Patent Publication Number: US-2023160285-A1

Title: Borehole tool and system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In the resource recovery and fluid sequestration industries screens are often needed to filter fluid so that particulates do not end up where they could do damage or reduce efficiency. Oftentimes, screens are put in place in separate runs from a primary run that creates an opportunity to use a screen. Runs are expensive and hence reducing the number of runs is desirable. Single or multiple borehole tools that restrict or stop annulus flow during production and/or injection are often a necessity to have on the same run as screens. The isolation tool, often referred to as zonal isolation, limits or prevent fluid moving along the screen surface in the borehole outside the screen. Screens and zonal isolation however are generally somewhat delicate and subject to damage if run before an optimal running situation is completed. Screens and zonal isolation that are robust enough to be deployed using fewer runs and/or robust enough to enable reaching bottom of hole in rough conditions would be well received by the art. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of a borehole tool including a unitary, single-piece basepipe having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first and second end portions being of larger diameter than the intermediate portion, an operational member having a first end and a second end, the member disposed about the basepipe, the first end of the member nearer the first end portion than the second end portion and the second end of the member nearer the second end portion than the first end portion, the member having an outside diameter no greater than the first end portion and the second end portion. 
     A method for making a screen including wrapping a wire around the basepipe, and forming the filtration media with the wire. 
     An embodiment of a borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string disposed in the borehole, and a tool disposed within or as a part of the string. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG.  1    is a cross sectional view of a borehole tool as disclosed herein; 
         FIG.  2    is a side view of the basepipe of the tool of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of the basepipe of the tool of  FIG.  1    with ribs thereon; 
         FIG.  4    is a side view of the tool of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross sectional view of an alternate borehole tool as disclosed herein; 
         FIGS.  6 - 9    are examples of tools with various combinations of filtration media and seal elements; and 
         FIG.  10    is a view of a borehole system including a borehole tool as disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a first embodiment of a borehole tool  10  is illustrated. Tool  10  is a screen tool and comprises a unitary single-piece basepipe  12 . It is to be appreciated that the terms “unitary, single-piece” are meant to convey a piece of material that is contiguous, having no welded joints therein nor threaded joints therein nor interference joints therein nor bonded joints therein. There are no joints but rather the unitary single-piece basepipe disclosed herein is of a single piece of material that may be a steel material and does not include multiple pieces fused together in any way to make up the unitary single-piece basepipe. Such basepipes having forms dictated by a customer are commercially available from Vallourec. 
     The basepipe  12  includes a first end portion  14 , a second end portion  16  and an intermediate portion  18 . The end portions  14  and  16  may each abut a diameter change portion  20  and  22 , respectively. In embodiments, there may also be one or more additional portions that increase the outer diameter of the intermediate portion  18 , such as upset  26 . Upset  26  may have an outer diameter that is the same as the outer diameter or end portions  14  and  16  or may have a different outer diameter, smaller or larger. 
     In one embodiment, where an operational member  28  having a first end  29  ( 49  in the second embodiment) and a second end  31  ( 51  in the second embodiment) associated with the basepipe  12  is a filtration media, radially directed holes  30  are created in the basepipe  12 . About the basepipe  12  and radially outwardly of the holes  30  is a screen  32 . The screen may in some embodiments be configured from a wrapped wire  34 . Wire  34  is wound around the basepipe  12  in a manner known to the art and may be secured with welds or similar affixation. In some embodiments, one or more ribs  36  are longitudinally disposed on the basepipe  12  either as formed portions of the basepipe  12  or as separate ribs  36  that are disposed in recesses  38  that are formed or milled in the basepipe  12 , or as separate ribs  36  that are temporarily fixtured to the basepipe prior to wrapping wire  34 , including without recesses  38  in some embodiments. The wire  34  may be welded to each rib  36  and is under tension when wrapped, which provides securement of the screen  32  to the basepipe  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2 - 4    sequentially, the making of the borehole tool is clarified.  FIG.  3    illustrated the basepipe  12  having the radially larger features  14 ,  16  and  26 . Between these is the intermediate portion  18 , which is bisected in this illustration by upset  26 . Holes  30  are easily appreciated and will provide the fluid pathway from the filtration media to an inside diameter  40  (identified in  FIG.  1   ) of the basepipe  12 . Recesses  38  are also easily appreciated and will accept ribs  36  as can be seen in  FIG.  3   . In  FIG.  4   , the wire  36  has been installed and it can be easily viewed that the screen surface is of a smaller outer diameter than the end portions  14  and  16  and the upset  26 . This protects the screen during run in. 
     In an alternate embodiment, referring to  FIG.  5   , a borehole tool  50  is illustrated in cross section. The tool  50  is a seal tool and comprises a basepipe  52  having end portions  54  and  56  that are of greater outside diameter than an intermediate portion  58 . The basepipe  52  is again a unitary, single-piece structure as defined above and is available from Vallourec. In this embodiment, an element  60  is disposed about the basepipe  52  that in a first condition (running condition) has an outside diameter that is less than an outside diameter of the end portions  54  and  56  of the basepipe  52  and in a deployed condition will have a larger outside diameter than that of its running condition including larger than the end portions  54  and  56 . Element  60  may be a compression element, (with suitable compression components adjacent the element) and about intermediate portion  58 , may be a swellable element, a shape memory element, an inflatable element (with suitable inflation components connected to the inflatable element), etc. Those of skill in the art will recognize the types of elements and understand the ways in which such elements are traditionally actuated such that no specific teaching is herein needed. In embodiments, two or more elements and or screens may be employed on a basepipe. Any number of upsets like  26  are contemplated with any combination of screens and elements thereon. For example, on a basepipe with a three part intermediate portion and two upsets  26 , there may be an element and then a screen and then another element; or a screen then element then screen; or screen, screen, screen; or element, element, element. The reader should appreciate the possibilities from the foregoing. Some examples are included in  FIGS.  6 - 9    using two screens and/or elements. More or fewer are contemplated as disclosed above. 
     Referring to  FIG.  10   , a borehole system  70 . The system  70  includes the borehole  72  that extends within a subsurface formation  74 . A string  76  is disposed within the borehole  72 . Disposed within or as a part of the string  76  is an object  10 ,  50  as disclosed herein. 
     Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure: 
     Embodiment 1: A borehole tool including a unitary, single-piece basepipe having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first and second end portions being of larger diameter than the intermediate portion, an operational member having a first end and a second end, the member disposed about the basepipe, the first end of the member nearer the first end portion than the second end portion and the second end of the member nearer the second end portion than the first end portion, the member having an outside diameter no greater than the first end portion and the second end portion. 
     Embodiment 2: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the operational member has an outside diameter smaller than the first end portion and the second end portion. 
     Embodiment 3: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the first end portion and/or the second end portion is immediately adjacent a diameter change portion. 
     Embodiment 4: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the intermediate portion is contiguous with the diameter change portion. 
     Embodiment 5: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the intermediate portion includes a plurality of relatively smaller diameter portions adjacent a relatively larger diameter portion. 
     Embodiment 6: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the basepipe includes a recess for a screen rib. 
     Embodiment 7: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the recess is a plurality of recesses receptive of a single rib. 
     Embodiment 8: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the recess includes a part thereof in the first end portion and a second portion thereof is in the second end portion. 
     Embodiment 9: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the recess also includes a part thereof in a part of the intermediate portion of the basepipe that is relatively larger in outside diameter than another part of the intermediate portion. 
     Embodiment 10: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the member is a filtration media. 
     Embodiment 11: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the filtration media is a wrapped wire. 
     Embodiment 12: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the wire is welded to the basepipe. 
     Embodiment 13: The tool as in any prior embodiment further comprising a rib. 
     Embodiment 14: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the filtration media is welded to the rib. 
     Embodiment 15: The tool as in any prior embodiment further comprising a plurality of ribs. 
     Embodiment 16: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the plurality of ribs are spaced about the basepipe. 
     Embodiment 17: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the plurality of ribs are received in recesses in the basepipe. 
     Embodiment 18: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the operational member is a seal element. 
     Embodiment 19: The tool as in any prior embodiment wherein the seal element is a swellable element. 
     Embodiment 20: A method for making a screen including wrapping a wire around the basepipe as in any prior embodiment, and forming the filtration media with the wire. 
     Embodiment 21: The method as in any prior embodiment further including forming the basepipe. 
     Embodiment 22: The method as in any prior embodiment further including securing the filtration media to the basepipe. 
     Embodiment 23: A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string disposed in the borehole, and a tool as in any prior embodiment disposed within or as a part of the string. 
     Embodiment 24: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the borehole tool is a screen tool. 
     Embodiment 25: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the borehole tool is a seal tool. 
     Embodiment 26: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the borehole tool is both of a screen tool and a seal tool. 
     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 terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value. 
     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 borehole, and/or equipment in the borehole, 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, hole reaming, drilling, completion etc. 
     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.