APPARATUS FOR RECIPROCATION AND ROTATION OF A CONVEYANCE STRING IN A WELLBORE

Abstract

A telescopic tool is located intermediate a conveyance string and permits an uphole portion to be manipulated through reciprocation and rotation regardless of the fixed nature of a downhole portion. In embodiments, tools uphole of telescopic joint can be actuated by casing manipulation to aid in placement of cement. In other embodiments, such as during running into the wellbore, the tool can be selectively actuated to cause the uphole casing string to lock to, and rotate, the casing string located downhole.

Claims

1. A method for cementing a casing annulus about a casing string completed in a wellbore, the casing string having an uphole portion located uphole of a downhole portion; the method comprising: locating at least one staging tool between the uphole and downhole portions of the casing string; running the casing string into the wellbore and securing the staging tool in the wellbore; actuating the staging tool to block the casing annulus at the staging tool and block the downhole portion of the casing string from the uphole portion; placing cement through the uphole portion and out of the staging tool into the casing annulus along the uphole portion of the casing; and reciprocating the uphole portion of the casing string to place the cement thereabout.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein before running the casing string into the wellbore, further comprising locating a telescopic joint uphole of the staging tool; and wherein the reciprocating of the uphole portion relative to the downhole portion comprises reciprocating the telescopic joint between retracted and extended positions.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein while running the casing string into the wellbore and before securing the staging tool in the wellbore, actuating the telescopic joint to the retracted position to lock the uphole portion to the downhole portion; and rotating the uphole and downhole portions of the casing string.

4. A method for placing cement in an annulus about a casing string completed in a wellbore, the casing string having an uphole portion located uphole of a downhole portion; the method comprising: spacing one or more cement placement tools along the uphole portion; running the casing string into the wellbore for positioning the lower portion; placing cement through the uphole portion and into the casing annulus along the upper portion of the casing; reciprocating the upper portion relative to the lower portion to place the cement thereabout.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein one or more of the placement tools are centralizers, further comprising for each centralizer actuating the centralizer through the reciprocation of uphole casing for rotating thereof.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein before running the casing string into the wellbore, further comprising locating a telescopic joint between the uphole portion and the downhole portion; and wherein the reciprocating of the uphole portion relative to the downhole portion comprises reciprocating the telescopic joint.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein: wherein before running the casing string into the wellbore, further comprising locating a staging tool between the uphole and downhole portions of the casing string with the telescopic joint uphole of the staging tool between the uphole portion and the downhole portion, and further comprising: actuating the staging tool to block the downhole portion of the casing string from the uphole portion; and placing cement through the uphole portion and out of the staging tool into the casing annulus along the upper portion of the casing.

8. A telescopic casing tool positioned intermediate a uphole portion and a downhole portion of a casing string, the tool comprising: an inner mandrel having a first bore adapted to be fluidly connected with the casing string; and an outer sleeve having a second bore adapted to be fluidly connected with the casing string, the second bore of the outer sleeve being telescopically slidable about the inner mandrel between fully retracted and extended positions.

9. The telescopic tool of claim 8 wherein: the inner mandrel is connected to the downhole portion of the casing string; and the outer sleeve is connected to the uphole portion of the casing string.

10. The telescopic tool of claim 9 further comprising seals at a downhole end of the outer sleeve for sealing between the outer sleeve and the inner mandrel.

11. The telescopic tool of claim 9 further comprising: a sealing sub at a downhole end of the outer sleeve and forming a sealing annulus between the sealing sub and the inner mandrel, and within the sealing annulus, further comprising two or more sliding elements spaced axially apart; sealing elements sandwiched axially between two of the two or more sliding elements; and wiper seals adjacent the uphole and downhole ends of the sealing sub.

12. The telescopic tool of claim 11 wherein the seal elements are lip-type piston rod seals.

13. The telescopic tool of claim 8 further comprising: a locking mechanism between the outer sleeve and inner mandrel for co-rotation of the uphole and downhole portions in the fully retracted position and released for rotation in the extended position.

14. The telescopic tool of claim 13 further comprising: a sliding end of the outer sleeve is fit with a sealing sub; and a coupling end of the inner mandrel is fit with a casing coupling, and wherein the locking mechanism is fit between the sealing sub and coupling end.

15. The telescopic tool of claim 14 further comprising: the sliding end of the outer sleeve is with a first clutch profile and the coupling end of the inner mandrel is with a second complementary profile for co-rotation of the uphole and downhole portions in the fully retracted position and released for rotation in the extended position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1A is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a telescopic casing string joint in its retracted position, a centralizing tool uphole of the telescopic casing string joint and a casing string packer downhole of the telescopic joint;

[0023] FIG. 1B is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A in its extended position;

[0024] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A, illustrating in greater detail the sealing sub;

[0025] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the sealing sub and end cap of FIG. 2;

[0026] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a telescopic casing string joint in its retracted position;

[0027] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 4A in its extended position;

[0028] FIG. 5A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the telescopic interface of the casing string joint of FIG. 4A;

[0029] FIG. 5B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the telescopic interface of the casing string joint of FIG. 4B;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lock off interface at downhole end of the telescopic casing string joint of FIG. 4A;

[0031] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the perspective view of a lock off interface of FIG. 6;

[0032] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate perspective view of the assembled telescopic joint of FIG. 4A in the retracted and extended positions respectively;

[0033] FIGS. 9A and 9B are partial cross-sectional and perspective views of the uphole and downhole ends of the telescopic joint of FIG. 8A, the inner mandrel fully retracted into the outer sleeve;

[0034] FIGS. 10A and 10B are partial cross-sectional and perspective views of the uphole and downhole ends of the telescopic joint of FIG. 8A respectively, the inner mandrel fully extended from the outer sleeve;

[0035] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional and perspective view of the downhole end of outside sleeve and sealing sub according to FIGS. 10A and 10B with the inner mandrel fully extended from the outer sleeve;

[0036] FIG. 12 is a side view of an embodiment of a positive placement tool of WO015/143564, to Applicant, illustrating a mandrel sleeve secured to a section of a casing string, a rotatable centralizer, and helical grooves on the mandrel sleeve forming a portion of a helical drive arrangement;

[0037] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the placement tool of FIG. 12, illustrating an embodiment of the helical drive arrangement between the mandrel and the rotatable centralizer, the helical drive arrangement; and

[0038] FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematics of positive cement placement tools along an uphole portion of a casing string, wherein in FIG. 14A, the uphole portion is stroked downhole to cause a centralizer sleeve to be rotated in a first direction, and wherein in FIG. 14B, the placement tool is stroked uphole to cause the centralizer sleeve to be rotated in a second opposite direction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an embodiment of a telescopic joint 10 is fluidly connected intermediate a casing string C. In this embodiment, the casing string C is positioned within a wellbore W and the downhole portion 13 is fit with a staging tool, or packer, or both 14 collectively. The downhole portion 13 of the casing string can be secured in the wellbore W therein by the packer 14. An uphole portion 11 of the casing string C is axially movable and can be rotatable with respect to the downhole portion 13. Axial and rotational movement is provided through the telescopic joint 10. The term uphole is generally interchangeable with the terms upper or upwards depending on the context, and is used for consistency when a wellbore transitions from vertically-extending to more laterally-extending or horizontal and when upper and upward no longer assist with orientation.

[0040] The telescopic joint 10 comprises a tubular inner mandrel 15 having a first bore adapted to be fluidly connected with the casing string C. A outer sleeve 25 has a second bore 20, adapted to be fluidly connected with the casing string C, the second bore being telescopically slidable about the inner mandrel 15 between fully retracted and extended positions.

[0041] Accordingly, the inner mandrel 15 is slidably fit within the second bore 20 of the tubular outer sleeve 25, the outer sleeve 25 being slidably movable along the length of the inner mandrel 15. In this embodiment the inner mandrel 15 is connected to the downhole portion 13 and the outer sleeve 25 to the uphole portion 11. The inner mandrel and outer sleeve are fit with complementary stops to delimit axial movement and axially retain one to the other.

[0042] As shown, FIG. 1A illustrates the outer sleeve 25 telescopically collapsed over the inner mandrel 15 into a fully retracted position and FIG. 1B illustrates the outer sleeve 25 pulled into an extended position. The extended position can be any range of motion between the fully retracted and a fully extended position as shown.

[0043] With reference to FIG. 2, the telescopic joint is secured within a casing string C. A coupling end or uphole end 30 of the outer sleeve 25 is joined to the uphole portion 11 of the casing string C by a tubular coupling 35. A sliding or downhole end 45 of the outer sleeve 25 is coupled to a tubular sealing sub 50 for slidably and sealingly engaging an outer surface 55 of the inner mandrel 15. The inner mandrel 15 sealably and slidably reciprocates within the bore 20 of the outer sleeve 25 and is joined to the downhole portion 13 at its coupling end 37.

[0044] With reference to FIG. 3, in one embodiment of a sealing interface or annulus between the inner mandrel 15 and the outer sleeve 25, a sealing sub 50 is provided comprising at least sealing elements 65 for sealing against the inner tubular mandrel 15. Sealing elements 65 comprise one or more sets of annular sealing elements. As shown, two sets of annular sealing elements 65 are spaced axially. Suitable for high pressures associated with fracturing each set of Vee-pack seals comprises 4 Vee or chevron seals, operating together to manage pressure differentials in the order of 20,000 psi. Further, the sealing interface comprises two or more annular sliding elements 67 and wiper seals 70 both of which protect the sealing elements 65. An outer surface 55 of the mandrel 15 that interfaces with the sealing elements during manipulation can be polished.

[0045] More particularly, the sealing interface comprises the sealing elements 65 positioned axially between uphole and downhole wiper seals 70. The wiper seals 70 are adjacent uphole and downhole ends of the sealing sub for wiping the polished outer surface of the inner tubular mandrel 15 to exclude a majority of debris from entering the sliding interface and protect the sealing elements 65.

[0046] The sliding elements 67 are also located between the wiper seals 70 and provide dimensional stability to the sliding surfaces 15,25 so as to extend the sealing integrity of the sealing elements 65. The sealing elements 65 are sandwiched axially between two of the two of more sliding elements 67.

[0047] The sealing sub 50 comprises a tubular housing having annular recesses for supporting the sealing elements 65, the sliding elements 67 and the wiper seals 70. The sealing sub 50 supports an annular upset 75 extending radial inwardly for separating and supporting uphole and downhole interface components. An end cap 60, fit to a downhole end of the sealing sub 50, secures downhole sealing and sliding elements within the sub 50 and uphole, the outer sleeve coupling to the sub 50 secures uphole sealing and sliding elements therein.

[0048] The sealing sub is sandwiched between the outer sleeve 25 and the end cap 60 and retains the sealing and sliding elements 65,67 therebetween. From the downhole end, the end cap 60 is fit with a wiper seal 70 and between the end cap 60 and outer sleeve 25, the sub 50 supports a downhole sliding element 67, a downhole sealing element or elements 65, the annular upset 75, an uphole sealing element or elements 65, and uphole sliding element 67 and a wiper element integrated or supported by the sliding element 67. A threaded coupling of the outer sleeve 25 and sealing sub 50 retainably sandwiches the upper sliding element and sealing elements 65 against the annular upset 75.

[0049] Returning to FIG. 2, the inner mandrel 15 is delimited or retained at the extents of its longitudinal or axial range of motion. The uphole end 30 of the inner mandrel 15 is threadably fit with a top cap 32. In the retracted position, the top cap 30 engages the tubular coupling 35 at stops R1, R2, an upper shoulder of the top cap 32 engaging an inner shoulder of the tubular coupling 35. In the extended position, the top cap 30 engages the sealing sub 50, such as at stops E1, E2, a downhole shoulder of the top cap 32 engaging an inner shoulder of the sealing sub 50.

[0050] With reference to FIGS. 4A to 11, in another embodiment of the telescopic joint 10, the sealing sub 50 and stop arrangement E1,E2 is modified from that described above. Further, an option is added to selectively and mechanically lock or couple the rotatable uphole portion with the lower portion of the casing string.

[0051] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, an uphole end 30 of the outer sleeve 25 comprises a female-to-male coupling 35, joined at a downhole female end to the outer sleeve and at a male uphole end to the uphole portion 11 of the casing string C. A downhole end 45 of the outer sleeve 25 is coupled to the tubular sealing sub 50. Again, the inner mandrel 15 sealably and slidably reciprocates within the bore 20 of the outer sleeve 25. A downhole end of the inner mandrel 15 is coupled to a female-to-male coupling 37. In the retracted position, such as during run in, a downhole end of the sealing sub 50 engages an uphole end of the coupling 37. Simultaneously, an uphole end of the inner mandrel 15 sealably engages the coupling 35. As shown in FIG. 4B, in the extended position, the downhole end of the sealing sub 50 separates from the uphole end of the coupling 37 and the uphole end of the inner mandrel 15 separates from coupling 35.

[0052] With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, in another embodiment of the sealing interface between the inner mandrel 15 and the outer sleeve 25, the sealing sub 50 again comprises sealing elements 65 for sealing against the inner tubular mandrel 15.

[0053] Sealing elements 65 comprise one or more sets of annular sealing elements. As shown, four lip-type piston rod seals 65 are spaced axially along the sealing sub 50. The sealing elements 65 can be twin lip, rod seals such as a PTFE and FKM thermoset elastomer combination. The annular sealing elements 65 are sandwiched axially between annular sliding elements 67 and wiper seals 70. The sliding elements 67 act as wear elements such as that formed of PTFE. The wiper seals 70 can be formed of rod wipers.

[0054] The sealing sub 50 threadable coupled with the outer sleeve 25 and sealed thereto with Viton™ O-rings.

[0055] With reference to FIGS. 5B, 6, and 7, and as illustrated for the embodiment of FIGS. 4A-11, a locking mechanism 60 is provided between the outer sleeve 25 and inner mandrel 15, and fit between the sealing sub 50 and coupling end 37, for selectable coupling of the uphole and downhole portions of the casing string C, enabling co-rotation of the uphole and downhole portions in the fully retracted position and released for rotation in the extended position. While the telescopic joint 10 is available for de-coupling the uphole and downhole portions, there are instances where an operator may wish to lock the portions together for co-rotation.

[0056] As shown best in FIGS. 7 and 11, a downhole end E1 of the sealing sub 50 is formed with a first one-way clutch profile 61 and the downhole coupling 37 of the inner mandrel 15 is fit with a second complementary clutch profile 63. The respective clutch profiles comprise unidirectional, interlocking cog-like interface having cooperating ramped faces 62, 64 for release and axial lock faces 65, 67 for co-driving and rotating the downhole coupling 37 and downhole portion of the casing string 13 clockwise. Locking mechanism 60 engages stops E1 and E2 when the tool is in the fully retracted position and locking faces 65,67 engage for co-rotation in the clockwise direction. The ramp faces 62,64 ensure separation in counter-clockwise rotation.

[0057] During running in, or in operations in which the downhole portion 13 of the casing string is not fixed or secured to the wellbore W, there may be a desire to rotate the downhole portion such as to lessen drag, or to assist the downhole end of the string to overcoming cave-ins or climb out and over washouts. Accordingly, in the fully retracted position, the downhole end E1 of the outer sleeve 25 and the downhole coupling 37 of the inner mandrel couple and enable co-rotation of the downhole portion 13 with the uphole portion 11 when engaged and the casing string C is rotated clockwise.

[0058] In embodiments where the telescopic joint is oriented in the opposite direction, the inner mandrel is fluidly connected to the uphole portion and the outer sleeve to the downhole portion. The sealing sub 50 is now facing uphole and can be subject to debris accumulation; any debris cleaned free of the inner mandrel by wiper seals 70. Accordingly, the phraseology for orientation of uphole and downhole ends could read more generically as sliding end 45 at the sealing sub 50 of the outer sleeve 25, now oriented uphole, and a coupling end of the inner mandrel 15 is fit with a casing coupling 37, now also oriented uphole. The outer sleeve 25 is also now connected to the downhole portion of the casing string at casing coupling 35, now at the downhole end.

Example

[0059] For use with a 4.5 inch casing string C, an embodiment of the telescopic casing string joint can comprise a 5.5 inch outer tubular sleeve (such as either a 5.5 inch flush casing string joint or a 5.5 inch conventional casing string joint).

[0060] Referring back to FIG. 2, the cross-over coupling 35, adapted to fluidly connect with a downhole end of the 4.5 inch casing string, is supported by an uphole end 30 of the tubular sleeve 25. The tubular coupling 35 permits a flow fluid path to be contiguous from a bore of the casing string, through the bore 20 of the outer tubular sleeve 25, and through a bore 80 of the inner tubular mandrel 15.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 2, a 4.5 inch inner tubular mandrel, such as either a 4.5 inch flush casing string joint or a 4.5 inch conventional casing string joint, is slidably fit within the bore of the 5.5 inch outer tubular sleeve. The sealing sub 50 is operatively connected to a downhole end of the 5.5 inch outer tubular sleeve 25 and is adapted to sealingly engage an outer surface 55 of the 4.5 inch inner tubular mandrel 15. The outer surface of the inner tubular mandrel 15 is polished to maximize sealing and pressure rating. Four lip-type piston rod seals provide sealing at up to about 20,000 psi. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, for 4.5 inch casing, an axial reciprocation of about 20 feet is available.

[0062] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-3, the end cap 60 secures the sealing and sliding components within the sealing sub 50. The inner mandrel and outer sleeve have stops E1,E2 to prevent separation of the inner mandrel 15 from the outer sleeve. In an embodiment, the sealing sub 50 forms an internal shoulder E2 for engaging a complementary shoulder E1 of the inner mandrel 15.

Operation

[0063] With reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 8A and FIGS. 12-14B, an embodiment of the telescopic casing string joint 10 can be delivered to an end user in its retracted position (FIG. 8A), the inner mandrel 15 retracted within the outer sleeve 25.

[0064] The telescopic casing string joint 10 can be fluidly connected above a downhole portion 13 of a casing string C and to downhole tools, such as stage tools and packers 14. One of more additional tools can be inserted along the uphole portion 11 of the casing string, including those tools 12 that benefit from actuation through casing string reciprocation. Once a complete casing string C is formed at surface, the casing string C, including the telescopic casing string joint 10 and downhole tools 14 can be run in the wellbore W. Upon reaching a desired depth, the staging tool 14 can be actuated for setting packer 14 downhole of the telescopic joint 10, thereby blocking the casing annulus at the staging tool 14 and blocking the downhole portion 13 of the casing string from the uphole portion 11, and downhole operations such as cementing can commence. During or after downhole operations, if the need to stroke or rotate the casing string arises, the telescopic casing string joint can permit both of these actions.

[0065] As the inner mandrel 15 is operatively connected to the packer downhole, and is therefore immobile, then during an uphole stroke of the uphole portion 11 of the casing string C, the outer sleeve 25 can be axially actuated to slidably move in an uphole direction relative to the immobile inner mandrel 15. In a downhole stroke, the outer sleeve 25 is actuated to slidably move in a downhole direction relative to the immobile inner mandrel 15. Further, the inner mandrel 15 permits the outer sleeve 25 to slidably rotate thereabout, further permitting the portion of the uphole portion of the casing string S to rotate.

[0066] During running in, or in operations in which the downhole portion 13 of the casing string is not fixed or secured to the wellbore W, there may be a desire to rotate the downhole portion such as to lessen drag, or to assist the downhole end of the string to overcoming cave-ins or climb out and over washouts. Accordingly, if so specified and assembled prior to run in operations, the downhole end of the outer sleeve 25 and the downhole end of the inner mandrel are fit with the annular clutch. The clutch enables co-rotation of the downhole portion with the uphole portion when engaged and the casing string C is rotated clockwise.

[0067] As discussed above, the telescopic joint 10 permits reciprocation of the uphole portion 11 of the casing string C. On form of uphole tool 12, such as a conventional centralizers, when able to either freely rotate about a casing string or not rotate at all, have not been found to effectively provide the positive impetus to move, positively direct, or otherwise force cement slurry about and along the casing string, particularly under the casing string.

[0068] With reference to FIGS. 12, 13 and FIGS. 14A, 14B, and as disclosed in Applicant's International application published as WO2015/143564 on Oct. 1, 2015, a positive cement placement tool 12, disposed along the uphole portion 11 of the casing string C, located within laterally extending or horizontal sections of the wellbore W, can mechanically provide a positive impetus for positively directing or forcing the injected cement slurry about and along the casing string C. In embodiments, the displacement tool 12 can comprise a centralizer 120, which can be actuated to rotate about the casing string C, for forcing the injected cement slurry around and along the casing string. In embodiments, the centralizer 120 of the placement tool 12 can be actuated to rotate the centralizer in a first direction and then in a second opposite direction by the reciprocal uphole and downhole stroking of the casing string C, for mechanically providing positive impetus to force the cement slurry around and along the casing string.

[0069] In a broad aspect, one can spaces one or more cement placement tools 12 along the uphole portion 11 before running the casing string C into the wellbore W for positioning the lower portion 13. Thereafter, one proceeds to places cement through the uphole portion and into the casing annulus along the upper portion of the casing string, between the casing string C and the wellbore W, then reciprocating the telescopic joint for reciprocating the upper portion relative to the lower portion to place the cement thereabout.

[0070] With reference to the embodiment of FIG. 13 the displacement tool 12 comprises a helical drive arrangement 125 comprises one or more helical grooves 165, formed along an outer surface of a mandrel 175, and corresponding guide pins 170 equally spaced apart and extending radially inwardly from an inner surface 180 of the centralizer 120. Each of the guide pins 170 are received in their respective helical grooves 165 and follow a travel path defined helical grooves 165, causing the centralizer 120 to travel along the length of the mandrel 115 while concurrently rotating thereabout.

[0071] With reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B, stroking the casing string C in one direction (see FIG. 14A downhole) causes the centralizer 120 to rotate about the mandrel 175 in a first direction, providing positive impetus for forcing the cement slurry ahead of the radial guides 30 from one circumferential location to another circumferential location about the displacement tool 12. The longitudinal travel of the casing string C and of the centralizer 120 along the mandrel 115 of tool 10 provides positive impetus for forcing or pushing the cement slurry axially along the tool 10 and along the casing string. Stroking of the casing string C in the opposite direction (see FIG. 14B uphole) drives the centralizer 120 to rotate about the mandrel 115 in a second opposite direction, once again forcing cement slurry about the tool 12. Continued longitudinal travel of one or more centralizers 120 along their respective mandrels 115 in the opposite direction forces the cement slurry to be pushed axially along the casing string in the opposite direction.

[0072] Accordingly, the reciprocating action of the uphole portion 11 of the casing string C, regardless of the fixed arrangement of the downhole portion of the casing string C in the wellbore W, distributes or places cement about the casing string