlarged portion of the figure 1.
  • Figure 3 shows a cross-section of part of a well with an coiled tubing, which is expanded with the method according to the invention.
  • a well 1 is schematically shown. This well 1 is normally closed by a well head 2.
  • a coiled tubing 3 is being injected into the well 1 with an injector 4, whereby an upper portion 3a of the coiled tubing 3 extends outside the well 1 and a lower portion 3b of the coiled tubing 3 extends in the well 1.
  • the upper portion 3b is provided with an insert member 5 to which a running tubing 6 is connected, the running tubing 6 being wound onto a reel 7.
  • FIG 2 a longitudinal section of the insert member 5 is shown.
  • the insert member 5 has an insert opening 5a with a large diameter and an output opening 5b with a small diameter, whereby the coiled tubing 3 is connected to the small diameter end of the insert member 5.
  • a tapered expansion member 8 is arranged inside the insert member 5.
  • FIG 3 a schematic longitudinal section of a well with a system according to the invention is shown.
  • the well 1 has a casing 9.
  • the coiled tubing 3 is inserted, whereby the upper portion 3a of the coiled tubing extends outside the well and a lower portion 3b of the coiled tubing 3 extends into the well 1.
  • a pressure is provided in the running tubing 6 so as to pump the expansion member 8 through the coiled tubing 3 thereby expanding the coiled tubing 3 to a larger diameter.
  • the well head 2 and the injector 4 are opened to a larger through-passage before the expansion member 8 passes therethrough in order to let the insert member 5 pass into the well 1.
  • the expansion member 8 may be dumped into the well sump (not shown) or the expansion member 8 could be landed above the check valves (not shown) which are normally present in the end of the coiled tubing 3. The latter option would allow unobstructed use of the check valves.
  • a reduction of about 15% of the pressure required to circulate fluid through the expanded tubing is achieved compared to the pressure required to circulate fluid through the unexpanded coiled tubing.

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)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of providing a tubing in a well, comprising the steps of a) inserting a into the well so that a lower portion of the tubing extends into the well and an upper portion of the tubing extends outside the well, b) arranging an expansion member into said upper portion of the tubing, and c) pumping the expansion member from said upper portion of the tubing into the lower portion of the tubing so as to expand the diameter of said lower portion of the tubing.

Description

EXPANDABLE WELL TUBING
The invention relates to a method and a system for providing a tubing in a well.
A well is normally provided with a tubing for the production of hydrocarbon fluid or for performing certain other tasks in the well. Such tubing could for example consist of lengths of pipes which are attached to each other during lowering the tubing into the well. Alternatively a coiled tubing is used, which is wound onto a reel and wherein the wound length is sufficient for the necessary depth into the well.
There is a disadvantage when inserting tubing into a well containing fluid at high pressure, as the high pressure counter-acts insertion of the tubing into the well. The force required to overcome the high well pressure increases with increasing diameter of the tubing. Therefore there is a limit to the diameter of the tubing which can be inserted into the well. Due to this limitation in diameter, high circulating pressures arise once the tubing is in the well and fluid is pumped through the tubing. Moreover, due to the small diameter certain operations cannot be performed at all through the tubing.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method of providing a tubing in a well, which does not have or at least minimizes the above mentioned disadvantages. The object is reached by a method according to the invention, which method comprises the steps of: a) inserting a tubing into the well so that a lower portion of the tubing extends into the well and an upper portion of the tubing extends outside the well; b) arranging an expansion member into said upper portion of the tubing; and c) pumping the expansion member from said upper portion of the tubing into the lower portion of the tubing so as to expand the diameter of said lower portion of the tubing. So according to the method of the invention a tubing with a small diameter is inserted into the well and afterwards an expansion member is advanced through the tubing in order to expand the diameter of the tubing to a diameter which could not be inserted into the well without the method according to the invention.
In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the upper portion of the tubing includes an insert member of enlarged inner diameter, and step b) comprises arranging the expansion member into the insert member prior to pumping the expansion member through the tubing. With this insert member the expansion member can easily be arranged in the tubing.
Suitably the well is provided with an injector having an opening through which the tubing passes, said opening being adapted to be enlarged to a larger diameter to allow passage of the expansion member into the lower portion of the tubing, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of enlarging the diameter of said through-opening, and advancing the expansion member through the tubing whereby the expansion member passes through the injector.
It is not always possible to inject tubing of different diameter with an injector. Therefore it is necessary to open the injector to let the expansion member pass the injector.
The invention relates also to a system for providing a tubing in a well, the system comprising: - a tubing extending into the well so that a lower portion of the tubing extends into the well and an upper portion of the tubing extends outside the well; an expansion member arranged in said upper portion of the tubing; and - pump means for pumping the expansion member from said upper portion of the tubing into the lower portion of the tubing so as to expand the diameter of said lower portion of the tubing.
Suitably the expansion member has a generally tapered shape. So by providing a pressure behind the expansion member in the tubing, the expansion member will be propelled and due to its tapered shape it performs a wedge-like action which will expand the diameter of the tubing. In another embodiment of the system according to the invention, the upper portion of the tubing is provided with an insert member of enlarged inner diameter, wherein the expansion member is arranged in the insert member. In this insert member the expansion member can be placed and be connected to the tubing.
Preferably said upper portion of the tubing includes a length of running tubing connectable to the insert member for running the length of tubing into the well. The running tubing suitably provides the pressure for the propelling of the expansion member. The running tubing could also be of a diameter larger than the initial diameter of the tubing. After expansion of the tubing the diameter of both the running tubing and the tubing are substantially the same.
In another embodiment of the system according to the invention an injector is arranged at the top of the well, the injector having a through-opening for passage of the tubing therethrough, said through-opening being adapted to be enlarged to a larger diameter to allow passage of the expansion member through the tubing and into the well. Preferably said tubing is a coiled tubing, for example a coiled tubing stored on a reel, and being adapted to be uncoiled during insertion of the tubing into the well.
These and other advantages of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a system according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows an enlarged portion of the figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a cross-section of part of a well with an coiled tubing, which is expanded with the method according to the invention.
In figure 1 a well 1 is schematically shown. This well 1 is normally closed by a well head 2. A coiled tubing 3 is being injected into the well 1 with an injector 4, whereby an upper portion 3a of the coiled tubing 3 extends outside the well 1 and a lower portion 3b of the coiled tubing 3 extends in the well 1. The upper portion 3b is provided with an insert member 5 to which a running tubing 6 is connected, the running tubing 6 being wound onto a reel 7.
Now referring to figure 2 a longitudinal section of the insert member 5 is shown. The insert member 5 has an insert opening 5a with a large diameter and an output opening 5b with a small diameter, whereby the coiled tubing 3 is connected to the small diameter end of the insert member 5. A tapered expansion member 8 is arranged inside the insert member 5. In figure 3 a schematic longitudinal section of a well with a system according to the invention is shown. The well 1 has a casing 9. In the well 1 the coiled tubing 3 is inserted, whereby the upper portion 3a of the coiled tubing extends outside the well and a lower portion 3b of the coiled tubing 3 extends into the well 1. After the free end of the coiled tubing 3 has arrived at the desired depth in the well 1, a pressure is provided in the running tubing 6 so as to pump the expansion member 8 through the coiled tubing 3 thereby expanding the coiled tubing 3 to a larger diameter. The well head 2 and the injector 4 are opened to a larger through-passage before the expansion member 8 passes therethrough in order to let the insert member 5 pass into the well 1. After the expansion member 8 has reached the free lower end of the coiled tubing 3, the expansion member 8 may be dumped into the well sump (not shown) or the expansion member 8 could be landed above the check valves (not shown) which are normally present in the end of the coiled tubing 3. The latter option would allow unobstructed use of the check valves.
If, for example, a coiled tubing with an unexpanded outer diameter of 1,5 inch and inner diameter of 1,12 inch is used and expanded by 35%, a reduction of about 15% of the pressure required to circulate fluid through the expanded tubing is achieved compared to the pressure required to circulate fluid through the unexpanded coiled tubing.

Claims

C L A I M S
1. Method of providing a tubing in a well, comprising the steps of: a) inserting a tubing into the well so that a lower portion of the tubing extends into the well and an upper portion of the tubing extends outside the well; b) arranging an expansion member into said upper portion of the tubing; and c) pumping the expansion member from said upper portion of the tubing into the lower portion of the tubing so as to expand the diameter of said lower portion of the tubing.
2. Method according to claim' 1, wherein the upper portion of the tubing includes an insert member of enlarged inner diameter, and wherein step b) comprises arranging the expansion member into the insert member prior to pumping the expansion member through the tubing.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the well is provided with an injector having an opening through which the tubing passes, said opening being adapted to be enlarged to a larger diameter to allow passage of the expansion member into the lower portion of the tubing, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of enlarging the diameter of said through-opening, and advancing the expansion member through the tubing whereby the expansion member passes through the injector.
4. Method of claim 3, wherein the diameter of said through-opening is reduced after passage of the expansion member through the injector.
5. Method of any one of claims 1-4, wherein said tubing is a coiled tubing.
6. System for providing a tubing in a well, comprising: a tubing extending into the well so that a lower portion of the tubing extends into the well and an upper portion of the tubing extends outside the well; an expansion member arranged in said upper portion of the tubing; and pump means for pumping the expansion member from said upper portion of the tubing into the lower portion of the tubing so as to expand the diameter of said lower portion of the tubing.
7. System according to claim 6, wherein the expansion member has a generally tapered shape.
8. System according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the upper portion of the tubing is provided with an insert member of enlarged inner diameter, and wherein the expansion member is arranged in the insert member.
9. System according to claim 8, wherein said upper portion of the tubing includes a length of running tubing connectable to the insert member for running the length of tubing into the well.
10. System according to any of the claims 6-9, comprising an injector arranged at the top of the well, the injector having a through-opening for passage of the tubing therethrough, said through-opening being adapted to be enlarged to a larger diameter to allow passage of the expansion member through the tubing and into the well.
11. System of any one of claims 6-10, wherein said tubing is a coiled tubing.
PCT/EP2003/002257 2002-03-04 2003-03-04 Expandable well tubing WO2003074837A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003222755A AU2003222755A1 (en) 2002-03-04 2003-03-04 Expandable well tubing

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02251488.9 2002-03-04
EP02251488 2002-03-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003074837A1 true WO2003074837A1 (en) 2003-09-12

Family

ID=27771935

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2003/002257 WO2003074837A1 (en) 2002-03-04 2003-03-04 Expandable well tubing

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2003222755A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2003074837A1 (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998000626A1 (en) * 1996-07-01 1998-01-08 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Method for expanding a steel tubing and well with such a tubing
US5845708A (en) * 1995-03-10 1998-12-08 Baker Hughes Incorporated Coiled tubing apparatus
WO2001004520A1 (en) * 1999-07-13 2001-01-18 Enventure Global Technology, Llc Expandable joint connector
WO2001018355A1 (en) * 1999-09-06 2001-03-15 E2Tech Limited Apparatus for and a method of anchoring an expandable conduit
EP1097760A2 (en) * 1999-11-08 2001-05-09 Daido Tokushuko Kabushiki Kaisha Metal pipe expander

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5845708A (en) * 1995-03-10 1998-12-08 Baker Hughes Incorporated Coiled tubing apparatus
WO1998000626A1 (en) * 1996-07-01 1998-01-08 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Method for expanding a steel tubing and well with such a tubing
WO2001004520A1 (en) * 1999-07-13 2001-01-18 Enventure Global Technology, Llc Expandable joint connector
WO2001018355A1 (en) * 1999-09-06 2001-03-15 E2Tech Limited Apparatus for and a method of anchoring an expandable conduit
EP1097760A2 (en) * 1999-11-08 2001-05-09 Daido Tokushuko Kabushiki Kaisha Metal pipe expander

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2003222755A1 (en) 2003-09-16

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