Patent ID: 12209477

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100—casing pressure test tool assembly102—well104—top end106—downhole end108—inner surface of well110—receptacle of well112—shoulder114—casing test plug116—plug body118—sealing member120—wireline running tool122—hollow core124—wireline setting tool adapter126—releasing member200—first end of plug body202—second end of plug body204—outer surface of plug body206—first section of plug body208—second section of plug body300—bore302—first section of bore304—second section of bore306—main body308—protruding body400—main body402—dissolvable core500—main body502—concave end504—dissolvable ball600—main body602—protruding body

The drawing figures do not limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of the equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In this description, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

Well drilling operations are well known in the art, particularly in the oil and gas industry. This complex industry utilizes a plurality of tools and assemblies in preparing a well for extraction of oil and/or gas from the formation surrounding the well. One common step in preparation is isolation and/or pressure testing. After initial drilling operations are performed, a section of the well may be conventionally isolated by running a bridge plug downhole, wherein the bridge plug is configured to isolate some portion of the well from another portion of the well. After the bridge plug is run and set, the bridge plug is used to prevent flow out of the well, or past the bridge plug, and accordingly the entire length of the wellbore above the bridge plug can be pressured up for casing pressure testing. In other conventional operations, a dissolvable ball may be dropped through a frac stack and wellhead, and then pumped down and seated near the bottom of the well, such that the ball blocks fluid flow and allows for pressure testing within the well.

Casing pressure testing is performed to test the integrity of the well to ensure safety and structural parameters are met. A pressure test is generally conducted to evaluate the integrity of the casing and cement, and to determine the maximum pressure that may be safely applied without a risk of formation breakdown. Previous tools and methods discussed above and conventionally used in performing isolation and pressure testing have drawbacks and limitations. Specifically, conventional bridge plugs are prone to becoming lodged in a well liner due to the external geometries of the bridge plug. Conventional bridge plugs have sealing elements that may become damaged while being conveyed to the end of the well, which can therefore prevent proper sealing of the bridge plug once set. After setting and pressure testing, in conventional operations, wireline guns are fired to create alternate flow paths, however wireline guns are prone to misfires, which would be a failure to create an alternate flow path for future frac operations, and therefore require expensive intervention operations. Further, dissolvable balls are exposed to grease while in a frac valve, wherein the grease can then prevent correct dissolution at a later time. Dissolvable balls are also prone to being pumped into flowback lines instead of downhole, which then prevents use of the dissolvable ball as a sealing mechanism. And yet further, dissolvable balls usually require a high pumping rate for the ball to reach the end of the well, and in some formations, achieving the necessary pumping rate is difficult or impossible. And lastly, the dissolvable ball may begin to dissolve prematurely, leaving a rough surface on the ball or insufficient diameter to create a secure seal. These are some limitations that the present invention aids in overcoming and improving thereupon.

The present invention includes a casing pressure test tool assembly having a casing test plug connected to a wireline tool via a wireline tool adapter, wherein the casing test plug is run downhole via the wireline tool and set in a downhole receptacle of the well. Once the casing test plug is sealed within the receptacle of the well, pressure is applied to the casing to achieve a casing pressure test. After the pressure test, the pressure is then bled off and the wireline adapter releases from the casing test plug. In alternatives, the casing test plug is set into the receptacle, the wireline adapter releases, and then pressure is applied to achieve a casing pressure test. After pressure is released, perforating guns are fired to provide a secondary method for future wellbore re-entry operations using an electric line.

FIG.1depicts an embodiment of a casing pressure test tool assembly100within a well102. The well102extends from a top end104to a downhole end106, the well102having an interior surface108with a receptacle110extending therein. The receptacle110creates a portion of the well102that is of a smaller diameter than the main run of the well. The receptacle110may be formed by any means understood by those skilled in the art, however, in some embodiments, a shoulder112extends inward from the inner surface108to create a lesser diameter section as shown.

The casing pressure test tool assembly100includes a casing test plug114which may vary, as will be discussed herein, the casing test plug114having a plug body116with at least one sealing member118such that the plug body116seals within the receptacle110as shown. The sealing member(s)118may vary, such as being an elastomeric body (e.g. O-ring) extending around a periphery of the plug body116. Although two sealing members118are shown, those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional or fewer sealing members may be used. Yet further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the plug114may seal directly within the receptacle110due to the smaller diameter of the receptacle110created with the shoulder112.

The casing test plug114is coupled to a wireline tool120with hollow core122via a wireline adapter124. Again, the wireline adapter124may vary as will be discussed herein. The wireline adapter124is coupled to the casing test plug114via one or more releasing members126, such as sheer pins. The releasing member(s)126allows for the wireline adapter124and the wireline tool120to release the plug114once positioned and secured within the receptacle110upon a releasing force being applied thereto. The releasing member(s)126may be selected in number, style, or size, such that the force needed to release can vary as needed. In other words, the plug114is run and set within the receptacle110via the wireline tool120and wireline adapter124and either before or after pressure testing, the plug114is released from the adapter124.

In the embodiment shown inFIG.1, the plug114does not include a hollow core or a dissolvable element, however in alternative embodiments, as shown inFIGS.3-6, the plug114includes a bore300, allowing for fluid flow therethrough.

The present invention provides for three main uses, specifically (1) a method to pressure test the well by sealing the wellbore at the location of the receptacle110; (2) a method of accurate depth correlation by means of pressure indication correlated to an electric line depth measurement; and (3) a method of fluid diversion for a first stage frac by shutting off the fluid exit point at the location of the receptacle100within the wellbore.

During operations, the well102is first established with the receptacle110built in. The plug114is then run downhole via the wireline tool120and wireline adapter124until the plug114is sealed into the receptacle110. After sealing, the wireline tool120and wireline adapter124may either remain attached to the plug114, or they may be released from the plug114, and then pressure testing can be performed, wherein pressure is applied based on well parameters as would be understood by those skilled in the art. After pressure is released, and after the wireline tool120and adapter124are released from the plug114, perforating guns are fired to provide a secondary method for future wellbore re-entry operations using an electric line.

InFIG.2, a side view further depicts an embodiment of the assembly100having the wireline tool120coupled to the plug114. The plug114includes the plug body116which extends from a first end200to a second end202. The plug body116having a first section206and a second section208, the first section having a greater diameter such that the plug114can only extend partially into the receptacle110as shown inFIG.1. In embodiments, the sealing member(s)118are recessed into the body116at least partially below an outer surface204, which is in protecting the sealing members118from debris and fluid.

FIGS.3-6depict side cross sectional views of some contemplated embodiments of the assembly100. As shown inFIG.3, the plug114may further include a bore300that extends from the first end200to the second end202, wherein the bore300may include a first section302and a second section304. As shown, the adapter124can also vary, having a main body306coupled to the plug body116via releasing member(s)126. A protruding body308can extend into the second section304of the bore300to ensure a tight seal until the adapter124is released therefrom.

As shown inFIG.4, the plug114may include a dissolvable core402positioned substantially adjacent to a main body400of the adapter124. Again, the dissolvable core402is designed such that the bore300is sealed until dissolved. The dissolvable core402allows for a secondary pump down method should perforating guns fail to fire and accordingly would prevent the need for coil tubing interventions. Similarly, as shown inFIG.5, a dissolvable ball504may be used within the bore300to create a seal therein, the dissolvable ball504being adjacent to a concave end502of a main body500of the adapter124. Again, a dissolvable element allows for opening of the bore300in the event of a perforating fun failure.

As shown inFIG.6, the size of the bore300may vary, and accordingly, so too can the configuration of adapter124, wherein a main body600and a protruding body602can be sized and shaped appropriately to couple the plug body116and seal the bore300. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications to the size, materials, and shapes of many of the components discussed herein may vary.

The present invention provides for advantages over conventional tools and methods. First, running the plug114via the wireline tool120and adapter124reduces the risk of a wireline bottomhole assembly getting stuck or pre-set. Second, the plug114and receptacle110sealing mechanism provides a more reliable method of holding pressure during a casing pressure test. Third, the assembly allows for depth correlation by using a pressure indication when seated, wherein the wireline depth counter would be compared to a casing tally to provide an accurate depth correlation.

When compared to a conventional dissolvable method, as discussed above, the present invention has a higher surface area and thus requires a lower pump rate to reach the receptacle110. In addition, having the sealing member(s)126recessed into the plug body116, protects the sealing member(s)126from becoming damaged, and therefore ensures a greater chance of a proper seal within the receptacle110. And further, using a plug114with sealing member(s)126, with potential dissolvable elements inside of the plug114, ensures that the sealing mechanism itself does not prematurely begin to dissolve, again creating a higher probability of a proper seal within the receptacle. Accordingly, these are only some of the benefits of the present invention over the prior art.

The present invention may include additional features, such as the dissolvable ball or core, as discussed above, a secondary release mechanism should the wireline tool120fail to release from the plug114, and a casing drift feature, which would extend around an outside perimeter of the plug114to near casing drift, eliminating the need for a separate gauge ring run.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.