Device and method for cleaning a wellbore equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical discharge generating device for cleaning an equipment arranged in a wellbore of a subterranean formation in order to improve the recovery of formation fluids and/or gases, said electrical discharge generating device comprising a discharge unit for generating at least one electrical discharge that propagates at least one shock wave for cleaning from said equipment, wherein said electrical discharge generating device further comprises a retaining module configured for retaining a volume of liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit.

Claims

1. An electrical discharge generating device for cleaning an equipment arranged in a wellbore of a subterranean formation in order to improve the recovery of formation fluids and/or gases, said electrical discharge generating device comprising a discharge unit for generating at least one electrical discharge that propagates at least one shock wave for cleaning said equipment, wherein said electrical discharge generating device further comprises a retaining module; wherein said retaining module comprises a retaining element fixed to the bottom part of the body of the device via a rod or a shaft and configured to retain a liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit when positioned in a wellbore; wherein the retaining module comprises a retaining element configured to retain a liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit when positioned in a wellbore; wherein the retaining element is fixed to the bottom part of the body of the device via a rod or a shaft.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element is made of a plastic material.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element is a cone, the vertex of which pointing downwards, extending under the bottom part of the body of the device and configured to retain a liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit when positioned in a wellbore.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element comprises a plurality of rings configured to retain a liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit when positioned in a wellbore.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element is an inflatable element extending from the bottom part of the body and configured to retain a liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit when positioned in a wellbore.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein, said electrical discharge generating device comprising a body and said body comprising a bottom part, said bottom part being shaped so as to retain a liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit when positioned in a wellbore.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the bottom part is made of a plastic material.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein the bottom part may be made of a metal material.

9. A device according to claim 6, wherein the bottom part comprises a cone shaped portion, the vertex of which pointing downwards, configured to retain a liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit when positioned in a wellbore.

10. A device according to claim 6, wherein the bottom part comprises a plurality of rings configured to retain a liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit when positioned in a wellbore.

11. A device according to claim 6, wherein the bottom part comprises an inflatable element configured to retain a liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit when positioned in a wellbore.

12. A method for cleaning an equipment arranged in a wellbore of a subterranean formation using an electrical discharge generating device in order to improve the recovery of formation fluids and/or gases, said electrical discharge generating device comprising a discharge unit for generating at least one electrical discharge that propagates at least one shock wave for cleaning said equipment, wherein, the device according to claim 1, is configured for retaining a volume of liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit, the method comprises the steps of positioning the device next to a wellbore equipment, filling a liquid in the wellbore so that retaining module retains a volume of liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit, and generating at least one electrical discharge into said retained liquid that propagates at least one shock wave for cleaning said equipment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are better understood with regard to the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments, appended Claims, and accompanying Figures, where:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a wellbore comprising a casing and a first embodiment of an electrical discharge generating device according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the device of FIG. 1 wherein the retaining module retains liquid;

(4) FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a wellbore comprising a casing and a second embodiment of an electrical discharge generating device according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a wellbore comprising a casing and a third embodiment of an electrical discharge generating device according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

(7) In the accompanying Figures, similar components or features, or both, may have the same or a similar reference label.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The Specification, which includes the Summary of Invention, Brief Description of the Drawings and the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments, and the appended Claims refer to particular features (including process or method steps) of the invention. Those of skill in the art understand that the invention includes all possible combinations and uses of particular features described in the Specification. Those of skill in the art understand that the invention is not limited to or by the description of embodiments given in the Specification. The inventive subject matter is not restricted except only in the spirit of the Specification and appended Claims. Those of skill in the art also understand that the terminology used for describing particular embodiments does not limit the scope or breadth of the invention. In interpreting the Specification and appended Claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context of each term. All technical and scientific terms used in the Specification and appended Claims have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs unless defined otherwise. As used in the Specification and appended Claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include plural references unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The verb comprises and its conjugated forms should be interpreted as referring to elements, components or steps in a non-exclusive manner. The referenced elements, components or steps may be present, utilized or combined with other elements, components or steps not expressly referenced. The verb couple and its conjugated forms means to complete any type of required junction, including electrical, mechanical or fluid, to form a singular object from two or more previously non-joined objects. If a first device couples to a second device, the connection can occur either directly or through a common connector. Optionally and its various forms means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur. The description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not occur. Operable and its various forms means fit for its proper functioning and able to be used for its intended use. Spatial terms describe the relative position of an object or a group of objects relative to another object or group of objects. The spatial relationships apply along vertical and horizontal axes. Orientation and relational words including uphole and downhole; above and below; up and down and other like terms are for descriptive convenience and are not limiting unless otherwise indicated. Where the Specification or the appended Claims provide a range of values, it is understood that the interval encompasses each intervening value between the upper limit and the lower limit as well as the upper limit and the lower limit. The invention encompasses and bounds smaller ranges of the interval subject to any specific exclusion provided. Where the Specification and appended Claims reference a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously except where the context excludes that possibility.

(9) The invention is described hereunder in reference to a well for producing formation fluids or gases such as e.g. oil wherein the formation is a sand formation. This does not limit the scope of the present invention which may be used with any type of formation.

(10) FIG. 1 shows a subterranean formation 1 comprising a treatment zone 3. For example, such a treatment zone 3 may be made of rock. The treatment zone 3 may comprise a porous zone that constitutes a reservoir of hydrocarbons, such as oil or gas. Such porous zone may be accessible through a wellbore 5 extending from the surface through to the treatment zone 3. The treatment zone 3 interfaces with the wellbore 5 at wellbore wall 5A and extends radially from wellbore 5.

(11) In the example illustrated on FIG. 1, the wellbore wall 5A comprises a wellbore equipment which is here a metallic casing 7. This casing 7 may comprise perforations that allow creating some flow paths within the treatment zone 3 adjacent to the wellbore 5. In another embodiment, the wellbore equipment could be for example a completion string equipment, a production tubing element or any type of equipment arranged in the wellbore 5.

(12) The wellbore 5 is partially filled with a liquid, called wellbore liquid 6 that reaches a given wellbore liquid level 6A. In this example, some parts 7A of the casing 7 are arranged above said wellbore liquid level 6A (i.e. in a dry volume of the wellbore 5), whereas some parts 7B of the casing 7 are arranged under the wellbore liquid level 6A. Alternatively, the wellbore 5 could be completely dry (i.e. deprived of liquid).

(13) FIG. 1 describes an exemplary embodiment of an electrical discharge generating device 10 according to the invention. The electrical discharge generating device 10 is configured for generating electrical discharges that propagate shock waves 200, in particular for cleaning an equipment arranged in the wellbore 5 in order to improve the recovery of formation fluids and/or gases. In this illustrated example, the electrical discharge generating device 10 constitutes a source of electrohydraulic energy that can be arranged into the wellbore 5 near (i.e. next to) a part 7A of the casing 7 that needs cleaning, for example to remove deposits.

(14) As illustrated on FIGS. 1 to 4, the electrical discharge generating device 10 is coupled to a wireline 12 which is operable to raise and lower said electrical discharge generating device 10 and to supply power from the surface to said electrical discharge generating device 10. A voltage source (not shown) located external of the wellbore 5 and an electrical circuit (not shown) mounted within said wireline 12 allow to connect said voltage source to the electrical discharge generating device 10. Electrical power is supplied by the low voltage source at a steady and relatively low power from the surface through the wireline 12 to the downhole electrical discharge generating device 10.

(15) As illustrated on FIGS. 1 to 4, the electrical discharge generating device 10 comprises a cylindrically-shaped body 100 connected to the wireline 12. The body 100 comprises a top part 100A, an intermediate part 100B and a bottom part 100C.

(16) In this example, and as already describes in U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,650 issued to Wesley or U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,293 issued to Huffman, incorporated hereby by reference, the electrical discharge generating device 10 comprises a power conversion unit 110, a power storage unit 120, a control unit 130, mounted inside the top part 100A of the body 100, and a discharge unit 140 located in the intermediate part 100B of the body 100.

(17) The power storage unit 120 comprises a plurality of capacitors (not represented) for storage of electrical energy that allows the discharge unit 140 to generate one or a plurality of electrical discharges. The power conversion unit 110 comprises suitable circuitry for charging capacitors of the power storage unit 120. Timing of the discharge of the energy from the power storage unit 120 through the discharge unit 140 is controlled by the control unit 130. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit 130 is a switch, which discharges when the voltage reaches a predefined threshold.

(18) The discharge unit 140 comprises a first electrode 142, mounted on the bottom of the top part 100A, and a second electrode 144, mounted on the top of the bottom part 100C, configured for triggering an electrical discharge. The discharge unit 140 may be configured to propagate shock waves radially or in a predetermined direction. Upon discharge of the capacitors of the power storage unit 120 through the first electrode 142 and the second electrode 144, electrohydraulic shock waves 200 are generated as shown on FIGS. 2 to 4. According to the electrohydraulic effect, an electrical discharge is discharged in a very short time (few micro seconds).

(19) In this example, the discharge unit 140 further comprises a membrane 146 delimiting a chamber 148 (illustrated on FIG. 1) which is filled with a shock wave internal transmitting liquid 149, allowing transmitting shock waves through the membrane 146 toward the casing 7. In another embodiment, the discharge unit 140 may not comprise any membrane 146. Such membrane 146 isolates the discharge unit 140 from the wellbore 5 while maintaining acoustic coupling with said wellbore 5, improving the propagation of shockwaves while preventing external fluids from the wellbore 5 from damaging the discharge unit 140. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane 146 is flexible in order to an efficient propagation of shock waves in many directions and prevent shock waves to bounce on it, allowing therefore an efficient conduction of the shock wave toward a metal patch to be sealed on the casing 7. To this end, the membrane 146 may be made of fluorine rubber or fluoroelastomer with a relative elongation of at least 150%, preferably at least 200% and being operable between 35 C. and 250 C. Other designs of discharge unit 140 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,293 issued to Huffman which is included hereby reference.

(20) In reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the electrical discharge generating device 10 also comprises a retaining module 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 mounted under the bottom part 100C of the body 100.

(21) The retaining module 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 is configured for retaining a volume of liquid in order to immerse the discharge unit 140. The retaining module 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 allows creating, at least temporarily, a column of external transmitting liquid 152, as illustrated on FIGS. 2 to 4, for immersing the discharge unit 140, enabling therefore an efficient use of said discharge unit 140 to remove deposits from the parts 7A of the casing 7 which are arranged above the wellbore liquid level 6A.

(22) The retaining module 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 acts at least partially as a seal, which is not necessarily fully waterproof, in order to block some liquid that is added from the top of the electrical discharge generating device 10 for the duration of the cleaning of the wellbore equipment (i.e. the parts 7A here) as described hereafter.

(23) In a preferred embodiment, the retaining module 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 is mounted on the bottom part 100C of the body 100 of the electrical discharge generating device 10 and defines the bottom limit of an open volume 154, the sides of said volume 154 being defined by the casing 7 (or the production tubing or the wall 5A of the wellbore 5). The element to clean (i.e. to remove the deposits from) lies in the defined volume 154: in this example, some parts 7A of the casing 7 that comprise deposits to remove.

(24) The retaining module 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 may have different shapes and dimensions. In a first embodiment illustrated on FIGS. 1 and 2, the retaining module 150-1 is in the shape of a cone 150-1A, whose vertex points downwards and which is mounted to the bottom part 100C using a rod 150-1B extending vertically from the bottom part 100C below the body 100. The retaining module 150-1 optionally comprises an annular element 150-1C for sealing the interface between the cone 150-1A and the part 7A of the casing 7.

(25) In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the retaining module 150-2 comprises a plurality of superimposed retaining rings 150-2A (or disks) mounted on a shaft 150-2B (or a rod) extending vertically below the bottom part 100C.

(26) In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the retaining module 150-3 comprises an inflatable element 150-3A attached to the bottom part 100C via a rod 150-3B.

(27) In another embodiment, the retaining module could be the bottom part 100C of the body 100 of the device 10 which would be shaped adequately, for example like an inverted cone, a plurality of rings or an inflatable element.

Example of Operation

(28) In reference to FIG. 5, the electrical discharge generating device 10 is first positioned, in step S1, inside a dry part 7B of the casing 7 that needs cleaning. When the electrical discharge generating device 10 is positioned, the retaining module 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 seals at least partially the interface between said retaining module 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 and the target part 7A of the casing 7 (i.e. the part 7A to be cleaned).

(29) Liquid is thus filled from the surface in the wellbore 5 in a step S2 until the discharge unit 140 and the target part 7A are immersed in said liquid, called external transmitting liquid, for allowing an electrical discharge to be transmitting in said external transmitting liquid up to said immersed target part 7A. When the seal between the retaining module 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 and the target part 7A of the casing 7 is not perfect (i.e. not fully waterproof), it is necessary that the liquid flowing in from the surface is at least equal to volume of liquid that overflow between the retaining module 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 and the target part 7A of the casing 7 in order to maintain a sufficient volume of liquid above the retaining module 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 to immerse the discharge unit 140.

(30) In step S3, at least one shock wave 200, preferably a series of several shock waves 200 (for example propagated at a periodic interval of time, e.g. every 5 to 20 seconds), is generated into the internal transmitting liquid by the discharge unit 140. This at least one shock wave 200 propagates in a step S4 through the membrane 146 and the external transmitting liquid toward the target part 7A of the casing 7.

(31) In a step S5, the at least one propagated shock wave 200 reaches the immersed part 7A of the body 7 and clean said immersed part 7A (for example remove the deposits attached to said part 7A). A plurality of series may be advantageously repeated towards the part 7A at different heights to efficiently clean said part 7A and improve the recovery of oil or gas and the stimulation of the wellbore 5.

(32) The electrical discharge generating device 10 may then be moved, in step S6, to another position inside the wellbore 5 in order to clean another part 7A of the casing 7 or another equipment of the wellbore such as e.g. a production tubing or a well production equipment.

(33) Embodiments include many additional standard components or equipment that enables and makes operable the described device, process, method and system. Operation, control and performance of portions of or entire steps of a process or method can occur through human interaction, pre-programmed computer control and response systems, or combinations thereof.

(34) The method according to the invention is not limited to a casing 7 and may be used to remove deposits on various different wellbore equipment installed above the wellbore liquid level 6A such as e.g. a sand control screen, a slotted liner, a perforated liner, a valve, a port, etc. The method according to the invention is not limited to a production wellbore and may be used into an abandoned wellbore or an injection wellbore such as a chemical or vapor injection wellbore. The invention is not limited to the described embodiment and can be applied to all type of formation fluids or gases transportation means.

(35) TABLE-US-00001 Table of references subterranean formation 1 treatment zone 3 wellbore 5 wellbore wall 5A wellbore liquid 6 wellbore liquid level 6A casing 7 parts 7A parts 7B electrical discharge generating device 10 wireline 12 body 100 top part 100A intermediate part 100B bottom part 100C power conversion unit 110 power storage unit 120 control unit 130 discharge unit 140 first electrode 142 second electrode 144 membrane 146 chamber 148 Internal transmitting liquid 149 retaining module 150-1 cone 150-1A rod 150-1B retaining module 150-2 retaining disks 150-2A a shaft 150-2B retaining module 150-3 inflatable element 150-3A rod 150-3B external transmitting liquid 152 volume 154 shock wave 200