System and method for installing barrier in wellbore
By using the pre-installed ring system and rotary connection technology of the inner column in the subsea wellbore, the time and cost problems of multiple entry wellbores and bridge plugs installed in the prior art are solved, and efficient, precise and environmentally friendly cementing effect is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411315096.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-09-22
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-25
AI Technical Summary
When deploying pressure barriers in subsea wellbores, prior art requires multiple access to the wellbore, resulting in increased time and cost, and installation of bridge plugs can damage the inner surface of the casing.
Using a pre-installed ring system, the inner column rotates and is connected to the casing during cementing operation. After disconnection, the barrier plug is tensioned into the ring as a pressure barrier in the well instead of the bridge plug.
It reduces multiple strokes into the wellbore, saves rig time, reduces costs and risks, and improves the accuracy and environmental protection of cementing.
Smart Images
Figure CN119686684A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for fast and efficient cementing of subsea wellbores. More specifically, the present invention relates to deploying a pressure barrier in a wellbore by eliminating the need to use cement-filled baffle rings or shoe tracks and to set bridge plugs. Background Art
[0002] After casing or liner is deployed in a wellbore, it is sometimes necessary to set a pressure barrier within the casing or liner to lock and seal pressure from any subsurface flow direction. If the casing or liner contains openings, such as slots and / or sand control screens, a barrier can be installed to fluidly isolate these openings from another area in the wellbore. Wellbore barriers such as bridge plugs, cement fixtures, or any mechanical isolation device can permanently or temporarily isolate and seal the lower part of the wellbore from the upper part. In some conventional methods, after the casing is lowered into the wellbore, a bridge plug is installed to isolate the lower area from the upper area. Typically, the installation of the pressure barrier is achieved by running the bridge plug into the wellbore with a setting tool, setting the bridge plug in or above the casing or liner, and then removing the setting tool from the wellbore. Since running and setting the casing or liner in the wellbore involves a trip in and out of the wellbore, installing the bridge plug requires a dedicated second trip in and out of the wellbore. Therefore, the second trip requires additional time and involves costs that exceed the time and cost of running the casing or liner into the wellbore. Bridge plugs typically include gripping elements called slips that bite into the casing or liner to anchor the bridge plug to the casing or liner. As a result, the slips can damage the inner surface of the casing or liner. Damage caused by the slips may be susceptible to corrosion and / or stress corrosion cracking.
[0003] Therefore, there is a need for an efficient system that does not use a bridge plug as a pressure barrier in the well, thereby reducing the extra trips in and out of the wellbore. Summary of the invention
[0004] This disclosure adopts a unique The patent system for subsea cementing provides an inserted inner pipe string cementing for subsea wells. The present invention includes the use of a ring system so that After the subsea cementing system is cemented, when the connection is disconnected and the inner string is pulled out of the annulus, the barrier plug is tensionally set into the annulus and acts as a pressure barrier in the well instead of the bridge plug. This robust and reliable technology saves rig time, reduces costs, risks and non-productive time, thereby providing a series of significant operational, cost and time benefits to drilling and oil field development operations, while reducing or even eliminating many of the operational risks associated with cementing operations. By reducing multiple trips into the wellbore, this method is more precise and environmentally friendly.
[0005] Thus, the present disclosure provides an efficient downhole cementing system including a pre-installed ring system that can replace a conventional bridge plug during cementing operations. Conventional barriers at the end of a casing string are typically bridge plugs, where during the operation, most of the cement in the shoe rail must be drilled out, followed by a second scraper or clean-out run, and finally a bridge plug is run and set in the cleaned shoe rail area. The pre-installed ring system is designed to allow it to be used Patented method cements the well, then when the inner string is disconnected and pulled from the annulus, the integrated barrier plug is tension set into the annulus and acts as a pressure barrier in the well in place of the bridge plug, eliminating the need for a shoe rail, improving cement setting, drill-out performance, and reducing the need for remedial cementing. Contrary to conventional methods, the need for a separate drill / purge trip into the shoe rail section to properly position the plug / barrier is eliminated. This system allows for a minimal shoe rail length and an airtight barrier system, eliminating the need to drill out any shoe rails, perform scraper / purge runs, and make a secondary run in casing to set the bridge plug, saving the operator multiple days of rig time.
[0006] In some examples, a ring system for cementing a wellbore is described. The ring system may include a latch-in float shoe, or a ring provided to be run at the bottom of the casing. The system may include an inner string that is run into the casing to be cemented until the latch-in adapter engages with a receptacle or a drill pipe latch-in receiver. The inner string may include a tool that allows it to be fully rotated, which may ensure the connection of the casing running tool to the casing. Full rotation of the inner string may allow the casing running tool to be safely connected to the casing. The inner string may be disconnected and pulled out of the ring so that the barrier plug is tensioned into the ring.
[0007] The inner string in the casing can supply cement or curable material to the casing annulus. This can allow the curable material to harden to fix or seal the casing in the borehole. The system can be configured so that the fluid flowing through the inner string into the outer annulus helps the casing enter the borehole or clean the borehole.
[0008] The ring may include a barrier plug receiver. The ring may include a drill pipe lock-in receiver. In some examples, the system may be configured so that when the inner string is pulled back, the barrier plug is tensioned into a sealed and locked position in the ring. This may serve as a pressure barrier in the well in lieu of a bridge plug.
[0009] The barrier plug may include a double-acting lock-ring to seal the barrier plug to the inner diameter of the ring, which may provide bi-directional pressure containment.
[0010] The system may include a minimal shoe rail length and a gas-tight barrier system. This may eliminate the need to drill out the shoe rail, perform a scraper or wash run, and perform a second run in the casing to set the bridge plug. This may thereby reduce the overall time required to complete the wellbore.
[0011] The system can be configured to reduce rig time through minimal shoe rail length and airtight barrier system.
[0012] In some examples, a method of cementing a wellbore is described.
[0013] The method may include running a lock-in float shoe or ring at the bottom of the casing. The method may include running an inner string in the casing to be cemented until the lock-in adapter engages with a receiver or a drill pipe lock-in receiver. The method may include allowing the inner string to fully rotate to safely connect the casing running tool to the casing. The method may include running a ring system so that when the inner string is disconnected and pulled out of the ring, the barrier plug is tensioned into the ring.
[0014] In some examples, the inner tubing string may include a stroked partially closed tool, which may allow full rotation to safely connect the casing running tool to the casing.
[0015] An inner tubing string may be extended into the casing to supply cement or a settable material to the casing annulus.
[0016] The method may further include flowing a fluid through the inner tubing string to the outer annulus, which may facilitate entry of the casing into the borehole or cleaning of the borehole.
[0017] The method may include flowing the curable material into the outer annulus to at least partially fill the outer annulus. The method may include allowing the curable material to harden to secure or seal the casing in the borehole.
[0018] The barrier plug can be tension set into a sealing and locked position in the annulus, which can serve as a pressure barrier in the well in place of a bridge plug.
[0019] The method may include engaging the barrier plug with a double acting lock ring to seal the inner diameter to achieve a bi-directional pressure seal. The bi-directional pressure seal may reach a range of 10-15 ksi at 400°F.
[0020] Barrier plugs and seals can be protected from fluid attack, for example by lock-in receivers and extended holes.
[0021] The method may include shearing off the barrier plug stem from the barrier plug, which may facilitate retrieval of the inner tubing string and the lock-in adapter.
[0022] The process may include a single pass of setting the casing or liner and installing the barrier plug.
[0023] In some examples, a baffle collar may remain uncemented, which may effectively prevent pressure from below the collar from entering the casing after cementing.
[0024] In a further example, an apparatus for cementing a wellbore is described.
[0025] The apparatus may include a lock-in float shoe or ring at the bottom of the casing. The apparatus may include an inner string that is run into the casing to be cemented until a lock-in adapter engages with a receiver or a drill pipe lock-in receiver. The inner string may be allowed to rotate fully to connect the casing running tool to the casing. The apparatus may include a ring system, for example, a barrier plug is tensioned into the ring when the inner string is disconnected and pulled out of the ring.
[0026] The ring may include a barrier plug receiver and a drill pipe lock-in receiver, which may be equipped with a back-up release shar out feature and a plug sealing mechanism.
[0027] The inner tubing string may include a partially shut-off tool, which may allow full rotation to safely connect the casing running tool to the casing.
[0028] The various features and aspects described above, as well as those described in the following claims, may be combined with one or more of the other features and aspects described herein, or may have utility independently of the other features and aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The accompanying drawings are a part of this specification and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
[0030] Figure 1 According to the present disclosure, the A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a downhole cementing system with a locking floating ring.
[0031] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a downhole cementing system with a lock-in adapter for cementing an inner tubing string.
[0032] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a downhole cementing system showing an inner tubing string retrieval operation.
[0033] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the next step in the downhole cementing system showing shearing to retrieve the inner string and adapter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Figure 1 Schematically illustrates a Downhole cementing system of baffle ring 1 with lock-in profile. The tool may then be partially closed to allow full rotation of the inner tubing string 5 and to allow the casing running tool to be safely connected to the casing 6 . Figure 2 A casing 6 or liner is shown in a borehole with a baffle ring 1. The lock-in float shoe or ring 1 comprises a barrier plug receiver 4 and a drill pipe lock-in receiver 10, equipped with a back-up release shear function and a plug sealing mechanism.
[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, the inner pipe string 5 extends into the casing 6 to supply cement or curable material from the surface. The flow path 3 through the tool during cementing is Figure 1 and Figure 2 The process of the present invention avoids the formation of a baffle ring filled with cement. The problem with a baffle ring filled with cement is that it does not provide a reliable barrier to the pressure entering the casing from below the baffle ring after the cementing operation is completed.
[0036] The inner pipe string 5 is lowered until the locking sub 7 engages with the receiver of the floating ring 1 or the drill pipe locking receiver 10, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown. The ability to flow fluid through the inner tubular string 5 provides advantages. For example, the method may include flowing fluid through the inner tubular string 5 to the outer annulus to facilitate entry of the casing 6 into the borehole or to clean the borehole. In addition, or as an alternative, the method embodiments of the present disclosure may include flowing a curable material to the outer annulus to at least partially fill the outer annulus, and then the curable material hardens to fix or seal the casing 6 in the borehole.
[0037] After the required volume of cement slurry is pumped into the annular area 3 through the inner string 5, when the inner string 5 is pulled out of the annulus 1, the shear pins from the annulus 1 shear with the locking receivers 10, and the barrier plug 2 is tensioned to a sealed and locked position in the annulus 1, which feature replaces the bridge plug as a barrier in the well. Figure 3 As shown, the barrier plug 2 is sealed with the inner diameter by a double-acting locking ring, achieving a bidirectional pressure seal of 10-15 ksi at 400°F. The locking receiver 10 and the extended hole 11 protect the seal 9 and the plug 2 from flow erosion. The system includes Figure 3 The main shear system 12a shown and Figure 4 The secondary shear system 12b shown is sheared off when the inner string is pulled out. Figure 4 In the last step shown, when the inner pipe string is pulled out, the plug stem 8 is sheared to remove the inner pipe string 5 and the locking joint 7.
Claims
1. A ring system for wellbore cementing, comprising: Provide a locking float shoe or ring run at the bottom of the casing; an inner string of tubing lowered into said casing to be cemented until the locking sub engages with a receiver or a drill pipe locking receiver; wherein the inner tubular string includes a tool that allows it to be fully rotated to ensure that the casing running tool is connected to the casing; wherein full rotation of the inner tubular string allows safe connection of the casing running tool to the casing; and Wherein the barrier plug is tension set into the ring when the inner string is disconnected and pulled out of the ring.
2. The system of claim 1, comprising the inner string in the casing that supplies cement or a curable material to the casing annulus and allows the curable material to harden to secure or seal the casing in the borehole.
3. The system of claim 1 or 2, comprising the inner tubular string in the casing, wherein fluid flows through the inner tubular string into the outer annulus to facilitate entry of the casing into a borehole or to clean a borehole.
4. A system according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the ring includes a barrier plug receiver and the drill pipe locking receiver, wherein when the inner tubing string is pulled back, the barrier plug is tensioned to a sealing and locked position in the ring to serve as a pressure barrier in the well instead of a bridge plug.
5. The system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the barrier plug includes a double-acting locking ring for sealing the barrier plug to the inner diameter of the ring to achieve a bi-directional pressure seal.
6. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a minimized shoe rail length and a gas-tight barrier system, eliminating the need to drill out the shoe rail, perform a scraper or wash run and a second run in the casing to set the bridge plug, thereby reducing the overall time required for wellbore completion.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system reduces rig time through the minimized shoe rail length and the airtight barrier system.
8. A method for cementing a wellbore, the method comprising: A locking float shoe or ring run into the bottom of the casing; Running an inner tubular string into the casing to be cemented until the locking sub engages with a receiver or a drill pipe locking receiver; allowing full rotation of the running inner tubing string to safely connect the casing running tool to the casing; and A ring system is run in such that when the inner tubing string is disconnected and pulled out of the ring, the barrier plug is tension set into the ring.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the inner tubular string includes a partially closable tool to allow full rotation to safely connect the casing running tool to the casing.
10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the inner tubular string extends into the casing to supply Cement or settable material into the casing annulus.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising flowing a fluid through the inner tubing string to an outer annulus to facilitate entry of the casing into a borehole or to clean a borehole.
12. The method of any one of claims 8 to 11, comprising flowing a curable material towards the outer annulus to at least partially fill the outer annulus, and allowing the curable material to harden to secure or seal the casing in the borehole.
13. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the barrier plug is tension set into a sealed and locked position in the annulus as a pressure barrier in the well in lieu of a bridge plug.
14. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, comprising engaging the barrier plug with a double acting locking ring to seal the inner diameter to achieve a bi-directional pressure seal.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the bi-directional pressure seal is in the range of 10-15 ksi at 400°F.
16. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 15, wherein the barrier plug and the seal are both protected from flow erosion by a locking receiver and an extended aperture.
17. The method of any one of claims 8 to 16, further comprising shearing a barrier plug rod from the barrier plug to remove the inner tubular string and the locking sub.
18. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 17, wherein the process comprises a single pass of setting the casing or liner and installing the barrier plug.
19. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 18, wherein the baffle ring remains in a cement-free state, thereby effectively preventing pressure from below the ring from entering the casing after cementing.
20. An apparatus for cementing a wellbore, comprising: a locking float shoe or ring at the bottom of the casing; an inner string of tubing lowered into said casing to be cemented until the locking sub engages with a receiver or a drill pipe locking receiver; wherein the inner tubular string is allowed to fully rotate to connect a casing running tool to the casing; and A ring system wherein the barrier plug is tension set into the ring when the inner tubing string is disconnected and pulled out of the ring.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the ring includes a barrier plug receiver and the drill pipe locking receiver, equipped with a backup release shear function and a plug sealing mechanism.
22. Apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the inner tubular string includes a partially closable tool to allow full rotation to safely connect the casing running tool to the casing.