Shifting Tool Circulation Port Filter Cake Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The accumulation of filter cake on subterranean wellbore walls hinders the installation and production of lower completion assemblies and targeted fluids, making it difficult to retrieve stuck assemblies and impeding fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
A method and system involving a completion string with screen assemblies and a shifting tool that includes a circulation port, allowing a spotting fluid to be delivered and circulated to interact with and remove filter cake from the wellbore walls, facilitated by a running tool that moves a sleeve assembly to open and close the circulation port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filter cake is allowed to form on wellbore walls to prevent drilling fluid losses, then fluid loss prevention is improved, but filter cake accumulation hinders lower completion installation and retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
A spotting fluid is circulated through the wellbore before installing the lower completion to dissolve and remove filter cake in advance. This preliminary cleaning action prevents the filter cake from interfering with subsequent completion installation and retrieval operations, while still allowing the filter cake to form for fluid loss prevention during drilling.
2Ease of operation
If filter cake is removed to facilitate lower completion installation, then ease of operation is improved, but filter cake serves as a necessary coating to prevent drilling fluid losses
Solution Approach 1:
The spotting fluid is circulated through specific targeted zones where filter cake accumulation would interfere with completion installation. This localized removal approach maintains the filter cake coating in areas needed for fluid loss prevention while clearing only the portions that would hinder operational tasks.
3Productivity
If spotting fluid is circulated to remove filter cake, then filter cake removal effectiveness is improved, but additional equipment and procedures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The spotting fluid circulation system is integrated with the existing drilling fluid circulation infrastructure. The same pump and hose systems used for drilling fluid circulation are utilized to deliver the spotting fluid, eliminating the need for dedicated removal equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively removes filter cake from wellbore walls, facilitating the retrieval of stuck lower completion assemblies and enhancing the production of targeted fluids by clearing obstructions and improving fluid flow.
Implementation Method 1
The wall of the wellbore may be washed with suitable fluids to dissolve or dislodge the filter cake
Implementation Method 2
The wall of the wellbore may be washed with suitable fluids to dissolve or dislodge the filter cake
Data Source
AI summary
A method for removing filter cake from a subterranean wellbore includes running a completion string into the wellbore on production tubing, the completion string including one or more screen assemblies coupled therein, conveying a running tool through the production tubing to a shifting tool arranged within the completion string, opening a circulation port of the shifting tool with the running tool, flowing a spotting fluid through the running tool and the shifting tool and discharging the spotting fluid from the completion string into an annulus defined between the completion string and the wellbore, interacting the spotting fluid with the filter cake to remove the filter cake from a wall of the wellbore, and circulating the spotting fluid from the annulus and into the production tubing through the circulation port.