U.S. patent application number 17/387468 was filed with the patent office on 2022-02-03 for seal protection arrangement and system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Aaron C. Hammer, Hector Mireles, James A. Smith. Invention is credited to Aaron C. Hammer, Hector Mireles, James A. Smith.
Application Number | 20220034193 17/387468 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005893479 |
Filed Date | 2022-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220034193 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; James A. ; et
al. |
February 3, 2022 |
SEAL PROTECTION ARRANGEMENT AND SYSTEM
Abstract
A slurry outlet system including a top sub, a closure sleeve
movable relative to the top sub between a closed position and an
open position, a seal mounted on one or the other of the top sub or
the closure sleeve, a protector sleeve disposed to cover the seal
until displaced by one or the other of the top sub or the closure
sleeve that does not include the seal during movement to the closed
position. A method for pressure sealingly closing a slurry outlet
system including bringing a closure sleeve into proximity with a
top sub of the slurry outlet system, displacing a protector sleeve,
with the closure sleeve, off a seal disposed about the closure
sleeve and simultaneously making sealing contact between the top
sub and the seal.
Inventors: |
Smith; James A.; (Manvel,
TX) ; Hammer; Aaron C.; (Houston, TX) ;
Mireles; Hector; (Spring, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Smith; James A.
Hammer; Aaron C.
Mireles; Hector |
Manvel
Houston
Spring |
TX
TX
TX |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations
LLC
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
1000005893479 |
Appl. No.: |
17/387468 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
63057591 |
Jul 28, 2020 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/045 20130101;
E21B 37/02 20130101; E21B 43/261 20130101; E21B 34/14 20130101;
E21B 33/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 33/16 20060101
E21B033/16; E21B 34/14 20060101 E21B034/14; E21B 43/04 20060101
E21B043/04; E21B 43/26 20060101 E21B043/26 |
Claims
1. A slurry outlet system comprising: a top sub; a closure sleeve
movable relative to the top sub between a closed position and an
open position; a seal mounted on one or the other of the top sub or
the closure sleeve; a protector sleeve disposed to cover the seal
until displaced by one or the other of the top sub or the closure
sleeve that does not include the seal during movement to the closed
position.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seal is mounted
upon the closure sleeve.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the protector sleeve is
disposed radially outwardly of the seal.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the closure sleeve
includes a plurality of seals.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1 further including a wiper.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top sub contacts
the protector sleeve.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1 further including a crossover
tool disposed radially inwardly of the top sub in a gravel packing,
fracing or frac packing position of the system and removed
therefrom after completion of a gravel packing, fracing or frac
packing operation.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1 further including a cementing
tool disposed radially inwardly of the top sub in a cementing
position of the system and removed therefrom after completion of a
cementing operation.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seal is one or more
of an o-ring, a bonded seal, metal seal, a seal stack or
non-elastomeric seals.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top sub includes a
seal bore for interacting with the seal on the closure sleeve, that
is a seal less uninterrupted surface.
11. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a biasing
arrangement disposed to bias the protector sleeve.
12. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a release
member attached to the protector sleeve.
13. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the release member is
a shear screw.
14. A method for pressure sealingly closing a slurry outlet system
comprising: bringing a closure sleeve into proximity with a top sub
of the slurry outlet system; displacing a protector sleeve, with
the closure sleeve, off a seal disposed about the closure sleeve
and simultaneously making sealing contact between the top sub and
the seal.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 further including wiping the
top sub prior to making sealing contact with the seal.
16. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the urging of the
protector sleeve includes causing the release of a release
member.
17. A wellbore system comprising: a borehole in a subsurface
formation; a string including a slurry outlet system as claimed in
claim 1.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing
date from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/057,591 filed
Jul. 28, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the resource recovery industry, frac and gravel packs are
a well-known means to protect a subsurface formation from collapse
and to filter out unwanted particulates from a production borehole.
So too are the apparatus for depositing sand or gravel that will
make up the gravel pack. Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art system
10, which happens to be configured as a gravel pack system but
could be configured as a frac/frac pack system, or a cement system
is illustrated that is and has been commercially available from
Baker Hughes. The portion of FIG. 1, other than the crossover tool
depicted therein, is a slurry extension available under product
number H484220008 (available from Baker Hughes). One of ordinary
skill in the art is well familiar with the system.
[0003] Broadly, still referring to FIG. 1, a crossover tool 10 is
used to deposit gravel in an annular space and then a closure
sleeve 12 is moved to a closed position in a seal bore 14 of a top
sub 16 around the crossover tool 10. Due to particulates deposited
in the immediate vicinity 18 of the crossover tool and seal bore
14, seals 20 on the closure sleeve 12 can sometimes be damaged such
that differential pressure may not be completely manageable
thereacross. This can be commercially undesirable in some
situations. Therefore, the art would be benefited by a system that
can accomplish the task of creating a gravel pack without damaging
seals of the closure sleeve such that differential pressure can be
maintained.
SUMMARY
[0004] An embodiment of slurry outlet system including a top sub, a
closure sleeve movable relative to the top sub between a closed
position and an open position, a seal mounted on one or the other
of the top sub or the closure sleeve, a protector sleeve disposed
to cover the seal until displaced by one or the other of the top
sub or the closure sleeve that does not include the seal during
movement to the closed position.
[0005] An embodiment of a method for pressure sealingly closing a
slurry outlet system including bringing a closure sleeve into
proximity with a top sub of the slurry outlet system, displacing a
protector sleeve, with the closure sleeve, off a seal disposed
about the closure sleeve and simultaneously making sealing contact
between the top sub and the seal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting
in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like
elements are numbered alike:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a prior art slurry
outlet system;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a
slurry outlet system as disclosed herein;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2 taken at
the circumscribed area in FIG. 2 and in an open position of the
system;
[0010] FIG. 3a is the illustration of FIG. 3 with a biasing
arrangement added;
[0011] FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 3 but in the closed position
of the system;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an engagement
arrangement for components of the system disclosed herein;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a
slurry outlet system described herein;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a
slurry outlet system described herein;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a
slurry outlet system described herein; and
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a
slurry outlet system described herein in an open position;
[0017] FIG. 10 is FIG. 9 in a closed position; and
[0018] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a wellbore wherein the a
slurry outlet system as described herein is disposed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] 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.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a slurry outlet with seal protection
system 30 is illustrated. The system 30, which may be a gravel pack
system frac/frac pack system, or a cement system (it will be
appreciated that a crossover tool is illustrated disposed in the
system but the crossover tool may be easily swapped for a frac/frac
pack service tool or a cementing service tool as is familiar to one
of ordinary skill in this art) may include many similar components
to that of the prior art system 10 but with several significant
departures. Specifically, a top sub 32 ("top sub" being broadly
meant as one of more actual components of the system functioning as
a seal bore, a seal housing, a seal assembly housing, etc. which
can be one piece or a number of pieces secured together) of system
30 carries a number of seal(s) 34 at an inside diameter surface 36
thereof and, in some variations, a number of wiper(s) 38 as well.
The wiper 38 may be helpful in that if a small amount of debris
clings to the outer surface of a closure sleeve, the wiper 38 will
wipe that off prior to the closure sleeve interacting with the
seals 34, thereby ensuring that the seals are not contaminated with
and/or damaged by any particulate matter that could compromise seal
integrity. It is to be appreciated that all known types of seals
could be employed such as O-ring seals, bonded seals, a seal stack
or non-elastomeric seals (including metal seals), etc., the
representations in the Figures being general to each of these. It
is further to be understood that more than one of the above
mentioned seals may be used together in some embodiments.
[0021] Further, a movable protector sleeve 40 is initially disposed
to cover and protect the seals 34 and wiper 38 from damage
including due to contamination by particulate materials that might
otherwise damage the seals 34 upon moving the system 30 to the
closed position. The seals remain protected by the protector sleeve
40 both during slurry flow and during shifting of a closure sleeve
50. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the protector sleeve 40 is disposed
radially inwardly of the top sub 32 and with an outside surface 42
of the protector sleeve 40 in contact with the seals 34 and wiper
38. In one embodiment, the protector sleeve 40 is a part of a seal
protection subsystem 44 that further includes a protector sleeve
pocket 46. The pocket 46 is a segregated volume that will not admit
particulate matter from the slurry outlet or other expected
wellbore particulate or debris. The pocket 46 is maintained in this
condition by a tight fit between a pocket barrier 47 and the
protector sleeve 40. The term "tight fit" as used herein means that
the gap presented between two components is smaller than the
average size of the proppant used in a gravel slurry or particulate
used in a cement slurry. Ensuring a gap has a size smaller than the
particulate means that no particulates can penetrate the area. No
particles penetrating the area means that there will be no
impediment to the protector sleeve 40 when it is time to remove the
protector sleeve 40 from the seals 34. The seal protection
subsystem 44 further includes a release member 48 such as, for
example, a shear screw or detent. The release member 48 prevents
movement of the protector sleeve until a threshold selected force
is placed on the protector sleeve 40. The seal protection subsystem
44 may be configured as a telescopic unit as illustrated, in some
variations. The pocket 46 is receptive to the protector sleeve 40
when that sleeve 40 is urged into the pocket by the closure sleeve
50 (refer to FIGS. 2 and 4). While urging the protector sleeve 40
directly with the closure sleeve 50 is efficient and effective, it
is also contemplated that the protector sleeve 40 may be shifted by
another component either once contact between closure sleeve 50 and
protector sleeve 40 is made or once the closure sleeve 50 is
sufficiently close to the protector sleeve 40. "Sufficiently close"
in this context means that the gap presented between two components
is smaller than the average size of the proppant used in a gravel
slurry or particulate used in a cement slurry. Ensuring a gap has a
size smaller than the particulate means that no particulates can
penetrate the area.
[0022] In variations, a biasing arrangement 49 may be provided in
the pocket 46 (see FIG. 3a) to ensure that if the closure sleeve 50
reverses direction for any reason, the protector sleeve 40 will
responsively re-cover the seals 34 and wiper 38. The biasing
arrangement may be a spring, such as a coil spring, a gas chamber,
an elastomeric member, etc. Alternatively to the biasing
arrangement, or in addition thereto, the protector sleeve 40 may
include an engagement feature 54 that latches with a catch 56 on
the closure sleeve 50 to ensure the protector sleeve 40 will follow
the closure sleeve 50 (see FIG. 5).
[0023] Notably, the closure sleeve 50 includes only a seal-less
uninterrupted outer surface 52 on an end thereof that is to
interact with the top sub 32 and the protector sleeve 40. The lack
of seals in this area reduces the ability of the closure sleeve 50
to carry particulates with it during its transition from the open
position of the system 30 to the closed position of the system
30.
[0024] Considering the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4
simultaneously, which show the same portion of the system 30 in the
open and closed positions respectively, it is evident that the
sleeve 50 displaces the sleeve 40 through contact therewith and
hence there is no opening for particulate matter to contaminate the
seals 34.
[0025] In the prior art system 10, since seals are present on the
closure sleeve 12, the trapping of particulates thereat and the
direct damage to the seals during stroking of the sleeve 12 was a
distinct possibility. With the particular combination of features
disclosed herein however, the direct damage to the seals and the
trapping of particulate material that may possibly contaminate or
cause damage to the seals has been substantially reduced or
eliminated.
[0026] In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 6, it will be
recognized that top sub 32 is unchanged from embodiments above but
that the seal protector subsystem (44 above) has been substituted
by a different protector sleeve 140. In this embodiment, the
protector sleeve 140 extends a longer distance and bridges a volume
that becomes a pocket 146 where particulate matter is excluded. The
embodiment includes an upset 147 that provides a stop in both the
uphole and downhole directions of movement of the protector sleeve
140. A release member 148 is still employed for the protector
sleeve 140, in an alternate location to the foregoing embodiment,
and retains the function of securing the protector sleeve 140 until
a threshold selected force is applied thereto to release the
release member 148. In other respects, the embodiment is similar to
the foregoing embodiments.
[0027] In yet another embodiment, referring to FIG. 7, a protector
sleeve 240 includes a ramped section 250 that is configured to
displace particulate. This is due to the potential for particulate
to collect in a space 252 where the protector sleeve 240 will move
when the seals 34 are uncovered. It will be appreciated in this
embodiment that the particulate free pocket of the foregoing
embodiments is not present. Rather the space where the pocket would
be in this embodiment, space 252, a is actually open to particulate
incursion. Because of the potential for particulate incursion,
there is a possibility that the protector sleeve 240 may encounter
particulates that hinder its movement toward the left of FIG. 7
during actuation. The ramped section 250 will help to displace
aggregated particulates radially inwardly and therefore out of the
way of the protector sleeve 240. In other respects, the embodiment
is similar to the foregoing embodiments.
[0028] In yet another embodiment, referring to FIG. 8, it will be
appreciated that the protector sleeve 240 is the same as in FIG. 7.
The addition in this embodiment is an anchor sleeve 260. The anchor
sleeve allows for easy testing for movement of the protector sleeve
240 during manufacture and then later securing of the protector
sleeve 240 by insertion of the anchor sleeve 260 and a release
member 262. The release member 262 is releaseable upon impetus as
described above and the protector sleeve 240 will move leftwardly
in FIG. 8 while displacing any aggregated particulate with the
ramped section 250 as discussed above. In other respects, the
embodiment is similar to the foregoing embodiments.
[0029] The system 30 operates very similarly to the system 10 of
the prior art with the departures being discussed above.
Accordingly, since the departures of system 30 from system 10 have
been described and illustrated, further disclosure is not necessary
for one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use what is taught
herein.
[0030] In another embodiment, a slurry outlet system 400, referring
to FIGS. 9 and 10, is illustrated. The system 400 includes a top
sub 402 that is a seal bore. Specifically, this top sub differs
from those of the foregoing embodiments as it does not house the
seals that the above disclosed embodiments do. In this embodiment,
a seal 404 (same as above in number and character and further may
include a wiper 405) is disposed instead on closure sleeve 406. In
keeping with the foregoing embodiments, a protector sleeve 408 is
disposed to protect the seal 404 and hence is located in this
embodiment upon the closure sleeve 406 immediately radially
outwardly of the seal 404. Protector sleeve 408 then translates
with the closure sleeve 406 to protect the seal 404 throughout the
movement of the closure sleeve when moving from the open position
to the closed position. Upon reaching proximity to the closed
position, which is illustrated in FIG. 10, the protector sleeve 408
is shouldered against the top sub 402 which prevents further
movement of protector sleeve 408 and allows closure sleeve 406 and
specifically the seal 404 to slide telescopically through the
protector sleeve 408 into sealing contact with the top sub 402. The
seal 404 is protected from debris similarly to the foregoing
embodients with the same benefits from achieving that condition.
Also similar to foregoing embodiments, the protector sleeve 408 may
be biased by a biasing arrangement 410 such as a spring to
automatically close if the closure sleeve 406 reverses direction.
In variations, the protector sleeve may also include a release
arrangement 412 such as a shear screw.
[0031] Further disclosed herein is a wellbore system 500 as
schematically illustrated in FIG. 11. The wellbore system 500
includes a borehole 360 disposed in a subsurface formation 362. A
gravel pack system, frac/frac pack system, or a cement system 30 or
400 is a part of a string 364 and disposed in the borehole 360.
[0032] Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing
disclosure:
[0033] Embodiment 1: A slurry outlet system including a top sub, a
closure sleeve movable relative to the top sub between a closed
position and an open position, a seal mounted on one or the other
of the top sub or the closure sleeve, a protector sleeve disposed
to cover the seal until displaced by one or the other of the top
sub or the closure sleeve that does not include the seal during
movement to the closed position.
[0034] Embodiment 2: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein
the seal is mounted upon the closure sleeve.
[0035] Embodiment 3: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein
the protector sleeve is disposed radially outwardly of the
seal.
[0036] Embodiment 4: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein
the closure sleeve includes a plurality of seals.
[0037] Embodiment 5: The system as in any prior embodiment, further
including a wiper.
[0038] Embodiment 6: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein
the top sub contacts the protector sleeve.
[0039] Embodiment 7: The system as in any prior embodiment, further
including a crossover tool disposed radially inwardly of the top
sub in a gravel packing, fracing or frac packing position of the
system and removed therefrom after completion of a gravel packing,
fracing or frac packing operation.
[0040] Embodiment 8: The system as in any prior embodiment, further
including a cementing tool disposed radially inwardly of the top
sub in a cementing position of the system and removed therefrom
after completion of a cementing operation.
[0041] Embodiment 9: The system as in any prior embodiment, wherein
the seal is one or more of an o-ring, a bonded seal, metal seal, a
seal stack or non-elastomeric seals.
[0042] Embodiment 10: The system as in any prior embodiment,
wherein the top sub includes a seal bore for interacting with the
seal on the closure sleeve, that is a seal less uninterrupted
surface.
[0043] Embodiment 11: The system as in any prior embodiment,
further comprising a biasing arrangement disposed to bias the
protector sleeve.
[0044] Embodiment 12: The system as in any prior embodiment,
further comprising a release member attached to the protector
sleeve.
[0045] Embodiment 13: The system as in any prior embodiment,
wherein the release member is a shear screw.
[0046] Embodiment 14: A method for pressure sealingly closing a
slurry outlet system including bringing a closure sleeve into
proximity with a top sub of the slurry outlet system, displacing a
protector sleeve, with the closure sleeve, off a seal disposed
about the closure sleeve and simultaneously making sealing contact
between the top sub and the seal.
[0047] Embodiment 15: The method as in any prior embodiment,
further including wiping the top sub prior to making sealing
contact with the seal.
[0048] Embodiment 16: The method as in any prior embodiment,
wherein the urging of the protector sleeve includes causing the
release of a release member.
[0049] Embodiment 17: A wellbore system including a borehole in a
subsurface formation, a string including a slurry outlet system as
in any prior embodiment.
[0050] 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).
[0051] 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.
[0052] 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.
* * * * *