U.S. patent application number 15/740189 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-05 for method and system for switching a functionality of a liner expansion tool.
The applicant listed for this patent is SHELL OIL COMPANY. Invention is credited to Remmelt BOUMA, David Paul BRISCO, Tino Walter VAN DER ZEE, Antonius Leonardus Maria WUBBEN, Djurre Hans ZIJSLING.
Application Number | 20180187527 15/740189 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56263722 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180187527 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BOUMA; Remmelt ; et
al. |
July 5, 2018 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SWITCHING A FUNCTIONALITY OF A LINER
EXPANSION TOOL
Abstract
The functionality of a downhole tubular expansion tool is
switched by: -providing the unexpanded tubular with an oversized
section (7) having a larger internal width than other
(non-oversized) sections of the unexpanded tubular (6);-providing
the expansion tool with a control sub (1) comprising a trigger
assembly (2) that is pushed outward within the oversized section
and thereby switches the functionality of the tool, for example by
contracting or expanding a collapsible expansion cone and/or
opening a valve.
Inventors: |
BOUMA; Remmelt; (Joure,
NL) ; BRISCO; David Paul; (Duncan, OK) ;
WUBBEN; Antonius Leonardus Maria; (Rijswijk, NL) ;
VAN DER ZEE; Tino Walter; (Joure, NL) ; ZIJSLING;
Djurre Hans; (Rijswijk, NL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SHELL OIL COMPANY |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56263722 |
Appl. No.: |
15/740189 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
June 28, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2016/065046 |
371 Date: |
December 27, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62187380 |
Jul 1, 2015 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 23/02 20130101;
E21B 43/105 20130101; E21B 17/1014 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 43/10 20060101
E21B043/10; E21B 23/02 20060101 E21B023/02; E21B 17/10 20060101
E21B017/10 |
Claims
1. A method for switching a functionality of a downhole tubular
expansion tool that is longitudinally moved through an initially
unexpanded well tubular to expand at least part of the length of
the tubular, the method comprising: providing the unexpanded
tubular with an oversized section having a larger internal width
than other sections of the unexpanded tubular; providing the
expansion tool with a control sub comprising a trigger assembly
that is pushed outward within the oversized section and thereby
switching the functionality of the tool.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger assembly is spring,
hydraulically and/or otherwise resiliently loaded and expanded
within the oversized section and collapsed in the other sections of
the unexpanded tubular.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the expansion tool comprises a
collapsible expansion cone and/or a valve, which is switched to a
different operating mode by the trigger assembly.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the trigger assembly comprises a
trigger sleeve and expandable collet segments which axially move
the sleeve relative to other parts of the expansion tool when the
collet segments expand within the oversized section.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the unexpanded tubular comprises
a plurality of oversized sections with different lengths, and the
expansion tool comprises a plurality of control subs with
expandable collet segments having corresponding lengths, thereby
switching the functionality of the expansion tool at different
longitudinally spaced locations along the length of the unexpanded
tubular.
6. A downhole tubular expansion tool that is longitudinally movable
through an initially unexpanded well tubular to expand at least
part of the length of the tubular, the downhole tubular expansion
tool comprising a control sub comprising a trigger assembly that is
pushed outward within an oversized section of an unexpanded well
tubular and thereby switching the functionality of the tool.
7. The expansion tool of claim 11, wherein the trigger assembly is
spring, hydraulically and/or otherwise loaded and configured to be
expanded in the oversized section and to be collapsed in other
sections of the unexpanded tubular.
8. The expansion tool of claim 11, wherein the expansion tool
comprises a collapsible expansion cone and/or a valve, which is
switched to a different operating mode by the trigger assembly.
9. The expansion tool of claim 8, wherein the trigger assembly
comprises a trigger sleeve and expandable collet segments which
axially move the sleeve relative to other parts of the expansion
tool when the collet segments expand within the oversized
section.
10. The expansion tool of claim 11, wherein the unexpanded tubular
comprises a plurality of oversized sections with different lengths,
and the expansion tool comprises a plurality of control subs with
expandable collet segments having corresponding lengths, thereby
switching the functionality of the expansion tool at different
longitudinally spaced locations along the length of the unexpanded
tubular.
11. A system comprising an unexpanded tubular with an oversized
section having a larger internal width than other sections of the
unexpanded tubular; and a downhole tubular expansion tool that is
longitudinally movable through the unexpanded well tubular to
expand at least part of the length of the tubular, wherein downhole
tubular expansion tool has a switchable functionality and comprises
a control sub comprising a trigger assembly that is pushed outward
within the oversized section of the unexpanded well tubular to
thereby switch the functionality of the tool.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the trigger assembly is spring,
hydraulically and/or otherwise loaded and configured to be expanded
in the oversized section and to be collapsed in other sections of
the unexpanded tubular.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the expansion tool comprises a
collapsible expansion cone and/or a valve, which is switched to a
different operating mode by the trigger assembly.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the trigger assembly comprises
a trigger sleeve and expandable collet segments which axially move
the sleeve relative to other parts of the expansion tool when the
collet segments expand within the oversized section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a method and system for switching a
functionality of an expansion tool for expanding a well liner,
casing or other well tubular downhole in an underground
wellbore.
[0002] Known downhole expansion methods and systems are disclosed
in WO2012104257 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,497,255, 7,640,976 and
7,493,946.
[0003] In these known systems an expansion cone is moved downhole
through an initially unexpanded well liner, casing or other tubular
to expand the tubular.
[0004] It is known to switch the functionality of the expansion
tool by mechanically pulling and/or rotating the drill string from
which the expansion tool is suspended and/or by stepwise changes of
the fluid pressure within the interior of the drill string, for
example for expanding or retracting a collapsible expansion cone
and/or for opening or closing a valve.
[0005] A disadvantage of the known systems is that often the
location of the expansion cone within the tubular is not exactly
known, whereas it may be desired to switch the functionality of the
expansion tool at a predetermined location along the length of the
expanded tubular.
[0006] There is a need for an improved method and system for
switching the functionality of an expansion tool that overcomes the
drawbacks of the known systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the invention there is provided
[0008] a method for switching a functionality of a downhole tubular
expansion tool that is longitudinally moved through an initially
unexpanded well tubular to expand at least part of the length of
the tubular, the method comprising: [0009] providing the unexpanded
tubular with an oversized section having a larger internal width
than other sections of the unexpanded tubular; [0010] providing the
expansion tool with a control sub comprising a trigger assembly
that is pushed outward within the oversized section and thereby
switching the functionality of the tool.
[0011] The unexpanded tubular may comprise a plurality of oversized
sections with different lengths, and the expansion tool may
comprise a plurality of control subs with expandable collet
segments having corresponding lengths, thereby switching the
functionality of the expansion tool at different longitudinally
spaced locations along the length of the unexpanded tubular.
[0012] In accordance with the invention there is furthermore
provided a system for switching a functionality of a downhole
tubular expansion tool that is longitudinally movable through an
initially unexpanded well tubular to expand at least part of the
length of the tubular, the system comprising
[0013] a control sub comprising a trigger assembly that is pushed
outward within an oversized section of an unexpanded well tubular
and thereby switching the functionality of the tool.
[0014] The expansion tool may comprise a collapsible expansion cone
and/or a valve, which is switched to a different operating mode by
the trigger assembly and the trigger assembly may comprise a
trigger sleeve and expandable collet segments which axially move
the sleeve relative to other parts of the expansion tool when the
collet segments expand within the oversized section.
[0015] These and other features, embodiments and advantages of the
expansion method and tool according to the invention are described
in the accompanying claims, abstract and the following detailed
description of non-limiting embodiments depicted in the
accompanying drawings, in which description reference numerals are
used which refer to corresponding reference numerals that are
depicted in the drawings.
[0016] Similar reference numerals in different figures denote the
same or similar objects. Objects and other features depicted in the
figures and/or described in this specification, abstract and/or
claims may be combined in different ways by a person skilled in the
art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a control sub according to the invention
when it moves into, through and out of an oversized section of an
initially unexpanded well tubular.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPICTED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a control sub according to the invention
that changes a functionality of the expansion tool string at a
specified location in the expandable liner.
[0019] Use is made of a change in internal diameter of the
expandable liner to trigger the control action of a control sub (2)
in the expansion tool string, which is located ahead of the
expansion cone or cones as illustrated in FIG. 1A. The control sub
(1) comprises a segmented trigger sleeve (2), which is loaded by a
spring (3) via a hydraulic valve (4). The spring force causes the
trigger sleeve segments to move over ramps (5) outwards toward the
inner diameter of the unexpanded liner (6).
[0020] During expansion of the liner the trigger sleeve slides
against the inner surface of the initially unexpanded liner. When
the expansion tool string reaches an oversized section of liner (7)
with an increased inner diameter, the trigger sleeve (2) is pushed
further outward over the ramps, as illustrated in FIG. 1B which
open the hydraulic valve such that a hydraulic connection is made
between the bore of the expansion tool string and a fluid channel
(8).
[0021] When the total length of the trigger sleeve has entered the
over-sized section of the liner, its saw tooth profile jumps over
the ramps in the body of the control sub as illustrated in FIG. 1C.
Subsequently the trigger sleeve collapses when it enters into the
liner section with nominal inner diameter as illustrated in FIG.
1D.
[0022] Alternatively the control sub concept may also be used to
take a mechanical action when the expansion tool sting has reached
a specific location in the liner.
[0023] A schematic drawing of such a mechanical control sub is
shown in FIG. 2a.
[0024] A collet (10) is locked in a groove in the body of the tool
string by a collet sleeve (11). This sleeve is pushed by a spring
(3) in the direction of the trigger sleeve but the ramps and the
liner with nominal inner diameter prevent sliding of the collet
sleeve. When the trigger sleeve enters the oversized section of the
liner the collet sleeve starts sliding as illustrated in FIG. 2B.
When the full length of the trigger sleeve has entered into the
oversized section of the liner the collet (10) is released from the
groove (9) in the tool string body and the trigger sleeve jumps the
ramp (5) (FIG. 2c). After this it can collapse and enter into the
liner with nominal inner diameter (FIG. 2d).
[0025] The release and movement of the collet may be used to
mechanically change the functionality of the expansion tool
string.
[0026] The hydraulic control sub (2) may be used e.g. to
hydraulically collapse a bell cone by inserting an oversized
section in the expandable liner at the top of the bell section. The
collapse action of the bell will only occur when the trigger sleeve
is in the oversized liner section or has passed this section. At
any earlier stage of the liner installation process pressure pulses
in the bore of the expansion tool string may be used for other
actions without affecting the collapse action of the bell cone.
[0027] The control sub concept can be designed to respond only to
an oversized liner section exceeding a specific length. When the
trigger sleeve encounters an oversized liner section with a length
less than that of the trigger sleeve it will not respond.
[0028] Consequently multiple control subs may be installed in the
expansion tool string, which respond to specific oversized section
lengths at various locations in the liner.
[0029] Therefore, the method, system and/or any products according
to present invention are well adapted to attain the ends and
advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent
therein.
[0030] The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative
only, as the present invention may be modified, combined and/or
practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those
skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein.
[0031] Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of
construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the
claims below.
[0032] It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative
embodiments disclosed above may be altered, combined and/or
modified and all such variations are considered within the scope of
the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims.
[0033] While any methods, systems and/or products embodying the
invention are described in terms of "comprising," "containing," or
"including" various described features and/or steps, they can also
"consist essentially of" or "consist of" the various described
features and steps.
[0034] All numbers and ranges disclosed above may vary by some
amount. Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper
limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling
within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, every
range of values (of the form, "from about a to about b," or,
equivalently, "from approximately a to b," or, equivalently, "from
approximately a-b") disclosed herein is to be understood to set
forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range
of values.
[0035] Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary
meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the
patentee.
[0036] Moreover, the indefinite articles "a" or "an", as used in
the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the
element that it introduces.
[0037] If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in
this specification and one or more patent or other documents that
may be cited herein by reference, the definitions that are
consistent with this specification should be adopted.
* * * * *