U.S. patent application number 16/453524 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-31 for shock resistant circulation sub.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Gregory Hern, Larry Thomas Palmer, Andrew Ponder, Erik Van Steveninck. Invention is credited to Gregory Hern, Larry Thomas Palmer, Andrew Ponder, Erik Van Steveninck.
Application Number | 20200408065 16/453524 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004160934 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200408065 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Palmer; Larry Thomas ; et
al. |
December 31, 2020 |
SHOCK RESISTANT CIRCULATION SUB
Abstract
A circulation sub and method of operating a circulation sub. The
circulation sub includes a support member having a longitudinal
axis and a piston movable along the longitudinal axis of the
support member. A release member secures the piston to the support
member. A force is applied along a length axis of the release
member greater than a selected decoupling force threshold to
decouple the support member from the piston, thereby allowing the
piston to move along the longitudinal axis of the member.
Inventors: |
Palmer; Larry Thomas;
(Spring, TX) ; Hern; Gregory; (Porter, TX)
; Ponder; Andrew; (Houston, TX) ; Van Steveninck;
Erik; (Houston, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Palmer; Larry Thomas
Hern; Gregory
Ponder; Andrew
Van Steveninck; Erik |
Spring
Porter
Houston
Houston |
TX
TX
TX
TX |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations
LLC
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
1000004160934 |
Appl. No.: |
16/453524 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 31/005 20130101;
E21B 34/14 20130101; E21B 34/063 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 34/06 20060101
E21B034/06; E21B 34/14 20060101 E21B034/14 |
Claims
1. A circulation sub, comprising: a support member having a
longitudinal axis; a piston movable along the longitudinal axis of
the support member; and a release member configured to secure the
piston to the support member and to release the piston from the
support member when a force applied along a length axis of the
release member is greater than a decoupling force threshold of the
release member.
2. The circulation sub of claim 1, wherein the decoupling force
threshold of the release member is greater than the force applied
along the length axis of the release member by one or more
vibrators used to move the circulation sub in a wellbore.
3. The circulation sub of claim 1, wherein the length axis of the
release member is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support
member.
4. The circulation sub of claim 1, wherein the release member is
configured to break when a pressure differential between an inner
bore of the circulation sub and a wellbore annulus applies the
force on the release member greater than the decoupling force
threshold.
5. The circulation sub of claim 1, wherein the piston includes a
ball seat for receiving a ball, wherein a fluid pressure applied to
the received ball applies the force of the release member.
6. The circulation sub of claim 1, wherein the release member
further comprises a tensile stud, the tensile stud having a first
end securable to the support member, a second end securable to the
piston and a stud break section that defines the decoupling force
threshold.
7. The circulation sub of claim 6, wherein the stud break section
has a diameter smaller than a diameter of a first stud end and a
diameter of a second stud end.
8. The circulation sub of claim 1, wherein the release member
further comprises a ring having a first ring end secured to the
support member and a second ring end secured to the piston, the
ring includes a ring break section between the first ring end and
the second ring end that defines the decoupling force
threshold.
9. The circulation sub of claim 8, wherein the ring break section
includes one or more holes for reducing a strength of the ring
break section with respect to the strength of the first ring end
and the second ring end.
10. The circulation sub of claim 1, wherein the release member
secures the piston to the support member at a location radially
offset from a longitudinal axis of the circulation sub.
11. A method of operating a circulation sub, comprising: coupling a
support member of the circulation sub and a piston using a release
member; and applying a force along a length axis of the release
member greater than a selected decoupling force threshold to
decoupling the support member from the piston, thereby allowing the
piston to move along the longitudinal axis of the member.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the decoupling force threshold
of the release member is greater than a force applied along the
longitudinal axis of the circulation sub by one or more vibrators
used to move the circulation sub in a wellbore.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising applying a pressure
differential between an inner bore of the circulation sub and an
annulus to apply the force on the release member greater than the
selected decoupling force threshold.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a ball at
the piston and applying the force along the length axis of the
release member via a hydraulic pressure on the ball.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the release member further
comprises a tensile stud, and the length axis of the tensile stud
is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support member.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the tensile stud includes a
stud break section defining the decoupling force threshold, the
stud break section having a diameter smaller than a diameter of a
first stud end and a diameter of a second stud end.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the release member further
comprises a ring having a first ring end secured to the support
member and a second ring end secured to the piston, the ring
includes a ring break section defining the decoupling force
threshold.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the ring break section includes
one or more holes for weakening the ring break section with respect
to at least one of the first ring end and the second ring end.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] In the resource recovery industry, a work string is lowered
into a wellbore in order to perform a downhole operation, such as
drilling or fluid production. The work string includes a bore
therein and forms an annulus with a wall of the wellbore. At
various times, such as for fracking or fluid production, it is
useful to establish fluid communication between the bore and the
annulus. The work string therefore includes a port between the bore
and the annulus and a piston that moves axially along the work
string to open and close the port. The piston is secured to the
work string as the work string is being deployed downhole.
Especially in horizontal wellbores, vibrators are employed on the
work string in order to reduce friction between the work string and
the wall of the wellbore, thereby enabling the work string to be
pushed to greater depths in the wellbore without getting stuck. The
force created by the vibrators can however be great enough to
release the piston from the work string prematurely, allowing for
possible damage to occur to the work string due to unsecured
piston. Therefore there is a need to be able to better secure the
piston to a work string that uses vibrators to deploy the work
string downhole.
SUMMARY
[0002] In one aspect, a circulation sub is disclosed. The
circulation sub includes a support member having a longitudinal
axis, a piston movable along the longitudinal axis of the support
member, and a release member. The release member is configured to
secure the piston to the support member and to release the piston
from the support member when a force applied along a length axis of
the release member is greater than a decoupling force threshold of
the release member.
[0003] In another aspect, a method of operating a circulation sub
is disclosed. The method includes coupling a support member of the
circulation sub and a piston using a release member, and applying a
force along a length axis of the release member greater than a
selected decoupling force threshold to decoupling the support
member from the piston, thereby allowing the piston to move along
the longitudinal axis of the member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting
in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like
elements are numbered alike:
[0005] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative production system including a
work string and circulation sub;
[0006] FIG. 2 shows a detailed illustration of the circulation sub
of FIG. 1 in one embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 3 shows a close up view of a release member of FIG. 2
in one embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 4 shows a stress-strain curve for the release member;
and
[0009] FIG. 5 shows a circulation sub in another illustrative
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the
disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of
exemplification and not limitation with reference to the
Figures.
[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, an illustrative production system 100
is shown. The production system 100 includes a work string 102
extending from a rig 104 located at a surface location 106. The
work string 102 can be a production string or a drill string, in
various embodiments. The work string 102 extends through a wellbore
108 penetrating a formation 110 and a reservoir 112 in the
formation 110. A circulation sub 114 is disposed on the work string
102 at a location in the reservoir 112 for the purposes of allowing
a circulation of fluid between a bore 132 of the work string and an
annulus 134 between the work string 102 and a wall 108a of the
wellbore 108. In various embodiments, the circulation sub 114 can
be used to perform fracking of the reservoir 112. The circulation
sub 114 is disposed between a first section 102a of the work string
102 and a second section 102b of the work string 102. A second
circulation sub 124 can be disposed at a lower end of the second
section 102b. Additional circulation subs (not shown) can also be
disposed at lower sections of the work string 102. Although not
shown in FIG. 1, the wellbore 108 can deviate to have a horizontal
section and the work string 102 can deviate along with the wellbore
108 to extend through the horizontal section, with additional
circulation subs disposed within the horizontal section.
[0012] The work string 102 includes one or more Extended Reach
Tools or vibrators 130 at axially-spaced locations along the work
string. The vibrators 130 reduce friction between the work string
102 and the wall 108a of the wellbore 108, therefore allowing the
work string 102 to be pushed further into the wellbore without
getting stuck therein.
[0013] In various embodiments, a fluid 120 is pumped from a fluid
storage device 116 through delivery pipe 118 and down through the
work string 102 to exit into the reservoir 112 via the circulation
sub 114. In a frac operation, the fluid can be a frac fluid and is
pumped out of the circulation sub 114 and into various perforations
128 previously formed in the reservoir 112.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a detailed illustration of the circulation sub
114 of FIG. 1 in one embodiment. The circulation sub 114 extends
from a first end 240 to a second end 242. In general, the first end
240 is considered to be uphole of the second end 242 and therefore
discussion of an object of the circulation sub 114 moving upward
refers to the object moving towards the first end 240, while the
object moving downward refers to the object moving towards the
second end 242. The circulation sub 114 includes a top sub 202 at
its first end 240 and a housing 204 at its second end 242. The top
sub 202 is secured into the housing 204 at a threaded section 206.
The top sub 202 includes a top sub axial bore 208 therethrough and
the housing 204 includes a housing axial bore 210 therethrough.
When the top sub 202 is secured to the housing 204, the top sub
axial bore 208 is aligned with the housing axial bore 210 along a
centerline or longitudinal axis 205 of the circulation sub 114, the
longitudinal axis of the circulation sub being aligned with a
longitudinal axis of the work string.
[0015] The top sub 202 includes an extended section 212 having a
reduced outer diameter below the threaded section 206.
Additionally, the housing 204 has an inner diameter below the
threaded section 206 that is greater than the outer diameter of the
extended section 212. The inner diameter of the housing 204 and the
outer diameter of the extended section 212 therefore define a
chamber 214. A leak hole or inner port 220 provides a fluid path
between the top sub axial bore 208 and the chamber 214. An outer
port 222 provides a fluid path between the chamber 214 and the
annulus 134 of the wellbore 108.
[0016] A piston 216 resides in the chamber 214 in order to move
within the chamber 214 along the longitudinal axis 205 of the
circulation sub 114. The piston 216 can be secured to the top sub
202 in a first position via a release member 218. The release
member 218 includes first end and a second end which are
mechanically coupled by an intermediate connection. When an axial
force along the length of the intermediate connection between the
first end and second is greater than a decoupling force threshold
of the intermediate connection, the first end becomes decoupled
from the second end. In various embodiments, the release member 218
is a tensile member which includes a first end, second end and
connecting shank that breaks when an axial force is applied along
the length of the shank greater than a fracture threshold of the
shank. In various embodiments, the release member 218 can include
or refer to a plurality of circumferentially or azimuthally spaced
release members. The top sub 202 serves as a support member to the
piston 216 until a time at which an operator wishes to decouple the
piston from the top sub 202. The piston 216 includes a flow bore
therethrough arranged along the centerline of the circulation sub
144. Hence the location at which the release member 218 secures the
piston 216 to the top sub 202 is radially offset from the
centerline or longitudinal axis 205 of the circulation sub 144. In
the first position (i.e., secured to the top sub 202), the piston
216 closes or covers both the inner port 220 and the outer port
222. Upon breaking or decoupling the release member 218, the piston
216 can move within the chamber 214. By moving downward into the
housing 204 to a second position closer to the second end 242 than
then first position, the piston 216 is away from the inner port 220
and the outer port 222, leaving both the inner port 220 and the
outer port 222 open to chamber 214. Therefore, when the piston 216
is in the second position, fluid communication occurs between the
top sub axial bore 208 and the annulus 134 via the chamber 214,
inner port 220 and outer port 222.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a close up view of the release member 218 of
FIG. 2 in one embodiment. The illustrative release member 218
includes a screw or bolt having a head 302 at a first stud end and
a threaded end 304 at an opposing second stud end. A length axis of
the release member 218 extends from the head 302 to the threaded
end 304. The length axis of the release member 218 is parallel or
substantially parallel to the centerline or longitudinal axis 205
of the circulation sub 114. The head 302 secures the release member
218 to the top sub 202 while the threaded end 304 secures the
release member 218 to the piston 216. A shank 306 extends from the
head 302 to the threaded end 304. The shank 306 passes through a
support housing 226 when the release member 218 secures the top sub
202 to the piston 216. The shank 306 include one or more support
sections 308 having a first outer diameter and a stud break section
310 having a second outer diameter less than the first outer
diameter. An axial force capable of breaking the stud break section
310 defines a force threshold for the release member 218.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a stress-strain curve for the release member
218 comparing a stress (along the y-axis) to an induced strain
(along the x-axis). The release member 218 stretches when an axial
force is applied within an elastic range of the release member 218.
The limit of the elastic range is indicated by the fracture point
402. A decoupling force threshold or fracture threshold 404
corresponds to fracture point 402 and indicates the axial force
required to break the release member 218. The fracture threshold
404 is selected to be greater than a maximal force 406 applied
along the length axis of the release member 218 by the vibrators
130. Therefore, the piston 216 can be secured to the top sub 202 by
the release member 218 until the circulation sub 114 is deployed to
its desired location in the wellbore, without the vibrators 130
breaking the release member 218.
[0019] Referring again to FIG. 2, in order to break the release
member 218, a fluid pressure differential is applied between the
top sub axial bore 208 and the annulus 134. An annular pressure can
be in communication with the housing axial bore 210 via port 228.
The piston 216 includes a flow bore and a ball seat 224 at an entry
to the flow bore. A ball can be dropped onto the ball seat 224
through the top sub axial bore 208. When the ball is settled into
the ball seat 224, a fluid pressure can be exerted on the ball from
a surface location to create the differential pressure, for
example, by using a pump at the surface location to pump a fluid
through the top sub axial bore 208 to the top of the ball. At a
given applied fluid pressure, the force applied to the ball, and
thus on the piston 216, is greater than the fracture threshold 404
of the release member 218, thereby breaking the release member and
allowing the piston to move axially within the chamber 214.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a circulation sub 500 in another illustrative
embodiment. The circulation sub 500 includes the top sub 202 and
housing 204. Piston 216 is secured to the top sub 202 via a tensile
ring 502 that serves as the release member. The tensile ring 502 is
a generally cylindrical shell structure extending along a length
axis from a first ring end 504 to a second ring end 506. The length
axis of the tensile ring 502 is parallel or substantially parallel
to the centerline or longitudinal axis 205 of the circulation sub
114. The first ring end 504 is secured within a first end housing
510 of the top sub 202 and the second ring end 506 is secured
within the piston 216. The first ring end 504 has a flange that
fits within a recess of a first end housing 510 of the top sub 202
in order to secure the tensile ring 502 to the top sub 202. The
second ring end 506 has a flange that fits within a recess of the
piston 216 in order to secure the tensile ring 502 to the piston
216. A ring break section 508 is located between the first ring end
504 and the second ring end 506. The ring break section 508 is
designed to break when a selected force greater than a force
threshold of the tensile ring 502 is applied along the length axis
of the tensile ring. The ring break section 508 is designed to
break before either the first ring end 504 or second ring end 506.
The force threshold for the ring break section 508 can be selected
by forming holes within the ring break section to weaken the ring
break section by a selected amount. Alternatively, the ring break
section 508 can have a thinner thickness between its inner diameter
and outer diameter than either of the first ring end 504 or second
ring end 506.
[0021] Although the release member is discussed as part of a
circulation sub for illustrative purposes, the release member can
be used in any downhole tool of the work string in various
embodiments. Although the release member is discussed herein as
either a tensile stud or a tensile ring, it is to be understood
that any release member that breaks or decouples when a force is
applied along its length axis greater than a selected decoupling
force threshold can be used.
[0022] Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing
disclosure:
[0023] Embodiment 1. A circulation sub. The circulation sub
includes a support member having a longitudinal axis, a piston
movable along the longitudinal axis of the support member, and a
release member configured to secure the piston to the support
member and to release the piston from the support member when a
force applied along a length axis of the release member is greater
than a decoupling force threshold of the release member.
[0024] Embodiment 2. The circulation sub of any prior embodiment,
wherein the decoupling force threshold of the release member is
greater than the force applied along the length axis of the release
member by one or more vibrators used to move the circulation sub in
a wellbore.
[0025] Embodiment 3. The circulation sub of any prior embodiment,
wherein the length axis of the release member is parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the support member.
[0026] Embodiment 4. The circulation sub of any prior embodiment,
wherein the release member is configured to break when a pressure
differential between an inner bore of the circulation sub and a
wellbore annulus applies the force on the release member greater
than the decoupling force threshold.
[0027] Embodiment 5. The circulation sub of any prior embodiment,
wherein the piston includes a ball seat for receiving a ball,
wherein a fluid pressure applied to the received ball applies the
force of the release member.
[0028] Embodiment 6. The circulation sub of any prior embodiment
wherein the release member further comprises a tensile stud, the
tensile stud having a first end securable to the support member, a
second end securable to the piston and a stud break section that
defines the decoupling force threshold.
[0029] Embodiment 7. The circulation sub of any prior embodiment,
wherein the stud break section has a diameter smaller than a
diameter of a first stud end and a diameter of a second stud
end.
[0030] Embodiment 8. The circulation sub of any prior embodiment,
wherein the release member further comprises a ring having a first
ring end secured to the support member and a second ring end
secured to the piston, the ring includes a ring break section
between the first ring end and the second ring end that defines the
decoupling force threshold.
[0031] Embodiment 9. The circulation sub of any prior embodiment,
wherein the ring break section includes one or more holes for
reducing a strength of the ring break section with respect to the
strength of the first ring end and the second ring end.
[0032] Embodiment 10. The circulation sub of any prior embodiment,
wherein the release member secures the piston to the support member
at a location radially offset from a longitudinal axis of the
circulation sub.
[0033] Embodiment 11. A method of operating a circulation sub. The
method includes: coupling a support member of the circulation sub
and a piston using a release member, and applying a force along a
length axis of the release member greater than a selected
decoupling force threshold to decoupling the support member from
the piston, thereby allowing the piston to move along the
longitudinal axis of the member.
[0034] Embodiment 12. The method of any prior embodiment, wherein
the decoupling force threshold of the release member is greater
than a force applied along the longitudinal axis of the circulation
sub by one or more vibrators used to move the circulation sub in a
wellbore.
[0035] Embodiment 13. The method of any prior embodiment, further
comprising applying a pressure differential between an inner bore
of the circulation sub and an annulus to apply the force on the
release member greater than the selected decoupling force
threshold.
[0036] Embodiment 14. The method of any prior embodiment, further
comprising receiving a ball at the piston and applying the force
along the length axis of the release member via a hydraulic
pressure on the ball.
[0037] Embodiment 15. The method of any prior embodiment, wherein
the release member further comprises a tensile stud, and the length
axis of the tensile stud is parallel to the longitudinal axis of
the support member.
[0038] Embodiment 16. The method of any prior embodiment, wherein
the tensile stud includes a stud break section defining the
decoupling force threshold, the stud break section having a
diameter smaller than a diameter of a first stud end and a diameter
of a second stud end.
[0039] Embodiment 17. The method of any prior embodiment, wherein
the release member further comprises a ring having a first ring end
secured to the support member and a second ring end secured to the
piston, the ring includes a ring break section defining the
decoupling force threshold.
[0040] Embodiment 18. The method of any prior embodiment, wherein
the ring break section includes one or more holes for weakening the
ring break section with respect to at least one of the first ring
end and the second ring end.
[0041] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar
referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in
the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover
both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein
or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted
that the terms "first," "second," and the like herein do not denote
any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to
distinguish one element from another. The modifier "about" used in
connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has
the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree
of error associated with measurement of the particular
quantity).
[0042] The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a
variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one
or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident
in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such
as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of
liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof.
Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to,
fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion
agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers,
demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well
operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing,
stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam
injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
[0043] While the invention has been described with reference to an
exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents
may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the
scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made
to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in
the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed
exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms
may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a
generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so
limited.
* * * * *