DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CONVEYING A TOOL ALONG A WELLBORE
An apparatus for flowing a tool string along a wellbore tubular includes a flow restrictor having a diametrically expanded position and a diametrically retracted position. The flow restrictor sealingly engages the wellbore tubular when in the diametrically expanded position. The apparatus also includes a joint connected to the flow restrictor. The joint actuates the flow restrictor between the expanded position to the retracted position while moving between an open and a closed position.
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1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates generally to method and devices for conveying tools along a wellbore.
2. Background of the Art
During the drilling, completion, workover, and remediation of a hydrocarbon-producing wellbore, it may be necessary to convey a tool string to one or more target depths along that wellbore. One conventional method for conveying a tool string along a wellbore is a “pump down” operation. A “pump down” operation typically involves pumping a liquid (e.g., water) to propel a tool string along a wellbore tubular in the wellbore. The tool string may include “swab cups” or other fixed annular rings or fins that resist fluid flow. For wellbores that have extended non-vertical sections, a significant amount of fluid must flow past the swab cups at a high flow rate in order to provide this propulsive force.
In some aspects, the present disclosure addresses the need for devices and methods that can reduce the amount of fluid needed for pump down operations.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIn one aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for flowing a tool string along a wellbore tubular. The apparatus may include a flow restrictor having a diametrically expanded position and a diametrically retracted position. The flow restrictor sealingly engages the wellbore tubular when in the diametrically expanded position. The apparatus also includes a joint connected to the flow restrictor. The joint actuates the flow restrictor between the expanded position and the retracted position while moving between an open and a closed position.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for flowing a tool string along a wellbore tubular. The method may include disposing a flow restrictor and the tool string into the wellbore tubular, wherein the flow restrictor has a diametrically expanded position and a diametrically retracted position; pumping fluid into the wellbore tubular; propelling the flow restrictor and the tool string through the wellbore by sealingly engaging a surface of the wellbore tubular with the flow restrictor in the diametrically expanded position; actuating the flow restrictor from the expanded position to the retracted position by applying a tension force on a joint connected to the flow restrictor; and retrieving the flow restrictor from the wellbore tubular while the flow restrictor is in the retracted position.
Examples of certain features of the disclosure have been summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the contributions they represent to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.
For a detailed understanding of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals, wherein:
In aspects, the present disclosure provides methods and devices that can reduce the amount of fluid used while conveying a tool along a wellbore.
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The slip joint 56 may also be configured to pull the liner 58 out of the petals 62 or the sail 72 before either of these features are closed. For example, the liner 58 may be connected by a suitable linkage or wire to the upper section 78. The connection may be arranged that the liner 58 is moved before the petals 62 or sail 72 are closed.
Depending on the application, additional features may be used to facilitate the opening and closing of the flow restrictor 50. For example, biasing elements such as springs may be used to urge the slip joint 56 to either the open or the closed position. Similarly, biasing elements may be used to urge the flow restrictor 50 to either the diametrically expanded or the diametrically retracted condition. These biasing elements may be used to establish a force value (e.g., tension, pressure, etc.) that must be exceeded for an action to occur or to provide additional force for moving or shifting to a particular position or condition.
An exemplary mode of use will be described in connection with
After one or more desired well operations are completed, a tension is applied to the wireline 42. When the tension exceeds the activation level of the slip joint 56, the slip joint 56 axially lengthens. This lengthening is caused by the upper section 78 moving away from the lower section 80 and the petals 62. As the upper section 78 slides upward, the connected links 82 pull the ring 66 over the outer surfaces of the petals 64, which collapses the petals 64 into a radially compact closed position. At this stage, the tool string 52 and the flow tool 50 may be retrieved from the wellbore. It should be appreciated that the sail 72 of the
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When the slip joint 56 closes, the links 106 rotate as they are pushed together and move to an extreme outer diametrical position, which expands the shell 104 to a diametrically enlarged position. When the slip joint 56 opens, the links 106 are pulled apart and radially retract toward the slip joint 56.
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While the present disclosure discusses a hydrocarbon producing well, the present teachings may also be used with other types of wells (e.g., geothermal wells, water wells, etc.) While the foregoing disclosure is directed to the one mode embodiments of the disclosure, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all variations within the scope of the appended claims be embraced by the foregoing disclosure.
Claims
1. An apparatus for flowing a tool string along a wellbore tubular, comprising:
- a flow restrictor having a diametrically expanded position and a diametrically retracted position, wherein the flow restrictor sealingly engages the wellbore tubular when in the diametrically expanded position; and
- a joint connected to the flow restrictor, the joint actuating the flow restrictor between the expanded position and the retracted position while moving between an open and a closed position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow restrictor expands to engage an inner surface of the wellbore tubular in response to a pressure applied by a fluid flowing in the wellbore tubular.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the joint moves between the open position and the closed position in response to a preset value of applied tension; and further comprising a conveyance device connected to the joint, the conveyance device being configured to apply at least the preset value of the applied tension to the joint.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the conveyance device is one of: (i) a wireline, (ii) a slickline, and (iii) an e-line.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the joint includes a first section in sliding engagement with a second section, and further comprising at least one link having an end connected to the first section, wherein the at least one link radially rotates when the first section moves relative to the second section.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the flow restrictor includes a support and a ring slidably disposed on the body, the ring being connected to one of: (i) the at least one link, and (ii) the first section of the slip joint.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the flow restrictor further includes at least one radially projecting petal coupled to the support, wherein the ring slides over the at least one radially projecting petal when the joint moves between the open and the closed position.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the flow restrictor further includes a sail coupled to the support, wherein the ring slides over the sail when the joint moves between the open and the closed position.
9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the flow restrictor includes a shell enclosing the at least one link.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the joint includes a first section in sliding engagement with a second section, wherein the flow restrictor includes a bellows having an upper end connected to the first section of the slip joint and a lower end connected to the second section of the slip joint, and wherein the bellows diametrically expands when the first section of the slip joint slides toward the second section of the slip joint.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a liner lining the flow restrictor, the liner being coupled to the joint, wherein the joint extracts the liner from the flow restrictor while moving from the closed position to the open position.
12. A method for flowing a tool string along a wellbore tubular, comprising:
- disposing a flow restrictor and the tool string into the wellbore tubular, wherein the flow restrictor has a diametrically expanded position and a diametrically retracted position;
- pumping fluid into the wellbore tubular;
- propelling the flow restrictor and the tool string through the wellbore by sealingly engaging a surface of the wellbore tubular with the flow restrictor in the diametrically expanded position;
- actuating the flow restrictor from the expanded position to the retracted position by applying a tension force on a joint connected to the flow restrictor; and
- retrieving the flow restrictor from the wellbore tubular while the flow restrictor is in the retracted position.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising expanding the flow restrictor to engage an inner surface of the wellbore tubular using a pressure applied by the fluid flowing in the wellbore tubular.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising connecting a conveyance device to the joint, and using the conveyance device to apply at least a preset value of tension to move the joint between the open position and the closed position.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the joint includes a first section in sliding engagement with a second section, and wherein the tension force applied to the first section actuates the flow restrictor to the retracted position.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the flow restrictor includes at least one of: (i) at least one radially projecting petal, (ii) a sail, (iii) a shell and (iv) a bellows.
17. The method of claim 12, further diametrically expanding the flow restrictor by using at least one link connected to the joint.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein a liner lining the flow restrictor, and further comprising extracting the liner from the flow restrictor while moving from joint from the closed position to the open position.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 12, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 12, 2014
Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED (HOUSTON, TX)
Inventors: Steven R. Radford (The Woodlands, TX), Jeffery B. McMeans (Spring, TX), John G. Evans (The Woodlands, TX)
Application Number: 13/712,534
International Classification: E21B 34/06 (20060101); E21B 34/14 (20060101); E21B 34/08 (20060101);