Well operations, such as milling out a tool or pipe in a wellbore, or a frac operation, create debris that needs to be collected and removed from the well. For example, a bottom-hole assembly with a mill is made up with a debris collection tool. Debris collection tools are sometimes referred to as junk baskets, collector baskets or debris screens. There are a variety of different collection tools that operate on different principles. However, in general, these various tools have a common objective of separating circulating fluid from the cuttings and/or other debris that is present in the wellbore. In some tools, reverse circulation is created at the lower end of the tubing string and is used to circulate the debris into the collection tool. Reverse circulation is generally created by using a tool, sometimes referred to as a power head, to direct flow laden with cuttings and/or particulate material into a debris removal assembly.
Downhole debris removal apparatus' often use chambers with filtration members to assist in collecting fine debris or debris that has been circulated past other collection chambers. If these filtration members become filled with debris and completely prevent the flow of fluid, a packoff may occur, which may necessitate pulling the entire string out of the hole to clean the filtration members. The present disclosure provides a downhole debris removal apparatus with a cleaning assembly, the cleaning assembly configured to move relative to the filtration member to dislodge particulate matter from the filtration member. Accordingly, the cleaning assembly is configured to keep at least a portion of the filtration member free of particulate matter to allow the downhole debris removal apparatus to continue to function.
In the drawings and descriptions that follow, like parts are typically marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawn figures are not necessarily, but may be, to scale. Certain features of the disclosure may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of certain elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
The present disclosure may be implemented in embodiments of different forms. Specific embodiments are described in detail and are shown in the drawings, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure, and is not intended to limit the disclosure to that illustrated and described herein. It is to be fully recognized that the different teachings of the embodiments discussed herein may be employed separately or in any suitable combination to produce desired results. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles and aspects of the disclosure, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof. Additionally, the term, “or,” as used herein, refers to a non-exclusive or, unless otherwise indicated.
Unless otherwise specified, use of the terms “connect,” “engage,” “couple,” “attach,” or any other like term describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the elements and may also include indirect interaction between the elements described.
Unless otherwise specified, use of the terms “up,” “upper,” “upward,” “uphole,” “upstream,” or other like terms shall be construed as generally toward the surface of the well; likewise, use of the terms “down,” “lower,” “downward,” “downhole,” or other like terms shall be construed as generally toward the bottom, terminal end of a well, regardless of the wellbore orientation. Use of any one or more of the foregoing terms shall not be construed as denoting positions along a perfectly vertical or horizontal axis. Unless otherwise specified, use of the term “subterranean formation” shall be construed as encompassing both areas below exposed earth and areas below earth covered by water, such as ocean or fresh water.
Referring initially to
A subsea conduit 145 extends from the platform 115 to a wellhead installation 150, which may include one or more subsea blow-out preventers 155. A wellbore 160 extends through the various earth strata including the subterranean formation 110. In the embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment, wellbore 160 has an initial, generally vertical portion 160a and a lower, generally deviated portion 160b, which is illustrated as being horizontal. It should be noted by those skilled in the art, however, that the downhole debris removal apparatus 180 of the present disclosure is equally well-suited for use in other well configurations including, but not limited to, inclined wells, wells with restrictions, non-deviated wells and the like. Moreover, while the wellbore 160 is positioned below the sea floor 125 in the illustrated embodiment of
In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, the downhole debris removal apparatus 180 includes an inner pipe positioned within a tubular, and a filtration member substantially encircling the inner pipe. The downhole debris removal apparatus 180, in accordance with this embodiment, further includes a cleaning assembly positioned radially about at least a portion of the filtration member, the cleaning assembly configured to move relative to the filtration member to dislodge particulate matter from the filtration member. The cleaning assembly, in one embodiment, is configured to rotate relative to the filtration member. The cleaning assembly, in another embodiment, is configured to translate relative to the filtration member. In yet another embodiment, the cleaning assembly is configured to rotate and translate relative to the filtration member. Coupled to the downhole debris removal apparatus 180 (e.g., positioned uphole of the downhole debris removal apparatus 180) in the embodiment of
Referring now to
The debris collection sub 210 may comprise a variety of different configurations and remain within the scope of the disclosure. Nevertheless, in the embodiment of
The handling sub 220 may also comprise a variety of different configurations and remain within the scope of the disclosure. The handling sub 220, in the embodiment of
The debris removal sub 230, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure, includes a tubular 240. The tubular 240 may comprise a variety of different tubulars and remain within the scope of the disclosure. In one embodiment, the tubular 240 is a steel tubular, such as an American Petroleum Institute (API) pipe. In accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure, the tubular 240 may have a pair of connectors 245 for coupling the debris removal sub 230 to the handling sub 220, as well as coupling the debris removal sub 230 to an additional uphole sub (e.g., a power head).
Positioned at opposing ends within the tubular 240 in the embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment, an inner pipe 260 is positioned within the tubular 240. The inner pipe 260, in the illustrated embodiment, extends partially downward into the tubular 240 from the second base plate 255. In other embodiments, however, the inner piper 260 might extend substantially downward into the tubular 240, or possibly entirely downward into the tubular 240. In the embodiment of
Positioned around the inner pipe 260, in the embodiment of
Positioned radially about at least a portion of the filtration member 265 is a cleaning assembly 270. The cleaning assembly 270, in accordance with the disclosure, is designed to move relative to the filtration member 265 to dislodge particulate matter from the filtration member 265. In the illustrated embodiment of
In one embodiment, an actuator 274 and bearing 276 coupled between the cleaning assembly 270 and the inner pipe 260 may be used to move the cleaning assembly 270 relative to the filtration member 265. The actuator 274 may comprise a variety of different actuators and remain within the scope of the disclosure. In one embodiment, the actuator is a hydraulic actuator. In other embodiments, however, the actuator 274 might be a manual actuator, an electric actuator or a pneumatic actuator.
Turning briefly to
Returning to
The debris removal sub 230 illustrated in the embodiment of
A downhole debris removal apparatus, such as the downhole debris removal apparatus 200, may be operated to filter downhole fluid. In this operation, the downhole debris removal apparatus (e.g., including a debris removal sub according to the disclosure) would be positioned downhole. Thereafter, fluid would be circulated through the debris removal sub. At some point after the fluid has begun to circulate through the debris removal sub (e.g., while the fluid is circulating, or after the fluid has circulated) the cleaning assembly of the debris removal sub would be moved relative to the filtration member of the debris removal sub to dislodge particulate matter from the filtration member. In certain embodiments, the cleaning assembly rotates relative to the filtration member, but in other embodiments it translates, or rotates and translates, relative to the filtration member. In certain embodiments, the circulated fluid creates the relative rotation of the cleaning assembly. In other embodiments, an actuator (or a combination of an actuator and the circulated fluid) creates the relative rotation of the cleaning assembly. Nevertheless, regardless of whether the circulated fluid or an actuator creates the relative rotation, the downhole debris may be used in horizontal, vertical and deviated wellbores alike. Furthermore, if a pressure differential between an exterior of an inner pipe of the debris removal sub and an interior of the inner pipe of the debris removal sub increases a predetermined value, a bypass assembly coupled to the inner pipe may be opened to prevent a packoff situation.
Referring now to
Turning briefly to
In operation of the downhole debris removal apparatus 400 of
Aspects disclosed herein include:
A. A downhole debris removal apparatus, the downhole debris removal apparatus including: 1) an inner pipe positioned within a tubular; 2) a filtration member substantially encircling the inner pipe; and 3) a cleaning assembly positioned radially about at least a portion of the filtration member, the cleaning assembly configured to move relative to the filtration member to dislodge particulate matter from the filtration member.
B. A method for operating a downhole debris removal apparatus, the method including: 1) providing a debris removal sub downhole, the debris removal sub including; a) an inner pipe positioned within a tubular; b) filtration member substantially encircling the inner pipe; and c) a cleaning assembly positioned radially about at least a portion of the filtration member; 2) circulating fluid through the debris removal sub; and 3) moving the cleaning assembly relative to the filtration member to dislodge particulate matter from the filtration member.
C. A well system, the well system including: 1) a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation; 2) a conveyance located within the wellbore; 3) a downhole debris removal apparatus positioned within the wellbore with the conveyance, the downhole debris removal apparatus including: a) an inner pipe positioned within a tubular; b) filtration member substantially encircling the inner pipe; and c) a cleaning assembly positioned radially about at least a portion of the filtration member, the cleaning assembly configured to move relative to the filtration member to dislodge particulate matter from the filtration member; and 4) a power head coupled to the downhole debris removal apparatus, the power head operable to provide fluid circulation through the downhole debris removal apparatus.
Aspects A, B, and C may have one or more of the following additional elements in combination: Element 1: wherein the cleaning assembly is configured to rotate relative to the filtration member. Element 2: wherein the cleaning assembly includes one or more internal flow channels to create the rotation of the cleaning assembly relative to the filtration member. Element 3: wherein the cleaning assembly includes one or more impeller blades to create the rotation of the cleaning assembly relative to the filtration member. Element 4: wherein the cleaning assembly is configured to translate relative to the filtration member. Element 5: wherein the cleaning assembly is configured to rotate and translate relative to the filtration member. Element 6: wherein the cleaning assembly includes one or more brushes, wipers or petals configured to dislodge the particulate matter from the filtration member. Element 7: further including an actuator coupled to the cleaning assembly for moving the cleaning assembly relative to the filtration member. Element 8: wherein the actuator is a manual actuator, pneumatic actuator, hydraulic actuator, or an electric actuator. Element 9: further including a base plate located at a downhole end of the tubular, the base plate and tubular forming a debris collection chamber at the downhole end of the tubular. Element 10: wherein the cleaning assembly further includes one or more debris flow paths to allow the dislodged particulate matter to fall to the debris collection chamber. Element 11: further including a check valve positioned proximate the base plate, the check valve operable to be open during reverse flow and closed during normal flow. Element 12: further including a bypass assembly coupled to the inner pipe, the bypass assembly configured to open when a pressure differential between an exterior of the inner pipe and an interior of the inner pipe hits a predetermined value. Element 13: wherein the bypass assembly is configured to prevent a packoff situation in the downhole debris removal apparatus. Element 14: wherein the tubular, inner pipe, filtration member and cleaning assembly form at least a portion of a debris removal sub, and further including a debris collection sub and handling sub coupled to the debris removal sub. Element 15: wherein moving the cleaning assembly relative to the filtration member includes rotating the cleaning assembly relative to the filtration member or translating the cleaning assembly relative to the filtration member. Element 16: wherein moving the cleaning assembly relative to the filtration member includes rotating the cleaning assembly relative to the filtration member and translating the cleaning assembly relative to the filtration member. Element 17: wherein the debris removal sub further includes a bypass assembly coupled to the inner pipe, and further including opening the bypass assembly when a pressure differential between an exterior of the inner pipe and an interior of the inner pipe hits a predetermined value.
Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments.