WO2012118611A2 - Well plug and abandonment choke insert - Google Patents
Well plug and abandonment choke insert Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2012118611A2 WO2012118611A2 PCT/US2012/024867 US2012024867W WO2012118611A2 WO 2012118611 A2 WO2012118611 A2 WO 2012118611A2 US 2012024867 W US2012024867 W US 2012024867W WO 2012118611 A2 WO2012118611 A2 WO 2012118611A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- wellbore
- choke device
- choke
- pressure
- bore
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
- E21B21/10—Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing, or removing tools, packers or the like in the boreholes or wells
- E21B23/08—Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/13—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices, or the like
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method and apparatus for plugging a wellbore (such as e.g. an oil or gas well), or for preparing wellbore to be plugged, e.g. when it has reached the end of its productive life.
- a wellbore such as e.g. an oil or gas well
- the invention also relates to a plugged wellbore.
- plugging may be achieved by injecting a settable substance or medium, e.g. cement, into the well.
- a well will normally have production perforations, that is to say apertures in a well liner or casing through which hydrocarbon product enters from the rock formation and travels to the surface.
- production perforations that is to say apertures in a well liner or casing through which hydrocarbon product enters from the rock formation and travels to the surface.
- seal production perforations with cement or another settable medium which may then form a permanent barrier to flow across the perforations and out of the well.
- the plugging process often involves pumping a surfactant liquid, known as a "spacer", into the well.
- the purpose of the spacer is to remove oil residues from the internal surface of the well casing and/or liner and rock matrix making them “water wet” (allowing better adhesion by cement).
- cement is pumped down the well to occupy the part of the well casing and/or liner where perforations are to be squeezed.
- spacer liquid and possibly other liquids may be pumped down the well in order to place the cement at its final designed location.
- bottom hole pressure sufficient reservoir pressure entering the well (bottom hole pressure) to support a standing column of relatively high specific gravity material, e.g. spacer liquid, cement and displacement fluid, reaching to the top of the well.
- the spacer and cement and other liquids may then be pumped down against this pressure and thereby an accurate determination of each constituent's location be made at any given point within the process.
- US6520256 discloses a choke for use in cementing casings in oil and gas wells.
- the invention more particularly includes a process for plugging a wellbore wherein the process comprises the steps of (a) installing a choke device into the wellbore, the device having a through bore with a predetermined diameter.
- the invention is particularly applicable when the bottom hole pressure of the wellbore is insufficient to support a standing column of liquid of specific gravity 1 reaching to the surface.
- the choke device may be installed by allowing it to free fall down the well or it may be pumped down the well, or a combination of the two. If the wellbore includes a nipple, the choke device may bottom out at the nipple.
- the choke device includes a pump out valve.
- the pump out valve may be thought of as a device for blocking the through bore until a predetermined pressure is applied e.g. on the proximal side of the valve.
- the valve may be an arrangement as simple as a deformable plug of spherical or other shape which is located in the through bore between two shoulders; when the pressure increases beyond a certain level the plug is forced out thereby opening the bore for liquid to flow through it.
- the step of installing the choke device may include inserting the device between the swab valve and the master valve (top or bottom master valve) and then opening the necessary valves below the device to gain access to the wellbore.
- settable medium such as cement
- surfactant may be injected into the wellbore before the settable liquid, and another liquid may be injected after.
- the pressure at the surface would normally be monitored in which case it may be possible to determine from the monitored pressure when the settable medium reaches the choke device.
- the choke device itself may comprise a body capable of being passed down a wellbore.
- the body may have an external profile including a shoulder, a through bore and a pump out valve which blocks the through bore until a predetermined pressure is applied to the valve.
- the pump out valve may be a ball retained in the through bore by a stop surface. Seals may be provided on the external profile of the body.
- a method of preparing a wellbore for plugging may comprise inserting into the wellbore a choke device as described above.
- the method may include applying pressure to the choke device thereby pumping the device through the wellbore and subsequently increasing the pressure to a level at which the pump out valve is actuated and the through bore unblocked. This preferably happens when the device has reached a nipple in the wellbore, e.g. adjacent a production packer.
- the invention also relates to a plugged wellbore having located in it a choke device as described above.
- wellbore as used herein shall be taken to mean an oil or gas well or a water injector.
- Figure 1 is a side view of a choke insert in accordance with the invention.
- Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section, of a well Christmas tree showing the choke insert of Figure 1 in place;
- Figure 3 is a side view, partly in section, of part of a wellbore showing the choke insert of Figure 1 located against a nipple in the wellbore.
- Figure 1 shows a choke insert 1. It comprises a cast body of aluminum having a generally cylindrical shape. Its outer profile includes a proximal portion 2 and a distal portion 3 of reduced diameter compared with the proximal portion.
- proximal and distal relate to the orientation of the device when in place in a well: the proximal portion being closer to the surface and the distal portion closer to the end of the well.
- a shoulder 4 Between the proximal and distal portions is a shoulder 4. On the outer profile in the reduced diameter distal portion are two seals 5. The function of the seals 5 is to restrict fluid flow around the outside of the insert 1 such that all flow is directed through the device. Extending through the device is a bore 6 having a diameter which decreases towards the distal end of the device; at its most distal end, the bore 6 has a diameter 7 as shown in Figure 1. The bore 6 is provided with a flared proximal end 8, to help to reduce turbulence within the fluid flow regime.
- An end plug 11 is screwed into the distal end of the bore of the insert 1 which provides an internal shoulder or stop surface 12.
- the end plug has a bore 13 of the same diameter 7 as the most distal part of the bore 6 through the main body of the choke insert 1.
- the bore 13 also has a flared end 9 to help reduce turbulence.
- a ball 10 of Phenolic plastic which sits adjacent the stop surface 12.
- the ball 10 is retained between the stop surface 12 and the distal end of the bore 6 in the main body.
- the dimensions and elastic modulus of the ball are carefully established, relative to the diameter 7, such that the ball will deform and pass the stop surface 12 if a predetermined pressure is applied to the proximal side of the ball 10.
- Figure 2 shows the Christmas tree valve arrangement at the top of a wellbore to be plugged.
- the length of the choke insert 1 is chosen so that it will fit into the Christmas tree 20 between the swab valve 21 and the upper master valve 22.
- the overall outer diameter is chosen so that it will pass down the well to a point just above the reservoir.
- the dimensions of the distal portion 3 and the shoulder 4 are chosen so that the choke insert device 1 will rest against a nipple 31 (see Figure 3) in the wellbore 30 in region of the top of the reservoir, near the production packer (not shown).
- sea water is pumped down the well to determine whether it is possible to inject liquid into the perforations in the producing part of the well (not shown) which it is desired to squeeze (block with cement or other settable plugging fluid).
- a gage device of diameter and length determined by the choke insert and the tubular being traversed, is also lowered into the well to determine whether any obstructions are present which may obstruct and prevent the correct positioning of the choke insert.
- the bottom master valves and swab valve are closed and any trapped pressure is bled off between them at the wing valve 23.
- the swab valve is then opened and the choke insert 1 is then inserted into the Christmas tree 20, the swab valve 21 closed, and then the bottom and upper master valves are 24, 22 opened.
- the choke insert 1 then free falls down the well.
- the choke may reach the desired location (nipple 31) without pumping. Normally, however, the friction will be too great and/or the well has an inclined or horizontal portion and the insert has to be pumped. Sea water is normally used for this purpose.
- Spacer fluid a specialized mixture of chemicals including surfactants
- the choke insert 1 with its small diameter bore, allows the fluid column to maintain the positive back pressure.
- Cement is then delivered in a continuous liquid column directly following the spacer fluid.
- a further liquid or liquids e.g. further spacer fluid or other liquids, follow the cement in a continuous liquid column. Pressure continues to be applied to the cement via this liquid column, and monitoring of back pressure continues.
- a pressure change may be recorded at surface due to its unique viscosity and density.
- the volume of the wellbore tubulars can be determined as well as the volume of the perforated liner, so the volume of cement pumped down the well can be controlled to give the best chance of filling the perforated liner with cement.
- a further change in surface pressure may be noted due to its unique viscosity and density. The aim is to squeeze all the perforations but not to over- or under- displace the cement column.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
BR112013021998-0A BR112013021998B1 (en) | 2011-03-01 | 2012-02-13 | process for plugging a well hole, throttling device for use in said process, method of preparing a well hole to be plugged and well hole plugged |
AU2012223708A AU2012223708B2 (en) | 2011-03-01 | 2012-02-13 | Well plug and abandonment choke insert |
EP12706747.8A EP2681410B1 (en) | 2011-03-01 | 2012-02-13 | Well plug and abandonment choke insert |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201161447789P | 2011-03-01 | 2011-03-01 | |
US61/447,789 | 2011-03-01 | ||
US13/371,784 US20120222862A1 (en) | 2011-03-01 | 2012-02-13 | Well plug and abandonment choke insert |
US13/371,784 | 2012-02-13 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2012118611A2 true WO2012118611A2 (en) | 2012-09-07 |
WO2012118611A3 WO2012118611A3 (en) | 2013-08-01 |
Family
ID=46752578
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2012/024867 WO2012118611A2 (en) | 2011-03-01 | 2012-02-13 | Well plug and abandonment choke insert |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20120222862A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2681410B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2012223708B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR112013021998B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2012118611A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9957775B2 (en) * | 2011-03-01 | 2018-05-01 | Conocophillips Company | Well plug and abandonment choke insert |
US10047586B2 (en) * | 2014-03-02 | 2018-08-14 | Thomas Eugene FERG | Backpressure ball |
AU2017207293B2 (en) | 2016-01-11 | 2021-10-28 | Conocophillips Company | Well plug and abandonment choke insert |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6520256B2 (en) | 2001-04-20 | 2003-02-18 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Method and apparatus for cementing an air drilled well |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1339955A (en) * | 1919-02-26 | 1920-05-11 | Hardel Jean Amedee | Apparatus for and process of lining wells |
US2212086A (en) * | 1936-10-27 | 1940-08-20 | Charles W Thornhill | Float collar and guide shoe |
US2169569A (en) * | 1938-06-03 | 1939-08-15 | Halliburton Oil Well Cementing | Plugging off bottom hole water under pressure |
US2274093A (en) * | 1938-10-19 | 1942-02-24 | Standard Oil Dev Co | Apparatus for completing submarine wells |
US2263566A (en) * | 1938-11-28 | 1941-11-25 | Boynton Alexander | Cementing device |
US2382578A (en) * | 1943-06-08 | 1945-08-14 | Arthur J Penick | Producing equipment for wells |
US4589495A (en) * | 1984-04-19 | 1986-05-20 | Weatherford U.S., Inc. | Apparatus and method for inserting flow control means into a well casing |
US5277255A (en) * | 1992-04-30 | 1994-01-11 | Atlantic Richfield Company | Well liner running shoe |
US5890537A (en) * | 1996-08-13 | 1999-04-06 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Wiper plug launching system for cementing casing and liners |
US6279654B1 (en) * | 1996-10-04 | 2001-08-28 | Donald E. Mosing | Method and multi-purpose apparatus for dispensing and circulating fluid in wellbore casing |
US7275595B2 (en) * | 2004-05-13 | 2007-10-02 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Method and apparatus to isolate fluids during gravel pack operations |
US7866392B2 (en) * | 2007-12-12 | 2011-01-11 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc. | Method and apparatus for sealing and cementing a wellbore |
-
2012
- 2012-02-13 EP EP12706747.8A patent/EP2681410B1/en active Active
- 2012-02-13 AU AU2012223708A patent/AU2012223708B2/en active Active
- 2012-02-13 BR BR112013021998-0A patent/BR112013021998B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2012-02-13 US US13/371,784 patent/US20120222862A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-02-13 WO PCT/US2012/024867 patent/WO2012118611A2/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6520256B2 (en) | 2001-04-20 | 2003-02-18 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Method and apparatus for cementing an air drilled well |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2012223708B2 (en) | 2016-12-01 |
EP2681410B1 (en) | 2016-05-04 |
EP2681410A2 (en) | 2014-01-08 |
US20120222862A1 (en) | 2012-09-06 |
BR112013021998B1 (en) | 2021-02-17 |
AU2012223708A1 (en) | 2013-10-17 |
WO2012118611A3 (en) | 2013-08-01 |
BR112013021998A2 (en) | 2016-11-29 |
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