US20050217856A1 - System and method for monitoring and removing scale from a wellbore - Google Patents
System and method for monitoring and removing scale from a wellbore Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050217856A1 US20050217856A1 US10/818,565 US81856504A US2005217856A1 US 20050217856 A1 US20050217856 A1 US 20050217856A1 US 81856504 A US81856504 A US 81856504A US 2005217856 A1 US2005217856 A1 US 2005217856A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fluid
- tool
- wall
- flow rate
- sensing element
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
- E21B47/06—Measuring temperature or pressure
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B37/00—Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells
Definitions
- This disclosure relates to a system and method for monitoring and removing scale from a wellbore.
- scale in the form of salt crystal growth, mud cake, mud filtrate, etc., often accumulates on the wall of the wellbore, or on a casing in the wellbore, which can lead to lost productivity and reduced injection rate. Therefore, cleaning, or scale removal, operations are often needed to remove the buildup material.
- FIG. 1 is a partial elevational/partial sectional/partial schematic view, not necessarily to scale, depicting an oil and gas recovery installation incorporating a tool according to one embodiment.
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the tool of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the tool of FIG. 2 .
- the reference numeral 10 refers to the bore of a completed well penetrating a subterranean formation F for the purpose of recovering hydrocarbon fluids from the formation F.
- a tool 12 is lowered into the wellbore 10 to a predetermined depth by a string 14 , in the form of coiled tubing, jointed tubing, or the like, which is connected to the upper end of the tool 12 .
- the tool 12 is for the purpose of cleaning and monitoring scale in the wellbore 10 in a manner to be described.
- the string 14 extends from a rig 16 that is located above ground and extends over the wellbore 10 .
- the rig 16 is conventional and, as such, includes support structure, and other associated equipment, for receiving and supporting the tool 12 and lowering it to a predetermined depth in the wellbore 10 , via the string 14 , using a winch, or the like. It is also understood that other tools (not shown) can be attached to the string 14 .
- the upper portion of the wellbore 10 can be lined with a casing 18 which is cemented in the wellbore 10 in a conventional manner.
- casing 18 which is cemented in the wellbore 10 in a conventional manner.
- production tubing having an outer diameter greater than that of the tool 12 but less than that of the casing 18 , can be installed in the wellbore 10 in a conventional manner and extends from the ground surface to a predetermined depth in the casing 18 to provide a passage for the recovered fluids
- the tool 12 includes a discharge head 20 forming the lower portion of the tool 12 , and a sensing head 22 connected to the discharge head 20 and forming the upper portion of the tool 12 .
- the upper end of the sensing head 22 is connected to the lower end of the string 14 in any conventional manner.
- the lower end portion of the sensing head 22 is stepped radially inwardly to form a reduced-diameter nipple 22 a , which is externally threaded.
- the upper end portion of the discharge head 20 is internally threaded and receives the nipple 22 a in a threaded engagement, to attach the sensing head 22 to the discharge head 20 .
- the outer diameter of the sensing head 22 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the discharge head 20 and is less than, and a function of, the inner diameter of the casing 18 .
- a chamber 20 a is formed in the interior of the discharge head 20 , and a plurality of angularly and radially spaced discharge ports 20 b are provided through the wall of the discharge head 20 and are in communication with the chamber 20 a . Therefore, when pressurized cleaning fluid from the rig 16 is passed through the string 14 and into the tool 12 , it passes into the chamber 20 a in a manner to be described, and discharges through the ports 20 b to clean the scale off the inner wall of the casing 18 . It is understood that the tool 12 can be rotated in any conventional manner so that fluid discharging from the discharge head 20 in the above manner can cover the full inner circumference of the casing 18 .
- An axial passage 22 b extends through the length of the sensing head 22
- a radial passage 22 c extends through the sensing head 22 in a spaced relation to the upper end of the sensing head 22 .
- the diameter of the passage 22 c is greater than that of the passage 22 b , and the passage 22 c intersects with the passage 22 b to place the passages in communication.
- One end portion of the passage 22 c has a reduced diameter portion near a wall portion of the sensing head 22 , which receives a sensing element 24 , in the form of a ball.
- the sensing element 24 is sized relative to the reduced-diameter portion so that a portion of the sensing element 24 can project outwardly from the wall while the remaining portion extends within the passage 22 c .
- a plug 26 is disposed in an end portion of the passage 22 b and defines a seat for receiving the sensing element 24 .
- Two radial passages 26 a and 26 b are formed through the plug 26 for reasons to be described.
- a pair of wiper ring seals 28 a and 28 b extend between the outer surface of the plug 26 and the corresponding surface of the wall of the sensing head 22 forming the passage 22 c to provide a seal.
- a plug 30 is disposed in the other end portion of the passage 22 c and is externally threaded to mate with threads formed in the corresponding end portion of the passage 22 c , to secure the plug 26 in the passage 22 c .
- a compression spring 32 is disposed in the passage 22 c between the respective inner ends of the plugs 26 and 30 .
- the plug 30 is fixed relative to the passage 22 c and the plug 26 is adapted to slide in the passage 22 c .
- the plugs 26 and 30 establish a load on the spring 32 , which urges the plug 26 , and therefore the sensing element 24 radially outwardly, or in a direction from left-to-right as viewed in FIG. 2 .
- the tool 12 is lowered from the rig 16 , via the string 14 to an area of the wellbore 10 to be cleaned.
- Fluid such as water or cleaning fluid, is pumped into the tool 12 , via a conventional pump, or the like, at the rig 16 , and passes through the string 14 and into the upper end of the passage 22 b.
- the spring 32 normally pushes the sensing element 24 radially outwardly against the inner wall of the casing 18 to its extended position as shown in FIG. 2 and by the phantom line in FIG. 3 , so that the sensing element 24 seals against the reduced diameter portion of the passage 22 c , with the wiper seals 28 a and 28 b sealing against the ingress of dirt and other foreign materials into the passage 22 c .
- the fluid passes through the length of the passage 22 b , enters the chamber 20 a of the discharge head 20 , and discharges against the inner wall of the casing 18 for removing any scale from the wall, as described above.
- the tool 12 is rotated and lowered gradually down the wellbore 10 as the fluid discharges from the tool 12 , and it is understood that measuring devices are provided at the rig 16 for measuring the flow rate and pressure of the fluid.
- This diversion of the fluid flow changes the flow rate of the fluid, as well as the pressure of the above pump, which is measured at the rig 16 and thus provides an indication that corresponds to the amount of scale remaining on the inner wall of the casing 18 .
- an operator at the rig 16 can pull the tool 12 back up the wellbore 10 until a clean area of the wall of the casing 18 is encountered, causing the sensing element to move to its position of FIG. 2 thus closing the above diversion path.
- the fluid will thus be directed into the discharge head 20 and through the discharge ports 20 b .
- the tool 12 is lowered in the wellbore 10 again to remove the remaining scale by the discharging fluid. It can be appreciated that the above cycle is repeated as necessary as the tool 12 is lowered down the wellbore 10 for cleaning in the above manner.
- sensing elements identical to the sensing element 24 , along with the corresponding components described above, can be provided in the sensing head 22 in an angularly and/or axially-spaced relation to the sensing element 24 .
- size and shape of the sensing element(s) 24 can be varied.
- the tool 12 can be used in installations not having a casing in which case scale accumulating on the inner wall of the well would be removed.
- a computer in the form of a microprocessor, or the like, can be provided to respond to the above changes in flow rate and/or pressure and control the above-described movement and operation of the tool accordingly.
Abstract
Description
- This disclosure relates to a system and method for monitoring and removing scale from a wellbore.
- In downhole oil and gas recovery installations, scale, in the form of salt crystal growth, mud cake, mud filtrate, etc., often accumulates on the wall of the wellbore, or on a casing in the wellbore, which can lead to lost productivity and reduced injection rate. Therefore, cleaning, or scale removal, operations are often needed to remove the buildup material.
- These operations often involve lowering a cleaning tool down in the wellbore and passing cleaning fluid at a relatively high pressure through the tool so that the fluid impacts against the scale to remove it. During the cleaning operation it is desired to identify how much scale is left on the wall of the wellbore or the casing after the cleaning operation, and adjust the operation accordingly within the same running trip. However, due to the limitations of most of the cleaning tools, an inspection tool often has to be run separately from the cleaning tool in order to evaluate the cleaning results, which adds to the cost of the operation.
- Therefore what is need is a single tool that functions to both clean and monitor the results of the cleaning.
-
FIG. 1 is a partial elevational/partial sectional/partial schematic view, not necessarily to scale, depicting an oil and gas recovery installation incorporating a tool according to one embodiment. -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the tool ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the tool ofFIG. 2 . - Referring to
FIG. 1 of the drawings, thereference numeral 10 refers to the bore of a completed well penetrating a subterranean formation F for the purpose of recovering hydrocarbon fluids from the formation F. Atool 12 is lowered into thewellbore 10 to a predetermined depth by astring 14, in the form of coiled tubing, jointed tubing, or the like, which is connected to the upper end of thetool 12. Thetool 12 is for the purpose of cleaning and monitoring scale in thewellbore 10 in a manner to be described. - The
string 14 extends from arig 16 that is located above ground and extends over thewellbore 10. Therig 16 is conventional and, as such, includes support structure, and other associated equipment, for receiving and supporting thetool 12 and lowering it to a predetermined depth in thewellbore 10, via thestring 14, using a winch, or the like. It is also understood that other tools (not shown) can be attached to thestring 14. - The upper portion of the
wellbore 10 can be lined with acasing 18 which is cemented in thewellbore 10 in a conventional manner. Although not shown in the drawing, it is understood that production tubing, having an outer diameter greater than that of thetool 12 but less than that of thecasing 18, can be installed in thewellbore 10 in a conventional manner and extends from the ground surface to a predetermined depth in thecasing 18 to provide a passage for the recovered fluids - Referring to
FIG. 2 , thetool 12 includes adischarge head 20 forming the lower portion of thetool 12, and asensing head 22 connected to thedischarge head 20 and forming the upper portion of thetool 12. The upper end of thesensing head 22 is connected to the lower end of thestring 14 in any conventional manner. The lower end portion of the sensinghead 22 is stepped radially inwardly to form a reduced-diameter nipple 22 a, which is externally threaded. The upper end portion of thedischarge head 20 is internally threaded and receives thenipple 22 a in a threaded engagement, to attach the sensinghead 22 to thedischarge head 20. The outer diameter of thesensing head 22 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of thedischarge head 20 and is less than, and a function of, the inner diameter of thecasing 18. - A
chamber 20 a is formed in the interior of thedischarge head 20, and a plurality of angularly and radially spaceddischarge ports 20 b are provided through the wall of thedischarge head 20 and are in communication with thechamber 20 a. Therefore, when pressurized cleaning fluid from therig 16 is passed through thestring 14 and into thetool 12, it passes into thechamber 20 a in a manner to be described, and discharges through theports 20 b to clean the scale off the inner wall of thecasing 18. It is understood that thetool 12 can be rotated in any conventional manner so that fluid discharging from thedischarge head 20 in the above manner can cover the full inner circumference of thecasing 18. - An
axial passage 22 b extends through the length of thesensing head 22, and aradial passage 22 c extends through thesensing head 22 in a spaced relation to the upper end of thesensing head 22. The diameter of thepassage 22 c is greater than that of thepassage 22 b, and thepassage 22 c intersects with thepassage 22 b to place the passages in communication. - One end portion of the
passage 22 c has a reduced diameter portion near a wall portion of thesensing head 22, which receives asensing element 24, in the form of a ball. Thesensing element 24 is sized relative to the reduced-diameter portion so that a portion of thesensing element 24 can project outwardly from the wall while the remaining portion extends within thepassage 22 c. Aplug 26 is disposed in an end portion of thepassage 22 b and defines a seat for receiving thesensing element 24. Tworadial passages plug 26 for reasons to be described. A pair ofwiper ring seals plug 26 and the corresponding surface of the wall of the sensinghead 22 forming thepassage 22 c to provide a seal. - A
plug 30 is disposed in the other end portion of thepassage 22 c and is externally threaded to mate with threads formed in the corresponding end portion of thepassage 22 c, to secure theplug 26 in thepassage 22 c. Acompression spring 32 is disposed in thepassage 22 c between the respective inner ends of theplugs - As a result of the above, the
plug 30 is fixed relative to thepassage 22 c and theplug 26 is adapted to slide in thepassage 22 c. Theplugs spring 32, which urges theplug 26, and therefore thesensing element 24 radially outwardly, or in a direction from left-to-right as viewed inFIG. 2 . - In operation, the
tool 12 is lowered from therig 16, via thestring 14 to an area of thewellbore 10 to be cleaned. Fluid, such as water or cleaning fluid, is pumped into thetool 12, via a conventional pump, or the like, at therig 16, and passes through thestring 14 and into the upper end of thepassage 22 b. - The
spring 32 normally pushes thesensing element 24 radially outwardly against the inner wall of thecasing 18 to its extended position as shown inFIG. 2 and by the phantom line inFIG. 3 , so that thesensing element 24 seals against the reduced diameter portion of thepassage 22 c, with thewiper seals passage 22 c. In this situation, the fluid passes through the length of thepassage 22 b, enters thechamber 20 a of thedischarge head 20, and discharges against the inner wall of thecasing 18 for removing any scale from the wall, as described above. Thetool 12 is rotated and lowered gradually down thewellbore 10 as the fluid discharges from thetool 12, and it is understood that measuring devices are provided at therig 16 for measuring the flow rate and pressure of the fluid. - During this operation, as the
tool 12 is lowered in thewellbore 10, if scale is still present on the inner wall of thecasing 18 after the above cleaning/removal operation, the effective inner diameter of the casing will be reduced. If this occurs, thesensing element 24, and therefore theplug 26, will be forced back, or radially inwardly in a right-to-left direction, in thepassage 22 c to a retracted position shown by the solid line inFIG. 3 . This creates flow passages (two of which are shown inFIG. 3 ) extending from thepassage 22 b, into and through thepassage 22 c, through thepassages sensing element 24 and the reduced diameter portion of thepassage 22 c. Thus, fluid will be diverted into the latter passage and will flow into an annulus defined between the outer surface of thetool 12 and the inner wall of thecasing 18. - This diversion of the fluid flow changes the flow rate of the fluid, as well as the pressure of the above pump, which is measured at the
rig 16 and thus provides an indication that corresponds to the amount of scale remaining on the inner wall of thecasing 18. When this occurs, an operator at therig 16 can pull thetool 12 back up thewellbore 10 until a clean area of the wall of thecasing 18 is encountered, causing the sensing element to move to its position ofFIG. 2 thus closing the above diversion path. The fluid will thus be directed into thedischarge head 20 and through thedischarge ports 20 b. Then thetool 12 is lowered in thewellbore 10 again to remove the remaining scale by the discharging fluid. It can be appreciated that the above cycle is repeated as necessary as thetool 12 is lowered down thewellbore 10 for cleaning in the above manner. - It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, additional sensing elements, identical to the
sensing element 24, along with the corresponding components described above, can be provided in thesensing head 22 in an angularly and/or axially-spaced relation to thesensing element 24. Also, the size and shape of the sensing element(s) 24 can be varied. Moreover, thetool 12 can be used in installations not having a casing in which case scale accumulating on the inner wall of the well would be removed. Further, a computer, in the form of a microprocessor, or the like, can be provided to respond to the above changes in flow rate and/or pressure and control the above-described movement and operation of the tool accordingly. - The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
Claims (27)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US10/818,565 US20050217856A1 (en) | 2004-04-06 | 2004-04-06 | System and method for monitoring and removing scale from a wellbore |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US10/818,565 US20050217856A1 (en) | 2004-04-06 | 2004-04-06 | System and method for monitoring and removing scale from a wellbore |
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US20050217856A1 true US20050217856A1 (en) | 2005-10-06 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/818,565 Abandoned US20050217856A1 (en) | 2004-04-06 | 2004-04-06 | System and method for monitoring and removing scale from a wellbore |
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Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050279506A1 (en) * | 2004-06-18 | 2005-12-22 | Mckee L M | Flow-biased sequencing valve |
WO2014168632A1 (en) * | 2013-04-12 | 2014-10-16 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Well tool scale buildup test, model and mitigation |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4838354A (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1989-06-13 | C. "Jerry" Wattigny | Down hole oil field clean-out method |
US4921046A (en) * | 1988-12-13 | 1990-05-01 | Halliburton Company | Horizontal hole cleanup tool |
US4949788A (en) * | 1989-11-08 | 1990-08-21 | Halliburton Company | Well completions using casing valves |
US4991653A (en) * | 1989-11-08 | 1991-02-12 | Halliburton Company | Wash tool |
US5029644A (en) * | 1989-11-08 | 1991-07-09 | Halliburton Company | Jetting tool |
US5462115A (en) * | 1994-03-03 | 1995-10-31 | Belden & Blake Corporation | Gas and oil well swab |
US5484016A (en) * | 1994-05-27 | 1996-01-16 | Halliburton Company | Slow rotating mole apparatus |
US6336502B1 (en) * | 1999-08-09 | 2002-01-08 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Slow rotating tool with gear reducer |
US20040216883A1 (en) * | 2002-04-17 | 2004-11-04 | Anthony Allen | Fluid flow switching device |
-
2004
- 2004-04-06 US US10/818,565 patent/US20050217856A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4838354A (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1989-06-13 | C. "Jerry" Wattigny | Down hole oil field clean-out method |
US4921046A (en) * | 1988-12-13 | 1990-05-01 | Halliburton Company | Horizontal hole cleanup tool |
US4949788A (en) * | 1989-11-08 | 1990-08-21 | Halliburton Company | Well completions using casing valves |
US4991653A (en) * | 1989-11-08 | 1991-02-12 | Halliburton Company | Wash tool |
US5029644A (en) * | 1989-11-08 | 1991-07-09 | Halliburton Company | Jetting tool |
US5462115A (en) * | 1994-03-03 | 1995-10-31 | Belden & Blake Corporation | Gas and oil well swab |
US5484016A (en) * | 1994-05-27 | 1996-01-16 | Halliburton Company | Slow rotating mole apparatus |
US6336502B1 (en) * | 1999-08-09 | 2002-01-08 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Slow rotating tool with gear reducer |
US20040216883A1 (en) * | 2002-04-17 | 2004-11-04 | Anthony Allen | Fluid flow switching device |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050279506A1 (en) * | 2004-06-18 | 2005-12-22 | Mckee L M | Flow-biased sequencing valve |
US7311153B2 (en) * | 2004-06-18 | 2007-12-25 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Flow-biased sequencing valve |
WO2014168632A1 (en) * | 2013-04-12 | 2014-10-16 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Well tool scale buildup test, model and mitigation |
US9652564B2 (en) | 2013-04-12 | 2017-05-16 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Well tool scale buildup test, model and mitigation |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC., TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:CHEN, DINGDING;HAMID, SYED;REEL/FRAME:015574/0594 Effective date: 20040713 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC., TEXAS Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION SERIAL NUMBER 10818656 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 015574 FRAME: 0594. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNORS:CHEN, DINGDING;HAMID, SYED;REEL/FRAME:045501/0619 Effective date: 20040713 |