Patent Grant
11761294
This application claims priority to EP Patent Application No. 21156921.5 filed 12 Feb. 2021, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to an annular barrier to be expanded in an annulus between a well tubular metal structure and an inside wall of a borehole downhole to an expanded condition of the annular barrier. The invention also relates to a downhole system comprising at least one annular barrier and the well tubular metal structure.
Annular barriers are used downhole for providing isolation of a first zone from a second zone in an annulus in a borehole of a well between a well tubular metal structure and the borehole wall or another well tubular metal structure.
When expanded, annular barriers may be subjected to continuous pressure or periodically high pressure from outside, either in the form of hydraulic pressure within the well environment or in the form of formation pressure. In some circumstances, such pressure may cause the expanded metal sleeve of the annular barrier to collapse, which may have severe consequences for the zonal isolation provided by the barrier, as the sealing properties are lost due to the collapse.
The ability of the expanded sleeve of an annular barrier to withstand the collapse pressure is thus affected by many variables, such as material strength, wall thickness, surface area exposed to the collapse pressure, temperature, well fluids, etc. However, the thicker the expandable metal sleeve, the more expansion pressure is required to expand the sleeve, and other completion components cannot withstand such high expansion pressure. Thus, the annular barriers are provided with a valve system fluidly connected with both the first zone, the second zone and the space underneath the expanded metal sleeve of the annular barrier, so that the space is always pressure-equalised with the higher of the pressure in the first and the second zone. In order for the valve system to be fluidly connected with both the first zone and the second zone, a hydraulic tube T is arranged between the expandable metal sleeve and the well tubular metal structure, around which the expandable metal sleeve extends. However, such hydraulic tube T is insufficient for some well applications where the clearance between the borehole and the well tubular metal structure is very small and there is no room for the hydraulic tube. In such applications, two annular barriers are arranged “back-to-back”, i.e. next to each other, so that one of the annular barriers pressure-equalises its space pressure with the pressure in the first zone, and the other annular barrier pressure-equalises its space pressure with the pressure in the second zone, and none of the annular barriers are pressure-equalising with the zone between the annular barriers. However, such “back-to-back” solution is expensive as two annular barriers are required.
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 does not collapse, without having to increase the thickness of the expandable metal sleeve, and which is sufficient for all well applications, i.e. independently of the clearance between the borehole and the well tubular metal structure.
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 to be expanded in an annulus between a well tubular metal structure and an inside wall of a borehole downhole to an expanded condition of the annular barrier providing zone isolation between a first zone and a second zone of the borehole, the annular barrier having an unexpanded condition, and the expanded condition comprising:
Furthermore, the fluid channel may be provided by a wall arranged between the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular metal part.
Further, the wall may be sheet-shaped.
Moreover, the fluid channel may be provided by a sheet-shaped wall arranged between the tubular metal part and the expandable metal sleeve, each end of the sheet-shaped wall being arranged between the tubular metal part and each end of the expandable metal sleeve, respectively.
Thus, the fluid channel may be provided by a sheet-shaped wall arranged between the tubular metal part and the expandable metal sleeve, each end of the wall being arranged between the tubular metal part and each end of the expandable metal sleeve, respectively.
Furthermore, the expandable metal sleeve may have a first length along the longitudinal extension, the wall having a second length along the longitudinal extension, the second length being equal to or larger than the first length.
In addition, the wall may have an axial extension along the longitudinal extension being longer than the circumference of the tubular metal part.
Also, the wall may have a circumferential extension being at least 10% of the circumference of the tubular metal part, preferably at least 25% of the circumference of the tubular metal part.
Further, each end of the wall may be arranged between each end of the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular metal part, so that one end of the wall is arranged between one end of the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular metal part, and another end of the wall being arranged between the other end of the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular metal part.
Additionally, the wall may extend underneath the expandable metal sleeve from end to end, the fluid channel being underneath the wall.
Moreover, the fluid channel may have an extension along a circumference of the tubular metal part being at least 10% of the circumference of the tubular metal part, preferably at least 25% of the circumference of the tubular metal part, and more preferably at least 50% of the circumference of the tubular metal part.
By having at least a partly annular fluid channel, a hydraulic tube is no longer needed to provide the fluid channel for equalising the pressure in the space in the annular barrier with the pressure in both the first and the second zone. The hydraulic tube takes up more space in the radial direction than a partly annular fluid channel, and thus the overall outer diameter of the annular barrier is substantially reduced compared to using a hydraulic tube extending between the tubular metal part and the expandable metal sleeve.
Also, the valve assembly may comprise a fourth opening fluidly connected with the expansion opening.
Furthermore, the wall may have a second thickness being smaller than the first thickness.
Additionally, the fluid channel may be provided by a wall having a second thickness being smaller than the first thickness.
Also, the fluid channel may be provided by a wall being at least partly tubular and surrounding the tubular metal part.
By having the wall between the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular metal part, a simple, partly annular fluid channel is provided by only one wall thickness compared to the hydraulic tube providing the fluid channel by two times the wall thickness when seen in the radial direction of the annular barrier.
In addition, the wall may extend along at least part of the circumference of the tubular metal part and along an axial extension of the tubular metal part.
Further, the fluid channel may be provided by a tubular sleeve having the wall surrounding the tubular metal part and being within the expandable metal sleeve, providing the fluid channel.
In that way, the wall encloses the at least partly annular fluid channel with only one wall thickness and not twice the wall thickness as compared to the known hydraulic tube.
Also, the annular barrier may only have one wall thickness between the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular metal part.
Furthermore, the annular barrier may only have one wall between the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular metal part extending all the way around the tubular metal part.
Moreover, the tubular sleeve may be immobile at least after expansion of the expandable metal sleeve.
Also, during expansion, the tubular sleeve may not expand with the expandable metal sleeve.
Furthermore, the fluid channel may be arranged between the tubular sleeve and the tubular metal part, and the expandable metal sleeve may surround the tubular sleeve defining the expandable space between the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular sleeve, and the valve assembly may control a pressure in the expandable space.
In addition, the second thickness may be between 1-5 mm, preferably between 1-3 mm.
Further, the second thickness may be 50% smaller than the first thickness.
Moreover, the wall may have an outer face and an inner face, and the inner face of the wall may be arranged at a distance of 0.5-3 mm from an outer face of the tubular metal part.
Also, the wall may have a spacer part ensuring a distance between an inner face of the wall and an outer face of the tubular metal part.
Furthermore, the wall may have a spacer part ensuring a distance between an inner face of the wall and an outer face of the tubular metal part also when the expandable metal sleeve is expanded by pressurising the space between the wall and the expandable metal sleeve.
In addition, the spacer part may be a welded seam.
Further, the spacer part may be one or more indentations.
Moreover, the indentations may be made by stamping.
Also, the indentations may be distributed at least along the longitudinal extension of the tubular metal part.
Furthermore, the fluid channel may be an annular fluid channel.
In addition, the fluid channel may be an annular fluid channel when seen in cross-section.
Further, the wall may be only partly surrounding the tubular metal part and may be connected to the tubular metal part along a longitudinal extension of the tubular metal part.
Moreover, the fluid channel may have a moon-shaped cross-section.
Furthermore, the pressure in the fluid channel is equal to the pressure in the second zone.
In addition, the pressure in the expandable space between the expandable metal sleeve and the wall is always higher than or equal to the pressure in the fluid channel.
Also, the annular barrier may comprise a first connection part connecting the expandable metal sleeve to the tubular metal part, the first connection part comprising a first conduit fluidly connecting the third opening of the valve assembly and the expandable space, and the first connection part comprising a second conduit fluidly connecting the second opening of the valve assembly and the fluid channel.
Furthermore, the first connection part may connect the expandable metal sleeve and the wall to the tubular metal part.
In addition, the second connection part may connect the expandable metal sleeve and the wall to the tubular metal part.
Further, the first connection part may connect the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular sleeve to the tubular metal part.
Moreover, the second connection part may connect the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular sleeve to the tubular metal part.
Also, the annular barrier may comprise a second connection part connecting the expandable metal sleeve to the tubular metal part, the second connection part comprising a third conduit fluidly connecting the fluid channel and the second zone.
Furthermore, the third conduit may be in fluid communication with the second zone at one end and fluidly connected to the fluid channel at the other end, the fluid channel being fluidly connected to the second conduit, and the second conduit being fluidly connected to the second opening of the valve assembly.
In addition, the expandable space between the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular metal part may be fluidly connected to the first conduit, the first conduit being fluidly connected to the first opening, which is fluidly connected with the first zone in the expanded condition of the annular barrier.
Further, the fourth opening may be fluidly connected with the expandable space during expansion of the expandable metal sleeve, and after expansion the fourth opening may be fluidly disconnected from the expandable space.
Moreover, the valve assembly may comprise a first position in which the first opening is fluidly connected with the expandable space and a second position in which the second opening is fluidly connected with the expandable space.
Also, in the first position, the pressure in the first zone may be higher than the pressure in the second zone, and in the second position the pressure in the second zone may be higher than the pressure in the first zone.
Furthermore, in the first position and in the second position, the fourth opening may be fluidly disconnected from the expansion opening.
In addition, the valve assembly may be a pressure compensation valve assembly.
Further, the annular barrier may comprise a first screen for filtering fluid from the first zone before entering the valve assembly and/or a second screen for filtering fluid from the second zone before entering the valve assembly.
Finally, the present invention relates to a downhole system comprising at least one annular barrier and the well tubular metal structure.
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.
The fluid channel 12 is provided by a tubular sleeve 17 having the sheet-shaped wall 16 and surrounding the tubular metal part 7, and the tubular sleeve is arranged within the expandable metal sleeve 8, providing the fluid channel 12. Thus, the fluid channel 12 is arranged between the tubular sleeve 17 and the tubular metal part 7, and the expandable metal sleeve 8 surrounds the tubular sleeve 17, defining the expandable space 18 between the expandable metal sleeve 8 and the tubular sleeve 17. The valve assembly 10 controls the pressure in the expandable space 18 so that in an expansion position, the valve assembly fluidly connects the expansion opening 11 and the expandable space.
As can be seen, only a wall and thus one wall thickness, i.e. the second thickness t2, is necessary for providing the fluid channel 12, and thus the overall diameter of the annular barrier 1, as shown in
Thus, the fluid channel 12 has an extension along a circumference of the tubular metal part 7 being at least 5% of the circumference of the tubular metal part 7, and thus a partly annular fluid channel is provided. The height of the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel 12 can thus be made very small, and still the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel 12 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the hydraulic tube T, shown in
Thus, an improved annular barrier 1 which does not collapse, without having to increase the thickness of the expandable metal sleeve 8, and which is sufficient for all well applications, i.e. independently of the clearance between the borehole 5 and the well tubular metal structure 3, has been accomplished as the annular barrier can fit almost all well applications because the annular barrier is pressure-equalised from both sides (both the first zone 101 and the second zone 102), so there is no need for the more expensive “back-to-back” (two-annular-barriers) solution.
As shown in
In
The fluid channel 12 is provided by the wall 16 having the second thickness t2 being smaller than the first thickness t1 of the expandable metal sleeve 8. The second thickness t2 is between 1-5 mm, preferably between 1-3 mm. The second thickness t2 is 50% smaller than the first thickness t1.
In
In
When expanding the expandable metal sleeve 8, pressurised fluid enters the expandable space 18 and thus provides pressure on the wall 16/tubular sleeve 17, and the wall 16/tubular sleeve 17 may bend slightly inward, which may induce permanent deformation of the wall 16/tubular sleeve 17 and thus block the fluid channel 12. In order to prevent the fluid channel 12 from being blocked, the wall 16 of the annular barrier 1 has a spacer part 22, as shown in
The annular barrier 1 further comprises a first connection part 30 connecting the expandable metal sleeve 8 to the tubular metal part 7, as shown in
The fourth opening 23 of the valve assembly 10 is fluidly connected with the expandable space 18 during expansion of the expandable metal sleeve 8, and after expansion the fourth opening 23 is fluidly disconnected from the expandable space 18. The valve assembly 10 comprises a first position in which the first opening 14 is fluidly connected with the expandable space 18 and a second position in which the second opening 15 is fluidly connected with the expandable space 18. In the first position, the pressure in the first zone 101 is higher than the pressure in the second zone 102, and in the second position the pressure in the second zone 102 is higher than the pressure in the first zone 101. In the first position and in the second position, the fourth opening 23 is fluidly disconnected from the expansion opening 11. In the expansion position, the valve assembly fluidly connects the expansion opening 11 and the expandable space. The valve assembly may be positioned in the expansion position when running the annular barrier and the well tubular metal structure in hole, or the valve assembly may be positioned in the first or second position when running in hole in order to ensure that the expandable space is pressure equalised with the annulus during running in hole. In expansion position, pressurised fluid from within the tubular metal part enters expansion opening 11 and further into fourth opening 23 through the first conduit 31.
As shown in
When mounted to the well tubular metal structure 3, the annular barrier 1 forms a downhole system 100. The downhole system 100 may comprise more than one annular barrier 1.
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 “casing” 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.
Although the invention has been described above in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that several modifications are conceivable without departing from the invention as defined by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21156921 | Feb 2021 | EP | regional |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10551091 | Krüger | Feb 2020 | B2 |
| 10667013 | Peng | May 2020 | B2 |
| 10844686 | Hallundbæk | Nov 2020 | B2 |
| 11142987 | Vasques | Oct 2021 | B2 |
| 20190383114 | Vasques | Dec 2019 | A1 |
| 20200248530 | Kumar | Aug 2020 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2015169959 | Nov 2015 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| Extended Search Report for EP21156921.5, dated Jul. 23, 2021, 8 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220259940 A1 | Aug 2022 | US |
