US20110017450A1 - Method for making gravel filters in oil wells - Google Patents
Method for making gravel filters in oil wells Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110017450A1 US20110017450A1 US12/508,088 US50808809A US2011017450A1 US 20110017450 A1 US20110017450 A1 US 20110017450A1 US 50808809 A US50808809 A US 50808809A US 2011017450 A1 US2011017450 A1 US 2011017450A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- casing
- bore
- gravel
- cemented
- adjacent
- 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
-
- 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
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/04—Gravelling of wells
-
- 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
- E21B29/00—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs, or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
Abstract
A method for making gravel filters in oil well bores by ascertaining the location of a producing formation adjacent to a cemented casing in a well bore. Water formation may exist between oil formations. The next step involves cutting a portion of the casing adjacent to the producing formation. A section mill equipment is used to cut, continuously, the cemented casing. The bore adjacent to the producing formation is enlarged. An underreamer is utilized to remove the surrounding cemented space and enlarge the oil well diameter. Then a sufficient amount of gravel is deposited in the enlarged portion of the bore to create an effective filter for a producing tube with a screen at its distal end positioned adjacent to the cemented bottom of the well bore.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a method for making gravel filters in oil well bores, particularly in those oil well bores where there are water veins near oil producing formations.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Some producing formations tapped by oil well installations have sandy characteristics that require the creation of gravel filters adjacent to the producing formation. The present methods typically gun the casing to make holes that connect the producing tube with a gravel filter that is defined by the inner surface of the well bore and the outer surface of the casing. This results in a very limited and thin gravel filter that is susceptible to getting clogged thereby frequently interrupting the operation of the well. The method is also not very precise.
- Several methods for making gravel filters in oil well bores have been used in the past. None of them, however, have the flexibility and precision, nor the effectiveness (from its larger size), of the present method. Additionally, this method can be used in new and old oil wells, including those where the gun method was used. The precision characteristics of the present method are quite desirable in oil wells with water veins in relative proximity to the oil producing formation.
- Applicants believe that one of the related references corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 2,371,385 issued to Eckel in 1942 for a gravel packed liner and perforation assembly. Eckel's patent discloses the use of a gun perforator 21 that is suspended by a cable 24 within a liner or casing 11. The latter includes an envelope carrying the granular material or gravel 17. The difficulties with the uncertain path of the bullets passing through granular material 17 are documented by the patentee. Page 2, Col. 3, lines 25-32. Another problem with present gunned oil well casings is that the gravel material needs to be selected so that it is smaller than the unpredictable perforations. In sum, there is little control or precision to anticipate the resulting openings with gun operated procedures.
- Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.
- With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
-
FIG. 1 represents an elevational cross-sectional view of an oil well bore B with a new (unused)casing 20 and a cemented bottom. A producing formation and a water vein above it are also represented to show typical characteristics in an oil well. -
FIG. 2 shows an elevational representation similar to the one shown in the previous figure with a section mill tool positioned to start cutting through the casing. -
FIG. 3 illustrates another elevational view similar to the previous figures with the blades cutting through the casing. -
FIG. 4 is a representation of an elevational view of the well's bore with the tool section milling the casing. -
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the well's bore except for the underreamer tool for which the cross-section is not shown. The underreamer is shown enlarging the bore in a predetermined location. -
FIG. 6 shows an elevational view of the well's bore with a tool forming a gravel-packed filter between the enlarged portion of the bore and the casing. -
FIG. 7 represents another elevational view of the well's bore shown in the previous figures with a producing tube in place that includes a screen through which the filtered sand with oil is passed. -
FIG. 8 shows an elevational view of a conventional oil well as it exists in the prior art. - Referring now to the drawings, where the relevant portion of an oil well installation is generally referred to with
numeral 10, it can be observed that it basically includescasing 20 that extends coaxially inside bore B that includes a cemented bottom b, as it is typically found in new oil well installations. Bore B typically passes through water formations W and oil producing formations O. The space S betweencasing 20 and bore B is typically cemented to keepcasing 20 in place. Thelowermost end 22 ofcasing 20 is typically brought against bottom b. Several tools are then inserted incasing 20 and lowered to the required locations and finally the producing casing is installed. - In old oil well installations, a filter has been previously made with a gun perforator that caused
holes 23 to be made throughcasing 20 at predetermined locations, as shown inFIG. 8 . The explosives used penetrate through cemented space S. The present invention can also be used to repair these conventional operating oil well installations. - The first step in the present method is to ascertain the location where the window for the filter is to be made or where the repair is to take place. Once this is determined, a section milling tool is lowered to that location and
casing 20 is cut, creating an interruption. The cutting takes place with precision that is not possible with the gunning method. In this manner, a user can avoid water formations W. Casing 20 is kept in place since the annular space betweencasing 20 and the surface of bore B has been cemented, as it is conventionally done in the industry. A section milling tool, like the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,923, can be used to perform this function. A section milling tool is used to cutcasing 20 and concentrates its blades' action on this operation. - The next step, after withdrawing the
section milling tool 30, is the lowering of theunderreamer 40 to the location where the window was formed. An underreamer, like the one described in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,940, can be used for this step. The underreamer enlarges the diameter of the bore at a location adjacent to where thewindow 25 was formed as it can be seen inFIG. 5 . - After retrieving
underreamer 40, asetting tool 50 is lowered and a mix of gravel and a fluid is pumped radially throughwindow 25, as seen inFIG. 6 . The fluid can be water or other suitable liquid conventionally used to carry granular material, such as gravel, in oil well installations. Once a sufficient amount of thegravel mix 70 is pumped in the enlarged portion of the well, settingtool 50 is retrieved and producingtube 60 is installed. The result is a considerably larger volume ofgravel filter 80 with an extended life, as best seen inFIG. 7 . - Producing
tube 60 includes ascreen 62 with throughholes 64 cooperatively smaller than the diameter of the granular material constituting the annular filter to prevent this material from entering producingtube 60. Different types of producingtubes 60 are conventionally used. - One of the advantages of the present method for creating a gravel filter is its precision. A user can control the dimensions of the window or windows to be built in
casing 20. The size of the gravel used can also be controlled thereby knowing what the characteristics of the filter will be. The present methods for building gravel filters at present involve gunning a portion of casing 20 with unpredictable locations and dimensions for the holes. - The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.
Claims (3)
1. A method for making gravel filters in oil wells having a casing coaxially mounted within a well bore and defining a space between said bore and said casing that is cemented to keep said casing in place, comprising the steps of:
A) ascertaining the location, at the cemented casing in an oil well bore, adjacent to a producing formation where a gravel filter is to be built;
B) cutting a continuous portion of said casing adjacent to said producing formation;
C) enlarging said bore's diameter where said portion was cut to create an enlarged annular space by removing the cemented space adjacent to said portion and beyond the bore's initial diameter;
D) lowering and installing a producing tube having a distal end with an intake screen and being coaxially disposed within said casing and positioning said intake screen substantially adjacent to said casing portion which was removed;
E) depositing an effective amount of gravel in said enlarged annular space; and
F) sealing said space between said bore and said casing at a predetermined distance above said portion.
2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the steps of cutting said casing and enlarging said bore's diameter is performed with a section mill and an underreamer.
3. The method set forth in claim 2 wherein the gravel is selected for predetermined diameters in accordance with the characteristics of said producing formation.
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/508,088 US20110017450A1 (en) | 2009-07-23 | 2009-07-23 | Method for making gravel filters in oil wells |
PCT/US2009/006697 WO2011010985A1 (en) | 2009-07-23 | 2009-12-23 | Method for making gravel filters in oil wells |
US13/024,036 US8225870B1 (en) | 2009-07-23 | 2011-02-09 | Method for making windows in oil well casings |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/508,088 US20110017450A1 (en) | 2009-07-23 | 2009-07-23 | Method for making gravel filters in oil wells |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/024,036 Continuation-In-Part US8225870B1 (en) | 2009-07-23 | 2011-02-09 | Method for making windows in oil well casings |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20110017450A1 true US20110017450A1 (en) | 2011-01-27 |
Family
ID=43496277
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/508,088 Abandoned US20110017450A1 (en) | 2009-07-23 | 2009-07-23 | Method for making gravel filters in oil wells |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20110017450A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2011010985A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2012170299A2 (en) * | 2011-06-06 | 2012-12-13 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Method and system for abandoning a borehole |
WO2013187902A1 (en) * | 2012-06-14 | 2013-12-19 | Mecol Holding, LLC | Method for making windows in oil well casing |
WO2016123166A1 (en) * | 2015-01-27 | 2016-08-04 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Downhole cutting and sealing apparatus |
US10221640B2 (en) | 2016-10-28 | 2019-03-05 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Method and system for abandoning a cased borehole |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2371385A (en) * | 1942-12-14 | 1945-03-13 | Standard Oil Dev Co | Gravel-packed liner and perforation assembly |
US3850246A (en) * | 1973-07-14 | 1974-11-26 | Gulf Research Development Co | Gravel packing method and apparatus |
US5145004A (en) * | 1991-03-12 | 1992-09-08 | Atlantic Richfield Company | Multiple gravel pack well completions |
US5174379A (en) * | 1991-02-11 | 1992-12-29 | Otis Engineering Corporation | Gravel packing and perforating a well in a single trip |
US5255741A (en) * | 1991-12-11 | 1993-10-26 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Process and apparatus for completing a well in an unconsolidated formation |
US6920923B1 (en) * | 2003-09-22 | 2005-07-26 | Alejandro Pietrobelli | Section mill for wells |
US20060108115A1 (en) * | 2002-02-25 | 2006-05-25 | Johnson Michael H | System and method for fracturing and gravel packing a wellbore |
-
2009
- 2009-07-23 US US12/508,088 patent/US20110017450A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2009-12-23 WO PCT/US2009/006697 patent/WO2011010985A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2371385A (en) * | 1942-12-14 | 1945-03-13 | Standard Oil Dev Co | Gravel-packed liner and perforation assembly |
US3850246A (en) * | 1973-07-14 | 1974-11-26 | Gulf Research Development Co | Gravel packing method and apparatus |
US5174379A (en) * | 1991-02-11 | 1992-12-29 | Otis Engineering Corporation | Gravel packing and perforating a well in a single trip |
US5145004A (en) * | 1991-03-12 | 1992-09-08 | Atlantic Richfield Company | Multiple gravel pack well completions |
US5255741A (en) * | 1991-12-11 | 1993-10-26 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Process and apparatus for completing a well in an unconsolidated formation |
US20060108115A1 (en) * | 2002-02-25 | 2006-05-25 | Johnson Michael H | System and method for fracturing and gravel packing a wellbore |
US6920923B1 (en) * | 2003-09-22 | 2005-07-26 | Alejandro Pietrobelli | Section mill for wells |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2012170299A2 (en) * | 2011-06-06 | 2012-12-13 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Method and system for abandoning a borehole |
WO2012170299A3 (en) * | 2011-06-06 | 2013-03-07 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Method and system for abandoning a borehole |
NO20141490A1 (en) * | 2011-06-06 | 2014-12-09 | Baker Hughes Inc | Procedure and system for leaving a borehole |
US8955597B2 (en) | 2011-06-06 | 2015-02-17 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Method and system for abandoning a borehole |
GB2520835A (en) * | 2011-06-06 | 2015-06-03 | Baker Hughes Inc | Method and system for abandoning a borehole |
GB2520835B (en) * | 2011-06-06 | 2017-03-29 | Baker Hughes Inc | Method and system for abandoning a borehole |
NO345696B1 (en) * | 2011-06-06 | 2021-06-21 | Baker Hughes Holdings Llc | Method and system for leaving a borehole |
WO2013187902A1 (en) * | 2012-06-14 | 2013-12-19 | Mecol Holding, LLC | Method for making windows in oil well casing |
WO2016123166A1 (en) * | 2015-01-27 | 2016-08-04 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Downhole cutting and sealing apparatus |
US10597970B2 (en) | 2015-01-27 | 2020-03-24 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Downhole cutting and sealing apparatus |
US10221640B2 (en) | 2016-10-28 | 2019-03-05 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Method and system for abandoning a cased borehole |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2011010985A1 (en) | 2011-01-27 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MECOL OIL TOOLS, CORP., FLORIDA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:PIETROBELLI, ALEJANDRO, MR.;PIETROBELLI, FAUSTO, MR.;REEL/FRAME:023536/0284 Effective date: 20091112 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |