The disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for loading mandrels in collars of downhole tools. Wellbores (also known as boreholes) are drilled to penetrate subterranean formations for hydrocarbon prospecting and production. During drilling operations, evaluations may be performed on the subterranean formation for various purposes, such as to locate hydrocarbon-producing formations and manage the production of hydrocarbons from these formations. To conduct formation evaluations, the drill string may include one or more drilling tools that test and/or sample the surrounding formation, or the drill string may be removed from the wellbore, and a wireline tool may be deployed into the wellbore to test and/or sample the formation. These drilling tools and wireline tools, as well as other wellbore tools conveyed on coiled tubing, drill pipe, casing or other conveyers, are also referred to herein as “downhole tools.” Downhole tools may be made up of individual collars that are connected together, for example, by threaded connections, to form the tool. The collars may house one or more modules designed to provide functionality, such as power, telemetry, pressure testing, and sampling, among others. The modules may be made up of one or mandrels that are subjected to axial shock, vibration, and thermal expansion. To minimize these effects, the modules may be loaded in compression with an axial load device (ALD) in the collar.
The present disclosure relates to a downhole tool that includes a first collar, a second collar, a first chassis portion disposed in the first collar, and a second chassis portion disposed in the second collar. The downhole tool also includes a first axial load device disposed in the first collar to exert axial force on the first chassis portion, and a second axial load device disposed in the second collar to exert axial force on the second chassis portion. The downhole tool further includes a collar connector coupled to the first collar and the scoop collar and compressing the first axial load device.
The present disclosure also relates to a downhole tool that includes a first collar, a second collar, a first chassis portion disposed in the first collar and abutting an internal shoulder of the first drill collar, and a second chassis portion disposed in the second collar. The first collar includes a first field connection end and a first tapered portion disposed on an opposite end from the first field connection end. The second collar includes a second field connection end and a second tapered portion disposed on an opposite end from the second field connection end. The first chassis portion includes a first mandrel sub assembly, an axial loading mandrel extension coupled to the first mandrel sub assembly, and an intermediate mandrel extension coupled to the axial loading mandrel extension. The second chassis portion includes a connecting mandrel extension coupled to the intermediate mandrel extension, and to second mandrel sub assembly coupled to the connecting mandrel extension. The downhole tool also includes a first, axial load device disposed in the first collar to exert, axial force on the first chassis portion, and a second axial load device disposed in the second collar to exert axial force on the second chassis portion. The downhole tool further includes a collar connector coupled to the first collar and the second collar and compressing the first axial load device. The downhole tool also includes a top sub coupled to the second collar and compressing the second axial load device.
The present disclosure further relates to a method that includes loading a first chassis portion into as first collar of a downhole tool and compressing, the first chassis portion in the first collar using a collar connector and a first axial load device. The method further includes coupling a second chassis portion to the first chassis portion, disposing a second collar around the second chassis portion, and compressing the second chassis portion in the second collar using a top sub and a second axial load device.
It is to be understood that the present disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting.
The present disclosure relates to mandrel loading techniques for downhole tools. Downhole tools generally include a series of collars that are connected together in the field (e.g., at the rig site) to form the downhole tool. Mandrel subassemblies are coupled together within the collar to form a chassis for a field connection segment, which may include one or more collars that extend between field connection ends. When placed downhole, the chassis may be subjected to effects such as axial shock, vibration, and thermal expansion. To compensate for these effects, the chassis may be loaded into the collar in compression with an Axial Load Device (ALD). The size of the ALD device may be proportional to the weight of the chassis. In order to provide several functionalities, such as sampling, power requirements, and fluid analysis, within a downhole tool, chassis length may increase and therefore larger ALDs may be desired. Rather than providing a single ALD device for a chassis, the present techniques allow multiple ALDs to be included within a chassis of a field connection segment to absorb the axial load on the chassis.
The wellsite drilling system 1 including a rig 10 with a downhole tool 100 suspended therefrom and into the wellbore 11 via a drill string 12. The downhole tool 100 has a drill bit 15 disposed on its lower end that is used to advance the downhole tool into the formation and form the wellbore. At the surface, the wellsite drilling system 10 includes the rig 10 positioned over the borehole 11. The rig 10 includes a rotary table 16, a kelly 17, a hook 18, and a rotary swivel 19. The drill string 12 is rotated by the rotary table 16, which engages the kelly 17 at the upper end of the drill string. The drill string 12 is suspended from the hook 18, attached to a traveling block (not shown), through the kelly 17 and the rotary swivel 19, which permits rotation of the drill string relative to the hook 18. In the example of this embodiment, the surface system further includes drilling fluid 26 (e.g., drilling mud) stored in a pit 27 formed at the well site. A pump 29 delivers the drilling fluid 26 to the interior of the drill string 12 via a port in the swivel 19, causing the drilling fluid to flow downwardly through the drill string 12, as indicated by the directional arrow 30. The drilling fluid 26 exits the drill string 12 via ports in the drill bit 15, and then circulates upwardly through the annulus region between the outside of the drill string and the wall of the borehole, as indicated by the directional arrows 32. Accordingly, the drilling fluid 26 lubricates the drill bit 15 and carries formation cuttings up to the surface as it is returned to the pit 27 for recirculation.
The downhole tool 100, sometimes referred to as a bottom hole assembly (“BHA”), is preferably positioned near the drill bit 15 (in other words, within several drill collar lengths from the drill bit). The bottom hole assembly includes various components with capabilities, such as measuring, processing, and storing information, as well as communicating with the surface, that may be disposed within collars 110 of the downhole tool 100. For example, one of the collars 110 may house a telemetry device for communicating with a surface controller (not shown) included within the rig 1, while another collar 110 may house a power module. The collars 110 may be connected together using mandrel extensions, as discussed further below.
Multiple collars 110 may house a sampling while drilling (“SWD”) system 230 that includes a fluid communication module 210 and a sample module 220. As shown in
The chassis 300 is housed in two collars 110A and 110B that are joined by a collar connector 303. According to certain embodiments, collar 110A may be located on the downhole end of the tool. The chassis 300 includes several mandrel sub assemblies 304, which may house sensors, gauges, sample chambers, electronics, and other components designed to provide functionality for the module 220. As discussed further below, the outermost mandrel sub assemblies 304 may be coupled to flow diverters 306 designed to direct drilling fluid into and out of the module 220. The chassis 300 further includes mandrel extensions 308, 310, and 312 that connect the mandrel sub assemblies 304 within collars 110A and 110B. The mandrel extensions 308, 310, and 312, along with the collar connector 303 form a shop connection portion 313, which represents a rugged connection that may be made on the manufacturing floor or at a base location prior to transporting the module 220 to the rig site.
The chassis 300 includes a first chassis portion 314, which is housed by the first collar 110A, and a second chassis portion 316, which is housed by the second collar 110B. The shop connection portion 313 connects the first and second chassis portion 314 and allows power, data, and/or fluids to be passed between the first and second chassis portions 314 and 316. According to certain embodiments, the mandrel extensions 308, 310, and 310 may include non-rotatable connections, such as pin-to-pin connections and fluid couplings, designed to transfer power, data, and/or fluid through the chassis 300. An ALD 318A is disposed within the shop connection portion 313 to absorb axial loading of the first chassis portion 314. The ALD 318A also may exert axial force on the first chassis portion. Further, an ALD 318B is disposed within the second collar 110B to absorb axial loading of the second chassis portion 316. The ALD 318B also may exert axial force on the second chassis portion. According to certain embodiments, the ALDs 318A and 318B may be spring washers, such as Belleville washers, that are sized to absorb the loading of each chassis portion. The ALD 318A for the first chassis portion 314 is compressed by the collar connector 303, and the ALD 318B for the second chassis portion 316 is compressed by a top sub 320. The top sub 320 forms part of the field connection end 302, and the end of the top sub 320 opposite from the ALD 318B may be designed to be connected in the field to another module. Each field connection end 302 may include an extender 322, which is designed to pass certain power, data, and/or fluid between the modules of the downhole tool 100.
Rather than including a single ALD 318B within the chassis 300, the collar connector 303, allows for a second. ALD 318A to be included within the module 220 to absorb part of the load of the chassis 300. Although only one shop connection portion 313 and collar connector 303 is shown within the module 220, in other embodiments, any number of shop connection portions 313 and collar connectors 303 may be included within a module. Accordingly, the load for a single chassis 300 that extends between adjacent field connection ends 302 can be absorbed by two or more ALDs, which may allow each ALD to be smaller in size, as compared to a single ALD used for the entire chasses. The smaller ALDs may require less torque for compression, which in turn may allow more of the torque provided by the threaded connections of the collar connector 303 and the top sub 320 to be applied to the seal faces 321 and 323 between the top sub 320 and the collar 110B, and the collar connector 303 and the collar 110A, respectively.
After assembly, the first chassis portion 314 may be loaded (block 344,
After the first chassis portion 314 is loaded into the first collar 110A, the first chassis portion 314 may be compressed (block 358,
The inner diameter 370 of the collar connector 303 may be relatively constant along the length of the collar connector 303 and may be approximately equal to the outer diameters 355 of the flanges 334 and 336 of the intermediate mandrel extension 310. Accordingly, the interior surface of the collar connector 303 may abut the flanges 334 and 336. The collar connector 303 also includes another tapered portion 366, disposed on an opposite end of the intermediate portion 363 from the tapered portion 360. As discussed further below with respect to
The second chassis portion 316 also may be assembled (block 372,
The second chassis portion 316 may then be coupled (block 374,
After the first and second chassis 314 and 316 are coupled together, the second collar 110B may be coupled (block 378,
After connection of the second collar 110B to the collar connector 303, the second chassis portion 316 may be compressed (block 386,
As discussed above, the inclusion of two or more ALDs 318A and 318B within the chassis 300 allows the axial load of the chassis 300 to be distributed across multiple ALDs, allowing each ALD 318A and 318B to be smaller, and employ less compressive force. Because less compressive force is employed for an individual ALD 318A or 318B, more of the torque applied to the threaded connections (e.g., tapered portions 360, 362, 388, 390) is available for the seal face 323 or 321, which in turn may improve the integrity of the seal face.
The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/536,835, entitled “Axially Loading Long Mandrels in Drilling Tools,” filed Sep. 20, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20130075163 A1 | Mar 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61536835 | Sep 2011 | US |