Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP2670941B1/en
Timestamp: 2020-01-22 17:14:52
Document Index: 140649825

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 16', 'art 16', 'art 16', 'art 16', 'art 16', 'art 16', 'art 16', 'art 16', 'art 16', 'art 16', 'art 16']

EP2670941B1 - System for lining a wellbore - Google Patents
EP2670941B1
EP2670941B1 EP12701157.5A EP12701157A EP2670941B1 EP 2670941 B1 EP2670941 B1 EP 2670941B1 EP 12701157 A EP12701157 A EP 12701157A EP 2670941 B1 EP2670941 B1 EP 2670941B1
EP12701157.5A
EP2670941A1 (en
2012-01-30 Priority to EP12701157.5A priority patent/EP2670941B1/en
2013-12-11 Publication of EP2670941A1 publication Critical patent/EP2670941A1/en
2019-08-21 Publication of EP2670941B1 publication Critical patent/EP2670941B1/en
US-3162245 discloses a method and an apparatus for setting a metallic liner inside a casing in a well. The apparatus is used on a wireline. Upon igniting a propellant, the gases from the propellant press hydraulically-actuated slips agains the casing wall. At the same time, the gas pressure is applied to a hydraulic cylinder and piston where it acts to force an expander cone through a corrugated tube expanding the tube out against the casing. When the cone reaches a rod, pressure on the rod actuates a firing mechanism which detonates a booster charge to destroy a fangible cylinder as well as said rod.
Disadvantages of the apparatus of US-3162245 include the once-only use thereof, due to the destruction of the cylinder and rod. Debris will remain in the wellbore, possibly causing obstruction. Additionally, the apparatus is designed for use on a wire line, and all forces for expanding the corrugated tube are dealt with in a closed-loop system within the piston-cylinder assembly of the apparatus. The slips are not included in said loop and are unsuitable to exert expansion forces in axial direction to the casing.
EP2119867A2 describes an expansion system which includes a string of expandable tubing coupled to a work string upon which first and second expanders are disposed. An anchor surrounds an outer surface of the expandable tubing at a first end of the expandable tubing proximate the second expander. An actuation mechanism operates the second expander to expand the expandable tubing independent from movement of the first expander through the expandable tubing. The anchor comes into gripping contact with exising tubing upon activation of the second expander. An outer surface of the expandable tubing further includes a borehole anchor, at the second end of the expandable tubing, in order to facilitate gripping contact of the expandable tubing against the borehole as the first expander is moved up through the expandable tubing.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a system for lining a wellbore, the system comprising an expandable tubular element arranged in the wellbore, the tubular element having a first end part and a second end part whereby the second end part extends into a tubular wall located in the wellbore and the first end part being adapted to extend in an open hole section of the wellbore, an expander arranged to radially expand the tubular element by movement of the expander through the tubular element in a direction from the first end part to the second end part, said direction defining an expansion direction, the system further comprising an anchor arranged to anchor said second end part to the tubular wall in a manner that the anchor substantially prevents movement of said second end part in the expansion direction and allows movement of said second end part in the direction opposite to the expansion direction, and a bottom anchor provided at the first end part of the tubular element being adapted to anchor the first end part to a wall of the open hole section of the wellbore as a result of radial expansion of said first end part by the expander.
There is also provided a method for lining a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
arranging an expandable tubular element in the wellbore, the tubular element having a first end part extending within a casing located in the wellbore and the first end part extending in an open hole section of the wellbore;
radially expanding the tubular element by moving an expander through the tubular element in a direction from the first end part to the second end part, said direction defining an expansion direction;
anchoring said second end part to the casing using an anchor, wherein the anchor substantially prevents movement of said second end part in the expansion direction and allows movement of said second end part in the direction opposite to the expansion direction; and
anchoring the first end part to a wall of the open hole section of the wellbore using a bottom anchor provided at the first end part of the tubular element as a result of radial expansion of said first end part by the expander.
The anchor is suitably referred to as "top anchor". To ensure that the first end part of the tubular element remains at a selected depth during the expansion process, and thereby provides a reference point for a next tubular element to be installed in the wellbore, it is preferred that the first end part is provided with a bottom anchor adapted to anchor the first end part to the wall of the wellbore as a result of radial expansion of said first end part by the expander. With the first end part anchored to the wellbore wall by the bottom anchor, axial shortening of the tubular element due to the expansion process is accommodated by the top anchor which allows movement of the second end part of the tubular element in the direction opposite to the expansion direction.
A drill string 10 extends from a drilling rig, or workover rig, at surface (not shown) into the wellbore 1 and passes through the interior space of liner 6. The drill string 10 is at its downhole end provided with a conical expander 12 adapted to radially expand the liner 6. The rig is adapted to pul the drill string 10 with the expander 12 connected thereto towards surface through the liner 6. Towards surface herein may imply in upward direction as well as partly horizontal direction. The drill string 10 is further provided with an on/off sub 11 which allows the drill string 10 to be disconnected from the expander 12 if required.
In a practical embodiment, a ramp angle α of the slanted surface 32 is in the range of about 5 to 30 degrees, for instance 8 to 20 degrees. An angle β, i.e. the top angle of teeth 28 on the anchor members 24 is in the range of about 60 to 120 degrees. Herein, a top surface of the teeth is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the drill string. A length or height L1 of the anchor member 24 is for instance in the range of about 0.5 to 3 times the diameter of the expandable casing 6. The axial clearance L2, i.e. a maximum stroke length of the anchor members, is for instance in the order of (diameter host casing 3 - diameter expandable casing 6)/2/tan(alpha): L 2 = ∼ diameter casing 3 − diameter liner 6 / 2 / tan α .
The length of height L3 of the chamber 36 is in the order of the length L1 of the anchor members 24 + the stroke L2 of the anchor members 24.
In the fourth embodiment, shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the foldable wall section 39 includes an inner annular groove 52 at the inner surface and two outer annular grooves 53, 54 at the outer surface of the lower end part 16, the outer grooves 53, 54 being symmetrically arranged relative to the inner groove 52. The inner groove 52 tapers in radially outward direction. By virtue of the presence of the annular grooves 52, 53, 54, the lower end part 16 of the liner 6 is deformable from an unfolded mode (Fig. 6) to a folded mode (Fig. 7) by application of a selected compressive force to the lower end part 16. In the folded mode, an annular fold 55 is formed in the lower end part 16 of the liner. The annular fold 55 has an upper leg 55a extending between the outer groove 53 and the inner groove 52, and a lower leg 55b extending between the inner groove 52 and the outer groove 54. Hereinafter the compressive force that needs to be applied to the lower end part 16 to form the annular fold 55, is referred to as "folding force". It will be apparent that the magnitude of the folding force depends on the design characteristics of the lower end part 16, i.e. the material properties of the liner wall, the wall thickness, the depth and width of the annular grooves, and the axial spacing between the grooves. For example, the folding force decreases with decreasing bending stiffness of the wall of the liner 6 or with increasing depth of the grooves 52, 53, 54. Also, the folding force increases with increasing axial spacing between the grooves 52, 53, 54. It is preferred that these design characteristics are selected such that the folding force is of lower magnitude than the force required to pull the expander 12 through the liner 6 during radial expansion of the liner 6, for reason explained hereinafter.
In the fifth embodiment, shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the foldable wall section 39 is formed by a section of reduced wall thickness 56 where the wall is recessed at both the inner surface and the outer surface. By virtue of the recessed wall section 56, the lower end part 16 of the liner 6 is deformable from an unfolded mode (Fig. 8) to a folded mode (Fig. 9) by application of a selected compressive force to the lower end part 16 of the liner 6, which compressive force is again referred to as "folding force". In the folded mode, a plurality of annular folds is formed in the lower end part 16 of the liner. The present example shows two annular folds 57, 58 in a concertina shape, however more annular folds can be formed in similar manner. The magnitude of the folding force depends on the design characteristics of the lower end part 16, i.e. the material properties of the liner wall, the wall thickness of the recessed section 56 of the liner 6, and the axial length of the recessed section 56. For example, the folding force decreases with decreasing bending stiffness of the recessed section 56 or with decreasing wall thickness of the recessed section 56. It is preferred that these design characteristics are selected such that the folding force is of lower magnitude than the force required to pull the expander 12 through the liner 6 during radial expansion of the liner 6, for reason explained hereinafter.
Each bottom anchor 59 comprises an anchor arm 60 and a wedge member 62, both mounted on the outer surface of the lower end part 16 of liner 6 and vertically displaced from each other. The anchor arm 60 is provided with annular grooves 63a, 63b, 63c forming plastic hinges allowing radially outward bending of the anchor arm. Although three annular grooves are shown, any other number of grooves can be applied in accordance with circumstances. Furthermore, the anchor arm 60 has a fixed end 64 affixed to the outside of liner 6, for example by welding or other suitable means, and a free end 65 extending toward wedge member 62. The free end 65, also referred to as "tip", is not affixed to the outside of liner 6 so that all of anchor arm 60 except fixed end 64 is free to move relative to liner 6. The anchor arm 60 may be constructed such that its inner diameter is the same as or greater than the unexpanded outside diameter of liner 6.
Anchor arm 60 and wedge member 62 can each have either an annular and/or a segmented construction. In a segmented construction, anchor arm 60 and/or wedge member 62 may comprise longitudinal strips, rods, or plates. As shown in Figure 12, the anchor arm 60 and the wedge member 62 each comprise for instance eight strips 72, 74 respectively. The strips 72, 74 extend around the outer circumference of the liner 6. Optionally, the strips of the anchor arm 60 and/or the wedge member 62 include a segmented section, comprising strips or fingers 76 of smaller width than the strips. The anchor arm and the wedge member may include any number of strips 72, 74 and/or corresponding fingers 76 suitable in relation to the size of the liner 6.
The test samples have a foldable wall section in accordance with the fifth embodiment described hereinbefore (Figs. 8 and 9). Furthermore, the test samples have the following characteristics: manufacturer: V&M material: S355J2H outer diameter: 139.7 mm wall thickness: 10 mm yield strength: 388 MPa tensile strength: 549 MPa production method: seamless heat treatment: normalized
A system for lining a wellbore, the system comprising:
an expandable tubular element (6) for arrangement in the wellbore (1), the tubular element having a first end part (16) and a second end part (8), the second end part being adapted to extend within a casing (3) located in the wellbore and the first end part (16) being adapted to extend in an open hole section (4) of the wellbore;
an expander (12) arranged to radially expand the tubular element (6) by movement of the expander through the tubular element in a direction from the first end part to the second end part, said direction defining an expansion direction;
an anchor (20) arranged to anchor said second end part to the casing (3); and
a bottom anchor (59) provided at the first end part (16) of the tubular element (6) being adapted to anchor the first end part (16) to a wall (5) of the open hole section (4) of the wellbore as a result of radial expansion of said first end part by the expander;
characterized in that the anchor (20) substantially prevents movement of said second end part in the expansion direction and allows movement of said second end part in the direction opposite to the expansion direction, and wherein the anchor provides the necessary reaction force to counter the expansion forces exerted to the tubular element by the expander.
The system of claim 1, wherein the anchor (20) is provided with an anchor body (22) and at least one anchor member (24) arranged to grip the casing (3) upon a selected movement of the anchor body in the expansion direction, and wherein the anchor member is arranged to release the casing upon a selected movement of the anchor body in the direction opposite to the expansion direction.
The system of claim 2, wherein the anchor (20) is provided with a plurality of said anchor members (24) mutually spaced in circumferential direction of the anchor.
The system of any one of claims 1-3, wherein each anchor member (24) is movable between a radially extended position in which the anchor member is extended against the casing (3) and a radially retracted position in which the anchor member is retracted from said casing.
The system of claim 4, wherein an elongate string (10) extends from surface to the anchor (20), the elongate string being arranged to cooperate with the anchor so as to move each anchor member between the extended position and the retracted position thereof.
The system of claim 5, wherein each anchor member (24) is movable to the extended position by an activating parameter selected from hydraulic pressure in the elongate string (10), a sequence of rotations and translations of the elongate string, and a combination of hydraulic pressure in the elongate string and a sequence of rotations and translations of the elongate string.
The system of claim 5 or 6, wherein the elongate string (10) is provided with a release sub (18) and the anchor (20) is provided with a release device, the release sub (18) and the release device being arranged to cooperate with each other so as to induce the anchor member (24) to move to the retracted position upon pulling of the release sub against the release device.
The system of any one of claims 5-7, wherein the elongate string (10) is arranged to pull the expander (12) through the tubular element (6) in the expansion direction so as to expand the tubular element.
The system of any one of claims 1-8, further comprising a centraliser (15) for centralising the expander (12) relative to the tubular element (6), the centraliser extending into said first end part (16) of the tubular element and being releasably connected thereto.
The system of claim 9, wherein the centraliser (15) is adapted to be released from the first end part (16) of the tubular element (6) upon pulling of the expander (12) through the tubular element in the expansion direction.
The system of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the tubular element (6) is provided with sealing means for sealing an annular space (7) between the tubular element (6) and a wall (5) surrounding the tubular element, said sealing means including a foldable wall section (39) of the tubular element (6), the foldable wall section having a reduced bending stiffness relative to a remainder wall section of the tubular element and being deformable from an unfolded mode to a folded mode by application of a compressive folding force to the tubular element, wherein the foldable wall section (39) when in the folded mode comprises at least one annular fold (55) extending radially outward into said annular space (7).
The system of claim 11, wherein said wall section (39) of reduced bending stiffness comprises a wall section of reduced thickness relative to said remainder wall section.
The system of claim 12, wherein the wall section of reduced thickness in the folded mode thereof a plurality of folds (55) in a concertina shape.
The system of claim 11, wherein said wall section of reduced bending stiffness (39) comprises one or more annular grooves (50, 51, 52) formed in the tubular element.
Method for lining a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
arranging an expandable tubular element (6) in the wellbore (1), the tubular element having a first end part (16) and a second end part (8), the second end part extending within a casing (3) located in the wellbore and the first end part (16) extending in an open hole section (4) of the wellbore;
radially expanding the tubular element (6) by moving an expander (12) through the tubular element in a direction from the first end part (16) to the second end part (8), said direction defining an expansion direction;
anchoring said second end part (8) to the casing (3) using an anchor (20); and
anchoring the first end part (16) to a wall (5) of the open hole section (4) of the wellbore using a bottom anchor (59) provided at the first end part (16) of the tubular element (6) as a result of radial expansion of said first end part by the expander;
characterized in that the anchor (20) substantially prevents movement of said second end part in the expansion direction and allows movement of said second end part in the direction opposite to the expansion direction.
EP12701157.5A 2011-02-02 2012-01-30 System for lining a wellbore Active EP2670941B1 (en)
EP2670941A1 EP2670941A1 (en) 2013-12-11
EP2670941B1 true EP2670941B1 (en) 2019-08-21
EP12701157.5A Active EP2670941B1 (en) 2011-02-02 2012-01-30 System for lining a wellbore
EP1127210A1 (en) 2001-08-29 Connector for an expandable tubing string
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