Patent Application
20230109781
In the resource recovery and fluid sequestration industries, there is often need to mill casings. Tools exist for such activities but are lacking in efficiency and require costly construction. One particular prior art tool is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,267,111 ('111). The subject of the '111 patent is a product commercially available from Baker Hughes under the product name Heavy Metal Section Mill. The tool uses two blades but the second is not deployed. Rather it is restrained in an undeployed position with a complex restraint configuration that increases cost of the tool. While the tool works as intended, the additional cost in its manufacture is undesirable. Since efficiency in cost as well as function is extremely important to operational profitability, the industry will well receive improved mills, methods, and systems.
An embodiment of a mill for a single casing string including a housing, a first blade section having a blade of a first profile disposed in the housing and positionable to axially mill the single casing string. a second blade section having a blade of a second profile disposed in the housing and positionable to axially mill the single casing string, the first and second blades deployable simultaneously, the second blade configured to ride on an inside diameter surface of the single casing string while the second blade in the deployed position.
A method for milling a single casing string including rotating a mill having a first blade and a second blade, wherein both the first blade and the second blade are rotating and deployed, axially milling the casing string with the first blade, and contacting an inside diameter surface of the casing with the second blade without milling through the casing with the second blade.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring to
Each of the first blade section 18 and second blade section 14 comprise different blades 22 and 24, respectively. The blades are different in their geometries to provide for different functions. While blades 22 and 24 are referred to individually, herein, in embodiments, each of these sections has a plurality of blades. Examples include 2, 3 or 4 blades but other numbers of blades may be substituted as desired. Referring to
Referring to
Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:
Embodiment 1: A mill for a single casing string including a housing, a first blade section having a blade of a first profile disposed in the housing and positionable to axially mill the single casing string. a second blade section having a blade of a second profile disposed in the housing and positionable to axially mill the single casing string, the first and second blades deployable simultaneously, the second blade configured to ride on an inside diameter surface of the single casing string while the second blade in the deployed position.
Embodiment 2: The mill as in any prior embodiment wherein at least one of the first blade section and the second blade section includes a plurality of blades.
Embodiment 3: The mill as in any prior embodiment wherein the housing is a first housing supporting the first blade and a second housing supporting the second blade, the first and second housings being connected to one another to create a fluid pathway to both the first and second housings whereby both first and second blade are actuable by the same hydraulic pressure event.
Embodiment 4: The mill as in any prior embodiment wherein the first and second blade are rotated in the deployed position simultaneously.
Embodiment 5: The mill as in any prior embodiment wherein the first blade is configured to mill radially and axially.
Embodiment 6: The mill as in any prior embodiment wherein the second blade during use is restrained from full radial deployment only by the inside diameter surface of the casing string in which the mill is run.
Embodiment 7: A method for milling a single casing string including rotating a mill having a first blade and a second blade, wherein both the first blade and the second blade are rotating and deployed, axially milling the casing string with the first blade, and contacting an inside diameter surface of the casing with the second blade without milling through the casing with the second blade.
Embodiment 8: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the rotating the first blade includes opening a window in the casing.
Embodiment 9: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the axial milling with the first blade is continued until the first blade is worn.
Embodiment 10: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the second blade automatically extends radially outwardly when it reaches the window.
Embodiment 11: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the second blade axially mills the casing after the first blade is worn to extend the window longitudinal length.
Embodiment 12: A wellbore system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a mill as in any prior embodiment disposed in or as a part of the string.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.
The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.
