This disclosure generally relates to tubing disconnect tools, such as downhole tubing disconnect and reconnect tools.
Downhole tubing in wellbores, such as drill strings, production tubing, or other well tubing, often experiences damage to tubing components during downhole use. Damage to downhole, or sub-surface, tubing such as production piping often occurs close to the surface. When the damage to the tubing reaches critical levels, such as when a wall thickness loss exceeds acceptable levels, the tubing must be replaced, triggering a workover operation where the entire tubing string is retrieved and replaced. Sometimes, an entire upper completion tubing is discarded to address damage sustained to only a small section of the tubing near the surface.
This disclosure describes downhole tubing disconnect assemblies, including tubing disconnect tools for downhole tubing strings.
In some aspects, a downhole tubing disconnect assembly includes a first tubing portion configured to be disposed in a wellbore, the first tubing portion including a first inner surface defining a first central bore, and a first outer surface, and a second tubing portion configured to be disposed in the wellbore downhole of the first tubing portion, the second tubing portion including a second inner surface defining a second central bore in fluid communication with the first central bore, and a second outer surface. The disconnect assembly also includes an actuation sleeve having a substantially cylindrical body positioned between the first tubing portion and the second tubing portion and selectively connecting the first tubing portion and the second tubing portion. The actuation sleeve includes an uphole portion of the cylindrical body to selectively engage the first tubing portion, a downhole portion of the cylindrical body to selectively engage the second tubing portion, and a shifting profile in the cylindrical body. The shifting profile selectively engages a shifting tool disposed within the wellbore.
This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the following features. The uphole portion of the actuation sleeve can include a first locking mechanism to position the uphole portion on the first tubing portion, and the downhole portion of the actuation sleeve can include a second locking mechanism configured to position the downhole portion on the second tubing portion. The first tubing portion can include a first slot along the first inner surface of the first tubing portion and a second slot along the first inner surface spaced axially apart from the first slot, and the first locking mechanism can engage the first slot in a first position of the actuation sleeve and engage the second slot in a second position of the actuation sleeve. The first locking mechanism can include at least one spring-loaded dog configured to reside in the first slot in the first position and reside in the second slot in the second position. The second tubing portion can include a third slot along the second inner surface of the second tubing portion, and the second locking mechanism can engage the third slot in a first position of the actuation sleeve. The second locking mechanism can include at least one spring-loaded dog configured to reside in the third slot in the first position of the actuation sleeve. The downhole tubing disconnect assembly can further include a perforated shell sub between the first tubing portion and the second tubing portion, where the perforated shell sub at least partially surrounds the actuation sleeve and extends from the first outer surface of the first tubing portion to the second outer surface of the second tubing portion. The perforated shell sub can include a plurality of perforations through the perforated shell sub. The actuation sleeve can include a first seal between an outer surface of the uphole portion and the first inner surface of the first tubing portion, and a second seal between an outer surface of the downhole portion and the second inner surface of the second tubing portion. The actuation sleeve can include a full-bore pass through along an entire longitudinal length of the actuation sleeve. The shifting profile in the cylindrical body can include an indent in an inner surface of the cylindrical body, the indent configured to selectively engage the shifting tool. The first tubing portion and the second tubing portion can include production tubing.
Certain aspects of the disclosure encompass a method for disconnecting a tubing in a wellbore. The method includes disposing a downhole tubing disconnect assembly within a wellbore. The downhole tubing disconnect assembly includes a first tubing portion comprising a first inner surface defining a first central bore, and a first outer surface, a second tubing portion downhole of the first tubing portion and comprising a second inner surface defining a second central bore in fluid communication with the first central bore, and a second outer surface, and an actuation sleeve including a substantially cylindrical body having a central bore. The substantially cylindrical body is positioned between the first tubing portion and the second tubing portion, and the actuation sleeve connects the first tubing portion and the second tubing portion. The method also includes engaging, with a shifting tool supported on a tubing string disposed in the central bore of the actuation sleeve, a shifting profile in the substantially cylindrical body. In response to engaging the shifting profile with the shifting tool, the actuation sleeve translates from a first position to a second position, and the actuation sleeve disconnects from the second tubing portion.
These, and other aspects, can include one or more of the following features. Engaging the shifting profile with the shifting tool can include positioning the shifting tool within the shifting profile of the substantially cylindrical body, and jarring the shifting tool in an uphole direction. Translating the actuation sleeve from the first position to the second position can include disengaging a first locking mechanism of the actuation sleeve from a first slot of the first tubing portion, translating the actuation sleeve relative to the first tubing portion, and engaging the first locking mechanism with a second slot of the first tubing portion. Disconnecting the actuation sleeve from the second tubing portion can include disengaging a second locking mechanism of the actuation sleeve from a third slot of the second tubing portion. The method can further include at least partially surrounding the actuation sleeve with a perforated shell sub, the perforated shell sub extending from the first outer surface of the first tubing portion and the second outer surface of the second tubing portion. The perforated shell sub can include perforations through the perforated shell sub, and surrounding the actuation sleeve with the perforated shell sub can include equalizing pressure across the perforated shell sub with the perforations. The method can further include removing the first tubing portion and actuation sleeve from the wellbore, running a third tubing portion and second actuation sleeve into the wellbore, and connecting the third tubing portion and second actuation sleeve to the second tubing portion.
In certain aspects, a tubing disconnect tool includes a first tubing portion including a first inner surface defining a first central bore, a second tubing portion separate from the first tubing portion, the second tubing portion including a second inner surface defining a second central bore, and an actuation sleeve positioned between the first tubing portion and the second tubing portion and selectively connecting the first tubing portion and the second tubing portion. The actuation sleeve includes a full-bore pass through fluidly connecting the first central bore and the second central bore, and includes an uphole portion to selectively engage the first tubing portion, a downhole portion to selectively engage the second tubing portion, and a shifting profile configured to selectively engage a shifting tool.
The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
This disclosure describes a downhole tubing disconnect assembly for disconnecting a first tubing section from a second tubing section disposed downhole in a wellbore. The downhole tubing disconnect assembly can also be used to remove the first tubing section, and subsequently reconnect a third tubing section to the second tubing section. The downhole tubing disconnect assembly resides along a tubing string between an uphole tubing portion and a downhole tubing portion, couples to the uphole tubing portion and a downhole tubing portion, and in some instances, fluidly connects the uphole tubing portion with the downhole tubing portion via a central bore through the downhole tubing disconnect assembly. The tubing disconnect assembly can be positioned at any point along the tubing string, such as close to a surface of a well or further downhole from the well surface. The tubing disconnect assembly includes a first tubing portion that couples to the adjacent uphole portion of the tubing string, a second tubing portion that couples to the adjacent downhole portion of the tubing string, where the first tubing portion is uphole of the second tubing portion. The tubing disconnect assembly also includes a movable actuation sleeve between the first tubing portion and the second tubing portion, where the actuation sleeve selectively connects the first tubing portion to the second tubing portion. In some implementations, the first tubing portion, actuation sleeve, and second tubing portion define a full-bore pass through that fluidly connects an internal fluid flow along the tubing string and through the tubing disconnect assembly. The actuation sleeve can slide, or translate, along an inner surface of the first tubing portion from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the actuation sleeve couples to the first tubing portion and second tubing portion (for example, with locking mechanisms such as spring-loaded dogs that engage corresponding slots in the first and second tubing portions), whereas in the second position, the actuation sleeve couples to the first tubing portion and is disconnected from the second tubing portion. The actuation sleeve can be actuated by a shifting tool that is run into the central bore of the tubing disconnect assembly, for example, on a slickline, coiled tubing, or other well string, to engage a shifting profile of the actuation sleeve and cause the actuation sleeve to move from the first position to the second position. Once the actuation sleeve is disconnected from the second tubing portion, the first tubing portion and the adjacent uphole portion of the tubing string can be retrieved from the wellbore. In some instances, a replacement tubing portion with the same or similar first tubing portion can be run into the wellbore to reconnect with the second tubing portion and the adjacent downhole portion of the tubing string.
The downhole tubing disconnect assembly of the present disclosure allows for the retrieval of a section of tubing from a wellbore, such as a small portion of downhole tubing positioned close to a well surface. The section of tubing can be removed from the wellbore, and a replacement section of tubing can be run into and reconnected to the existing tubing disposed in the wellbore. The disconnect and reconnect operation provides continuity in fluid flow path through the tubing and pressure retention capability in the tubing. The downhole tubing disconnect assembly allows for the retrieval and replacement of a small portion of the tubing string without requiring the retrieval of the entire tubing string from the wellbore, which improves operation efficiency by reducing the operational complexity involved in full well workovers to change out an entire tubing string, such as a production tubing string. This operational efficiency reduces operational costs at a well site by avoiding the costs involved in replacing an entire tubing string or a majority of a tubing string, as well as avoiding or reducing the costs involved in workover rig operations.
In the example well system 100 of
The tubing disconnect assembly 116 and corresponding tubing disconnect tool 118 of the example well system 100 of
In the example well system 100 of
The example downhole tubing disconnect assembly 200 includes a first tubing portion 212, a second tubing portion 214, and an actuation sleeve 216 disposed in the wellbore 102. The first tubing portion includes a first inner surface 218 defining a first central bore 222 of the first tubing portion 212, and a first outer surface 220. The second tubing portion 214 includes a second inner surface 224 defining a second central bore 228 in fluid communication with the first central bore 222, and a second outer surface 226. The actuation sleeve 216 includes a cylindrical body 230 positioned between the first tubing portion 212 and the second tubing portion 214. The cylindrical body 230 has a substantially or exactly cylindrical shape, though the cylindrical body 230 can include additional features, divots, indentations, or other features that are not cylindrical. The cylindrical body 230 between the first tubing portion 212 and second tubing portion 214, such as from the first central bore 222 to the second central bore 228, and the actuation sleeve 216 connects the first tubing portion 212 and the second tubing portion 214. The actuation sleeve 216 of the example downhole tubing disconnect assembly 200 includes an uphole portion 232 of the cylindrical body 230 selectively engage the first tubing portion 212, and a downhole portion 234 of the cylindrical body 230 to selectively engage the second tubing portion 214.
The cylindrical body 230 of the actuation sleeve 216 also includes a shifting profile 236, which can selectively engage a shifting tool 238 disposed within the wellbore 102, such as within the central bore of the tubing string disposed in the wellbore 102. The shifting profile 236 is shown as an indent in an inner surface of the cylindrical body 230, where the indent is configured to engage a corresponding profile of the shifting tool 238. However, the shifting profile 236 can vary in shape, location, dimension, or a combination of these. The shifting profile 236 engages with the shifting tool 238 so that movement of the shifting tool 238 can be transferred to the actuation sleeve 216. For example, with the shifting tool 238 engaged with the shifting profile 236, as depicted in the example downhole tubing disconnect assembly 200 of
In some implementations, the shifting tool 238 can be carried on a dedicated tubing 240, such as on a wireline, slickline, coiled tubing, or other dedicated tubing string. The actuation sleeve 216 can include a full-bore pass through along an entire longitudinal length of the actuation sleeve 216 (for example, along A-A). The full-bore pass through allows for fluid communication between the first tubing portion 212 and adjacent tubing with the second tubing portion 214 and its respective adjacent tubing. The full-bore pass through also allows for the shifting tool 238 to run downhole into the downhole tubing disconnect assembly 200 through the central bore of the tubing to engage the actuation sleeve 216, or in some examples, to continue running downhole of the actuation sleeve 216 to a different well tool downhole of the downhole tubing disconnect assembly 200.
The uphole portion 232 of the actuation sleeve 216 includes a first locking mechanism 242 to position the uphole portion 232 on the first tubing portion 212, and the downhole portion 234 of the actuation sleeve 216 includes a second locking mechanism 244 to position the downhole portion 234 on the second tubing portion 214. The first tubing portion 212 includes a first slot 250 along the first inner surface 218 of the first tubing portion 212 and a second slot 252 along the first inner surface 218. The first slot 250 and the second slot 252 are spaced axially apart from each other. The first locking mechanism 242 can engage the first slot 250 in a first position of the actuation sleeve 216 (as depicted in the example downhole tubing disconnect assembly 200 of
In some implementations, the first tubing portion 212 and second tubing portion 214 are longitudinally spaced apart from each other along the central axis A-A, and the actuation sleeve 216 acts to couple the first tubing portion 212 to the second tubing portion 214. The first locking mechanism 242 and the second locking mechanism 244 secure the first tubing portion 212 to the actuation sleeve 216 and the second tubing portion 214 to the actuation sleeve 216 and transmits forces, weight, and support between the first tubing portion 212 and second tubing portion 214.
The first locking mechanism 242, the second locking mechanism 244, or both, can include one or more spring-loaded dogs, such as spring-loaded pins, directed radially outward from the outer surface of the cylindrical body 230. For example, in the first locking mechanism 242, the one or more spring-loaded dogs can reside in the first slot 250 in the first position to secure the actuation sleeve 216 to the first tubing portion 212, or can reside in the second slot 252 in the second position to secure the actuation sleeve 216 to the first tubing portion 212. In the second locking mechanism 244, the one or more spring-loaded dogs can reside in the third slot 254. The first locking mechanism 242 and second locking mechanism 244, when engaged with respective slots of the first tubing portion 212 or second tubing portion 214, can transfer forces in the longitudinal direction (parallel to axis A-A) between the actuation sleeve 216 and the first tubing portion 212, second tubing portion 214, or both.
In some implementations, the example downhole tubing disconnect assembly 200 includes a perforated shell sub 256 between the first tubing portion 212 and the second tubing portion 214. The perforated shell sub 256 partially surrounds the actuation sleeve 216 and extends from the first outer surface 220 of the first tubing portion 212 to the second outer surface 226 of the second tubing portion 214. The perforated shell sub 256 extends between the first tubing portion 212 and the second tubing portion 214 to cover the space separating the first tubing portion 212 and second tubing portion 214. The perforated shell sub 256 includes multiple perforations 258 through the perforated shell sub 256, for example, to equalize pressure between an annulus of the wellbore 102 exterior of the downhole tubing disconnect assembly 200 and an interior of the downhole tubing disconnect assembly 200 during a shifting operation of the actuation sleeve 216 between the first position and the second position. The perforations 258 of the perforated shell sub 256 can help reduce or prevent hydraulic lock at the actuation sleeve 216.
In some implementations, the actuation sleeve 216 includes seals between the outer surface of the actuation sleeve 216 and respective inner surfaces of the first tubing portion 212, second tubing portion 214, or both. For example, the actuation sleeve 216 can include a first seal 260 between an outer surface of the uphole portion 232 and the first inner surface 218 of the first tubing portion 212, and a second seal 262 between an outer surface of the downhole portion 234 and the second inner surface 224 of the second tubing portion 214. In some examples, the first seal 260, second seal 262, or both, include a non-elastomeric seal stack. The first seal 260 and second seal 262 can take a variety of other forms, as well.
In operation of the example downhole tubing disconnect assembly 200, the shifting tool 238 is run into the wellbore 102, within the central bore of the well string along longitudinal axis A-A. The shifting tool 238 engages with the shifting profile 236 of the actuation sleeve 216, and the shifting tool 238 is jarred in an uphole direction. The jarring motion of the shifting tool 238 disengages the first locking mechanism 242 from the first slot 250 and disengages the second locking mechanism 244 from the third slot 254. In some instances, the jarring motion is sufficient enough to overcome the spring forces holding the locking mechanisms in the engaged position. Once the first locking mechanism 242 and second locking mechanism 244 are disengaged, the actuation sleeve 216 slides in the uphole direction, and eventually to the second position where the first locking mechanism 242 engages with the second slot 252.
In some instances, the shifting tool is positioned within the shifting profile of the substantially cylindrical body, and the shifting tool is jarred, or suddenly pulled, in an uphole direction in order to prompt the translation of the actuation sleeve within the example downhole tubing disconnect assembly. Translating the actuation sleeve from the first position to the second position includes disengaging a first locking mechanism of the actuation sleeve from a first slot of the first tubing portion, subsequently translating the actuation sleeve relative to (for example, along the interior surface of) the first tubing portion, and engaging the first locking mechanism with a second slot of the first tubing portion. Disconnecting the actuation sleeve from the second tubing portion can include disengaging a second locking mechanism of the actuation sleeve from a third slot of the second tubing portion. In some implementations, a perforated shell sub partially or completely surrounds the actuation sleeve, and extends from an outer surface of the first tubing portion to the outer surface of the second tubing portion. The perforated shell sub can include perforations, for example, to equalize pressure between the interior volume of the downhole tubing disconnect assembly and a wellbore annulus surrounding the downhole tubing disconnect assembly. In certain examples, the first tubing portion and the actuation sleeve are removed the wellbore, and a third tubing portion and a second actuation sleeve are run into the wellbore and connect to the second tubing portion.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
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Entry |
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International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Appln. No. PCT/US2023/034815, mailed on Jan. 8, 2024, 14 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20240117692 A1 | Apr 2024 | US |