This application is a U.S. National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/US2015/052941 filed Sep. 29, 2015, which designates the United States, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure is related to downhole tools for use in a wellbore environment and more particularly to closing sleeve assemblies used in a well system during gravel packing operations.
Production fluids, including hydrocarbons, water, sediment, and other materials or substances found in a downhole formation, flow out of the surrounding formation into a wellbore and then ultimately out of the wellbore. Sand and other fine particulates are often carried from the formation into the wellbore by the production fluids. During well completion, a steel screen is placed in the wellbore and the surrounding annulus is packed with gravel to inhibit particulate flow from the formation.
A more complete and thorough understanding of the various embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:
To protect the sealing surface in a closing sleeve assembly from erosion caused by the proppant slurry flowing over the surface, a protective sleeve may be positioned over the sealing surface. Embodiments of the present disclosure and its advantages may be understood by referring to
Well system 100 may also include production string 103, which may be used to produce hydrocarbons such as oil and gas and other natural resources such as water from formation 112 via wellbore 114. Production string 103 may also be used to inject hydrocarbons such as oil and gas and other natural resources such as water into formation 112 via wellbore 114. As shown in
The location of various components may be described relative to the bottom or end of wellbore 114 shown in
Well system 100 may also include downhole assembly 120 coupled to production string 103. Downhole assembly 120 may be used to perform operations relating to the completion of wellbore 114, production of hydrocarbons and other natural resources from formation 112 via wellbore 114, injection of hydrocarbons and other natural resources into formation 112 via wellbore 114, and/or maintenance of wellbore 114. Downhole assembly 120 may be located at the end of wellbore 114 or at a point uphole from the end of wellbore 114. Downhole assembly 120 may be formed from a wide variety of components configured to perform these operations. For example, components 122a, 122b and 122c of downhole assembly 120 may include, but are not limited to, closing sleeve assemblies, screens, flow control devices, slotted tubing, packers, valves, sensors, and actuators. The number and types of components 122 included in downhole assembly 120 may depend on the type of wellbore, the operations being performed in the wellbore, and anticipated wellbore conditions.
Fluids, including hydrocarbons, water, and other materials or substances, may be injected into wellbore 114 and formation 112 via production string 103 and downhole assembly 120. For example, during gravel pack operations a proppant slurry including proppant particles mixed with a fluid may be injected into wellbore 114 via a closing sleeve assembly 122 of downhole assembly 120 and production string 103. In other examples, a temporary string (not expressly shown) that is part of a service tool string may be used in place of production string 103. The proppant particles may include naturally occurring sand grains, man-made or specially engineered particles, such as resin-coated sand or high-strength ceramic materials like sintered bauxite. The proppant slurry flows out of closing sleeve assembly 122 through a port in a housing of closing sleeve assembly 122. (shown in
The flow of the proppant slurry through the port in the housing may cause the surfaces of the housing over which the proppant slurry flows to erode. Surface erosion may be particularly problematic where the eroded surface is a sealing surface. For example, the flow of the proppant slurry over surfaces of the housing adjacent to the port (shown in
As shown in
When closing sleeve 204 is in the closed position (shown in
When closing sleeve 204 is moved to the open position (shown in
Port 205 may be sized such that the opening of port 205 is larger than the opening of port 202 in housing 201. For example, the opening of port 205 may be longer than the opening of port 202 in housing 201. The length of port 205 is indicated by dimension L in
Closing sleeve 204 may be formed of an erosion resistant material, including but not limited to tungsten carbide and hardened tool steel. Closing sleeve 204 may also include an erosion resistant coating. For example, closing sleeve 204 may include a base formed of a metal or alloy to which an erosion resistant coating has been applied. The erosion resistant coating may, for example, include Nedox®, Hardide®, or a coating treated to be erosion resistant through methods including, for example, laser cladding, quench polish quench (QPQ) treatment, and nitro-carburizing. The erosion resistant coating may be applied to the entire closing sleeve 204 or portions thereof (e.g., uphole portion 214 of closing sleeve 204) Closing sleeve 204 may also be hardened to increase its erosion resistance.
Release ring 218 may be formed of an erosion resistant material, including but not limited to tungsten carbide and hardened tool steel. Release ring 218 may also include an erosion resistant coating. For example, release ring 218 may include a base formed of a metal or alloy to which an erosion resistant coating has been applied. The erosion resistant coating may, for example, include Nedox®, Hardide®, or a coating treated to be erosion resistant through methods including, for example, laser cladding, quench polish quench (QPQ) treatment, and nitro-carburizing. The erosion resistant coating may be applied to the entire release ring 218 or portions thereof (e.g., fingers 220). Release ring 218 may also be hardened to increase its erosion resistance.
Embodiments disclosed herein include:
A. A closing sleeve assembly including a housing; a port formed in the housing; a sealing surface formed in the housing adjacent to the port; and a closing sleeve configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The closing sleeve includes an uphole portion configured to substantially cover the sealing surface when the closing sleeve is moved to the open position; a port formed in the closing sleeve and configured to substantially overlap with the port formed in the housing when the closing sleeve is in the open position; and a seal configured to engage with the sealing surface to form a fluid and pressure tight seal when the closing sleeve is in the closed position.
B. A closing sleeve including an uphole portion configured to substantially cover a sealing surface of a housing when the closing sleeve is moved to an open position; a port formed in the closing sleeve and configured to substantially overlap with a port formed in the housing when a closing sleeve is in the open position; and a seal configured to engage with the sealing surface to form a fluid and pressure tight seal when the closing sleeve is in the closed position.
C. A well system including a string; and a closing sleeve assembly coupled to and disposed downhole from the production string. The closing sleeve assembly including a housing including a port formed in the housing and a sealing surface formed in the housing adjacent to the port; and a closing sleeve configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The closing sleeve includes an uphole portion configured to substantially cover the sealing surface when the closing sleeve is moved to the open position; a port formed in the closing sleeve and configured to substantially overlap with the port formed in the housing when the closing sleeve is in the open position; and a seal configured to engage with the sealing surface to form a fluid and pressure tight seal when the closing sleeve is in the closed position.
Each of embodiments A, B, and C may have one or more of the following additional elements in any combination: Element 1: further comprising a release ring disposed uphole from the closing sleeve and configured to engage with the closing sleeve to prevent rotation of the closing sleeve relative to the housing. Element 2: wherein: the closing sleeve includes a slot formed in the surface; and the release ring includes a finger extending from the downhole end and configured to engage with the slot formed in the surface of the closing sleeve to prevent rotation of the closing sleeve relative to the housing. Element 3: wherein the closing sleeve is formed of an erosion resistant material. Element 4: wherein the release ring is formed of an erosion resistant material. Element 5: wherein the closing sleeve is coated with an erosion resistant coating. Element 6: wherein the release ring is coated with an erosion resistant coating. Element 7: wherein the seal is positioned in a slot or groove formed in the closing sleeve.
Therefore, the disclosed systems and methods are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the teachings of the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered, combined, or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The systems and methods illustratively disclosed herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically disclosed herein and/or any optional element disclosed herein.
Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2015/052941 | 9/29/2015 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2017/058173 | 4/6/2017 | WO | A |
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