A leak prevention and plugging device and drilling equipment for repairing well leakage.

Abstract

This invention discloses a leak prevention and plugging device and drilling apparatus for repairing well leakage. The leak prevention and plugging device includes a main body, a drive mechanism, and several primary baffles. The main body has an upper connector at its top end and a lower connector at its bottom end. The main body has a hollow cavity inside. The primary baffles are arranged around the outer periphery of the main body. The drive mechanism is disposed within the hollow cavity, and the primary baffles are connected to the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism drives the primary baffles to reciprocate radially along the main body. Compared with the prior art, this invention uses several primary baffles driven by the drive mechanism to directly cover areas on the well wall that are prone to leakage or where leakage has already occurred, thereby preventing the occurrence of well leakage or timely plugging of leakage, thus avoiding losses caused by delayed plugging and expansion of the leakage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of drilling technology, and in particular to a leak prevention and plugging device and drilling equipment for repairing well leakage. Background Technology

[0002] Loss of drilling fluid (WSDF) is a common occurrence during well drilling operations. For example, when fractures and voids exist in the formation surrounding the wellbore, drilling fluid can leak into these areas, leading to WDF. WDF wastes significant amounts of drilling fluid and valuable drilling time, and in severe cases, can render the well unusable, resulting in substantial economic losses. Therefore, it is crucial to prevent WDF and promptly seal any leaks during drilling operations to ensure drilling safety.

[0003] Currently, well leakage is mainly sealed by injecting repair fluids. On the one hand, when drilling is deep, injecting repair fluids from the surface to the leakage point takes a long time, making it difficult to seal the leakage in time. The leakage may then worsen, increasing the damage caused by the leakage. On the other hand, repair fluids such as cement and expansive materials require a certain solidification time to effectively seal the leakage. However, the solidification time of the repair fluid cannot be controlled, making the sealing time of the leakage unpredictable. This could lead to the leakage worsening due to a lack of timely and effective sealing, thus increasing the damage caused by the leakage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a leak prevention and plugging device and a drilling device for repairing well leakage, which can solve the technical problem of increased losses caused by the inability to effectively plug well leakage in a timely manner.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] On one hand, the present invention provides a leak-proof and plugging device for repairing well leakage, comprising:

[0007] The main body has an upper connector and a lower connector at its top and bottom, and the main body has a hollow cavity inside.

[0008] A plurality of primary baffles are arranged around the outer side wall of the main body;

[0009] A driving mechanism is disposed within the hollow cavity, and a plurality of primary baffles are respectively connected to the driving mechanism. The driving mechanism is used to drive the primary baffles to reciprocate along the radial direction of the main body.

[0010] Preferably, the number of primary baffles is 4.

[0011] Preferably, the surface of the primary baffle away from the outer side wall of the main body is distributed with a number of irregular friction particles.

[0012] Preferably, the irregular friction particles are synthetic diamonds.

[0013] Preferably, the driving mechanism includes a driving component and a driving shaft. The main body sidewall has a sliding channel, and the first-stage baffle has a slide plate that is slidably disposed in the sliding channel. A connecting component is provided between the slide plate and the driving shaft. The two ends of the connecting component are respectively hinged to the slide plate and the driving shaft. The driving component is connected to the driving shaft to drive the driving shaft to rotate.

[0014] Preferably, the driving member has a plurality of pulley sets and a motor with a braking function. The plurality of pulley sets are installed at the edge of the driving member and in contact with the inner sidewall of the main body. The motor is used to drive the pulley sets to rotate, thereby driving the driving member to rotate circumferentially along the inner sidewall of the main body.

[0015] Preferably, the drive unit is further provided with a control module and a communication module. The control module is communicatively connected to the motor, and the communication module is communicatively connected to the control module. The communication module is used to receive external control signals.

[0016] Preferably, the connector is curved.

[0017] Preferably, it further includes a plurality of secondary baffles, which are staggered and disposed inside the plurality of primary baffles. The secondary baffles can be driven by the driving mechanism to reciprocate along the radial direction of the main body. When the primary baffles and the secondary baffles are open, each secondary baffle is located between each of two adjacent primary baffles.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a drilling apparatus, including a drill bit and a drill rod, wherein the drill bit is mounted on one end of the drill rod, and at least one leak-proof and leak-sealing device for remedying well leakage as described in the first aspect is mounted on the drill rod.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0020] This invention employs a series of primary baffles driven by a drive mechanism to directly cover areas of the wellbore prone to leakage and areas where leakage has already occurred, thereby preventing leakage or promptly sealing it and reducing losses caused by leakage. Specifically, when the drill bit advances to an area prone to leakage, the drive mechanism radially drives the primary baffles to cover and support the wellbore, preventing leakage from occurring. When the drill bit advances to an area where leakage has already occurred, the drive mechanism radially drives the primary baffles to cover and support the wellbore, promptly sealing the leakage and preventing further development and losses. Therefore, compared to existing technologies, the effective sealing time of this invention is not affected by the injection and solidification time of the remedial fluid, and it can, to a certain extent, prevent leakage and promptly seal it, thus avoiding losses caused by expanding leakage. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the specific embodiments will be briefly described below. It should be noted that in all the drawings, the elements or parts are not necessarily drawn to actual scale.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the overall structure of the leak-proof and leak-sealing device for repairing well leakage according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the first-stage baffle opening in the leak-proof and plugging device for repairing well leakage according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the retracted primary baffle in the leak-proof and leak-sealing device for repairing well leakage according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the drilling apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged view of a section at point B in the middle;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of drilling operations using the drilling apparatus described in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the opening of the primary baffle and the secondary baffle in the leak-proof and leak-stopping device for repairing well leakage according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the retracted primary and secondary baffles in the leak-proof and plugging device for repairing well leakage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] In the picture:

[0032] 1. Main body; 11. Upper connector; 111. Internal thread; 12. Lower connector; 121. External thread; 13. Hollow cavity; 14. Sliding channel; 15. Sliding sleeve; 2. Primary baffle; 21. Slide plate; 22. Friction particles; 3. Drive mechanism; 31. Drive component; 311. Pulley block; 312. Motor; 313. Control module; 314. Communication module; 32. Drive shaft; 33. Connector; 4. Secondary baffle; 5. Signal transmitting device; 6. Drill bit; 7. Drill pipe; 8. Wellbore. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0034] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the system or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., used to define components are merely for the convenience of distinguishing the aforementioned components. Unless otherwise stated, these terms have no special meaning and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0035] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0036] Lost drilling fluid (WSF) is a common abnormal condition encountered during drilling operations. It wastes significant amounts of drilling fluid and valuable drilling time, and in severe cases, can lead to wellbore abandonment and substantial economic losses. Currently, well leakage is primarily sealed by injecting a repair fluid. However, the effective sealing time using this method is affected by the injection and solidification times of the repair fluid, which can easily lead to situations where the leakage cannot be effectively sealed in time, thus exacerbating the losses. Therefore, this invention provides a leak prevention and sealing device and drilling apparatus for repairing lost drilling fluid, which solves the problem of losses caused by the inability to effectively seal lost drilling fluid in a timely manner in existing technologies.

[0037] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to enable a more thorough understanding of the invention and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] like Figures 1-9 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a leak-proof and plugging device for repairing well leakage, comprising:

[0040] The main body 1 has an upper connector 11 and a lower connector 12 at its top and bottom, respectively. The upper connector 11 and the lower connector 12 are used to connect to the drilling equipment. The main body 1 has a hollow cavity 13 inside.

[0041] A number of primary baffles 2 are arranged around the outer side of the main body 1;

[0042] The drive mechanism 3 is located inside the hollow cavity 13. Several primary baffles 2 are connected to the drive mechanism 3. The drive mechanism 3 is used to drive the primary baffles 2 to reciprocate radially along the main body 1.

[0043] It is understood that the upper connector 11 and the lower connector 12 can be connected to the drilling equipment by means of threaded connection, snap-fit, etc., and this embodiment does not limit this. Preferably, the upper connector 11 is provided with an internal thread 111 for connection with the drilling equipment, and the lower connector 12 is provided with an external thread 121 for connection with the drilling equipment. The upper connector 11 and the lower connector 12 are also provided with anti-loosening buckles (not shown in the figure).

[0044] In the embodiments of the present invention, the main body 1 can be installed on the drilling device through the upper connector 11 and the lower connector 12. When the drilling device operates to an area prone to leakage or where leakage has already occurred, the drive mechanism 3 can drive the first-stage baffle 2 radially along the main body 1 toward the well wall until it is close to the well wall, thereby covering the well wall that is prone to leakage or where leakage has already occurred, thereby preventing the occurrence of leakage or timely and effective sealing of leakage to prevent further development of leakage and the resulting losses.

[0045] This invention employs a plurality of primary baffles 2 driven by a drive mechanism 3 to directly cover areas of the well wall prone to leakage and areas where leakage has already occurred, thereby preventing leakage or promptly sealing it and reducing losses caused by leakage. Specifically, when the drill bit 6 advances to an area prone to leakage, the drive mechanism 3 radially drives the primary baffles 2 along the main body 1 to cover and support the well wall, preventing leakage. When the drill bit 6 advances to an area where leakage has already occurred, the drive mechanism 3 radially drives the primary baffles 2 along the main body 1 to cover and support the well wall, promptly sealing the leakage and preventing further development, thus avoiding losses caused by expanding leakage. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the effective sealing time of this invention is not affected by the injection and solidification time of the remedial fluid, and can, to a certain extent, prevent leakage and promptly seal it, thereby avoiding losses caused by expanding leakage.

[0046] Preferably, the number of primary baffles 2 is 4.

[0047] It should be noted that the number and size of the primary baffles 2 in this embodiment can be flexibly set according to actual factors such as the size of the wellbore 8. This embodiment does not impose any restrictions on this; for example, it can be one, two, three, four, or even more. In addition, when the size of the primary baffles 2 is long, this embodiment of the invention can also appropriately increase the number of drive mechanisms 3 to ensure that the drive mechanisms 3 can smoothly drive the primary baffles 2 to reciprocate radially along the main body 1.

[0048] Furthermore, irregular friction particles 22 are distributed on the surface of the primary baffle 2 away from the outer wall of the main body 1. In this embodiment, by setting several irregular friction particles 22 on the surface of the primary baffle 2 away from the outer wall of the main body 1, when the primary baffle 2 is in the retracted state, the irregular friction particles 22 can be used to assist in rock breaking and prevent the drill bit from getting stuck. When the primary baffle 2 is in the open state and is in close contact with the well wall, the irregular friction particles 22 can increase the friction between the primary baffle 2 and the well wall, prevent the primary baffle 2 from slipping, and thus ensure that the well leakage can be reliably sealed.

[0049] Preferably, the irregular friction particles 22 are synthetic diamonds.

[0050] It is understood that the irregular friction particles 22 are not limited to the aforementioned synthetic diamonds. In other embodiments, particles such as cubic boron nitride, high manganese steel, and chromium alloy cast iron may also be used, and the present invention makes no limitation in this regard.

[0051] Furthermore, the drive mechanism 3 includes a drive component 31 and a drive shaft 32. The main body 1 has a sliding channel 14 on its side wall. The first-stage baffle 2 has a slide plate 21 that is slidably disposed in the sliding channel 14. A connector 33 is provided between the slide plate and the drive shaft 32. The two ends of the connector 33 are respectively hinged to the slide plate 21 and the drive shaft 32. The drive component 31 is connected to the drive shaft 32 to drive the drive shaft 32 to rotate.

[0052] Specifically, the side wall of the main body 1 has a number of sliding sleeves 15 arranged radially thereon and a number of through holes corresponding to the sliding sleeves 15. The inner cavity of the sliding sleeve 15 and the above-mentioned through holes cooperate to form a sliding channel 14.

[0053] When the drive mechanism 3 drives the primary baffle 2 to open radially away from the main body 1, the drive member 31 drives the drive shaft 32 to rotate, and the connecting member 33 pushes the sliding plate 21 outward under the drive shaft 32. The primary baffle 2 then moves outward along with the sliding plate 21 until it is tightly against the well wall. When the drive mechanism 3 drives the primary baffle 2 to retract radially towards the main body 1, the drive member 31 drives the drive shaft 32 to rotate, and the connecting member 33 pulls the sliding plate 21 inward under the drive shaft 32. The primary baffle 2 then moves inward along with the sliding plate 21 until it is tightly against the outer wall of the main body 1. It can be understood that the rotation direction of the drive shaft 32 is opposite when the drive mechanism 3 drives the primary baffle 2 to open and retract.

[0054] Specifically, the driving component 31 has several pulley sets 311 and a motor 312 with a braking function. The pulley sets 311 are installed at the edge of the driving component 31 and contact the inner sidewall of the main body 1. The motor 312 is used to drive the pulley sets 311 to rotate, thereby driving the driving component 31 to rotate circumferentially along the inner sidewall of the main body 1. It can be understood that the pulley sets 311 in this embodiment can be driven by different motors 312, or they can be driven by the same motor 312 through a transmission mechanism such as gears.

[0055] It should be noted that in some other embodiments of the present invention, the drive shaft 32 may not be driven to rotate by providing a pulley block 311 and a motor 312 on the drive member 31, and the present invention does not impose any restrictions on this. For example, in some specific embodiments, a motor 312 connected to the drive shaft 32 may be provided on the drive member 31 and the drive shaft 32 may be directly driven to rotate by the motor 312. In this case, the drive member 31 serves to install and fix the motor 312 and other components.

[0056] Furthermore, the drive unit 31 is also provided with a control module 313 and a communication module 314. The control module 313 is communicatively connected to the motor 312, and the communication module 314 is communicatively connected to the control module 313. The communication module 314 is used to receive external control signals.

[0057] In this embodiment, a signal transmitting device 5, such as a radio signal transmitter, can be installed at the wellhead. When well leakage occurs during drilling operations, the communication module 314 can receive external control signals from the signal transmitting device 5 and promptly transmit these signals to the control module 313. Upon receiving the external control signals from the communication module 314, the control module 313 automatically controls the motor 312 to start working, thereby causing the first-stage baffle 2 to open outward and promptly seal the well leakage. This allows this embodiment to achieve remote control of the drive mechanism 3, enabling the drive mechanism 3 to send external control signals in the early stages of well leakage, allowing the drive mechanism 3 to drive the first-stage baffle 2 to promptly seal the well leakage and prevent further damage caused by the leakage.

[0058] Furthermore, the connector 33 is curved. In this embodiment, the connector 33 is set to a curved shape, which can avoid interference between the connector 33 and other components during movement, which is conducive to the connector 33 smoothly pushing the slide.

[0059] It should be noted that the drive mechanism 3 of the present invention is not limited to the above-described structural form. In other specific embodiments, drive mechanisms 3 with other structural forms may also be used.

[0060] For example, in some embodiments, a drive mechanism 3 as described below can be used. The drive mechanism 3 includes a motor, a lead screw, and a conical sleeve. The motor is disposed in the hollow cavity 13, and the lead screw is drivenly connected to the motor shaft. The conical sleeve is threadedly connected to the lead screw, and a groove corresponding to the connecting member 33 is provided on the outer wall of the conical sleeve. One end of the connecting member 33 is connected to the slider 21, and the other end of the connecting member 33 is slidably locked in the groove. When the drive mechanism 3 is working, the motor drives the lead screw to rotate, and the rotation of the lead screw drives the conical sleeve to move along the lead screw axis. During the movement of the conical sleeve, it pushes outward or pulls inward on the connecting member 33. Under the pushing or pulling action of the conical sleeve, the connecting member 33 drives the slider 21 to slide outward or inward. The first-stage baffle 2 will follow the slider 21 to move outward or inward, thereby realizing the opening and closing of the first-stage slide plate.

[0061] Furthermore, it also includes several secondary baffles 4, which are staggered and placed inside several primary baffles 2. The secondary baffles 4 can be driven by the drive mechanism 3 to reciprocate radially along the main body 1. When the primary baffles 2 and the secondary baffles 4 are open, each secondary baffle 4 is located between each two adjacent primary baffles 2.

[0062] It should be noted that the connection structure between the secondary baffle 4 and the driving mechanism 3 in this embodiment, as well as the way in which the driving mechanism 3 drives the secondary baffle 4 to move radially along the main body 1, are the same as those of the primary baffle 2, and will not be described in detail here.

[0063] In addition, to avoid mutual interference when the primary baffle 2 and the secondary baffle 4 are pressed against the well wall together, this embodiment can reserve a certain gap between the primary baffle 2 and the secondary baffle 4 when they are pressed against the well wall.

[0064] Because there is a certain gap between every two primary baffles 2 when they are open and tightly pressed against the well wall, the primary baffles 2 cannot provide full coverage support for the surrounding well wall, and well leakage may still occur in the areas covered by the primary baffles 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, secondary baffles 4 are set inside the primary baffles 2, offset from the primary baffles 2. When sealing well leakage, the drive mechanism 3 drives the primary baffles 2 and secondary baffles 4 to open outwards simultaneously. At this time, each secondary baffle 4 covers and supports the area between every two adjacent primary baffles 2, enabling this embodiment to achieve full coverage support for the surrounding well wall. This provides the leakage sealing effect and fault tolerance of this embodiment, making this embodiment more flexible.

[0065] It is understood that in other embodiments of the present invention, in addition to the primary baffle 2 and the secondary baffle 4, more levels of baffles can be provided, as long as the requirement that each level of baffle can provide full coverage support to the surrounding well wall is met.

[0066] Example 2

[0067] As shown in the figure, this embodiment of the invention also provides a drilling device, including a drill bit 6 and a drill rod 7. The drill bit 6 is installed at one end of the drill rod 7, and at least one anti-leakage and plugging device for repairing well leakage as described in Embodiment 1 is installed on the drill rod 7.

[0068] In this embodiment, at least one anti-leakage and plugging device as described in Embodiment 1 is installed on the drill pipe 7. When drilling operations reach an area prone to leakage or where leakage has already occurred, the drive mechanism 3 can drive the primary baffle 2 and / or the secondary baffle 4 to move radially toward the well wall along the main body 1 until the primary baffle 2 and / or the secondary baffle 4 are pressed against the well wall. This covers the well wall that is prone to leakage or where leakage has already occurred, thereby preventing the occurrence of leakage or timely and effective plugging of leakage to prevent further damage caused by the development of leakage.

[0069] It should be noted that the number of leakage prevention and plugging devices on drill pipe 7 can be flexibly set according to actual factors such as drilling depth and geological conditions around wellbore 8. Understandably, when multiple leakage prevention and plugging devices are installed on drill pipe 7, the drilling rig can control multiple prone leakage points or loss points during drilling operations, thereby further reducing losses caused by well leakage.

[0070] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A leak-proof and plugging device for repairing well leakage, characterized in that, include: The main body (1) is provided with an upper connector (11) and a lower connector (12) at its top and bottom ends, respectively, and the main body (1) has a hollow cavity (13) inside; A number of primary baffles (2) and a number of secondary baffles (4) are provided. The primary baffles (2) are arranged around the outer side of the main body (1). A number of irregular friction particles (22) are distributed on the surface of the primary baffles (2) away from the outer side of the main body (1). The irregular friction particles (22) are artificial diamonds. A drive mechanism (3) is provided in the hollow cavity (13), and a plurality of first-stage baffles (2) are respectively connected to the drive mechanism (3). The drive mechanism (3) is used to drive the first-stage baffles (2) to reciprocate radially along the main body (1). The driving mechanism (3) includes a driving component (31) and a driving shaft (32). The main body (1) has a sliding channel (14) on its side wall. The first-stage baffle (2) has a sliding plate (21) that is slidably disposed in the sliding channel (14). A connecting component (33) is provided between the sliding plate (21) and the driving shaft (32). The two ends of the connecting component (33) are respectively hinged to the sliding plate (21) and the driving shaft (32). The driving component (31) is connected to the driving shaft (32) to drive the driving shaft (32) to rotate. The drive member (31) has a plurality of pulley sets (311) and a motor (312) with a braking function. The plurality of pulley sets (311) are installed at the edge of the drive member (31) and in contact with the inner wall of the main body (1). The motor (312) is used to drive the pulley sets (311) to rotate, thereby driving the drive member (31) to rotate circumferentially along the inner wall of the main body (1). The drive unit (31) is also provided with a control module (313) and a communication module (314). The control module (313) is communicatively connected to the motor (312), and the communication module (314) is communicatively connected to the control module (313). The communication module (314) is used to receive external control signals. A number of secondary baffles (4) are staggered and placed inside a number of primary baffles (2). The secondary baffles (4) can be driven by the driving mechanism (3) to reciprocate along the radial direction of the main body (1). When the primary baffles (2) and the secondary baffles (4) are open, each secondary baffle (4) is located between each two adjacent primary baffles (2).

2. The leak-proof and plugging device for repairing well leakage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The connector (33) is curved.

3. A drilling apparatus, characterized in that, It includes a drill bit (6) and a drill rod (7), wherein the drill bit (6) is installed at one end of the drill rod (7), and at least one anti-leakage and plugging device for remedying well leakage as described in any one of claims 1-2 is installed on the drill rod (7).

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