ANNULAR BARRIER
The present invention relates to an annular barrier for providing zonal isolation within a tubular structure or a borehole and for sealing off a first zone from a second zone, comprising a tubular metal part configured to be mounted as part of a well tubular metal structure, the tubular metal part having an outer face, an opening and an axial direction along the well tubular metal structure, a first expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part and having a first end connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part and a second end, a second expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part and having a first end connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part and a second end, wherein the first expandable metal sleeve and the second expandable metal sleeve each has an end section at the second end, the end section of the first expandable metal sleeve is at least partly overlapping the end section of the second expandable metal sleeve along the axial direction creating an overlapping area, the end sections are configured to slide in relation to each other, the first expandable metal sleeve and the second expandable metal sleeve define an annular space together with the tubular metal part, the first expandable metal sleeve extends from the second end of the first expandable metal sleeve away from the overlapping area in a first direction along the axial direction, and the second expandable metal sleeve extends from the second end of the second expandable metal sleeve away from the overlapping area in a second direction opposite the first direction.
The present invention relates to an annular barrier for providing zonal isolation within a tubular structure or a borehole and for sealing off a first zone from a second zone, comprising a tubular metal part configured to be mounted as part of a well tubular metal structure, the tubular metal part having an outer face, an opening and an axial direction along the well tubular metal structure, a first expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part and having a first end connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part and a second end, and a second expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part and having a first end connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part and a second end.
Known annular barriers are limited by material properties in how much they are capable of expanding radially outwards, and many attempts have been made to optimise the materials and the design of the annular barriers so that the annular barriers are able to expand more radially outwards.
It is an object of the present invention to wholly or partly overcome the above disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. More specifically, it is an object to provide an improved annular barrier which is able to be expanded more radially outwards than known annular barriers without decreasing the collapse rating or similar properties.
The above objects, together with numerous other objects, advantages and features, which will become evident from the below description, are accomplished by a solution in accordance with the present invention by an annular barrier for providing zonal isolation within a tubular structure or a borehole and for sealing off a first zone from a second zone, comprising:
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- a tubular metal part configured to be mounted as part of a well tubular metal structure, the tubular metal part having an outer face, an opening and an axial direction along the well tubular metal structure,
- a first expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part and having a first end connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part and a second end,
- a second expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part and having a first end connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part and a second end, and
- an annular space between the tubular metal part and the expandable metal sleeves,
wherein the first expandable metal sleeve and the second expandable metal sleeve each have an end section at the second end, the end section of the first expandable metal sleeve and the end section of the second expandable metal sleeve are at least partly overlapping along the axial direction creating an overlapping area, the end sections are configured to slide in relation to each other, the first expandable metal sleeve extends from the second end of the first expandable metal sleeve away from the overlapping area in a first direction along the axial direction and the second expandable metal sleeve extends from the second end of the second expandable metal sleeve away from the overlapping area in a second direction opposite the first direction.
By having an annular barrier having two expandable and overlapping metal sleeves, an annular barrier having a larger radial expansion than known annular barriers is obtained.
Moreover, the end sections of the overlapping area may be unconnected to the outer face of the tubular metal part.
Also, the annular barrier may comprise a third expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part and having a first end connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part and a second end, an end section of the first end of the second expandable metal sleeve and an end section of the second end of the third expandable metal sleeve are at least partly overlapping along the axial direction creating a second overlapping area so that the second expandable metal sleeve is arranged intermediate and partly overlapping the first and second expandable metal sleeves. Furthermore, the overlapping area may be without connection to the outer face of the tubular metal part.
Additionally, the annular space may be fluidly connected with the opening.
Also, the material of the expandable metal sleeves in the overlapping area may be less ductile than the rest of the expandable metal sleeves.
Furthermore, the end sections of the overlapping area may have a greater common thickness than the rest of the expandable metal sleeves.
In addition, at least one sealing element may be arranged between the end sections of the overlapping area(s).
Moreover, at least one sealing element may be arranged in a groove in one of the end sections of the expandable metal sleeves.
Further, the end section of the first expandable metal sleeve may be arranged sliding along an outer face of the second expandable metal sleeve, the end of the second sleeve provides a piston effect during expansion providing a pressure in the axial direction to the end of the second expandable metal sleeve.
Also, the end section of the second end of the second expandable metal sleeve may be arranged sliding along an inner face of the first expandable metal sleeve and the end section of the first end of the second expandable metal sleeve may be arranged sliding along an inner face of the third expandable metal sleeve.
Moreover, the second expandable metal sleeve may have a varying thickness.
Furthermore, the second expandable metal sleeve may have an intermediate section in between the first and second ends which intermediate section may have a thickness being less than the thickness at the first and second ends.
In addition, the second expandable metal sleeve may have a curved cross-section along the axil extension of the annular barrier.
Additionally, the overlapping area(s) may remain substantially unexpanded during expansion of the rest of the expandable metal sleeve.
Also, each expandable metal sleeve may be constituted by a first section and a second section, the second section is the end section and the first section is the rest of the expandable metal sleeve.
Furthermore, the first section may have an unexpanded condition and an expanded condition, the first section is capable of expanding more than 30% than in the unexpanded condition.
The end section of each sleeve may have a length of at least 5% of a total length of the expandable metal sleeve in the unexpanded condition.
In addition, the end section of the first expandable metal sleeve may have grooves which correspond to grooves on the outer face of the end section of the second expandable metal sleeve forming a ratchet system hindering the end section of the first expandable metal sleeve from returning once moved away from the end section of the second expandable metal sleeve.
The annular barrier according to the present invention may further comprise a shear pin assembly fluidly connecting the expansion opening and the annular space in order to allow expansion fluid within the well tubular structure to expand the expandable sleeve.
Moreover, the shear pin assembly may have a first position in which expansion fluid is allowed to flow into the annular space and a second position in which the expansion opening is blocked, preventing expansion fluid from entering the annular space.
In addition, fluid from an inside of the tubular metal part may enter the expansion unit via the opening and further into the annular space.
The annular barrier according to the present invention may further comprise an anti-collapsing unit comprising an element movable at least between a first position and a second position, the anti-collapsing unit having a first inlet which is in fluid communication with the first zone, and a second inlet which is in fluid communication with the second zone, and the anti-collapsing unit having an outlet which is in fluid communication with the annular space, and in the first position, the first inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet, equalising the first pressure of the first zone with the space pressure, and in the second position, the second inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet, equalising the second pressure of the second zone with the space pressure.
The anti-collapse unit may be fluidly connected to the opening or the expansion unit.
The annular barrier according to the present invention may further comprise sealing elements arranged on an outer face of the expandable metal sleeves.
Also, the sealing elements may be arranged in grooves on an outer face of the expandable metal sleeves.
Also, a sealing element and a split ring-shaped retaining element may be arranged in a groove, the split ring-shaped retaining element forming a back-up for the sealing element.
Additionally, the split ring-shaped retaining element may have more than one winding so that when the expandable tubular is expanded from a first outer diameter to a second outer diameter being larger than the first outer diameter, the split ring-shaped retaining element partly unwinds.
Furthermore, an intermediate element may be arranged between the split ring-shaped retaining element and the sealing element.
Moreover, the first ends of the expandable metal sleeves may be welded to the outer face of the tubular metal part.
Finally, the annular barrier according to the present invention may further comprise a first connection part connecting the first end of the first expandable metal sleeve to the outer face of the tubular metal part and a second connection part connecting the first end of the second expandable metal sleeve to the outer face of the tubular metal part.
The invention and its many advantages will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show some non-limiting embodiments and in which:
All the figures are highly schematic and not necessarily to scale, and they show only those parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, other parts being omitted or merely suggested.
By having an annular barrier 1 having two expandable and partly overlapping metal sleeves, an annular barrier having a larger radial expansion than known annular barriers is obtained. Known annular barriers have a metal sleeve which during expansion are thinning, and this thinning defines the maximum radial expansion since the sleeve is to withstand a predetermined collapse pressure after expansion, and thus the sleeve cannot be expanded more than being able to withstand the collapse pressure. By having the two overlapping sleeves, the sleeves slide away from each other during expansion and the thinning is minimised, and thus the annular barrier of the present invention can be expanded radially further outwards compared with annular barriers having sleeves of same material conditions and thickness.
The end section 21, 21A of the first expandable metal sleeve and the end section 21, 21B of the second expandable metal sleeve are partly overlapping along the axial direction creating an overlapping area 31 along the whole circumference of the annular barrier.
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In one embodiment, the material of the expandable metal sleeves 6, 8 in the overlapping area 31 is less ductile than the rest of the expandable metal sleeves so that the first section 41 of the expandable metal sleeves expands while the second sections remain substantially unexpanded when setting the annular barrier 1.
In another embodiment, the end sections 21, 21A, 21B of the overlapping area have a greater thickness than the rest of the expandable metal sleeves so that the first section of the expandable metal sleeves expands while the second sections remain substantially unexpanded when setting the annular barrier 1. Thus, the material of the expandable metal sleeves 6, 8 in the overlapping area 31 may be hardened e.g. by thermal treatment and/or deformations hardening.
Furthermore, the material of the expandable metal sleeves 6, 8 in the overlapping area 31 may be different from the rest of the expandable metal sleeves 6, 8 and welded together so that the first sections are made of a different material than the second sections.
In
The end section 21 of each sleeve has a length L1 of at least 5% of a total length L2 of the expandable metal sleeve in the unexpanded condition. The length of the end section of the first expandable metal sleeve may vary from the length of the end section of the second expandable metal sleeve.
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The shear pin assembly shown in
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The end section 21, 21A of the first expandable metal sleeve and the end section 21, 21B of the second expandable metal sleeve are partly overlapping along the axial direction creating an overlapping area 31 along the whole circumference of the annular barrier. In the same way, the end section 59 of the third expandable metal sleeve and the end section 58 of the second expandable metal sleeve are partly overlapping along the axial direction creating an overlapping area 31B along the whole circumference of the annular barrier.
The end section of the second end 14 of the second expandable metal sleeve is arranged sliding along an inner face 61 of the first expandable metal sleeve and the end section of the first end 12 of the second expandable metal sleeve is arranged sliding along an inner face 62 of the third expandable metal sleeve. Sealing elements are provided in the outer face of the second expandable metal sleeve so as to seal against the inner face 61 and 62. Thus, the annular barrier of
As can be seen in
The second expandable metal sleeve has a slightly small thickness intermediate its first and second ends when seen in cross-section along the axial direction of the annular barrier so that the expansion initially occurs at the intermediate part of the second expandable metal sleeve not overlapping the ends of the first and third expandable metal sleeves.
The first end of the first expandable metal sleeve and the first end of the third expandable metal sleeve are fastened to the tubular metal part e.g. by means of welding or similar fastening. One of the first ends of the first expandable metal sleeve and the first end of the third expandable metal sleeve may also be slidably connected to the tubular metal part.
The annular barrier may be expanded by pressurising the well tubular metal structure from surface or pressurising the well tubular metal structure from surface by means of drill pipe connecting the well tubular metal structure to surface. The annular barrier may also be expanded by means of a tool isolating a section opposite the opening 16.
By fluid or well fluid is meant any kind of fluid that may be present in oil or gas wells downhole, such as natural gas, oil, oil mud, crude oil, water etc. By gas is meant any kind of gas composition present in a well, completion or open hole, and by oil is meant any kind of oil composition, such as crude oil, an oil-containing fluid etc. Gas, oil and water fluids may thus all comprise other elements or substances than gas, oil and/or water, respectively.
By a casing, tubular structure or well tubular metal structure is meant any kind of pipe, tubing, tubular, liner, string etc. used downhole in relation to oil or natural gas production.
In the event that the tool is not submergible all the way into the casing, a downhole tractor can be used to push the tool all the way into position in the well. The downhole tractor may have projectable arms having wheels, wherein the wheels contact the inner surface of the casing for propelling the tractor and the tool forwards in the casing. A downhole tractor is any kind of driving tool capable of pushing or pulling tools in a well downhole, such as a Well Tractor®.
Although the invention has been described in the above in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be evident for a person skilled in the art that several modifications are conceivable without departing from the invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. An annular barrier for providing zonal isolation within a tubular structure or a borehole and for sealing off a first zone from a second zone, comprising: wherein the first expandable metal sleeve and the second expandable metal sleeve each have an end section at the second end, the end section of the first expandable metal sleeve and the end section of the second expandable metal sleeve are at least partly overlapping along the axial direction creating an overlapping area, the end sections are configured to slide in relation to each other, the first expandable metal sleeve extends from the second end of the first expandable metal sleeve away from the overlapping area in a first direction along the axial direction, and the second expandable metal sleeve extends from the second end of the second expandable metal sleeve away from the overlapping area in a second direction opposite the first direction.
- tubular metal part configured to be mounted as part of a well tubular metal structure, the tubular metal part having an outer face, an opening and an axial direction along the well tubular metal structure,
- a first expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part and having a first end connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part and a second end,
- a second expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part and having a first end connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part and a second end, and
- an annular space between the tubular metal part and the expandable metal sleeves,
2. An annular barrier according to claim 1, wherein the end sections of the overlapping area are unconnected to the outer face of the tubular metal part.
3. An annular barrier according to claim 1, further comprising a third expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part and having a first end connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part and a second end, an end section of the first end of the second expandable metal sleeve and an end section of the second end of the third expandable metal sleeve are at least partly overlapping along the axial direction creating an second overlapping area.
4. An annular barrier according to claim 1, wherein the end sections of the overlapping area have a greater common thickness than the rest of the expandable metal sleeves.
5. An annular barrier according to claim 1, wherein at least one sealing element is arranged between the end sections of the overlapping area(s).
6. An annular barrier according to claim 1, wherein the end section of the first expandable metal sleeve is arranged sliding along an outer face of the second expandable metal sleeve, the end of the second sleeve provides a piston effect during expansion providing a pressure in the axial direction to the end of the second expandable metal sleeve.
7. An annular barrier according to claim 1, wherein the end section of the second end of the second expandable metal sleeve is arranged sliding along an inner face of the first expandable metal sleeve and the end section of the first end of the second expandable metal sleeve is arranged sliding along an inner face of the third expandable metal sleeve.
8. An annular barrier according to claim 1, wherein the overlapping area(s) remains substantially unexpanded during expansion of the rest of the expandable metal sleeve.
9. An annular barrier according to claim 1, wherein each expandable metal sleeve is constituted by a first section and a second section, the second section is the end section.
10. An annular barrier according to claim 8, wherein the first section has an unexpanded condition and an expanded condition, the first section is capable of expanding more than 30% than in the unexpanded condition.
11. An annular barrier according to claim 1, wherein the end section of each sleeve has a length of at least 5% of a total length of the expandable metal sleeve in the unexpanded condition.
12. An annular barrier according to claim 1, wherein the end section of the first expandable metal sleeve has grooves which correspond to grooves on the outer face of the end section of the second expandable metal sleeve forming a ratchet system hindering the end section of the first expandable metal sleeve from returning once moved away from the end section of the second expandable metal sleeve.
13. An annular barrier according to claim 1, further comprising a shear pin assembly fluidly connecting the expansion opening and the annular space in order to allow expansion fluid within the well tubular structure to expand the expandable sleeve.
14. An annular barrier according to claim 1, further comprising an anti-collapsing unit comprising an element, such as a ball, movable at least between a first position and a second position, the anti-collapsing unit having a first inlet which is in fluid communication with the first zone, and a second inlet which is in fluid communication with the second zone, and the anti-collapsing unit having an outlet which is in fluid communication with the annular space, and in the first position, the first inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet, equalising the first pressure of the first zone with the space pressure, and in the second position, the second inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet, equalising the second pressure of the second zone with the space pressure.
15. An annular barrier according to claim 1, further comprising sealing elements arranged on an outer face of the expandable metal sleeves.
16. An annular barrier according to claim 1, wherein the first ends of the expandable metal sleeves are welded to the outer face of the tubular metal part.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 18, 2019
Publication Date: Dec 19, 2019
Inventor: Ricardo Reves VASQUES (Zug)
Application Number: 16/444,291