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
  • E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells
  • E21B23/06—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells for setting packers
• • 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
  • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
  • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
  • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
  • E21B33/1208—Packers; Plugs characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means
  • E21B33/1212—Packers; Plugs characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means including a metal-to-metal seal element
• • 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
  • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
  • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
  • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
  • E21B33/127—Packers; Plugs with inflatable sleeve
• • 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
  • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
  • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
  • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
  • E21B33/127—Packers; Plugs with inflatable sleeve
  • E21B33/1277—Packers; Plugs with inflatable sleeve characterised by the construction or fixation of the sleeve
• • 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
  • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
• • 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
  • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
  • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
  • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
  • E21B33/1208—Packers; Plugs characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means
• • 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
  • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
  • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
  • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
  • E21B33/124—Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
  • E21B33/1243—Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space with inflatable sleeves
• • 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
  • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
  • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
  • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
  • E21B33/128—Packers; Plugs with a member expanded radially by axial pressure
  • E21B33/1285—Packers; Plugs with a member expanded radially by axial pressure by fluid pressure
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for creating an isolation barrier in a well.
• the invention relates to drill pipe having an expandable sleeve which is morphed to secure it to a well bore wall and create a seal between the sleeve and well bore wall to form an isolation barrier.
• packers are typically used to isolate one section of a downhole annulus from another section of the downhole annulus.
• the annulus may be between tubular members, such as a liner, mandrel, production tubing and casing or between a tubular member, typically casing, and the wall of an open borehole.
• These packers are carried into the well on tubing and at the desired location, elastomeric seals are urged radially outwards or elastomeric bladders are inflated to cross the annulus and create a seal with the outer generally cylindrical structure i.e. another tubular member or the borehole wall.
• elastomers have disadvantages, particularly when chemical injection techniques are used.
• the present applicants have developed a technology where a metal sleeve is forced radially outwardly by the use of fluid pressure acting directly on the sleeve. Sufficient hydraulic fluid pressure is applied to move the sleeve radially outwards and cause the sleeve to morph itself onto the generally cylindrical structure. The sleeve undergoes plastic deformation and, if morphed to a generally cylindrical metal structure, the metal structure will undergo elastic deformation to expand by a small percentage as contact is made. When the pressure is released the metal structure returns to its original dimensions and will create a seal against the plastically deformed sleeve.
• both the inner and outer surfaces of the sleeve will take up the shape of the surface of the wall of the cylindrical structure.
• This morphed isolation barrier is therefore ideally suited for creating a seal against an irregular borehole wall.
• Such a morphed isolation barrier is disclosed in US 7,306,033, which is incorporated herein by reference.
• An application of the morphed isolation barrier for FRAC operations is disclosed in US2012/0125619, which is incorporated herein by reference.
• the sleeve is mounted around a supporting tubular body, being sealed at each end of the sleeve to create a chamber between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the body.
• a port is arranged through the body so that fluid can be pumped into the chamber from the throughbore of the body.
• Such morphed isolation barriers are expensive to manufacture as the supporting tubular body must handle the pressure required for sleeve expansion.
• to mount the sleeve upon the supporting tubular body requires a complicated arrangement of fittings.
• An arrangement is disclosed in US2012/0125619 in which an end nut is secured to the tubular body by suitable means. There is then provided a seal section housing which is screwed fast to the end nut and which surrounds a suitable arrangement of seals. The inner most ends of the respective seal section housings are secured to the respective ends of the sleeve by welding .
• a weld shroud is then provided co- axially about the outer surface of the weld, the respective end of the sleeve and the inner most end of the sealed section housing .
• the weld shroud is secured to the inner most end of the sealed section housing via a suitable screw threaded connection by welding . This arrangement is expensive and takes considerable time to assemble.
• the sleeve and fittings provide an assembly with a large outer diameter for running inside existing casing. This is a particular problem in well intervention such as in re-fracing where a tubular string of isolation barriers i.e. expandable packers are required to be set within the previously installed casing.
• a method of well intervention in which a work string is run into a well, comprising the steps:
• At least one section of drill pipe including an expandable element located thereon;
• the method comprises the steps of:
• a section of drill pipe having an annular wall with an outer tubular surface and an inner tubular surface defining a bore; forming a circumferential recess in the outer tubular surface of at least one longitudinal segment of the drill pipe, the recess having at least an outer recess surface;
• annular sleeve having a first sleeve end, a second sleeve end, an inner sleeve surface and an outer sleeve surface, wherein the sleeve conforms with the recess;
• the perforation formed between the tubular bore and recess provides an inlet to the cavity formed by the annular sleeve thus enabling the arrangement to be used as an expandable packer.
• the conformance of the sleeve to the recess enables the arrangement to be inserted in to environments where close tolerances are required whilst allowing for maximisation of the bore diameter.
• the method involves the step of forming the recess at an open end of the drill pipe.
• the annular sleeve may be provided as a single annular unit.
• the recess is formed at a box section of the drill pipe. In this way, material removed for the recess is taken from the widest part of the drill pipe and the sleeve is therefore at the location of greatest diameter.
• the method involves the steps of forming the recess in a centrally positioned longitudinal portion of the drill pipe, providing the annular sleeve as a first sleeve segment and a second sleeve segment which conform longitudinally to form an annular sleeve, arranging the first and second sleeve segment to conform around the tubular recess and securing the first and second sleeve segments longitudinally to create an annular sleeve which conforms with the annular recess.
• the well intervention apparatus may be arranged at any desired point along the tubular.
• the steps of securing the annular sleeve involve creating welded joints. Use of welded joints in securing the annular sleeve to the drill pipe, and in the arrangement wherein the annular sleeve is provided as two segments, enables strong, resilient airtight joints to be created.
• the steps of securing the annular sleeve involve application of a suitable adhesive material.
• a suitable adhesive material in creating the joints provides for airtight, lightweight joints to be created.
• the application of an adhesive material involves the step of shrink fitting the annular sleeve to the drill pipe.
• multiple expandable elements may be formed along a length of drill pipe.
• multiple expandable elements may be formed along a work string, there being an expandable element at each box section of drill pipe.
• well intervention apparatus comprising:
• a section of tubular having an annular wall with an outer tubular surface, an inner tubular surface defining a bore, and a circumferential recess formed in the outer tubular surface of at least one longitudinal segment of the tubular, the recess having an outer recess surface and a perforation between the inner tubular surface and the outer recess surface;
• an annular sleeve having a first sleeve end, a second sleeve end, an inner sleeve surface and an outer sleeve surface, wherein the sleeve conforms with the recess and is secured to the tubular at the first sleeve end and the second sleeve end such that a cavity is defined between the inner sleeve surface and outer recess surface which is accessible from the bore via the perforation to provide an expandable element.
• the tubular is drill pipe. More preferably the tubular is reclaimed drill pipe.
• a recess on an outer surface of a drill pipe, which can receive an annular sleeve enables the drill pipe to be provided with a low profile sleeve arrangement.
• the perforation formed between the bore and recess provides an inlet to the cavity formed by the annular sleeve thus enabling the arrangement to be used as an expandable packer.
• the conformance of the sleeve to the recess enables the arrangement to be inserted in to environments where close tolerances are required whilst allowing for maximisation of the bore.
• Drill pipe is readily available and can be reclaimed easily.
• the annular sleeve is secured to the drill pipe by welded joints. Use of welded joints in securing the annular sleeve to the drill pipe enables strong, resilient airtight joints to be created.
• the annular sleeve is secured to the drill pipe by a suitable adhesive material.
• a suitable adhesive material in creating the joints provides for airtight, lightweight joints to be created.
• the application of an adhesive material involves the step of shrink fitting the annular sleeve and adhesive material arrangement to the drill pipe.
• the recess is formed at an open end of the drill pipe.
• the annular sleeve may preferably be provided as a single annular unit.
• the open end of a drill pipe may be a part of a box or pin joint of the drill string.
• the recess is formed at a centrally positioned longitudinal portion of the drill pipe. By forming the recess in a central portion of the drill pipe, it is possible to provide expandable packer elements at any desired point along the drill pipe.
• the annular sleeve is provided as first sleeve segment and a second sleeve segment which are operable to be secured together longitudinally to form an annular sleeve.
• first sleeve segment and second sleeve segment are welded together.
• first sleeve segment and second sleeve segment are secured together by a suitable adhesive material.
• Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of method of well intervention using well intervention apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2A shows a portion of a well intervention apparatus during a step of a process of manufacturing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2B shows a portion of a well intervention apparatus during a step of a process of manufacturing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2C shows a portion of a well intervention apparatus during a step of a process of manufacturing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2D shows a well intervention apparatus during a step of a process of manufacturing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 3 shows a tubular provided with well intervention apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 4A shows a portion of a well intervention apparatus during a step of a process of manufacturing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 4B shows a portion of a well intervention apparatus during a step of a process of manufacturing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 4C shows a cross section of an annular sleeve component of a well intervention apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 4D shows a well intervention apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 of the drawings there is illustrated a well, generally indicated by reference numeral 60, in which well intervention apparatus 10, formed from sections of drill pipe 12, is run as a work string 62 into casing 104 present wellbore 50, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Expandable elements in the form of annular sleeves 34 are located upon the drill pipe 12 to provide a series of isolation barriers i.e. expandable packers within the casing 64.
• the well 10 has been drilled and completed.
• the intervention may be to re-frac the well as is known in the art.
• Drill pipe 12 is as known in the art and commonly found and utilised for the drilling and completion of wells. It is recognised by its specially threaded ends on each section of drill pipe.
• FIG 2A there is shown a first end 14, of drill pipe 12, the first end 14 being an open end terminating in a box section 16 of a conventional box and pin joint coupling as is known in the art.
• the drill pipe 12 is pre-used drill pipe.
• the drill pipe 12 has an annular wall 18 defined by an outer tubular surface 20 and an inner tubular surface 22 which define a bore 24 through the drill pipe 12.
• the manufacturing process subsequently involves a recess 26 being milled, or machined, into the annular wall 18 from outer tubular surface 20 at the first end 14.
• the recess 26 is formed circumferentially around the tubular end 14 and is defined by outer recess surface 28 and end recess surface 29.
• the method of manufacture subsequently involves the forming of a perforation 30 between the inner tubular surface 22 and the outer recess surface 28.
• the perforation 30 is, in this case, formed by drilling a hole using drill unit 32.
• one piece metal annular sleeve 34 is slipped over the end of the pipe 12 and onto the recess 26 formed at open end 14 of tubular.
• the annular sleeve 34 has a first sleeve end 36 which abuts against end recess surface 29, a second sleeve end 38 which terminates at the end face of open end 14 such that box joint 16 projects longitudinally therefrom.
• the annular sleeve 34 is further provided with inner sleeve surface 40 which lies adjacent outer recess surface 28, and outer sleeve surface 42 which has a surface level corresponding with outer tubular surface 20.
• the manufacturing process further involves providing airtight seals 44, 46 which secure the annular sleeve 34 to the drill pipe 12 such that cavity 48 is defined between the inner sleeve surface 40 and outer recess surface 28.
• Seal 44 is formed by joining the first sleeve end 36 to end recess surface 29, in this case seal 44 is a welded joint.
• Seal 46 is formed by joining the second sleeve end 38 to the outer recess surface 28 at open end 14 of drill pipe 12; in this case seal 46 is also a welded joint.
• the cavity 48 is accessible from the bore 24 through hole 30. It will be appreciated that other connection or sealing techniques could be used including, but not limited to, a suitable adhesive and, for example, a suitable adhesive which may be shrink-fitted securing the sleeve into position.
• any number of well intervention apparatus can be provided on a string .
• other tool may be present on the work string and the work string may be referred to as a drill string.
• the use of a re-cycled drill pipe 12 in the manufacture of the well intervention apparatus 10 can help reduce the material costs associated with the manufacturing process associated with the well intervention apparatus 10.
• material waste involved in the process of recovering hydrocarbons can be reduced.
• recycled drill pipe is no longer perfectly circular in circumference with some distortion likely to have occurred during previous use.
• the machining process to form the recess 20 will, however, result in a milled recess which is substantially circular in circumference allowing for an annular sleeve to be used effectively.
• the well intervention apparatus 10 may be formed on newly manufactured drill pipe.
• any suitable tubular such as a casing, liner, tubing or pipe many be used in the manufacture of the well intervention apparatus although it will be appreciated that not all tubular products are provided with box section arrangements at the open end. Instead, some tubular products such as casing are simply provided with annular open ends. It will be understood that the milling process and application of the sleeve could be achieved with any open end tubular regardless of whether a box section connection is provided or not.
• FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D there is shown the development of another embodiment of a well intervention apparatus 110 during steps in the manufacture process.
• the apparatus 110 requires provision of a tubular member, in this case a drill pipe 112.
• the drill pipe 112 is pre- used drill pipe.
• the drill string 112 has an annular wall 118 defined by an outer tubular surface 120 and an inner tubular surface 122 which defines a bore 124.
• the method of manufacture involves the step of machining a recess 126 into a central portion 114 of the annular wall 118 from outer tubular surface 120.
• the recess 126 is formed circumferentially around the tubular body 14 and is defined by outer recess surface 128 and end recess surfaces 129A, 129B.
• the method of manufacture subsequently involves the forming of a perforation 130 between the inner tubular surface 122 and the outer recess surface 128.
• this embodiment shows the formed recess 120 arranged in a central position along the longitudinal body of the drill pipe 112, the recess 120 and thus the expandable element may be arranged at any desired point along the drill pipe section 112.
• FIG 4C there is shown a cross section of two corresponding annular sleeve segments 134A, 134B which can be provided to co- operate together around drill pipe 112 at recess 120 so as when secured together the segments 134A,B form annular sleeve 134.
• the segments 134A, B are secu red together once in situ around recess 120 by means of long itud inal welded joints 135A,B such that, as is shown in Figu re 4D, the segments 134A,B form sleeve 134 having a n inner sleeve su rface 140 which lies adjacent outer recess surface 128.
• the formed annu lar sleeve 134 also has an outer sleeve surface 142 which has a su rface level correspond ing with outer tubu lar surface 120.
• the manufactu ring process further involves provid ing a irtig ht seals 144, 146 which secu re the opposing ends 136A, 136B of annu lar sleeve 134 to the outer recess surface 128 of d rill pipe 112 such that a cavity 148 is defined between the inner sleeve su rface 140 and outer recess su rface 128.
• Seals 144, 146 are formed by joining the first sleeve end 136A and second sleeve end 136B to outer recess surface 128. In this case, seals 144, 146 are welded joints. Alternatively, sleeve 134 may extend to fill the recess 120 along its length and be affixed at the side walls of the recess 120. The cavity 148 is accessible from the bore 124 throug h hole 130.
• the apparatus 110 can be activated to expand once the d rill pipe 112 is in position within a wellbore (as shown in Figure 1 ) so as to secu re the tubu lar in place and create a sealed area of wellbore. Expansion is by injecting fluid throug h the port 130 which can be done using a tool or more preferably by pressu rising u p the d rill string from surface having closed off the lower end .
• Apparatus 10, 110 formed of d rill pipe 12, 112 respectively can access wellbore areas with close tolerance d istances, the well intervention a pparatus 10, 110 does not need such extensive expansion to secure the tu bular firmly within the wellbore.
• the wellbore wall 152 may be previously insta lled tubular such as casing or be formation in an open borehole.
• the principle advantage of the invention is that it provides a method of well intervention which utilises d rill pipe to create isolation barriers in a well .
• a further advantage of the invention is that it provides well intervention a pparatus in which by positioning the annu lar sleeve in a milled recess such that the outer surface of the annular sleeve is at the same level as the outer su rface of the tubu lar, the apparatus can be ru n into a well having small clearance tolerances.
• Figu res 1A- D illustrate a well intervention apparatus being formed at a tu bu lar end which is provided with a box section of a box and pin connection .
• the well intervention a pparatus could similarly be formed at a tubular end having a pin connection .

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• 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)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=59996854

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2017
  • 2017-08-21 GB GB1713375.2A patent/GB2565778B/en active Active
• 2018
  • 2018-08-20 RU RU2020107053A patent/RU2020107053A/ru unknown
  • 2018-08-20 BR BR112020003447-9A patent/BR112020003447A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2018-08-20 AU AU2018319372A patent/AU2018319372A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2018-08-20 EP EP18773539.4A patent/EP3673142A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2018-08-20 WO PCT/GB2018/052354 patent/WO2019038525A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2018-08-20 US US16/639,605 patent/US20200224507A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2018-08-20 CA CA3072307A patent/CA3072307A1/en not_active Abandoned

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