Well Path Sidetrack via Annular Plugging and Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Forming a new well path at a deeper level in an existing well is challenging due to insufficient cementation of casings, which leads to instability and increased costs, as traditional methods like section milling are time-consuming and risky.
Innovation Solution
A method involving anchoring a plug base in the innermost casing, forming holes, flushing and cleaning the annulus with a fluidized plugging material, and creating a stable plug to ensure anchoring before drilling the new well path, thereby avoiding the need for section milling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a sidetrack is formed at a deeper level in the well, then the well path length is reduced and costs are lowered, but the casing stability is insufficient due to poor cementation
Solution Approach 1:
The method applies preliminary action by flushing and cleaning the annulus before the sidetrack operation, removing cement debris and contaminants in advance to create optimal conditions for subsequent operations without requiring section milling
Solution Approach 2:
The method changes the physical state and composition parameters of the annulus by introducing flushing fluid that alters the cement slurry properties, enabling removal of excess cement and improvement of annular conditions for stable sidetrack formation at deeper levels
2Stability of the object's composition
If section milling is performed to stabilize the casing, then casing stability is improved, but the operation becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The method extracts only the necessary function of removing cement debris from the annulus through flushing, rather than performing complete section milling. This selective extraction of the stabilizing function achieves the same goal with significantly reduced time and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The flushing fluid acts as an intermediary medium that facilitates the removal of cement debris and contamination from the annulus, providing casing stability without requiring mechanical section milling operations
3Reliability
If section milling is performed to ensure casing stability, then anchoring is improved, but health, safety and environmental risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The method converts the potentially harmful effect of cement debris in the annulus into a benefit by using the flushing process to remove these debris particles, transforming a hazard into an opportunity to improve annular conditions and achieve reliable anchoring without section milling risks
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
This method provides mechanical stability and reduces costs by ensuring a stable well path without the need for section milling, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
pumping a flushing fluid down through the pipe string, out through at least one flow-through outlet in the flushing tool, into the innermost casing and further out, via holes in the at least one casing, into at least one annulus located outside the innermost casing, thereby cleaning the at least one annulus
Implementation Method 2
pumping a fluidized plugging material down through the pipe string and out through the flushing tool, into the innermost casing and further out into the at least one annulus via holes in the at least one casing; placing the fluidized plugging material above the plug base, and along the longitudinal section L1 of the well, after which the plugging material forms a plug covering substantially a complete cross section T1 of the well
Data Source
AI summary
A method is for establishment of a new well path from a well. The method comprises disposing and anchoring a plug base in a casing in the well; lowering a perforation tool into the casing; forming holes in the casing along a longitudinal section; pumping a flushing fluid out through outlets in a flushing tool and into the casing and further out into an annulus; pumping a fluidized plugging material out through the flushing tool and into the casing and further out into the annulus; placing the fluidized plugging material along the longitudinal section so as to form a plug across a cross section of the well; wherein the outlets in the flushing tool are angled non-perpendicularly relative to a longitudinal axis of the flushing tool. The method also comprises removing a portion of the plug until a cross-sectional section of the plug remains in the annulus; disposing and anchoring a direction-guiding element in the casing within the longitudinal section; by means of the element, guiding a drilling tool against the inside of the casing; and forming an exit hole through the casing and the cross-sectional section of the plug, thereby allowing a new well path to be formed from the well.