This application, which designated the U.S. and claims priorities to EP 17206810.8 filed Dec. 12, 2017 and EP 18175170.2 filed May 30, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to an abandonment plug for plug and abandonment of a well and to a plug and abandonment system.
When a well becomes less productive, and all attempts to improve the production of hydrocarbons from a reservoir have failed, the unproductive part of the well, if not the whole well, is plugged and abandoned. Plug and abandonment is an important part of the lifetime of a well. It is also a costly process since the authorities have high requirements for the plugging operations in order to ensure that the well does not pollute the environment. Most regulatory bodies require that cement plugs are placed and tested across any open hydrocarbon-bearing formation, across all casing shoes, across freshwater aquifers, and perhaps across several other areas near the surface, including the top 6 to 15 m of the wellbore. The well designer often chooses to set bridge plugs in conjunction with cement slurries to ensure that higher density cement does not fall to long into the wellbore. In that case, the bridge plug would be set and cement pumped on top of the plug through a drill pipe string, and then the drill pipe string would be withdrawn before the slurry thickened. In other situations, the plug is set and cement is pumped down through the plug, and thus the cement is arranged underneath the plug before the plug is permanently closed for flow-through. Most of the plugs have complex designs for providing flow-through during insertion of the plug, and thus the plugs are provided with shear pins, pistons, sealing arrangement etc.
When planning a well, costs for plug and abandonment have to be guaranteed, so that the authorities are not left with a large bill to pay for the plug and abandonment of the well, and thus a well operator always seek a less expensive solution for plug and abandonment so that less money is to be guaranteed. However, known plugs are expensive and some fail due to the complexity of the plug to provide flow-through, and subsequently the plug cannot close as intended and a new plug has to be inserted.
It is an object of the present invention to wholly or partly overcome the above disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. More specifically, it is an object to provide an improved plug and abandonment system which is less complex and costly than known solutions.
The above objects, together with numerous other objects, advantages and features, which will become evident from the below description, are accomplished by a solution in accordance with the present invention by an abandonment plug for plug and abandonment of a well, said abandonment plug comprising:
The abandonment plug according to the present invention may further comprise a first breakable element for maintaining the piston in the first position in relation to the unit sleeve until the breakable element breaks at a predetermined force.
Moreover, the expandable metal sleeve may be mounted end-to-end to the first and second end parts.
Also, the expandable metal sleeve may be the only element connecting the first end part and the second end part.
Further, the expandable metal sleeve may have circumferential projections.
In addition, the expandable metal sleeve may have a sealing element arranged between two projections.
Furthermore, the piston may be tubular.
Additionally, the piston may have a first piston part and a second piston part which are movable in relation to each other.
Moreover, the first piston part may be tubular and the second part may be bore-less.
In addition, the unit releasably connected to the second tubular end part may be an expansion unit aiding the expansion of the expandable metal sleeve.
The abandonment plug according to the present invention may further comprise a second breakable element between the unit sleeve and the second end part for maintaining the unit sleeve in the first position in relation to the second end part until the breakable element breaks at a predetermined force.
Also, the unit sleeve may have a unit groove in which the radially projectable fastening element is arranged.
The unit sleeve may comprise sealing elements arranged between the unit sleeve and the second end part.
Further, the piston may have a ball seat for receiving a ball dropped into the well.
In addition, the second end part may have an opening for receiving a wiper dart or ball to close the second end part.
Moreover, the second end part may have a closing unit for closing the opening. The closing unit may comprise a tubular unit part having a first unit end being open and a second unit end being closed, a sliding sleeve arranged on an outer face of the tubular unit part defining a chamber, at least one first opening in the tubular unit part, at least one second opening in the tubular unit part opposite the chamber, the at least one second opening is arranged closer to the first unit end than the at least one first opening, and a ball seat arranged in the tubular unit part between the at least one first opening and the at least one second opening.
The sliding sleeve in the first position may uncover the at least one first opening and the sliding sleeve in the second position may cover the at least one first opening.
Furthermore, the sliding sleeve may move from the first position to the second position by means of fluid entering the chamber, which increases as the sliding sleeve moves away from the first unit end.
Also, the sliding sleeve may function as a piston.
Moreover, the closing unit may comprise at least one shear pin for maintaining the sleeve in the first position until a predetermined pressure.
In addition, the outer face at the second unit end may comprise circumferential grooves engaging a pawl of an end part of the sliding sleeve in the form of a ratchet system.
Further, the sliding sleeve may comprise an opening which in the first position is aligned with the at least one first opening in the tubular unit part.
The closing unit may further comprise a first sealing means and a second sealing means arranged between the sliding sleeve and the tubular unit part on each side of the at least first opening, and a third sealing means arranged between the sliding sleeve and the tubular unit part between the first unit end and the at least second opening.
The abandonment plug according to the present invention may further comprise a unit housing surrounding the tubular unit part and the sliding sleeve, in order that the sliding sleeve slides between the unit housing and the tubular unit part.
The abandonment plug may further comprise an end cap having apertures and being connected to the unit housing.
Moreover, the unit housing may comprise a projection on an inner face for receiving a flange of the tubular unit part in order that the tubular unit part is hindered from movement past the projection.
Also, the tubular unit part may have a third unit section having a third outer diameter being greater than the second outer diameter.
In addition, the third outer diameter may be greater than the outer diameter of the second sleeve part creating space for the second sleeve part to be allowed to slide.
Furthermore, the second sleeve part may be allowed to slide until reaching the projection.
Moreover, the outer diameter of the first sleeve part may be smaller than the inner diameter of the projection so that the first sleeve part is allowed to freely slide past the projection.
Furthermore, the at least one second opening may have a diameter smaller than that of the at least one first opening.
Further, the sliding sleeve may have a first sleeve part having a first inner sleeve diameter and a second sleeve part having a second inner sleeve diameter, the tubular unit part having a first unit section having a first outer diameter corresponding to the first inner sleeve diameter and a second unit section of the tubular unit part having a second outer diameter corresponding to the second inner sleeve diameter.
Additionally, the tubular unit part may have a decreasing inner diameter at the first unit end for guiding a ball towards the ball seat.
Also, the tubular unit part may be mounted within the unit housing.
Furthermore, the plug may be connected to a workover pipe, drill pipe, coiled tubing or similar disconnectable tubing.
Moreover, the unit sleeve may have a through-bore in which the piston slides.
Further, the abandonment plug may comprise a venting port in the second tubular end part for equalising the pressure within well while running in the plug.
Furthermore, the abandonment plug may comprise a base part connecting the first end part and the second end part.
In addition, the base part may be surrounded of the expandable metal sleeve.
Moreover, the base part may have an opening.
The present invention also relates to a plug and abandonment system comprising the abandonment plug according to the present invention and a cement supply for supplying cement above the plug, below the plug and/or in the plug.
Additionally, the plug may be releasably connected to a workover pipe, drill pipe, coiled tubing or similar disconnectable tubing.
The plug and abandonment system according to the present invention may further comprise a stroking tool connected to the unit for providing an axial force for expanding the expandable metal sleeve.
Said plug and abandonment system according to the present invention may furthermore comprise diconnectable tubing connecting the cement supply with the plug.
The invention and its many advantages will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show some non-limiting embodiments and in which:
All the figures are highly schematic and not necessarily to scale, and they show only those parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, other parts being omitted or merely suggested.
The abandonment plug 1 has length of less than 5 metres, preferably less than 3 metres. The abandonment plug 1 is typically arranged in a well tubular metal structure for stopping cement being poured into the well for providing a cement plug being 50-100 metres long.
In
As can be seen in
By only relying on simple mechanical functions such as breaking a shear pin to expand the abandonment plug 1 and then pull out the unit 8, no complex structure can get stuck and hinder the plug and abandonment. The plug left in the well is very simple but sufficient to hold the cement until it cures. When running the plug in, the fluid can easily pass the plug and no advanced flow-through is required since the cement is applied on top of the set plug. If for some reason, the plug is expanded but the unit is not released, the unit can just remain in the well and be part of the plug being filled with cement.
The abandonment plug 1 is typically connected to a workover pipe, drill pipe (a drill pipe string), coiled tubing or similar disconnectable tubing in order to provide pressurised fluid from surface to expand the abandonment plug 1 and disconnect when the plug has been set. In another embodiment, the abandonment plug 1 is connected to a wireline tool having a pump for providing the pressurised fluid.
The piston 11 is tubular provided by a bore 36 and thus has a very simple design. The piston of
The abandonment plug 1 further comprises the second breakable element 18 between the unit sleeve 10 and the second end part 4 as a safety precaution for maintaining the unit sleeve in the first position in relation to the second end part during expansion of the expandable metal sleeve until the second breakable element 18 breaks at a predetermined force. However, the second breakable element is easy to break by applying a downward force on the unit sleeve 10, e.g. by increasing the pressure, and the unit 8 can thus always be easily retracted. The unit sleeve 10 of
The abandonment plug 1 of
In
As shown in
Thus in the first position, the sliding sleeve 124 uncovers the first openings and in the second position, the sliding sleeve covers the first openings and thereby closes the end of the abandonment plug 1. The sliding sleeve 124 moves from the first position to the second position by dropping the ball and by means of fluid entering the chamber 126 through the second opening 28 and presses onto the sliding sleeve, increasing the chamber 126 as the sliding sleeve moves away from the first unit end 122 towards the second unit end 123. Thus, the sliding sleeve functions as a piston. The ball blocks the second opening so that fluid is led into the chamber 126.
As can be seen in
In order to prevent the closing unit from returning to the first position but still remain closed, the outer face at the second unit end comprises circumferential grooves 47 engaging a pawl 132 of an end part 48 of the sliding sleeve 124 in the form of a ratchet system. In another embodiment, collets may be released as the sliding sleeve moves and the collets falling into the space created behind the sliding sleeve as it moves towards the second position and thus hinders the sliding sleeve from returning to the first position.
In
In order to properly seal off the first opening, the closing unit 20 further comprises a first sealing means 34A and a second sealing means 34B arranged between the sliding sleeve 124 and the tubular unit part 121 on each side of the first opening. In
In
The unit housing 135 may comprise a projection 138 on an inner face 139 for receiving a flange 141 of the tubular unit part so that the tubular unit part 121 is hindered from movement past the projection 138 and past the first opening 27. In this way, it is ensured that the sliding sleeve does not slide too far and thus it is ensured that it uncovers the first opening 27 again. As can be seen in
The sliding sleeve has a first sleeve part 142 having a first inner sleeve diameter ID1 and a second sleeve part 143 having a second inner sleeve diameter ID2, and the tubular unit part 121 has a first unit section 144 having a first outer diameter OD1 corresponding to the first inner sleeve diameter ID1 and a second unit section 145 of the tubular unit part 121 having a second outer diameter OD2 corresponding to the second inner sleeve diameter ID2. The first inner sleeve diameter is smaller than the second inner sleeve diameter providing possibility for creating the chamber 126.
The tubular unit part 121 has a third unit section 152 having a third outer diameter OD3 being greater than the second outer diameter OD2. The third outer diameter OD3 being greater than the outer diameter of the second sleeve part 143 creating space for the second sleeve part to be allowed to slide until reaching the projection 138. The outer diameter of the first sleeve part 142 is smaller than the inner diameter of the projection so that the first sleeve part 142 is allowed to freely slide past the projection.
The tubular unit part may have a decreasing inner diameter from the open end at the first unit end towards the ball seat for guiding a ball 146 towards the ball seat.
The tubular unit part may be mounted within the unit housing as shown in
In
Sealing means 37 are provided in different places, as shown in
In
In
The first end part 3 and the second end part 4 may also be connected as shown in
A stroking tool 32 is a tool providing an axial force. The stroking tool comprises an electrical motor for driving a pump. The pump pumps fluid into a piston housing to move a piston acting therein. The piston is arranged on the stroker shaft. The pump may pump fluid into the piston housing on one side and simultaneously suck fluid out on the other side of the piston.
By fluid or well fluid is meant any kind of fluid that may be present in oil or gas wells downhole, such as natural gas, oil, oil mud, crude oil, water, etc. By gas is meant any kind of gas composition present in a well, completion, or open hole, and by oil is meant any kind of oil composition, such as crude oil, an oil-containing fluid, etc. Gas, oil, and water fluids may thus all comprise other elements or substances than gas, oil, and/or water, respectively.
By an annular barrier is meant an annular barrier comprising a tubular metal part mounted as part of the well tubular metal structure and an expandable metal sleeve surrounding and connected to the tubular part defining an annular barrier space.
By a casing or a well tubular metal structure is meant any kind of pipe, tubing, tubular, liner, string etc. used downhole in relation to oil or natural gas production.
In the event that the tool is not submergible all the way into the casing, a downhole tractor can be used to push the tool all the way into position in the well. The downhole tractor may have projectable arms having wheels, wherein the wheels contact the inner surface of the casing for propelling the tractor and the tool forward in the casing. A downhole tractor is any kind of driving tool capable of pushing or pulling tools in a well downhole, such as a Well Tractor®.
Although the invention has been described in the above in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be evident for a person skilled in the art that several modifications are conceivable without departing from the invention as defined by the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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17206810 | Dec 2017 | EP | regional |
18175170 | May 2018 | EP | regional |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190178049 A1 | Jun 2019 | US |