The present invention relates to the field of drilling wellbores, and in particular to a modular device for increasing the drift diameter and improving the quality of a wellbore.
Horizontal, directional, S-curve, and most vertical wells are drilled with a bit driven by a bent housing downhole mud/air motor, which can be oriented to build or drop angle and can steer right or left. The drill string is oriented to point the bent housing mud/air motor in the desired direction, commonly called “sliding.” Sliding forces the drill bit to navigate along the desired path, with the rest of the drill string following.
Repeated correcting of the direction of the wellbore causes micro-ledging and “doglegs,” inducing friction and drag between the wellbore and the bottom hole assembly and drill string. This undesired friction causes problems in the drilling process, including increasing torque and drag, ineffective weight transfer to the bit, eccentric wearing on the drill string and bottom hole assembly (BHA), increasing the time to drill the well, drill string failures, limiting the distance the wellbore can be extended, issues with removing the drill string and BHA from the borehole, and issues related to inserting the production string into the wellbore. The borehole can also become spiraled or tortuous even while rotating or drilling with a rotary steerable assembly.
When a dogleg, spiraled path, or tortuous path is cut by a drill bit, the relatively unobstructed passageway following the center of the wellbore may yield a smaller diameter than the wellbore itself. This relatively unobstructed passageway is sometimes referred to as the “drift” and the nominal diameter of the passageway is sometimes referred to as the “drift diameter”. The “drift” of a passageway is generally formed by wellbore surfaces forming the inside radii of curves along the path of the wellbore. Passage of pipe or tools through the relatively unobstructed drift of the wellbore is sometimes referred to as “drift” or “drifting.
In general, to address these difficulties the drift diameter has been enlarged with conventional reaming techniques by enlarging the diameter of the entire wellbore. Such reaming has been completed as an additional step, after drilling of the wellbore is completed. Doing so has been necessary to avoid unacceptable increases in torque and drag during drilling. Such additional reaming runs add considerable expense and time to the completion of the well. Moreover, conventional reaming techniques frequently do not improve the wellbore, but instead simply enlarge certain areas of the wellbore.
Although eccentric reamers have been produced for some time to provide some of these capabilities, the tools lack flexibility of design and diameter and often lack serviceability requiring an operator to stock multiple fixtures in the field to avoid downtime while a reamer is sent for repairs.
In one aspect, a downhole tool comprises: a first end member; a center member, threadedly connected to the first end member; a second end member, threadedly connected to the center member; a first removable sleeve, held in place between a shoulder of the first end member and a first shoulder of the center member; and a second removable sleeve, held in place between a second shoulder of the center member and a shoulder of the second end member, wherein the first removable sleeve and the second removable sleeve are separately positionable at a plurality of rotational angles relative to the center member.
In a second aspect, a removable reamer sleeve for a downhole tool comprises: a sleeve body; a plurality of cutter blades formed on an outer surface of the sleeve body; and a plurality of splines formed longitudinally about an inner surface of the sleeve body, configured for slidable engagement with a corresponding plurality of spines formed on a member of the downhole tool.
In a third aspect, a method of reaming a wellbore comprises: rotating a first reamer sleeve to a first rotational angle relative to a center member of a modular reamer tool; sliding the first reamer sleeve onto a first end of the center member of the modular reamer tool; connecting the center member of the modular reamer tool with a first end member of the modular reamer tool, wherein the first reamer sleeve is disposed between a shoulder of the first end member and a first shoulder of the center member; coupling the modular reamer tool to a drill string; and rotating the drill string in the wellbore.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain advantages and principles consistent with the invention. In the drawings,
In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. References to numbers without suffixes are understood to reference all instances of suffixes corresponding to the referenced number. Moreover, the language used in this disclosure has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter, resort to the claims being necessary to determine such inventive subject matter. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiment of the invention, and multiple references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” should not be understood as necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
The following discussion is written generally in terms of a modular reamer with two eccentric reamer sleeves, but is not limited to such a downhole tool. Embodiments may use one or more concentric reamer sleeves, stabilizer sleeves, and other types of sleeves for other purposes known to the art.
Using a pair of diametrically opposed eccentric reamers allows an operator to increase the drift diameter of a wellbore, which may provide improved reaming of wellbores over concentric reamer tools because the diametrically opposed reamers cut away material primarily forming surfaces nearer the center of the drift.
The reamer sleeves 120A-B are spaced apart and positioned to run behind the bottom hole assembly (BHA). In one embodiment, for example, the modular eccentric reamer 100 with the eccentric reamer sleeves 120A-B is positioned within a range of approximately 100 to 140 feet from the BHA. Although two reamer sleeves 120 are shown, other numbers of reamer sleeves 120 could be used in the alternative. As shown, the drill string advances to the right (downhole) as the well is drilled. Each of the reamer sleeves 120A-B has an outermost diameter or radial height, generally in the area of its cutting elements, which may be different from the inner diameter of the wellbore. For example, in a 6.750-inch diameter hole, the blades of the reamer sleeves 120A-B may have a diameter of 6.625 inches (less than the diameter of the wellbore) or may have a diameter of 6.875 inches (greater than the diameter of the wellbore) as desired. However, the outermost radius of each reamer sleeve 120A-B is preferably greater than the distance of the nearer surfaces from the center of drift. The uphole and downhole reamer sleeves 120A-B preferably comprise a plurality of carbide or diamond cutting elements, with each cutting element preferably having a circular face generally facing the path of movement of the cutting element relative to the wellbore as the drill string rotates and advances downhole. In
Each of reamer sleeves 120A, 120B can be disposed on the modular eccentric reamer 100 at any of a plurality of rotational orientations that can be separately repositioned in the field or elsewhere by disassembling the modular eccentric reamer 100, rotating the reamer sleeve 120A or 120B or both relative to the center member 130 to their desired orientations, then reassembling the modular eccentric reamer 100 with the elements in those rotational orientations. Various embodiments may provide for any desired number of rotational orientations as described in more detail below, including aligned orientations. If either of reamer sleeves 120A, 120B require repair or refurbishment, the modular eccentric reamer 100 can be partially disassembled, the relevant reamer sleeve 120A or 120B be removed and replaced, and the modular eccentric reamer 100 reassembled. Similarly, if a reamer with different characteristics is desired, the replaceability of the reamer sleeves 120A, 120B allows an operator to assemble the modular eccentric reamer 100 from a kit of reamer sleeves 120A, 120B of different reamer characteristics, from a kit of center members 130 of different lengths or diameters, or both, instead of maintaining an inventory of complete eccentric reamer tools.
Embodiments of the modular eccentric reamer 100 employ reamer sleeves 120A, 120B that slide onto one of the end members 110, 140 or center member 130 and are then held in place between the respective end member 110, 140 and center member 130.
Although not shown in
Center member 130 may be threadedly connected with the uphole end member 110 using any desired type of threaded connection. As illustrated in
Each of the reamer sleeves 120A-B are manufactured to slide onto a sleeve mounting portion 245, 265 of the center member 130 before connecting the uphole and downhole end members 110, 140 to the center member 130. A shoulder 240 of the uphole end member 110 abuts an uphole end of the reamer sleeve 120A and a shoulder 250 of the center member 130 abuts a downhole end of the reamer sleeve 120A, holding the reamer sleeve 120A between the uphole end member 110 and center member 130. Although not illustrated in
In an alternate embodiment, the sleeve mounting portions 245, 265 may be formed in the uphole end member 110 and downhole end member 140, with corresponding changes to the connections between the end members 110, 140 and the center member 130. The reamer sleeves 120 in such an embodiment would thus be mounted on the end members 110, 140 instead of the center member 130, but would otherwise be unchanged. In a further alternate embodiment, one of the sleeve mounting portions 245, 265 may be formed on the corresponding end members 110, 140, and the other of the sleeve mounting portions 245, 265 may be formed on the center member 130 as illustrated in
As illustrated in
A plurality of cutter blades is formed on and extending from an outer surface of the reamer sleeve 300 to perform the cutting or reaming action when deployed downhole. Each cutter blade has a thickness that decreases as the cutter blade extends radially outward from the outer surface of the reamer sleeve 300. In the embodiment illustrated in
Each of the sub-blades in cutter blades 330 and 340A-340D may comprise one or more carbide or polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutter elements 370 oriented in the direction of rotation. As illustrated, most of the sub-blades have two cutter elements 370, but one of the sub-blades in cutter blade 330 has three cutter elements 370 and one of the sub-blades (not visible in
The uphole and downhole ends of rotational leading cutter blades 320 and 330 may also comprise diamond domes 360. Instead of cutter elements 370, each of the sub-blades of the rotational leading cutter blade 320 comprises one or more diamond domes. The diamond domes eliminate casing damage and protect the cutter element while the reamer sleeve 300 rotates in the casing and during trips and drill-outs. Additionally, diamond domes help to limit cutter damage and torque when reaming out ledges or key-seats within the borehole.
As the modular eccentric reamer tool 100 is pulled into the near side of a crook in the wellbore, the cutter elements 370 rotate about the center axis of the center member 130 and cut into the near side of the wellbore without cutting into the opposite side. This cutting action may act to straighten the crooked wellbore, remove any ledges and condition the wellbore.
The number of cutter blades, sub-blades within cutter blades, and cutter elements mounted in the sub-blades illustrated in the Figures are illustrative and by way of example only. Other numbers, types, and orientations of cutter blades, sub-blades, and cutter elements may be used as desired.
Other example embodiments include the following:
Example 1 is a downhole tool, comprising: a first end member; a center member, threadedly connected to the first end member; a second end member, threadedly connected to the center member; a first removable sleeve, held in place between a shoulder of the first end member and a first shoulder of the center member; and a second removable sleeve, held in place between a second shoulder of the center member and a shoulder of the second end member, wherein the first removable sleeve and the second removable sleeve are separately positionable at a plurality of rotational angles relative to the center member.
In Example 2 the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes wherein the second removable sleeve is identical to the first removable sleeve.
In Example 3 the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes wherein the first removable sleeve comprises a splined inner surface, wherein the center member comprises a correspondingly splined sleeve mounting portion, and wherein the first removable sleeve is disposed on the center member by sliding the splined inner surface of the first removable sleeve over the correspondingly splined sleeve mounting portion of the center member.
In Example 4 the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes wherein the first removable sleeve is disposed on the center member by sliding the first removable sleeve over a sleeve mounting portion of the center member.
In Example 5 the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes wherein the first removable sleeve is a first eccentric reamer sleeve and the second removable sleeve is a second eccentric reamer sleeve.
In Example 6 the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes wherein the first removable sleeve comprises a plurality of blades aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the center member.
In Example 7 the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes wherein the first removable sleeve comprises a first plurality of blades of equal radial height relative to an outer surface of the center member.
In Example 8 the subject matter of Example 7 optionally includes wherein the first removable sleeve further comprises a second plurality of blades of a lower radial height than the first plurality of blades.
Example 9 is a removable reamer sleeve for a downhole tool, comprising: a sleeve body; a plurality of cutter blades formed on an outer surface of the sleeve body; and a plurality of splines formed longitudinally about an inner surface of the sleeve body, configured for slidable engagement with a corresponding plurality of spines formed on a member of the downhole tool.
In Example 10 the subject matter of Example 9 optionally includes wherein each of the cutter blades is divided into a plurality of sub-blades by grooves formed between the sub-blades.
In Example 11 the subject matter of Example 10 optionally includes wherein a first sub-blade of the plurality of sub-blades comprises a first number of cutter elements, and wherein a second sub-blade of the plurality of sub-blades comprises a second number of cutter elements, different from the first number.
In Example 12 the subject matter of Example 9 optionally includes wherein the plurality of cutter blades are aligned in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve body.
In Example 13 the subject matter of Example 9 optionally includes wherein the plurality of cutter blades comprises: a first plurality of cutter blades of equal radial height; and a second plurality of cutter blades of lower radial height than the first plurality of cutter blades.
In Example 14 the subject matter of Example 9 optionally includes wherein a plurality of diamond domes are mounted in a rotationally leading cutter blade of the plurality of cutter blades.
Example 15 is a method of reaming a wellbore, comprising: rotating a first reamer sleeve to a first rotational angle relative to a center member of a modular reamer tool; sliding the first reamer sleeve onto a first end of the center member of the modular reamer tool; connecting the center member of the modular reamer tool with a first end member of the modular reamer tool, wherein the first reamer sleeve is disposed between a shoulder of the first end member and a first shoulder of the center member; coupling the modular reamer tool to a drill string; and rotating the drill string in the wellbore.
In Example 16 the subject matter of Example 15 optionally further comprises: rotating a second reamer sleeve to a second rotational angle relative to the center member; sliding the second reamer sleeve onto a second end of the center member; and connecting the center member with a second end member of the modular reamer tool, wherein the second reamer sleeve is disposed between a shoulder of the second end member and a second shoulder of the center member.
In Example 17 the subject matter of Example 16 optionally further comprises: wherein the second rotational angle is different from the first rotational angle.
In Example 18 the subject matter of Example 15 optionally further comprises: disconnecting the first end member from the center member; sliding the first reamer sleeve off the center member; rotating the first reamer sleeve to a different rotational angle relative to the center member; and sliding the first reamer sleeve onto the first end of the center member.
In Example 19 the subject matter of Example 15 optionally includes wherein sliding the first reamer sleeve onto a first end of the center member of the modular reamer tool comprises: engaging a first plurality of splines on an inner surface of the first reamer sleeve slidably with a second plurality of splines on an outer surface of the first end of the center member, wherein the first plurality of splines and the second plurality of splines comprise an equal number of splines.
In Example 20 the subject matter of Example 16 optionally further comprises: removing the first end member from the modular reamer tool; and replacing the first end member with a replacement end member having different drill string thread characteristics.
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described in detail and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, which is determined by the claims that follow.
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