US2805718A - Method for running a tubular member in a well - Google Patents

Description

MVENTOR. Gilbert H Tausch.

/-... ATTOR scams Y- Filed oct. 2o. 1954 G. H. 'ruscl-l fla. 2.

METHOD Fox RUNNING A TUBULAR man 1N A' ELL Sept'. 10, 1957 United Sms-S. Plate-m 0 'z ,sosns'sff Anutrition FonRUNNr'NG-A TUBULAR MEMnERnvawELL u Gilbert H. Tausch, Houston, Tex., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Esso Research and Engineering Conn pany, Elizabeth, N. I., 'a corporation of Delaware f1'"Appliaamocmbuso,iss-astral Na.46s,49s

@comme (cnrs-21) I t f The present invention may be briefly Vdescribed as a method for running a tubular member in a tubing having its lower open end arranged in a well casing at a level .substantially 'above alevel from -which production is to be obtained. The' method comprises inserting the tubular member in the tubing. andcausing thetubular member to travel freelyin unrestricted relationship to the tubing orthe. wellheaddownwardly in the tubing a predetermined distance. 'I'he tubular member is then 'restrained in the tubing after the tra-.el and thereafter fluid may then be owed through the tubing and tubular member either downwardly through the tubing and tubular member or upwardly through the tubular member and tubing.

The tubular member may then bev retrieved up the tubing by forcing the tubular member up the tubing for free travel therein.

. The presentinvention also comprises a method for treatinga well in which the tubing is arranged in a well cas.

ing with its vlower open end at a level substantially above a. level at which productionis to be obtained. A tubular member is inserted in the tubing and released therein and caused to travel downwardly freely in the tubing in unrestrained relationship to the wellhead and tubing a pre' determined distance or until at least a portion of the tubu. lar member projects from the open end of the tubing to increase the effective length of the tubing. A treating reagent, such as fluid cement, a washing vehicle, suchas water and the like, acid, and other materials vwith which wells are treated, may then be flowed downwardly through the tubing and tubular member into the casing and into the formation as desired. ,The treating reagent, s uch as uid cement, may have pressure imposed thereon and excess duid cement or treating reagent may be removed from the casing up the tubular member and tubing 4anti thereafter the tubular member may be'retrieved` from the tubing by forcing same upwardly in the tubing by pressure imposed thereon through the casing annulus. The presentinvention is particularly adaptable to cementing operations in which cement is employed to close olf perforations in a well casing. The invention is peculiarly adaptable in the use of modified fluid cements of the nature described in the patent to Salathiel, U.S. 2,482,459. Other modified fluid cements having a low water loss may be used. Likewise, oil-emulsion eements or cement slurries in oil may be used in the practice 'cf the present invention. z

Treating reagents, such as acid and acid gels and the like, may be used.

' The well and casing may be The presentinvention is directed .to a method for run-- with the present invention by use of washing liquid, such as fresh or salt water, or an aqueous medium to' remove sand and the 5 The present invention4 is also adaptable to opening up formations by imposing pressure thereon through per` forations in the casing or inthe open hole by use of if liquid, such as crude oil, fractions thereof, acid gel the like, which may contain la weighting agent and/or j. proping agent, such as sand and the lilrevby' imposing pressure on the liquid used to open up the xformatiotu The invention is alsosuscept-ible to extending the effec- -tive length of the tubing where the tubing is arranged in the well casing at a level a substantial distance above .a plurality of hydrocarbon productive intervals, zones. strata, formations 'and the like from which desirable hydrocarbons, such as gas and/or oil, are to be obtained..

In the practice of the present invention the uid, auch as cement slurry, acid, washing vehicle, water and the t like, may be owed downwardly through the tubing and tubular member into the casing and excess treating agent may be removed from the 'casing by reversing same out by -flowing a washing liquid down the annulus between the casing and the tubing and causing the treating reagent to tlowbackwardly through the tubular member and the tllbinsy l if; A preferred mode of the present invention may'be' further illustrated by referencev to the drawing in which: Fig. Il shows the insertion of the tubular member into the tubing;

Fig. 2' shows the tubular member arranged in the lower "end o f and projecting from the tubi-ng;A

Fig'. 3 illustrates the use of the present spotting al cement slurry in the casing; and 1 Fig. 4 shows the retrieving of the tubular' member up thetubing.. t Referring now to the drawing in which identical nirmerals will be employed to designate identical parts, n' Y meral l1 designates a well bore drilled from the earths'; surface 12 to penetrate a plurality of hydrocarbon productive intervals or formations 13, 14, and 15 which are separated by non-productive formations or intervals` 16 and 17. The well casing 18 is arranged in the well bore 11 and is cemented in'place with primary cementv i 19. A tubing 20 extends from above the surface of the, earth 12- to above the hydrocarbon productive interval 13 with its lower open end '21 arranged' above the interI inventionv :in

duit 24 to a. source of treating fluid, such .as a cement" slurry. The'annulus A between the casing 18 and'the tubing 20 is provided witha conduit 25 which, in'turngff.

f connects lto'an annulus pump 26 which has a lineI 'or conduit 27 connected to Va source of washing `fluid, such' as water or oil and the like.4 It is understood that pumps. 23 and 26 may be the sane pumps provided with different' lines for connecting to the tubing 20 or to the annuln's" i' Aasmaybedesir'eda L g l y, A'lubricator 28 shown in more detail in Fig. l is'atf ,60 tache'd to the tubing. This lubricator may be providedvwith a plurality of valves 29 and a blow-out preventer 29' for insertion of tools into the tubing'while main I f ing. the well under pressure.' f'" A tubular member 30 is shown in Fig. l being run 1 y 35 the tubing 2) through the lubricator 28, the tubular mem' 'ber 30 being made up of a plurality of sections 31 whiclr`v may be screwed together by such as threaded collars 32 to 4 providel a tubular member 30 of any desired lengths At least one end of the tubular member 30 maybe*A 7 closed by an expendable plug 33 which is attachedto the" tubular member 30 by shear pins 34. In Fig's. 1 and 2, the plug 33 is shown closingthe lower end ot the tubular' A lPatented Sept. 1Q 1951 lilr'e from the'well casing and .u V I V. u 3 member 30. Thesecti'ons 31 areeuspendedinthelubrieay tor and tubing prior to running by blow-out preventor I9'. As lengths or sections 31 of the tubularextension is released in the tubing and caused to travel downwaldly therein in unrestrained travel from 'the earths sur.

face and through the tubing. The tubular rnemberv 30 may' gravitate downwardly inthe tubing 30' or it may be forced downwardly therein by pumping fluid into the tubing 20 through conduit 22 from pump 23 and conduit 24 or by circulating fluid downwardly through the tubing. The rapidity of travel of the tubular extension member 30 may be controlled by circulating tluid introduced into the tubing through conduit 22 or conduit 25; thus by introducing fluid through conduit 25 the degree of travel downwardly in the tubing 20 of the extension member may be restrained or stopped all-together if desired.

In any event, in Fig. 2 the tubular extension member 30 with its lower end closed by al plug 33 held thereto by shear pin 34 is allowed to travel downwardly a predetermined distancel in the tubing 29 and proectfrom the open end 21 thereof tohextend to the formation i5.

The tubular extension member 30 carries packing .36,

such as chevron packing and the like, for engaging withl the walls of a landing seat, supporting means, or landing nipple 38, such asAhas beendescribed in the Composite" .Catalogueofl Oil Field' and Pipeline Equipment, 1952-53 l ed., page 4064.

The tubular member 30 is provided with latching dogs 40 which secure or anchor he upper end o the tubular member 30 in the landing n.pple 38,J as shown.

After the tubular member 30 has been landed in the landing nipple 38, as shown, withI its lower end extend- A ing to the interval 15 which previously had been perforated with a gun perforatnr and the like to form a plurality of perforatio'us 42 and if. is desired to treat the formation 15 through the perforations 42, the expendable plug 33. is blown from the tubular extension mem ber ,30. In these situations it may be desirable first to supply hydraulic pressure either to the tubing 20 or the annulus A to test the system to determine whether or not the upper end of the tubular member 30 is safely landed and secured in the landing nipple 38; After the pressure test has indicated the securing of the tubular member in the landing nipple 38 a predetermined amount of pressure is placed on the tubing'and the tubular member Sdsutcient to shear shear pins or frangible means 34 and 3ctuse the plug 33 to -be blown from the tubular mem- In Fig. 3, the plug 33 is shown resting on the bottom of the well with the tubular member 30 open. A treating uid, such as cement, is then introduced by pump 23 through line 22 into the tubing 20 and caused to dow downwardly through the tubing 20 and tubular member 30 into the casing 18 adjacent the intervalli This cement fills the perforations 42 and in the case of the modified cement, such as described in the patent to Salathiel supra, iilter cakes or buttons 43 are formed in the perforation: 42 to seal off the interval 15 from the,

well casina.

may be removed from the well by circulating' a wash liquid, such as water or oil, down the aunulus A, the washing liquid being introduced into the annulus A by way of conduit 25 from a pump, such as 26. This causes the cement to be reversed outwardly through the tubular member30 and the tubing 20 and then outwardly from tubing 20 by conduit 21.

, When it is desired' to reperforate the casing in an interval vertically displaced from the perforated interval 15 or in the interval 15 the tubular member 30 is retrieved from Thereafter the excess fluid cement or reagent 4 u. stance, a retrieving tool, such as50, as shown in Pig. 4.1i'

to allow the retrieving tool to be pumped down they tubing 20. The retrieving tool 5t) has a prong 52 which tits into the open endof .he tubular member 3Q and closes same and is also provided with a plurality of releasing prongs 53 which releases the hold-down dogs 40, holding the upper end of the tubular member in the supporting means 38. Since the swab cup 51 provides a seal with the tubing 20, the tubular member may then be retrievedl by applying pump pressure through pump 26 and con-` duit 25 on the annulus A which will force the tubular, member 30 up the tubing 42t) and allow same to be en' vgaged by the blow-out preventer 2.9' for retrieving the' f sections 31 of the tubular member from the tubing.

Thereafter after the tubular member 39 has been ro- A nieved from the tubing, a gun perforator either of a bullet or shap'ed charge type may be lowered and/or run in through the tubing adjacent the interval 15 to neperforate same or adjacent one of the hydrocarbon productive intervals 13 or 14 as may be desired. After hydrocarbon production has been obtained again from n hydrocarbon productive interval, such as 13, 14 or 1S,

l where it has been reperforated, the tubular member such as 30, may be again run into the tubing for oementing off or treating-one of the hydrocarbon productive inter-.l4 vals as' may be desired.

Although the invention has been discussed particularly with respect to running the tubular'membero through the tubing to project therefrom, it is contemplated that the tubular means 30 may be run any predetermined dittance within the -tubing '2D as may be desired.

The present invention is very advantageous since het@ tofore tubular members, such as 30, have been run only on wire lines from the surface of the earth. The present invention allows the running in and retrieving of the tubular member without the use of workover rigs or pipe handling equipment or the use of wire lines. In'the present invention the only equipment necessary is a pump for circulation of the apparatus down and up the tubing as has been described. While two pumps maybe used, a single pump with the proper connections may be used to circulate tluid either down the tubing or down the annulus as may be desired. While the invention has been de'- scribed and illustrated by closing in one end of the tubular' member, it is possible to practice the present invention without closing the tubular member while running same:V into the well. f Q The present invention has been used in the field' to'f perform a cementlng operation in which the tubing was a. honed interior surface.

permanently arranged'at a level substantially above the;l interval to.be cemented. In this instancethe tubing tension was suspended in the tubing as it was beinglni serted therein from a mandrel which latched in n collar` recess and seal's'immediately below a landing nipple having 'Ihe tubing extension was run in and retrieved ,by lation before and after eementing operations in the fol' lowing manner: after the bottom of the tubing extension;

. was sealed with an expendable plug, the tubing extension of the tubing with approximately 1100 pounds pump,

pressure. Thereafter, the producing interval was plugged the tubing 20,- as shownin Fig. 4. In 76 with modified cement as described sup". and excel a cementcirculated out. A retrieving assembly composed As mentioned before, the rate of descent of the tubular member may be controlled, such as increased or decreased, by circulating uid up or `down the tubing with the surface pump.

Many modifications of the' present invention in well completion maybe practiced without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new' and useful and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method for treating a well in which a vtubing is permanently arranged in a well casing with its lower open end af. a level substantially above a level from which production is to be obtained, said tubing being provided with a lubricator, which comprises making up and inserting a tubular extension member in the upper end of said tubing through said lubricator, said tubular member having a 'passageway therethrough, suspendingA said 4tubular member in the upper end of said tubing, then releasing said tubular member vfor travel by gravity downwardly in said tubing, controlling the ratel of downward travelof said 4tubular member by circulating iluid'down the casing-tubing annulus and up said tubing against the released tubular member until said tubular member seats in and-projects from the lower open end of the tubing to increase the effective length of the tubing, maintaining said projecting tubular member in the lower end of the tubing and flowing a treating duid downwardly through and out of said tubing and tubular member, and then forcing said tubular member up the.` tubing for travel 4. A method in accordance 4with claim 3 in ywhich the passageway through the tubular member is closed after flowing said treating uid and prior to forcing the tubular member up the tubing.

5. Am-thodinaccordanoewithclaim linwhichthe uid is a cement slurry.

6. A method in acieordanie with claim 1' in which the uid is a washing vehicle.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 in which the uidiswater.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 in which the uuid is scia.

9. A method for treating a well in which a tubing il permanently arranged yin a well casing with its lower open end at a level substantially above a level from which production is to be obtained, said tubing being provided with a lubricator, which comprises making up and inserting a tubular extension member inthe upper end of said tubing through said lubricator, said tubular 'member having l passageway therethrough, suspending said tubular member -in the upper endof said tubing, then releasing said tubular member in said tubing for travel by gravity downwardly in said tubing, controlling the rate of downward travel of said tubular member by circulating fluid down the casingv the casing-tubing annulus into contact with the duid therein by circulating iluid down the casing-tubing annulus and up the tubing and against said tubular member.

2. A method in accordance with claim l in which the passageway through the tubular member is closed after flowing said treating iiuid and prior to forcing the tubular member up the tubing.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 in which the passageway through the tubular member is closed prior to inserting the tubular member into the tubing through the lubricator and the passageway through the tubular member is opened after the tubular member has increased the eiective length of the tubing for flowing said treating duid therethrough. f'

cement. and thereby removing excess uid cement from the casing up the tubular member and tubing, closing the passageway through said tubular membenand then foreing said tubular lmember up the tubingfor free travel therein by again circulating duid down the casing-tubing annulues and up the tubing and against the closed 'tubular mem y Reference. cuea'in :he ale or un patent l STATES PATENTS g 2,058,825

Rallet et al. Oct. 27, 1936 2,171,416 Lee Aug. 29,1939 2,179,017 Pieper e Nov. 7, 1939 2,352,744 Stoddard July 4, 1944 2,571,478 Otis Oct. 16,1951 2,636,563 Rollins Apr. 28, 1953 2,656,151 Miller Oct. 20, 1953 2,673,614 Miller Mar. 30, 1954 2,690,123 Kanady Sept. 28, 1954 2,698,056 Marshall et al. L.---e Dec. 28, 1954

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