Patent Application
20160084032
The present invention relates to fluid acquisition operations in an underground setting. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to well casing heads, systems, and methods for removing fluid from earth about an underground platform.
Precious fluid acquisition has been attempted from underground platforms. These platforms exist within the earth and may be related to an underground reservoir, with the underground reservoir being lateral to or even above the platform, sometimes even below the platform. In these underground settings, it can be difficult to perform traditional well operations in the acquisition of valuable fluids, such as hydrocarbon fluids, including but not limited to petroleum fluids. The present disclosure provides well casing assemblies and well casing systems as well as methods for setting casing in an underground platform.
Well casing heads are provided that can include: a housing having housing walls extending between two ends, the housing defining a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end, the openings being in fluid communication with one another; the first opening extending through the housing and defining a first diameter in one cross section, the second opening extending through the housing and defining a second diameter in the one cross section, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter; and at least one fluid passageway extending through a wall of the housing and into the second opening.
Well casing systems within a wall of an underground platform are also provided. The systems can include: a well casing head; a pair of tubular members about each other extending from the well casing head into a wall of the platform; and a void between the two members, the void extending from within the underground platform to the at least one fluid passageway of the well casing head.
Methods for removing fluid from earth about an underground platform are also provided. The methods can include: extending an outer tubular member to within the earth from the underground platform; extending at least one inner tubular member within the outer tubular member to define a space between the outer and inner tubular members; coupling both the outer and inner tubular members with a well casing head, the coupling completing fluid communication between the space and a fluid passageway within the housing of the well casing head; and removing fluid from at least two distinct regions of the earth about the underground platform, fluid from one of the two regions being removed through the space between the members, and fluid from the other of the two regions being removed through the inner tubular member.
Well casing assemblies are provided that can include at least one casing extending between two ends; another casing surrounding the one casing and extending between the two ends, the one and the other casing defining a void therebetween. The well casing can further include a flange extending from the other casing, with the flange defining a space therein, and the space of the flange being in fluid communication with the void defined between the casings.
Well casing systems within a wall of an underground platform are also provided. The system can include a pair of tubular members about each other extending upwardly from within the platform into a wall of the platform. The system can further include a void between the two members, with the void extending from within the underground platform to within the wall of the platform. The system can also include an opening within one of the pair of tubular members, the opening in fluid communication with the void.
Methods for setting casing in an underground platform are also provided. The methods can include extending a well upwardly to within a wall of the underground platform and providing fluid cement to within the well. The method can further include curing the cement to form a casing within the well.
Embodiments of the disclosure are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
This disclosure is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).
The present disclosure will be described with reference to
Well 12 may be provided at an angle extending from within the platform to within the earthen material. This angle can be at a substantially upward angle from within the platform. For example, the angle can extend from greater than zero to less than 90 degrees, particularly when extending from a wall of the platform.
Referring next to
The void and/or the tubular members can extend from within the platform to within the wall of the platform at a substantially upward angle. This angle can be greater than zero and/or less than 90 degrees. In accordance with example implementations, the members can define openings associated with an interior portion of the platform and/or exits associated within wall 22 of the platform. In accordance with example implementations, the openings can be at a lower elevation in relation to the exits defined by the members and/or void.
In accordance with an example implementation, one of the members, such as member 26, can engage wall 22 of the platform. Member 26 may also engage a flange 32. Accordingly, flange 32 can engage at least one of the pair of members.
Flange 32 can define a space 34 therein, and space 34 can be in fluid communication with void 28 between members 26 and 24. The flange and the members can be constructed of metallic materials such as, but not limited to, cast iron materials. The members may be also constructed of polymeric materials of sufficiently predefined strength. In accordance with example implementations, tubular member 26 can have an inner diameter of about 5″ and tubular member 24 can have an outside diameter of about 4½″, establishing a void 28 of approximately ½″. In accordance with example implementations, void 28 can also have a thickness of about ¾″ to about 1″.
Flange 32 can include a surface 36 having opposing walls 40 and 38 extending therefrom. The surface 36 and walls 40 and 38 can establish space 34 within flange 32. With reference to
Referring to
In assembly 50, flange 62 engages the other casing 56 and can engage the one casing 54 via coupling assemblies 74 and 76. Coupling assemblies 74 and 76 can include a pressure fit seal threadably engageable to flange 62 with packing materials 76 in between the pressure fit seal 74. These packing materials can engage an outer portion as shown in
Flange 62 can define an opening extending to within the space not shown. This opening in
Referring next to
In accordance with example implementations as described herein, wall 108 and/or 112, for example, can include an opening configured to receive a conduit 114 extending therethrough. Conduit 114 can have a valve attached thereto to control the flow of a substance therebetween.
Subcomponent assembly 104 can include at least two components, for example, but may be configured as a single component. In accordance with example implementations, each of the two components 120 can include a sidewall 122 extending to a flange 124. The flange of 124 can be configured to couple to the flange of 110, and the sidewalls 122 can be configured to be received within subcomponent assembly 102, for example.
Referring next to
Referring next to
Referring to
Referring next to
In accordance with example implementations, casing can be set into an underground platform by extending a well upwardly to within the wall of the underground platform via bore hole for example. This bore hole is shown in
In accordance with example implementations, the curing of the cement to form the casing in the wall can be established. In accordance with example implementations, setting casing in the underground platform can include providing a pair of tubular members to within the well, including providing the fluid cement to within a void defined between the pair of tubular members. The method can also include providing fluid cement to within a flange that has a space in fluid communication with the void established between the two members, the fluid cement substantially filling the space and a majority of the void extending to within the wall. The method can finally include removing one of the members from within the assembly within the wall. The member can be the interior member, thereby providing a cement casing configured to receive well drilling equipment such as hoses, additional pipes, and across the cement casing that has been established between the wall and the platform.
Embodiments of the disclosure also provide well casing heads, systems, and methods for removing fluid from earth about an underground platform. These well casing heads, systems, and methods are described with reference to
The first opening at 204 can extend through housing 202 and define a first diameter 220 (depicted in
Referring next to
In accordance with example implementations, well casing systems are provided within a wall of an underground platform. These systems can include a well casing head that includes a housing having housing walls extending between two ends with the housing defining a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end. As described, these openings can be in fluid communication with one another. The system can further include that same well casing head that includes at least one fluid passageway extending through a wall of the housing and into the second opening.
The system can further include a pair of tubular members about each other and extending from the well casing head into a wall of the platform. As can be seen in
In accordance with example implementations, the one member 320 can be outside and confine the other member 322 to define the void 324 therebetween, and this outside member 320 can engage a flange of the well casing head. In accordance with example implementations, there can be a discontinuous portion or portion of wall 320. This discontinuous portion 330 is shown in
In accordance with example implementations, methods are provided for removing fluid from earth about an underground platform. These methods can utilize the systems and well head casings as well as tubular members of the present disclosure as shown and described herein. In accordance with example implementations, the method can include extending an outer tubular member to within the earth from the underground platform. An example of this outer tubular member can be the outer tubular member established as 320, which can be a portion of the wall 326 as described.
The method can also include extending at least one inner tubular member within the outer tubular member to define a space between the outer and inner tubular members. This inner tubular member can be inner tubular member 322 as shown and described, and the void can be void 324 shown in
The method can also include coupling both the outer and inner tubular members with a well casing head. As shown in
In accordance with example implementations, it is contemplated that fluid can be removed from additional regions as discontinuous portions are defined within the outer wall. For example, Region A may be other subsequent discontinuous portions to 330 as the system continues within the earth about the platform. These discontinuous portions can be aligned with different regions of the earth about the platform and in at least some circumstances, the plurality of these discontinuous portions can oppose each other along the outer member. In accordance with example implementations, and with reference to
In compliance with the statute, embodiments of the invention have been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the entire invention is not limited to the specific features and/or embodiments shown and/or described, since the disclosed embodiments comprise forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
