A lateral flow cleaning apparatus, system and method of use

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of lateral circulation cleaning device, system and use method.The device includes: shell, piston cylinder and elastic mechanism, the device assembly state: the shell is hollow structure, and bypass hole is opened in side wall;The piston cylinder is installed in the shell, and the piston cylinder is hollow structure and is provided with the trumpet mouth for accommodating plugging mechanism;The elastic mechanism is installed in the shell, below piston cylinder;After placing plugging mechanism at the trumpet mouth, under the action of fluid pressure, the piston cylinder moves downward and extrudes the elastic mechanism, and makes the bypass hole and the hollow structure above the trumpet mouth communicate, so that fluid can pass through bypass hole to clean wellbore;Propose plugging mechanism, and piston cylinder resets under the restoring force of elastic mechanism.The device is simple in structure, low in cost, easy to operate, and can complete plugging / cleaning sand operation repeatedly by opening and closing without tripping pipe column, with high reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of oil and gas drilling and completion technology, and in particular to a lateral circulation cleaning device, system and method of use. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, during drilling operations in oilfields, problems such as lost circulation and sand accumulation in horizontal well sections frequently occur, necessitating wellbore cleaning. Loss of circulation refers to the leakage of drilling mud, cement slurry, or other working fluids into the formation during drilling. It is a common and complex situation in drilling operations, and improper handling can directly lead to well collapse, stuck pipe, or blowout accidents. Sand accumulation in horizontal well sections refers to the accumulation of cuttings in horizontal well sections due to insufficient downhole circulation, which can easily cause complex situations such as tripping and tripping obstruction and stuck pipe. For horizontal wells, the quality of wellbore cleaning directly affects the success or failure of drilling. Based on years of experience drilling horizontal wells, tripping and tripping obstruction and stuck pipe are frequently caused by insufficient downhole cuttings cleaning. Statistics show that downhole complex situations and stuck pipe accidents due to cuttings beds account for 3.43% to 11.67% of well construction and completion efficiencies, seriously delaying the operation process.

[0003] Currently, drill pipe bypass tools are commonly used to address well leakage and sand accumulation issues in horizontal well sections. This allows plugging materials and drilling fluid to enter the downhole annulus through the bypass channel of the bypass tool for plugging and wellbore cleaning. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The inventors of this application have discovered that commonly used bypass tools are generally complex in structure, expensive, and have limited reliability. They can only perform one or a few opening / closing actions, and when multiple repeated opening / closing actions are required, the drill string must be pulled out for inspection or tool replacement before drilling resumes. This prolongs the cycle of plugging / sand removal operations, severely impacting drilling efficiency and construction costs, and increasing the risk of other complex downhole accidents. The few bypass tools that can currently be opened and closed an unlimited number of times are either complex in structure or made of special, expensive materials, making widespread application impossible.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention is proposed to provide a lateral circulation cleaning apparatus, system and method of use that overcomes or at least partially solves the above problems.

[0006] This invention provides a lateral circulation cleaning device, characterized in that it includes: a housing, a piston cylinder, and an elastic mechanism, wherein the device is in the assembled state as follows:

[0007] The outer shell has a hollow structure and bypass holes are provided on the side walls;

[0008] The piston cylinder is installed inside the outer casing. The piston cylinder has a hollow structure and is provided with a flared opening for accommodating the blocking mechanism. The elastic mechanism is installed inside the outer casing and located below the piston cylinder.

[0009] After the blocking mechanism is placed at the flared end, the piston cylinder moves downward under the action of fluid pressure to squeeze the elastic mechanism and connect the bypass hole with the hollow structure above the flared end, so that the fluid can pass through the bypass hole to clean the wellbore; after the blocking mechanism is removed, the piston cylinder is reset under the action of the restoring force of the elastic mechanism.

[0010] In some alternative embodiments, the housing includes: an upper connector, an outer cylinder, and a lower connector of hollow structure connected in sequence;

[0011] The outer cylinder sidewall is provided with a bypass hole, which is an upwardly stepped hole for installing a bypass water eye; the angle between the centerline of the bypass hole and the centerline of the outer cylinder is 8-20 degrees.

[0012] The outer cylinder sidewall is provided with a guide key, and the piston cylinder is provided with a guide keyway, and the guide key can slide in the guide keyway;

[0013] A retaining ring is provided below the guide key.

[0014] In some optional embodiments, the bypass hole is provided with a bypass water eye, the bypass water eye including a pressure cap, a nozzle and a first sealing assembly;

[0015] The pressure cap is installed in the bypass hole, the nozzle is installed inside the pressure cap, and a first sealing assembly is provided between the pressure cap and the nozzle.

[0016] In some alternative embodiments, the nozzle is made of hard alloy or ceramic material, and the angle between the centerline of the bypass hole and the centerline of the outer cylinder is 10 degrees.

[0017] In some optional embodiments, a second sealing assembly and a third sealing assembly are provided between the outer cylinder and the piston cylinder;

[0018] In the initial state, the bypass hole is located between the second sealing assembly and the third sealing assembly. In the cleaning operation state, the second sealing assembly is located below the bypass hole.

[0019] The second sealing assembly and the third sealing assembly each include at least one scraper ring and at least one sealing ring.

[0020] In some alternative embodiments, a blocking mechanism is also included, which includes a cable, a head, a weight, and a blocking head;

[0021] One end of the horse head is connected to a cable, and the other end is connected to a weight rod, which is connected to a plug head;

[0022] The plug head has a stepped shaft structure, with a tapered surface in the middle.

[0023] In some alternative embodiments, the blocking mechanism further includes a first buckle, a rubber gasket, and a fourth sealing assembly;

[0024] The horse head and the weight bar are connected by the first variable buckle;

[0025] A rubber pad is provided on the conical surface, and a fourth sealing component is provided at the end of the plug with a smaller diameter.

[0026] In some optional embodiments, the plug head includes a first cylindrical section, a conical section, a second cylindrical section, and a third cylindrical section. The diameter of the first cylindrical section is smaller than the diameter of the second cylindrical section. The conical section connects the first cylindrical section and the second cylindrical section. The first cylindrical section has a fourth sealing element mounting groove. The diameter of the third cylindrical section is smaller than the diameter of the second cylindrical section and is used to connect a weighting rod; or

[0027] The plugging head includes a sealing head, a plugging body, and at least two anti-jamming sliders; the plugging body includes a first cylindrical section, a first conical section, a second conical section, and a second cylindrical section. The sealing head is installed on the outside of the first cylindrical section, the second cylindrical section is used to connect a weight rod, the first conical section has at least two dovetail structures, and the anti-jamming slider has a dovetail groove to cooperate with the dovetail structure so that the anti-jamming slider can slide along the first conical section to change its outer diameter. The length of the anti-jamming slider is less than the length of the first conical section.

[0028] This invention provides a lateral circulation cleaning system, comprising: a wellhead device and the aforementioned lateral circulation cleaning device;

[0029] The wellhead device is equipped with a cable sealing device, which is used to place the blockage mechanism into the lateral circulation cleaning device or remove the blockage mechanism from the lateral circulation cleaning device via a cable.

[0030] In some alternative embodiments, the wellhead device includes: a cable sealing device, a tee structure, and a cable cutting device;

[0031] The cable sealing device is connected to the first end of the tee structure, the cable cutting device is connected to the second section of the tee structure, and the third end of the tee structure can be connected to the liquid inlet connector.

[0032] The cable sealing device is used to seal the cable passing through it, and the cable cutting device can cut the cable passing through it and seal the wellhead.

[0033] In some optional embodiments, the cable sealing device includes: a sealing body, an upper pressure cap, an upper pressure sleeve, a sealing packing, a lower pressure sleeve, and a lower pressure cap;

[0034] The sealing packing is wound around the cable, which passes through the inner cavity of the sealing body;

[0035] The upper pressure sleeve and the upper pressure cap are located at the upper end of the sealing body. The upper pressure sleeve is nested outside the cable, and the upper pressure cap is nested outside the upper pressure sleeve to press the cable tightly.

[0036] The pressure sleeve and pressure cap are located at the lower end of the sealing body. The pressure sleeve is nested outside the cable, and the pressure cap is nested outside the pressure sleeve to press the cable tightly.

[0037] In some alternative embodiments, the cable cutting device includes: a cutting body and a cutting mechanism;

[0038] The shearing body has a four-way structure, with the upper cylinder used to connect to the tee, the lower cylinder used to connect to other well tools, and shearing mechanisms respectively provided in the left and right cylinders;

[0039] The shearing mechanism in the left cylinder and the shearing mechanism in the right cylinder work together to cut the cable and seal the liquid passage between the upper and lower cylinders.

[0040] In some alternative embodiments, the shearing mechanism includes: a plug, an operating rod, an operating handle, a sealing body, a shearing blade, a support body, and a sealing core;

[0041] The plug is installed at the opening of the shear body, the operating rod is installed on the plug, and the operating handle is installed on the operating rod;

[0042] The operating lever is connected to the sealing body, and rotating the operating handle can drive the sealing body to move inward via the operating lever;

[0043] The shearing blade is mounted on the sealing body and moves inward under the action of the sealing body to cut the cable;

[0044] The support body and the sealing core are installed on the sealing body. The support body supports the sealing core, and the sealing core moves inward under the action of the sealing body to block the liquid passage between the upper and lower cylinders of the shear body.

[0045] This invention provides a method for using the above-described lateral circulation cleaning device, comprising:

[0046] The blocking mechanism is lowered into the piston cylinder of the lateral circulation cleaning device through the wellhead device to seal the hollow structure of the piston cylinder;

[0047] The piston cylinder moves downward under fluid pressure, squeezing the elastic mechanism and connecting the bypass hole with the hollow structure above the flared mouth. Fluid flows into the outside of the outer shell through the bypass hole to clean the wellbore.

[0048] After cleaning, the blocking mechanism is removed, and the piston cylinder is reset under the restoring force of the elastic mechanism.

[0049] In some optional embodiments, the above method further includes:

[0050] When an abnormal situation occurs in the well that requires emergency shut-in, the cable is cut and the well is sealed using the cable cutting device in the wellhead equipment.

[0051] This invention provides an application of the above-described lateral circulation cleaning device in wellbore plugging / sand removal operations. The beneficial effects of the above-described technical solution provided by this invention include at least:

[0052] By cooperating with the outer shell and piston cylinder, after the hollow structure of the piston cylinder is blocked by the plugging mechanism, the piston hole moves downward under fluid pressure, exposing the bypass hole and connecting the hollow structure above the bell mouth with the bypass hole. Fluid flows from the hollow structure into the bypass hole and enters the outside of the outer shell through the bypass hole to clean the wellbore. After cleaning, removing the plugging mechanism allows the piston hole to reset under the action of the elastic mechanism, and the bypass hole is no longer connected to the hollow structure above the bell mouth. This enables multiple opening and closing operations to complete the plugging / sand removal without lowering the tubing string, improving drilling efficiency and reducing construction costs. The device has a simple structure, low cost, convenient operation, high reliability, and is easy to promote and apply.

[0053] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the structures particularly pointed out in the written description, claims, and drawings.

[0054] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0055] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are used in conjunction with embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0056] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the lateral circulation cleaning device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the side circulation cleaning device in the cleaning state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 3 As described in the embodiments of the present invention Figure 1 Sectional view along the middle AA direction;

[0059] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the bypass water inlet in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 5 As described in the embodiments of the present invention Figure 4 The P-direction view;

[0061] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the blocking mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the anti-jamming head in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 8 As described in the embodiments of the present invention Figure 7 Sectional view along axis AA;

[0064] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the wellhead device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cable sealing device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the cable sealing packing in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 12 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the cable sealing packing in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0068] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the cable cutting device in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0070] 1. Upper connector; 2. Outer cylinder; 3. Piston cylinder; 4. Sludge scraper ring; 5. Sealing ring; 6. Bypass water inlet; 7. Guide key; 8. Retaining ring; 9. Elastic mechanism; 10. Lower connector; 11. Blocking mechanism; 12. Cable sealing device; 13. T-junction structure; 14. Plug valve; 15. Liquid inlet connector; 16. Cable cutting device; 17. Second coupling;

[0071] 6-1. Pressure cap; 6-2. Nozzle; 6-3. First sealing assembly;

[0072] 11-1 Cable; 11-2 Horseshoe head; 11-3 First buckle; 11-4 Weight bar; 11-5 Plug head; 11-6 Rubber pad; 11-7 Fourth sealing assembly; 11-8 Sealing head; 11-9 Plug body; 11-10 Anti-jamming slider; 11-11 Shear pin;

[0073] 12-1. Sealing body; 12-2. Upper pressure cap; 12-3. Upper pressure sleeve; 12-4. Sealing packing; 12-5. Lower pressure sleeve; 12-6. Lower pressure cap;

[0074] 16-1. Shear body; 16-2. Plug; 16-3. Anti-detachment cap; 16-4. Operating handle; 16-5. Screw head; 16-6. First limit screw; 16-7. Screw; 16-8. Second limit screw; 16-9. Sealing body; 16-10. Sealing ring; 16-11. Shear blade; 16-12. First mounting screw; 16-13. Sealing core; 16-14. Support body; 16-15. Second mounting screw. Detailed Implementation

[0075] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0076] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "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 device or element 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," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0077] 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.

[0078] To address the problems of complex structure, high price, inability to repeatedly open and close, limited reliability, and limited application of existing bypass tools, this invention provides a lateral circulation cleaning device. This device is a low-cost and simple lateral circulation tool with a simple structure, low price, high reliability, and the ability to repeatedly open / close. It solves the problems of complex structure, high price, low reliability, and limited number of opening / closing operations in current leak sealing / sand removal operations.

[0079] The side-circulation cleaning device provided in this embodiment of the invention has the following structure: Figure 1 and Figure 2 It includes: a housing, a piston cylinder 3, and an elastic mechanism 9. The device is in its assembled state as follows:

[0080] The outer shell has a hollow structure, and bypass holes are provided on the side walls;

[0081] The piston cylinder 3 is installed inside the outer casing. The piston cylinder 3 has a hollow structure and is provided with a flared opening for accommodating the blocking mechanism 11. The elastic mechanism 9 is installed inside the outer casing below the piston cylinder 3.

[0082] After the blocking mechanism 11 is placed at the flared end, under the action of fluid pressure, the piston cylinder 3 moves downward to squeeze the elastic mechanism 9 and connects the bypass hole with the hollow structure above the flared end, so that the fluid can pass through the bypass hole to clean the wellbore; after the blocking mechanism 11 is removed, the piston cylinder 3 is reset under the action of the restoring force of the elastic mechanism 9.

[0083] The aforementioned lateral circulation cleaning device, through the cooperation of the outer shell and piston cylinder, allows the piston orifice to move downward under fluid pressure after the hollow structure of the piston cylinder is blocked by the blocking mechanism. This exposes the bypass hole, connecting the hollow structure above the bell mouth with the bypass hole. Fluid flows from the hollow structure into the bypass hole and then into the outside of the outer shell to clean the wellbore. After cleaning, removing the blocking mechanism allows the piston orifice to reset under the action of the elastic mechanism, and the bypass hole is no longer connected to the hollow structure above the bell mouth. This enables multiple opening and closing operations to complete the plugging / sand removal without lowering the tubing string, improving drilling efficiency and reducing construction costs. The device is simple in structure, low in cost, easy to operate, and highly reliable, making it easy to promote and apply.

[0084] In some optional embodiments, the outer casing includes a hollow upper connector 1, an outer cylinder 2, and a lower connector 10 connected in sequence; the outer cylinder 2 has a bypass hole on its side wall, which is an upwardly stepped hole for installing a bypass water eye 6; the angle between the centerline of the bypass hole and the centerline of the outer cylinder 2 is 8-20 degrees. Optionally, the outer cylinder 2 has a guide key 7 on its side wall, and the piston cylinder 3 has a guide keyway, in which the guide key 7 can slide; further optionally, a retaining ring 8 is provided below the guide key 7.

[0085] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 The lateral circulation cleaning device can be installed near the wellhead of the drilling string. The upper connector 1, outer cylinder 2, and lower connector 10 are connected sequentially by threads, forming the main body of the device, i.e., the outer shell. The upper connector 1 is used to connect to the upper drill string, and its lower end is connected to the outer cylinder 2 by threads. The lower connector 10 is used to connect to the lower drill string, and its upper end is connected to the outer cylinder 2 by threads. The upper end of the piston cylinder 3 is designed in a flared shape for mounting the plugging mechanism 11.

[0086] In some alternative embodiments, see Figure 4 and Figure 5 A bypass water eye 6 is provided in the bypass hole. The bypass water eye 6 includes a pressure cap 6-1, a nozzle 6-2, and a first sealing assembly 6-3. The pressure cap is installed in the bypass hole, the nozzle 6-2 is installed inside the pressure cap 6-1, and the first sealing assembly 6-3 is provided between the pressure cap 6-1 and the nozzle 6-2. The first sealing assembly can be a sealing ring, and one, two, or more sealing rings can be provided.

[0087] The aforementioned nozzle 6-2 is made of hard alloy or ceramic material, and the angle between the centerline of the bypass hole and the centerline of the outer cylinder is 10 degrees. The nozzle, made of hard alloy or ceramic, is wear-resistant and erosion-resistant, and is installed inside the pressure cap, with a sealing ring between them for sealing. The pressure cap is threaded onto the outer cylinder, and the water outlet direction of the bypass eye is at a 10° angle to the tool's main axis, ensuring that the internal fluid flows obliquely upwards and avoiding vertical jetting that could damage the well wall.

[0088] In some optional embodiments, a second sealing assembly and a third sealing assembly are provided between the outer cylinder 2 and the piston cylinder 3; in the initial state, the bypass hole is located between the second sealing assembly and the third sealing assembly, and in the cleaning operation state, the second sealing assembly is located below the bypass hole; the second sealing assembly and the third sealing assembly each include at least one mud scraper ring 4 and at least one sealing ring 5.

[0089] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The outer cylinder 2 has two sets of sealing structures on its outer side, including a sludge scraper ring 4 and a sealing ring 5. When there is no external force, the two sets of sealing structures are located on the upper and lower sides of the bypass water hole, which can ensure the isolation of internal and external fluids. See [link / reference]. Figure 1The initial state is shown. The scraper ring is generally made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which has good wear resistance and is used to prevent mud from entering the sealing structure. The sealing ring is generally a Chevron sealing ring or a Yx-type sealing ring, which has good wear resistance and is used for reliable sealing performance in reciprocating motion conditions. The piston cylinder 3 has a guide groove in the middle, which cooperates with the guide key 7 embedded and welded in the middle of the outer cylinder to ensure that the piston cylinder 3 can only move axially and cannot rotate. The lower part of the piston cylinder 3 is a slender cylindrical shape, and the retaining ring 8 and the elastic mechanism 9 are installed in sequence. The lower end of the piston cylinder 3 is inserted into the upper part of the lower connector 10, and the part in contact with the lower connector 10 is also designed with a sealing structure to isolate the internal and external fluids. The retaining ring 8 is used to isolate and protect the elastic mechanism 9. The elastic mechanism 9 can be a regular spring or a disc spring.

[0090] The upper connector 1, outer cylinder 2, piston cylinder 3, and lower connector 10 are all hollow structures with a central through hole. In the initial state, the central through holes of the upper connector 1, piston cylinder 3, and lower connector 10 are connected to form a fluid channel. Due to the sealing effect of the first sealing component, the bypass hole is not connected to the fluid channel at this time. After the flared mouth of the piston cylinder is blocked, the piston cylinder moves downward, exposing the bypass hole. The central through holes of the upper connector 1 and outer cylinder 2 are connected to the bypass hole to form a fluid channel.

[0091] In some optional embodiments, the above-mentioned device further includes a blocking mechanism 11. That is, the embodiments of the present invention provide a side-circulation cleaning device, a preferred structure of which includes an upper connector 1, an outer cylinder 2, a piston cylinder 3, a sludge scraper ring 4, a sealing ring 5, a bypass water hole 6, a guide key 7, a retaining ring 8, an elastic mechanism 9, a lower connector 10, and a blocking mechanism 11, etc.

[0092] The aforementioned blocking mechanism 11 includes a cable 11-1, a motor head 11-2, a weight rod 11-4, and a blocking head 11-5; one end of the motor head 11-2 is connected to a cable, and the other end is connected to the weight rod 11-4, which is connected to the blocking head 11-5; the blocking head 11-5 has a stepped shaft structure, with the middle part being a blocking cone surface.

[0093] An optional structure of the aforementioned plug head is as follows: the plug head includes a first cylindrical section, a conical section, a second cylindrical section, and a third cylindrical section. The diameter of the first cylindrical section is smaller than the diameter of the second cylindrical section. The conical section connects the first cylindrical section and the second cylindrical section. The first cylindrical section is provided with a fourth sealing element mounting groove. The diameter of the third cylindrical section is smaller than the diameter of the second cylindrical section and is used to connect the weight rod.

[0094] The aforementioned cable 11-1 can be a logging cable or other cables, as long as they can withstand the weight of the plugging mechanism and be lowered above the piston cylinder to plug the middle through hole of the piston cylinder and cause the piston cylinder to move downward.

[0095] Optionally, the aforementioned blocking mechanism further includes a first variable buckle 11-3, a rubber pad 11-6, and a fourth sealing assembly 11-7; the headstock 11-2 and the weighting rod 11-4 are connected via the first variable buckle 11-3; the rubber pad 11-6 is provided on the blocking cone surface, and the fourth sealing assembly 11-7 is provided at the smaller diameter end of the blocking head 11-5. The aforementioned fourth sealing assembly can be a sealing ring, and there can be one or more of them. The sealing ring can be disposed in the sealing ring groove of the blocking head 11-5.

[0096] A preferred structure of the aforementioned blocking mechanism 11 includes a cable 11-1, a motor head 11-2, a first buckle 11-3, a weighting rod 11-4, a blocking head 11-5, a rubber pad 11-6, and a fourth sealing assembly 11-7. (See also...) Figure 6 As shown. The cable is connected to the valve head using a specialized method. The valve head, first adapter, weight rod, and plug head are connected by threads. A rubber gasket is vulcanized on the plug head, and a sealing ring is installed at the lower end. The cable is used to lower the plugging mechanism to the upper flared end of the piston cylinder, blocking the central flow channel. Fluid pumped from the ground cannot descend into the tool, creating a pressure difference on both sides of the piston cylinder. This creates a downward thrust, pushing the piston cylinder downwards, exposing the bypass water hole, and forming a fluid channel inside and outside the tool. This allows for leak sealing / sand removal operations. Figure 2 As shown. During operation, fluid is continuously pumped downwards from the wellhead, the bypass water hole remains open, and the elastic mechanism is compressed. After operation, pumping stops, the plugging mechanism is lifted, the elastic mechanism releases energy, gradually extends, and pushes the piston cylinder upwards to seal the bypass water hole, allowing drilling to continue. For wells with small inclinations, the plugging mechanism can automatically lower itself into place under gravity. For wells with large inclinations or horizontal wells, if the plugging mechanism cannot be lowered, fluid can be pumped from the wellhead to push the plugging head forward, seat it in the funnel mouth, and continue pressurizing to push the piston cylinder forward, opening the bypass water hole. In horizontal well sections, the plugging head may get stuck when lifted; in this case, an anti-sticking plugging head can be used.

[0097] In some alternative embodiments, the aforementioned plugging head can be an anti-jamming plugging head with anti-jamming function. That is, another alternative structure of the aforementioned plugging head is: the plugging head includes a sealing head, a plugging body, and at least two anti-jamming sliders; the plugging body includes a first cylindrical section, a first conical section, a second conical section, and a second cylindrical section; the sealing head is installed outside the first cylindrical section; the second cylindrical section is used to connect the weight rod; the first conical section is provided with at least two dovetail structures; the anti-jamming slider is provided with a dovetail groove to cooperate with the dovetail structures so that the anti-jamming slider can slide along the first conical section to change the outer diameter; the length of the anti-jamming slider is less than the length of the first conical section.

[0098] See Figure 7 and Figure 8The anti-jamming head includes a sealing head 11-8, a blocking body 11-9, an anti-jamming slider 11-10, and a shearing pin 11-11. A sealing ring is installed on the sealing head, which can block the central flow channel to achieve pipe column sealing when seated into the flared mouth. The blocking body is conical and is installed together with the anti-jamming slider through a dovetail groove structure, and is axially fixed by the shearing pin. When the tool is lowered normally, the cross-section of this structure is large and can withstand the fluid thrust well. When it is pulled up and gets stuck, the shearing pin cuts, and the anti-jamming slider moves downward. Under the action of the conical structure, the cross-section of the entire structure becomes smaller, thus achieving unjamming.

[0099] Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present invention provides a lateral circulation cleaning system, characterized in that it includes: a wellhead device and a lateral circulation cleaning device; the wellhead device is provided with a cable sealing device, which is used to place the blockage mechanism into the lateral circulation cleaning device or remove the blockage mechanism from the lateral circulation cleaning device via a cable.

[0100] The wellhead assembly includes: a cable sealing device 12, a tee structure 13, and a cable cutting device 16. The cable sealing device 12 is connected to the first end of the tee structure 13, the cable cutting device 16 is connected to the second end of the tee structure 13, and the third end of the tee structure 13 can be connected to a fluid inlet connector. The cable sealing device 12 is used to seal the passing cable, and the cable cutting device 16 can cut the passing cable and seal the wellhead. The axis of the third end of the tee structure 13 is perpendicular to the axis of the first end and also perpendicular to the axis of the second end.

[0101] The wellhead device also includes a plug valve 14 and a fluid inlet connector 15, which are mounted on the third end of the three-way structure 13. The wellhead device also includes a second variable coupling 17, which is mounted on the lower end of the cable cutting device.

[0102] When using a lateral circulation cleaning device, a logging winch and wellhead equipment can be installed to facilitate the lowering of the plugging mechanism. See also Figure 9 As shown, the wellhead assembly includes a cable sealing device 12, a tee structure 13, a plug valve 14, a fluid inlet connector 15, a cable cutting device 16, and a second variable thread 17, all connected by threads. The cable sealing device seals the gap between the tubing and the cable, ensuring a leak-free wellhead seal; the tee simultaneously enables tool lifting and lowering as well as fluid pumping, with its upper and lower ports for lifting the plugging mechanism and its side port for pumping fluid into the tubing; the fluid inlet connector connects to the pumping line; the plug valve controls the opening and closing of the pumping channel; the cable cutting device cuts the cable and seals the wellhead in special conditions such as overflow or blowout, providing well control and blowout prevention; and the second variable thread connects to the drill pipe below.

[0103] In some optional embodiments, the cable sealing device includes: a sealing body 12-1, an upper pressure cap 12-2, an upper pressure sleeve 12-3, a sealing packing 12-4, a lower pressure sleeve 12-5, and a lower pressure cap 12-6; the sealing packing 12-4 is wound around the cable, and the cable passes through the inner cavity of the sealing body 12-1; the upper pressure sleeve 12-3 and the upper pressure cap 12-2 are located at the upper end of the sealing body 12-1, the upper pressure sleeve 12-3 is nested outside the cable, and the upper pressure cap 12-2 is nested outside the upper pressure sleeve 12-3 to compress the cable; the lower pressure sleeve 12-5 and the lower pressure cap 12-6 are located at the lower end of the sealing body 12-1, the lower pressure sleeve 12-5 is nested outside the cable, and the lower pressure cap 12-6 is nested outside the lower pressure sleeve 12-5 to compress the cable.

[0104] See Figure 10 As shown, the cable sealing device includes a sealing body 12-1, an upper pressure cap 12-2, an upper pressure sleeve 12-3, a sealing packing 12-4, a lower pressure sleeve 12-5, and a lower pressure cap 12-6. In use, the cable passes through the upper pressure cap, upper pressure sleeve, sealing body, sealing packing, lower pressure sleeve, and lower pressure cap sequentially from top to bottom. The upper and lower pressure sleeves are two-part copper sleeves installed between the cable and the pressure cap, providing a straightening and anti-abrasion function for the cable.

[0105] See the sealed packing structure. Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown, the packing is made of wear-resistant rubber and has a cylindrical overall shape. It is cut along a spiral line and stretched axially to form a spiral shape, facilitating packing installation, replacement, and deformation sealing. When lifting or lowering the cable, the lower pressure cap is tightened to the sealing body via threads, and the upper pressure cap is also threaded to the sealing body. However, do not tighten them completely; keep the packing in a loose state to facilitate cable lifting. After the blocking mechanism is lowered to the bottom, when pumping fluid is required, tighten the upper pressure cap. The upper pressure cap moves axially downwards, compressing the packing and gradually deforming it to fill the annular space around the cable, preventing fluid leakage and achieving a seal. After the operation is completed, when lifting the cable, simply loosen the upper pressure cap.

[0106] In some alternative embodiments, see Figure 13 As shown, the above-mentioned cable cutting device includes: a cutting body 16-1 and a cutting mechanism; the cutting body has a four-way structure, the upper cylinder is used to connect to a tee, the lower cylinder is used to connect to other well tools, and the left and right cylinders are respectively provided with cutting mechanisms; the cutting mechanism in the left cylinder and the cutting mechanism in the right cylinder can cooperate to cut the cable and seal the liquid passage between the upper and lower cylinders.

[0107] The shearing mechanism includes: a plug 16-2, an operating rod (including a screw head 16-5 and a screw 16-7), an operating handle 16-4, a sealing body 16-9, a shearing blade 16-11, a support body 16-14, and a sealing core 16-13. The plug 16-2 is installed at the opening of the shearing body 16-1, the operating rod is installed on the plug 16-2, and the operating handle 16-4 is installed on the operating rod. The operating rod is connected to the sealing body 16-9, and rotating the operating handle 16-4... The operating lever can drive the sealing body 16-9 to move inward; the shearing blade 16-11 is installed on the sealing body 16-9 and moves inward under the drive of the sealing body 16-9 to cut the cable; the support body 16-14 and the sealing core 16-13 are installed on the sealing body 16-9. The support body 16-14 is used to support the sealing core 16-13. The sealing core 16-13 moves inward under the drive of the sealing body 16-9 to block the liquid passage between the upper and lower cylinders of the shearing body 16-1.

[0108] See the structure of a preferred cable cutting device. Figure 13As shown, its structure includes a shearing body 16-1, a plug 16-2, an anti-detachment cap 16-3, an operating handle 16-4, a screw head 16-5, a first limiting screw 16-6, a screw 16-7, a second limiting screw 16-8, a sealing body 16-9, a sealing ring 16-10, a shearing blade 16-11, a first mounting screw 16-12, a sealing core 16-13, a support body 16-14, and a second mounting screw 16-15. The main body is four-way shaped, with the upper and lower ports for cables and tools to pass through, and a shearing mechanism installed on each of the two side ports. The plug is threaded to the main body to seal the side ports. The sealing body is I-shaped and installed inside the side ports. Its left side has a sealing groove on the outer side for installing a sealing ring to achieve a seal with the main body, and its right side has a guide groove on the outer side, which cooperates with the guide key on the main body to ensure that the sealing body can only move axially and cannot rotate. Meanwhile, the right side also includes a shearing blade, a first mounting screw, a sealing core, a support body, and a second mounting screw. The sealing core is installed between the sealing body and the support body. The support body and the shearing blade are fixed to the sealing body by the mounting screws. The shearing blade is used to cut cables, the sealing core is used to seal the wellhead after the cable is cut, and the support body is used to support and protect the sealing core. The leftmost end of the sealing body is cylindrical, with the right end of the screw inserted into the cylinder. A hole is opened on the outside of the cylinder to install a limit screw. The lower end of the limit screw is screwed into the limit groove on the outside of the screw. This structure ensures that the screw and the sealing body can only rotate relative to each other and cannot move axially. The screw and the plug are connected by a rectangular thread, allowing them to rotate relative to each other and move axially. The left side of the screw is connected to the screw head by a thread and fixed by a limit screw. The screw head has an operating handle mounting hole. After the operating handle is inserted into the mounting hole, anti-dislodgement caps are installed at both ends to prevent the operating handle from falling off. The operating handle and the anti-dislodgement caps are connected by a thread.

[0109] The cable cutting device has identical structures on both lateral ports, but the cutting blades are installed in opposite directions. When the left operating handle is rotated clockwise, the screw rotates, causing the sealing body to move to the right. Similarly, when the right operating handle is rotated clockwise, the screw rotates, causing the sealing body to move to the left. The cutting blades on both sides gradually approach each other, cutting the cable under the action of the blades. At the same time, the sealing cores on both sides also gradually approach each other to form a single unit, achieving wellhead sealing.

[0110] The present invention also provides a method for using the above-mentioned lateral circulation cleaning device, comprising: lowering a plugging mechanism into the piston cylinder of the lateral circulation cleaning device through a wellhead device to seal the hollow structure of the piston cylinder; the piston cylinder moving downward under the action of fluid pressure, squeezing the elastic mechanism, and connecting the bypass hole with the hollow structure above the bell mouth, so that the fluid flows into the outer side of the outer shell through the bypass hole to clean the wellbore; after cleaning, the plugging mechanism is removed, and the piston cylinder is reset under the action of the restoring force of the elastic mechanism.

[0111] In some alternative embodiments, the above method further includes: when an abnormal situation requiring emergency shut-in occurs in the wellbore, cutting the cable and sealing the wellbore using a cable cutting device in the wellhead device.

[0112] This invention also provides an application of the above-mentioned lateral circulation cleaning device in wellbore plugging / sand removal operations.

[0113] The relevant content involved in the above methods and applications, which has been described in detail in the device and system section, will not be repeated here.

[0114] The side-circulation cleaning device provided in this invention has the following advantages: 1) It does not involve common designs such as electrical control devices, soluble balls, slide switching devices and ball throwing operations, and has a simple structure, low price, convenient operation and high reliability; 2) Under good sealing conditions, the opening / closing action can be repeated an unlimited number of times to effectively complete the leak sealing and sand removal operations.

[0115] In field use, the lateral circulation tool is lowered into the wellbore along with the drilling string for drilling. When plugging / sand removal operations are required, a matching wellhead device is installed at the wellhead, and the plugging mechanism is lowered in. After the tool is lowered into position, the central flow channel of the tubing is blocked. The cable sealing device is tightened, the pump line is connected, fluid is pumped, and pressure is applied. Under hydraulic pressure, the piston cylinder descends, opening the bypass water hole and forming a fluid channel inside and outside the tubing, allowing for plugging / sand removal operations. In highly deviated / horizontal well sections where a conventional plugging mechanism cannot be lowered into position, pressure can be applied in advance. Hydraulic pressure is used to send the plugging mechanism to the bell mouth, blocking the central flow channel. Continued pressure application opens the bypass water hole, thus completing the plugging / sand removal operation.

[0116] It should be noted that the lateral circulation tool designed in this invention requires a logging winch for use, which adds an extra piece of equipment. Furthermore, the cable pulling and lowering blocking mechanism is more time-consuming compared to the commonly used ball-dropping operation. However, the logging winch is a conventional piece of equipment, inexpensive, easy to install, and a single set of equipment can be used dozens to hundreds of times, resulting in low average cost per trip. Regarding tool pulling and lowering time, the cable pulling and lowering speed can reach over 10,000 m / h. Based on a lateral circulation tool depth of 3,000 m and a blocking mechanism pulling and lowering speed of 12,000 m / h, one trip takes only 30 minutes, having minimal impact on the construction cycle. In summary, compared to existing drill pipe bypass tools for plugging / sand removal, this tool has a simpler structure, lower cost, easier operation, and higher reliability. Moreover, under undamaged sealing conditions, it can repeatedly open / close an unlimited number of times, effectively completing plugging / sand removal operations, and has promising application prospects.

[0117] It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the disclosed process is an example of an exemplary method. Based on design preferences, it should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the process may be rearranged without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The appended method claims provide elements of various steps in an exemplary order and are not intended to limit the scope to the specific order or hierarchy described.

[0118] In the detailed description above, various features are combined together in a single embodiment to simplify this disclosure. This approach to disclosure should not be construed as reflecting an intention that embodiments of the claimed subject matter require more features than are explicitly stated in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the appended claims, the invention is presented with fewer features than all of the features in a single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the appended claims are hereby explicitly incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim representing a separate preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0119] The foregoing description includes examples of one or more embodiments. It is certainly impossible to describe all possible combinations of components or methods in order to describe the above embodiments, but those skilled in the art will recognize that further combinations and arrangements of the various embodiments are possible. Therefore, the embodiments described herein are intended to cover all such changes, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the term "comprising" as used in the specification or claims is interpreted in a manner similar to the term "including," as interpreted when used as a conjunction in the claims. Additionally, the use of any term "or" in the specification of the claims is intended to mean "non-exclusive or."

Claims

1. A lateral circulation cleaning device, characterized in that, include: The device, consisting of a housing, piston cylinder, and elastic mechanism, is in its assembled state as follows: The outer shell is a hollow structure with a bypass hole on its side wall; the outer shell includes: an upper connector, an outer cylinder, and a lower connector, all connected in sequence; the outer cylinder has a bypass hole on its side wall, which is an upwardly stepped hole for installing a bypass water eye; the outer cylinder has a guide key on its side wall, and the piston cylinder has a guide keyway, in which the guide key can slide; a retaining ring is located below the guide key. The piston cylinder is installed inside the outer shell. The piston cylinder has a hollow structure and is provided with a flared opening for accommodating the blocking mechanism. The elastic mechanism is installed inside the outer shell and located below the piston cylinder. A second sealing assembly and a third sealing assembly are provided between the outer cylinder and the piston cylinder. In the initial state, the bypass hole is located between the second sealing assembly and the third sealing assembly. In the cleaning operation state, the second sealing assembly is located below the bypass hole. The device further includes a blocking mechanism, which includes a cable, a headstock, a weight rod, and a blocking head; one end of the headstock is connected to the cable, and the other end is connected to the weight rod, which is connected to the blocking head; the blocking head has a stepped shaft structure, with a tapered surface in the middle. After the blocking mechanism is placed at the flared end, under the action of fluid pressure, the piston cylinder moves downward to squeeze the elastic mechanism and connect the bypass hole with the hollow structure above the flared end, so that the fluid can pass through the bypass hole to clean the wellbore; after the blocking mechanism is removed, the piston cylinder is reset under the action of the restoring force of the elastic mechanism. The plugging head includes a first cylindrical section, a conical section, a second cylindrical section, and a third cylindrical section. The diameter of the first cylindrical section is smaller than the diameter of the second cylindrical section. The conical section connects the first cylindrical section and the second cylindrical section. The first cylindrical section has a fourth sealing element mounting groove. The diameter of the third cylindrical section is smaller than the diameter of the second cylindrical section and is used to connect a weighting rod. Alternatively, the plugging head includes a sealing head, a plugging body, and at least two anti-jamming sliders. The plugging body includes a first cylindrical section, a first conical section, a second conical section, and a second cylindrical section. The sealing head is installed outside the first cylindrical section. The second cylindrical section is used to connect a weighting rod. The first conical section has at least two dovetail structures. The anti-jamming slider has a dovetail groove to cooperate with the dovetail structure so that the anti-jamming slider can slide along the first conical section to change its outer diameter. The length of the anti-jamming slider is smaller than the length of the first conical section.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The angle between the centerline of the bypass hole and the centerline of the outer cylinder is 8-20 degrees.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The bypass hole is provided with a bypass water eye, which includes a pressure cap, a nozzle and a first sealing assembly; The pressure cap is installed in the bypass hole, the nozzle is installed inside the pressure cap, and a first sealing assembly is provided between the pressure cap and the nozzle.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The nozzle is made of hard alloy or ceramic material, and the angle between the centerline of the bypass hole and the centerline of the outer cylinder is 10 degrees.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The second sealing assembly and the third sealing assembly each include at least one scraper ring and at least one sealing ring.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The blocking mechanism also includes a first buckle, a rubber gasket, and a fourth sealing assembly; The horse head and the weight bar are connected by the first variable buckle; A rubber pad is provided on the conical surface, and a fourth sealing component is provided at the end of the plug with a smaller diameter.

7. A lateral circulation cleaning system, characterized in that, include: Wellhead equipment and the lateral circulation cleaning device as described in any one of claims 1-6; The wellhead device is equipped with a cable sealing device, which is used to place the blockage mechanism into the lateral circulation cleaning device or remove the blockage mechanism from the lateral circulation cleaning device via a cable.

8. The system as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The wellhead device includes: a cable sealing device, a tee structure, and a cable cutting device; The cable sealing device is connected to the first end of the tee structure, the cable cutting device is connected to the second section of the tee structure, and the third end of the tee structure can be connected to the liquid inlet connector. The cable sealing device is used to seal the cable passing through it, and the cable cutting device can cut the cable passing through it and seal the wellhead.

9. The system as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The cable sealing device includes: a sealing body, an upper pressure cap, an upper pressure sleeve, a sealing packing, a lower pressure sleeve, and a lower pressure cap; The sealing packing is wound around the cable, which passes through the inner cavity of the sealing body; The upper pressure sleeve and the upper pressure cap are located at the upper end of the sealing body. The upper pressure sleeve is nested outside the cable, and the upper pressure cap is nested outside the upper pressure sleeve to press the cable tightly. The pressure sleeve and pressure cap are located at the lower end of the sealing body. The pressure sleeve is nested outside the cable, and the pressure cap is nested outside the pressure sleeve to press the cable tightly.

10. The system as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The cable cutting device includes: a cutting body and a cutting mechanism; The shearing body has a four-way structure, with the upper cylinder used to connect to the tee, the lower cylinder used to connect to other well tools, and shearing mechanisms respectively provided in the left and right cylinders; The shearing mechanism in the left cylinder and the shearing mechanism in the right cylinder work together to cut the cable and seal the liquid passage between the upper and lower cylinders.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, The shearing mechanism includes: a plug, an operating rod, an operating handle, a sealing body, a shearing blade, a support body, and a sealing core; The plug is installed at the opening of the shear body, the operating rod is installed on the plug, and the operating handle is installed on the operating rod; The operating lever is connected to the sealing body, and rotating the operating handle can drive the sealing body to move inward via the operating lever; The shearing blade is mounted on the sealing body and moves inward under the action of the sealing body to cut the cable; The support body and the sealing core are installed on the sealing body. The support body supports the sealing core, and the sealing core moves inward under the action of the sealing body to block the liquid passage between the upper and lower cylinders of the shear body.

12. A method of using the lateral circulation cleaning device as described in any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, include: The blocking mechanism is lowered into the piston cylinder of the lateral circulation cleaning device through the wellhead device to seal the hollow structure of the piston cylinder; The piston cylinder moves downward under fluid pressure, squeezing the elastic mechanism and connecting the bypass hole with the hollow structure above the flared mouth. Fluid flows into the outside of the outer shell through the bypass hole to clean the wellbore. After cleaning, the blocking mechanism is removed, and the piston cylinder is reset under the restoring force of the elastic mechanism.

13. The method as described in claim 12, characterized in that, Also includes: When an abnormal situation occurs in the well that requires emergency shut-in, the cable is cut and the well is sealed using the cable cutting device in the wellhead equipment.

14. The application of a lateral circulation cleaning device as described in any one of claims 1-6 in wellbore plugging / sand removal operations.

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