Patent Application
20170275966
In the drilling and completion industry, the formation of boreholes for the purpose of production or injection of fluid is common. The boreholes are used for exploration or extraction of natural resources such as hydrocarbons, oil, gas, water, and alternatively for CO2 sequestration. A tubular having a radial port and inserted within the borehole is used for allowing the natural resources to flow within the tubular through the radial port to a surface or other location, or alternatively to inject fluids from the surface through the radial port and to the borehole.
As shown in
Thus, the art would be receptive to improvements in actuatable sleeves for downhole systems.
A sleeve apparatus having a longitudinal axis and an interior further includes a tubular having a plurality of ports providing a length of fluidic access between the interior of the sleeve apparatus and an exterior of the tubular, the length measured with respect to the longitudinal axis; and, a sleeve disposed within the tubular and configured to move longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis, the sleeve having a plurality of apertures misaligned with the plurality of ports in a closed condition of the sleeve apparatus and at least substantially aligned with the plurality of ports in a fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus, the sleeve further having a plurality of non-apertured sections aligned with the plurality of ports in the closed condition. A longitudinal shifting distance of the sleeve to move the sleeve apparatus from the closed condition to the fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus exposing the plurality of ports to the interior of the sleeve apparatus is less than the length of fluidic access provided by the plurality of ports in the fully open condition.
A downhole system includes an assembly configured to extend through a borehole, the assembly having an interior defining a flowbore. The downhole system further includes a sleeve apparatus connected along the assembly, the sleeve apparatus having a longitudinal axis and an interior, the sleeve apparatus further including a tubular having a plurality of ports providing a length of fluidic access between the interior of the sleeve apparatus and an exterior of the tubular, the length measured with respect to the longitudinal axis; and, a sleeve disposed within the tubular and configured to move longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis, the sleeve having a plurality of apertures misaligned with the plurality of ports in a closed condition of the sleeve apparatus and at least substantially aligned with the plurality of ports in a fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus, the sleeve further having a plurality of non-apertured sections aligned with the plurality of ports in the closed condition. A longitudinal shifting distance of the sleeve to move the sleeve apparatus from the closed condition to the fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus exposing the plurality of ports to the interior of the sleeve apparatus is less than the length of fluidic access provided by the plurality of ports in the fully open condition.
A method of accessing an annulus in a borehole includes running a downhole assembly into a borehole, the downhole assembly having an interior defining a flowbore, and further including a sleeve apparatus connected along the assembly, the sleeve apparatus having a longitudinal axis and an interior, the sleeve apparatus further including a tubular having a plurality of ports providing a length of fluidic access between the interior of the sleeve apparatus and an exterior of the tubular, the length measured with respect to the longitudinal axis; and, a sleeve disposed within the tubular and configured to move longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis, the sleeve having a plurality of apertures misaligned with the plurality of ports in a closed condition of the sleeve apparatus and at least substantially aligned with the plurality of ports in a fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus, the sleeve further having a plurality of non-apertured sections aligned with the plurality of ports in the closed condition. The method further includes shifting the sleeve within the tubular to expose the plurality of ports to the interior of the sleeve apparatus in the fully opened condition of the sleeve apparatus. A longitudinal shifting distance of the sleeve to move the sleeve apparatus from the closed condition to the fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus is less than the length of fluidic access provided by the plurality of ports in the fully open condition.
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
The wall 124 of the tubular 120 includes a plurality of radial flow ports 144 there through. The ports 144 may be employable for injecting material in a downhole direction 146 through the interior 130 of the tubular 120, then radially outwardly through the ports 144 towards the borehole wall 116, or alternatively may be used for allowing production fluids to flow from the formation 114 radially inwardly through the ports 144, and then in an uphole direction 148 through the interior 130. As illustrated, in one embodiment of the sleeve apparatus 110, the plurality of ports 144 include at least two longitudinally separated banks 150, 152, 154, 156, and 158 of ports 144. Each bank 150-158 of ports 144 occupies a discrete longitudinal section of the tubular 120. The first bank 150 of ports 144 is longitudinally separated from the second bank 150 of ports 152 by a non-ported, imperforate section 160 of the tubular 120. In the illustrated embodiment, third, fourth, and fifth banks 154, 156, and 158 of ports 144 are additionally included in the wall 124 of the tubular 120, however any number of banks of ports 144 may be included which are respectively separated by a non-ported section 160, 162, 164, 166. The ports 144 are elongated in a longitudinal direction, such that a length of the ports 144 is greater than a width in the radial direction, and the ports 144 extend through a thickness of the wall 124. The ports 144 are additionally radially distributed about the tubular 120 within each bank. Radially adjacent ports 144 are radially separated from each other by portions of the wall 124.
Disposed interiorly of the tubular 120 is a movable sleeve 170 and plug seat 172. In the closed condition of the sleeve apparatus 110, at least one of the sleeve 170 and plug seat 172 is secured, such as shear pinned by one or more shear pins 174, to the tubular 120 to prevent premature movement of the sleeve 170 with respect to the tubular 120. Flow through the interior 130 and through the opening 176 in the plug seat 172 is insufficient to move the sleeve 170 and plug seat 172 in the downhole direction 146.
The sleeve 170 includes a wall 178 having a plurality of apertures 180. The apertures 180 are elongated in shape in the longitudinal direction and may have a peripheral area that is at least slightly greater than a peripheral area of the ports 144. The apertures 180 are arranged in a plurality of banks of apertures 180, such as first, second, third, and fourth banks 182, 184, 186, 188. The banks 182-188 of apertures 180 are alternated with non-apertured sections 190, 192, 194, 196, and 198 of the sleeve 170. In the closed condition of the sleeve apparatus 110, the non-apertured sections 190-198 of the sleeve 170 are longitudinally aligned with the ports 144 of the tubular 120, and the banks of apertures 180 are longitudinally aligned with the non-ported sections 160-166 of the tubular 120. Thus, in the closed condition of the sleeve apparatus 110, fluidic access between the ports 144 and the interior 130 of the sleeve apparatus 110 is prohibited. Fluid ingress in the closed condition of the sleeve apparatus 110 may be further blocked by seals 200 (
When opening of the sleeve apparatus 110 is desired, a plug 202, such as a ball, is dropped onto the seat 172 to block the opening 176. Pressure is increased within the downhole assembly 101 uphole of the plug 202. The increased pressure is sufficient to shear the shear pins 174, and the pressure across the plug 202 moves the plug 202, plug seat 172, and sleeve 170 in tandem in the downhole direction 146. In the open condition of the sleeve apparatus 110, the plug seat 172 has been forced in the downhole direction 146 until a stop surface 204 of the tubular 120, such as a shoulder, is reached by an abutting surface 206 of the plug seat 172. The plug seat 172 and/or tubular 120 may further include a locking mechanism to lock the plug seat 172 in place within the tubular 120 in the open condition of the sleeve apparatus 110, such as by an expandable portion of the plug seat 172 engaging with an inner receiving area of the tubular 120. During the shifting of the sleeve 170, all of the banks of ports 144 may be opened (unblocked) substantially simultaneously. When the plug seat 172 reaches the stop surface 204, the banks of apertures 180 are aligned with respective banks of ports 144. The first bank 150 of ports 144 may simply be uncovered and exposed to the interior of the sleeve apparatus 110. Thus, the number of banks of apertures 180 may be one less than a number of banks of ports 144.
In the fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus 110, the interior 130 is fluidically communicable with the annulus 140 through the ports 144, thus the ports 144 provide fluidic access between the interior 130 and the annulus 140. The fluidic access has a length component measured with respect to the longitudinal axis 122 and equal to a sum of the length of the longest port 144 in the first bank 150 of ports 144, plus the length of the longest port 144 in the second bank 152 of ports 144, plus the length of the longest port 144 in the third bank 154 of ports 144, plus the length of the longest port 144 in the fourth bank 156 of ports 144, plus the length of the longest port 144 in the fifth bank 158 of ports 144. For example, if the ports 144 have a same length “x” within each bank of ports 144, then the length of fluid access provided by the opened sleeve system 110, as illustrated in
The apertures 180 in the sleeve 170 may be substantially rotationally aligned with the ports 144 in both closed and opened conditions of the sleeve apparatus 110, however the apertures 180 and ports 144 are longitudinally distanced from each other in the closed condition. To ensure that the apertures 180 and ports 144 remain rotationally aligned in the open condition, the sleeve 170 and the tubular 120 may be rotationally locked with respect to each other during movement of the sleeve 170, such as by, but not limited to, a protrusion extending from the sleeve 170 sliding within a longitudinal groove in the tubular 120. In an embodiment where the apertures 180 have a greater outer perimeter than that of the ports 144, exposure of the ports 144 to the interior of the sleeve apparatus 110 is ensured even if there is slight misalignment, either radially or longitudinally, between the ports 144 and apertures 180 in the open condition of the sleeve apparatus 110. In the open condition of the sleeve apparatus 110, the downhole system 100 may be used to produce fluids from the formation 114, through the aligned ports 144 and apertures 180, and in the uphole direction 148 towards surface 103. Alternatively, materials (such as, but not limited to, steam, frac fluids, chemicals, etc.) may be injected in the downhole direction 146 through the sleeve apparatus 110, through the aligned apertures 180 and ports 144, and directed radially into the annulus 140 and towards the borehole wall 116.
The sleeve apparatus 110 of
Another embodiment of a sleeve apparatus 210 for the downhole system 100 is shown in
The sleeve 270 is movable within the tubular 220 through use of a mechanism 300 to convert linear to rotational motion. In one embodiment, the linear to rotational motion converting mechanism 300 includes at least one curved interior groove 302, such as a J-slot, provided on the interior surface 226 of the wall 224 of the tubular 220 and located downhole of the plug seat 272, when the plug seat 272 is in the closed condition of the sleeve apparatus 210. The mechanism 300 further includes at least one groove follower 304 attached to or otherwise protruding from at least one of the plug seat 272 and the sleeve 270. Alternatively, the mechanism 300 may include one or more grooves 302 within a radially exterior surface of the plug seat 272 or sleeve 270, with a fixed groove follower 304 protruding radially interiorly from the tubular 220. When movement to the open condition is desired, a plug 202, such as a ball, is dropped onto the seat 272 and pressure is increased within the tubular 220 uphole of the plug 202. The increased pressure is sufficient to shear the shear pins 274 that secure the sleeve 270 to the tubular 220, and the pressure across the plug 202 moves the plug 202, plug seat 272, and sleeve 270 in tandem in the downhole direction 246. However, due to the linear to rotational motion converting mechanism 300, such as the groove 302 and groove follower 304, the sleeve 270 additionally rotates in rotational direction 308 until the groove follower 304 reaches the end of the groove 302, or alternatively or additionally until an abutting surface of the plug seat 272 engages with a stop surface of the tubular 220. As in the previous embodiment, the longitudinal shifting distance y required to longitudinally shift the sleeve 270 with respect to the tubular 220 is substantially less than in the conventional sleeve apparatus shown in
Thus, the sleeve apparatuses 110 and 210 provide high flow area with minimal sleeve activation distance. A method of providing high flow area while activating the sleeves 170 and 270 of the sleeve apparatuses 110 and 210 is further provided, and includes a method of accessing an annulus in a borehole, the method including running a downhole assembly into a borehole, the downhole assembly having an interior defining a flowbore, and further including a sleeve apparatus connected along the assembly, the sleeve apparatus having a longitudinal axis and an interior, the sleeve apparatus further including a tubular having a plurality of ports providing a length of fluidic access between the interior of the sleeve apparatus and an exterior of the tubular; and, a sleeve disposed within the tubular, the sleeve having a plurality of apertures misaligned with the plurality of ports in a closed condition of the sleeve apparatus, the sleeve further having a plurality of non-apertured sections aligned with the plurality of ports in the closed condition; and, shifting the sleeve within the tubular to expose the plurality of ports to the interior of the sleeve apparatus in a fully opened condition of the sleeve apparatus. A longitudinal shifting distance of the sleeve to move the sleeve apparatus from the closed condition to the fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus is less than the length of fluidic access provided by the plurality of ports in the fully open condition.
Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:
Embodiment 1: A sleeve apparatus having a longitudinal axis and an interior, the sleeve apparatus further comprising: a tubular having a plurality of ports providing a length of fluidic access between the interior of the sleeve apparatus and an exterior of the tubular, the length measured with respect to the longitudinal axis; and, a sleeve disposed within the tubular and configured to move longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis, the sleeve having a plurality of apertures misaligned with the plurality of ports in a closed condition of the sleeve apparatus and at least substantially aligned with the plurality of ports in a fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus, the sleeve further having a plurality of non-apertured sections aligned with the plurality of ports in the closed condition; wherein a longitudinal shifting distance of the sleeve to move the sleeve apparatus from the closed condition to the fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus exposing the plurality of ports to the interior of the sleeve apparatus is less than the length of fluidic access provided by the plurality of ports in the fully open condition.
Embodiment 2: The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 1, further comprising a plug seat configured to receive a plug, the sleeve movable with the plug seat.
Embodiment 3: The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 2, wherein the plug seat is shear pinned to the tubular in the closed condition of the sleeve apparatus, and sheared from the tubular in the open condition of the sleeve apparatus.
Embodiment 4. The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the plurality of ports in the tubular includes at least two banks of ports longitudinally separated, respectively, by a non-ported section of the tubular.
Embodiment 5. The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 4, wherein the tubular includes n banks of ports and the sleeve includes n−1 banks of apertures.
Embodiment 6. The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 4, wherein the tubular includes n banks of ports, the plurality of ports each have a substantially same length, and the length of fluidic access provided by the plurality of ports is the length of the ports times n.
Embodiment 7. The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 4, wherein the ports in each bank of ports have a length approximately equal to the longitudinal shifting distance of the sleeve.
Embodiment 8. The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 4, further comprising a seal uphole and downhole each bank of ports.
Embodiment 9. The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the plurality of apertures are rotationally misaligned with the plurality of ports in the closed condition of the sleeve apparatus.
Embodiment 10. The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 9, wherein motion of the sleeve in the longitudinal shifting distance additionally rotates the sleeve about the longitudinal axis to rotationally and longitudinally align the plurality of apertures with the plurality of ports in the fully opened condition of the sleeve apparatus.
Embodiment 11. The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 10, further comprising a curved groove in one of the tubular and the sleeve, wherein movement of the sleeve in the longitudinal shifting distance follows the curve to rotate the sleeve.
Embodiment 12. The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 11, further comprising a protrusion protruding from one of the tubular and the sleeve to follow in the groove during movement of the sleeve in the longitudinal shifting distance.
Embodiment 13. The sleeve apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the tubular further includes a J-slot, wherein the sleeve is configured to rotate with respect to the tubular during movement of the sleeve in the longitudinal shifting distance.
Embodiment 14. A downhole system comprising an assembly configured to extend through a borehole, the assembly having an interior defining a flowbore, the downhole system further comprising: a sleeve apparatus connected along the assembly, the sleeve apparatus having a longitudinal axis and an interior, the sleeve apparatus further including: a tubular having a plurality of ports providing a length of fluidic access between the interior of the sleeve apparatus and an exterior of the tubular, the length measured with respect to the longitudinal axis; and, a sleeve disposed within the tubular and configured to move longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis, the sleeve having a plurality of apertures misaligned with the plurality of ports in a closed condition of the sleeve apparatus and at least substantially aligned with the plurality of ports in a fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus, the sleeve further having a plurality of non-apertured sections aligned with the plurality of ports in the closed condition; wherein a longitudinal shifting distance of the sleeve to move the sleeve apparatus from the closed condition to the fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus exposing the plurality of ports to the interior of the sleeve apparatus is less than the length of fluidic access provided by the plurality of ports in the fully open condition.
Embodiment 15. The downhole system of embodiment 14, further comprising a plug seat attached to the sleeve, and a plug receivable within the plug seat to shift the sleeve in the longitudinal shifting distance.
Embodiment 16. The downhole system of embodiment 14, wherein the longitudinal shifting distance is x and the length of fluidic access provided by the plurality of ports is at least 2x.
Embodiment 17. The downhole system of embodiment 14, further comprising a plurality of the sleeve apparatuses connected along the assembly, and a plurality of packer devices disposed uphole and downhole of each sleeve apparatus to isolate a plurality of zones within the borehole.
Embodiment 18. A method of accessing an annulus in a borehole, the method comprising: running a downhole assembly into a borehole, the downhole assembly having an interior defining a flowbore, and further comprising a sleeve apparatus connected along the assembly, the sleeve apparatus having a longitudinal axis and an interior, the sleeve apparatus further including a tubular having a plurality of ports providing a length of fluidic access between the interior of the sleeve apparatus and an exterior of the tubular, the length measured with respect to the longitudinal axis; and, a sleeve disposed within the tubular and configured to move longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis, the sleeve having a plurality of apertures misaligned with the plurality of ports in a closed condition of the sleeve apparatus and at least substantially aligned with the plurality of ports in a fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus, the sleeve further having a plurality of non-apertured sections aligned with the plurality of ports in the closed condition; and, shifting the sleeve within the tubular to expose the plurality of ports to the interior of the sleeve apparatus in the fully opened condition of the sleeve apparatus; wherein a longitudinal shifting distance of the sleeve to move the sleeve apparatus from the closed condition to the fully open condition of the sleeve apparatus is less than the length of fluidic access provided by the plurality of ports in the fully open condition.
Embodiment 19. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the plurality of ports in the tubular includes at least two banks of ports longitudinally separated, respectively, by a non-ported section of the tubular, and shifting the sleeve includes shifting the sleeve longitudinally to unblock each bank of ports substantially simultaneously.
Embodiment 20. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the plurality of apertures are rotationally misaligned with the plurality of ports in the closed condition of the sleeve apparatus, and shifting the sleeve includes converting longitudinal motion of the sleeve into rotational motion of the sleeve to rotationally and longitudinally align the plurality of apertures with the plurality of ports in the fully opened condition of the sleeve apparatus.
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 further 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 modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).
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.
