Expandable Reamer Milling Restricted Casing Shoes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bore-lining techniques result in step-wise reduction of bore diameter, limiting production capabilities, restricting access, and increasing drilling time and expense due to unexpanded casing shoes posing restrictions in wellbores, necessitating multiple trips for removal and drilling.

Innovation Solution

A drilling assembly with a drill bit and expandable reamer having movable cutting arms that can be activated to expand and remove restrictions in a single trip, allowing for continued drilling and extension of the wellbore without the need for multiple trips.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional bore-lining techniques are used with non-expandable casing shoes, then the tubing can be easily installed, but the unexpanded casing shoe creates a restriction in the wellbore that requires multiple trips for removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetubing installationVSAvoidwell drilling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The casing shoe is designed with expandable elements that can change from a compressed state during installation to an expanded state during drilling. The expandable reamer with movable cutting arms transitions from a retracted position to an expanded position, allowing the same tool to perform both installation and restriction removal functions, eliminating the need for multiple trips.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drilling assembly integrates multiple functions into a single tool: the reamer with movable cutting arms can both install the tubing by expanding the casing shoe and remove restrictions by milling the unexpanded portion. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate tools and multiple trips, directly addressing the time loss problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional bore-lining techniques are used with step-wise diameter reduction, then the tubing can be installed sequentially, but the bore diameter is reduced limiting production capabilities and access

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetubing installationVSAvoidwell production capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the diameter parameter dynamically during the drilling process. The expandable reamer temporarily increases the bore diameter by expanding the casing shoe, allowing larger diameter drilling tools to pass through. This parameter change enables maintaining larger bore diameters throughout the well, eliminating the step-wise reduction problem and improving both productivity and access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the casing shoe is made non-expandable for simplicity, then the tool is easier to manufacture, but it creates restrictions that require multiple trips for removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecasing shoe structureVSAvoidwell drilling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The casing shoe incorporates expandable elements that add dynamic capability to an otherwise simple structure. The expandable reamer with movable cutting arms provides the complexity needed to eliminate restrictions, allowing single-trip drilling operations and recovering the time loss associated with multiple trips.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If multiple trips are made to remove restrictions and drill well sections, then the restrictions can be removed, but the drilling time and expense increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestriction removalVSAvoiddrilling time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The drilling assembly is designed as a universal tool that can perform both restriction removal and well drilling in a single trip. The reamer with movable cutting arms can mill the unexpanded casing shoe portion and then continue drilling the well, eliminating the need for multiple trips and significantly reducing the time loss problem while maintaining reliable restriction removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables continuous useful action by allowing the drilling assembly to perform restriction removal and well drilling without interruption in a single trip. The movable cutting arms transition between milling the restriction and drilling the well, maintaining continuous productive operation and eliminating the time loss associated with multiple trips for restriction removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS8146682B2Apparatus and methods of milling a restricted casing shoe

Publication Date: 2012.04.03 WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A method of removing a restriction in a tubular located in a well includes providing a drilling assembly with a drill bit and a reamer, the reamer having a cutting structure for removing the restriction; drilling through a lower portion of the tubular; expanding the reamer at a location below the restriction; and urging the reamer back toward the restriction to remove the restriction.