During drilling operations, tripping is a process that is commonly done due to the drill bit conditions affecting the efficiency of drilling. Tripping is the act of pulling the drill string out of the hole or replacing it in the hole. As the drill pipe is pulled from the well, mud may flow down the annulus to fill the void left by the pipe. Removing the drill pipe at rates that create large swab pressures can induce a kick by lowering the wellbore pressure below formation pressure which may lead to a well control issue. It is well known in the industry that swabbing is a recognized hazard of any type of degree volume. As recognized in the industry, most professionals agree that the drill string during tripping may need to be pulled quickly in order to prevent breakage and loss of equipment.
As the drill pipe is lowered into the well, mud is forced out of the flow line causing surge pressure changes. Surge pressures increase the total wellbore pressure and can cause formation fracturing and lost circulation. The reduction of hydrostatic pressure through loss of drilling fluid to the formation may cause the height of the mud column to be shortened affecting a decrease of pressure on the bottom in the hole initiating a kick.
In one aspect, one or more embodiments relate to a system for well control during tripping phases in drilling operations in a wellbore, the system comprising: a drill string extending from an entry of the wellbore to a drill bit at a distal end of the drill string within the wellbore; a near bit sub mounted along the drill string adjacent to the drill bit; a first smart multi-directional two-way check valve mounted along the drill string adjacent to the near bit sub; and a controller configured to operate the valve, wherein the controller controls the valve to apply suction or discharge flow to the near bit sub to counter inertial effects of drilling mud viscosity within the wellbore.
In one aspect, one or more embodiments relate to a method, comprising: controlling, by a controller, a smart multi-directional two-way check valve for tripping phases during drilling, wherein the tripping phases comprise of surging effects; controlling, by a controller, a smart multi-directional two-way check valve for tripping phases during drilling, wherein the tripping phases comprise of swabbing effects; applying, by the valve, suction to counter inertial effects of mud viscosity in a wellbore; and applying, by the valve, discharge flow to counter inertial effects of mud viscosity in a wellbore.
In one aspect, one or more embodiments relate to a method for well control during tripping phases in drilling operations using a drill string extending from an entry of a wellbore to a drill bit at a distal end of the drill string within the wellbore, the method comprising: mounting a near bit sub along the drill string adjacent to the drill bit; mounting a first smart multi-directional two-way check valve along the drill string adjacent to the near bit sub; and controlling, by a controller, operation of the valve to apply suction or discharge flow to the near bit sub to counter inertial effects of drilling mud viscosity within the wellbore.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
Specific embodiments of the disclosed technology will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the various figures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency.
In the following detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.
Throughout the application, ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) may be used as an adjective for an element (i.e., any noun in the application). The use of ordinal numbers is not to imply or create any particular ordering of the elements nor to limit any element to being only a single element unless expressly disclosed, such as using the terms “before”, “after”, “single”, and other such terminology. Rather, the use of ordinal numbers is to distinguish between the elements. By way of an example, a first element is distinct from a second element, and the first element may encompass more than one element and succeed (or precede) the second element in an ordering of elements.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
The primary inlet (304) may be one side of the multi-directional aspect of the valve (300). The primary inlet (304) may be an entrance to flow into the valve (300). The secondary inlet (306) may be an entrance of flow into the valve (300). For example, there can be fluid or another type of flow that enters both the primary inlet (304) and the secondary inlet (306). The outlet (308) may contain the flow from either the primary inlet (304) or the secondary inlet (306). The valve (300) may be a device that only allows flow through one direction preventing backflow. Backflow may be any unwanted flow of fluids running in the reverse direction. Backflow of cuttings, fluid, debris, or gas into the drill string (102) may plug the equipment and cause damage. This is only one example of backflow.
The valve(s) (300) may be activated by applying them in different directions. The valve(s) can be adjusted based on the operation pressure. The valve allows the release and suction of inner pressure. Drilling fluids may cause pressure that is an example of inner pressure.
The valves (300) may function as suction or discharge nozzles in order to suck or discharge fluids from or into the formation in case of surging effects (402) and swabbing effects (404). The valves (300) may counter the inertial effects of the mud viscosity in the wellbore. The valves (300) may be activated by shear pressure or a controller. A plug aides in countering the inertial effects of the mud viscosity in the wellbore. The plug drops through the drill string (102) and sits at the end of the near bit sub (204). The plug closes the valve(s) and this action isolates the drill string (102) from the formation flow and allows flow from the bit nozzles.
For example, when the pressure is equalized and valves (300) are activated, a plug is sent through high pressure to be seated in a median position between the valves (300) and blocks the way in and out. The plug is designed to be pushed until the seat near the valve system. Once the plug is seated in its place, the plug may receive a higher pressure in order to break the membrane and open the hole in the middle to allow normal string operations through the plug. In this disclosure, the plug can be designed with a hollow center and covered with a polymer seal. The plug may be covered with any type of material that can be considered a seal to allow the plug to be pushed to suction and release. The plug may be of a blind calendrical shape closed from one side. The plug must be able to allow full access to the drilling bit with closed valves (300) around the near bit sub (204). This action can be triggered by applying additional pressure by the drilling fluids.
The valve (300) may be activated depending on returning data feed based on commands from the well control room on the rig. The commands from the well control room may include but not limited to number of barrels versus pumped barrels, comparing pressure in versus out, and commands from multiple sources of data. An example of a command could be “valves are not activated.” The valve (300) redirects the flow of fluid appropriately, which creates suction or discharge. Suction may be controlled by the valve (300) closing the primary inlet (304) or secondary inlet (306). Discharge may be controlled by the valve (300) opening the primary inlet (304), secondary inlet (306), and outlet (308). The valve (300) can be activated based on the pressure build up. The valve (300) may be activated based on the action performed during the drilling operation.
Initially, the drilling rig (100) performs tripping operations (502). The drill string operations may cause surging effect (504). If surging effects (402) occur, the controller may then activate the valve(s) (506) to apply suction. The drill string operations may cause swabbing effect (504). If swabbing effects (404) occur, the controller may then activate the valve to apply discharge of fluids (508). Once the valves (300) are activated, the valve (300) counters the inertial effects of mud viscosity (510). Then, in turn, normal drilling operations can continue (512).
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Entry |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20230160270 A1 | May 2023 | US |