Patent Application
20230184057
This disclosure relates to wellbore operations, and more particularly to wellbore cementing operations.
Wellbore cementing is the process of introducing cement to the annulus between the outer surface of a casing and the wall of a wellbore. Casings consist of successive casing pipes or strings extending from a surface of the wellbore to a downhole end of the wellbore. Casings can be steel pipes that protect and support the wellbore. The cement holds the casing in place and forms an additional layer of protection between the casing and the wellbore. The process of cementing a wellbore can be lengthy and expensive. Methods and equipment for improving cementing operations are sought.
Implementations of the present disclosure include a method of cementing a casing in a wellbore. The method includes lowering the casing in the wellbore. The casing includes multiple pipes each of progressively smaller diameters. The casing includes a transition point where a first pipe of the pipes overlaps a second pipe that extends beyond the first pipe. The first pipe defines a first inner diameter and the second pipe that is carried by the first pipe defines a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter. The method also includes flowing cement into the casing. The method also includes deploying, by fluidic pressure of a fluid, a wiper plug assembly in the casing upstream of the cement to push downhole the cement with the wiper plug assembly. The wiper plug assembly includes: i) a hollow wiper plug that allows the fluid to flow across the hollow wiper plug, and ii) a solid wiper plug releasably coupled to the hollow wiper plug and configured to separate the cement from the fluid. The deploying includes applying fluidic pressure until the hollow wiper plug reaches and is retained at the transition point and the solid wiper plug is released, under fluidic pressure, from the hollow wiper plug to flow downhole in the casing to a downhole end of the casing and push the cement out of the casing.
In some implementation, the deploying includes cementing the wellbore in one trip by pushing, under fluidic pressure of the fluid, a last portion of the cement out of the casing into an annulus of the wellbore as the solid wiper plug travels along a last pipe of the casing to a downhole end of the last pipe where the solid wiper plug is retained.
In some implementations, the deploying includes pushing the last portion of the cement as the solid wiper plug fluidly isolates the last portion of the cement from the fluid in the last pipe. In some implementations, second pipe is the last pipe of the multiple pipes.
In some implementations, the hollow wiper plug includes a first wiper that wipes the first pipe and the solid wiper plug includes a last wiper that wipes a last pipe of the multiple pipes. The method further includes wiping, with the wiper plug assembly pushing the cement, the casing. In some implementations, the last wiper includes an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the first wiper, and the wiping includes wiping the first pipe with the first wiper and wiping the last pipe with the last wiper.
In some implementations, the wiper plug assembly further includes an intermediate hollow wiper plug disposed between and releasably coupled to the hollow wiper plug and the solid wiper plug. The casing includes a second transition point where the second pipe overlaps a third pipe of the plurality of pipes that extends beyond the second pipe. The deploying includes applying fluidic pressure until the hollow wiper plug is retained at the transition point and the intermediate hollow wiper plug is released, with the solid wiper plug coupled to the intermediate hollow wiper plug, from the hollow wiper plug, and deploying further includes applying fluidic pressure until the intermediate hollow wiper plug is retained at the second transition point and the solid wiper plug is released, under fluidic pressure, from the intermediate hollow wiper plug.
In some implementations, first pipe is a surface pipe that extends from or near a terranean surface of the wellbore. Lowering the casing includes setting the first pipe on or near the terranean surface of the wellbore with the second pipe suspending from the first pipe.
Implementations of the present disclosure also include a method that includes flowing cement into a casing. The casing is disposed within a wellbore and includes a first pipe and a second pipe carried by and extending downhole from the first pipe. The first pipe defines a first inner diameter and the second pipe defines a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter. The method also includes deploying, under fluidic pressure of a fluid, a wiper plug assembly in the casing and upstream of the cement to push the cement out of the casing. The wiper plug assembly includes a first wiper plug and a second wiper plug releasably coupled to the first wiper plug. The first wiper plug allows fluid to flow across the first wiper plug and the second wiper plug configured to fluidly isolate the cement from the fluid in the casing. The deploying includes applying fluidic pressure until the first wiper plug reaches and is retained at an inlet of the second pipe. Continuing to apply pressure causes the second wiper plug to be released, under fluidic pressure, from the first wiper plug to flow downhole in the casing to a downhole end of the casing and push the cement out of the casing.
In some implementations, the deploying includes pushing, under fluidic pressure of the fluid, a last portion of the cement out of the casing into an annulus of the wellbore as the second wiper plug travels along a last pipe of the casing to a downhole end of the last pipe where the second wiper plug is retained. In some implementations, the first wiper plug includes a first annular wiper configured to wipe the first pipe and the second wiper plug includes a second annular wiper configured to wipe the last pipe. The method further includes wiping, with the wiper plug assembly pushing the cement, the first pipe and the last pipe.
In some implementations, the second annular wiper includes an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the first annular wiper. The wiping includes wiping from cement the first pipe with only the first annular wiper and wiping the last pipe with only the second annular wiper.
In some implementations, the wiper plug assembly further includes an intermediate hollow wiper plug disposed between and releasably coupled to the first wiper plug and the second wiper plug. The casing includes a third pipe carried by and extending downhole of the second pipe. The deploying includes applying fluidic pressure until the hollow wiper plug is retained at the inlet of the second pipe and the intermediate hollow wiper plug is released, with the second wiper plug coupled to the intermediate hollow wiper plug, from the first wiper plug. The deploying further includes applying fluidic pressure until the intermediate hollow wiper plug is retained at an inlet of the third pipe and the second wiper plug is released, under fluidic pressure, from the intermediate hollow wiper plug.
Implementations of the present disclosure also include a cementing wiper plug assembly that includes a first wiper plug and a second wiper plug. The first wiper plug defines a bore configured to direct fluid from an inlet to an outlet of the first wiper plug. The second wiper plug is releasably coupled to the first wiper plug. The second wiper plug includes a solid body configured to fluidly isolate, when disposed within a casing of a wellbore, a first portion of the casing downhole of the wiper plug assembly from a second portion of the casing uphole of the wiper plug assembly. The casing includes a first pipe and a second pipe carried by and extending downhole from the first pipe. The first pipe defines a first inner diameter and the second pipe defines a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter. The first and second wiper plugs are configured to flow together to an inlet of the second pipe and the second wiper plug is arranged to be released, under fluidic pressure, from the first wiper plug to flow downhole in the casing to a downhole end of the casing and push cement out of the casing, with the first wiper plug retained at the inlet of the second pipe.
In some implementations, the solid body of the second wiper plug sits and is retained at a downhole end of a last pipe of the casing.
In some implementations, the second wiper plug is releasably attached, by a joint that includes a shear pin, to the first wiper plug. In some implementations, one of the first wiper plug or second wiper plug includes a first inner tube that includes an aperture and is inserted into a second inner tube of the other one of the first wiper plug or second wiper plug. The second inner tube includes a shear pin inserted, with the first wiper plug and second wiper plug attached to each other, into the aperture of the first inner tube.
In some implementations, the first wiper plug includes a first annular wiper configured to wipe the first pipe and the second wiper plug includes a second annular wiper configured to wipe a last pipe of the casing. In some implementations, the second annular wiper includes an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the first annular wiper.
The cementing wiper plug assembly of claim 14, further including an intermediate wiper plu. The intermediate plug defines a second bore that directs fluid from an inlet to an outlet of the intermediate wiper plug. The intermediate wiper plug is disposed between and is releasably coupled to the first wiper plug and the second wiper plug. The casing includes a third pipe carried by and extending downhole of the second pip. The cementing wiper plug assembly flows to the inlet of the second pipe and the intermediate wiper plug is arranged to be released, with the second wiper plug attached to the intermediate wiper plug, from the first wiper plug to flow downhole in the casing to an inlet of the third pipe. The second wiper plug is arranged to be released, under fluidic pressure, from the intermediate wiper plug to flow downhole in the casing to an outlet of the casing.
The present disclosure relates to equipment and methods for cementing a wellbore quickly and without having to cement and drill in stages to cement a progressive casing. Typically, to case and cement a wellbore, multiple casing pipes are lowered and cemented in separate trips, which requires lengthy rig time and can be costly. The present disclosure includes a multi-stage wiper plug assembly with multiple wiper plugs that are releasably attached to each other. The wiper plugs are released one at a time each instance in which the diameter of the casing is reduced. Each wiper plug corresponds with a respective pipe of the tapered casing so that each wiper plug is released at the beginning of its respective pipe to wipe its respective pipe.
Particular implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented so as to realize one or more of the following advantages. For example, the multi-stage wiper plug of the present disclosure allows running and cementing tapered casing in a single trip, which can reduce the time and cost required to cement a casing compared to traditional cementing methods. Additionally, cementing errors can be reduced by running the casing in one trip and cementing the casing in one operation. Moreover, implementations of the present disclosure can eliminate multiple tripping in and out of hole and cementing jobs. This process can save rig time and cost and can ensure faster milling operation. Additionally, implementations of the present disclosure allow the quick lowering of casing, which can eliminate or reduce caving in the wellbore.
The wellbore 102 includes a casing 104. The casing 104 includes multiple pipes of progressively smaller diameter, each assembled on location. For instance, the pipes of the casing can be assembled on the rig floor before running in hole. The surface equipment 116 that lowers the piping can be a rig, a platform, a truck, or similar equipment.
The casing 104 is cemented with a cement “C” in one operation using a multi-stage wiper plug 106. For example, as further described in detail below with respect to
The first wiper plug 110a defines a bore 218 that allows fluid “F” to flow across the first wiper plug 110a. For example, the first wiper plug 110a can be a hollow wiper plug. The first wiper plug 110a directs fluid “F” from an inlet 211 of the first wiper plug 110a to an outlet 213 of the first wiper plug. The first wiper plug 110a has an annular wiper or a group of annular wipers 111a that wipe the first pipe of the casing. The annular wipers 111a are attached to a tubular body 202 of the first wiper plug 110a.
The intermediate wiper plug 110b (e.g., a second hollow wiper plug) is similar to the first wiper plug 110a in that it also allows fluid to flow across its body. For example, the intermediate wiper plug 110b has a bore 219 that directs the fluid “F” from an inlet of the intermediate wiper plug 110b to an outlet of the intermediate wiper plug 110b. The intermediate wiper plug 110b has an annular wiper or a group of annular wipers 111b that wipe the pipe that follows the first pipe of the casing. The annular wipers 111b are attached to a tubular body 204 of the intermediate wiper plug 110b.
The last or leading wiper plug 110c does not allow fluid “F” to flow across its body. For example, the last wiper plug 110c can have a bore 215 with a closed end 217 (e.g., a cap or plug) that prevents fluid from flowing across the last wiper plug 110c. In some implementations, the last wiper plug 110c can be a solid wiper plug that has no bore. The last wiper plug 110c also has a body 206 and annular wipers 111c that extend from the body 206. The wipers 111c wipe the bore of the last pipe of the casing.
The last wiper plug 110c thus fluidly isolates or separates, when disposed within the casing of the wellbore, a first portion of the casing downhole of the wiper plug 106 assembly from a second portion of the casing uphole of the wiper plug assembly 106. For example, the last wiper plug 110c does not allow the fluid “F” to flow across the wiper plug assembly 106 to mix with the cement that is downhole of the wiper plug assembly 106.
The wiper plugs 110a, 110b, 110c are releasably coupled to each other. For example, the intermediate wiper plug 110b is releasably attached to the first wiper plug 110ca, and the last wiper plug 110c is releasably attached to the intermediate wiper plug 110b. The inlet of the intermediate wiper plug 110b can be attached to the outlet 213 of the first wiper plug 110a.
The wiper plugs 110a, 110b, 110c can be attached with a releasable joint 210, 220 such as a snap latch or a shear pin joint. For example, the intermediate wiper plug 110b can be attached to the first wiper plug 110 with a shear pin 216. The shear pin 216 breaks under fluidic pressure that pushes the intermediate wiper plug 110b away from the first wiper plug 110a. In some implementations, the first wiper plug 110a can form male-female connection with the intermediate wiper plug 110b. For example, the first inner tube 110a has a first inner tube 212 that has one or more apertures 223. The first inner tube 212 is inserted into a second inner tube 214 of the intermediate wiper plug 110b. The second inner tube 214 has a shear pin 216 inserted, with the first wiper plug 110a and the intermediate wiper plug 110b attached, into the hole 223 of the first inner tube 212. In some implementations, the first wiper plug 110a can have the female connection and the intermediate wiper plug 110b can have the male connection. Additionally, the two wiper plugs can be attached to each other by a shear pin without the tubes 212, 214, or by any other releasable means such as a releasable latch, or a ball and seat-activated joint.
The second joint 220 between the last wiper plug 110c and the intermediate wiper plug 110b can be similar or the same as the first joint 210 between the first wiper plug 110a and the intermediate wiper plug 110b. For example, second joint 220 includes an inner tube 222 of the intermediate wiper plug 110b inserted into an inner tube of the last wiper plug 110c, with a shear pin 226 connecting the two tubes.
The joints 210, 220 can be progressively stronger from the first to the last to allow the wiper plugs to be separated one by one in order. For example, the shear pins 216, 226 can be progressively stronger such that the first (weakest) shear pin 216 breaks under a shear force smaller than a shear force required to break the following shear pin 226, and so on. The last pin 226 can be the strongest of all the shear pins.
As shown in
The casing 104 shown in
The second pipe 404 can be carried by the first pipe 402 and extends downhole from the first pipe 402. For example, the second pipe 404 can be inserted into and mechanically attached (e.g., threadedly attached) to an end of the first pipe 402. Similarly, the last pipe 406 is inserted into and mechanically attached to the end of the second pipe 404.
The casing 104 has one or more transition points or setting profiles 430, 432. The transition points 430, 432 can be the points of the casing where a pipe overlaps the following pipe that extends beyond the first pipe. In other words, the transition points can be the points where the casing changes in diameter due to a transition of one pipe to the other. In the first transition point 430, the second pipe 404 is disposed inside the outlet 440 of the first pipe 402 so that the first pipe 402 overlaps the second pipe 404. The inlet 444 of the second pipe 404 is disposed inside the first pipe 402. The rim 442 of the inlet 444 of the second pipe 404 forms a sit, shoulder, or a setting profile where the first wiper plug 110a sits. In some implementations, the transition point can include a collar or a different part where the first wiper plug 110a sits. The second transition point 432 is similar to the first transition point 430.
As shown in
The annular wipers of the first wiper plug 110a can have an outer diameter that corresponds with the inner diameter of the first pipe 402. For example, the annular wiper of the first wiper plug 110a can have an outer diameter that is equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the first pipe 402. Similarly, the annular wipers of the intermediate wiper plug 110b correspond with the second pipe 404, and the annular wipers of the last wiper plug 110c correspond with the inner diameter of the last pipe 404.
As shown in
The intermediate wiper plug 110b remains attached to the last wiper plug 110c and any other wiper plugs residing between the intermediate wiper plug 110b and the last wiper plug 110c. With the intermediate wiper plug 110b separated from the first wiper plug 110a, the fluid “F” flows through the bore of the first wiper plug 110a to continue to push the remaining of the wiper plug assembly 106 (e.g., the intermediate wiper plug 110b and the last wiper plug 110c) in a downhole direction. As the intermediate wiper plug 110b flows along the second pipe 404, the intermediate wiper plug 110b wipes the second pipe 404 and pushes the cement in the second pipe 404 toward the outlet 115 of the casing 104.
As shown in
As shown in
In some implementations, the wipers are sized such that only the first wiper plug 110a wipes the first pipe 402, only the intermediate wiper plug j 110b wipes the second pipe 404, and only the last wiper plug 110c wipes the last pipe 406.
Although the following detailed description contains many specific details for purposes of illustration, it is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many examples, variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary implementations described in the present disclosure and provided in the appended figures are set forth without any loss of generality, and without imposing limitations on the claimed implementations.
Although the present implementations have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereupon without departing from the principle and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should be determined by the following claims and their appropriate legal equivalents.
The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used in the present disclosure and in the appended claims, the words “comprise,” “has,” and “include” and all grammatical variations thereof are each intended to have an open, non-limiting meaning that does not exclude additional elements or steps.
As used in the present disclosure, terms such as “first” and “second” are arbitrarily assigned and are merely intended to differentiate between two or more components of an apparatus. It is to be understood that the words “first” and “second” serve no other purpose and are not part of the name or description of the component, nor do they necessarily define a relative location or position of the component. Furthermore, it is to be understood that that the mere use of the term “first” and “second” does not require that there be any “third” component, although that possibility is contemplated under the scope of the present disclosure.
