Patent Grant
10920532
The present invention relates to a squeeze packer assembly and a method of setting a squeeze packer in an oil or gas well without the need for any additional full gauge running or mechanical setting tools.
Squeeze cementing is the term used in the oil and gas industry for the process of applying hydraulic pressure to force (or squeeze) fluid such as cement slurry into perforations, formation voids or fractures in the wellbore from surface. The cement slurry forms a filter cake in the annulus between the outside of the casing and the formation, creating a barrier and preventing fluid movement. Squeeze cementing is a common type of remedial (secondary) cementing which is especially beneficial in correcting well defects such as casing leaks due to corrosion or repairing a primary cement job which has failed.
In addition, squeeze cementing is used when an oil-producing zone is to be isolated from a neighbouring gas zone to improve the gas/oil ratio, thus resulting in an increase in oil production. Additional applications of squeeze cementing include sealing off low pressure zones that attract oil, gas or drilling fluids. Squeeze cementing is also used to seal off perforations or to plug a depleted open hole producing zone. This helps prevent fluid migration to and from the abandoned zone.
Furthermore, squeeze cementing is used for annular casing to casing or casing to formation zonal isolation during well abandonment, for example, when the cement bond on the outside of the casing has been found to be poor. A squeeze packer allows squeeze cementing operations to take place through the packer via a stinger providing a conduit through the packer through which cement is injected. By utilising a running/setting tool, a sleeve in the squeeze packer can be manipulated to control flow allowing cementing to take place through the packer before manipulating again to isolate the wellbore below the packer. In addition to this, the squeeze packer tool may be designed to be removed from the well by the use of common oil well drilling equipment and practices.
An example of a squeeze packer is the EZ SV Squeeze Packer from Halliburton, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,737, which is incorporated herein by reference and is useful for understanding the claimed invention. This squeeze packer is deployed into the wellbore with a setting tool on a length of tubing such as drill pipe, and which has a sliding valve opened or closed by a series of rotations and reciprocation of the drill pipe to open and close the conduit through the packer. Great care is required to prevent premature setting of the squeeze packer. If prematurely set, the squeeze packer must be drilled out resulting in loss of time and money to the operator.
According to the present invention there is provided a squeeze packer assembly for deployment in a wellbore of an oil, gas or water well on an elongate member, the squeeze packer assembly comprising
The stinger can optionally be disconnected from the packer by means of the latch. Optionally the latch forms part of the valve, and is adapted to releasably latch the stinger onto the valve. Optionally the valve is a sliding sleeve valve and comprises a sleeve that is adapted to slide axially in the body to open and close the bore. Optionally the stinger can be received in the bore of the body and provides a fluid conduit between the elongate member, which optionally has a bore delivering fluid to the packer, and the bore of the body of the packer, for example, when the body is anchored in the wellbore and the annulus is sealed. The bore of the body of the packer optionally delivers the fluid to the wellbore in the region of the packer, e.g. below it.
The invention also provides a method of injecting a fluid into a wellbore of an oil, gas or water well, the method comprising:
Optionally the valve can be actuated to control passage of pressurised fluid to the anchoring member to actuate the anchoring member between inactive and active configurations.
Optionally the valve can be controlled by axial movement of the stinger and the elongate member relative to the body to actuate the valve between different actuation configurations.
The claimed combination of features permits the integration of the setting tool functions into the packer assembly, so certain examples allow deployment of the packer without requiring additional full gauge running/mechanical setting tools to set, reducing the risk of premature setting of the packer while being lowered in the wellbore. In addition, the packer can be set and fluid can be injected in a single trip into the well, avoiding multiple trips required by a separate setting tool and injection string.
Optionally, the stinger can have a smooth OD adapted to minimise cement disturbance when pulling out of the hole once the packer is set and cement has been injected.
Optionally, the assembly incorporates at least one and optionally more than one set of perforating guns, for example below the packer. This permits perforations to be formed in the wellbore to enhance the penetration of cement in the same trip as the injection of cement through the packer, allowing a broader scope of remedial cementing operations to be conducted during a single run. Additionally, the assembly can be used in a similar way to circulate behind the casing allowing recovery of oil-based mud. The assembly can optionally be used for a number of applications where communication above and below the packer may be required. Additionally, once the stinger has been removed from the packer, it can also act as a permanent plug sealing off the wellbore.
The elongate member may comprise a string of tubulars such as drill pipe or a coiled tubing, optionally having a bore for the delivery of fluid to the stinger.
The integrated setting mechanism advantageously minimises or avoids rotation or reciprocation steps previously required to set the packer, thus minimising the risk of premature setting in unintended positions in the wellbore and simplifying the setting sequence.
Optionally, the cement squeeze packer is set by a combination of hydraulic and mechanical force. Optionally, the anchoring device comprises upper and lower slips. Optionally at least one of the slips is hydraulically set by fluid diverted by the valve under the control of the stinger. Optionally, a ball is dropped from surface which lands on a ball seat within the valve. Increasing applied pressure on the seated ball can optionally shift the valve between different actuation states, and direct fluid to the upper slips and optionally simultaneously anchor the slips against the inner surface of the wellbore. Optionally, the slips incorporate ratchet devices which allow movement of the slips relative to the packer to set the slips but resist movement tending to release the slips. The first stage of setting the packer via hydraulic pressure under the control of the operator reduces the risk of prematurely setting the packer by rotating or reciprocating the drill string.
Optionally a second stage of the setting sequence includes an over-pull on the elongate member to set the lower slips.
Optionally, the sealing member comprises an elastomeric element. The elastomeric element is optionally compressed axially and expanded radially against the inner surface of the wellbore by setting the anchoring member, having at least one contact portion adapted to engage with the inner surface of the wellbore. Optionally, the contact portion may comprise a plurality of ribs adapted to provide optimised friction and/or for sealing engagement with the wellbore wall. This provides the advantage that the contact surface between the inner surface of the wellbore wall or inner surface of the wellbore casing/liner string and the outer surface of the cement squeeze packer is maximised. In addition, the elastomeric element is optionally capable of conforming to the profile of the wellbore wall, therefore providing an optimised sealing engagement between the wellbore and the packer. Advantageously, the element may be formed of a polymeric material. Polymeric material such as natural or synthetic rubber, silicon, PVC or any other suitable polymeric compound may be used, because the elastic properties allow recoverable deformation that is strong enough to withstand the stresses occurring during deployment and is readily available.
Optionally, the stinger is connectable to the elongate member. Optionally, the stinger has a slick outer diameter to minimise cement disturbance while being axially pulled out of the wellbore after cementing operations. Optionally, the latch may comprise a recessed profile on an outer surface of the stinger which latches onto the valve and allows the stinger to manipulate the valve by axial movement of the elongate member. Optionally, the stinger can be released from the packer by right-hand rotation of the elongate member relative to the body.
Optionally when the squeeze packer has been set in the wellbore, the stinger, which is connectable to the elongate member string, is retracted from the packer. To release the stinger from the packer, the stinger is optionally rotated clockwise via the elongate member in conjunction with axially pulling the elongate member upward in the wellbore. As the stinger is removed from the cement squeeze packer, the valve adopts a position which closes the bore and prevents fluid movement through the packer body. Optionally, the stinger is able to axially reciprocate in and out of the packer an unlimited number of times, opening and closing the valve. Optionally, when the stinger inserted into the bore, the valve adopts an open position permitting fluid passage through the bore, which is useful to prevent surging and other undesirable hydraulic effects when moving the assembly axially in the wellbore, for example, when running into the hole.
Optionally, the valve is adapted to be selectively connected and disconnected from the stinger by axial reciprocation of the elongate member. This provides the advantage that the operator is in full control in manipulating the valve.
Optionally, the latch may optionally comprise a collet having a plurality of fingers. The number of fingers may be varied depending on various factors such as the force required to engage or disengage from the latch. The fingers may be manufactured from a resilient material such as spring steel where it is flexible enough to open to a larger diameter to receive and release the stinger. The latch may be positioned in and able to axially reciprocate inside a cylindrical sleeve. The cylindrical sleeve may have a series of internal profiles with varying diameters to allow the fingers to radially compress and relax. The fingers are optionally compressed by the interaction of shoulders positioned on the fingers interacting with profiles on the sleeve. The outwardly projecting shoulders on the fingers are optionally biased radially inwardly by the profiles on the cylindrical sleeve.
The valve may optionally have a ball seat. The ball seat can optionally be compressible or collapsible, or expandable to release the ball. Optionally, the ball seat may be profiled in such a way where a ball (which can optionally be metal or polymeric e.g. steel or phenolic) can be dropped from surface and land on the profile where it is prevented from travelling further through the packer. The profile may be a set of inwardly projecting shoulders on the collet, optionally tapered. A set of outwardly projecting shoulders are optionally located on the valve optionally at the same axial position on the valve as the inwardly projecting shoulders. When placed in the cylindrical sleeve, the internal diameter of the sleeve in which the valve is axially moveable optionally applies a force acting inwards on the outwardly projecting shoulder forcing the fingers to radially compress resulting in a reduced diameter on the profile to seat the ball. The ball seat is optionally profiled such that when under compression, the tapered inwardly projecting shoulders forming the ball seat radially compress inwards and seal against each other. When the ball lands on the seat, applied pressure from surface builds above the ball. This provides the advantage that the squeeze packer can be set using hydraulic pressure and does not rely on any mechanical movement such as reciprocation or rotation of the drill string/tubing.
When the valve is axially moved, it optionally passes through a larger diameter in a housing sleeve and the outwardly projecting shoulders are allowed to radially spring outwards back to a resting configuration. Advantageously, at this point the ball seat profile has an internal diameter larger than the external diameter of the ball. This allows the ball to fall through the valve and provide a path for fluid flow.
Optionally the valve comprises a sleeve.
In one example, the sleeve can have a first diameter and a second diameter. Optionally the sleeve can move relative to a valve closure. Optionally the valve closure can comprise a seat (such as a ball seat) and a closure member (such as a ball adapted to seat on the seat and close a fluid pathway. Optionally the fluid pathway can be an annular pathway past the valve closure, e.g. past the seated ball. Optionally the seat can remain static within the housing, and the sleeve can move (e.g. slide axially) relative to the static seat.
Optionally the sleeve can have a latch e.g. with a plurality of fingers on the sleeve. Optionally the internal diameter of the sleeve is larger towards the lower end of the sleeve. The ball seat can be disposed on a pillar in the bore of the packer. The pillar can be secured within the bore. Optionally when the packer is set, and the sleeve slides axially upwards, the larger internal diameter within the lower end of the sleeve allows fluid communication between the bore of the stinger and the sealed annulus below the packer, optionally flowing through an annular fluid bypass around the pillar and out through the circulation ports of the packer.
Optionally, the body comprises a guide which guides the stinger into the bore. The guide is optionally in the form of a funnel, having a larger diameter at an upper end tapering down to a smaller diameter at the lower end, and is optionally concentric with the bore in the body. The guide funnels the stinger into the bore to engage with the valve, which is optionally also co-axial with the bore. Advantageously, the guide is used to guide the alignment of the stinger with the valve and the bore.
To restrict fluid communication above and below the valve, a set of circumferential seals are optionally disposed on the valve, optionally between the valve and the housing sleeve in which it moves axially between different actuation configurations. The seals optionally comprise a polymeric material. Polymeric material such as natural or synthetic rubber, silicon, PVC or any other suitable polymeric compound may be used, because the elastic properties allow recoverable deformation that is strong enough to withstand the stresses occurring during axial reciprocation of the sliding valve latch.
Optionally, the packer has a secondary release mechanism. If rotation of the tubing is not possible, likely in deviated wells, a secondary release mechanism allows the packer to set while allowing release of the stinger. Optionally, the secondary release mechanism comprises an arrangement of shear pins between body portions. Optionally the shear pins comprise a brass alloy. Optionally, if the shear rating is to be greater a steel alloy can be used. A grooved profile on an upper setting sleeve acts as a shear point. Optionally the shear pins are cylindrical. Optionally, spring roll pins can be used.
Optionally, the packer is fabricated from a material which is easily drillable such as cast iron (or similar). Advantageously, this allows for drilling or milling should the packer require to be drilled out.
The built-in setting/running tool removes the need for a separate full gauge setting/running tool.
The packer optionally has a sliding valve which is able to axially slide into 2 positions, open or closed, used to allow and prevent fluid flow through the packer comprising a plurality of resilient fingers optionally made from a resilient material and providing a pressure retaining means for activating the upper slips, wherein the valve has a latch for releasably connecting to the stinger, so that optionally the stinger is selectively dis-connectable from the cement squeeze packer. Optionally, each finger on the valve has an inwardly projecting cylindrical shoulder positioned in the middle of said fingers so when they are radially compressed inwards, the projecting shoulders combine together and a reduced internal diameter is created for a valve closure member such as an activation ball (e.g. steel or phenolic) to land on and a pressure retaining seal is formed for applied pressure. Optionally the applied hydraulic pressure after the ball lands on the profile builds up to a sufficient amount which is enough to activate and set the top slips. Optionally the inwardly projecting shoulders located on the fingers are flexible enough to compress inwards, creating a ball seat profile so when the ball lands on the profile it forms a hydraulic pressure retaining seal to prevent pressure from passing through into the downwards portion of the valve. Optionally the inwardly projecting shoulder also has a matching outwardly projecting shoulder. Optionally the inwardly protruding shoulders creating the ball seat can be formed in a separate sleeve or pillar, which optionally prevents fluid bypass once a valve closure member is seated to allow hydraulic pressure to build up. Optionally the valve is positioned inside a profiled cylindrical sleeve and the cylindrical sleeve has internal profiles with different diameters and when assembled together, the sliding valve is able to reciprocate axially relative to the cylindrical sleeve and into the different profiles by the stinger. Optionally the cylindrical sleeve profiles allow the outwardly projecting shoulder on the sliding valve to compress and expand back to relaxed state depending on the position within the cylindrical sleeve. Optionally the fingers on the valve have another set of inwardly and outwardly projecting shoulders on the upper extremities of the sliding valve fingers. Optionally the inwardly projecting shoulder is profiled to match a recessed profile on a stinger which is selectively dis-connectable from the squeeze packer. Optionally the inwardly projecting shoulder is in constant contact with the matching recessed profile on the stinger by a constant bias force provided by the outwardly projecting shoulder and the profiled cylindrical sleeve. Optionally the profiled cylindrical sleeve has an internal diameter slightly larger than the compressed outwardly projecting shoulder to allow a clearance gap for the valve to axially reciprocate. Optionally the fingers on the valve are manufactured from a resilient material and are adapted to compress inwards and spring back to its original relaxed state by having good memory properties, materials such as but not limited to spring steel. Optionally once the valve has moved axially upwards with respect to the position of the cylindrical sleeve and the outwardly projecting shoulder on the valve has passed through to a larger internal diameter on the cylindrical sleeve, the fingers can spring back to a relaxed state resulting in the diameter of the inwardly projecting shoulder opening up and allowing the ball to fall through downwards. Optionally once the ball has passed through the inwardly projected shoulder of the ball seat and subsequently the valve, fluid flow is allowed between the annulus above and below the cement squeeze packer. Optionally in the pillar arrangement, once the valve has moved axially upwards, a change in internal diameter allows fluid to bypass around the ball and out the circulation ports. Optionally further axial movement of the sliding valve latch within the mandrel results in the stinger being fully released from the squeeze packer. Optionally the valve is axially moved in the upwards direction after the hydraulic setting of the upper slips has taken place. Optionally the lower slips of the packer are set mechanically by over pull of the drill pipe/tubing. Optionally the mechanical over pull of the lower slips compresses an elastomeric element which can be but not limited to an elastomeric or polymeric compound. Optionally the element is compressed radially outwards having a contact portion adapted to engage with the wall of the wellbore. Optionally the compressed element is capable of retaining wellbore fluid/pressure from bypassing. Optionally the stinger has an open-ended profile to allow cementing operations to take place once released from the squeeze packer. Optionally the stinger has a slick outer diameter to minimise cement disturbance when it is released from the cement squeeze after cementing operations has taken place. Optionally the stinger is released from the squeeze packer by right-hand rotation of the drill pipe/tubing. Optionally the tubing is pulled axially upwards resulting in the sliding valve latch fingers entering a larger internal diameter in the cylindrical sleeve and releasing from the stinger. Optionally once the stinger is removed from the squeeze packer the valve latch closes off fluid flow/communication between the upper and lower annulus in the wellbore between the packer. Optionally fluid flow/communication is prevented by misaligning circulation ports on the sliding valve and cement end cap by axially moving the sliding valve. Optionally once the ports are misaligned by axial movement of the sliding valve, a set of radial seals retain and prevent fluid flow/communication. Optionally a pressure test can be performed above the cement squeeze packer confirming well integrity. Optionally the stinger can be lowered back into the squeeze packer once a pressure test is complete to latch onto and re-open the sliding valve and allow fluid flow/communication above and below the annulus in the wellbore between the packer. Optionally remedial cementing operations can take place once the recessed profile on the stinger re-latches onto the inwardly projecting shoulder on the sliding valve. Optionally the fingers of the sliding valve and inwardly projecting shoulders are resilient enough to expand to receive the stinger and spring back to its relaxed state once the inwardly projecting shoulder meets the matching recessed profile on the stinger. Optionally the sliding valve is pushed downwards and circulation ports on the sliding valve align with ports on the cement end cap to allow fluid flow through the drill string/tubing and out the wellbore annulus below the packer. Optionally a set of seals divert fluid/pressure from the stinger out through the circulation ports on the sliding valve latch and cement end cap.
The various aspects of the present invention can be practiced alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspects, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant arts. The various aspects of the invention can optionally be provided in combination with one or more of the optional features of the other aspects of the invention. Also, optional features described in relation to one aspect can typically be combined alone or together with other features in different aspects of the invention. Any subject matter described in this specification can be combined with any other subject matter in the specification to form a novel combination.
Various aspects of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the entire description thereof, including the figures, which illustrates a number of exemplary aspects and implementations. The invention is also capable of other and different examples and aspects, and its several details can be modified in various respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, each example herein should be understood to have broad application, and is meant to illustrate one possible way of carrying out the invention, without intending to suggest that the scope of this disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that example. Furthermore, the terminology and phraseology used herein is solely used for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting in scope. In particular, unless otherwise stated, dimensions and numerical values included herein are presented as examples illustrating one possible aspect of the claimed subject matter, without limiting the disclosure to the particular dimensions or values recited. All numerical values in this disclosure are understood as being modified by “about”. All singular forms of elements, or any other components described herein are understood to include plural forms thereof and vice versa.
Language such as “including”, “comprising”, “having”, “containing”, or “involving” and variations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subject matter listed thereafter, equivalents, and additional subject matter not recited, and is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. Likewise, the term “comprising” is considered synonymous with the terms “including” or “containing” for applicable legal purposes. Thus, throughout the specification and claims unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations thereof such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in the specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention.
In this disclosure, whenever a composition, an element or a group of elements is preceded with the transitional phrase “comprising”, it is understood that we also contemplate the same composition, element or group of elements with transitional phrases “consisting essentially of”, “consisting”, “selected from the group of consisting of”, “including”, or “is” preceding the recitation of the composition, element or group of elements and vice versa. In this disclosure, the words “typically” or “optionally” are to be understood as being intended to indicate optional or non-essential features of the invention which are present in certain examples but which can be omitted in others without departing from the scope of the invention.
References to directional and positional descriptions such as upper and lower and directions e.g. “up”, “down” etc. are to be interpreted by a skilled reader in the context of the examples described to refer to the orientation of features shown in the drawings, and are not to be interpreted as limiting the invention to the literal interpretation of the term, but instead should be as understood by the skilled addressee. In particular, positional references in relation to the well such as “up” and similar terms will be interpreted to refer to a direction toward the point of entry of the borehole into the ground or the seabed, and “down” and similar terms will be interpreted to refer to a direction away from the point of entry, whether the well being referred to is a conventional vertical well or a deviated well.
In the accompanying drawings:
The packer 1 has a body comprising a central mandrel 9 having a central bore 9b. The mandrel 9 has a socket at its upper end which receives a lower stem of an upper setting sleeve 12, also having a bore which is co-axial with the bore 9b of the mandrel 9. The upper setting sleeve 12 is connected to the mandrel 9 via shear pins 29 passing radially through the socket and into the stem. Above the stem, the upper section of the upper setting sleeve 12 has a guide in the form of a funnel which tapers radially inward from a wide diameter opening at the top of the funnel to a narrow throat at the junction between the upper section and the stem of the upper setting sleeve 12. The throat is co-axial with the bore of the upper setting sleeve 12 and with the bore of the mandrel 9, and the opening to the throat has a female thread 33 on its inner surface which has an opposite hand to the normal thread used to make up the standard oilfield connections (best seen in
The mandrel 9 is generally cylindrical, and on its outer surface, it carries anchoring and sealing members, optionally in the form of sleeves in this example, which anchor the packer in place, and seal the annulus between the packer 1 and the inner surface of the wellbore 100. Below the outer setting sleeve 27, and surrounding the interface between the upper setting sleeve 12 and the socket in the mandrel 10, is a skirt, having a radially extending flat lower surface forming a shoulder that engages an upper surface of an anchoring member in the form of an upper set of slips 3 having an inner profile with a wedge shape that cooperates with a cone 10, and an outer profile that grips the inner surface of the wellbore. The interface between the skirt and the upper slips 3 is optionally smooth, allowing the slips 3 to slide radially outwards against the skirt. The slips 3 in this example are formed as separate parts, circumferentially spaced around the outer circumference of the mandrel 9. The upper slips 3 and cone 10 are slidable axially relative to the mandrel 9, and are arranged so that axial sliding movement of the cone 10 toward the slips 3 causes the slips 3 to move radially outwards, to grip the inner wall of the wellbore 100. Below the cone 10, a sealing member in the form of an elastomeric sealing element 5 is supported between oppositely oriented seal shoes, and is optionally split into several axially separate parts. Below the elastomeric ceiling element 5, a set of lower slips 4 and corresponding cone 11 is provided having a similar configuration to the upper slips 3 and clone 10, but oriented in the opposite direction. Below the lower slips 4, an end collar 32 is mounted on the outer surface of the mandrel 9, and in this example is fixed to the mandrel 9 and cannot slide along its outer surface as the cones and slips can. At the lower end of the mandrel 9 a screw thread connection attaches an end cap 40.
The central bore 9b extending through the body of the mandrel 9 is counter-bored at its lower end, to a larger diameter in order to receive a valve within the bore. The upper portion of the end cap 40 connected to the mandrel 9 also has a similar diameter of bore, and together the large diameter bores of the end cap 40 and mandrel 9 allow the valve to shuttle axially by sliding within the enlarged bore in order to open and close ports 8 in the end cap 40.
The stinger 2 is received within the bore of the mandrel 9 and extends axially through the mandrel 9 into the larger bore chamber containing the valve. In this example, the body of the valve comprises a shuttle sleeve 7 having valve ports 16 in the form of slots which extend axially along the shuttle sleeve 7. Optionally four valve ports 16 are spaced circumferentially at equal spacing around the shuttle sleeve 7, at the same axial position.
The shuttle sleeve 7 is generally cylindrical and can be formed from spring steel or some other resilient material. At its lower end, the valve ports 16 are disposed above a solid section bounded by resilient circumferential seals 17 on the outer surface of the cylinder. As the shuttle sleeve 7 slides axially within the enlarged bore of the body, the seals 17 move over the circulation ports 8 extending radially through the end cap and move the valve ports 16 in and out of fluid communication with the circulation ports 8 to open and close the fluid conduit formed by the bore of the packer.
At its upper end, the shuttle sleeve 7 has a latch device in the form of a collet comprising a plurality of resilient fingers 14 connected to the end of the sleeve in a cantilever manner and extending axially from a ball seat 15. The upper end of the shuttle sleeve 7 is relatively resilient, allowing the collet fingers 14 and the ball seat 15 to move radially into different configurations as will be described below.
When run in hole, in the
The upper and lower slips 3, 4 are set to anchor the packer in position. The upper cone 10 is mounted on a body lock ring 6 where the surface of the internal diameter of the body lock ring 6 has teeth which cooperate with teeth on the mandrel 9 to permit movement of the body lock ring relative to the mandrel 9 in one direction only. In this example it allows the mandrel 9 to move upwards with respect to the cone 10 and resists movement of the upper cone 10 relative to the mandrel 9 when the packer 1 is set.
The shuttle sleeve 7 is shown in more detail in
Mounted on the same collet fingers 14, a ball seat 15 is provided. The ball seat 15 is radially expandable between the seating configuration shown in
A cylindrical valve housing sleeve 21 fixed in the bore of the mandrel 9 has a central bore that is co-axial with the bore 9b of the mandrel 9. The valve housing sleeve 21 houses the shuttle sleeve 7 and permits it to move axially within the bore of the valve housing sleeve 21 between different states of actuation. The valve housing sleeve 21 has a series of counter-bores forming a stepped internal profile which increases in diameter towards the upper end of the valve housing sleeve 21. Two steps are provided in the bore of the housing sleeve; namely a first step between a relatively narrow central section of the bore housing the seal 35 and an intermediate section 22 of the bore immediately above the central section, and a second step between the intermediate section 22 and an end section 23. The central section has a narrower internal diameter than the intermediate section 22, which has a narrower internal diameter than the end section 23. The internal diameter of the intermediate section 22 is sufficiently narrow to maintain the tips 13 of the collet fingers 14 compressed in the groove 19, to keep the stinger 2 latched to the shuttle sleeve 7 for as long as the tips 13 of the collet fingers 14 are in the intermediate section of the bore of the valve housing sleeve 21. However, the intermediate section 22 is sufficiently wide to permit expansion of the ball seat 15 from its
Further upwards movement of the shuttle sleeve 7 eventually moves the tips 13 of the fingers 14 into the end section 23 of the bore, which has a larger diameter than the intermediate section. The larger diameter of the end section 23 provides sufficient annular space outside the tips 13 for the tips 13 to expand radially outward, which releases the stinger 2 from the shuttle sleeve 7. Once the shuttle sleeve 7 has been pulled up to the position where the tips 13 of the collet fingers 14 expand into the end section 23, the slotted valve ports 16 are sealed off from the circulation ports 8 and fluid flow is prevented through the bore.
Now referring to
Referring now to
The closed position of one example of shuttle sleeve 7 is shown in
Just before the shuttle valve 7 has axially moved upwards into the
Continued upward axial movement of the stinger 2 drags the tips 13 of the fingers 14 up into the end section 23 of the valve housing sleeve 21, which has a larger internal diameter permitting the tips 13 to expand radially and escape from the groove 19 on the stinger 2. This releases the stinger 2 from the shuttle sleeve 7. Once the tips 13 are in the end section 23, the sliding valve latch 7 is free from the stinger 2 and can be pulled freely from the packer 1, leaving the tips 13 latched in the upward configuration in the end section 23. Once the stinger 2 is removed from the cement squeeze packer, additional operations such as pressure testing to confirm well integrity can be conducted. If additional adjustment of the packer is needed, the stinger 2 can be re-engaged with the packer and adjustments made as many time as are needed, without pulling the string from the hole. Optionally, cementing operations take place only after the stinger has disconnected from the packer and re-engaged as described. Optionally, the stinger is disconnected from the packer after setting before being able to open and close the valve.
In the configuration shown in
Once the stinger 2 and shuttle valve 7 have fully engaged and the shuttle sleeve has moved down to the
In
In the present example of
However, in this example, the sliding shuttle sleeve 207 is without a ball seat, and the chamfered lower end of the stinger 202 engages on a complementarily chamfered shoulder 207s in the bore of the shuttle sleeve 207. The inner diameter of the end of the stinger 207 is the same as the inner diameter of the shoulder 207s, so the ball 225 passes through the stinger 202 and into the shuttle sleeve 207 without seating in the shuttle sleeve 207, unlike in the previous example. In the assembly 201, the lower section of the shuttle sleeve 207 has an expanded inner diameter larger than the diameter of the ball 225, so there is a clearance between the inner surface of the lower part of the shuttle sleeve 207 and the ball 225 as best seen in
The ball 225 seats on a chamfered ball seat 215 set on the top of a tubular central pillar 244 fixed in position in the base of the end cap in line with the central axis of the bore of the mandrel 209 and protruding axially into the opening at the lower end of the bore of the mandrel 209. The pillar 244 has annular seals 246 on its outer surface, underneath the ball seat 215. The pillar 244 has a hollow bore 245 and side ports 244p, and the end opposite the ball seat 215 has a blind end where the pillar 244 is fixed to the end cap 240.
The shuttle sleeve has an external circumferential seal 247 on a waist between its upper and lower ends. The outer diameter of the shuttle sleeve 207 steps radially outward just above the waist ending the annular space outside the shuttle sleeve 207 above the waist, and just below the waist the inner diameter also steps radially outward, leaving the waist with a larger radial thickness, disposed at the boundary where the inner and outer diameters step radially outwards. Below the waist, the outer surface of the shuttle sleeve 207 is pressed against the inner surface of the bore of the mandrel 209, but the inner surface of the shuttle sleeve 207 defines an annular gap between the shuttle sleeve 207 and the pillar 244, through which fluid can flow.
In the running in position with the stinger 202 fully inserted into the mandrel 209 as shown in
Once the ball 225 is dropped and lands on the chamfered profile of the ball seat 215, the fluid pathway through the bore 245 of the pillar 244 is blocked. The seals 246 on the outer surface of the pillar 244 compress between the outer surface of the pillar 244 and the inner surface of the waist of the shuttle sleeve 207, while seals 247 on the outer surface of the waist of the sliding shuttle sleeve 207 seal the annular area between the bore of the mandrel 209 and the outer surface of the shuttle sleeve 207, hence blocking fluid flow between upper and lower ends of the shuttle sleeve 207. Hydraulic pressure injected from the stinger 202 is communicated through setting ports 207p above the waist of the shuttle sleeve 207 and builds up in the annulus 228 between the stinger 202 and the mandrel 209 which is enough to set the upper slips as previously described for the above example.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1522652.5 | Dec 2015 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2016/054031 | 12/22/2016 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017/081494 | 5/18/2017 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 20200270967 A1 | Aug 2020 | US |
