Patent Application
20220098947
Wellbore tools used in oil and gas operations are often sent down a wellbore in tool strings including multiple discrete wellbore tools, or modules, connected together to consolidate different or multiple wellbore operations into a single “run,” or process of sending wellbore tools downhole to perform one or more operations. This approach contributes to time and cost savings because preparing and deploying a wellbore tool into a wellbore and pumping, with fluid under hydraulic pressure, the wellbore tool to a particular location in a wellbore (that may be a mile or more under the ground) requires a great deal of time, energy, and manpower. Additional time, manpower, and costs are required to conduct the operation and remove the spent wellbore tool(s) from the wellbore.
Wellbore tools may include, without limitation, perforating guns, puncher guns, logging tools, jet cutters, plugs, frac plugs, bridge plugs, setting tools, self-setting bridge plugs, self-setting frac plugs, mapping/positioning/orientating tools, bailer/dump bailer tools and ballistic tools. Many of these wellbore tools contain sensitive or powerful explosives because many wellbore tools are ballistically (i.e., explosively) actuated or perform ballistic operations within the wellbore. Additionally, certain wellbore tools may include sensitive electronic control components and connections that control various operations of the wellbore tool. Explosives, control systems, and other components of wellbore tools may be sensitive to conditions within the wellbore including the high pressures and temperatures, fluids, debris, etc. In addition, wellbore tools that have explosive activity may generate tremendous amounts of ballistic and gas pressures within the wellbore tool itself. Accordingly, to ensure the integrity and proper operation of wellbore tools connected together as part of the tool string, connections between adjacent wellbore tools within the tool string may not only connect adjacent wellbore tools in the tool string, they may, in many cases, seal internal components of the wellbore tools from the wellbore conditions and pressure isolate adjacent modules against ballistic forces.
A tandem seal adapter (TSA) is a known connector often used for accomplishing the functions of a connector as described above, and in particular for connecting adjacent perforating gun modules. A perforating gun is an exemplary, though not limiting, wellbore tool that may include many of the features and challenges described above. A perforating gun carries explosive charges into the wellbore to perform perforating operations by which the shaped charges are detonated in a manner that produces perforations in a surrounding geological hydrocarbon formation from which oil and gas may be recovered. Conventional perforating guns often include electric componentry to control positioning and detonation of the explosive charges.
In conventional systems, problems may arise in that the mechanical coupling between consecutive wellbore tools has insufficient strength. Additionally, conventional connectors may undesirably increase the length of the wellbore tool string. For example, a conventional connector may include both sealing elements and mechanical coupling components on the same part. However, as the sealing elements and coupling components must be axially separated, this increases the overall axial length of the connector, which in turn increases the length of the tool string.
Accordingly, it may be desirable to develop a tandem seal adapter, adapter assembly, and wellbore tool string that helps to strength mechanical coupling between components, shortens the length of the tool string, and may be produced more efficiently and inexpensively.
An exemplary embodiment of an adapter assembly for use with a wellbore tool string may include a tandem seal adapter (TSA) comprising a TSA body extending along an axial direction and a collar comprising a collar body formed in a substantially annular shape and extending in the axial direction. The collar may be provided outward from the TSA in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction. The TSA body and the collar body may overlap in the axial direction. The collar may abut the TSA. A collar maximum outer diameter may be larger than a TSA maximum outer diameter.
An exemplary embodiment of an adapter assembly for use with a wellbore tool string may include a tandem seal adapter (TSA) comprising a TSA body extending along an axial direction and a collar comprising a collar body formed in a substantially annular shape and extending in the axial direction. The collar may be provided outward from the TSA in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction. The TSA body and the collar body may overlap in the axial direction. The collar may abut the TSA. A first housing of a first wellbore tool may be provided between the TSA and the collar in the radial direction.
An exemplary embodiment of an adapter assembly for use with a wellbore tool string may include a tandem seal adapter (TSA) and a collar. The TSA may include a TSA body extending along an axial direction and a first seal provided on an outer surface of the TSA body. The collar may include a collar body formed in a substantially annular shape and extending in the axial direction and a first collar thread portion formed on a surface of the collar body. The collar may be provided outward from the TSA in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction. The TSA body and the collar body may overlap in the axial direction. The collar may abut the TSA. The first seal may overlap with the first collar thread portion in the axial direction.
A more particular description will be rendered by reference to exemplary embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Understanding that these drawings depict exemplary embodiments and do not limit the scope of this disclosure, the exemplary embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Various features, aspects, and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components throughout the figures and detailed description. The various described features are not necessarily drawn to scale in the drawings but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to some embodiments.
Reference will now be made in detail to various exemplary embodiments. Each example is provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation and does not constitute a definition of all possible embodiments.
The present disclosure may use the term “substantially” in phrases including, but not limited to, “substantially annular shape,” “substantially parallel,” and “substantially perpendicular,” hereinafter summarized as “substantially [x].” In the context of this disclosure, the phrase “substantially [x]” is meant to include both “precisely [x]” and deviations from “precisely [x]” such that the structure would function, from the perspective of one of ordinary skill in the art, in the same way as if it were “precisely [x].” The word “substantially” is not itself limiting but would be readily understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art in view of the exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure and shown in the figures.
The adapter assembly 108 may include a tandem seal adapter (TSA 110) comprising a TSA body 112. The TSA body 112 may extend along an axial direction 102. In an exemplary embodiment, the TSA body 112 may have a total length of 1 inch or less in the axial direction 102. The adapter assembly 108 may further include a collar 114. The collar 114 may include a collar body 116 formed in a substantially annular shape. The collar body 116 may extend in the axial direction 102. The collar 114 may be provided outward from the TSA 110 in a radial direction 104, the radial direction 104 being substantially perpendicular to the axial direction 102. The TSA 110 and the collar 114 may overlap in the axial direction 102.
As seen in
As seen in
The bulkhead 226 may include a first electrical contact 230 and a second electrical contact 232 that are in electrical communication through an interior of the bulkhead 226. The first electrical contact 230 is configured to contact a component within the first wellbore tools 118, and the second electrical contact 232 is configured to contact a component with the second wellbore tool 122, thereby providing electrical communication between the first wellbore tool 118 and the second wellbore tool 122 through the TSA 110.
The bulkhead 226 may be retained in the bore 216 by abutting with an interior shoulder 234 of the TSA body 112 at a first end. A retainer nut 236 may be used to retain the bulkhead 226 within the bore 216 at a second end. The retainer nut 236 may be threadedly engaged with the TSA body 112. It will be understood that other structures may be used in place of the retainer nut 236, such as a C-clip or a retainer ring.
In an exemplary embodiment, the collar 114 may have a maximum outer diameter of about 3.5 inches at the collar center 304. The collar may further include a first sloped portion 310 and a second sloped portion 312 where an outer diameter of the collar 114 decreases as distance from the collar center 304 increases. This may help to provide a tapered profile at ends of the collar 114 that help to prevent or reduce friction, shock, and damage in the event of impact with a wellbore casing during a pump-down operation.
Additionally, as the outer diameter of the collar 114 may be larger than an outer diameter of connected wellbore tools, the collar 114 may help to prevent contact between the wellbore tools and the wellbore casing, thereby reducing the chance of contact and damage to both the wellbore tools and the wellbore casing. Additionally, larger diameter of the collar 114 may help to centralize wellbore tools within the wellbore, thereby resulting in more consistent diameters of perforations into the surrounding formations.
As further seen in
Using the adapter assembly 108 to connect the first wellbore tool 118 and the second wellbore tool 122 (see
The relative dimensions of the outer collar diameter 410 and the outer tool diameter 412 may help to improve efficiency during pump-down operations of the wellbore tool string 106. For example, because the outer collar diameter 410 is larger than the outer tool diameter 412, the surface area of the wellbore tool string 106 in contact with an inner surface of the wellbore is reduced, thereby reducing surface friction that may acting in opposition to the pump-down operation, especially in applications where the wellbore has a horizontal component with respect to gravity. Further, the differential between the outer collar diameter 410 and the outer tool diameter 412 provides an increased cross-sectional surface area for wellbore fluid to press against during a pump-down operation. In an exemplary embodiment in which the wellbore tools are perforating guns, the outer tool diameter 412 may increase and approach the outer collar diameter 410 following firing of the perforation guns due to gun swell. This may reduce the cross-sectional surface area to facilitate withdrawal of the wellbore tool string 106 from the wellbore.
As further seen in
Additionally, as seen in
As noted above, the differential between the outer collar diameter 410 and the outer tool diameter 412 may be improve efficiency of the pump-down operation by reducing surface area in contact with the wellbore and providing increased cross-sectional surface area for the wellbore fluid to act against.
In block 906, the collar 114 is coupled to the first housing 120. The portion of the TSA 110 protruding from the first housing 120 may be passed through the interior of the collar 114 until the first collar coupling 306 starts to engage with the first tool coupling 402. In an exemplary embodiment in which the first collar coupling 306 and the first tool coupling 402 are complementary threads, the collar 114 and the first housing 120 may be rotated relative to each other until the collar 114 is securely coupled to the first housing 120, which may occur when the collar rib 302 abuts one or both of the TSA rib 204 and the first housing 120 (see
In block 908, the collar 114 is coupled to the second housing 124 of the second wellbore tool 122. This may be achieved by inserting the second housing 124 into the collar 114 opposite the first housing 120 to engage the second collar coupling 308 and the second tool coupling 404 (see
This disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations and aspects, includes components, methods, processes, systems, and/or apparatuses as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof. This disclosure contemplates, in various embodiments, configurations and aspects, the actual or optional use or inclusion of, e.g., components or processes as may be well-known or understood in the art and consistent with this disclosure though not depicted and/or described herein.
The phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together.
In this specification and the claims that follow, reference will be made to a number of terms that have the following meanings. The terms “a” (or “an”) and “the” refer to one or more of that entity, thereby including plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “an embodiment” and the like are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term such as “about” is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Terms such as “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” etc. are used to identify one element from another, and unless otherwise specified are not meant to refer to a particular order or number of elements.
As used herein, the terms “may” and “may be” indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and/or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of “may” and “may be” indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable. For example, in some circumstances an event or capacity can be expected, while in other circumstances the event or capacity cannot occur—this distinction is captured by the terms “may” and “may be.”
As used in the claims, the word “comprises” and its grammatical variants logically also subtend and include phrases of varying and differing extent such as for example, but not limited thereto, “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of.” Where necessary, ranges have been supplied, and those ranges are inclusive of all sub-ranges therebetween. It is to be expected that the appended claims should cover variations in the ranges except where this disclosure makes clear the use of a particular range in certain embodiments.
The terms “determine,” “calculate,” and “compute,” and variations thereof, as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any type of methodology, process, mathematical operation or technique.
This disclosure is presented for purposes of illustration and description. This disclosure is not limited to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the Detailed Description of this disclosure, for example, various features of some exemplary embodiments are grouped together to representatively describe those and other contemplated embodiments, configurations, and aspects, to the extent that including in this disclosure a description of every potential embodiment, variant, and combination of features is not feasible. Thus, the features of the disclosed embodiments, configurations, and aspects may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, and aspects not expressly discussed above. For example, the features recited in the following claims lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this disclosure.
Advances in science and technology may provide variations that are not necessarily express in the terminology of this disclosure although the claims would not necessarily exclude these variations.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/181,280 filed Feb. 22, 2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/992,643 filed Mar. 20, 2020, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29/735,905, filed May 26, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62992643 | Mar 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17181280 | Feb 2021 | US |
| Child | 17545147 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 29735905 | May 2020 | US |
| Child | 17181280 | US |
