FERRAMENTA DE INSERÇÃO EM REVESTIMENTO AUTO-ORIENTÁVEL E SISTEMA

Abstract

A self-orienting casing entry tool, including a mule shoe body having an angled nose terminating the body creating a first relatively longitudinally shorter portion of the body and a second relatively longitudinally longer portion of the body, wherein the first portion of the body is made of a material, the first portion having a density, and the second portion of the body is made of the same material, the second portion configured to exhibit a lesser density. A method for entering a predisposed casing in a deviated borehole including running a tool at the front of a string being run in the borehole, floating the tool into an orientation where the mule shoe body will enter the predisposed casing. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a self-orienting casing entry tool disposed as a part of the string.

Description

1 / 7 Self-orienting coating insertion tool and system CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DEPOSIT REQUESTS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 18 / 181169, filed March 9, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND

[0002] In resource recovery and fluid sequestration sectors, there is often a need to insert a tubular structure with another in the downhole environment. A reasonable percentage of such insertions occur in highly deviated boreholes. Inserting tubulars into such boreholes tends to yield to the underside of the borehole, making insertion into another tubular, such as a previously installed casing, more difficult. Mule feet are used to assist in this situation, providing a ramp through which the entry tubular can be lifted into the tubular to be entered. Most of the time, these mule feet work well, but occasionally, the mule foot itself makes contact with the tubular to be entered in a position where the mule foot cannot assist in entry. Various mechanical means have been used to solve this, but they still require more drilling time than desirable.Consequently, the technique will welcome alternatives that improve insertion and reduce probing time. SUMMARY

[0003] An embodiment of a self-orienting coating insertion tool, including a mule foot body with an angled nose as the body termination creating a first body portion that is relatively shorter longitudinally and a second body portion that is relatively longer longitudinally, wherein the first mule foot portion is made of a material, the first portion having a density, and the second Petition 870250079796, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 27 / 98 Two-sevenths of the body is made of the same material, with the second portion configured to exhibit a lower density.

[0004] An embodiment of a method for entering a predisposed casing in a deviated borehole including passing a tool in front of a string being passed into the borehole, and floating the tool in an orientation where the body of the mule foot will enter the predisposed casing.

[0005] An embodiment of a borehole system that includes a borehole in a subsurface formation, a drill string in the borehole, and a self-orienting casing insertion tool arranged as part of the drill string. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any respect. With reference to the attached drawings, similar elements are numbered similarly:

[0007] Figure 1 is a transparent cutaway view of a self-orienting liner insertion tool as disclosed herein;

[0008] Figure 2 is a transparent end view of the tool illustrated in Figure 1; and

[0009] Figure 3 is a view of a borehole system including the self-orienting casing insertion tool as disclosed herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the apparatus and method is presented here by way of example, but without any limitation with reference to the figures.

[0011] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a self-orienting coating insertion tool 10 is illustrated. The tool 10 comprises a body 12 which will be familiar to those skilled in the art and known colloquially as a mule's foot. Essentially, a mule's foot is a cylindrical shape. Petition 870250079796, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 28 / 98 3 / 7 which is cut at an angle creating an angled nose 14. The angled nose helps to lift a column 16 (see Figure 3) in a pre-existing casing (not shown) when the column 16 is off-center. Keeping the pointed side of the nose 14 towards the center of a borehole 18 (again, see Figure 3) where the nose 14 should engage the pre-existing casing. In a highly deviated borehole, this can be problematic. The tool 10 includes a variable density around the body 12. Specifically, a first portion 20 of the body, which is the shorter longitudinal section of the body 12, is made of a material, such as metal, for example, which is of a standard solid configuration. The first portion 20 necessarily has a density. A second portion 22 of the body, the longitudinally longer section of the body, is made of the same material, but the second portion is configured to exhibit a lower density.This is achieved by removing material from within the second portion 22. The removed material can be described as a cavity 24 of any geometry and size within the limits of a radially external surface 26 and a radially internal surface 28. The larger the cavity 24, the lower the density of portion 22, but the mechanical strength can be reduced. Therefore, consideration must be given to how much mechanical strength is desired for the particular purpose and how much density reduction is needed to essentially float the tool 10 in the correct orientation. Determining this is within the skill level of the technique, once that person understands the inventive concept. With this information, the amount of material removed can be decided. In one embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a plurality of cavities 24 are distributed throughout portion 22. The cavities 24 illustrated are spherical, although other geometries are also contemplated.Since there is more material extending between surfaces 26 and 28, where a plurality of cavities is used instead of a single large cavity, the mechanical strength is increased, although the decrease in density relative to portion 20 is smaller. In this embodiment, the cavities 24 are also joined to each other to create one. Petition 870250079796, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 29 / 98 4 / 7 longitudinal passage. This is useful if a powder bed additive manufacturing method is used to create the tool 10. The unmelted powder material that would be disposed in the spheres needs to exit to reduce the density of portion 22, so the joined spheres allow for a passage to discharge the unmelted powder out of one end 30 of the tool 10.

[0012] In one embodiment, a bearing 32 is fixed to the end 30 to allow free rotation of the tool 10 when connected to a string during use. This promotes the ability of the tool 10 to react to the fluid in the borehole to float towards the proper orientation to enter the predisposed casing.

[0013] With reference to Figure 3, a borehole system 40 is illustrated. The system 40 comprises a borehole 18 in a subsurface formation 42. A string 16 is disposed within the borehole 18. As disclosed herein, a self-orienting casing insertion tool is disposed as part of the string 16.

[0014] Below, some modalities of the aforementioned revelation will be presented:

[0015] Embodiment 1: A self-orienting coating insertion tool, including a mule hoof body with an angled nose as the body termination, creating a first body portion that is relatively shorter longitudinally and a second body portion that is relatively longer longitudinally, wherein the first body portion is made of a material, the first portion having a density, and the second body portion is made of the same material, the second portion being configured to exhibit a lower density.

[0016] Mode 2: The tool is the same as in any previous mode, except that the setting to display the lower density is a cavity within the second portion. Petition 870250079796, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 30 / 98 5 / 7

[0017] Modality 3: The tool as in any previous embodiment, except that the cavity is a plurality of cavities within a thickness of the second portion.

[0018] Modality 4: The tool as in any previous modality, except that the plurality of cavities includes spherical cavities.

[0019] Modality 5: The tool is the same as in any previous modality, except that the spherical cavities are identical in size to each other.

[0020] Modality 6: The tool is the same as in any previous modality, except that the plurality of cavities are spherical.

[0021] Modality 7: The tool is as in any previous modality, except that the plurality of cavities is distributed within the second portion and covers half of the body.

[0022] Modality 8: The tool is as in any previous modality, except that the lower density is less than the density of the ambient fluid surrounding the tool during use.

[0023] Modality 9: The tool is as in any previous embodiment, except that the first portion exhibits a density greater than the density of the ambient fluid surrounding the tool during use.

[0024] Embodiment 10: The tool, as in any previous embodiment, additionally comprising a bearing disposed in the body enabling the body to rotate freely from a column on which the body is mounted, during use.

[0025] Embodiment 11: A method for entering a predisposed casing through a deviated borehole including passing a tool as in any previous embodiment in front of a string being passed into the borehole, and floating the tool in an orientation where the mule foot body will enter the predisposed casing.

[0026] Modality 12: The method as in any previous embodiment, including additionally freely rotating the mule hoof body in a bearing according to the buoyancy forces on the mule hoof body dictated by the density of the first portion and the density of the second portion. Petition 870250079796, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, p. 31 / 98 6 / 7

[0027] Embodiment 13: A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a drill string in the borehole, and a self-orienting casing insertion tool, according to any previous embodiment, arranged as part of the drill string.

[0028] The use of the terms a, an, and similar references in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) should be interpreted as encompassing both the singular and the plural, except where otherwise indicated in the present invention or clearly contradicted by the context. Additionally, it should be considered that the terms first, second, and similar in the present invention do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but are instead used to distinguish one element from another. The terms approximately, substantially, and generally are intended to include the degree of error associated with measuring the specific quantity based on the equipment available at the time of filing. For example, approximately and / or substantially and / or generally includes a range of values ​​of ± 8% of a given value.

[0029] The teachings of this present disclosure can be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve the use of one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids residing in a formation, a drill hole, and / or equipment in the drill hole, such as a production line. 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, signalers, flow improvers, etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, signaler injection, cleaning, acidification, steam injection, water injection, cementing, etc. Petition 870250079796, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 32 / 98 7 / 7

[0030] Although 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 alterations may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment disclosed as the best contemplated mode for carrying out the present invention, but that the invention includes all embodiments that fall within the scope of the claims.Furthermore, in the drawings and description, exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, and although specific terms may have been employed, they are used, unless otherwise stated, only in a generic and descriptive sense and not for the purpose of limitation; therefore, the scope of the invention is not thus limited. Petition 870250079796, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 33 / 98

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIMS 1. Self-orienting coating insertion tool (10), characterized by: a mule hoof body (12) having an angled nose (14) as the termination of the body (12) creating a first portion of the body (12) relatively shorter (20) longitudinally and a second portion of the body relatively longer (22) longitudinally, wherein: the first portion (20) of the body (12) is made of a material, the first portion (20) having a density; and the second portion (22) of the body (12) is made of the same material, the second portion (22) being configured to exhibit a lower density.

2. Tool (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that the configuration for displaying the lower density is a cavity (24) within the second portion (22).

3. Tool (10), according to claim 2, characterized in that the cavity (24) is a plurality of cavities within a thickness of the second portion (22).

4. Tool (10), according to claim 3, characterized in that the plurality of cavities (24) include spherical cavities.

5. Tool (10), according to claim 3, characterized in that the spherical cavities are identical in size to each other.

6. Tool (10), according to claim 3, characterized in that all of the plurality of cavities (24) are spherical.

7. Tool (10), according to claim 3, characterized in that the plurality of cavities (24) are distributed within the second portion (22) and cover half of the body (12).

8. Tool (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that the smaller density is less than the density of the ambient fluid surrounding the tool (10) during use. Petition 870250079796, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 34 / 98 2 / 2 9. Tool (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that the first portion (20) exhibits a density greater than the density of the ambient fluid surrounding the tool (10) during use.

10. Tool (10), according to claim 1, further characterized by a bearing (32) disposed in the body (12) allowing the body (12) to rotate freely from a column (16) on which the body (12) is mounted, during use.

11. Method for entering a predisposed casing in a deviated borehole (18), characterized by: passing a tool (10), as defined in claim 1, in front of a column (16) being passed into the borehole (18); floating the tool (10) in an orientation where the mule foot body (12) will enter the predisposed casing.

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized by further including freely rotating the mule hoof body (12) in a bearing according to the buoyancy forces on the mule hoof body (12) dictated by the density of the first portion (20) and the density of the second portion (22).

13. Drilling hole system (40), characterized by comprising: a drill hole (18) in a subsurface formation (42); a string (16) in the drill hole (18); and a self-orienting casing insertion tool (10), as defined in claim 1, arranged as a part of the string (16). Petition 870250079796, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, p. 35 / 98

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