Patent Application
20200095833
In the resource exploration and recovery industry, wellbores are formed in a formation for the purpose of discovering and exploiting formation fluids. Generally, a tubular is run into the wellbore for the purpose of delivering formation fluids to a surface system for processing, transportation and/or storage. Often times, the formation fluids pass into the tubular through a screen assembly. The screen assembly may take on various forms and could include any number of layers. The screen assembly provides passage into the tubular for desirable fluids while, at the same time, excluding undesirable fluids and/or solids.
In certain cases, the screen assembly is formed by wrapping a wire around an outside of a tubular. Wire size, wire spacing, and wire geometry may all be selected to meet various design constraints. Generally, sections of wire wrap are applied to the tubular. In between the sections of wire wrap, a gauge ring may be installed. The gauge ring is secured to the outer surface of the tubular and establishes a desired positioning or centering of the tubular in the wellbore.
Installing gauge rings is a time consuming process. A first section of wire wrap is applied to the tubular. After the first portion, the gauge ring is installed. At this point, a subsequent portion of wire wrap is installed. The need to switch between processes, e.g., wrapping wire, and wrapping gauge rings, increases the time and costs needed to form a screen assembly. Also, the need to switch processes can result in an increase in scrap if a wire spool does not have enough remaining material to form a section. The art would be open to new methods of forming screen assemblies that are less time consuming, require fewer set up steps, and result in eliminating scrap wire.
Disclosed is a screen assembly for subsurface systems including a tubular having an outer surface. A first screen portion and a second screen portion extend about the outer surface. The second screen portion is displaced from the first screen portion by a void region. A plurality of weld plugs is mounted about the outer surface of the tubular in the void region. A centralizing ring extends about the tubular at the void region. The centralizing ring extending over each of the first screen portion and the second screen portion and is mechanically joined to the tubular through the plurality of weld plugs.
Also disclosed is a method of forming a screen assembly including positioning a first screen portion about an outer surface of a tubular, positioning a second screen portion about the outer surface separated from the first screen portion by a void region, mounting a plurality of weld plugs about the outer surface of the tubular at the void region, positioning a centralizing ring about the tubular over the first screen portion and the second screen portion, and securing the centralizing ring to the tubular through the plurality of weld plugs.
Further disclosed is a resource exploration and recovery system including a first system, and a second system connected to the first system through a tubular system supporting a screen assembly including a tubular having an outer surface. A first screen portion and a second screen portion extend about the outer surface. The second screen portion is displaced from the first screen portion by a void region. A plurality of weld plugs is mounted about the outer surface of the tubular in the void region. A centralizing ring extends about the tubular at the void region. The centralizing ring extends over each of the first screen portion and the second screen portion and is mechanically joined to the tubular through the plurality of weld plugs.
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.
A resource exploration and recovery system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, is indicated generally at 10, in
First system 14 may include a control system 23 that may provide power to, monitor, communicate with, and/or activate one or more downhole operations as will be discussed herein. Surface system 16 may include additional systems such as pumps, fluid storage systems, cranes and the like (not shown). Second system 18 may include a tubular string 30 that extends into a wellbore 34 formed in a formation 36. Tubular string 30 may be formed by a series of interconnected discrete tubulars or by a single tubular that could take the form of coiled tubing. Wellbore 34 includes an annular wall 38 defined by a casing tubular 40. An amount of cement 42 may be arranged between casing tubular 40 and a surface 44 of formation 36. Cement 42 may establish a selected position of casing tubular 40 in wellbore 34.
In an embodiment, shown in
Referring to
In an embodiment, centralizing rings 72 extend about screen assembly 60 at void regions 90. Centralizing rings 72 include a first end 104 and an opposing second end 105 that are separated by an outer surface portion 108 and an inner surface portion 110. A discontinuity 113 is defined between first end 104 and second end 105. In an embodiment, first end 104 may include a first angled surface (not separately labeled) and second end 105 may include a second angled surface (also not separately labeled) that oppose one another at discontinuity 113. In this manner, centralizing ring 72 may define a skive cut ring (not separately labeled). The particular geometry of first and second end 104 and 105 may vary.
In an embodiment, centralizing rings 72 include a plurality of openings, one of which is indicated at 120. Each of the plurality of openings 120 extend from inner surface portion 110 through outer surface portion 108 and are sized to receive corresponding ones of the plurality of weld plugs 78. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of weld plugs 78 includes a body 130 having an outer surface section 132 and an inner surface section 133 defining an annulus. Body 130 also includes a first axial end 137 and an opposing second axial end 138.
In an embodiment, plurality of weld plugs 78 may be secured in each of the plurality of openings 120 with first axial end 137 projecting proudly of outer surface portion 108 as shown in
Reference will now be made to
In an embodiment, centralizing rings 144 include a plurality of openings, one of which is indicated at 163. Each of the plurality of openings 163 extend from inner surface portion 150 through outer surface portion 149. Each of the plurality of openings 163 are internally threaded, e.g., include a plurality of internal threads 165 and are sized to receive corresponding ones of a plurality of weld plugs 170 such as Shown in
In an embodiment, plurality of weld plugs 170 may be secured in each of the plurality of opening 163 by engaging threads 183 with threads 165 such that first axial end 180 projecting proudly of outer surface portion 175. Of course, first axial end 180 may also be flush with or recessed relative to outer surface portion 175. Second axial end 182 is secured to outer surface 66 at void region 90 such that inner surface portion 176 is not connected to either first screen portion 64 or second screen portion 66.
At this point, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments describe a screen assembly in which centralizing rings are secured to an outer surface of a tubular while maintaining a disconnect relative to a screen surface. While the screen surface is shown as being formed from screen wire, the screen surface may take on various forms including metal mesh screens, multi-layer screens and the like. In this manner, damage to the screen wire may be avoided if the centralizing rings become stuck in a wellbore. Further, by maintaining a spacing between the screen wraps and the centralizing ring, available production surfaces are increased over prior art screens in which centralizing rings block off portions of a tubular. Finally, while shown in connection with a screen assembly, the centralizing rings described herein may be employed to connect sleeves.
Set forth below are some embodiments of the forgoing disclosure:
A screen assembly for subsurface systems comprising: a tubular including an outer surface; a first screen portion and a second screen portion extend about the outer surface, the second screen portion being displaced from the first screen portion by a void region; a plurality of weld plugs mounted about the outer surface of the tubular in the void region; and a centralizing ring extending about the tubular at the void region, the centralizing ring extending over each of the first screen portion and the second screen portion and being mechanically joined to the tubular through the plurality of weld plugs.
The screen assembly according to any prior embodiment, wherein the centralizing ring is mounted to the tubular without being connected to the first screen portion and the second screen portion.
The screen assembly according to any prior embodiment, wherein the centralizing ring includes a plurality of openings receptive of corresponding ones of the plurality of weld plugs, the plurality of weld plugs being joined to the centralizing ring at corresponding ones of the plurality of openings.
The screen assembly according to any prior embodiment, wherein each of the plurality of openings comprises threaded openings, and each of the plurality of weld plugs include external threads that engage with the threaded openings.
The screen assembly according to any prior embodiment, wherein the centralizing ring includes a discontinuity.
The screen assembly according to any prior embodiment, wherein the discontinuity defines a skive cut in the centralizing ring.
The screen assembly according any prior embodiment, wherein the first screen portion is defined by a first plurality of wire wraps and the second screen portion is defined by a second plurality of wire wraps.
The screen assembly according to any prior embodiment, wherein first plurality of wire wraps and the second plurality of wire wraps are defined by a continuous wire.
The screen assembly according any prior embodiment, wherein the centralizing ring includes an outer surface and a plurality of centralizing blades projecting radially outwardly of the outer surface.
The screen assembly according to any prior embodiment, wherein the centralizing ring includes a plurality of radially outwardly projecting centralizing blades.
A method of forming a screen assembly comprising: positioning a first screen portion about an outer surface of a tubular; positioning a second screen portion about the outer surface separated from the first screen portion by a void region; mounting a plurality of weld plugs about the outer surface of the tubular at the void region; positioning a centralizing ring about the tubular over the first screen portion and the second screen portion; and securing the centralizing ring to the tubular through the plurality of weld plugs.
The method of any prior embodiment, wherein positioning the first screen portion includes wrapping a first plurality of wire wraps about the tubular and positing the second screen portion includes wrapping a second plurality of wire wraps about the tubular.
The method of any prior embodiment, wherein wrapping the first plurality of wire wraps and the second plurality of wire wraps includes wrapping a continuous wire about the outer surface.
The method of any prior embodiment, further comprising: securing the centralizing ring to the plurality of weld plugs by engaging external threads on each of the plurality of weld plugs with internal threads formed in corresponding openings of the centralizing ring.
The method of any prior embodiment, wherein positioning the centralizing ring about the tubular aligning a first angled surface on a first end of the centralizing ring with an angled surface on a second, opposing end of the centralizing ring.
A resource exploration and recovery system comprising: a first system; a second system connected to the first system through a tubular system supporting a screen assembly comprising: a tubular including an outer surface; a first screen portion and a second screen portion extend about the outer surface, the second screen portion being displaced from the first screen portion by a void region; a plurality of weld plugs mounted about the outer surface of the tubular in the void region; and a centralizing ring extending about the tubular at the void region, the centralizing ring extending over each of the first screen portion and the second screen portion and being mechanically joined to the tubular through the plurality of weld plugs.
The resource exploration and recovery system according to any prior embodiment, wherein the centralizing ring is mounted to the tubular without being connected to the first screen portion and the second screen portion.
The resource exploration and recovery system according to any prior embodiment, wherein the centralizing ring includes a plurality of openings receptive of corresponding ones of the plurality of weld plugs, the plurality of weld plugs being joined to the centralizing ring at corresponding ones of the plurality of openings.
The resource exploration and recovery system according to any prior embodiment, wherein each of the plurality of openings comprises threaded openings, and each of the plurality of weld plugs include external threads that engage with the threaded openings.
The resource exploration and recovery system according to any prior embodiment, wherein first screen portion is defined by a first plurality of wire wraps and the second screen portion is defined by a second plurality of wire wraps.
The resource exploration and recovery system according to any prior embodiment, wherein the first plurality of wire wraps and the second plurality of wire wraps are defined by a continuous wire.
The resource exploration and recovery system according to any prior embodiment, wherein the centralizing ring includes a plurality of radially outwardly projecting centralizing blades.
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” and “substantially” 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” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% 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 wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, 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.
