The invention relates to a method and system for sealing a segmented expandable cone such that a pressure difference can be created across the cone to move the cone through a well tubular that is expanded by the cone.
Such a method and system are known from US patent applications US201213467612 and US2013299197.
The known cones are provided with a seal arranged at a small diameter top end of the cone, which seal is configured to engage a small diameter unexpanded tubular section in front of the cone.
A disadvantage of these known cones is that when the seal reaches the unexpanded end of the otherwise expanded tubular the seal pops out of the tubular thereby stalling the hydraulic propulsion of the cone through the tubular.
Other known expandable cones provided with expandable sealing assemblies are disclosed in US patent applications US2013/048308 and US2005/045342 and European patent application EP0881354.
A disadvantage of these known expandable sealing assemblies is that they are prone to wear and leakage
There is a need for an improved expandable cone and method for sealing such an expandable cone which overcomes these advantages and provides an expandable cone that does not stall at the unexpanded end of the otherwise expanded tubular and that is provided with robust seals that are not prone to leakage.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a method for expanding a well tubular with an expandable segmented cone that comprises a sealing assembly to move the expanded cone through the tubular by creating a pressure difference across the cone, wherein the sealing assembly is arranged at a large diameter bottom section of the cone and engages an expanded section of the tubular.
The cone furthermore comprises a set of upwardly tapered lower segments and a complementary set of downwardly tapered upper segments, which sets are slidably arranged on an in upward direction inwardly tapered conical surface of a cone carrier body such that in an upper position the segments are staggered and retracted and in a lower position the segments are circumferentially aligned and expanded against a lower support shoulder of the carrier body below the tapered conical surface thereof and wherein the sealing assembly is arranged at or adjacent to the lower support shoulder; and wherein:
A) the sealing assembly comprises a sealing ring, which is upon expansion of the cone squeezed between the lower ends of the segments and the lower support shoulder and thereby deformed such that its outer diameter is increased; or
B) the sealing assembly comprises sealing lips arranged at or near the lower ends of segments such that upon expansion of the cone the sealing lips are circumferentially aligned and provide a fluid tight seal, which the sealing lips are upon expansion of the cone squeezed against the lower support shoulder.
If option A applies the sealing assembly may comprise a V-shaped sealing ring, which is upon expansion of the cone squeezed between the lower ends of the segments and the lower support shoulder and thereby deformed such that its outer diameter is increased.
The V-shaped sealing ring may have a V-shaped longitudinal sectional profile such that when the sealing ring is squeezed the tips of the V-shaped sections are moved towards each other, thereby pushing a rubber coated central edge of the profile in a radial outward direction against an inner surface of the expanded tubular.
The expansion method according to the invention may be used to expand a tubular within the wellbore to create a large or MOnoDiameter (MOD) wellbore, which is, after completion, used for producing a larger amount of crude oil, natural gas and/or other hydrocarbon fluids than conventional telescoping wells in which no tubulars are expanded.
In accordance with the invention there is furthermore provided an expandable segmented cone for expanding a well tubular that comprises a sealing assembly to move the expanded cone through the tubular by creating a pressure difference across the cone, wherein the sealing assembly is arranged at a large diameter bottom section of the cone and is configured to engage an expanded section of the tubular; and
A)the sealing assembly comprises a sealing ring, which is upon expansion of the cone squeezed between the lower ends of the segments and the lower support shoulder and thereby deformed such that its outer diameter is increased; or
B)the sealing assembly comprises sealing lips arranged at or near the lower ends of segments such that upon expansion of the cone the sealing lips are circumferentially aligned and provide a fluid tight seal, which sealing lips are upon expansion of the cone squeezed against the lower support shoulder.
If option A applies the sealing assembly may comprise a V-shaped sealing ring, which is upon expansion of the cone squeezed between the lower ends of the segments and the lower support shoulder and thereby deformed such that its outer diameter is increased. The V-shaped sealing ring may have a V-shaped longitudinal sectional profile such that when the sealing ring is squeezed the tips of the V-shaped sections are moved towards each other, thereby pushing a rubber coated central edge of the profile in a radial outward direction against an inner surface of the expanded tubular.
These and other features, embodiments and advantages of the method and expandable cone according to the invention are described in the accompanying claims, abstract and the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which description reference numerals are used which refer to corresponding reference numerals that are depicted in the drawings.
Similar reference numerals in different figures denote the same or similar objects. Objects and other features depicted in the figures and/or described in this specification, abstract and/or claims may be combined in different ways by a person skilled in the art.
The known cone comprises a set of upwardly tapered lower segments 106, 206 and a complementary set of downwardly tapered upper segments 108, 208, which sets are slidably arranged on an in upward direction inwardly tapered conical surface 104 of a cone carrier body such that in an upper position shown in Figure la the segments 206 and 208 are staggered and retracted and in a lower position shown in
The sealing ring 300 comprises a V-shaped circular steel sleeve (300A-300B) which is coated with a layer of elastomer (300). The shape of the sleeve (300A-300B) may be such that upon application of an axial load it will crush with a preferential outward direction increasing the diameter at location 300B while the end of the sleeve 300A does not move radially during the crushing.
The thus generated V-shaped seal may be self-energizing such that the contact pressure with the expanded liner generates an initial seal and the V-shaped circular steel sleeve (300A-300B) and elastomeric coating (300C) are configured such that the hydraulic pressure under the cone further buckles the sleeve (300A-300B) and squeezes the rubber coating (300C) against the expanded liner 307 and thereby enhances the sealing performance of the seal.
The embodiment shown in
Therefore, the method, cone and/or any products according to present invention are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein.
The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the present invention may be modified, combined and/or practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein.
Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below.
It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered, combined and/or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims.
While any methods, systems and/or products embodying the invention are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various described features and/or steps, they can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various described features and steps.
All numbers and ranges disclosed above may vary by some amount. Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values.
Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee.
Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an”, as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces.
If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent or other documents that may be cited herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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15174890.2 | Jul 2015 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2016/064984 | 6/28/2016 | WO | 00 |