The present disclosure relates to a method for tubing disconnect within a wellbore. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a method for the dissipation of energy or force released when tubing is disconnected within a wellbore.
Wellbores are drilled into the earth for a variety of purposes including tapping into hydrocarbon bearing formations to extract the hydrocarbons for use as fuel, lubricants, in chemical production, and other purposes. Various tools may be required downhole during the completion process of the wellbore. Such tools can include, for example, a packers, interval control valves, anchors, gauges, sand control assemblies, and the like, which can be disposed within the wellbore using a tubing or conveyance. Disconnection of a downhole tool from the tubing or conveyance can release significant force within the wellbore.
In order to describe the manner in which the advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, reference is made to embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of one or more embodiments are illustrated below, the disclosed compositions and methods may be implemented using any number of techniques. The disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
During the drilling, completion, production, servicing and workover processes one or more downhole tools may be required to drill, complete, or produce the well. At various times, such as when a particular job that the downhole tool is used for is complete, such downhole tools may need to be detached from the tubing while the tubing is still disposed downhole. This may be carried out by severing the tubing at a location above the downhole tool. As the downhole tools are detached from the tubing, an excessive force, such as that experienced during a whiplash or slingshot-type event, can be released within the wellbore. The force can become trapped in the string due to a difference in temperature or pressure within the well. The release of the excessive forces can cause the disconnection of the tubing string to occur with great velocity and violence, which can cause damage to the lower completion tubing or any tools coupled with the lower completion tubing. Specifically, damage can be caused to seal surfaces and latching profiles; furthermore, debris can be shaken loose from the wellbore wall and settle in the lower completion tubing.
The present disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for dissipating the force released when downhole tubing is disconnected within a wellbore. For example, a force dissipation assembly can be coupled with the tubing string. The force dissipation assembly can include a housing coupled with the tubing of a tubing string and operable to provide a controlled release of force when the tubing is severed. The assembly, systems, and methods disclosed herein can be used to prevent damage to the tubing, downhole tools coupled therewith, and the wellbore wall.
The wellbore operating system 100 can further include a force dissipation assembly 200 disposed about the conveyance 130. The force dissipation assembly 200 can be operable to dissipate a disconnection force created when the conveyance 130 is severed within the wellbore 140. The force dissipation assembly 200 can be located at any predetermined location along the length of the conveyance 130.
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to
Additionally, while
An assembly, and methods and systems for using said assembly, operable to dissipate any forces trapped within the tubing when it is separated are presented herein. Specifically, the force dissipation assembly described herein can be coupled with a length of tubing such that when the tubing sections are disconnected downhole at a cut zone, the force released by the action is contained within the housing of the assembly. The methods described herein can be used to reduce potential damage to downhole tools and tubing when a portion of the tubing requires removal from the wellbore. An exemplary force dissipation assembly 200 as disclosed herein is shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As the upper tubing section 230 and the lower tubing section 220 are separated the load trapped within the tubing is released into the housing 210 and allowed to dissipate. The housing 210 can further include a housing shoulder 215 at each of the top end and the bottom end of the housing 210. Once the tubing has been severed, as shown in
It should be noted that while
A method 400 for dissipating the force released by the disconnection of tubing within a tubing string is illustrated in
At block 420, the tubing string 310, having the force dissipation assembly 200 coupled thereto, can be disposed within a wellbore. After the tubing string has been used for the desired purpose, it may be desirable to remove the upper tubing from the wellbore. At block 430 a severing device 260 can be lowered through the tubing string 310 to the cut zone 250 via any suitable means. The severing device 260 can be lowered to the desired cut zone 250 within the upper tubing, such that the severance can occur from within the tubing sting 310. At block 440, the severing device 260 can be actuated such that a stroke occurs from within the tubing string 310, severing the upper tubing into a first tubing section and a second tubing section. In at least one example, the severance of the tubing sections can be completed by actuating the severing device 260 at a control center uphole. Once the first tubing section and the second tubing section are severed, the tubing sections are able to slide away from one another within the bounds of the force dissipation assembly 200. As described above, the size of the force dissipation assembly 200 can be determined based on the amount of space necessary to allow the released tubing tension to be contained. After the first tubing section and the second tubing section are severed, the second tubing section can slide within the bounds of the housing 210 until a point of neutral force is achieved. Couplers 240 disposed about both the first and second tubing sections, as described above, can prevent the first and second tubing sections from exiting the housing 210 by abutting the shoulder 215 of the housing 210. While the first tubing section and the second tubing section of the upper tubing string are severed, the ends of each of the first tubing section and the second tubing section are still slidably connected via the force dissipation assembly housing 210. Additionally, as the temperature and pressures within the wellbore change, the first tubing section and the second tubing section can move throughout the bounds of the force dissipation assembly housing 210. In at least one example, the seal between the force dissipation assembly 200 and the upper tubing is fluid tight. In an alternative example, the seal between the force dissipation assembly 200 and the upper tubing is not fluid tight, in such example the internal pressure of the tubing and the annulus of the wellbore can be equalized after severance of the first tubing section and second tubing section of the tubing string 310. Where the pressure between the annulus and upper tubing is equalized, there is no pressure differential which may potentially damage downhole tools when disconnected.
At block 450, the lower tubing can be released from the upper tubing at a point below the force dissipation assembly 200. In at least one example, the lower tubing can be disconnected by either shifting or releasing a tubing disconnection device located below the force dissipation assembly 200 along the tubing string 310. At block 460, the upper tubing, including at least the first tubing section, the second tubing section, and the force dissipation assembly 200, may be extracted from the wellbore using standard procedure. While previous methods, performed without the use of a force dissipation assembly, resulted in portions of the second tubing section remaining downhole, the present method allows for removal of the portion of the tubing between the severed point of the tubing and the disconnection point above the downhole tool without requiring a secondary fishing trip downhole. Specifically, as the severed tubing string is extracted from the wellbore, the assembly housing will bring the second tubing section uphole along with the first tubing section. As such, the force dissipation assembly 200 as described herein can act as a self-fishing device which can both relieve tubing tension and pressure differentials as well as retrieve the severed portion of the tubing. The term “self-fishing” as used herein refers to a device capable of removing debris or excess equipment created by the device from the wellbore. The force dissipation assembly 200, and the method described above, can significantly reduce the risk of damaging other downhole tools.
Numerous examples are provided herein to enhance understanding of the present disclosure. A specific set of statements are provided as follows.
Statement 1: A method for dissipating force within a tubing string comprising providing a severing device to a desired location within a tubing string, the tubing string comprising a length of tubing extending into a wellbore; a plurality of couplers disposed about the length of tubing and demarcating a cut zone therebetween, the plurality of couplers extending radially outward from the length of tubing, and a housing disposed along the length of tubing and sized to enclose the plurality of couplers therein, wherein the housing includes a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end forming a housing shoulder abutting the plurality of couplers, severing the tubing at the cut zone using the severing device creating a first tubing section and a second tubing section; and each of the first tubing section and the second tubing section having one of the plurality of couplers attached thereto, wherein when the tubing is severed the first tubing section and the second tubing section slide apart and the plurality of couplers on each of the first tubing section and the second tubing section abut the housing shoulder of the corresponding end of the housing.
Statement 2: A method according to Statement 1, wherein the housing is a self-fishing housing.
Statement 3: A method according to Statement 1 or Statement 2, wherein the tool string is an intelligent completion having an upper completion and a lower completion.
Statement 4: A method according to Statements 1-3, further comprising equalizing the pressure in an annulus disposed between the wellbore and the length of tubing.
Statement 5: A method according to Statements 1-3, further comprising not equalizing the pressure in an annulus disposed between the wellbore and the length of tubing.
Statement 6: A method according to Statements 1-5, wherein the severing device is selected from the group consisting of a cutting device, a slashing device, a shifting device, a puncturing device, an explosive device, a chemical cutter, a plasma cutter, a pressure release device, and combinations thereof.
Statement 7: A method according to Statements 1-6, wherein the pressure release device is selected from the group consisting of a burst disc, a shear pinned piston, and the like.
Statement 8: A method according to Statement 1-7, wherein the tubing string further comprises a downhole tool coupled with the length of tubing below the housing.
Statement 9: A method according to Statements 1-8, further comprising releasing the downhole tool from the first tubing section of the length of tubing below the housing.
Statement 10: A method according to Statements 1-9, wherein the extraction further comprises extracting the first tubing section and the second tubing section extending from the housing.
Statement 11: A force dissipation system comprising a tubing string comprising a length of tubing having an uphole end and a downhole end; a plurality of couplers disposed about the length of tubing and spaced to demarcate a cut zone therebetween, each of the plurality of couplers extending radially outward from the length of tubing; and a housing disposed about a portion of the length of tubing and enclosing the plurality of couplers therein, the housing having a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end creating a housing shoulder, wherein each of the housing shoulders are sized to abut the plurality of couplers to prevent the plurality of couplers from exiting the housing.
Statement 12: A force dissipation system in accordance with Statement 11, further comprising a severing tool disposed within the length of tubing.
Statement 13: A force dissipation system in accordance with Statement 12, further comprising an integrated severing tool.
Statement 14: A force dissipation system in accordance with Statements 11-13, wherein the severing device is selected from the group consisting of a cutting device, a slashing device, a shifting device, a puncturing device, an explosive device, a chemical cutter, a plasma cutter, a pressure release device, and combinations thereof.
Statement 15: A force dissipation system in accordance with Statements 11-14, wherein the pressure release device is selected from the group consisting of a burst disc, a shear pinned piston, and the like.
Statement 16: A force dissipation system in accordance with Statements 11-15, wherein the severing device is operable to sever the tubing into a first tubing section and a second tubing section.
Statement 17: A force dissipation system in accordance with Statements 11-16, wherein the housing is operable to equalize the pressure within the housing after the tubing is severed.
Statements 18: A force dissipation system in accordance with Statements 11-16, wherein the housing does not equalize the pressure within the housing after the tubing is severed.
Statement 19: A force dissipation system in accordance with Statements 11-18, wherein the housing is a self-fishing housing.
Statement 20: A force dissipation in accordance with Statements 11-19, wherein the tool string is an intelligent completion.
Statement 21: A wellbore environment comprising an intelligent completion disposed within a wellbore, the intelligent completion including an upper completion string and a lower completion string, the upper completion string including a length of tubing having an uphole end and a downhole end; a plurality of couplers disposed about the length of tubing and spaced to demarcate a cut zone therebetween, each of the plurality of couplers extending radially outward from the length of tubing; a housing disposed about a portion of the length of tubing and enclosing the plurality of couplers therein, the housing further comprises a first end and a second end, each end creating a housing shoulder; a severing device disposed within the intelligent completion and operable to move throughout the length of tubing.
Statement 22: A wellbore environment in accordance with Statement 21, wherein the length of tubing has one or more downhole tools coupled with the downhole end.
Statement 23: A wellbore environment in accordance with Statement 21 or Statement 22, wherein the severing device is operable to sever the length of tubing at the cut zone into a first tubing section and a second tubing section.
Statement 24: A wellbore environment in accordance with Statements 21-23, wherein the housing is operable to equalize the pressure between the severed tubing and an annulus of the wellbore.
Statement 25: A wellbore environment in accordance with Statements 21-23, wherein the housing does not equalize the pressure between the severed tubing and an annulus of the wellbore.
Statement 26: A wellbore environment in accordance with Statements 21-25, wherein the severing device is selected from the group consisting of a cutting device, a slashing device, a shifting, a puncturing device, an explosive device, a chemical cutter, a plasma cutter, a pressure release device, and combinations thereof.
Statement 27: A wellbore environment in accordance with Statements 21-26, wherein the pressure release device is selected from the group consisting of a burst disc, a shear pinned piston, and the like.
Statement 28: A wellbore environment in accordance with Statements 21-27, wherein when the length of tubing is severed the shoulder of each of the plurality of couplers abut each of the housing shoulders, preventing the plurality of couplers from exiting the housing.
Statement 29: A wellbore environment in accordance with Statements 21-28, wherein the housing is a self-fishing housing.
The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the attached claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2020 001435 8 | Jan 2020 | BR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2020/015926 | 1/30/2020 | WO |