U.S. patent application number 12/545241 was filed with the patent office on 2011-12-29 for bottom hole assembly comprising flow through setting tool and frac plug.
This patent application is currently assigned to THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.. Invention is credited to Michael L. Connell, Bryan F. McKinley, Gary E. Nard.
Application Number | 20110315403 12/545241 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45351444 |
Filed Date | 2011-12-29 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20110315403 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nard; Gary E. ; et
al. |
December 29, 2011 |
BOTTOM HOLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING FLOW THROUGH SETTING TOOL AND FRAC
PLUG
Abstract
A bottom hole assembly comprising a hydraulic setting tool, a
frac plug, and usually also an adapter for connecting the frac plug
to the setting tool. The setting tool, adapter, and frac plug, all
include continuous flow passages that allow fluid to be circulated
in the well ahead of the plug as the bottom hole assembly is
advanced. This removes debris present in the well and prevents the
frac plug from becoming lodged in the well in other than the
desired location. The setting tool includes a bypass feature that
signals reliably when the plug has been successfully deployed. The
bypass assembly comprises sliding members with bypass ports that
can become aligned only when the collar on the frac plug has
advanced far enough to ensure complete deployment of the frac
plug.
Inventors: |
Nard; Gary E.; (Oklahoma
City, OK) ; McKinley; Bryan F.; (Oklahoma City,
OK) ; Connell; Michael L.; (Mustang, OK) |
Assignee: |
THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.
Oklahoma City
OK
|
Family ID: |
45351444 |
Appl. No.: |
12/545241 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/387 ;
166/179 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/128 20130101;
E21B 23/06 20130101; E21B 33/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/387 ;
166/179 |
International
Class: |
E21B 33/128 20060101
E21B033/128; E21B 23/04 20060101 E21B023/04; E21B 23/06 20060101
E21B023/06; E21B 33/12 20060101 E21B033/12; E21B 23/00 20060101
E21B023/00 |
Claims
1. A bottom hole assembly for connection to the end of a well
conduit having a fluid flow passage therethrough, the assembly
comprising: a frac plug having a downhole end and an uphole end and
a flow passage extending therebetween for passing fluid through the
plug; a hydraulic setting tool having a downhole end and an uphole
end and a flow passage extending therebetween for passing fluid
through the tool; wherein the uphole end of the frac plug is
connected to the downhole end of the setting tool so that the flow
passage in the setting tool is in fluid communication with the flow
passage in the frac plug.
2. The bottom hole assembly of claim 1 further comprising an
adapter for connecting the setting tool to the frac plug, wherein
the adapter comprises a flow passage for passing fluid through the
adapter.
3. A method for setting a frac plug, comprising: flowing fluid
through the frac plug as it is advanced down the well.
4. A setting tool for use with a well conduit to activate a
downhole tool, the downhole tool comprising a stationary member and
a sliding member, the setting tool comprising: an upper housing
assembly having an upper end, the upper end being connectable to a
well conduit; a piston mandrel assembly with an upper end
connectable to the upper housing assembly and a lower end
connectable to the stationary member of the downhole tool so as to
prevent axial movement therebetween; a slide assembly comprising a
sleeve engageable with the sliding member of the downhole tool and
slidably supported on the piston mandrel for movement relative
thereto along a selected range of travel from a retracted position
to an extended position, wherein the range of travel is sufficient
to activate the downhole tool; a hydraulic system configured to
drive the movement of the slide assembly to complete the range of
travel; a bypass assembly comprising a plurality of ports movable
between aligned and non-aligned positions, wherein in the aligned
positions, the ports allow release of hydraulic fluid from the
hydraulic system sufficient to produce a rapid and substantial
pressure drop, wherein the bypass assembly is configured to align
the ports when the sleeve in the slide assembly has completed the
selected range of travel.
5. The setting tool of claim 4 wherein the setting tool is
characterized by a flow passage extending therethrough and wherein
the downhole tool is a frac plug with a flow passage extending
therethrough that is continuous with the flow passage in the
setting tool and with the conduit.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to setting frac
plugs in oil and gas wells.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a bottom hole assembly
constructed in accordance with the present invention.
[0003] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, partly sectional view of a
conventional frac plug connected to an adapter with a flow passage
made in accordance with the present invention.
[0004] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a setting tool
and adapter made in accordance with the present invention. The tool
is shown in the retracted or neutral position.
[0005] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the setting tool
and adapter shown in FIG. 3 illustrating the extended position used
to deploy the frac plug.
[0006] FIGS. 5A-5D show an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of
the setting tool and adapter shown in FIG. 3.
[0007] FIGS. 6A-6D show an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of
the setting tool and adapter shown in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0008] Frac and bridge plugs are used to isolate zones in a well.
Plugs typically are placed in position using a setting tool, such
as a hydraulic setting tool. The frac plug is attached to the
setting tool which is then run downhole on coiled tubing, jointed
pipe or other conduit. It is not unusual to encounter debris as the
plug is advanced down the well. This debris tends to collect ahead
of the bottom hole assembly ("BHA") and may slow or even block
proper positioning of the plug.
[0009] Some frac plugs have a flow passage that allows fluid to
pass up through the plug from the well below after the plug is set.
The present invention takes advantage of this flow passage by
employing a hydraulic setting tool with a flow passage to provide
fluid communication through the entire BHA as the plug is being
advanced. Thus, fluid can be circulated through the well to wash
away debris as the plug is advanced to the selected location in the
well.
[0010] Setting tools are used to set a variety of plugs and packing
devices. One difficulty associated with setting such devices is
determining when and if the plug or device has been completely and
successfully deployed. The setting tool of the present invention
incorporates a fluid bypass system that reliably indicates
successful deployment of the plug or other device by producing a
precipitous drop in the hydraulic pressure. This is accomplished by
using a system of fluid bypass ports that become aligned only when
the sliding component of the setting tool has traveled a distance
sufficient to completely set the plug.
[0011] Turning now to the drawings in general and to FIG. 1 in
particular, there is shown therein a bottom hole assembly
constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention and designated generally by the reference numeral
10. As used herein, "bottom hole assembly" or "BHA" refers to a
combination of tool members connected to the end of coiled tubing,
string of pipe joints, or other well conduit for performing one or
more operations downhole.
[0012] The BHA 10 shown in FIG. 1 is adapted for connection to
coiled tubing (not shown) and therefore the uppermost component is
a coiled tubing connector 12. Next is a flapper valve 14, hydraulic
disconnect 16, eccentric weight bar or sub 20, and an oriented
perforator 22. Beneath the oriented perforator 22 is a hydraulic
setting tool 30 and an adapter 32, both made in accordance with the
present invention, as well be explained below. Finally, connected
to the adapter 32 is a conventional frac plug 34 of the type that
has a flow passage through it. It will be understood that this BHA
10 is only an example of the type of tools and components that may
be combined in a BHA. The number and type of tools and connectors
will vary widely depending on the well and the nature of the
operations to be performed.
[0013] The adapter 32 and frac plug 34 are shown in more detail in
FIG. 2. The frac plug 34 generally comprises rubber packer elements
40 mounted on a plug mandrel 42 between slips 44a and 44b. In a
known manner, when the slips 44a and 44b are moved closer together
by force on an upper ring or collar 46, the packer elements 40 are
squeezed outwardly until they frictionally engage in the side of
the well casing (not shown). The plug mandrel 42 is tubular
defining a flow passage 48 extending the length of the plug and
exiting the lower, open end 38.
[0014] The adapter 32 comprises an inner tension mandrel 50 and an
outer sleeve 52. The uphole end 54 of the sleeve 52 is threaded for
connection to the setting tool 30, as will be described in more
detail hereafter. The tension mandrel 50 is tubular with a wider
lower portion 56 and a narrower upper portion 58. The upper portion
58 has a threaded end 60 for connection to the setting tool 30 as
described further below. The lower portion 56 is sized to slidingly
receive the upper end 62 of the plug mandrel 42 and is connected
thereto by at least one and preferably a plurality of shear pins or
screws, designated collectively at 64. By way of example only, the
shear screws 64 may comprise 5 shear screws, each having a maximum
shear strength of 5000 pounds so that 30,000 pounds of force is
required to break them and release the frac plug. The inner bore or
lumen 66 of the tension mandrel 50 forms a flow passage
therethrough continuous with the flow passage 48 in the plug
34.
[0015] It should be noted that an adapter is not essential to the
present invention. Rather, in some instances a setting tool may be
designed to be connected directly to the frac plug (or other
device). That is, the components required to connect the setting
tool to the frac plug may be incorporated in the setting tool.
However, as is well known in the art, the use of an adaptor permits
a particular setting tool to be used with multiple sizes and types
or plugs.
[0016] The preferred setting tool 30 connected to the adapter
assembly 32 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and also FIGS. 5A-5D and
6A-6D. FIGS. 3 and 5A-5D show the setting tool 30 in the retracted
or undeployed position. FIGS. 4 and 6A-6D show the setting tool 30
in the extended or deployed position. The setting tool 30 comprises
an upper housing assembly 70, a mandrel assembly 72, and a slide
assembly 74.
[0017] The upper housing assembly 70 preferably comprises a top sub
76 with an uphole end 78 threadedly connectable to the well conduit
(not shown) or to another BHA component, such as the oriented
perforating tool 22 (FIG. 1). The upper housing assembly 70 also
preferably comprises an upper housing 80, the uphole end 82 of
which is connected to the downhole end 84 of the top sub 76 by a
set screw 86 (FIGS. 5A & 6A).
[0018] In the preferred embodiment, the mandrel assembly 72
comprises a plurality of tubular components all axially fixed
relative to the upper housing assembly 70. An elongated tubular
piston mandrel 90 is connected at is uphole end 92 to the downhole
end 84 of the top sub 76. The piston mandrel 90 is threadedly
connected at its downhole end 94 to the uphole end 96 of a
circulating sub 98 (FIGS. 5C & 6C). As best seen in FIGS. 3 and
4, the lumen 100 of the mandrel 90 forms a flow passage that
extends the length of the mandrel and connects to the flow passage
102 extending through the top sub 76.
[0019] As best seen in FIGS. 5C and 6C, the downhole end 104 of the
circulating sub 98 is threadedly connected to the uphole end 106 of
a bottom sub 108. The downhole end 110 of the bottom sub 108 is
threadedly connected to the uphole end 60 of the tension mandrel
50. A flow passage 112 extends the length of the circulating sub
98, and a flow passage 114 extends the length of the bottom sub
108. The flow passage 112 in the circulating sub 98 defines a ball
seat 116 (FIG. 5C) to receive a ball 118 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 6C), for a
purpose yet to be described.
[0020] Referring still to FIGS. 3, 4, 5A-5D, and 6A-6D, the slide
assembly 74 comprises an upper piston 120 with an annular head 122,
a lower end 124 and a tubular body 126 therebetween. The lower end
124 (FIG. 5B) is threadedly connected to the upper end 128 of a
push sleeve 130. The lower end 132 of the push sleeve 130 is
connected to the upper end 54 of the adapter sleeve 52 (FIGS. 5C
& 6C). As seen in FIGS. 5B & 6C, the piston body 126 is
temporarily fixed against axial movement relative to the upper
housing assembly 70 by one or more shear screws 134. A lower piston
136 is carried on the upper end 128 of the push sleeve 130, being
captured by a shoulder 138 in the inner sidewall of the piston body
126.
[0021] As best shown in FIGS. 5C and 6C, the setting tool 30
further comprises a bypass assembly 140. The bypass assembly 140
comprises a bypass sleeve 142 slidably supported on the circulation
sub 98. The bypass sleeve 142 is temporarily fixed against axial
movement relative to the circulation sub 98 by means of shear
screws or pins 144.
[0022] A plurality of ports 150 are formed in the bypass sleeve
142. Ports 152 are also formed in the circulation sub 98. Ports 154
are formed in the push sleeve 130. The ports 150, 152, and 154 are
sized and positioned to be alignable with each other when the slide
assembly 74 is moved axially a selected distance "D" (FIG. 4) on
the piston mandrel 90. The alignment of the ports then forms a
continuous flow path from the lumen 100 inside the tubular piston
mandrel 90 through the sides of the circulation sub 98, the bypass
sleeve 142, and the push sleeve 130, as will be explained more
fully below.
[0023] The above-described components of the setting tool 30 are
configured to provide a hydraulic system 160 for driving axial
movement of the slide assembly 74. The preferred configuration for
the hydraulic system 160 includes an upper fluid chamber 170, which
contains the head 122 of the upper piston 120, and a lower fluid
chamber 172, which contains the lower piston 136. The piston
mandrel 90 includes an annular flange 174 along its length to form
a divider between the upper and lower chambers 170 and 172. As seen
in FIGS. 5B and 6B, the upper face of the flange 174 forms an
inclined shoulder 176 that engages a complimentary lower face 178
on the piston head 122.
[0024] The upper chamber 170 (FIGS. 6A & 6B) is defined by the
inner diameter of the upper housing 80 and the outer diameter of
the piston mandrel 90 above the annular flange 174 of the piston
mandrel 90. O-rings (unnumbered) seal the upper chamber 170 between
the upper end 82 of the upper housing 80 and the lower end 84 of
the top sub 76. Similarly, O-rings (unnumbered) seal the interface
between the piston head 122 and the upper end 82 of the upper
housing 80 and between the annular flange 174 and the lower end 124
of the upper piston 120. Ports 182 near the upper end 92 of the
piston mandrel 90 provide fluid communication between the lumen 100
of the piston mandrel and the upper fluid chamber 170 (FIGS. 5A and
6A).
[0025] The lower chamber 172 is defined by the inner diameter of
the upper piston body 126 and the outer diameter of the piston
mandrel 90 below the annular flange 174. Ports 186 (FIGS. 5B &
6B) in the piston mandrel 90 below the annual flange 174 provide
fluid communication between the lumen 100 of the piston mandrel 90
and the lower fluid chamber 172.
[0026] Having described the structure of the preferred BHA 10, its
operation now will be described with continued reference to FIGS.
3, 4, 5A-5D, and 6A-6D. First, the frac plug 34 is positioned at
the selected level in the well (not shown). As the plug is advanced
down the well, fluid is pumped through the BHA 10 to flush the well
ahead of the plug 34 to prevent debris or other matter in the well
from obstructing the proper placement of the plug. Now it will be
understood that the flow passages 102, 100, 112, and 108 all
provide a continuous flow path through the BHA 10 so that fluid
exiting the open end 38 of the frac plug 34 (FIG. 2) flushes
debris.
[0027] Once the plug 34 is positioned at the correct level, a ball
118 (FIGS. 5A & 6C) is pumped down conduit to the BHA. When the
ball 118 is seated in the ball seat 116, fluid flow through the
circulation sub 98, bottom sub 108, adapter 32, and frac plug 34
stops. Consequently, pressure begins to build inside the piston
mandrel 90, forcing fluid to flow through the ports 182 and 186 in
the upper and lower fluid chambers 170 and 172. This exerts force
on the head 122 of the upper piston 120 and on the lower piston
136, breaking the shear pins 134 between the upper housing 80 and
the upper piston 120. These may be relatively weak pins, preferably
having a maximum shear strength of only about 1000 pounds. The
primary purpose of these pins is to keep the slide assembly 74 from
deploying partially as the BHA is run downhole.
[0028] Once the shear pins 134 have broken, the slide assembly 74
moves downward in response to the force on the piston head 122 and
the lower piston 136. After several inches of travel, the frac plug
34 will be fully deployed. In most instances, 4-5 inches of travel
will be sufficient to set the plug 34.
[0029] The slide assembly 74 continues to move downwardly until the
lower piston 136 engages the upper end of the bypass sleeve 142.
The force on the sleeve 142 increases until sufficient to break the
shear pins 144, whereupon the slide assembly 74 completes its full
travel distance "D" (FIG. 4). In this position, the ports 152 in
the circulation sub 98 and the ports 150 in the bypass sleeve 142
are aligned with the ports 154 in the push sleeve 130.
[0030] The aligned ports 150, 152, and 154 allow a sudden increase
in the flow of fluid out of the tool, causing a dramatic drop in
the pressure reading at the wellhead (not shown). As used herein,
"rapid and substantial pressure drop" refers to a pressure drop
that is sudden and large enough to be readily perceived by the well
operator and sufficient to signal to the operator that the setting
operation is completed. By way of example only, in the preferred
setting tool, alignment of the ports should produce at least about
a 2000 psi pressure drop in a bout fifteen seconds.
[0031] Having successfully deployed the frac plug 34, the frac plug
is disengaged from the BHA. Continued pressure from the hydraulic
system breaks the shear pins 64 between the tension mandrel 50 in
the adapter 32 and the plug mandrel 42, releasing the connection
between the BHA and the plug 34. Thereafter, the BHA may be
withdrawn from the well.
[0032] For the purpose of this description, the words left, right,
front, rear, top, upper, lower, inward, outward, uphole, downhole,
bottom, up, upwardly, down, downwardly, inside, and outside may be
used to describe the various parts and relative positions of
structures and operations in the present invention as depicted in
the drawings. These descriptive terms should not be considered as
limiting the possible orientations of the invention or how it may
be used.
[0033] Now it will be appreciated that the present invention
provides frac plug setting tools and methods that offer many
advantages. The bottom hole assembly provides a "flow through"
function that allows fluid to be circulated through the well ahead
of the frac plug as it is being advanced toward the desired
location. The setting tool includes a bypass feature that is
mechanically simple and reliably signals the successful deployment
of the plug. As regards the setting tool, it should be noted that a
setting tool with this bypass function is useful in operations
other than setting frac plugs and with or without the "flow
through" feature.
[0034] The embodiments shown and described above are exemplary.
Many details are often found in the art and, therefore, many such
details are neither shown nor described herein. It is not claimed
that all of the details, parts, elements, or steps described and
shown were invented herein. Even though numerous characteristics
and advantages of the present inventions have been described in the
drawings and accompanying text, the description is illustrative
only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of
shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of
the inventions to the full extent indicated by the broad meaning of
the terms of the attached claims. The description and drawings of
the specific embodiments herein do not point out what an
infringement of this patent would be, but rather provide an example
of how to use and make the invention. Likewise, the abstract is
neither intended to define the invention, which is measured by the
claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the
invention in any way. Rather, the limits of the invention and the
bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the
following claims.
* * * * *