U.S. patent application number 13/789984 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-11 for anti-rotation assembly for sliding sleeve.
The applicant listed for this patent is Cesar G. Garcia, James F. Wilkin. Invention is credited to Cesar G. Garcia, James F. Wilkin.
Application Number | 20140251628 13/789984 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50397302 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140251628 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilkin; James F. ; et
al. |
September 11, 2014 |
Anti-Rotation Assembly for Sliding Sleeve
Abstract
A sliding sleeve has an inner sleeve that moves in a housing.
For example, the inner sleeve can move open relative to a port in
the housing when a deployed ball engages a seat in the inner
sleeve. Because the seat and the ball (if remaining) are preferably
milled out of the inner sleeve after use, the inner sleeve
preferably does not rotate in the housing during milling
operations. To accomplish this, an anti-rotation clutch assembly in
the sliding sleeve helps prevent the inner sleeve from rotating. A
wedged cone is formed on a distal end of the inner sleeve and press
fits into a cupped shoulder on the inside of the sleeve's
housing.
Inventors: |
Wilkin; James F.; (Sherwood
Park, CA) ; Garcia; Cesar G.; (Katy, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wilkin; James F.
Garcia; Cesar G. |
Sherwood Park
Katy |
TX |
CA
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50397302 |
Appl. No.: |
13/789984 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/318 ;
166/332.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 34/14 20130101;
E21B 2200/06 20200501 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/318 ;
166/332.1 |
International
Class: |
E21B 34/12 20060101
E21B034/12 |
Claims
1. A sliding sleeve, comprising: a housing defining a bore and
defining a cupped shoulder therein; an inner sleeve movably
disposed in the bore from a first position to a second position,
the inner sleeve having a wedged cone formed on a distal end of the
inner sleeve, the wedged cone press fitting in the cupped shoulder
of the housing and inhibiting rotation of the inner sleeve while in
the second position.
2. The sliding sleeve of claim 1, wherein the wedged cone defines a
plurality of axial scores defined about a circumference of the
wedged cone.
3. The sliding sleeve of claim 1, wherein the cupped shoulder
defines an inner wall disposed about a circumference of the bore
and being substantially parallel to the axis of the sliding
sleeve.
4. The sliding sleeve of claim 3, wherein the cupped shoulder
defines a stopping surface perpendicular to the inner wall.
5. The sliding sleeve of claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve
comprises a ball seat disposed therein.
6. The sliding sleeve of claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve in the
first position closes a port defined in the housing, and wherein
the inner sleeved in the second position opens the port to the bore
of the housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] In a staged fracturing operation, multiple zones of a
formation need to be isolated sequentially for treatment. To
achieve this, operators install a fracturing assembly down the
wellbore, which typically has a top liner packer, open hole packers
isolating the wellbore into zones, various sliding sleeves, and a
wellbore isolation valve. When the zones do not need to be closed
after opening, operators may use single shot sliding sleeves for
the fracturing treatment. These types of sleeves are usually
ball-actuated and lock open once actuated. Another type of sleeve
is also ball-actuated, but can be shifted closed after opening.
[0002] Initially, operators run the fracturing assembly in the
wellbore with all of the sliding sleeves closed and with the
wellbore isolation valve open. Operators then deploy a setting ball
to close the wellbore isolation valve. This seals off the tubing
string of the assembly so the packers can be hydraulically set. At
this point, operators rig up fracturing surface equipment and pump
fluid down the wellbore to open a pressure actuated sleeve so a
first zone can be treated.
[0003] As the operation continues, operates drop successively
larger balls down the tubing string and pump fluid to treat the
separate zones in stages. When a dropped ball meets its matching
seat in a sliding sleeve, the pumped fluid forced against the
seated ball shifts the sleeve open. In turn, the seated ball
diverts the pumped fluid into the adjacent zone and prevents the
fluid from passing to lower zones. By dropping successively
increasing sized balls to actuate corresponding sleeves, operators
can accurately treat each zone up the wellbore.
[0004] FIG. 1A shows an example of a sliding sleeve 10 for a
multi-zone fracturing system in partial cross-section in an opened
state. This sliding sleeve 10 is similar to Weatherford's
ZoneSelect MultiShift fracturing sliding sleeve and can be placed
between isolation packers in a multi-zone completion. The sliding
sleeve 10 includes a housing 20 defining a bore 25 and having upper
and lower subs 22 and 24. An inner sleeve or insert 30 can be moved
within the housing's bore 25 to open or close fluid flow through
the housing's flow ports 26 based on the inner sleeve 30's
position.
[0005] When initially run downhole, the inner sleeve 30 positions
in the housing 20 in a closed state. A breakable retainer 38
initially holds the inner sleeve 30 toward the upper sub 22, and a
locking ring or dog 36 on the sleeve 30 fits into an annular slot
within the housing 20. Outer seals on the inner sleeve 30 engage
the housing 20's inner wall above and below the flow ports 26 to
seal them off.
[0006] The inner sleeve 30 defines a bore 35 having a seat 40 fixed
therein. When an appropriately sized ball lands on the seat 40, the
sliding sleeve 10 can be opened when tubing pressure is applied
against the seated ball 40 to move the inner sleeve 30 open. To
open the sliding sleeve 10 in a fracturing operation once the
appropriate amount of proppant has been pumped into a lower
formation's zone, for example, operators drop an appropriately
sized ball B downhole and pump the ball B until it reaches the
landing seat 40 disposed in the inner sleeve 30.
[0007] Once the ball B is seated, built up pressure forces against
the inner sleeve 30 in the housing 20, shearing the breakable
retainer 38 and freeing the lock ring or dog 36 from the housing's
annular slot so the inner sleeve 30 can slide downward. As it
slides, the inner sleeve 30 uncovers the flow ports 26 so flow can
be diverted to the surrounding formation. The shear values required
to open the sliding sleeves 10 can range generally from 1,000 to
4,000 psi (6.9 to 27.6 MPa).
[0008] Once the sleeve 10 is open, operators can then pump proppant
at high pressure down the tubing string to the open sleeve 10. The
proppant and high pressure fluid flows out of the open flow ports
26 as the seated ball B prevents fluid and proppant from
communicating further down the tubing string. The pressures used in
the fracturing operation can reach as high as 15,000-psi.
[0009] After the fracturing job, the well is typically flowed
clean, and the ball B is floated to the surface. Then, the ball
seat 40 (and the ball B if remaining) is milled out. The ball seat
40 can be constructed from cast iron to facilitate milling, and the
ball B can be composed of aluminum or a non-metallic material, such
as a composite. Once milling is complete, the inner sleeve 30 can
be closed or opened with a standard "B" shifting tool on the tool
profiles 32 and 34 in the inner sleeve 30 so the sliding sleeve 10
can then function like any conventional sliding sleeve shifting
with a "B" tool. The ability to selectively open and close the
sliding sleeve 10 enables operators to isolate the particular
section of the assembly.
[0010] When aluminum balls B are used, more sliding sleeves 10 can
be used due to the close tolerances that can be used between the
diameters of the aluminum balls B and iron seats 40. For example,
forty different increments can be used for sliding sleeves 10
having solid seats 40 used to engage aluminum balls B. However, an
aluminum ball B engaged in a seat 40 can be significantly deformed
when high pressure is applied against it. Any variations in
pressuring up and down that allow the aluminum ball B to seat and
to then float the ball B may alter the shape of the ball B
compromising its seating ability. Additionally, aluminum balls B
can be particularly difficult to mill out of the sliding sleeve 10
due to their tendency of rotating during the milling operation. For
this reason, composite balls B are preferred.
[0011] The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to
overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the
problems set forth above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1A illustrates a sliding sleeve having a ball engaged
with a seat to open the sliding sleeve according to the prior
art.
[0013] FIG. 1B illustrates a close up view of the sliding sleeve in
FIG. 1B.
[0014] FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a sliding
sleeve according to the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 2B illustrates a detailed view of the sliding sleeve in
FIG. 2A.
[0016] FIGS. 3A-3D respectively illustrate a cross-sectional view,
an end view, a perspective view, and a detailed view of the inner
sleeve of the disclosed sliding sleeve.
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the upper
housing section of the disclosed sliding sleeve.
[0018] FIGS. 5A-5B respectively illustrate a cross-sectional view
and a detailed view of the lower housing section of the disclosed
sliding sleeve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0019] FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a sliding
sleeve 100 according to the present disclosure. The sliding sleeve
100 has a housing 110 comprised of upper and lower housing sections
112a-b that couple together for assembly. Inside the bore 114 of
the housing 110, the sleeve 100 has an inner sleeve 130 that is
moveable therein between an upper position (not shown) and a lower
position (shown).
[0020] As discussed previously, the sliding sleeve 100 can have a
ball seat 120 disposed in the bore 132 of the inner sleeve 130 to
engage a ball B. Moreover, the housing 110 may define flow ports
116 for passage of fluid out of the sleeve 100 when the inner
sleeve 130 is moved to its lower position. The sliding sleeve 100
also includes various seals 134, shear screws (not shown), lock
ring (136), and other common components, which may not be not
depicted but would be present as will be appreciated.
[0021] As discussed previously, sometimes the ball B and seat 120
in the inner sleeve 130 need to be milled out. For example, the
ball B may not dislodged from the seat 120 to be floated to the
surface. In any event, a milling operation mills out the seat 120
and the ball B (if present) from the inner sleeve 130 so the
sliding sleeve defines full bore 132 for operations. To facilitate
this milling procedure, the inner sleeve 130 preferably does not
rotate or at least inhibits its rotation so that the rotating drill
bit used in the milling operation can be applied more directly to
the seat 120 and ball B (if any).
[0022] As best shown in FIG. 2B, the sliding sleeve 100 has an
anti-rotation clutch assembly that helps prevent the inner sleeve
130 from rotating. In particular, the distal end of the inner
sleeve 130 defines a wedged cone 150. When the inner sleeve 130 is
moved to its lower position shown in FIGS. 2A-2B and is forced
further downward by any pressure build-up or other force, the
wedged cone 150 engages in a deepening press fit into a cupped
shoulder 170 defines on the lower housing section 112b.
[0023] Details of the inner sleeve 130 and its wedged cone 150 are
further shown in FIGS. 3A-3D, which respectively illustrate the
inner sleeve 130 in cross-sectional, end, perspective, and detailed
views. The wedged cone 150 on the distal end of the inner sleeve
130 angles inward by an angle (.alpha.). The angle (.alpha.) may be
about 1.5-degrees (.+-.0.5-degrees), and the wedged cone 150 may
extend a distance of about 1-in. when the inner sleeve 130 is about
13-in. long and defines an inner dimension of about 4-in. In fact,
the cone 150 can have a 1-in. Morse taper #0. Other values can be
provided for different implementations.
[0024] Scores 152 are defined at locations around the circumference
of the wedged cone 150 and run along the length of the wedged cone
150. As shown, eight such scores 152 may be provided, but more or
less may be used. The scores 152 can facilitate the press fit of
the wedged cone 150 into the cupped shoulder (170) of the lower
housing section (112b), as disclosed herein. Other than or in
addition to the scores 152, the cone 150 can have knurled surfacing
or other modifications to facilitate the press fit.
[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the upper
housing section 112a. Features of this section 112a may be similar
to those conventionally used. However, further details of the lower
housing section 112b are provided in FIGS. 5A-5B, which
respectively illustrate cross-sectional and detailed views of the
lower housing section 112b. The cupped shoulder 170 has an inner
surface 172 that is relatively perpendicular to a stopping shoulder
174.
[0026] The inner surface 172 defines an angle (.beta.) and press
fits around the wedged cone (150) of the inner sleeve (130). The
angle (.beta.) may be about 1.5-degrees (.+-.0.5-degrees), and the
sidewall 172 may extend a distance of about 1-in. when the inner
sleeve 130 is about 13-in. long. In fact, the sidewall 172 can have
a 1-in. Morse taper #0. Other values can be provided for different
implementations.
[0027] The foregoing description of preferred and other embodiments
is not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of
the inventive concepts conceived of by the Applicants. It will be
appreciated with the benefit of the present disclosure that
features described above in accordance with any embodiment or
aspect of the disclosed subject matter can be utilized, either
alone or in combination, with any other described feature, in any
other embodiment or aspect of the disclosed subject matter.
Accordingly, features and materials disclosed with reference to one
embodiment herein can be used with features and materials disclosed
with reference to any other embodiment.
[0028] In exchange for disclosing the inventive concepts contained
herein, the Applicants desire all patent rights afforded by the
appended claims. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims
include all modifications and alterations to the full extent that
they come within the scope of the following claims or the
equivalents thereof.
* * * * *