Patent Application
20240044220
In industries concerned with operations in subsurface boreholes, such as hydrocarbon exploration and recovery, or fluid sequestration, there can be the need to remove sections of casing in a borehole. Typically, such sections are designated, and then a cutting device and motor for spinning the cutter blade are run to depth to cut off the casing at that depth. Once cut, the casing may be retrieved to surface. While the method works well, it is also relatively expensive and requires the motor and cutter, which wears quickly. Maintenance and complexity of operations is known to exits suing the traditional method.
An embodiment of a method for pulling casing including disposing a casing modification and pulling tool having an element therein that includes a profile, causing the element to move radially outwardly into contact with a casing disposed radially outwardly of the tool, deforming the casing with the element, applying a load to the casing, and failing the casing at the deformation.
An embodiment of a system for pulling casing including a casing modification tool having an element radially displaceable into a casing disposed radially outwardly thereof, the element configured to deform the casing, a casing spear operably connected to the casing modification tool, the spear configured to apply a load to the casing to fail the casing at the deformation.
An embodiment of a borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a casing disposed in the borehole, and a casing modification and pulling tool disposed in the casing.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring to
Referring to
The pulling portion 26 is a spear that engages an inside surface 28 of the casing 12. As illustrated, although not required, the pulling portion 26 is downhole of the actuating element 16. Both portions 20 and 26 of tool 10 enable the method as claimed. The individual portions 20 and 26 require no particular discussion as each is familiar to the art although it is not familiar to the art for these portions of tool 10 to be used together. But for the epiphany of the present inventors, which is evident in the discussion of the method above, there is no reason to combine portions 20 and portion 26 from the prior art.
The indexer 18 is an optional addition to the tool 10 to be used when azimuthal changes of the tool 10 are needed.
The method disclosed herein strongly benefits the art by, among other things, reducing reliance on rotary movement to remove material. This is particularly beneficial since rotary movement cannot always be maintained for the length of time required to complete an operation of this sort. The method herein dramatically reduces time during which the rotation must be maintained. Also, the method as disclosed herein does not require flow as do many tools of the prior art, which increases available operating parameters.
Referring to
Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:
Embodiment 1: A method for pulling casing including disposing a casing modification and pulling tool having an element therein that includes a profile, causing the element to move radially outwardly into contact with a casing disposed radially outwardly of the tool, deforming the casing with the element, applying a load to the casing, and failing the casing at the deformation.
Embodiment 2: The method as in any prior embodiment further comprising setting a spear.
Embodiment 3: The method as in any prior embodiment further comprising pulling the casing from a borehole in which the casing is disposed.
Embodiment 4: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the element is a punch.
Embodiment 5: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the element is a plurality of elements.
Embodiment 6: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the element is an explosive charge.
Embodiment 7: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein causing the element to move radially outwardly is by shifting a member having a changing outside dimension to a position where the element is moved radially outwardly.
Embodiment 8: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the member is a piston.
Embodiment 9: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the load applied is tension.
Embodiment 10: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the load applied is rotation.
Embodiment 11: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the causing is repeated upon repositioning of the element to another azimuthal position of the tool.
Embodiment 12: The method as in any prior embodiment further including operating an indexer to select the another azimuthal position.
Embodiment 13: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the indexer includes a J-slot.
Embodiment 14: The method as in any prior embodiment further including jarring the element into the casing.
Embodiment 15: The method as in any prior embodiment further including jarring the element out of the casing.
Embodiment 16: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the deforming opens a fluid passage through the casing.
Embodiment 17: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the deforming is plastic deformation.
Embodiment 18: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the deforming is weakening the casing.
Embodiment 19: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the failing is tearing the casing.
Embodiment 20: A system for pulling casing including a casing modification tool having an element radially displaceable into a casing disposed radially outwardly thereof, the element configured to deform the casing, a casing spear operably connected to the casing modification tool, the spear configured to apply a load to the casing to fail the casing at the deformation.
Embodiment 21: A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a casing disposed in the borehole, and a casing modification and pulling tool as in any prior embodiment disposed in the casing.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” includes a range of ±8% of a given value.
The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a borehole, and/or equipment in the borehole, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.
