WO2025059628A1

WO2025059628A1 - Section milling, under reaming and setting an inflatable plug in one run

Info

Publication number: WO2025059628A1
Application number: PCT/US2024/046850
Authority: WO
Inventors: Waqas Munir; Graeme Kelbie; Knut Inge DAHLBERG
Original assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
Current assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
Priority date: 2023-09-15
Filing date: 2024-09-16
Publication date: 2025-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-15
Also published as: AU2024340072A1; US20250092757A1

Abstract

A work string and a method of performing an operation in a borehole. The work string includes a milling section for milling a borehole and a packer section that includes a packer and a cover that protects the packer from the borehole. A section of the borehole is milled with the milling section. The packer is moved axially from under the cover to expose the packer to the borehole. The packer is expanded.

Description

SECTION MILLING, UNDER REAMING AND SETTING AN INFLATABLE PLUG IN ONE RUN

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 18/468,175, filed on September 15, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In the resource recovery industry, fluid sequestration industry and abandonment industry, a borehole can be drilled using a milling device. Once the borehole is milled, it is desirable to form a casing in the borehole, which requires inflating a packer within the borehole to close off a section of the borehole and pouring cement into the section. Currently, a work string including the milling device has to be tripped out of the borehole and another work string that includes the packer is run into the borehole. This extra step of tripping out one string and running in another string costs time and expense. Therefore, there is a need for being able to mill and cement in a single trip.

SUMMARY

[0003] Disclosed herein is a method of performing an operation in a borehole. A work string is conveyed into the borehole, the work string including a milling section and a packer section, wherein the packer section includes a packer and a cover that protects the packer from the borehole. A section of the borehole is milled with the milling section. The packer is moved axially from under the cover to expose the packer to the borehole. The packer is expanded.

[0004] Also disclosed herein is a work string. The work string includes a milling section for milling within a borehole and a packer section including a packer and a cover that protects the packer from the borehole, wherein the packer is configured to move axially from under the cover and expand within the borehole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

[0006] Figure 1 shows a borehole system in an illustrative embodiment; [0007] Figure 2 shows the borehole system in another configuration;

[0008] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a packer section in an embodiment;

[0009] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the packer section in an alternative embodiment; and

[0010] Figure 5 shows a flowchart of a method for operating the work string, in an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] 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.

[0012] Referring to Figure 1, a borehole system 100 is shown in an illustrative embodiment. The borehole system 100 includes a work string 102 disposed in a borehole 104 in a subsurface formation 106. The borehole 104 can include a casing 130 therein. The work string 102 includes a tubular 108 extending from a platform 110 located at a surface location 112. The platform 110 includes a rotary table 114 that rotates the tubular 108 and the work string 102 in the borehole 104. The work string 102 can be a drill string in various embodiments. The work string 102 includes bottomhole assembly 116 (BHA) that includes a milling section 118 and a packer section 120. The milling section includes a mill 122 at a bottom end of the work string 102 and an underreamer 124 uphole from the mill 122. In various embodiments, the mill 122 can be used to mill a section of the casing 130 in the borehole 104 and the underreamer 124 can be used to ream the subsurface formation 106 surrounding the borehole 104. The rotary table 114 rotates the work string 102 in order to rotate the mill 122 and/or the underreamer 124.

[0013] The packer section 120 includes a packer 126, which can be an inflatable packer or a high expansion element packer, and a cover 128, such as a sleeve or a shroud, that protects the packer 126 during downhole operations. Such downhole operations include milling and underreaming, during which the work string 102 and packer 126 are rotated. The packer 126 can be moved out from under the cover 128 once the milling and underreaming operations have been completed (and the work string 102 is no longer rotating) and then inflated to seal off a section of the borehole 104. In an embodiment, once the packer 126 has been inflated, cement can be introduced in the sealed off section of the borehole 104 on top of the inflated packer. [0014] Figure 2 shows the borehole system 100 in another configuration. The milling and/or underreaming have been completed and the work string 102 is rotationally stationary. The packer 126 has been moved axially to an exposed location 202 outside of the cover 128. In various embodiments, the packer 126 is lowered to a location below the cover 128. Once at the exposed location 202, the packer 126 is inflated to close a section of the borehole 104. Once the section is closed, cement can be introduced into the closed section.

[0015] Figure 3 shows a cross-section view 300 of the packer section 120 in an embodiment. The packer section 120 includes a housing 302 and a ball seat 304 located within the housing 302. The housing 302 is generally a hollow tubular or cylindrical shell. The ball seat 304 is coupled to the housing 302 by a rupture device 306. The rupture device 306 can be a shear pin or a shear screw, in various embodiments. The housing 302 includes a ledge 308 on an inside surface of the housing 302 that extends inward from the housing 302. Thus, an inner diameter at the ledge 308 is less than an inner diameter of the housing 302.

[0016] The ball seat 304 includes a lower portion 310. The packer 126 is disposed on the ball seat 304 at the lower portion 310. The ball seat 304 is configured to receive a ball 320 that is dropped from the surface location 112. Once the ball 320 lands at the ball seat 304, a fluid pressure builds up on the back side (i.e., uphole side) of the ball 320, creating a downhole force on the ball seat 304 that exceeds a rupture threshold of the rupture device 306. Once the rapture device 306 is ruptured, the ball seat 304 moves downward, thereby moving the lower portion 310 and the packer 126 out from under the cover 128 to a location at which it is exposed to the borehole. A ridge 312 on the ball seat 304 catches the ledge 308 to stop further motion of the ball seat 304.

[0017] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view 400 of the packer section 120 in an alternative embodiment. The packer section 120 includes a housing 402 and a piston 404 that moves axially within the housing 402. The piston 404 can be part a telescoping sub 406 that is capable of moving with respect to the housing 402. A first end 408 of the piston 404 is in fluid communication with a hydraulic chamber 410. The packer 126 is disposed on the piston 404 at a location 412 distal from the first end 408. A hydraulic pump 414 increases a pressure of hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic chamber 410 to move the piston 404 in a downward direction 416 to thereby move the packer 126 out from under the cover 128 to an exposed location. The hydraulic pump 414 can be activated by a signal from a controller 420. In an embodiment, the controller 420 can be an operator or user at a surface location. In an alternative embodiment, the controller 420 can be a downhole timing device, which can be battery-operated. [0018] Figure 5 shows a flowchart 500 of a method for operating the work string, in an illustrative embodiment. In box 502, the work string is conveyed into the borehole. The work string 102 includes the milling section and the packer section with the packer underneath the cover or protected from the environment by the cover. In box 504, a section of the casing is milled using the mill of the milling section with the packer underneath the cover. Alternatively, or additionally, the formation is underreamed by the underreamer of the milling section with the packer underneath the cover. In box 506, the packer is moved axially from underneath the cover to an exposed location along the work string 102. In box 508, the packer is expanded to seal off a section of the borehole 104. An inflatable packer can be inflated, while a high expansion element packer can be activated to expanded outward.

[0019] Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

[0020] Embodiment 1. A method of performing an operation in a borehole. A work string is conveyed into the borehole, the work string including a milling section and a packer section, wherein the packer section includes a packer and a cover that protects the packer from the borehole. A section of the borehole is milled with the milling section. The packer is moved axially from under the cover to expose the packer to the borehole. The packer is expanded.

[0021] Embodiment 2. The method of any previous embodiment, wherein milling the borehole further comprises rotating the work string.

[0022] Embodiment 3. The method of any previous embodiment, wherein the milling section further comprises an underreamer, the method further comprising expanding the borehole with the underreamer with the packer under the cover.

[0023] Embodiment 4. The method of any previous embodiment, further comprising moving the packer axially via at least one of: (i) activating a hydraulic pump; (ii) dropping a ball through the work string; and (iii) a signal from a battery-operated timing device.

[0024] Embodiment 5. The method of any previous embodiment, wherein the packer is disposed on a telescoping sub and moving the packer further comprises moving the telescoping sub.

[0025] Embodiment 6. The method of any previous embodiment, further comprising milling the borehole and inflating the packer in a same run.

[0026] Embodiment 7. The method of any previous embodiment, wherein the work string further comprises a bottomhole assembly and the packer is disposed on the bottomhole assembly. [0027] Embodiment 8. The method of any previous embodiment, wherein the cover is one of: (i) a sleeve; and (ii) a shroud.

[0028] Embodiment 9. A work string. The work string includes a milling section for milling within a borehole and a packer section including a packer and a cover that protects the packer from the borehole, wherein the packer is configured to move axially from under the cover and expand within the borehole.

[0029] Embodiment 10. The work string of any previous embodiment, further comprising a rotary table for rotating the work string for milling withing the borehole.

[0030] Embodiment 11. The work string of any previous embodiment, wherein the milling section further comprises a mill for milling the borehole and an underreamer for expanding a section of the borehole with the packer under the cover.

[0031] Embodiment 12. The work string of any previous embodiment, further comprising a device for moving the packer axially, wherein the device is one of: (i) hydraulic pump; and (ii) a ball seat.

[0032] Embodiment 13. The work string of any previous embodiment, further comprising a telescoping sub that moves axially, wherein the packer is disposed on the telescoping sub.

[0033] Embodiment 14. The work string of any previous embodiment, wherein the work string further comprises a bottomhole assembly and the packer is disposed on the bottomhole assembly.

[0034] Embodiment 15. The work string of any previous embodiment, wherein the packer is one of: (i) an inflatable packer; and (iii) a high expansion element packer.

[0035] The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” can include a range of ± 8% of a given value.

[0036] The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a borehole, and I or equipment in the borehole, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.

[0037] 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.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A method of performing an operation in a borehole (104), characterized by: conveying a work string (102) into the borehole (104), the work string (102) including a milling section (118) and a packer section (120), wherein the packer section (120) includes a packer (126) and a cover (128) that protects the packer (126) from the borehole (104); milling a section of the borehole (104) with the milling section (118); moving the packer (126) axially from under the cover (128) to expose the packer (126) to the borehole (104); and expanding the packer (126).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein milling the borehole (104) further comprises rotating the work string (102).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the milling section (118) further comprises an underreamer (124), the method further characterized by expanding the borehole (104) with the underreamer (124) with the packer (126) under the cover (128).

4. The method of claim 1, further characterized by moving the packer (126) axially via at least one of: (i) activating a hydraulic pump (414); (ii) dropping a ball (320) through the work string (102); and (iii) a signal from a battery-operated timing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the packer (126) is disposed on a telescoping sub (406) and moving the packer (126) further comprises moving the telescoping sub (406).

6. The method of claim 1 , further characterized by milling the borehole (104) and inflating the packer (126) in a same run.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the work string (102) further comprises a bottomhole assembly (116) and the packer (126) is disposed on the bottomhole assembly (116).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cover (128) is one of: (i) a sleeve ; and (ii) a shroud.

9. A work string (102), characterized by: a milling section (118) for milling within a borehole (104); and a packer section (120) including a packer (126) and a cover (128) that protects the packer (126) from the borehole (104), wherein the packer (126) is configured to move axially from under the cover (128) and expand within the borehole (104).

10. The work string (102) of claim 9, further characterized by a rotary table (114) for rotating the work string (102) for milling withing the borehole (104).

11. The work string (102) of claim 9, wherein the milling section (118) further comprises a mill (122) for milling the borehole (140) and an underreamer (124) for expanding a section of the borehole (104) with the packer (126) under the cover (128).

12. The work string (102) of claim 9, further characterized by a device for moving the packer (126) axially, wherein the device is one of: (i) hydraulic pump (414); and (ii) a ball seat (304).

13. The work string (102) of claim 9, further characterized by a telescoping sub (406) that moves axially, wherein the packer (126) is disposed on the telescoping sub (406).

14. The work string (102) of claim 9, wherein the work string (102) further comprises a bottomhole assembly (116) and the packer (126) is disposed on the bottomhole assembly (116).

15. The work string (102) of claim 9, wherein the packer (126) is one of: (i) an inflatable packer; and (iii) a high expansion element packer.