SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACTIVATING A PRESSURE-SENSITIVE DOWNHOLE TOOL

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods are used for activating a downhole tool, powered by an exothermic reaction, for operation, while deploying a tubing string from a wellbore surface. The tubing string comprises a coupling for enabling pressurized activation of the downhole tool, which comprises a fuel (e.g., thermite) for producing the exothermic reaction. The coupling enables fluid to flow into an interior of the coupling through a first flow passage, during descent of the downhole tool. A stopper is dropped and/or seated to cause the coupling interior to pressurize to an activation pressure, which causes an activator to activate a burn within the downhole tool. Once the downhole tool completes its operation, the coupling interior is further pressurized to burst a burst disc, which opens a second flow passage for fluid to flow from the interior to exterior of the coupling, while downhole tool and coupling are raised to the surface.

Claims

1. A system for lowering a downhole tool into a wellbore, comprising: a tubing string coupling for use on a tubing string to be lowered into the wellbore, comprising: a first flow passage fluidly connecting an interior of the tubing string coupling with an exterior of the tubing string coupling, the interior configured to have an internal pressure and the exterior having an external pressure, wherein the first flow passage comprises a stopper seat configured to hold a stopper that blocks the flow from the interior of the tubing string coupling to the exterior of the tubing string coupling; a pressure passage configured to convey the internal pressure from within the interior of the tubing string coupling; and a second flow passage fluidly connecting the interior of the tubing string coupling with the exterior of the tubing string coupling; and a pressure-initiated activator configured to receive the internal pressure from the pressure passage, wherein the pressure-initiated activator is configured to activate the downhole tool at an activation pressure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the downhole tool comprises a perforator system, a torch, a setting tool, or combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the downhole tool comprises thermite.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a rig is configured to lower the tubing string, having the tubing string coupling and the pressure-initiated activator, into the wellbore.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the tubing string coupling further comprises a burst disc blocking the second flow passage, wherein the burst disc is configured to rupture at a burst pressure that is higher than the activation pressure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the stopper comprises a ball or a plug that when seated in the stopper seat, blocks the flow from the interior of the tubing string coupling to the exterior of the tubing string coupling.

7. A method of activating a downhole tool in a wellbore, comprising: lowering a tubing string coupling into the wellbore via a tubing string; allowing fluid to flow into an interior of the tubing string coupling from an exterior of the tubing string coupling via a first flow passage, wherein the interior comprises an interior pressure and the exterior comprises an exterior pressure; blocking the first flow passage with a stopper; pressurizing the interior of the tubing string coupling to increase the interior pressure to an activation pressure; and activating a pressure-initiated activator, connected via a passage to the interior of the tubing string coupling, when the interior pressure reaches the activation pressure to activate the downhole tool.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the downhole tool comprises a perforator system, a torch, a setting tool, or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising activating, with the pressure-initiated activator, a thermite fuel within the downhole tool.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein blocking the first flow passage comprises dropping or seating the stopper into the tubing string coupling.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the tubing string coupling further comprises a burst disc blocking a second flow passage that is configured to fluidly connect the interior of the tubing string coupling with the exterior of the tubing string coupling, wherein the method further comprises increasing the interior pressure to a value higher than the activation pressure to rupture the burst disc.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising retrieving the downhole tool, after rupturing the burst disc, while fluid passes from the interior of the tubing string coupling to the exterior of the tubing string coupling through the second flow passage.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising after retrieving the downhole tool, removing the stopper, replacing the burst disc, and lowering the tubing string and the tubing string coupling into the wellbore.

14. A tubing string coupling for use on a tubing string within a wellbore, comprising: a first flow passage fluidly connecting an interior of the tubing string coupling with an exterior of the tubing string coupling, wherein the interior is configured to comprise an internal pressure and the exterior comprises an external pressure, wherein the first flow passage comprises a stopper seat configured to hold a stopper that blocks the first flow passage to obstruct flow from the interior of the tubing string coupling to the exterior of the tubing string coupling; a pressure passage configured to convey the internal pressure from within the interior of the tubing string coupling to a pressure-initiated activator, wherein the pressure-initiated activator is configured to activate a downhole tool at an activation pressure; and a second flow passage fluidly connecting the interior of the tubing string coupling with the exterior of the tubing string coupling.

15. The tubing string coupling of claim 14, further comprising a burst disc blocking the second flow passage, wherein the burst disc is configured to rupture at a burst pressure that is higher than the activation pressure.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the stopper seat is configured to hold a ball-shaped stopper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In the detailed description of various embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure, presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a possible operating environment for a downhole tool having a tubing string coupling.

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of the downhole tool that may be deployed within the wellbore.

[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the coupling that may be used between the downhole tool and the tubing string.

[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of the coupling illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0021] One or more embodiments are described below with reference to the listed FIGS.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Before describing selected embodiments of the present disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein. The disclosure and description herein is illustrative and explanatory of one or more presently preferred embodiments and variations thereof, and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in the design, organization, means of operation, structures and location, methodology, and use of mechanical equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0023] As well, it should be understood that the drawings are intended to illustrate and plainly disclose presently preferred embodiments to one of skill in the art, but are not intended to be manufacturing level drawings or renditions of final products and may include simplified conceptual views to facilitate understanding or explanation. As well, the relative size and arrangement of the components may differ from that shown and still operate within the spirit of the invention.

[0024] Moreover, it will be understood that various directions such as “upper”, “lower”, “bottom”, “top”, “left”, “right”, and so forth are made only with respect to explanation in conjunction with the drawings, and that components may be oriented differently, for instance, during transportation and manufacturing as well as operation. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments described herein, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and non-limiting.

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a possible operating environment for a downhole operation system 2. The system 2 may include a tubing string 4, a tubing string coupling 6, and a downhole tool 10. The downhole tool 10 may be, or may include, a variety of tools used to perform an exothermic (non-explosive) operation. The downhole tool 10, for example, may also include thermite fuel, which comprises a mix or combination of a metal and an oxidizer for oxidizing the metal, to perform operations underground. To lower the downhole tool 10 for the operation, the system 2 may include above-ground components, such as a rig 12 positioned on a surface 14 of a wellbore 16. As illustrated, the rig 12 may be positioned on the surface 14 of solid land, and used to perform operations on a completed wellbore 16. In certain embodiments, the rig 12 may also include drilling equipment for drilling and/or extending the wellbore 16. In an embodiment, the rig 12 can be located at sea for operations associated with offshore extraction of hydrocarbons. Additionally or alternatively, the rig 12 can be a temporary structure constructed for the purpose of completing the operation, or may include servicing or pumping equipment that is semi-permanently installed on the surface 14 for continued operations performed within the wellbore 16.

[0026] The wellbore 16 may penetrate through a subterranean formation 18 (or several) for the purpose of recovering hydrocarbons. The formation 18 may include fluid 20 (e.g., production fluid, hydrocarbons, natural gas, water, or other fluids) that can flow into the wellbore 16. The fluid 20 may be extracted to the surface 14 for treatment, and/or distribution.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the fluid 20 may include components that are not for production, but have flooded the wellbore 16 to a point above an operation location 24 where the downhole tool 10 is supposed to complete the operation. For example, the operation location 24 may include removal of designated portions of casing 22, perforation of the casing 22, or securement of one or more permanent or semi-permanent structures within the operation location 24, which can create a situation whereby such fluid 20 could enter the wellbore 16.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the drilling rig 12 includes a rig floor 26 through which the tubing string 4 can extend downwardly from the drilling rig 12 into the wellbore 16. As stated above, the rig 12 and the rig floor 26 may be located at sea for offshore operations. The tubing string 4 may include any form of well tubing, such as jointed pipe, or coiled tubing. As shown in FIG. 1, the tubing string 4 suspends the downhole tool 10, which may comprise a radial torch, an axial torch, a frac plug, a bridge plug, a packer, a setting tool, or another type of wellbore tool, for example, as it is being lowered within the wellbore 16 to perform a specific operation.

[0029] While the exemplary operating environment depicted in FIG. 1 refers to a stationary drilling rig 12 for lowering and setting the downhole tool 10, which is to be consumed downhole, within a land-based wellbore 16, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that mobile workover rigs, well servicing units, and the like, could also be used to lower the downhole tool 10 into the wellbore 16. It should be understood that the consumable downhole tool 10 can be used in other operational environments, such as within an offshore well bore. The tubing string coupling 6 may be especially useful in offshore wellbores, due to the presence of extra fluid (e.g., sea water) that may flood certain parts of the wellbore 16. As explained in detail below, as the tubing string 4 is lowered into the wellbore 16 through the fluid 20, without any need to pump in extra fluid from the surface 14.

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the downhole tool 10 that may be deployed within the wellbore 16. The downhole tool 10, as shown, includes the tubing string coupling 6 that connects the downhole tool 10 to the tubing string 4 (shown in FIG. 1). As shown, the downhole tool 10 can comprise a pressure-initiated activator 30 and a fuel-storage body 32. The pressure-initiated activator 30 can comprise a pressure-sensitive electronic circuit that can activate a burn of fuel 34, which can be stored within the fuel-storage body 32. As mentioned above, the fuel 34 may include a thermite or thermite mixture that activates an exothermic reaction, which results in molten fuel.

[0031] Thermite is a combination or a mixing that includes a metal and an oxidizer. When the oxidizer combines or mixes with the metal, e.g., during an exothermic reaction, a metal oxide can be created that forms, or partially forms, a combustion product(s). Examples of such metals that can be used in thermite or a thermite combination include: aluminum, magnesium, chromium, nickel, silver, molybdenum, titanium, zinc, silicon and/or other metals. Examples of an oxidizer, which is capable of oxidizing the metal, can include: cupric oxide, iron oxide, aluminum oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, silicon dioxide, ammonium perchlorate, and other oxidizers. The ignition point of thermite can vary, depending on the specific composition of the thermite combination. For example, the ignition point of a combination of aluminum and cupric oxide is about 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. Other thermite combinations can have an ignition point as low as 900 degrees Fahrenheit.

[0032] When ignited, the thermite produces an exothermic reaction. The rate of the thermite reaction occurs on the order of milliseconds, while an explosive reaction has a rate occurring on the order of nanoseconds. While explosive reactions can create detrimental explosive shockwaves within a wellbore, the use of a thermite-based power charge avoids such shockwaves (e.g., a deflagration or non-explosive reaction).

[0033] The thermite mixture can include a polymer, which can be disposed in association with, or as a part of, the thermite combination, wherein the polymer can be of a type that produces gas responsive to the thermite reaction. Usable polymers can include, without limitation, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, polyurethane, acetal, nylon, polycarbonate, vinyl, acrylin, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyimide, cylic olefin copolymer, polyphenylene sulfide, polytetrafluroethylene, polyketone, polyetheretherketone, polytherlmide, polyethersulfone, polyamide imide, styrene acrylonitrile, cellulose propionate, diallyl phthalate, melamine formaldehyde, other similar polymers, or combinations thereof.

[0034] In an embodiment of the invention, the polymer can take the shape of a container, disposed exterior to and at least partially enclosing the thermite combination. Other associations between the polymer and thermite are also usable, such as substantially mixing the polymer with the thermite, or otherwise combining the polymer and thermite such that the polymer produces gas responsive to the thennite reaction. For example, a usable polymer can be included within a thermite mixture as a binding agent.

[0035] Once the exothermic reaction occurs, the fuel 34 (e.g., thermite, a thermite combination, or other fuel that produces an exothermic reaction) may pass through openings 36 that erode, melt, disintegrate, or destroy parts of the wellbore 16, casing 22, downhole tool 10, or other component(s) within the operation location 24. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the fuel 34 may be activated, become molten, and then be forced through nozzles 38 located at an end of the fuel-storage body 32. The nozzles 38 may alter (e.g., restrict) the flow of the molten fuel, thus altering (e.g., increasing) the pressure, speed, and force of penetration into the component meant for annihilation. In certain embodiments, the molten fuel 34 may be used to pressurize one or more cavities of the downhole tool 10, forcing a piston or other object to move and do work within the operation location 24.

[0036] To activate the burn of the fuel 34, the pressure-initiated activator 30 may be configured to activate at a specific pressure conveyed through the tubing string 4. To pressurize the tubing string 4, the rig 12 pumps in fluid from the surface 14. Rather than pump all the fluid necessary to fill the entirety of the interior of the tubing string 4, the tubing string coupling 6 can include a first flow passage 40, as shown in FIG. 2, that enables the fluid 20 from the wellbore 16 to enter the tubing string 4 as the tubing string 4 is lowered into the wellbore 16.

[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the tubing string coupling 6 that may be used between the downhole tool 10 and the tubing string 4. In the illustrated embodiment, a top portion 42 of the tubing string coupling 6 may include connection or attachment structures 44, such as threads, clasps, brackets or other fasteners and ways to attach the tubing string coupling 6 to the bottom end of the tubing string 4. Once attached, an interior 46 of the tubing string coupling 6 can have approximately the same internal pressure as the tubing string 4. The pressure can be increased at the bottom of the tubing string 4 due to the gravitational force of the fluid 20 within the tubing string 4, of course.

[0038] As mentioned above, lowering the downhole tool 10 through the fluid 20, and later pressurizing the interior 46, would necessitate pumping fluid into the tubing string 4 if not for the first flow passage 40. However, with this feature of the first flow passage 40, such pumping of the fluid into the tubing string 4 is not needed for operation of the system.

[0039] In a wellbore 16 that is several thousand feet deep, the amount of fluid required to pressurize the tubing string 4 would be difficult to store, pump, and/or acquire. Allowing the fluid 20 to enter into the interior 46, from an exterior 48 of the tubing string coupling 6, through the first flow passage 40 alleviates the need for so much fluid. Once the downhole tool 10 is in place, however, if the first flow passage 40 remained open, added fluid would be jetted into the exterior 48 of the tubing string coupling 6. The jetting of fluid prevents pressurizing of the interior 46. To enable the fluid to pressurize, the tubing string coupling 6 includes a stopper seat 50 that can be configured to hold a stopper 52. The stopper 52 may include a variety of materials; for example, the stopper 52 may be round, such as a ball, and made out of steel or other metal, rubber, polymer, ceramic, or other rigid or conformable material. The stopper 52 may also include various other shapes configured to fit within the stopper seat 50.

[0040] When the downhole tool 10 is located at the operation location 24, the stopper 52 can be dropped into the tubing string 4 by an operator at the surface 14, and can travel within the tubing string 4 until it reaches the stopper seat 50. In the event that gravity is not sufficient on its own to set the stopper 52 in place, the stopper 52 can be flushed into place by the fluid pumped from the surface 14. The stopper seat 50 and the stopper 52 are correspondingly shaped so that when the stopper 52 is seated in the stopper seat 50, the stopper 52 can block the flow through the first flow passage 40. Since there is no fluid flowing from the interior 46 to the exterior 48, fluid pumped into the tubing string 4 from the surface 14 can pressurize the interior 46 of the tubing string coupling 6.

[0041] The increase in the interior pressure reaches the pressure-initiated activator 30 through a pressure passage 54. As illustrated, the pressure passage 54 can open, for example, just next to the stopper seat 50 and connect downward to the pressure-initiated activator 30. Thus, as the operator pressurizes the interior 46, the pressure passage 54 conveys that pressure until the interior pressure reaches a threshold activation pressure. The activation pressure is determined by selection of the pressure-initiated activator 30 before the downhole tool 10 is sent into the wellbore 16. At the specific activation pressure, the pressure-initiated activator 30 activates the burn of the fuel 34 (e.g., heating a metal coil or other heating element to a temperature sufficient to activate the reaction of the thermite fuel 34). The activation does not result in an explosion, nor is there an explosive charge that starts the burning of the fuel 34.

[0042] Depending on the type of operation conducted by the downhole tool 10, the operator may be able to confirm when the operation is finished. In other embodiments, the operator may wait a specified time after the activation pressure has been reached. After the operator determines that the operation is likely concluded, a retrieval procedure begins. As with the lowering of the downhole tool 10, the retrieval of the downhole tool 10 is easier when the fluid 20 within the tubing string 4 is left in the wellbore 16. With the stopper 52 blocking the first flow passage 40, the fluid needs to be evacuated through a second flow passage 60 that, up until this point in the operation, has been blocked by a burst disc 62.

[0043] The burst disc 62 seals the second flow passage 60, but is configured to break and dislodge from the second flow passage 60 when exposed to a burst pressure. The burst pressure is determined to be higher than the activation pressure to ensure that the pressure-initiated activator 30 activates the burn of the fuel 34 before the burst disc 62 breaks. Once the burst disc 62 is broken, fluid is free to pass from the interior 46 of the tubing string coupling 6 to the exterior 48 of the tubing string coupling 6, or, technically, vice versa. The tubing string 4 and the downhole tool 10 may then be retrieved by the rig 12 at the surface 14. As the tubing string 4 is retrieved, the fluid within the interior 46 of the tubing string coupling 6 exits through the second flow passage 60, such that when the coupling 6 and the downhole tool 10 reach the surface 14, none of the fluid remains within.

[0044] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of the tubing string coupling 6 illustrated in FIG. 3. The cross-sectional view is indicated in FIG. 3 along the line 4-4. FIG. 4 also illustrates the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 along the line 3-3. In FIG. 4, the stopper 52 is sealed in place within the stopper seat 50, blocking the first flow passage 40. The second flow passage 62 is shown flowing straight out to the exterior 48, and as with FIG. 3, the pressure passage 54 is shown connecting the interior 46 to the pressure-initiated activator 30. FIG. 4 also illustrates connectors 70 that can enable quick dismantling and replacement of the pressure-initiated activator 30 for redeployment into the wellbore 16. That is, the connectors 70 can be unscrewed or otherwise disconnected from the tubing string coupling 6, allowing access to the pressure-initiated activator 30. When the pressure-initiated activator 30 is replaced, and the stopper 52 is retrieved, the downhole tool 10 and the tubing string coupling 6 are ready to be deployed down the wellbore 16 again.

[0045] Thus, as described above, the tubing string coupling 6 is useful for enabling the pressurized activation of a downhole tool 10 having a fuel that, when ignited, produces an exothermic (non-explosive) reaction. The tubing string coupling 6 enables fluid 20 to flow into the interior 46 of the tubing string coupling 6 through a first flow passage 40 during descent of the downhole tool 10. And, with the use of a stopper 52, the interior 46 of the tubing string coupling 6 is pressurized to an activation pressure, which causes the pressure-initiated activator 30 to activate a burn within the downhole tool 10. Once the downhole tool 10 completes the operation, the interior 46 may be further pressurized to burst a burst disc 62, which opens the second flow passage 60. The second flow passage 60 enables the fluid 20 within the interior 46 to flow back out to the exterior 48 of the tubing string coupling 6, while the downhole tool 10 and the tubing string coupling 6 are raised to the surface 14.

[0046] While various embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure have been described with emphasis, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention can be practiced other than as specifically described herein.