CA2511628C - Downhole filter - Google Patents
Downhole filter Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2511628C CA2511628C CA002511628A CA2511628A CA2511628C CA 2511628 C CA2511628 C CA 2511628C CA 002511628 A CA002511628 A CA 002511628A CA 2511628 A CA2511628 A CA 2511628A CA 2511628 C CA2511628 C CA 2511628C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- openings
- filter section
- filter
- wellbore
- drill string
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 60
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 43
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 36
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000003698 laser cutting Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 230000003628 erosive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 35
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 24
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000010926 purge Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000003801 milling Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000013618 particulate matter Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 2
- WYTGDNHDOZPMIW-RCBQFDQVSA-N alstonine Natural products C1=CC2=C3C=CC=CC3=NC2=C2N1C[C@H]1[C@H](C)OC=C(C(=O)OC)[C@H]1C2 WYTGDNHDOZPMIW-RCBQFDQVSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 2
- 125000001183 hydrocarbyl group Chemical group 0.000 description 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000171 quenching effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 206010059875 Device ineffective Diseases 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007717 exclusion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000002028 premature Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009877 rendering Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/10—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
- E21B43/103—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
- E21B43/108—Expandable screens or perforated liners
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D17/00—Forming single grooves in sheet metal or tubular or hollow articles
- B21D17/04—Forming single grooves in sheet metal or tubular or hollow articles by rolling
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D39/00—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders
- B21D39/04—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders of tubes with tubes; of tubes with rods
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D39/00—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders
- B21D39/08—Tube expanders
- B21D39/10—Tube expanders with rollers for expanding only
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B29/00—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs, or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B29/00—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs, or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
- E21B29/002—Cutting, e.g. milling, a pipe with a cutter rotating along the circumference of the pipe
- E21B29/005—Cutting, e.g. milling, a pipe with a cutter rotating along the circumference of the pipe with a radially-expansible cutter rotating inside the pipe, e.g. for cutting an annular window
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B29/00—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs, or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
- E21B29/10—Reconditioning of well casings, e.g. straightening
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/13—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices, or the like
- E21B33/138—Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/08—Screens or liners
- E21B43/086—Screens with preformed openings, e.g. slotted liners
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/10—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
- E21B43/103—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/10—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
- E21B43/103—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
- E21B43/105—Expanding tools specially adapted therefor
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
- E21B7/20—Driving or forcing casings or pipes into boreholes, e.g. sinking; Simultaneously drilling and casing boreholes
Abstract
In one aspect, a downhole filter comprises a tubular member having a wall defining a plurality of openings. The openings have an outer width less than an inner width. The parts of the opening defining the smaller width are defined by radially outer parts of the openings, such that particulates or sand prevented from passing through the openings will tend to be retained to the outside of the tubular member. In another aspect, a method comprises providing a tubular string having a non-porous tubular portion and a porous tubular portion, and installing the tubular string within a wellbore such that the porous tubular portion is located adjacent a fluid-producing formation within the wellbore. In yet another aspect, an apparatus comprises a drill string comprising a non-porous tubular portion and a porous tubular portion, and an earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string.
Description
DOWNHOLE FILTER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to downhole filters, methods of filtering production fluid downhole, and methods of producing downhole filters. Embodiments of the invention relate to downhole filters, such as sand screens, for use in preventing sand or other particulates entrained in production fluid from passing from a producing formation into a wellbore.
Description of the Related Art It is generally desirable that fluids extracted from downhole formations, such as oil and gas produced from hydrocarbon-bearing formations, are substantially free from particulates, or sand. The presence of sand in the production fluid can lead to blockages, premature wear and damage to valves, pumps and the like. Produced sand which has been separated from the produced fluid at surface requires storage and disposal, which can be difficult and expensive, particularly in offshore operations.
Furthermore, unchecked production of sand from a formation can result in substantial damage to the formation itself.
Perhaps the most common means for restricting sand production involves the provision of a mechanical sand control device, installed downhole, that causes the sand to bridge or filters the produced liquids or gases. These devices come in many forms, including slotted liners and wire-wrapped screens. The simplest slotted liner is made of oilfield pipe that has been longitudinally slotted with a precision saw or mill. Such liner is relatively inexpensive, and is accordingly preferred for wells having long completion intervals, but does not have high-iniet-flow areas, and may therefore be unsuitable for high-rate wells. Wire-wrapped screens consist of keystone-shaped corrosion-resistant wire wrapped around a drilled or slotted mandrel, the wire being spaced from the mandrel by longitudinal ribs to allow for maximum flow through the screen.
Other sand control devices comprise a filter sheet sandwiched between a perforated base pipe and a perforated outer shroud. By providing the filter sheet in the form of a plurality of overlapping leaves, and providing a diametrically expandable base pipe and outer shroud, it is possible to provide an expandable sand control device, such as is sold under the ESS trade mark by the applicant. In this particular arrangement, overlapping leaves of non-expanding apertured metal filter sheet are sandwiched between a slotted expandable base pipe and a slotted expandable protective shroud.
Each leaf is attached to the base pipe along an axially extending weld, and the free edges of the leaves then overlapped to provide an iris-like arrangement. On expansion of the filter, the leaves of filter sheet slide over one another, the circumferential extent of each leaf being selected such that a degree of overlap remains in the expanded configuration, such that there is a continuous wrapping of filter sheet.
While such expandable filter arrangements have been used successfully on many occasions, manufacture of the arrangements is relatively difficult and expensive, and the location and relative movement of the filter sheets during the expansion process introduces a risk of the filter sheets tearing. When installing the sand control device as a completion string within the wellbore, the outer shroud may tear upon coming into contact with an obstruction within the wellbore, rendering the sand control device ineffective for its desired purpose. Installing a filter arrangement downhole is especially problematic when it is desired to drill to the desired depth within the formation using the filter arrangement, as the outer shroud is especially prone to tearing upon portions of the formation while drilling.
Embodiments of the various aspects of the present invention provide alternative sand control devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to embodiments of the present invention there is provided a downhole filter comprising a tubular member having a wall defining a plurality of openings, at least a portion of one or more openings having an outer width less than an inner width.
Thus, the parts of the openings defining the smaller width are defined by radially outer
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to downhole filters, methods of filtering production fluid downhole, and methods of producing downhole filters. Embodiments of the invention relate to downhole filters, such as sand screens, for use in preventing sand or other particulates entrained in production fluid from passing from a producing formation into a wellbore.
Description of the Related Art It is generally desirable that fluids extracted from downhole formations, such as oil and gas produced from hydrocarbon-bearing formations, are substantially free from particulates, or sand. The presence of sand in the production fluid can lead to blockages, premature wear and damage to valves, pumps and the like. Produced sand which has been separated from the produced fluid at surface requires storage and disposal, which can be difficult and expensive, particularly in offshore operations.
Furthermore, unchecked production of sand from a formation can result in substantial damage to the formation itself.
Perhaps the most common means for restricting sand production involves the provision of a mechanical sand control device, installed downhole, that causes the sand to bridge or filters the produced liquids or gases. These devices come in many forms, including slotted liners and wire-wrapped screens. The simplest slotted liner is made of oilfield pipe that has been longitudinally slotted with a precision saw or mill. Such liner is relatively inexpensive, and is accordingly preferred for wells having long completion intervals, but does not have high-iniet-flow areas, and may therefore be unsuitable for high-rate wells. Wire-wrapped screens consist of keystone-shaped corrosion-resistant wire wrapped around a drilled or slotted mandrel, the wire being spaced from the mandrel by longitudinal ribs to allow for maximum flow through the screen.
Other sand control devices comprise a filter sheet sandwiched between a perforated base pipe and a perforated outer shroud. By providing the filter sheet in the form of a plurality of overlapping leaves, and providing a diametrically expandable base pipe and outer shroud, it is possible to provide an expandable sand control device, such as is sold under the ESS trade mark by the applicant. In this particular arrangement, overlapping leaves of non-expanding apertured metal filter sheet are sandwiched between a slotted expandable base pipe and a slotted expandable protective shroud.
Each leaf is attached to the base pipe along an axially extending weld, and the free edges of the leaves then overlapped to provide an iris-like arrangement. On expansion of the filter, the leaves of filter sheet slide over one another, the circumferential extent of each leaf being selected such that a degree of overlap remains in the expanded configuration, such that there is a continuous wrapping of filter sheet.
While such expandable filter arrangements have been used successfully on many occasions, manufacture of the arrangements is relatively difficult and expensive, and the location and relative movement of the filter sheets during the expansion process introduces a risk of the filter sheets tearing. When installing the sand control device as a completion string within the wellbore, the outer shroud may tear upon coming into contact with an obstruction within the wellbore, rendering the sand control device ineffective for its desired purpose. Installing a filter arrangement downhole is especially problematic when it is desired to drill to the desired depth within the formation using the filter arrangement, as the outer shroud is especially prone to tearing upon portions of the formation while drilling.
Embodiments of the various aspects of the present invention provide alternative sand control devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to embodiments of the present invention there is provided a downhole filter comprising a tubular member having a wall defining a plurality of openings, at least a portion of one or more openings having an outer width less than an inner width.
Thus, the parts of the openings defining the smaller width are defined by radially outer
2 parts of the openings, such that particulates or sand prevented from passing through the openings will tend to be retained to the outside of the tubular member.
Preferably, said outer width defines the minimum width of the openings.
Preferably, said portions of one or more openings defining said outer width are located on or adjacent an outer circumference of the tubular member.
Conveniently, the openings have a keystone form, that is the openings are of generally trapezoidal section, or wedge-shaped section. However, the openings may take any appropriate form, including a nozzle-like form having convex side walls or other forms having rectilinear or non-rectilinear side walls. Keystone-form openings may be created by laser-cutting, abrasive water jet cutting, or indeed by any conventional cutting or milling techniques.
The form of openings present in the walls of tubular members in accordance with these embodiments of the present invention is of course unlike the form of openings that would be achieved if a normally apertured planar sheet, in which openings have parallel walls, is rolled into a tubular form, which tends to create openings in which the inner width of the openings is less than the outer width. Furthermore, conventional slotted liner, made of oilfield pipe that has been longitudinally slotted with a precision saw or mill, will feature parallel side walls and will tend to have an outer length greater than an inner length. Thus this aspect of the invention provides the preferred form of openings for sand exclusion such as is achieved in wire-wrapped screens, but without the complexity and expense associated with wire-wrapped screens, and in a relatively robust form.
The openings may be of any desired configuration or orientation, or combination of configurations or orientations, including longitudinally extending openings or slots, circumferentially extending openings or slots, helically extending openings or slots, or serpentine openings or slots which may have a wave or step-form.
Preferably, the tubular member is self-supporting such that the member may be handled, and preferably also run into and installed in a bore, without requiring the
Preferably, said outer width defines the minimum width of the openings.
Preferably, said portions of one or more openings defining said outer width are located on or adjacent an outer circumference of the tubular member.
Conveniently, the openings have a keystone form, that is the openings are of generally trapezoidal section, or wedge-shaped section. However, the openings may take any appropriate form, including a nozzle-like form having convex side walls or other forms having rectilinear or non-rectilinear side walls. Keystone-form openings may be created by laser-cutting, abrasive water jet cutting, or indeed by any conventional cutting or milling techniques.
The form of openings present in the walls of tubular members in accordance with these embodiments of the present invention is of course unlike the form of openings that would be achieved if a normally apertured planar sheet, in which openings have parallel walls, is rolled into a tubular form, which tends to create openings in which the inner width of the openings is less than the outer width. Furthermore, conventional slotted liner, made of oilfield pipe that has been longitudinally slotted with a precision saw or mill, will feature parallel side walls and will tend to have an outer length greater than an inner length. Thus this aspect of the invention provides the preferred form of openings for sand exclusion such as is achieved in wire-wrapped screens, but without the complexity and expense associated with wire-wrapped screens, and in a relatively robust form.
The openings may be of any desired configuration or orientation, or combination of configurations or orientations, including longitudinally extending openings or slots, circumferentially extending openings or slots, helically extending openings or slots, or serpentine openings or slots which may have a wave or step-form.
Preferably, the tubular member is self-supporting such that the member may be handled, and preferably also run into and installed in a bore, without requiring the
3 provision of an additional support member or members. Most preferably, the tubular member incorporates end couplings, to allow the tubular member to be incorporated in a string of tubulars. The tubular member may feature threaded end portions, such as pin and box connections, or may have ends adapted to co-operate with coupling sleeves_ The number and form of the openings may be determined with a view to providing the tubular member with a desired strength, and crusl7 resistance, and as such will depend upon, for example, the wall thickness of the tubular member, the diameter of the member, the material from which the member is formed, and whether the member has been or will be heat-treated, cold worked, or Its material properties otherwise altered or modified.
In other embodiments, the tubular member may be provided in combination with one or more other tubular members located intemaliy or extemaily thereof, which other tubular members may serve a support or proteetion function, or may provide a filtering function. One embodiment of the invention includes an inner support pipe, within the tubular member, but is absent any external protective shroud.
In certain embodiments the tubular member may be diametrically expandable.
Such expansion may be accommodated in a number of ways, for example the wall of the member may extend vr otherwise deform, which may Involve a change in the fomn of the openings. In one embodiment, the wall of the tubular member may incorporate extendible portions, such as described in our PCTIGB20031001718. However, a preferred extensible tubular member features substantially circular openings which, following diametric expansion, assume a circumferentially-extending slot-form of smaller width than the original openings. Preferably, the original openings are laser-cut.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a wellbore filter comprising a tubular member having a plurality of openings therethrough, the openings having a serpentine configuration.
Aspects of the present invention also relate to methods of filtering wellbore fluids, one method comprising placing a downhole filter within a wellbore, with the
In other embodiments, the tubular member may be provided in combination with one or more other tubular members located intemaliy or extemaily thereof, which other tubular members may serve a support or proteetion function, or may provide a filtering function. One embodiment of the invention includes an inner support pipe, within the tubular member, but is absent any external protective shroud.
In certain embodiments the tubular member may be diametrically expandable.
Such expansion may be accommodated in a number of ways, for example the wall of the member may extend vr otherwise deform, which may Involve a change in the fomn of the openings. In one embodiment, the wall of the tubular member may incorporate extendible portions, such as described in our PCTIGB20031001718. However, a preferred extensible tubular member features substantially circular openings which, following diametric expansion, assume a circumferentially-extending slot-form of smaller width than the original openings. Preferably, the original openings are laser-cut.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a wellbore filter comprising a tubular member having a plurality of openings therethrough, the openings having a serpentine configuration.
Aspects of the present invention also relate to methods of filtering wellbore fluids, one method comprising placing a downhole filter within a wellbore, with the
4 downhole filter comprising a tubular member having a wall defining a plurality of openings, at least a portion of one or more openings having an outer width less than an inner width, with the outer width sized to filter wellbore particulate matter;
and passing wellbore fluids into an interior passage of the tubular member through the openings.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention there is provided a downhole filter arrangement comprising a metal tubular member defining a plurality of laser-cut perforations.
Existing tubular members are slotted to create filters using a precision saw or mill. The use of a precision cutting tool is necessary to provide the accurately controlled slot width required to provide an effective filter with predictable sand control properties. However, the applicant has now achieved the previously unattainable accuracy required of filter slots or openings by laser-cutting.
Conventionally, a slot cut by laser has a larger width at the slot ends, where cutting commenced and stopped, producing "dog-bone" slots, which are of little if any utility in filter applications. A
conventional laser cutting operation utilises a substantially constant laser energy input, and when cutting commences the laser is held stationary relative to the workpiece until the laser has cut through the depth of the metal, before moving along the workpiece to cut the slot, and then coming to a stop at the end of the slot. Applicant believes that, without wishing to be bound by theory, where the laser is held stationary relative to the workpiece, energy transfer to the workpiece from the laser creates a pool of molten metal surrounding the area of metal which is removed by vaporisation, and this pool of molten metal is removed from the workpiece with the vaporised metal. This has the effect that the width of cut is increased relative to areas where the laser is moving relative to the workpiece, and where less metal is removed by this mechanism.
The applicant has found that it is possible to avoid this problem by controlling the laser energy during the cutting process, and more particularly by reducing the laser energy when the laser is stationary relative to the workpiece. By doing so it has been possible to cut slots of consistent width, suitable for use in filtering applications.
Other techniques may be utilised to control slot width, including reducing the flow rate of purging gas, and thus reducing the rate of removal of molten metal.
Alternatively, or
and passing wellbore fluids into an interior passage of the tubular member through the openings.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention there is provided a downhole filter arrangement comprising a metal tubular member defining a plurality of laser-cut perforations.
Existing tubular members are slotted to create filters using a precision saw or mill. The use of a precision cutting tool is necessary to provide the accurately controlled slot width required to provide an effective filter with predictable sand control properties. However, the applicant has now achieved the previously unattainable accuracy required of filter slots or openings by laser-cutting.
Conventionally, a slot cut by laser has a larger width at the slot ends, where cutting commenced and stopped, producing "dog-bone" slots, which are of little if any utility in filter applications. A
conventional laser cutting operation utilises a substantially constant laser energy input, and when cutting commences the laser is held stationary relative to the workpiece until the laser has cut through the depth of the metal, before moving along the workpiece to cut the slot, and then coming to a stop at the end of the slot. Applicant believes that, without wishing to be bound by theory, where the laser is held stationary relative to the workpiece, energy transfer to the workpiece from the laser creates a pool of molten metal surrounding the area of metal which is removed by vaporisation, and this pool of molten metal is removed from the workpiece with the vaporised metal. This has the effect that the width of cut is increased relative to areas where the laser is moving relative to the workpiece, and where less metal is removed by this mechanism.
The applicant has found that it is possible to avoid this problem by controlling the laser energy during the cutting process, and more particularly by reducing the laser energy when the laser is stationary relative to the workpiece. By doing so it has been possible to cut slots of consistent width, suitable for use in filtering applications.
Other techniques may be utilised to control slot width, including reducing the flow rate of purging gas, and thus reducing the rate of removal of molten metal.
Alternatively, or
5 additionally, a pulsed laser may be used, which laser produces discrete energy pulses such that, in use, a laser spot is not focussed on the workpiece for a time which is sufficient to allow thermal energy to be conducted into the metal surrounding the cutting zone.
There are a number of advantages gained by utilising laser to cut the perforations. Firstly, the perforations may be of forms other than those achievable by means of a conventional rotating cutting tool, and in particular it is possible to cut narrow slots of a serpentine form. Secondly, laser cutting tools may operate in conjunction with a gas purge, which carries away the vaporised and molten metal, and cools the surrounding material. An oxygen purge may be utilised to help the exothermic reaction at high temperatures, but for the present application an inert gas purge is preferred. However, in addition to merely cooling the metal, the gas purge jet has been found to produce a quenching effect at the edges of the cut, tending to increase the hardness of the metal surrounding the cut, particularly the outer edges of the perforations. Of course this is the area of the perforation which is likely to have to withstand the greatest erosion.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of creating a downhole filter arrangement comprising laser-cutting a plurality of perforations in a metal filter member. According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided an expandable downhole filter arrangement comprising an expandable base tube and a deformable metal filter sheet mounted around the base tube, the filter sheet defining a plurality of laser-cut perforations.
Surprisingly, it has been found that relatively thin laser-perforated metal filter sheet may be deformed, and in particular extended, with minimal risk of tearing. It has been found that the perforations, which are typically originally substantially circular, tend to deform on diametric expansion of the filter sheet to assume the form of elongate slots of width less than the diameter of the original perforations.
Laser-cut perforations tend to have a keystone or trapezoidal section, and the filter sheet is preferably arranged such that the smaller diameter end of each
There are a number of advantages gained by utilising laser to cut the perforations. Firstly, the perforations may be of forms other than those achievable by means of a conventional rotating cutting tool, and in particular it is possible to cut narrow slots of a serpentine form. Secondly, laser cutting tools may operate in conjunction with a gas purge, which carries away the vaporised and molten metal, and cools the surrounding material. An oxygen purge may be utilised to help the exothermic reaction at high temperatures, but for the present application an inert gas purge is preferred. However, in addition to merely cooling the metal, the gas purge jet has been found to produce a quenching effect at the edges of the cut, tending to increase the hardness of the metal surrounding the cut, particularly the outer edges of the perforations. Of course this is the area of the perforation which is likely to have to withstand the greatest erosion.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of creating a downhole filter arrangement comprising laser-cutting a plurality of perforations in a metal filter member. According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided an expandable downhole filter arrangement comprising an expandable base tube and a deformable metal filter sheet mounted around the base tube, the filter sheet defining a plurality of laser-cut perforations.
Surprisingly, it has been found that relatively thin laser-perforated metal filter sheet may be deformed, and in particular extended, with minimal risk of tearing. It has been found that the perforations, which are typically originally substantially circular, tend to deform on diametric expansion of the filter sheet to assume the form of elongate slots of width less than the diameter of the original perforations.
Laser-cut perforations tend to have a keystone or trapezoidal section, and the filter sheet is preferably arranged such that the smaller diameter end of each
6 perforation in the filter sheet is adjacent the outer face of the sheet. It has been found that the laser-perforated sheet is sufficiently robust to obviate the requirement to provide a protective shroud around the exterior of the sheet, thus simplifying the manufacture of the expandable filter arrangement and allowing installation of the laser-perforated sheet within the wellbore without the tear-prone protective shroud.
The laser-perforated sheet may be initially provided in planar form, and then wrapped or otherwise formed around the base tube. The edges of the sheet may be joined by any convenient method, such as a seam weld.
In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a method of completing a wellbore, comprising providing a tubular string, a first portion of the tubular string comprising one or more non-porous tubulars and a second portion of the tubular string comprising one or more porous tubulars; and installing the tubular string within the wellbore such that the second portion is located adjacent a fluid-producing formation within the wellbore. In yet another aspect, embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus for use in drilling and completing a wellbore, comprising a drill string, a first portion of the drill string comprising one or more non-porous tubulars and a second portion of the drill string comprising one or more porous tubulars; and an earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The laser-perforated sheet may be initially provided in planar form, and then wrapped or otherwise formed around the base tube. The edges of the sheet may be joined by any convenient method, such as a seam weld.
In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a method of completing a wellbore, comprising providing a tubular string, a first portion of the tubular string comprising one or more non-porous tubulars and a second portion of the tubular string comprising one or more porous tubulars; and installing the tubular string within the wellbore such that the second portion is located adjacent a fluid-producing formation within the wellbore. In yet another aspect, embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus for use in drilling and completing a wellbore, comprising a drill string, a first portion of the drill string comprising one or more non-porous tubulars and a second portion of the drill string comprising one or more porous tubulars; and an earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
7 Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of part of a downhole filter in accordance with an embodiment of one aspect of the present invention, the filter shown located in a wellbore.
Figure 1 a is an enlarged schematic sectional view on line a-a of Figure 1.
Figure 2 shows part of a downhole filter in accordance with an embodiment of another aspect of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows part of a downhole filter in accordance with an embodiment of a further aspect of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a schematic view of a step in the creation of a filter in accordance with an embodiment of a still further aspect of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of part of a filter in accordance with an embodiment of another aspect of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a view of part of a filter sheet of the filter of Figure 5, shown following diametric expansion of the filter.
Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view of part of the downhole filter of Figure 1 drilling a wellbore within a formation.
Figure 8 is a schematic sectional view of part of the downhole filter of Figure 5 drilling a wellbore within a formation.
Figure 9 is a schematic section view of part of the downhole filter of Figure positioned within the wellbore.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference is first made to Figure 1 of the drawings, which is a schematic sectional view of a sand control device in the form of downhole filter 10, in accordance with an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention. The filter 10 is shown
Figure 1 a is an enlarged schematic sectional view on line a-a of Figure 1.
Figure 2 shows part of a downhole filter in accordance with an embodiment of another aspect of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows part of a downhole filter in accordance with an embodiment of a further aspect of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a schematic view of a step in the creation of a filter in accordance with an embodiment of a still further aspect of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of part of a filter in accordance with an embodiment of another aspect of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a view of part of a filter sheet of the filter of Figure 5, shown following diametric expansion of the filter.
Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view of part of the downhole filter of Figure 1 drilling a wellbore within a formation.
Figure 8 is a schematic sectional view of part of the downhole filter of Figure 5 drilling a wellbore within a formation.
Figure 9 is a schematic section view of part of the downhole filter of Figure positioned within the wellbore.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference is first made to Figure 1 of the drawings, which is a schematic sectional view of a sand control device in the form of downhole filter 10, in accordance with an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention. The filter 10 is shown
8 located in a wellbore 12 which has been drilled from surface to intersect a sand-producing hydrocarbon-bearing formation 14.
The filter 10 comprises a metal tubular in which a large number of longitudinally-extending slots 16 have been cut. The slots 16 have a keystone or trapezoidal form, that is the width of the slots increases from the exterior of the tubular wall Wo to the interior Wi. This feature is shown in Figure 1 a, which is an enlarged sectional view of a slot 16 through line " of Figure 1. As shown, the inner slot width Wi is greater than the outer slot width Wo. The outer, minimum width Wa is selected to be smaller than the diameter of the particulates it is desired to prevent from passing from the formation 14, through the tubular wall 18, and into the tubular bore 20 (those of skill in the art will of course realize that the dimensions of the slots 16, in this and other figures, have been exaggerated).
Reference is now made to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, which shows alternative, serpentine, slot forms, In particular a chevron-form in Figure 2, and a sine , wave-form in Figure 3. If desired, the tubulars may be reinforced by providing reinforcing ribs, which may be integral with the tubing wall or welded or otherwise fixed thereto, allowing a greater density of slots, thus providing a high-iniet-flow area. The ribs may extend In any desired direction, depending upon the nature of the reinforcement which is required or desired. In other embodiments, the wall of the tubular may be corrugated, to increase crush resistance, as described in applicant's PCT1GB20031002880.
Reference is now made to Figure 4 of the drawings, which is a schematic view of a step in the creation of afiIter in accordance with an embodiment of a stiil furkher aspect of the present invention. In particular, the figure shows a laser-cutting operation, with a iaser-cutting head 40 producing an energy beam 42 which is utilised to cut a slot 44 in the wall 46 of a metal tubular 48.
The head 40 and tubular 48 are mounted for relative movement to permit the desired slot forms to be cut, whether these are longitudinal slots, circumferential slots, or serpentine slots. The energy input to the head 40 from the associated power source
The filter 10 comprises a metal tubular in which a large number of longitudinally-extending slots 16 have been cut. The slots 16 have a keystone or trapezoidal form, that is the width of the slots increases from the exterior of the tubular wall Wo to the interior Wi. This feature is shown in Figure 1 a, which is an enlarged sectional view of a slot 16 through line " of Figure 1. As shown, the inner slot width Wi is greater than the outer slot width Wo. The outer, minimum width Wa is selected to be smaller than the diameter of the particulates it is desired to prevent from passing from the formation 14, through the tubular wall 18, and into the tubular bore 20 (those of skill in the art will of course realize that the dimensions of the slots 16, in this and other figures, have been exaggerated).
Reference is now made to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, which shows alternative, serpentine, slot forms, In particular a chevron-form in Figure 2, and a sine , wave-form in Figure 3. If desired, the tubulars may be reinforced by providing reinforcing ribs, which may be integral with the tubing wall or welded or otherwise fixed thereto, allowing a greater density of slots, thus providing a high-iniet-flow area. The ribs may extend In any desired direction, depending upon the nature of the reinforcement which is required or desired. In other embodiments, the wall of the tubular may be corrugated, to increase crush resistance, as described in applicant's PCT1GB20031002880.
Reference is now made to Figure 4 of the drawings, which is a schematic view of a step in the creation of afiIter in accordance with an embodiment of a stiil furkher aspect of the present invention. In particular, the figure shows a laser-cutting operation, with a iaser-cutting head 40 producing an energy beam 42 which is utilised to cut a slot 44 in the wall 46 of a metal tubular 48.
The head 40 and tubular 48 are mounted for relative movement to permit the desired slot forms to be cut, whether these are longitudinal slots, circumferential slots, or serpentine slots. The energy input to the head 40 from the associated power source
9 50 is controlled by a computer-controlled unit 49 such that, when the head 40 is producing an energy beam and is stationary relative to the tubular 48, the energy input is reduced such that the resulting slot width is the same as that produced when the head 40 is cutting a slot while moving relative to the tubular 48.
The laser-cutting head 40 is provided in conjunction with a purge gas outlet, from which a jet of inert gas 52 is directed onto and around the cutting area. This gas 52 protects the hot metal from oxidation and also carries away the vaporised and molten metal produced by the cutting operation. The gas 52 also has the effect of rapidly cooling the hot metal in the vicinity of the cut. The resulting quenching effect has been found to harden the metal, and in particular has been found to harden the slot outer edges 54. The hardening of the metal in the vicinity of the cut may cause the slot to become more resistant to erosion.
Figure 5 is a part-sectional illustration of part of another form of laser-cut filter, and in particular shows part of an expandable downhole filter arrangement 70 comprising an expandable slotted base tube 72 and a deformable metal filter sheet 74 mounted over and around the base tube 72, the filter sheet 74 defining a plurality of laser-cut perforations 76. The I aser-pe rfo rated sheet 74 is initially provided in planar form, and then wrapped around the base tube 72. The edges of the sheet may be joined by any convenient method, such as a seam weld.
It will be noted that the perforations 76 are substantially circular, and on expansion of the filter arrangement 70 to a larger diameter, with corresponding diametric expansion of the filter sheet 74, the perforations 76 assume the form of elongate slots 76a, as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, of width We less than the diameter do of the original perforations. The diametric expansion may be achieved by any convenient method, but the method preferably utilizes a rotary expansion tool.
The laser-cut perforations 76 have a keystone or trapezoidal section, which form is retained in the extended slots 76a, and the filter sheet 74 is arranged such that the narrower or smaller diameter end of the perforations is adjacent the outer face of the filter sheet. It has been found that the laser-perforated filter sheet 74 is sufficiently robust to obviate the requirement to provide a protective shroud around the exterior of the sheet 74, thus simplifying the manufacture of the expandable filter arrangement 70 and allowing installation of the filter arrangement 70 within the wellbore 12 without the tear-prone protective outer shroud.
Figure 7 shows a tubular string 105 being lowered into the wellbore 12. The tubular string 105 may be a drill string if it is used to form the wellbore 12 in the formation 14 (as shown in Figure 7) or in another embodiment, may be a tubular string 105 lowered into the wellbore 12 after the wellbore 12 has been drilled in the formation 14 (a completion string for example).
The tubular string 105 includes a non-porous tubing portion 115 and a porous tubing portion 18 operatively connected to one another, preferably connected to one another by a threaded connection 125. The porous tubing portion 18 preferably acts as a downhole filter for fluid entering a bore of the tubular string 105 from the formation 14.
One or more openings 16, which are preferably one or more perforations or one or more slots, are located within the tubular wall of the porous tubing portion 18.
The openings 16 are preferably formed in the porous tubing portion 18 in the same manner as described in relation to Figures 1-6 above and are preferably configured in the shape as shown and described in relation to Figures 1 and 2;
however, it is contemplated that the openings 16 may be formed in any other manner known to those skilled in the art and that the openings 16 may be configured as shown and described in relation to Figures 3-6 or in any other shape and size known to those skilled in the art. The openings 16 are preferably formed by laser-cutting or abrasive water jet cutting, but may be created by any conventional cutting or milling techniques.
Because the tubular string 105 shown in Figure 7 is used to drill into the formation 14, an earth removal member 120 is operatively connected to a lower end of the tubular string 105. The earth removal member 120 is preferably a drill bit and has one or more perforations therethrough for circulating drilling fluid while drilling. The tubular string 105 may further include a mud motor (not shown) and/or other traditional components of a bottomhole assembly disposed above the earth removal member to impart rotation to the earth removal member 120 and/or to perform other functions such as measuring-while-drilling or logging-while-drilling. The earth removal member 120 may be rotated relative to the tubular string 105 using the mud motor to drill into the formation 14, or in the alternative, the entire tubular string 105 may be rotated by equipment capable of providing torque to the tubular string 105, for example a top drive or one or more tongs.
In the alternate embodiment in which the wellbore 12 is drilled to the desired depth prior to insertion of the tubuiar string 105 into the wellbore 12, the earth removal member 120 is preferably not included at the lower end of the tubular string 105.
Moreover, in the alternate embodiment, the tubular string 105 does not have to be rotated, and drilling fluid does not have to be circulated during lowering of the tubuiar string 105.
In operation, the tubular string 105 is assembled at the surface of the wellbore 12 so that the porous tubing portion 18 will ultimately be disposed substantially adjacent to the fluid-bearing portion of the formation 14, which is the "area of interest" in the formation 14. The tubular string 105 may include any number of porous tubing portions 18 and any number of non-porous tubing portions 115 connected in any order to one another. In assembling the tubular string 105 at the surface, the porous tubing portion 18 is selected based on the quantity, shape, and size of openings 16 needed to filter the fluid flowing from the area of interest in the formation 14 to the desired extent, and the length of the porous tubing portion 18 is selected based on the desired flow-filtering area of the downhole filter.
Instead of assembiing the tubular string 105 at the surface, the tubular string 105 may be assembled as portions of the tubular string 105 are lowered into the wetlbore 12, for example by threadedly connecting porous and non-porous tubing portions 18, 115 as the upper end of the preceding tubular portion becomes accessible.
Whether assembled at the surface or while the tubular string 105 is lowered into the wellbore 12, the porous tubing portions 18 need not be alike in quantity, shape, or size of the openings 16 or length over which the openings 16 extend along the tubular string 105.
For example, if more than one area of interest exists in the formation 14, one porous tubing portion 18 may be configured in one way, while another porous tubing portion 18 may be configured in another way, so that each porous tubing portion 18 is configured to adequately filter the different area of interest to which it is disposed adjacent.
As shown in Figure 7, the tubular string 105 is then lowered into the formation 14 to form a wellbore 12. As stated above, the earth removal member 120 may be rotated or the entire tubular string 105 rotated to form the wellbore 12 and install the tubular string 105 within the wellbore 12. Optionally, drilling fluid may be introduced into the tubular string 105 and circulated through the perforations in the earth removal member 120 up through an annulus between the outer diameter of the tubular string 105 and a wall of the wellbore 12 while drilling.
The tubular string 105 is used to drill the wellbore 12 until the porous tubing portion 18 is positioned at least substantially adjacent to the area of interest in the formation 14. In one embodiment, the earth removal member 120 may remain within the wellbore 12 after drilling the tubular string 105 to the area of interest.
In an alternative embodiment, the earth removal member 120 may be retrieved from the wellbore 12, for example by any fishing tool known to those skilled in the art capable of retrieving a drill bit. In a further alternative embodiment, the earth removal member 120 may be drilled through by another cutting tool.
If the wellbore 12 was drilled prior to insertion of the tubular string 105 into the wellbore 12, as in the alternate embodiment, the tubular string 105 is lowered into the previously drilled-out wellbore 12 to a position substantially adjacent to the area of interest within the formation 14. Because the earth removal member 120 is not present in this embodiment, no procedure is necessary to remove the earth removal member 120 from the wellbore 12.
At this point in the operation, the fluid may flow through the openings 16 from the area of interest in the formation 14 into the bore of the tubular string 105.
As the fluid flows through the openings 16, the fluid is filtered so that wellbore particulate matter is prevented from entering the bore of the tubular string 105 to the extent desired. The filtered fluid may then flow up through the bore of the tubular string 105 to the surface of the wellbore 12.
An additional embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 8 and 9.
The embodiments shown in Figures 8 and 9 include an inner support pipe disposed within a porous tubular member, without any external protective shroud disposed around the tubular member. Eliminating the external protective outer shroud which is present in traditional downhole filter arrangements allows the downhole filter to be placed in the wellbore or drilled into the formation without tearing or otherwise damaging the filtering functionality of the downhole filter on obstructions encountered while lowering the downhole filter into the wellbore, such as wellbore debris, objects within the wellbore, the wellbore wall, or formation cuttings.
Referring to Figure 8, one or more non-porous tubing portions 115 are included in a tubular string 150. Also, one or more downhole filter portions 70, which are the porous tubing portions, are included in the tubular string 150. The porous and non-porous tubing portions 70 and 115 are operatively connected to one another, preferably by one or more threaded connections 125.
The downhole filter portion 70 of Figure 8 is preferably the downhole filter arrangement of Figure 5, as shown and described above. Specifically, the downhole filter portion 70 preferably includes the slotted base tube 72 having one or more openings 75, preferably one or more perforations or one or more slots, therethrough as well as the filter sheet 74 surrounding the base tube 72 having one or more laser-cut openings 76 therethrough, preferably one or more perforations. The openings 75 and 76 are preferably formed within the tubing walls in the same manner as described above in relation to Figure 5.
In the alternative, the openings 75 and 76 of the slotted base tube 72 and surrounding filter sheet 74 may be configured and formed by other methods shown or described herein or in any other manner known to those skilled in the art.
Specifically, the openings 75, 76 may be formed by laser-cutting or abrasive water jet cutting, or by any conventional cutting or milling techniques.
The downhole filter 70 may be expandable as shown and described in relation to Figures 5 and 6, or instead may be unexpandable. The formation of the downhole filter 70 may be accomplished in any manner described herein or known to those skilled in the art.
The tubular string 150 may be a drill string as shown in Figure 8, or may in the alternative be merely a completion string. If the tubular string 150 is a drill string used to drill the wellbore 12 in the formation 14, an earth removal member 120, preferably a drill bit, is operatively attached to the lower end of the tubular string 150.
The earth removal member 120 in the embodiment of Figure 8 is substantially the same in operation and construction as the earth removal member shown and described in relation to Figure 7.
In operation, the tubular string 150 is assembled at the surface of the wellbore 12 or, instead, as it is being lowered into the previously-drilled wellbore 12 so that the porous tubing portion 70 will be located substantially adjacent the area of interest in the formation 14, as described above in relation to the embodiment of Figure 7.
The tubular string 150 may include any number of porous tubing portions 70 and any number of non-porous tubing portions 115 connected in any order to one another. The porous tubing portions 70 are not required to be the same types of porous tubing, but rather some may include the slotted base tube 72 and surrounding filter sheet 74 while others may include merely slotted or perforated tubing without the surrounding filter sheet.
When assembling the tubular string 150, the porous tubing portions 70 are selected and formed based on the quantity, shape, and size of openings 75, 76 necessary to filter the fluid flowing from the area of interest in the formation 14 to the desired extent, and the length and location of the porous tubing portions 70 in the tubular string 150 are selected based on the desired flow-filtering area of the downhole filter 70. If the tubular string 150 is expandable, the size and shape of the openings 75, 76 of the porous tubing portions 70 subsequent to expansion are taken into account when selecting the characteristics of the openings 75, 76 of the pre-expansion porous tubing portions 70.
After or while the tubular string 150 is assembled, the tubular string 150 is lowered into the wellbore 12. If the tubular string 150 is used to drill into the formation b 14, as shown in Figure 8, the earth removal member 120 and/or the tubular string 150 may be rotated while lowering the tubular string 150 into the formation 14 to form a wellbore 12. The tubular string 150 is installed within the wellbore 12 substantially adjacent to the area of interest within the formation 14 having one or more perforations 130 therethrough, as shown in Figure 9.
In the embodiment in which the tubular string 150 is not expanded, the earth removal member 120 may optionally be removed from the wellbore 12 by retrieving it with the flshing tool, as described above in relation to Figure 7, or by drilling through the earth removal member 120 with a subsequent cutting tool. Fluid may then flow from the formation 14 into the wellbore 12 through the perforations 130, through the openings 76 in the filter sheet 74, and then through the openings 75 into the bore of the slotted base tube 72, then up to the surface of the wellbore 12. The downhole filter 70 prevents wellbore particulate matter from entering the bore of the tubular string 150 to the extent desired when fluid flows from within the wellbore 12 into the tubular string 150 through the openings 75 and 76.
In the alternate embodiment where the tubular string 150 is installed within the wellbore 12 after the wellbore 12 has previously been formed, the porous tubing portion 70 is merely positioned substantially adjacent to the area of interest within the previously drilled-out wellbore 12. Fluid may then flow through the tubular string 150 as described in the previous paragraph.
Figure 9 shows an altemate embodiment where the tubular string 150 is expanded within the wellbore 12. An expander tdot such as the expander tool shown and described in U.S. Patent Number 6,702,030 filed on August 13, 2002, may be utilized to expand the tubular string 150. In other embodiments, any other type of expanding method known to those skilled in the art, such as expansion by a mechanical, cone-type expander tool or by internal pressure, may be utilized to expand the tubular string 150 within the wellbore 12.
When the earth removal member 120 (see Figure 8) is attached to the tubular string 150 to drill into the wellbore 12, the earth removal member 120 may be removed prior to expansion of the tubular string 150. As described above in relation to Figures 5 and 0, the openings 76 upon expansion become elongate slots 76a, while the openings 75 become extended openings 75a. Upon expansion, the openings 75a preferably are keystone-shaped or trapezoidal-shaped slots. After expansion of the tubular string 150, fluid may flow from the area of interest into the tubular string 150 as described above.
While the embodiment shown in Figure 9 is described above as an expanded tubular string, the tubular string 150 in other embodiments may be lowered or drilled into the welibore 12 with the openings 75a, 76a predisposed in the shapes and sizes shown in Figure 9 without the requirement to expand the tubular string 150 downhole.
Also in yet other embodiments, the openings 75a and 76a may be formed by any method or in any other shape, size, density on the tubular string 150, or length of the tubular string 150 desired which is described herein in relatlon to any of Figures 1-6.
If it is desired to retrieve the earth removal member 120 utilized in embodiments shown and described in relation to Figures 7-9, the earth removal member 120 may be an expandable and retractable drill bit such as those described In U.S. Patent Number 7,143,847or in U.S. Patent Number 7,195,085. If it is desired to drill through the earth removal member 120 utilized in embodiments shown and described in relation to Figures 7-9, the earth removal member 120 may be a drillable drili bit such as described in U.S. Patent Number 7,216,727.
In the embodiments shown above with regards to Figures 8 and 9, the filter sheet 74 may be substantially non-porous. Additionally, the filter sheet 74, whether substantially non-porous or porous, may be removable from the base tube 72.
As described above, the "tubular" and "tubing" may comprise any type of pipe, casing, or other tubular body. The above embodiments of downhole filters may be employed in open hole wellbores as well as cased wellbores. Furthermore, although the above description uses directional terms such as "lowering" and "depth", embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these particular directions or to a vertical wellbore, but are merely terms used to describe relative positions within the wellbore. Specifically, it is within the purview of embodiments of the present invention to be applied to use in a lateral wellbore, horizontal wellbore, or any other directionally-drilled wellbore to describe relative positions of objects within the wellbore and relative movements of objects within the wellbore.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.
For example, although the various filters and filter arrangements are described above with reference to downhole filtering applications, other embodiments may have utility in sub-sea or surface filtering applications.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
The laser-cutting head 40 is provided in conjunction with a purge gas outlet, from which a jet of inert gas 52 is directed onto and around the cutting area. This gas 52 protects the hot metal from oxidation and also carries away the vaporised and molten metal produced by the cutting operation. The gas 52 also has the effect of rapidly cooling the hot metal in the vicinity of the cut. The resulting quenching effect has been found to harden the metal, and in particular has been found to harden the slot outer edges 54. The hardening of the metal in the vicinity of the cut may cause the slot to become more resistant to erosion.
Figure 5 is a part-sectional illustration of part of another form of laser-cut filter, and in particular shows part of an expandable downhole filter arrangement 70 comprising an expandable slotted base tube 72 and a deformable metal filter sheet 74 mounted over and around the base tube 72, the filter sheet 74 defining a plurality of laser-cut perforations 76. The I aser-pe rfo rated sheet 74 is initially provided in planar form, and then wrapped around the base tube 72. The edges of the sheet may be joined by any convenient method, such as a seam weld.
It will be noted that the perforations 76 are substantially circular, and on expansion of the filter arrangement 70 to a larger diameter, with corresponding diametric expansion of the filter sheet 74, the perforations 76 assume the form of elongate slots 76a, as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, of width We less than the diameter do of the original perforations. The diametric expansion may be achieved by any convenient method, but the method preferably utilizes a rotary expansion tool.
The laser-cut perforations 76 have a keystone or trapezoidal section, which form is retained in the extended slots 76a, and the filter sheet 74 is arranged such that the narrower or smaller diameter end of the perforations is adjacent the outer face of the filter sheet. It has been found that the laser-perforated filter sheet 74 is sufficiently robust to obviate the requirement to provide a protective shroud around the exterior of the sheet 74, thus simplifying the manufacture of the expandable filter arrangement 70 and allowing installation of the filter arrangement 70 within the wellbore 12 without the tear-prone protective outer shroud.
Figure 7 shows a tubular string 105 being lowered into the wellbore 12. The tubular string 105 may be a drill string if it is used to form the wellbore 12 in the formation 14 (as shown in Figure 7) or in another embodiment, may be a tubular string 105 lowered into the wellbore 12 after the wellbore 12 has been drilled in the formation 14 (a completion string for example).
The tubular string 105 includes a non-porous tubing portion 115 and a porous tubing portion 18 operatively connected to one another, preferably connected to one another by a threaded connection 125. The porous tubing portion 18 preferably acts as a downhole filter for fluid entering a bore of the tubular string 105 from the formation 14.
One or more openings 16, which are preferably one or more perforations or one or more slots, are located within the tubular wall of the porous tubing portion 18.
The openings 16 are preferably formed in the porous tubing portion 18 in the same manner as described in relation to Figures 1-6 above and are preferably configured in the shape as shown and described in relation to Figures 1 and 2;
however, it is contemplated that the openings 16 may be formed in any other manner known to those skilled in the art and that the openings 16 may be configured as shown and described in relation to Figures 3-6 or in any other shape and size known to those skilled in the art. The openings 16 are preferably formed by laser-cutting or abrasive water jet cutting, but may be created by any conventional cutting or milling techniques.
Because the tubular string 105 shown in Figure 7 is used to drill into the formation 14, an earth removal member 120 is operatively connected to a lower end of the tubular string 105. The earth removal member 120 is preferably a drill bit and has one or more perforations therethrough for circulating drilling fluid while drilling. The tubular string 105 may further include a mud motor (not shown) and/or other traditional components of a bottomhole assembly disposed above the earth removal member to impart rotation to the earth removal member 120 and/or to perform other functions such as measuring-while-drilling or logging-while-drilling. The earth removal member 120 may be rotated relative to the tubular string 105 using the mud motor to drill into the formation 14, or in the alternative, the entire tubular string 105 may be rotated by equipment capable of providing torque to the tubular string 105, for example a top drive or one or more tongs.
In the alternate embodiment in which the wellbore 12 is drilled to the desired depth prior to insertion of the tubuiar string 105 into the wellbore 12, the earth removal member 120 is preferably not included at the lower end of the tubular string 105.
Moreover, in the alternate embodiment, the tubular string 105 does not have to be rotated, and drilling fluid does not have to be circulated during lowering of the tubuiar string 105.
In operation, the tubular string 105 is assembled at the surface of the wellbore 12 so that the porous tubing portion 18 will ultimately be disposed substantially adjacent to the fluid-bearing portion of the formation 14, which is the "area of interest" in the formation 14. The tubular string 105 may include any number of porous tubing portions 18 and any number of non-porous tubing portions 115 connected in any order to one another. In assembling the tubular string 105 at the surface, the porous tubing portion 18 is selected based on the quantity, shape, and size of openings 16 needed to filter the fluid flowing from the area of interest in the formation 14 to the desired extent, and the length of the porous tubing portion 18 is selected based on the desired flow-filtering area of the downhole filter.
Instead of assembiing the tubular string 105 at the surface, the tubular string 105 may be assembled as portions of the tubular string 105 are lowered into the wetlbore 12, for example by threadedly connecting porous and non-porous tubing portions 18, 115 as the upper end of the preceding tubular portion becomes accessible.
Whether assembled at the surface or while the tubular string 105 is lowered into the wellbore 12, the porous tubing portions 18 need not be alike in quantity, shape, or size of the openings 16 or length over which the openings 16 extend along the tubular string 105.
For example, if more than one area of interest exists in the formation 14, one porous tubing portion 18 may be configured in one way, while another porous tubing portion 18 may be configured in another way, so that each porous tubing portion 18 is configured to adequately filter the different area of interest to which it is disposed adjacent.
As shown in Figure 7, the tubular string 105 is then lowered into the formation 14 to form a wellbore 12. As stated above, the earth removal member 120 may be rotated or the entire tubular string 105 rotated to form the wellbore 12 and install the tubular string 105 within the wellbore 12. Optionally, drilling fluid may be introduced into the tubular string 105 and circulated through the perforations in the earth removal member 120 up through an annulus between the outer diameter of the tubular string 105 and a wall of the wellbore 12 while drilling.
The tubular string 105 is used to drill the wellbore 12 until the porous tubing portion 18 is positioned at least substantially adjacent to the area of interest in the formation 14. In one embodiment, the earth removal member 120 may remain within the wellbore 12 after drilling the tubular string 105 to the area of interest.
In an alternative embodiment, the earth removal member 120 may be retrieved from the wellbore 12, for example by any fishing tool known to those skilled in the art capable of retrieving a drill bit. In a further alternative embodiment, the earth removal member 120 may be drilled through by another cutting tool.
If the wellbore 12 was drilled prior to insertion of the tubular string 105 into the wellbore 12, as in the alternate embodiment, the tubular string 105 is lowered into the previously drilled-out wellbore 12 to a position substantially adjacent to the area of interest within the formation 14. Because the earth removal member 120 is not present in this embodiment, no procedure is necessary to remove the earth removal member 120 from the wellbore 12.
At this point in the operation, the fluid may flow through the openings 16 from the area of interest in the formation 14 into the bore of the tubular string 105.
As the fluid flows through the openings 16, the fluid is filtered so that wellbore particulate matter is prevented from entering the bore of the tubular string 105 to the extent desired. The filtered fluid may then flow up through the bore of the tubular string 105 to the surface of the wellbore 12.
An additional embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 8 and 9.
The embodiments shown in Figures 8 and 9 include an inner support pipe disposed within a porous tubular member, without any external protective shroud disposed around the tubular member. Eliminating the external protective outer shroud which is present in traditional downhole filter arrangements allows the downhole filter to be placed in the wellbore or drilled into the formation without tearing or otherwise damaging the filtering functionality of the downhole filter on obstructions encountered while lowering the downhole filter into the wellbore, such as wellbore debris, objects within the wellbore, the wellbore wall, or formation cuttings.
Referring to Figure 8, one or more non-porous tubing portions 115 are included in a tubular string 150. Also, one or more downhole filter portions 70, which are the porous tubing portions, are included in the tubular string 150. The porous and non-porous tubing portions 70 and 115 are operatively connected to one another, preferably by one or more threaded connections 125.
The downhole filter portion 70 of Figure 8 is preferably the downhole filter arrangement of Figure 5, as shown and described above. Specifically, the downhole filter portion 70 preferably includes the slotted base tube 72 having one or more openings 75, preferably one or more perforations or one or more slots, therethrough as well as the filter sheet 74 surrounding the base tube 72 having one or more laser-cut openings 76 therethrough, preferably one or more perforations. The openings 75 and 76 are preferably formed within the tubing walls in the same manner as described above in relation to Figure 5.
In the alternative, the openings 75 and 76 of the slotted base tube 72 and surrounding filter sheet 74 may be configured and formed by other methods shown or described herein or in any other manner known to those skilled in the art.
Specifically, the openings 75, 76 may be formed by laser-cutting or abrasive water jet cutting, or by any conventional cutting or milling techniques.
The downhole filter 70 may be expandable as shown and described in relation to Figures 5 and 6, or instead may be unexpandable. The formation of the downhole filter 70 may be accomplished in any manner described herein or known to those skilled in the art.
The tubular string 150 may be a drill string as shown in Figure 8, or may in the alternative be merely a completion string. If the tubular string 150 is a drill string used to drill the wellbore 12 in the formation 14, an earth removal member 120, preferably a drill bit, is operatively attached to the lower end of the tubular string 150.
The earth removal member 120 in the embodiment of Figure 8 is substantially the same in operation and construction as the earth removal member shown and described in relation to Figure 7.
In operation, the tubular string 150 is assembled at the surface of the wellbore 12 or, instead, as it is being lowered into the previously-drilled wellbore 12 so that the porous tubing portion 70 will be located substantially adjacent the area of interest in the formation 14, as described above in relation to the embodiment of Figure 7.
The tubular string 150 may include any number of porous tubing portions 70 and any number of non-porous tubing portions 115 connected in any order to one another. The porous tubing portions 70 are not required to be the same types of porous tubing, but rather some may include the slotted base tube 72 and surrounding filter sheet 74 while others may include merely slotted or perforated tubing without the surrounding filter sheet.
When assembling the tubular string 150, the porous tubing portions 70 are selected and formed based on the quantity, shape, and size of openings 75, 76 necessary to filter the fluid flowing from the area of interest in the formation 14 to the desired extent, and the length and location of the porous tubing portions 70 in the tubular string 150 are selected based on the desired flow-filtering area of the downhole filter 70. If the tubular string 150 is expandable, the size and shape of the openings 75, 76 of the porous tubing portions 70 subsequent to expansion are taken into account when selecting the characteristics of the openings 75, 76 of the pre-expansion porous tubing portions 70.
After or while the tubular string 150 is assembled, the tubular string 150 is lowered into the wellbore 12. If the tubular string 150 is used to drill into the formation b 14, as shown in Figure 8, the earth removal member 120 and/or the tubular string 150 may be rotated while lowering the tubular string 150 into the formation 14 to form a wellbore 12. The tubular string 150 is installed within the wellbore 12 substantially adjacent to the area of interest within the formation 14 having one or more perforations 130 therethrough, as shown in Figure 9.
In the embodiment in which the tubular string 150 is not expanded, the earth removal member 120 may optionally be removed from the wellbore 12 by retrieving it with the flshing tool, as described above in relation to Figure 7, or by drilling through the earth removal member 120 with a subsequent cutting tool. Fluid may then flow from the formation 14 into the wellbore 12 through the perforations 130, through the openings 76 in the filter sheet 74, and then through the openings 75 into the bore of the slotted base tube 72, then up to the surface of the wellbore 12. The downhole filter 70 prevents wellbore particulate matter from entering the bore of the tubular string 150 to the extent desired when fluid flows from within the wellbore 12 into the tubular string 150 through the openings 75 and 76.
In the alternate embodiment where the tubular string 150 is installed within the wellbore 12 after the wellbore 12 has previously been formed, the porous tubing portion 70 is merely positioned substantially adjacent to the area of interest within the previously drilled-out wellbore 12. Fluid may then flow through the tubular string 150 as described in the previous paragraph.
Figure 9 shows an altemate embodiment where the tubular string 150 is expanded within the wellbore 12. An expander tdot such as the expander tool shown and described in U.S. Patent Number 6,702,030 filed on August 13, 2002, may be utilized to expand the tubular string 150. In other embodiments, any other type of expanding method known to those skilled in the art, such as expansion by a mechanical, cone-type expander tool or by internal pressure, may be utilized to expand the tubular string 150 within the wellbore 12.
When the earth removal member 120 (see Figure 8) is attached to the tubular string 150 to drill into the wellbore 12, the earth removal member 120 may be removed prior to expansion of the tubular string 150. As described above in relation to Figures 5 and 0, the openings 76 upon expansion become elongate slots 76a, while the openings 75 become extended openings 75a. Upon expansion, the openings 75a preferably are keystone-shaped or trapezoidal-shaped slots. After expansion of the tubular string 150, fluid may flow from the area of interest into the tubular string 150 as described above.
While the embodiment shown in Figure 9 is described above as an expanded tubular string, the tubular string 150 in other embodiments may be lowered or drilled into the welibore 12 with the openings 75a, 76a predisposed in the shapes and sizes shown in Figure 9 without the requirement to expand the tubular string 150 downhole.
Also in yet other embodiments, the openings 75a and 76a may be formed by any method or in any other shape, size, density on the tubular string 150, or length of the tubular string 150 desired which is described herein in relatlon to any of Figures 1-6.
If it is desired to retrieve the earth removal member 120 utilized in embodiments shown and described in relation to Figures 7-9, the earth removal member 120 may be an expandable and retractable drill bit such as those described In U.S. Patent Number 7,143,847or in U.S. Patent Number 7,195,085. If it is desired to drill through the earth removal member 120 utilized in embodiments shown and described in relation to Figures 7-9, the earth removal member 120 may be a drillable drili bit such as described in U.S. Patent Number 7,216,727.
In the embodiments shown above with regards to Figures 8 and 9, the filter sheet 74 may be substantially non-porous. Additionally, the filter sheet 74, whether substantially non-porous or porous, may be removable from the base tube 72.
As described above, the "tubular" and "tubing" may comprise any type of pipe, casing, or other tubular body. The above embodiments of downhole filters may be employed in open hole wellbores as well as cased wellbores. Furthermore, although the above description uses directional terms such as "lowering" and "depth", embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these particular directions or to a vertical wellbore, but are merely terms used to describe relative positions within the wellbore. Specifically, it is within the purview of embodiments of the present invention to be applied to use in a lateral wellbore, horizontal wellbore, or any other directionally-drilled wellbore to describe relative positions of objects within the wellbore and relative movements of objects within the wellbore.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.
For example, although the various filters and filter arrangements are described above with reference to downhole filtering applications, other embodiments may have utility in sub-sea or surface filtering applications.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
Claims (40)
1. A method of drilling a wellbore through a fluid producing formation, comprising:
providing a drill string having at least one filter section and a drilling member at a lower end thereof, wherein a wall of the at least one filter section defines an inner diameter of the drill string;
supporting the drilling member with the drill string;
forming the wellbore such that the at least one filter section is located in the fluid-producing formation; and radially expanding the at least one filter section.
providing a drill string having at least one filter section and a drilling member at a lower end thereof, wherein a wall of the at least one filter section defines an inner diameter of the drill string;
supporting the drilling member with the drill string;
forming the wellbore such that the at least one filter section is located in the fluid-producing formation; and radially expanding the at least one filter section.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising leaving at least a portion of the drill string in the wellbore.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the drilling member from the wellbore.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating a fluid between an interior and an exterior of the drill string through the at least one filter section while forming the wellbore.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more filter sheets are disposed around the at least one filter section.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more filter sheets are porous.
7. The method of claim 5, further comprising removing the one or more filter sheets from the at least one filter section.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more filter sheets comprise one or more coatings.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising radially expanding a non-filter section of the drill string.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one filter section retains its filtering ability after expansion.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering fluid flowing from the fluid-producing formation into a bore of the drill string using the at least one filter section.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one filter section comprises one or more apertures having an outer width less than an inner width.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one filter section comprises at least one laser-cut aperture therein.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the drill string comprises laser cutting at least one aperture in the at least one filter section.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising controlling a laser energy while laser cutting the at least one aperture.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the drill string further comprises directing an inert gas proximate to the at least one aperture to control erosion of the at least one aperture.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the drill string further comprises hardening a surface of the at least one aperture to control erosion of the at least one aperture.
18. A method of drilling a wellbore through a fluid producing formation, comprising:
providing a drill string, having:
a drilling member and;
a wall having a filter section, wherein the wall supports the drilling member and defines an inner diameter of the drill string, and wherein the filter section comprises a tubular having one or more openings and a filter layer surrounding the tubular;
forming the wellbore by rotating the drilling member such that the filter section is located in the fluid producing formation; and expanding at least a portion of the filter section.
providing a drill string, having:
a drilling member and;
a wall having a filter section, wherein the wall supports the drilling member and defines an inner diameter of the drill string, and wherein the filter section comprises a tubular having one or more openings and a filter layer surrounding the tubular;
forming the wellbore by rotating the drilling member such that the filter section is located in the fluid producing formation; and expanding at least a portion of the filter section.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein rotating the drill string comprises rotating the filter section.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating a fluid between an interior and an exterior of the drill string through the at least one filter section while forming the wellbore.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more openings are formed by laser-cutting.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more openings comprise slots.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein a flow of energy used to laser-cut the one or more openings is reduced while a source of the flow of energy is stationary relative to the filter section, thereby retaining uniformity of size of the one or more openings.
24. The method of claim 21, further comprising flowing inert gas onto the one or more openings to harden the one or more openings.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein flowing inert gas onto the one or more openings substantially prevents erosion of the one or more openings.
26. The method of claim 18, wherein the filter layer comprises one or more well screens.
27. The method of claim 18, further comprising controlling the size and geometry of the one or more openings to optimize the ability of the filter section to filter sand from fluid flowing from the fluid-producing formation into a bore of the drill string through the one or more openings.
28. The method of claim 18, wherein the geometry of the one or more openings is trapezoidal.
29. The method of claim 18, wherein the geometry of the one or more openings is keystone-shaped.
30. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more openings have an outer width less than an inner width.
31. The method of claim 27, wherein controlling the size and geometry of the one or more openings comprises forming the one or more openings without sacrificing a filtering integrity of the filter section.
32. The method of claim 18, wherein expanding at least a portion of the filter section changes a geometry of the one or more openings.
33. The method of claim 18, further comprising surrounding the filter section with a substantially non-porous outer shroud.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the outer shroud is removable.
35. The method of claim 18, wherein the filter section comprises one or more laser liners.
36. The method of claim 18, wherein the filter section comprises one or more sand screens.
37. The method of claim 18, wherein the drilling member is drillable.
38. The method of claim 18, wherein the drilling member is retrievable through the drill string.
39. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more openings are created by abrasive water jet cutting.
40. The method of claim 18, further comprising filtering fluid flowing from the fluid producing formation into a bore of the drill string using the filter section.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/900,076 | 2004-07-27 | ||
US10/900,076 US7188687B2 (en) | 1998-12-22 | 2004-07-27 | Downhole filter |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2511628A1 CA2511628A1 (en) | 2006-01-27 |
CA2511628C true CA2511628C (en) | 2009-09-01 |
Family
ID=34912828
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA002511628A Expired - Fee Related CA2511628C (en) | 2004-07-27 | 2005-07-06 | Downhole filter |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7188687B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2511628C (en) |
GB (1) | GB2416551B (en) |
Families Citing this family (59)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7188687B2 (en) * | 1998-12-22 | 2007-03-13 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Downhole filter |
US9060820B2 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2015-06-23 | Sonoma Orthopedic Products, Inc. | Segmented intramedullary fracture fixation devices and methods |
EP1885263A1 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2008-02-13 | Sonoma Orthopaedic Products, Inc | Minimally invasive actuable bone fixation devices, systems and methods of use |
US8961516B2 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2015-02-24 | Sonoma Orthopedic Products, Inc. | Straight intramedullary fracture fixation devices and methods |
NO325584B1 (en) * | 2006-11-03 | 2008-06-23 | Rune Freyer | Method for closing a sub-channel against the flow of particulate matter |
JP2010510040A (en) | 2006-11-22 | 2010-04-02 | ソノマ・オーソペディック・プロダクツ・インコーポレイテッド | Fracture fixation device, tool and method |
DE602006012512D1 (en) * | 2006-12-01 | 2010-04-08 | Prad Res & Dev Nv | Method and apparatus for the transfer of cuttings from boreholes |
US7845061B2 (en) * | 2007-05-16 | 2010-12-07 | Frank's International, Inc. | Low clearance centralizer and method of making centralizer |
US8763690B2 (en) | 2007-05-16 | 2014-07-01 | Antelope Oil Tool & Mfg. Co., Llc | Casing centralizers having flexible bow springs |
US9771763B2 (en) | 2007-05-16 | 2017-09-26 | Antelope Oil Tool & Mfg. Co. | Low-clearance centralizer |
US7708076B2 (en) * | 2007-08-28 | 2010-05-04 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Method of using a drill in sand control liner |
GB0722995D0 (en) * | 2007-11-23 | 2008-01-02 | Simonian Sam | Completion arrangement |
JP2011523889A (en) | 2008-06-10 | 2011-08-25 | ソノマ・オーソペディック・プロダクツ・インコーポレーテッド | Device, tool and method for fixing fractures |
US9669492B2 (en) | 2008-08-20 | 2017-06-06 | Foro Energy, Inc. | High power laser offshore decommissioning tool, system and methods of use |
US8571368B2 (en) | 2010-07-21 | 2013-10-29 | Foro Energy, Inc. | Optical fiber configurations for transmission of laser energy over great distances |
US9080425B2 (en) | 2008-10-17 | 2015-07-14 | Foro Energy, Inc. | High power laser photo-conversion assemblies, apparatuses and methods of use |
US9244235B2 (en) | 2008-10-17 | 2016-01-26 | Foro Energy, Inc. | Systems and assemblies for transferring high power laser energy through a rotating junction |
US9719302B2 (en) | 2008-08-20 | 2017-08-01 | Foro Energy, Inc. | High power laser perforating and laser fracturing tools and methods of use |
US9242309B2 (en) | 2012-03-01 | 2016-01-26 | Foro Energy Inc. | Total internal reflection laser tools and methods |
US9267330B2 (en) | 2008-08-20 | 2016-02-23 | Foro Energy, Inc. | Long distance high power optical laser fiber break detection and continuity monitoring systems and methods |
US9360631B2 (en) | 2008-08-20 | 2016-06-07 | Foro Energy, Inc. | Optics assembly for high power laser tools |
CN102187046B (en) | 2008-08-20 | 2015-04-29 | 福罗能源股份有限公司 | Method, system and assembly for advancement of a borehole using a high power laser |
US8627901B1 (en) | 2009-10-01 | 2014-01-14 | Foro Energy, Inc. | Laser bottom hole assembly |
US9664012B2 (en) | 2008-08-20 | 2017-05-30 | Foro Energy, Inc. | High power laser decomissioning of multistring and damaged wells |
US9089928B2 (en) | 2008-08-20 | 2015-07-28 | Foro Energy, Inc. | Laser systems and methods for the removal of structures |
US9138786B2 (en) | 2008-10-17 | 2015-09-22 | Foro Energy, Inc. | High power laser pipeline tool and methods of use |
US10301912B2 (en) * | 2008-08-20 | 2019-05-28 | Foro Energy, Inc. | High power laser flow assurance systems, tools and methods |
US9027668B2 (en) | 2008-08-20 | 2015-05-12 | Foro Energy, Inc. | Control system for high power laser drilling workover and completion unit |
US9074422B2 (en) | 2011-02-24 | 2015-07-07 | Foro Energy, Inc. | Electric motor for laser-mechanical drilling |
US9347271B2 (en) | 2008-10-17 | 2016-05-24 | Foro Energy, Inc. | Optical fiber cable for transmission of high power laser energy over great distances |
CA2738478A1 (en) | 2008-09-26 | 2010-04-01 | Sonoma Orthopedic Products, Inc. | Bone fixation device, tools and methods |
RU2011151086A (en) | 2009-05-15 | 2013-06-20 | Васт Пауэр Портфоулиоу, Ллк. | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COMPENSATING DEFORMATIONS OF HEATED TAILS FOR MOVING A FLUID |
US8276662B2 (en) * | 2009-07-15 | 2012-10-02 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Systems and methods to filter and collect downhole fluid |
RU2012154307A (en) | 2010-05-17 | 2014-06-27 | Васт Пауэр Портфоулиоу, Ллк | BENDING TAIL WITH COMPENSATION OF DEFORMATION FOR FILTRATION OF FLUIDS, METHOD AND DEVICE |
EP2606201A4 (en) | 2010-08-17 | 2018-03-07 | Foro Energy Inc. | Systems and conveyance structures for high power long distance laster transmission |
ES2623911T3 (en) | 2010-09-09 | 2017-07-12 | National Oilwell Varco, L.P. | Rotary drilling device for well bottom with members of training interface and control system |
US8869916B2 (en) | 2010-09-09 | 2014-10-28 | National Oilwell Varco, L.P. | Rotary steerable push-the-bit drilling apparatus with self-cleaning fluid filter |
US8434561B2 (en) | 2011-01-10 | 2013-05-07 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Controlled hydrostatic pressure completion system |
BR112013021478A2 (en) | 2011-02-24 | 2016-10-11 | Foro Energy Inc | High power laser-mechanical drilling method |
EP2715887A4 (en) | 2011-06-03 | 2016-11-23 | Foro Energy Inc | Rugged passively cooled high power laser fiber optic connectors and methods of use |
US8701780B2 (en) * | 2011-09-26 | 2014-04-22 | Scott A. Morton | Hydraulically driven, down-hole jet pump |
NO336445B1 (en) | 2013-02-13 | 2015-08-24 | Well Technology As | Method for downhole cutting of at least one line which is arranged on the outside and lengthens a pipe string in a well, and without simultaneously cutting the pipe string |
NO339191B1 (en) | 2013-09-06 | 2016-11-14 | Hydra Systems As | Method of isolating a permeable zone in an underground well |
US20150158196A1 (en) * | 2013-12-10 | 2015-06-11 | Christopher Mark Hayden | Non-Linear Slotting Profiles for Pipe and Pipe Liners |
US9770278B2 (en) | 2014-01-17 | 2017-09-26 | Arthrex, Inc. | Dual tip guide wire |
US9677361B2 (en) | 2014-03-24 | 2017-06-13 | James Patterson | Drill pipe screens |
US9814499B2 (en) | 2014-09-30 | 2017-11-14 | Arthrex, Inc. | Intramedullary fracture fixation devices and methods |
EP3177801A4 (en) | 2014-10-14 | 2018-02-28 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Drilling debris separator |
CA2962196C (en) | 2014-10-28 | 2019-05-07 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Angled partial strainer plates for well assembly |
WO2016068887A1 (en) | 2014-10-28 | 2016-05-06 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Longitudinally offset partial area screens for well assembly |
US10376947B2 (en) | 2014-12-30 | 2019-08-13 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Multiple wire wrap screen fabrication method |
US10000993B2 (en) | 2015-04-29 | 2018-06-19 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Multi-gauge wrap wire for subterranean sand screen |
CA2987896A1 (en) | 2015-07-06 | 2017-01-12 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Modular downhole debris separating assemblies |
WO2017058220A1 (en) * | 2015-09-30 | 2017-04-06 | Reme, L.L.C. | Modified filter screen |
US9598919B1 (en) | 2015-09-30 | 2017-03-21 | Reme, L.L.C. | Modified filter screen |
US10221687B2 (en) | 2015-11-26 | 2019-03-05 | Merger Mines Corporation | Method of mining using a laser |
RU2642580C1 (en) * | 2016-09-06 | 2018-01-25 | Закрытое акционерное общество "ПРОММАШСЕРВИС" | Drill string filter |
US10830021B2 (en) * | 2018-07-05 | 2020-11-10 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Filtration media for an open hole production system having an expandable outer surface |
US11421494B1 (en) | 2021-03-29 | 2022-08-23 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Filter tools and methods of filtering a drilling fluid |
Family Cites Families (206)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3124023A (en) | 1964-03-10 | Dies for pipe and tubing tongs | ||
US123903A (en) * | 1872-02-20 | Improvement in the formation of drive-wells | ||
US3006415A (en) | 1961-10-31 | Cementing apparatus | ||
US238112A (en) * | 1881-02-22 | Sand-point for wells | ||
US3123160A (en) | 1964-03-03 | Retrievable subsurface well bore apparatus | ||
US98766A (en) * | 1870-01-11 | Improvement in driven wells | ||
US122514A (en) * | 1872-01-09 | Improvement in rock-drills | ||
US65276A (en) * | 1867-05-28 | John w | ||
US988054A (en) * | 1910-06-01 | 1911-03-28 | Eugene Wiet | Beading-tool for boiler-tubes. |
US1077772A (en) | 1913-01-25 | 1913-11-04 | Fred Richard Weathersby | Drill. |
US1185582A (en) | 1914-07-13 | 1916-05-30 | Edward Bignell | Pile. |
US1301285A (en) | 1916-09-01 | 1919-04-22 | Frank W A Finley | Expansible well-casing. |
US1233888A (en) | 1916-09-01 | 1917-07-17 | Frank W A Finley | Art of well-producing or earth-boring. |
US1342424A (en) | 1918-09-06 | 1920-06-08 | Shepard M Cotten | Method and apparatus for constructing concrete piles |
US1338460A (en) * | 1919-08-22 | 1920-04-27 | James D Morrison | Well-drilling device |
US1471526A (en) | 1920-07-19 | 1923-10-23 | Rowland O Pickin | Rotary orill bit |
US1418766A (en) | 1920-08-02 | 1922-06-06 | Guiberson Corp | Well-casing spear |
US1585069A (en) | 1924-12-18 | 1926-05-18 | William E Youle | Casing spear |
US1728136A (en) | 1926-10-21 | 1929-09-10 | Lewis E Stephens | Casing spear |
US1830625A (en) | 1927-02-16 | 1931-11-03 | George W Schrock | Drill for oil and gas wells |
US1851289A (en) * | 1928-12-01 | 1932-03-29 | Jack M Owen | Oil well cementing plug |
US1777592A (en) | 1929-07-08 | 1930-10-07 | Thomas Idris | Casing spear |
US1998833A (en) | 1930-03-17 | 1935-04-23 | Baker Oil Tools Inc | Cementing guide |
US1825026A (en) | 1930-07-07 | 1931-09-29 | Thomas Idris | Casing spear |
US1842638A (en) * | 1930-09-29 | 1932-01-26 | Wilson B Wigle | Elevating apparatus |
US1880218A (en) | 1930-10-01 | 1932-10-04 | Richard P Simmons | Method of lining oil wells and means therefor |
US1917135A (en) | 1932-02-17 | 1933-07-04 | Littell James | Well apparatus |
US2105885A (en) * | 1932-03-30 | 1938-01-18 | Frank J Hinderliter | Hollow trip casing spear |
US2049450A (en) | 1933-08-23 | 1936-08-04 | Macclatchie Mfg Company | Expansible cutter tool |
US2017451A (en) | 1933-11-21 | 1935-10-15 | Baash Ross Tool Co | Packing casing bowl |
US1981525A (en) | 1933-12-05 | 1934-11-20 | Bailey E Price | Method of and apparatus for drilling oil wells |
US2060352A (en) | 1936-06-20 | 1936-11-10 | Reed Roller Bit Co | Expansible bit |
US2102555A (en) | 1936-07-02 | 1937-12-14 | Continental Oil Co | Method of drilling wells |
US2167338A (en) | 1937-07-26 | 1939-07-25 | U C Murcell Inc | Welding and setting well casing |
US2214226A (en) | 1939-03-29 | 1940-09-10 | English Aaron | Method and apparatus useful in drilling and producing wells |
US2216895A (en) | 1939-04-06 | 1940-10-08 | Reed Roller Bit Co | Rotary underreamer |
US2228503A (en) * | 1939-04-25 | 1941-01-14 | Boyd | Liner hanger |
US2214429A (en) | 1939-10-24 | 1940-09-10 | William J Miller | Mud box |
US2324679A (en) | 1940-04-26 | 1943-07-20 | Cox Nellie Louise | Rock boring and like tool |
US2305062A (en) | 1940-05-09 | 1942-12-15 | C M P Fishing Tool Corp | Cementing plug |
US2295803A (en) | 1940-07-29 | 1942-09-15 | Charles M O'leary | Cement shoe |
US2370832A (en) | 1941-08-19 | 1945-03-06 | Baker Oil Tools Inc | Removable well packer |
US2379800A (en) | 1941-09-11 | 1945-07-03 | Texas Co | Signal transmission system |
US2414719A (en) * | 1942-04-25 | 1947-01-21 | Stanolind Oil & Gas Co | Transmission system |
US2383214A (en) | 1943-05-18 | 1945-08-21 | Bessie Pugsley | Well casing expander |
US2424878A (en) | 1944-10-28 | 1947-07-29 | Reed Roller Bit Co | Method of bonding a liner within a bore |
US2522444A (en) | 1946-07-20 | 1950-09-12 | Donovan B Grable | Well fluid control |
US2641444A (en) | 1946-09-03 | 1953-06-09 | Signal Oil & Gas Co | Method and apparatus for drilling boreholes |
US2499630A (en) | 1946-12-05 | 1950-03-07 | Paul B Clark | Casing expander |
US2668689A (en) * | 1947-11-07 | 1954-02-09 | C & C Tool Corp | Automatic power tongs |
US2621742A (en) | 1948-08-26 | 1952-12-16 | Cicero C Brown | Apparatus for cementing well liners |
US2633374A (en) | 1948-10-01 | 1953-03-31 | Reed Roller Bit Co | Coupling member |
US2536458A (en) * | 1948-11-29 | 1951-01-02 | Theodor R Munsinger | Pipe rotating device for oil wells |
US2519116A (en) | 1948-12-28 | 1950-08-15 | Shell Dev | Deformable packer |
US2720267A (en) | 1949-12-12 | 1955-10-11 | Cicero C Brown | Sealing assemblies for well packers |
US2610690A (en) | 1950-08-10 | 1952-09-16 | Guy M Beatty | Mud box |
US2627891A (en) * | 1950-11-28 | 1953-02-10 | Paul B Clark | Well pipe expander |
US2743495A (en) | 1951-05-07 | 1956-05-01 | Nat Supply Co | Method of making a composite cutter |
US2765146A (en) | 1952-02-09 | 1956-10-02 | Jr Edward B Williams | Jetting device for rotary drilling apparatus |
US2805043A (en) | 1952-02-09 | 1957-09-03 | Jr Edward B Williams | Jetting device for rotary drilling apparatus |
US2650314A (en) | 1952-02-12 | 1953-08-25 | George W Hennigh | Special purpose electric motor |
US2764329A (en) | 1952-03-10 | 1956-09-25 | Lucian W Hampton | Load carrying attachment for bicycles, motorcycles, and the like |
US2663073A (en) | 1952-03-19 | 1953-12-22 | Acrometal Products Inc | Method of forming spools |
US2743087A (en) | 1952-10-13 | 1956-04-24 | Layne | Under-reaming tool |
US2738011A (en) | 1953-02-17 | 1956-03-13 | Thomas S Mabry | Means for cementing well liners |
US2741907A (en) | 1953-04-27 | 1956-04-17 | Genender Louis | Locksmithing tool |
US2692059A (en) | 1953-07-15 | 1954-10-19 | Standard Oil Dev Co | Device for positioning pipe in a drilling derrick |
US2978047A (en) | 1957-12-03 | 1961-04-04 | Vaan Walter H De | Collapsible drill bit assembly and method of drilling |
US3054100A (en) | 1958-06-04 | 1962-09-11 | Gen Precision Inc | Signalling system |
US3159219A (en) | 1958-05-13 | 1964-12-01 | Byron Jackson Inc | Cementing plugs and float equipment |
US3087546A (en) | 1958-08-11 | 1963-04-30 | Brown J Woolley | Methods and apparatus for removing defective casing or pipe from well bores |
US3028915A (en) | 1958-10-27 | 1962-04-10 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Method and apparatus for lining wells |
US2953406A (en) | 1958-11-24 | 1960-09-20 | A D Timmons | Casing spear |
US3041901A (en) | 1959-05-20 | 1962-07-03 | Dowty Rotol Ltd | Make-up and break-out mechanism for drill pipe joints |
US3039530A (en) | 1959-08-26 | 1962-06-19 | Elmo L Condra | Combination scraper and tube reforming device and method of using same |
US3090031A (en) | 1959-09-29 | 1963-05-14 | Texaco Inc | Signal transmission system |
US3117636A (en) * | 1960-06-08 | 1964-01-14 | John L Wilcox | Casing bit with a removable center |
US3111179A (en) | 1960-07-26 | 1963-11-19 | A And B Metal Mfg Company Inc | Jet nozzle |
US3102599A (en) | 1961-09-18 | 1963-09-03 | Continental Oil Co | Subterranean drilling process |
US3191680A (en) | 1962-03-14 | 1965-06-29 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Method of setting metallic liners in wells |
US3186485A (en) | 1962-04-04 | 1965-06-01 | Harrold D Owen | Setting tool devices |
US3131769A (en) | 1962-04-09 | 1964-05-05 | Baker Oil Tools Inc | Hydraulic anchors for tubular strings |
US3167122A (en) | 1962-05-04 | 1965-01-26 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Method and apparatus for repairing casing |
US3122811A (en) | 1962-06-29 | 1964-03-03 | Lafayette E Gilreath | Hydraulic slip setting apparatus |
US3203483A (en) | 1962-08-09 | 1965-08-31 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Apparatus for forming metallic casing liner |
US3179168A (en) | 1962-08-09 | 1965-04-20 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Metallic casing liner |
US3203451A (en) | 1962-08-09 | 1965-08-31 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Corrugated tube for lining wells |
US3169592A (en) * | 1962-10-22 | 1965-02-16 | Lamphere Jean K | Retrievable drill bit |
US3193116A (en) | 1962-11-23 | 1965-07-06 | Exxon Production Research Co | System for removing from or placing pipe in a well bore |
US3245471A (en) | 1963-04-15 | 1966-04-12 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Setting casing in wells |
US3191677A (en) | 1963-04-29 | 1965-06-29 | Myron M Kinley | Method and apparatus for setting liners in tubing |
NL6411125A (en) * | 1963-09-25 | 1965-03-26 | ||
US3354955A (en) | 1964-04-24 | 1967-11-28 | William B Berry | Method and apparatus for closing and sealing openings in a well casing |
US3326293A (en) | 1964-06-26 | 1967-06-20 | Wilson Supply Company | Well casing repair |
US3297092A (en) * | 1964-07-15 | 1967-01-10 | Pan American Petroleum Corp | Casing patch |
US3353599A (en) | 1964-08-04 | 1967-11-21 | Gulf Oil Corp | Method and apparatus for stabilizing formations |
DE1216822B (en) | 1965-03-27 | 1966-05-18 | Beteiligungs & Patentverw Gmbh | Tunneling machine |
US3380528A (en) | 1965-09-24 | 1968-04-30 | Tri State Oil Tools Inc | Method and apparatus of removing well pipe from a well bore |
US3419079A (en) | 1965-10-23 | 1968-12-31 | Schlumberger Technology Corp | Well tool with expansible anchor |
US3392609A (en) | 1966-06-24 | 1968-07-16 | Abegg & Reinhold Co | Well pipe spinning unit |
US3477527A (en) | 1967-06-05 | 1969-11-11 | Global Marine Inc | Kelly and drill pipe spinner-stabber |
US3635105A (en) * | 1967-10-17 | 1972-01-18 | Byron Jackson Inc | Power tong head and assembly |
US3518903A (en) | 1967-12-26 | 1970-07-07 | Byron Jackson Inc | Combined power tong and backup tong assembly |
US3477506A (en) | 1968-07-22 | 1969-11-11 | Lynes Inc | Apparatus relating to fabrication and installation of expanded members |
US3489220A (en) * | 1968-08-02 | 1970-01-13 | J C Kinley | Method and apparatus for repairing pipe in wells |
US3548936A (en) | 1968-11-15 | 1970-12-22 | Dresser Ind | Well tools and gripping members therefor |
US3552507A (en) * | 1968-11-25 | 1971-01-05 | Cicero C Brown | System for rotary drilling of wells using casing as the drill string |
US3552508A (en) * | 1969-03-03 | 1971-01-05 | Cicero C Brown | Apparatus for rotary drilling of wells using casing as the drill pipe |
US3559739A (en) * | 1969-06-20 | 1971-02-02 | Chevron Res | Method and apparatus for providing continuous foam circulation in wells |
US3552509A (en) * | 1969-09-11 | 1971-01-05 | Cicero C Brown | Apparatus for rotary drilling of wells using casing as drill pipe |
US3552510A (en) * | 1969-10-08 | 1971-01-05 | Cicero C Brown | Apparatus for rotary drilling of wells using casing as the drill pipe |
US3785193A (en) * | 1971-04-10 | 1974-01-15 | Kinley J | Liner expanding apparatus |
US3712376A (en) * | 1971-07-26 | 1973-01-23 | Gearhart Owen Industries | Conduit liner for wellbore and method and apparatus for setting same |
US3934660A (en) * | 1974-07-02 | 1976-01-27 | Nelson Daniel E | Flexpower deep well drill |
US4189185A (en) * | 1976-09-27 | 1980-02-19 | Tri-State Oil Tool Industries, Inc. | Method for producing chambered blast holes |
US4186628A (en) * | 1976-11-30 | 1980-02-05 | General Electric Company | Rotary drill bit and method for making same |
US4133396A (en) * | 1977-11-04 | 1979-01-09 | Smith International, Inc. | Drilling and casing landing apparatus and method |
US4311195A (en) * | 1980-07-14 | 1982-01-19 | Baker International Corporation | Hydraulically set well packer |
US4315553A (en) * | 1980-08-25 | 1982-02-16 | Stallings Jimmie L | Continuous circulation apparatus for air drilling well bore operations |
US4483399A (en) * | 1981-02-12 | 1984-11-20 | Colgate Stirling A | Method of deep drilling |
US4567631A (en) * | 1981-04-20 | 1986-02-04 | Haskel, Inc. | Method for installing tubes in tube sheets |
YU192181A (en) * | 1981-08-06 | 1983-10-31 | Bozidar Kojicic | Two-wall filter with perforated couplings |
DE3138870C1 (en) * | 1981-09-30 | 1983-07-21 | Weatherford Oil Tool Gmbh, 3012 Langenhagen | Device for screwing pipes |
SU1113530A1 (en) * | 1981-10-19 | 1984-09-15 | Туркменский Научно-Исследовательский Геологоразведочный Институт | Drilling string |
US4427063A (en) * | 1981-11-09 | 1984-01-24 | Halliburton Company | Retrievable bridge plug |
FR2523635A1 (en) * | 1982-03-17 | 1983-09-23 | Bretagne Atel Chantiers | DEVICE FOR MOUNTING A DRILL ROD TRAIN AND FOR TRAINING IN ROTATION AND TRANSLATION |
US4494424A (en) * | 1983-06-24 | 1985-01-22 | Bates Darrell R | Chain-powered pipe tong device |
FR2605657A1 (en) * | 1986-10-22 | 1988-04-29 | Soletanche | METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PIEU IN SOIL, DRILLING MACHINE AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD |
US4725179A (en) * | 1986-11-03 | 1988-02-16 | Lee C. Moore Corporation | Automated pipe racking apparatus |
US5717334A (en) * | 1986-11-04 | 1998-02-10 | Paramagnetic Logging, Inc. | Methods and apparatus to produce stick-slip motion of logging tool attached to a wireline drawn upward by a continuously rotating wireline drum |
US4901069A (en) * | 1987-07-16 | 1990-02-13 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Apparatus for electromagnetically coupling power and data signals between a first unit and a second unit and in particular between well bore apparatus and the surface |
US4806928A (en) * | 1987-07-16 | 1989-02-21 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Apparatus for electromagnetically coupling power and data signals between well bore apparatus and the surface |
US4800968A (en) * | 1987-09-22 | 1989-01-31 | Triten Corporation | Well apparatus with tubular elevator tilt and indexing apparatus and methods of their use |
US4807704A (en) * | 1987-09-28 | 1989-02-28 | Atlantic Richfield Company | System and method for providing multiple wells from a single wellbore |
US4844182A (en) * | 1988-06-07 | 1989-07-04 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Method for improving drill cuttings transport from a wellbore |
US5059256A (en) * | 1988-09-01 | 1991-10-22 | Kanapenas Rimantas Mikolas V | Method of manufacturing filters by laser treatment and device therefor |
IE903114A1 (en) * | 1989-08-31 | 1991-03-13 | Union Oil Co | Well casing flotation device and method |
US5082069A (en) * | 1990-03-01 | 1992-01-21 | Atlantic Richfield Company | Combination drivepipe/casing and installation method for offshore well |
US5176518A (en) * | 1990-03-14 | 1993-01-05 | Fokker Aircraft B.V. | Movement simulator |
US5097870A (en) * | 1990-03-15 | 1992-03-24 | Conoco Inc. | Composite tubular member with multiple cells |
FR2663621B2 (en) * | 1990-04-30 | 1993-05-21 | Capy Gilbert | DEVICE FOR PROGRESSIVE TIGHTENING OF DISSYMMETRIC FOLDES, MADE FROM A FILM, PRE-PREFORMED ON A TOOTHED WHEEL. |
DK225290D0 (en) * | 1990-09-19 | 1990-09-19 | Kurt I Soerensen | PROCEDURE AND APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING AND ANALYZING LEVEL-TESTED SAMPLES OF POREGAS / LIQUIDS FROM AN UNDERGROUND FORMATION |
US5085273A (en) * | 1990-10-05 | 1992-02-04 | Davis-Lynch, Inc. | Casing lined oil or gas well |
US5152554A (en) * | 1990-12-18 | 1992-10-06 | Lafleur Petroleum Services, Inc. | Coupling apparatus |
MY108743A (en) * | 1992-06-09 | 1996-11-30 | Shell Int Research | Method of greating a wellbore in an underground formation |
US5366012A (en) * | 1992-06-09 | 1994-11-22 | Shell Oil Company | Method of completing an uncased section of a borehole |
US5285204A (en) * | 1992-07-23 | 1994-02-08 | Conoco Inc. | Coil tubing string and downhole generator |
US5320178A (en) * | 1992-12-08 | 1994-06-14 | Atlantic Richfield Company | Sand control screen and installation method for wells |
US5284210A (en) * | 1993-02-04 | 1994-02-08 | Helms Charles M | Top entry sub arrangement |
US5388651A (en) * | 1993-04-20 | 1995-02-14 | Bowen Tools, Inc. | Top drive unit torque break-out system |
US5379835A (en) * | 1993-04-26 | 1995-01-10 | Halliburton Company | Casing cementing equipment |
US5386746A (en) * | 1993-05-26 | 1995-02-07 | Hawk Industries, Inc. | Apparatus for making and breaking joints in drill pipe strings |
US5392715A (en) * | 1993-10-12 | 1995-02-28 | Osaka Gas Company, Ltd. | In-pipe running robot and method of running the robot |
US5494122A (en) * | 1994-10-04 | 1996-02-27 | Smith International, Inc. | Composite nozzles for rock bits |
US6263987B1 (en) * | 1994-10-14 | 2001-07-24 | Smart Drilling And Completion, Inc. | One pass drilling and completion of extended reach lateral wellbores with drill bit attached to drill string to produce hydrocarbons from offshore platforms |
US6857486B2 (en) * | 2001-08-19 | 2005-02-22 | Smart Drilling And Completion, Inc. | High power umbilicals for subterranean electric drilling machines and remotely operated vehicles |
MY121223A (en) * | 1995-01-16 | 2006-01-28 | Shell Int Research | Method of creating a casing in a borehole |
GB9503830D0 (en) * | 1995-02-25 | 1995-04-19 | Camco Drilling Group Ltd | "Improvements in or relating to steerable rotary drilling systems" |
GB9510465D0 (en) * | 1995-05-24 | 1995-07-19 | Petroline Wireline Services | Connector assembly |
US5711382A (en) * | 1995-07-26 | 1998-01-27 | Hansen; James | Automated oil rig servicing system |
US5791417A (en) * | 1995-09-22 | 1998-08-11 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Tubular window formation |
UA67719C2 (en) * | 1995-11-08 | 2004-07-15 | Shell Int Research | Deformable well filter and method for its installation |
GB9524109D0 (en) * | 1995-11-24 | 1996-01-24 | Petroline Wireline Services | Downhole apparatus |
US5720356A (en) * | 1996-02-01 | 1998-02-24 | Gardes; Robert | Method and system for drilling underbalanced radial wells utilizing a dual string technique in a live well |
US5706894A (en) * | 1996-06-20 | 1998-01-13 | Frank's International, Inc. | Automatic self energizing stop collar |
US5947213A (en) * | 1996-12-02 | 1999-09-07 | Intelligent Inspection Corporation | Downhole tools using artificial intelligence based control |
US6688394B1 (en) * | 1996-10-15 | 2004-02-10 | Coupler Developments Limited | Drilling methods and apparatus |
FR2757426B1 (en) * | 1996-12-19 | 1999-01-29 | Inst Francais Du Petrole | WATER-BASED FOAMING COMPOSITION - MANUFACTURING METHOD |
US5860474A (en) * | 1997-06-26 | 1999-01-19 | Atlantic Richfield Company | Through-tubing rotary drilling |
US7509722B2 (en) * | 1997-09-02 | 2009-03-31 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Positioning and spinning device |
US6179055B1 (en) * | 1997-09-05 | 2001-01-30 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Conveying a tool along a non-vertical well |
US6029748A (en) * | 1997-10-03 | 2000-02-29 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Method and apparatus for top to bottom expansion of tubulars |
US6315040B1 (en) * | 1998-05-01 | 2001-11-13 | Shell Oil Company | Expandable well screen |
US6135208A (en) * | 1998-05-28 | 2000-10-24 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Expandable wellbore junction |
CA2240559C (en) * | 1998-06-12 | 2003-12-23 | Sandvik Ab | Embankment hammer |
US6012529A (en) * | 1998-06-22 | 2000-01-11 | Mikolajczyk; Raymond F. | Downhole guide member for multiple casing strings |
US6170573B1 (en) * | 1998-07-15 | 2001-01-09 | Charles G. Brunet | Freely moving oil field assembly for data gathering and or producing an oil well |
GB9817246D0 (en) * | 1998-08-08 | 1998-10-07 | Petroline Wellsystems Ltd | Connector |
GB2340859A (en) * | 1998-08-24 | 2000-03-01 | Weatherford Lamb | Method and apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive |
AU6181299A (en) * | 1998-10-05 | 2000-04-26 | Alwag Tunnelausbau Gesellschaft Mbh | Jacket tube for a drilling and anchoring device |
US6186233B1 (en) * | 1998-11-30 | 2001-02-13 | Weatherford Lamb, Inc. | Down hole assembly and method for forming a down hole window and at least one keyway in communication with the down hole window for use in multilateral wells |
US6347674B1 (en) * | 1998-12-18 | 2002-02-19 | Western Well Tool, Inc. | Electrically sequenced tractor |
GB0224807D0 (en) * | 2002-10-25 | 2002-12-04 | Weatherford Lamb | Downhole filter |
US7188687B2 (en) * | 1998-12-22 | 2007-03-13 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Downhole filter |
US6523611B1 (en) * | 1998-12-23 | 2003-02-25 | Well Engineering Partners B.V. | Apparatus for completing a subterranean well and method of using same |
US6173777B1 (en) * | 1999-02-09 | 2001-01-16 | Albert Augustus Mullins | Single valve for a casing filling and circulating apparatus |
US6854533B2 (en) * | 2002-12-20 | 2005-02-15 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Apparatus and method for drilling with casing |
US6837313B2 (en) * | 2002-01-08 | 2005-01-04 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Apparatus and method to reduce fluid pressure in a wellbore |
US6691801B2 (en) * | 1999-03-05 | 2004-02-17 | Varco I/P, Inc. | Load compensator for a pipe running tool |
US6189621B1 (en) * | 1999-08-16 | 2001-02-20 | Smart Drilling And Completion, Inc. | Smart shuttles to complete oil and gas wells |
US6343649B1 (en) * | 1999-09-07 | 2002-02-05 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Methods and associated apparatus for downhole data retrieval, monitoring and tool actuation |
GB9930450D0 (en) * | 1999-12-23 | 2000-02-16 | Eboroil Sa | Subsea well intervention vessel |
GB0008988D0 (en) * | 2000-04-13 | 2000-05-31 | Bbl Downhole Tools Ltd | Drill bit nozzle |
US7325610B2 (en) * | 2000-04-17 | 2008-02-05 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for handling and drilling with tubulars or casing |
US6415509B1 (en) * | 2000-05-18 | 2002-07-09 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Methods of fabricating a thin-wall expandable well screen assembly |
US6349764B1 (en) * | 2000-06-02 | 2002-02-26 | Oil & Gas Rental Services, Inc. | Drilling rig, pipe and support apparatus |
US6688937B1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2004-02-10 | Yu-Chi Tsai | Semi-scale toy plane |
US6845820B1 (en) * | 2000-10-19 | 2005-01-25 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Completion apparatus and methods for use in hydrocarbon wells |
US20040011534A1 (en) * | 2002-07-16 | 2004-01-22 | Simonds Floyd Randolph | Apparatus and method for completing an interval of a wellbore while drilling |
US6543545B1 (en) * | 2000-10-27 | 2003-04-08 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Expandable sand control device and specialized completion system and method |
GB2377951B (en) * | 2001-07-25 | 2004-02-04 | Schlumberger Holdings | Method and system for drilling a wellbore having cable based telemetry |
US6679333B2 (en) * | 2001-10-26 | 2004-01-20 | Canrig Drilling Technology, Ltd. | Top drive well casing system and method |
US7234546B2 (en) * | 2002-04-08 | 2007-06-26 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Drilling and cementing casing system |
GB0209472D0 (en) * | 2002-04-25 | 2002-06-05 | Weatherford Lamb | Expandable downhole tubular |
US6715570B1 (en) * | 2002-09-17 | 2004-04-06 | Schumberger Technology Corporation | Two stage downhole drilling fluid filter |
US6857467B2 (en) * | 2003-02-07 | 2005-02-22 | Gestion Lach Inc. | Heat exchange system and method |
-
2004
- 2004-07-27 US US10/900,076 patent/US7188687B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2005
- 2005-07-06 CA CA002511628A patent/CA2511628C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2005-07-11 GB GB0514214A patent/GB2416551B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US7188687B2 (en) | 2007-03-13 |
GB2416551B (en) | 2009-08-12 |
GB2416551A (en) | 2006-02-01 |
US20050121232A1 (en) | 2005-06-09 |
GB0514214D0 (en) | 2005-08-17 |
CA2511628A1 (en) | 2006-01-27 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CA2511628C (en) | Downhole filter | |
EP1413709B1 (en) | Down hole filter | |
CA2316978C (en) | Method for drilling and completing a hydrocarbon production well | |
CA2454496C (en) | Expandable bit with a secondary release device | |
US6994170B2 (en) | Expandable sand control screen assembly having fluid flow control capabilities and method for use of same | |
EP1719874B1 (en) | Variable diameter expansion tool and expansion method | |
AU2004234548B2 (en) | Method of creating a borehole in an earth formation | |
US8863854B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for isolating tubing with a swellable seal | |
US20050155773A1 (en) | System and Method to Deploy and Expand Tubular Components Deployed Through Tubing | |
CA2570378A1 (en) | One trip well apparatus with sand control | |
EP2491220B1 (en) | Wellbore completion | |
AU2013250913B2 (en) | Wellbore completion system with reaming tool | |
US7066271B2 (en) | Expanded downhole screen systems and method | |
US20080149347A1 (en) | Expandable well screen with a stable base | |
US10830021B2 (en) | Filtration media for an open hole production system having an expandable outer surface | |
WO2022171604A1 (en) | Method for abandoning a completed wellbore | |
EP1626159A2 (en) | Apparatus and methods for forming a lateral wellbore | |
GB2489620A (en) | Method of producing tubular isolation apparatus. |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EEER | Examination request | ||
MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20220706 |