The present disclosure relates generally to wellbore assemblies, and more specifically (although not necessarily exclusively), to a work string and a completion string for hydraulically shifting a sleeve of the completion string.
During well drilling and completion, a completion string may be run into the wellbore of well traversing a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formation. The completion string can include a sleeve that can move from an open position to a closed position.
Certain aspects and features relate to completion strings that include an opening or fluid passageway between an outer surface of the completion string defining an outer region (e.g. a wellbore annulus) and an inner surface of the completion string defining an inner region of the completion string. The completion string may include a sleeve that is moveable from an open position to a closed position to control a fluid flow through the fluid passageway. In some aspects, the sleeve may include a fluid passageway or opening from an outer surface of the sleeve to an inner surface of the sleeve, and may be moved repeatedly from the open position to the closed position and vice-versa, for example by a work string and a plurality of seals forming a hydraulic seal with the completion string.
The work string can be positioned within the completion string. A chamber can be formed on one side of the sleeve when the work string is positioned within the completion string. The work string and the completion string can each include sealing elements that seal spaces between the completion string and the work string. The sealing elements may form in a hydraulic seal between the completion string and the work string such that the chamber can be a hydraulic chamber. Fluid may be pumped into the hydraulic chamber via a fluid passageway or port in the work string and may force the sleeve to move from a closed position to an open position.
In some aspects, a second chamber may be positioned at the opposite end of the sleeve and recess, defined by the work string and the completion string. The second chamber may be hydraulically sealed by multiple sealing elements. Fluid may be pumped into a second hydraulic chamber via another fluid passageway in the work string and may force the sleeve from the open position to the closed position.
In some aspects the completion string may include multiple fluid passageways and sleeves. In some aspects the work string may include separate fluid passageways in communication with each individual chamber on a side of each sleeve. In some aspects the work string may include a fluid passageway that is in fluid communication with two or more chambers on a side of each sleeve. Fluid may be pumped through the fluid passageways of the work string by a fluid source. The fluid source may be located at the surface of the wellbore. In some aspects the fluid source may be located within the wellbore.
These illustrative examples are given to introduce the reader to the general subject matter discussed here and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed concepts. The following sections describe various additional features and examples with reference to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements, and directional descriptions are used to describe the illustrative aspects but, like the illustrative aspects, should not be used to limit the present disclosure.
As described in further detail below, the completion string 108 can also include a sleeve for each of the openings 112. The sleeves may move between an open position and a closed position. In some aspects, the sleeves can move repeatedly between the open position and the closed position. The sleeves can control the fluid communication between the outer surface of the completion string 108, which is positioned adjacent the annulus 114 and the inner region 116 of the completion string 108 via the opening 112 by its position in either the open position or the closed position. A work string 118, for example a tool string, may be positioned within the completion string 108. The work string 118 may be used to shift one or more of the sleeves between the open position and the closed position.
As shown in
A second chamber 136 can be positioned at an opposite end of the sleeve 120 as the first chamber 124. As with the first chamber 124, the second chamber 136 may be defined by the recess 119, the completion string 108 (including the sleeve 120) and the work string 118. Sealing elements, for example seals 126f, 126g, and 126h positioned on the completion string 108 and the work string 118, together create a hydraulic seal between the completion string 108 (including sleeve 120) and the work string 118 such that the second chamber 136 is a hydraulic chamber. In some aspects, additional seals, for example seal 126e may be positioned on the sleeve 120 to control the flow of fluid entering the opening 112 in the completion string 108.
The work string 118 includes a fluid passageway or first port 138 that defines a pathway between a fluid source and the first chamber 124. The first port 138 may be in fluid communication with a fluid source at the surface of the wellbore 102 (shown in
The work string 118 may also include a second fluid passageway or port 142 that defines a pathway between a fluid source and the second chamber 136. The second port 142 may be in fluid communication with a fluid source at the surface of the wellbore 102, in some aspects the fluid source may be positioned within the wellbore. Fluid 140, for example wellbore fluid, can enter the second chamber 136 via the second port 142.
As shown in
In some aspects, the first chamber 124 and second chamber 136 may be hydraulically balanced such that the sleeve 120 remains in the closed position. In some aspects, the sleeve 120 may be secured in place via a securing feature, for example a projection and a recess that mate together. For example, the inner surface 130 of the completion string 108 may include a projection, for example a collet 144 that may be received in a recess, for example a recess 146 on the sleeve 120. The collet 144 may be received in the recess 146 to secure the sleeve 120 in place in the closed position. In some aspects, other suitable means for securing the sleeve 120 in the closed position may be used.
The pressure at the sleeve 120 can be monitored from the surface and may indicate if the sleeve 120 is in the open position or the closed position. For example, in some aspects the sleeve 120 may be pressure tested to determine if it is in the closed position by monitoring the pressure in the work string 118 as fluid is pumped into the second chamber 136. A pressure increase in the second chamber 136 can indicate the sleeve 120 is in the closed position.
The hydraulic sealing of the first chamber 124 and the second chamber 136 via sealing the spaces between the work string 118 and the completion string 108 (including the sleeve 120) can permit the control of the position of the sleeve 120 using a thin completion string 108, which can permit drilling a smaller wellbore 102 (shown in
The sleeves 120a, 120b can each be moved to the open position by pumping fluid through the first fluid passageway 152 into the each of the first chambers 124a, 124b. The first chambers 124a, 124b can each be hydraulic chambers by positioning multiple sealing elements, for example seals 155 that seal spaces between the completion string 108 and the work string 150. In some aspects, the sealing elements may be O-ring seals or other suitable sealing elements, for example but not limited to molded elastomer seals, non-elastomer seal stacks, metal to metal seals, and flexible graphite seals. As shown in
Similarly, the work string 160 can include separate ports or fluid passageways 166, 168 to each of the second chambers 136a, 136b. The sleeves 120a, 120b can each be moved individually to a closed position (not shown) by pumping fluid 140 through the respective fluid passageways 166,168 to fill one or both of the second chambers 136a, 136b and move the desired sleeve 120a, 120b to the closed position (not shown). For example, fluid 140 may be pumped into the second chamber 136b via the fluid passageway 168 to fill the second chamber 136b and position the sleeve 120b in the closed position (not shown). Fluid may not be pumped into the second chamber 136a via the fluid passageway 166, such that the second chamber 136a remains empty and the sleeve 120a remains in the open position (not shown).
As described above with reference to
The work string 202 and the completion string 200 (including sleeve 212a) together may define a chamber 214a on one side of the sleeve 212a. Multiple sealing elements, for example seals 216a, 216b, and 216c may together seal the spaces between the completion string 200 (including the sleeve 212a) and the work string 202 around the chamber 214a. An additional seal, for example seal 216d may be sized and positioned on the sleeve 212a to seal off the opening 206a when the sleeve 212a is in the closed position. The seals 216a, 216b, and 216c may make the chamber 214a a hydraulic chamber.
Similarly, the work string 202 and the completion string 200, including the sleeve 212b together may define a chamber 214b on one side of the sleeve 212b. Multiple sealing elements, for example seals 216e, 216f, and 216g may together seal the spaces between the completion string 200 and the work string 202 around the chamber 214b. An additional seal, for example seal 216h may be sized and positioned on the sleeve 212b to seal off the opening 206b when the sleeve 212b is in the closed position. The seals 216e, 216f, and 216g may make the chamber 214b a hydraulic chamber. The seal 216e is shown on the work string 202, though in some aspects it may be positioned on the inner surface 205 of the completion string 200. Seal 216f are is on the sleeve 212b such that as the sleeve 212b moves towards the opening 206b the seal 216f maintains a seal between the inner surface 205 of the completion string 200 and the sleeve 212b. Seal 216g is depicted on the work string 202, though in some aspects the seal 216g may be positioned on the sleeve 212b. In some aspects, the seals 216e, 216f, and 216g may be positioned in other combinations on the completion string 200 (including the sleeve 212b) and the work string 202 to hydraulically seal the chamber 214b. The fluid passageway 218 may extend from the fluid source to the chamber 214b. The fluid source can be positioned within the wellbore, in some aspects the fluid source may be positioned at the surface.
The sleeves 212a, 212b can both be moved to a closed position (shown in
In some aspects, the sleeves 212a, 212b may each be in fluid communication with different fluid passageway, as described with reference to
A completion string can include an outer surface and an inner surface, a first fluid passageway being defined between the outer surface and the inner surface. The inner surface may define an inner region of the completion string and having a recess in the inner surface that is sized to receive a sleeve that is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The inner region may be sized to receive a work string at a position at which a surface of the work string cooperates with the sleeve and the inner surface of the completion string to define a first chamber on a side of the sleeve. The first chamber may be hydraulically sealed by a plurality of sealing elements, the work string defining a second fluid passageway to provide fluid communication with the first chamber.
The completion string of Example #1 may further feature the inner surface of the completion string having a second recess in the inner surface that is sized to receive a second sleeve that is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The inner region may sized to receive the work string at a position at which the surface of the work string cooperates with the second sleeve and the inner surface of the completion string to define a second chamber on a side of the second sleeve, the second chamber being hydraulically sealed by additional sealing elements. The work string may define a third fluid passageway to provide fluid communication with the second chamber.
The completion string of any of Examples #1-2 may further feature at least one sealing element of the plurality of sealing elements being an O-ring.
The completion string of any of Examples #1-3 may further feature at least one sealing element of the plurality of sealing elements being positioned on the inner surface of the completion string proximate to the first chamber.
The completion string of any of Examples #1-4 may further feature at least one sealing element of the plurality of sealing elements is positioned on the sleeve of the completion string.
The completion string of any of Examples #1-5 may further feature the sleeve defining a third fluid passageway between an outer surface of the sleeve and an inner surface of the sleeve, the sleeve being configured to align the third fluid passageway of the sleeve with the first fluid passageway of the completion string in the open position.
The completion string of any of Examples #1-6 may further feature the work string cooperating with the sleeve and the inner surface of the completion string to define a second chamber on an opposite side of the sleeve, the second chamber being hydraulically sealed by a second plurality of sealing elements, wherein the work string defines a third fluid passageway to provide fluid communication with the second chamber.
The completion string of Example #2 may further feature first fluid passageway and the third fluid passageway being in fluid communication with one another.
The completion string of any of Examples #1-8 may further feature the work string having an additional fluid passageway defined between an outer surface of the work string and the inner surface of the work string, the additional fluid passageway in the work string being substantially aligned with the first fluid passageway in the completion string.
A work string may positionable within a completion string and may include an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface of the work string may be sized to be received within a completion string at a position at which the outer surface of the work string cooperates with a sleeve of the completion string and an inner surface of the completion string to define a first chamber on a side of the sleeve. The first chamber may be hydraulically sealed by a plurality of sealing elements. The work string may define a first fluid passageway to provide fluid communication with the first chamber.
The work string of Example #10 may further feature the outer surface of the work string being sized to be received within the completion string at a position at which the outer surface of the work string cooperates with the sleeve and the inner surface of the completion string to define a second chamber on an opposite side of the sleeve, the second chamber being hydraulically sealed by a second plurality of sealing elements, the work string defining a second fluid passageway to provide fluid communication with the second chamber.
The work string of Example #10 may further feature the outer surface of the work string being sized to be received within the completion string at a position at which the outer surface of the work string cooperates with a second sleeve of the completion string and the inner surface of the completion string to define a second chamber on a side of the second sleeve. The second chamber may be hydraulically sealed by a second plurality of sealing elements, the work string defining a second fluid passageway to provide fluid communication with the second chamber.
The work string of Example #12 may further feature the first fluid passageway and the second fluid passageway of the work string being in fluid communication with one another.
The work string of Example #12 may further feature the first fluid passageway and the second fluid passageway of the work string being fluidly isolated from one another.
The work string of any of Examples #12-14 may further feature at least one sealing element of the plurality of sealing elements is positioned on the outer surface of the work string.
The work string of any of Examples #10-15 may further feature the work string having a second fluid passageway defined between the outer surface of the work string and the inner surface of the work string. The third fluid passageway in the work string may be substantially aligned with a fourth fluid passageway between an outer surface and the inner surface of the completion string.
A tubing assembly may include a completion string and a work string. The work string may be positionable within the completion string. The completion string may have an outer surface and an inner surface. A first fluid passageway may be defined between the outer surface and the inner surface. One of the completion string and the work string may have a recess that is sized to receive a sleeve that is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The inner surface of the completion string may define an inner region of the completion string sized to receive the work string at a position at which a surface of the work string cooperates with the inner surface of the completion string and the sleeve to define a first chamber on a side of the sleeve. The first chamber may be hydraulically sealed by a plurality of sealing elements. The work string may define a second fluid passageway to provide fluid communication with the first chamber.
The tubing assembly of Example #17 may further feature the recess that being sized to receive the sleeve being in an outer surface of the work string.
The tubing assembly of Example #18 may further feature the outer surface of the work string defining a second recess in the outer surface that is sized to receive a second sleeve that is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The inner region of the completion string may be sized to receive the work string at a position at which the outer surface of the work string cooperates with the inner surface of the completion string to define a second chamber on a side of the second sleeve that is hydraulically sealed by additional sealing elements. The work string may include a third fluid passageway to provide fluid communication with the second chamber.
The tubing assembly of Example #19 may further feature the second fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the third fluid passageway.
The foregoing description of the aspects, including illustrated aspects, of the present disclosure has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the subject matter to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications, adaptations, and uses thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this subject matter.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2017/021317 | 3/8/2017 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2018/164679 | 9/13/2018 | WO | A |
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