WASHPIPE

Abstract

A washpipe includes a tubular member; a recess extending axially along the tubular member; a conductor positioned within the recess; and a communication configuration communicatively attached to the conductor.

Description

BACKGROUND

In the hydrocarbon recovery industry, tubular members are disposed in a wellbore to take such actions as drill the borehole, stimulate the borehole, produce borehole fluids, etc. Such tubulars are frequently run into the earth formation for many thousands of feet. On occasion, tubular components are left in the well for a variety of reasons and require a washpipe at the end of another string to retrieve them. Most commonly, this occurs in the fishing end of the business to retrieve a tubular that has broken off in the downhole environment. Often, washover pipes include an abrasive or cutting feature of surface at a leading edge thereof to cut away a portion of the fish to enable the washover. Because the fish is likely to ride against an inside dimension surface of the washover tube, information gainable by sensors at the end of the washpipe cannot be sent uphole by any conductor within the washover pipe. Heretofore then, sensorial information has not been available for washpipe operations.

SUMMARY

A washpipe includes a tubular member; a recess extending axially along the tubular member; a conductor positioned within the recess; and a communication configuration communicatively attached to the conductor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section of a washpipe as taught herein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the recess of the washpipe illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an alternative recess configuration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of another alternative recess configuration; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section of a washpipe as taught herein illustrating the conductor and communication configuration attached thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a communication washpipe 10 is illustrated in an axial cross-section. The illustration makes clear that in a tubular member 12, which may be a metal or composite material, for example, an elongate recess 14 is provided to accommodate a conductor 16 therein. The depth of the recess 14 is selectable related to the duty intended for the washpipe but in one embodiment where significant protection of the conductor 16 is desired, the recess 14 will be of greater depth than a dimension of the conductor 16 oriented radially to the washpipe 10. By configuring the recess with such depth, the conductor 16 is completely enveloped in the recess 14. In one embodiment, the recess depth is less than about one-half of the thickness of a wall of the tubular member 12.

The recess 14 may be configured to have dimensions orthogonal to the radial dimension that are different based upon the radial locus at which the orthogonal measurement is taken, see FIG. 2, which appears trapezoidal in cross-section. For example, in one embodiment, a deepest surface 20 of the recess 14 is of greater orthogonal dimension than an orthogonally taken dimension of the recess 14 at an opening 22 thereof. Alternatively, the recess may be a simplified straight cut groove, see FIG. 3. Yet still, the recess 14 may be configured to approximate the outside geometry (in cross-section) of the conductor 16, see FIG. 4. It is to be understood that the exemplary configurations illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 are just that and are not intended to limit the application. Rather, other configurations could be substituted as desired or required for particular applications.

In one embodiment, the recess 14 is further filled with a protective composition 18 after insertion of the conductor. Such composition may be a hardenable material such as epoxy or may be other materials as appropriate to the application to which the washpipe is to be put. The composition 18 functions to protect the conductor 16 from environmental conditions be they mechanical, chemical, etc. and further in some cases, assists in retaining the conductor 16 in the recess 14 during use of the washpipe 10.

Both the recess 14 and the composition 18 function to protect the conductor especially from portions of downhole fishes that are not axially aligned in the wellbore and thus must be milled off to wash over them. As one of skill in the art will quickly recognize, a conductor positioned on an inside diameter of the washpipe, could be damaged by such fish. With a washpipe as taught herein, however, the conductor is at significantly less risk. This allows for the use of the conductor and therefore sensor(s) (not shown) that are helpful regarding conditions experienced by the washpipe downhole.

The conductor 16 may be an electrical conductor, optical conductor or hydraulic conductor, for example. The conductor is communicatively attached to a communication configuration 24 (see FIG. 5) at least one end of the washpipe 10 and in the illustration at both ends of the washpipe 10. In one embodiment utilizing an electrical conductor, it is contemplated that the conductor be electrically interconnected with a coil (communication configuration) at least one end of the washpipe 10 for inductive connection to another conductor such as a wired pipe configuration.

While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation.

Claims

1. A washpipe comprising:

a tubular member;

a recess extending axially along the tubular member;

a conductor positioned within the recess; and

a communication configuration communicatively attached to the conductor.

2. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tubular member is metal.

3. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tubular member is composite material.

4. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recess is defined by a depth having a dimension about the same as a radial dimension of the conductor.

5. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recess is defined by a depth less than about one half the thickness of a wall thickness of the tubular member.

6. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recess is trapezoidal in cross section.

7. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recess is configured to approximate a cross sectional shape of the conductor.

8. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recess is straight cut groove.

9. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recess is filled with a hardenable composition protective of the conductor.

10. The washpipe as claimed in claim 9 wherein the hardenable composition is epoxy.

11. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductor is an optical conductor.

12. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductor is a hydraulic conductor.

13. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductor is an electrical conductor.

14. The washpipe as claimed in claim 13 wherein the conductor further includes a communication configuration.

15. The washpipe as claimed in claim 14 wherein the communication configuration is a coil.

16. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recess is in fluidic communication with a surface of the tubular member via a radial opening.

17. The washpipe as claimed in claim 16 wherein the surface is a radially inwardly facing surface.

18. The washpipe as claimed in claim 16 wherein the radial opening spans a longitudinal dimension of the tubular member.

19. The washpipe as claimed in claim 16 wherein the conductor is positionable into the recess via the radial opening.

20. The washpipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recess is devoid of any solid material prior to the conductor being positioned within the recess.