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
  • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
  • E21B17/10—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers
  • E21B17/1035—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers for plural rods, pipes or lines, e.g. for control lines
• • 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
  • E21B17/10—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers
• • 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
  • E21B23/14—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells
• • 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
  • E21B31/00—Fishing for or freeing objects in boreholes or wells
  • E21B31/035—Fishing for or freeing objects in boreholes or wells controlling differential pipe sticking
• • 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
  • E21B31/00—Fishing for or freeing objects in boreholes or wells
  • E21B31/107—Fishing for or freeing objects in boreholes or wells using impact means for releasing stuck parts, e.g. jars

Definitions

• the present invention relates to wireline logging and, more particularly, in one or more embodiments, the present invention relates to a device for improving wireline cable performance during logging operations in a variety of boreholes.
• Wireline logging is a common operation in the oil industry whereby down-hole electrical tools may be conveyed on a wireline (also known as an "e-line") to evaluate formation lithologies and fluid types in a variety of boreholes.
• a wireline also known as an "e-line”
• Key-seating may occur when the wireline cable operates similar to a saw and cuts a groove into the borehole wall. Such cable grooves may be observed with wireline imaging tools. Once a cable groove has been cut, various sticking mechanisms may act on the wireline cable. For instance, the wireline cable may be trapped via compression. In addition, the wireline cable may be trapped in the groove by borehole stress. Moreover, mechanical binding of the wireline cable in a deep groove may occur. In instances in which the rock is permeable, differential sticking of the wireline cable may also occur. This may happen in deviated or directional wells where the wireline cable may exert sustained sideways pressure at the contact points with the borehole. Furthermore, since the logging tool diameter is generally much larger than the groove cut by the wireline cable, a key-seat may terminate normal ascent out of the borehole and potentially result in a fishing job or lost tools in hole.
• Differential sticking may occur when there is an overbalance between hydrostatic and formation pressures in the borehole, the severity of which may be related to a number of issues, including: (1) the degree of overbalance and the presence of any depleted zones in the borehole; (2) the character and permeability of the formations bisected by the borehole; (3) the deviation of the borehole, since the sideways component of the tool weight adds to the sticking forces; (4) the drilling mud properties in the borehole, since the formation of mud cakes may trap logging tools and the wireline cable against the borehole wall; and (5) the geometry of the toolstring being logged on a wireline, since a long and large toolstring may present a larger cross sectional area and may result in proportionally larger sticking forces.
• the logging tools and wireline may remain stationary over permeable zones for a long period of time, which may also increase the likelihood of differential sticking. Further, active loss zones in the wellbore may apply high sideways force and may stick the logging cable or tools.
• a wireline assembly having a wireline cable.
• the wireline assembly also has a logging tool-string and a jar.
• the wireline assembly further has one or more wireline standoffs located on the wireline cable above the jar.
• Each of the one or more wireline standoffs has a cable insert disposed between a pair of opposing assemblies.
• the cable insert has an anti-rotation spigot.
• the cable insert comprises aluminum or silicon bronze, depending on well fluid and corrosive properties.
• the method includes providing a wireline assembly having a wireline cable and a jar.
• the method also includes securing one or more wireline standoffs to the wireline cable above the jar.
• Each of the one or more wireline standoffs has a cable insert disposed between a pair of opposing assemblies.
• the cable insert has an anti-rotation spigot.
• the cable insert comprises silicon bronze.
• the method includes conveying the wireline assembly into a borehole. Additionally, the method includes reducing a cable friction caused by the wireline cable contacting a wall of the borehole. The reducing results from the one or more wireline standoffs lowering an area of contact between the wireline cable and the wall of the borehole.
• the method includes disposing a wireline assembly having a wireline cable and a jar into a borehole.
• the method also includes placing two parts of a cable insert around the wireline cable at a location above the jar.
• the cable insert includes an anti-rotation spigot.
• the cable insert comprises silicon bronze.
• the method includes securing the two parts of the cable insert to each other.
• the method includes placing a pair of opposing assemblies around the cable insert.
• the method includes securing the pair of opposing assemblies to each other.
• the method also includes repeating the above-noted steps at a different location on the wireline cable above the jar.
• An embodiment includes a wireline standoff.
• the wireline standoff may comprise a pair of opposing assemblies.
• the opposing assemblies may each comprise a half shell, a cable insert configured to be disposed in the half shell, and external fins coupled to the half shell.
• the wireline standoff further may comprise one or more fasteners configured to couple the opposing assemblies to one another.
• the wireline assembly may comprise a wireline cable and a wireline standoff.
• the wireline standoff may comprise a pair of opposing assemblies, wherein each of the opposing assemblies may comprise a half shell, a cable insert disposed in the half shell, and external fins coupled to the half shell.
• the cable insert for each of the opposing assemblies may be coupled to the wireline cable.
• Yet another embodiment may comprise a method for reducing sticking in wireline logging.
• the method may comprise coupling one or more wireline standoffs to a wireline cable.
• the one or more wireline standoffs may comprise a pair of opposing assemblies, wherein each of the opposing assemblies may comprise a half shell, a cable insert configured to be disposed in the half shell, and external fins coupled to the half shell.
• the present invention relates to wireline logging and, more particularly, in one or more embodiments, the present invention relates to a device for improving wireline cable performance during logging operations in a variety of boreholes.
• wireline standoff 2 and methods of use thereof there may be several advantages to wireline standoff 2 and methods of use thereof, only some of which may be alluded to herein.
• Advantages include corrosion protection of cable insert 10.
• An additional advantage includes that cable insert 10 may be used with water-based mud.
• Another advantage is that wireline standoff 2 and methods of use may ameliorate the effects of differential sticking and/or key-seating of wireline cable 18 by reducing or eliminating direct contact of wireline cable 18 to borehole wall 38.
• this may be achieved by coupling a plurality of wireline standoffs 2 onto wireline cable 18, resulting, for example, in a lower contact area per unit length of open hole, lower applied sideways pressure of wireline cable 18 against borehole wall 38, and/or lower cable drag when conveying wireline cable 18 in or out of borehole 40.
• wireline standoffs 2 may also enable more efficient use of wireline jars in the logging string, since wireline standoffs 2 may reduce the cable friction above the jars. Lower cable drag may facilitate more sufficient energy transfer from wireline cable 18 to the jar hammer, which may result in a more reliable jar firing and a more efficient re-cocking.
• wireline standoffs 2 on wireline cable 18 Without wireline standoffs 2 on wireline cable 18, the high cable drags generated during the jar firing may attenuate the hammer impact velocity and may result in failure to free the logging tools. Furthermore, without wireline standoffs 2 on wireline cable 18, re-cocking the jar may be problematic due to excessive cable stiction, having just pulled wireline cable 18 into a groove when firing the jar at higher tension. The subsequent cable peel-off force may be significant and may impede re-cocking. A freely moving wireline cable 18 above the jar may be desired, especially in deviated or tortuous wells where tension transmission may be sub-optimal from the vertical well scenario.
• the jar may not be fired again, and the wireline tools may need to be fished.
• the cable drag imparted to wireline cable 18 may increase the jar firing tension and may reduce jar hammer impact velocity and any or substantially any resulting impulse.
• the location when deciding on a location of wireline standoff 2, the location may be selected to reduce a friction caused by wireline cable 18 contacting borehole wall 38. Such location may result in a lower surface cable tension when logging up out of borehole 40, and a higher surface cable tension when logging down in borehole 40.
• wireline standoff 2 may comprise two opposing assemblies 4, which mate together onto wireline cable 18.
• a variety of different fasteners may be used to couple the two assemblies 4 to one another.
• bolts, dowel pins, or any combinations thereof may be used.
• a combination of dowel pins (illustrated, e.g., by reference number 54 on Figure 6 ) and bolts 6 may be used to couple assemblies 4 to one another.
• four cap head bolts 6 and four dowel pins 54 may be used for coupling assemblies 4.
• Dowel pins 54 may be used, for example, to resist shear forces.
• dowel pins 54 are 4 x 8 mm pins.
• each of opposing assemblies 4 may comprise a corresponding half shell 8 which contains a cable insert 10.
• wireline standoff 2 contains two cable inserts 10 with each of opposing assemblies 4 containing a corresponding cable insert 10.
• cable inserts 10 may be secured in their half shells 8 by a fastener, such as, for example, recessed cap head bolt 12.
• contact with the exterior of wireline cable 18 may be solely with cable inserts 10 and not half shells 8.
• cable inserts 10 may be configured to clamp directly onto wireline cable 18 using bolts 6.
• cable inserts 10 may mate to form a central bore 11 through wireline standoff 2.
• Cable inserts 10 may be configured to slightly deform around outer wireline cable 18 armour during installation without physically damaging wireline cable 18. It is to be understood that there are a large range of cable inserts 10 available to fit wireline cable 18, taking into account any manufacturing tolerances and varying degrees of wear or distortion along the length of wireline cable 18. Therefore, for a plurality of wireline standoffs 2 installed on wireline cable 18, a range of different cable inserts 10 may be employed, for example, to ensure a fit which may not allow slippage along wireline cable 18 or damage to wireline cable 18 when coupled.
• Bolts 6 that may be used to couple the two assemblies 4 together may be torqued to a consistently safe limit with a calibrated torque wrench.
• Cable inserts 10 may comprise any suitable material, such as aluminum or silicon bronze.
• cable inserts 10 may comprise silicon, bronze, or any combinations thereof.
• cable inserts 10 may comprise silicon bronze.
• Cable inserts 10 may comprise any suitable silicon bronze.
• cable inserts 10 comprise high silicon bronze.
• An example of a suitable high silicon bronze is C65500 high silicon bronze.
• Embodiments include cable inserts 10 comprising high silicon bronze that comprises copper, tin, silicon, or any combinations thereof.
• Some embodiments include cable inserts 10 comprising high silicon bronze that comprises copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, silicon, zinc, or any combinations thereof.
• high silicon bronze has at least about 97.0 wt.% copper; alternatively about 97.0 wt.% copper and about 3.0 wt.% silicon; and alternatively about 95.8 wt.% copper, about 3.3 wt.% silicon, and about 0.9 wt.% manganese; further alternatively about 91.95 wt.% to about 93.75 wt.% copper, about 0.8 wt.% iron, about 0.05 wt.% lead, about 0.50 wt.% to about 1.3 wt.% manganese, about 0.6 wt. % nickel, about 2.8 wt.% to about 3.8 wt.% silicon, and about 1.5 wt.% zinc.
• cable inserts 10 are a durable item but may be junked in the event of damage during a logging run. Furthermore, in some embodiments, cable inserts 10 may be positively secured into each of the half shells 8 by fasteners 12 ( e.g., small cap head bolts) that pass through the outside of each of half shells 8 into tapped holes in cable inserts 10. In embodiments, cable inserts 10 may have no movement inside half shells 8.
• a central spigot see, e.g., anti-rotation spigot 64 on Figure 7
• a central flange may be used to ensure little to no axial movement in half shells 8.
• Wireline standoff 2 may further include a plurality of fins 14 coupled to half shells 8.
• fins 14 may allow easy movement along borehole 40 and through mud cake and other debris, which may have accumulated in borehole 40 during drilling.
• fins 14 may be arranged along the length or a portion of the length of half shells 8.
• wireline standoff 2 may comprise twelve fins 14.
• fins 14 may be distributed radially along the length of half shells 8. The empty space between fins 14 may allow for circulation of drilling mud inside drill pipe if wireline cable 18 and wireline standoff 2 are fished using drill pipe.
• fins 14 have a low coefficient of friction.
• Fins 14 may have a smooth radial cross section to minimize the contact area with borehole wall 38 and allow for standoff rotation under the action of cable torque. It is believed that this may reduce the differential sticking force acted upon each fin 14 at the contact points with borehole wall 38 and may also allow for easy rotation of wireline standoffs 2 if wireline cable 18 rotates when it is deployed and retrieved from borehole 40. It should be noted that it is the general nature of wireline cable 18 to rotate during logging operations due to the opposing lay angles of the inner and outer armours, which may induce unequal torsional forces when tensions are applied. The design of wireline standoffs 2 may allow easy rotation of wireline cable 18 during the logging operation, avoiding, for example, the potential for damage if excessive torque was allowed to build up.
• the spacing of wireline standoffs 2 on wireline cable 18 may be from about 10 feet to more than about 175 feet, alternatively from about 10 feet to about 175 feet, and alternatively from about 25 feet to about 175 feet. Such spacing may be dependent on the requirements for the particular borehole 40 being logged. In an embodiment, the spacing of wireline standoffs 2 on wireline cable 18 may be from about 25 feet to about 175 feet. In some embodiments in casing in a pure vertical hole, the spacing of wireline standoffs 2 on wireline cable 18 may be from about 200 feet to about 250 feet.
• Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of one of the opposing assemblies 4.
• assembly 4 includes half shell 8 with cable insert 10 disposed therein.
• half shell 8 includes front portion 42, rear portion 44 and middle portion 46 that interconnects front portion 42 and rear portion 44.
• front portion 42 and rear portion 44 are each in the shape of a conic section with middle portion 46 being generally cylindrical in shape.
• half shell 8 further includes holes 48 through which fasteners ( e.g . bolts 6 shown on Figure 1 ) may be inserted that secure half shells 8 to one another clamping cable inserts 10 onto wireline cable 8.
• Opposing assembly 4 may further contain fins 14 that extend along the length or a portion of the length thereof.
• Figures 7 and 8 illustrate exploded views of embodiments of wireline standoff 2.
• wireline standoff 2 includes opposing assemblies 4 that each comprises half shell 8, cable insert 10, and a plurality of fins 14.
• dowel pins 54 are included in one of half shells 2 for insertion into corresponding holes (not illustrated) in the other half shell 2.
• each of cable inserts 10 may be in the general shape of a hollow, half cylinder.
• Each of cable inserts 10 may have first flanged end 56 and second flanged end 58. As illustrated, first flanged end 56 and second flanged end 58 may be tapered.
• first flanged end 56 and second flanged end 58 each may extend beyond half shells 8 that encase at least a portion of cable inserts 10.
• cable insert flanges 60 may be disposed over at least a portion of middle portion 62 of each cable insert 10.
• cable insert flanges 60 are integral with cable inserts 10.
• cable insert flanges 60 are not integral with cable inserts 10.
• Anti-rotation spigot 64 may be formed in one or more of cable insert flanges 60.
• each of half shells 8 includes a through passageway 66 having an inner wall 68. In general, through passageway 66 in each half shell 8 is sized to receive a corresponding cable insert 10.
• inner wall 68 of through passageway 66 in each of half shells 8 may have a cut out 70 that receives corresponding cable insert flange 60 preventing axial movement of wireline standoff 2 when installed.
• protrusion 72 may extend from the inner wall in cut out 70 with protrusion 72 being sized to fit into anti-rotation spigot 64 to prevent rotation of wireline standoff 2. In this manner, cable insert flanges 60 and anti-rotation spigot 64 may lock half shells 8 and cable inserts 10.
• Figure 10 illustrates a cross section of an embodiment of wireline standoff 2 installed on wireline cable 18.
• wireline standoff 2 includes opposing assemblies 4 that each comprise half shell 8, cable insert 10, and a plurality of fins 14.
• Half shells 8 each comprise holes 16 that may be used, for example, to connect wireline standoff 2 to a lanyard during installation.
• cable insert 10 is in contact with wireline cable 18.
• each cable insert 10 includes first flanged end 56, second flanged end 58, and middle portion 62 with cable insert flanges 60 disposed over middle portion 62.
• first flanged end 56 and second flanged end 58 each extend beyond half shells 8.
• cable insert flanges 60 may fit into corresponding cut outs 70 in half shells 8.
• protrusion 72 in cutouts 70 fits into anti-rotation spigot 64 of cable insert flanges 60.
• fasteners 74 extend through half shells 8 and into cable inserts 10.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
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• Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)
• Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)

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Citations (5)

• 2024
  • 2024-03-26 US US18/617,213 patent/US20250305373A1/en active Pending
  • 2024-11-06 EP EP24211055.9A patent/EP4624723A1/fr active Pending

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