EXPANDABLE METAL GAS LIFT CHUCK PLUG

Abstract

This document describes aspects of a gas-lift mandrel plug for use in a well. In one embodiment, a gas-lift mandrel plug may comprise an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated member comprises a metal seal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis; and wherein the elongated member is configured to seal a side pocket of a tubular well in response to hydrolysis.

Description

EXPANDABLE METAL GAS LIFT MANDREL PLUG Background of the Invention To obtain hydrocarbon fluids from an underground formation, a well is drilled to penetrate an area of ​​interest within the formation. The well can then be completed by inserting casing and cementing it in place. Alternatively, the well may remain unlined (an open well) or be only partially lined. Regardless of the well's configuration, production tubing is typically run into the well primarily to transport production fluid (e.g., hydrocarbon fluid, which may also include water) from the area of ​​interest within the well to the well's surface. Brief Description of the Invention Often, the pressure inside the well is insufficient to cause the production fluid to rise naturally through the production tubing to the well surface. Therefore, to transport the production fluid from the area of ​​interest within the well to the surface, artificial lifting devices are sometimes necessary. An artificial lifting device is a gas lift system. Gas lift systems in MA / a / ZUZZ / UUUI UI Ref. 329221 generally includes several gas lift valves, which are often internal one-way valves spaced on a gas lift mandrel located on the inside diameter of the production tubing. The gas lift valves allow fluid to flow from an annulus between the casing and the production tubing to lift the production fluid flowing through the tubing, while preventing fluid from flowing from the longitudinal bore through the production tubing into the annulus. During gas lift operations, the operator often needs to access the gas lift valves for several reasons. First, gas lift valves frequently require maintenance, repair, or replacement, for example, if a valve is leaking fluid flow into the ring from the production tubing. Second, it is often necessary to remove the gas lift valves and insert a gas lift mandrel plug in their place. Unfortunately, existing gas lift mandrel plugs have certain drawbacks, particularly regarding the efficient sealing of eroded gas lift mandrels. Consequently, a gas lift mandrel plug that does not have these drawbacks is required in the art. MA / a / ZUZZ / UUUI a current event. Brief Description of the Figures Reference is now made to the following descriptions along with the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a well system employing a gas lift mandrel plug as described; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of one modality of a gas-lift mandrel plug according to the description; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of another modality of a gas-lift mandrel plug according to the description; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of yet another modality of a gas-lift mandrel plug according to the description; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of another modality of a gas-lift mandrel plug according to the description. Detailed Description of the Invention In the figures and descriptions that follow, similar parts are typically indicated throughout the description and figures with the same reference numbers, respectively. The figures are not necessarily to scale, although they may be. Certain MA / a / ZUZZ / UUUI Some features of the description may be shown in exaggerated scale or somewhat schematic form, and some details of certain elements may be omitted for the sake of clarity and conciseness. The present description can be implemented in various modalities. Specific modalities are described in detail and shown in the figures, with the understanding that this description should be considered an exemplification of the principles of the description and is not intended to limit the description to what is illustrated and described herein. It should be fully recognized that the different teachings of the modalities discussed herein may be employed separately or in any combination suitable for producing the desired results. Furthermore, all statements herein that include principles and aspects of the description, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass the equivalents of this description.Furthermore, the term "or," as used herein, refers to an exclusive or non-exclusive option, unless otherwise stated. Unless otherwise specified, the use of terms connect, mesh, couple, join, or any other similar term describing an interaction between elements is not intended to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the elements and may also include indirect interaction between the described elements. Unless otherwise specified, the use of the terms "above," "upward," "well up," "upstream," or similar terms shall be interpreted generally as referring to the surface of the well; likewise, the use of the terms "downward," "below," "downward," "well down," or similar terms shall be interpreted generally as referring to the bottom of the well, the terminal end of a well, regardless of the well's orientation. The use of one or more of any of the foregoing terms shall not be construed as denoting positions along a perfectly vertical or horizontal axis. Unless otherwise specified, the term "underground formation" shall be interpreted to encompass both areas below exposed earth and areas below earth covered by water, such as ocean or freshwater. With reference to Figure 1, a sample well system 100 is illustrated, including an example operating environment where the apparatus, systems, and methods described herein may be employed. For example, well system 100 could use a gas lift mandrel plug in accordance with any of the modes, aspects, applications, variations, designs, etc., described in the following paragraphs. Well system 100 includes a system of MA / a / ZUZZ / UUUI a typical gas lift 110, as shown in Figure 1. In general, compressed gas G is injected into an annulus 115 between an outside diameter of a tubular well (e.g., production tubing string 120) and the inside diameter of the casing 125 inside the well 130. A valve system 135 provides injection gas G and allows produced fluid to exit the gas lift system 110. Spaced within the production tubing string 120 are gas lift mandrels 140, which have gas lift valves 145 inside side pockets 190. In the illustrated embodiment, the side pockets 190 of the gas lift mandrels 140 are offset from the centerline of the production tubing string 120. The gas lift valves 145, in the illustrated embodiment, are one-way valves used to permit gas to flow from ring 115 into the production tubing string 120 and to prevent gas from flowing from the production tubing string 120 into ring 115. A production packer 150 located at the lower end of the production tubing string 120 pushes the flow of production fluid P from a reservoir or zone of interest in an underground formation 155 upward through the production tubing string 120 instead of upward through the ring 115. Furthermore, the packer MA / a / ZUZZ / UUUI a production 150 pushes the gas flowing from ring 115 into the production tubing string 120 through the gas lift valves 145, since the gas G is not allowed to flow further down in ring 115 past the production packer 150. During operation, production fluid P flows from underground formation 155 into well 130 through perforations 160 in casing 125 and underground formation 155. Production fluid P flows into production tubing string 120. When it is desired to lift production fluid P with gas G, compressed gas G is introduced into ring 115. Gas lift valves 145 allow gas G to flow into production tubing string 120 while preventing production fluid P from flowing into ring 115 through the gas lift valves 145. The well system 100 of Figure 1 further includes a gas lift mandrel plug 170 manufactured and designed according to the description. In certain situations, one or more of the gas lift valves 145 need to be removed and / or the production gas G is no longer required. In this situation, one or more of the gas lift valves 145 can be removed from one or more of the side pockets 190, and then the one or more side pockets 190 can be sealed to prevent gas, debris, or contaminants from entering the production tubing 120. In some embodiments, a gas lift mandrel plug 170 according to the description can be inserted into the side pocket 190 to seal the gas lift mandrel 140. In this scenario, the gas lift valve 145 can be removed from the side pocket 190 by using one or more types of intervention tools.The gas-lift mandrel plug 170 can then be connected to the intervention tool, or a different intervention tool, and deployed downhole and placed in the side bag 190. The gas lift mandrel plug 170, as described, may comprise a metallic sealant configured to expand in response to hydrolysis, such that the gas lift mandrel plug 170 seals the side pocket 190 in response to hydrolysis. As the gas lift mandrel plug 170 expands, it can widen to fit within various surface irregularities (e.g., cracks, fissures, residue, etc.) in the side pocket 190. Further details of the gas lift mandrel plug 170 are discussed below. With reference to Figure 2, a gas-lift mandrel plug 200, manufactured and designed according to the description, is illustrated. The gas-lift mandrel plug 200 may include an elongated member 210 having a proximal end 215 and a distal end 220. The term "elongated member," as used herein, is intended to include members that are significantly longer than they are wide and / or have a diameter, and may include cross-sectional shapes such as circles, ovals, polygons, irregular shapes, etc. In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the elongated member 210 generally has a circular cross-section and is therefore generally cylindrical.In some embodiments, the distal end 220 may be tapered, and in some embodiments, it may include a tapered tip 225 so that the gas-lift mandrel plug 200 can more easily enter a side pocket of a well casing, such as the side pocket 190. For example, the tapered tip 225 can reduce surface resistance as the distal end 220 is rotated radially outward to initially enter the side pocket and then rotated again vertically downhole as the gas-lift mandrel plug 200 is positioned in the side pocket. The proximal end 215 can be configured to connect to an intervention tool. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the proximal end 215 includes an intervention tool connector 230 that forms an integral part of the elongated member 210. The intervention tool connector 230 can comprise any type of connection (e.g., threaded connection, snap-fit ​​connection, shear pin connection, etc.) consistent with the description. In some embodiments, the same intervention tool can be used to remove the gas lift valve and then install the gas lift mandrel plug 200. In other embodiments, different intervention tools can be used to remove the gas lift valve and install the gas lift mandrel plug 200. The elongated member 210 can have a length (1) and a width (w). In some embodiments, the length (1) can be about 700 mm (e.g., about 27.56 inches) or less. In another embodiment, the length (1) can be about 610 mm (e.g., about 2 feet) or less, and in yet another embodiment, the length (1) can be about 322 mm (e.g., about 12.7 inches) or less. In some embodiments, the elongated member 210 can have a width (w) of about 51 mm (e.g., about 2 inches) or less. In another embodiment, the width (w) can be about 26 mm (e.g., about 1 inch) or less, and in yet another embodiment, it can be about 13 mm (e.g., about an inch) or less. In one embodiment, the elongated member 210 has a length (1) to width (w) ratio greater than about 6.3 to the.In another embodiment, the elongated member 210 may have a length (1) to width (w) ratio less than about 48 with respect to. In yet another embodiment, the elongated member 210 may have a length (1) to width (w) ratio that varies from about 12 with respect to to about 14 with respect to, and, in another embodiment, the elongated member 210 may have a length (1) to width (w) ratio that varies from about 12.25 with respect to to about 12.5 with respect to 1. In some embodiments, all or part of the gas lift mandrel plug 200 can be manufactured using an expandable metallic sealant configured to expand in response to hydrolysis. The expandable metallic sealant, in some embodiments, can be described as expanding into a cement-like material that seals a gas lift valve in a side pocket of a side pocket mandrel, such as, for example, side pocket mandrel 140 shown in Figure 1. In other words, the metal is broken down into microscopic particles, and these particles then lock together to essentially seal the gas lift mandrel. In certain embodiments, the reaction can occur in less than 2 days. MA / a / ZUZZ / UUUI is a reactive fluid at bottom-hole temperatures. However, the reaction time may vary depending on the reactive fluid. In some embodiments, the reactive fluid may be a brine solution such as that produced during well completion activities, and in other embodiments, the reactive solution may be one of the additional solutions discussed herein. The metal, prior to expansion, is an electrically conductive material in certain embodiments. The metal may be fabricated into any specific size / shape by extrusion, forming, casting, or other conventional methods of obtaining the desired metal shape. In certain embodiments, the metal, prior to expansion, has a yield strength greater than approximately 8,000 psi, for example, 8,000 psi + / - 50%. In this embodiment, the metal has a minimum dimension greater than approximately 1.25 mm (for example, approximately 0.05 inches). The hydrolysis of any metal can create a metal hydroxide. The formative properties of alkaline earth metals (Mg - magnesium, Ca - calcium, etc.) and transition metals (Zn - zinc, Al - aluminum, etc.) in hydrolysis reactions demonstrate structural characteristics that are favorable for their use in the present description. Hydration results in an increase in size from the MA / a / ZUZZ / UUUI UI hydration reaction and results in a metal hydroxide that can precipitate from the fluid. The hydration reaction for magnesium is: Mg + 2H₂O → Mg(OH)₂ + H₂, where Mg(OH)₂ is also called brucite. Another hydration reaction uses the hydrolysis of aluminum. The reaction forms a material known as gibbsite, bayerite, and norstrandite, depending on the form. The hydration reaction for aluminum is: Al + 3H2O -> Al(OH)3 + 3 / 2 H2. Another hydration reaction uses calcium hydrolysis. The hydration reaction for calcium is: Ca + 2H₂O → Ca(OH)₂ + H₂, where Ca(OH)₂ is called portlandite and is a common hydrolysis product of Portland cement. Magnesium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide are considered relatively insoluble in water. Aluminum hydroxide can be considered an amphoteric hydroxide, which is soluble in strong acids or strong bases. In one embodiment, the metallic material used can be a metal alloy. The metal alloy can be a base metal alloy with other elements to adjust the alloy's strength, its reaction time, or the strength of the metal hydroxide byproduct. MA / a / ZUZZ / UUUI a resulting, among other adjustments. The metal alloy can be alloyed with elements that improve the metal's strength, such as, among others, Al - aluminum, Zn - zinc, Mn - manganese, Zr - zirconium, Y - yttrium, Nd - neodymium, Gd - gadolinium, Ag - silver, Ca - calcium, Sn - tin, Re - rhenium, and Cu - copper. In some embodiments, the alloy can be alloyed with a dopant that promotes corrosion, such as Ni - nickel, Fe - iron, Cu - copper, Co - cobalt, Ir - iridium, Au - gold, C - carbon, gallium, indium, mercury, bismuth, tin, and Pd - palladium. The metal alloy can be constructed in a solid solution process where the elements are combined with molten metal or metal alloy. Alternatively, the metal alloy can be constructed using a powder metallurgy process. The metal can be cast, forged, extruded, or a combination thereof. Optionally, non-expandable components can be added to the metallic starting materials. For example, ceramics, elastomers, glass, or non-reactive metal components can be embedded in the expandable metal or coated onto its surface. Alternatively, the starting metal can be a metal oxide. For example, calcium oxide (CaO) reacts with water to produce calcium hydroxide in a vigorous reaction. Due to the higher density of calcium oxide, it can have a volumetric expansion of up to 260%, where 1 mole of CaO expands from 9.5 cc to 1 mole of CaO. ML / a / ZUZZ / UUU 1 unit at 34.4 cc volume. In one variation, the expandable metal is formed in a serpentine reaction, a hydration reaction, and a metamorphic reaction. In another variation, the resulting material resembles mafic material. Additional ions, including silicate, sulfate, aluminate, and phosphate, can be added to the reaction. The metal can be alloyed to increase reactivity or to control oxide formation. With reference to Figure 3, another embodiment of a gas lift mandrel plug 300 is shown, as described. The gas lift mandrel plug 300 may include an elongated member 210 having a proximal end 215 and a distal end 220. In this embodiment, the proximal end 215 includes an intervention tool connector 330. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the intervention tool connector 330 is not integrally manufactured with the elongated member 210 and is therefore coupled to the elongated member 210 via a threaded connection 340, among other available connections. In this embodiment, the intervention tool connector 330 may comprise a material other than the elongated member 210, and more particularly, a material that does not expand as a result of hydrolysis. With reference to Figure 4, yet another embodiment of a gas-lift mandrel plug 400 is shown, as described herein. The gas-lift mandrel plug 400 may include an elongated member 210 having a proximal end 215 and a distal end 220. The proximal end 215 includes an intervention tool connector 330, which in this embodiment is coupled to the elongated member 210 via a threaded connection 340. One or more inflatable members 450 may be coupled radially around the elongated member 210. These inflatable members 450 may comprise a swellable rubber configured to expand in response to contact with one or more different types of fluids. In one embodiment, the reactive fluid may be a diesel solution or other water-based solutions discussed herein. The elongated member 210 may comprise a metal sealant configured to expand in response to hydrolysis.In some forms, the metal sealant can react with a brine solution, or the other solutions discussed above can be used. With reference to Figure 5, another embodiment of a gas-lift chuck plug 500 is shown, as described. The gas-lift chuck plug 500 may include an elongated member 210 having a proximal end 215 and a distal end 220. In this embodiment, the proximal end 215 includes an intervention tool connector 330, which can be coupled with the MA / a / ZUZZ / UUUI an elongated member 210 through a threaded connection 340. In this embodiment, the elongated member 210 may be radially surrounded by a sleeve 560. The sleeve 560 may be employed for one or more different reasons. In one situation, the sleeve 560 is an inflatable rubber sleeve configured to expand in response to contact with one or more types of fluids. In one embodiment, the reactive fluid may be a diesel solution, and the sleeve 560 inflates to further seal the gas lift mandrel. In another situation, the sleeve 560 is configured to retard the expansion of the elongated member 210, for example, by providing a temporary barrier between the elongated member 210 and the hydrolysis solution. The aspects described herein include: A gas-lift mandrel plug for use in a well. In one embodiment, the gas-lift mandrel plug includes an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein the elongated member comprises a metal seal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis; and wherein the elongated member is configured to seal a side pocket of a tubular well in response to hydrolysis. A well system. In one embodiment, the well system includes a tubular well; a side pocket located within the tubular well; a gas-lift mandrel plug positioned in and sealing the side pocket, wherein the gas-lift mandrel plug comprises: an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to connect with an intervention tool; and wherein the elongated member comprises a metal sealant configured to expand in response to hydrolysis. A method for using a gas lift mandrel plug in a well system. In one embodiment, the method includes removing a gas lift valve from a side pocket located within a tubular well; positioning a gas lift mandrel plug in the side pocket, wherein the gas lift mandrel plug comprises an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to connect with an intervention tool; wherein the elongated member comprises a metal seal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis; and wherein the elongated member is configured to seal a side pocket of a downhole casing in response to hydrolysis. Aspects A, B, and C may have one or more of the following additional elements in combination: Element 1: wherein the distal end is tapered; Element 2: wherein the proximal end includes an intervention tool connector; Element 3: wherein the intervention tool connector is threaded to the elongated member; Element 4: wherein the intervention tool connector forms an integral part of the elongated member; Element 5: wherein the elongated member is a cylindrical member, and further wherein a length (1) to width (w) ratio of the cylindrical member varies from about 12 to about 14 to 1; Element 6: wherein a length (1) of the elongated member is less than 700 mm; Element 7: wherein the metal sealant is configured to expand in response to magnesium hydrolysis, aluminum hydrolysis, calcium hydrolysis, and calcium oxide hydrolysis;Element 8: wherein the metal sealant is a magnesium alloy or a magnesium alloy with at least one of Al, Zn, Mn, Zr, Y, Nd, Gd, Ag, Ca, Sn, and Re; Element 9: further comprising a swellable rubber element radially located around the elongated member; Element 10: further comprising subjecting the gas-lift mandrel plug to a hydrolysis fluid, wherein the hydrolysis fluid expands the elongated member to seal the side pocket; and Element 11: wherein the hydrolysis forms a structure comprising one of Brucite, Gibbsite, Bayerite, and Norstrandite. Experts in the technique to which this application relates will appreciate that additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications other than those described in the modalities can be made. It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

1. A gas-lift mandrel plug for use in a well, characterized in that it comprises: an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein the elongated member comprises a metal seal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis; and wherein the elongated member is configured to seal a side pocket of a tubular well in response to hydrolysis.

2. The gas lift chuck plug according to claim 1, characterized in that the distal end is conical.

3. The gas lift chuck plug according to claim 1, characterized in that the proximal end includes an intervention tool connector, or optionally wherein the intervention tool connector is threaded to the elongated member or optionally wherein the intervention tool connector forms an integral part of the elongated member.

4. The gas-lift chuck plug of MA / a / ZUZZ / UUUI in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the elongated member is a cylindrical member, and further wherein a ratio of a length (1) to a width (w) of the cylindrical member varies from about 12 to 1 to about 14 to 1.

5. The gas lift chuck plug according to claim 1, characterized in that a length (1) of the elongated member is less than 700 mm.

6. The gas-lift chuck plug according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal sealant is configured to expand in response to one of magnesium hydrolysis, aluminum hydrolysis, calcium hydrolysis and calcium oxide hydrolysis, or optionally wherein the metal sealant is a magnesium alloy or a magnesium alloy alloyed with at least one of Al, Zn, Mn, Zr, Y, Nd, Gd, Ag, Ca, Sn and Re.

7. The gas lift chuck plug according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an inflatable rubber element located radially around the elongated member.

8. A well system, characterized in that it comprises: a tubular well; a side pocket located within the tubular well; a gas lift mandrel plug located in and sealing a side pocket, wherein the gas lift mandrel plug comprises: an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to connect with an intervention tool; and wherein the elongated member comprises a metal sealant configured to expand in response to hydrolysis.

9. The well system according to claim 8, characterized in that the distal end of the elongated member is conical, or optionally in that the proximal end includes an intervention tool connector.

10. The well system according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises an inflatable rubber element located radially around the elongated member.

11. A method for using a gas lift mandrel plug in a well system, characterized in that it comprises: removing a gas lift valve from a side pocket located within a tubular well; positioning a gas lift mandrel plug in the side pocket, wherein the gas lift mandrel plug comprises an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to connect with an intervention tool; wherein the elongated member comprises a metal seal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis; and wherein the elongated member is configured to seal a side pocket of a downhole casing in response to hydrolysis.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that it further includes subjecting the gas-lift mandrel plug to a hydrolysis fluid, wherein the hydrolysis fluid expands the elongated member to seal the side pocket.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the metal sealant is configured to expand in response to magnesium hydrolysis, aluminum hydrolysis, calcium hydrolysis, and calcium oxide hydrolysis.

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the hydrolysis forms a structure comprising one of Brucite, Gibbsite, Bayerite and Norstrandite.

15. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the metal sealant is a magnesium alloy or a magnesium alloy alloyed with at least one of Al, Zn, Mn, Zr, Y, Nd, Gd, Ag, Ca, Sn and Re.

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