Downhole tool for increasing a wellbore diameter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10156097-B2
Application number	US-201414298592-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2014
Priority date	Jun 9, 2013
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

A downhole tool for increasing a diameter of a wellbore disposed within a subterranean formation. The downhole tool includes an underreamer having a plurality of cutter blocks moveably coupled thereto that move radially-outward from a refracted state to an expanded state. The cutter blocks cut the subterranean formation to increase the diameter of the wellbore from a first diameter to a second diameter when in the expanded state. A formation weakening tool may be coupled to the underreamer. The formation weakening tool weakens a portion of the subterranean formation positioned radially-outward therefrom.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A downhole tool for increasing a diameter of a wellbore disposed within a subterranean formation, comprising:
an underreamer having a plurality of cutter blocks moveably coupled thereto that move radially-outward from a retracted state to an expanded state, the cutter blocks being arranged and designed to cut the subterranean formation to increase the diameter of the wellbore from a first diameter to a second diameter when in the expanded state;
a formation weakening tool coupled to the underreamer and axially displaced from the underreamer, the formation weakening tool configured to weaken a portion of the subterranean formation positioned radially-outward therefrom, the formation weakening tool being selectively actuatable between active and inactive states, and the formation weakening tool being positioned ahead of the underreamer while the formation weakening tool is in the active and inactive states and configured to, while in the active state, weaken the portion of the subterranean formation before the underreamer cuts the portion of the subterranean formation to increase the diameter of the wellbore from the first diameter to the second diameter, the formation weakening tool including a plurality of lasers that are axially offset from one another; and
a measurement while drilling tool coupled to the formation weakening tool, the measurement while drilling tool arranged and designed to activate the formation weakening tool based upon a hardness of the subterranean formation.

2. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the formation weakening tool is arranged and designed to selectively vary at least one of a beam profile, an exposure time, or a distance from the subterranean formation of radially-outward directed energy used to weaken the portion of the subterranean formation, the selective variation being based on properties of the subterranean formation.

3. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the formation weakening tool transmits vibrational energy radially-outward to weaken the portion of the subterranean formation.

4. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the formation weakening tool transmits electro pulses radially-outward to weaken the portion of the subterranean formation.

5. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of lasers is arranged and designed to emit a laser beam radially-outward to weaken the portion of the subterranean formation.

6. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the second diameter is about 40% to about 80% greater than the first diameter.

7. The downhole tool of claim 1 , the measurement while drilling tool being arranged and designed to measure a parameter and to transmit the measured parameter to an operator or computer system at the surface.

8. The downhole tool of claim 7 , further comprising a drill bit coupled to the measurement while drilling tool, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of a rate of penetration of the underreamer, a weight on the underreamer, and a rate of weakening the subterranean formation.

9. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the formation weakening tool weakens the subterranean formation by spalling a wall of the wellbore.

10. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the measurement while drilling tool is arranged and designed to transmit a measured parameter to an operator or computer system at the surface.

11. A downhole tool for increasing a diameter of a wellbore disposed within a subterranean formation, comprising:
a drill bit;
a formation weakening tool arranged and designed to weaken a portion of the subterranean formation positioned radially-outward therefrom, the formation weakening tool including a plurality of lasers that are axially offset from one another;
an underreamer coupled to and positioned behind the formation weakening tool, the underreamer having a plurality of cutter blocks moveably coupled thereto that move radially-outward from a retracted state to an expanded state, the cutter blocks being arranged and designed cut the weakened portion of the subterranean formation to increase the diameter of the wellbore from a first diameter to a second diameter when in the expanded state; and
a measurement while drilling tool coupled to the drill bit and to the formation weakening tool, the measurement while drilling tool arranged and designed to measure and transmit a parameter selected from the group consisting of a rate of penetration of the underreamer, a weight on the underreamer, and a rate of weakening the subterranean formation, wherein the measurement while drilling tool is further arranged and designed to measure a hardness of the subterranean formation.

12. The downhole tool of claim 11 , wherein the second diameter is about 40% to about 80% greater than the first diameter.

13. The downhole tool of claim 11 , wherein the formation weakening tool weakens the subterranean formation by spalling a wall of the wellbore.

14. A method for increasing a diameter of a wellbore disposed within a subterranean formation, comprising:
running a downhole tool into the wellbore, the downhole tool including:
a drill bit;
a formation weakening tool coupled to the drill bit, the formation weakening tool including a plurality of lasers that are axially offset from one another; and
an underreamer coupled to and positioned behind the formation weakening tool, the underreamer having a plurality of cutter blocks moveably coupled thereto;

drilling the wellbore in the subterranean formation with the drill bit to a first diameter;
selectively actuating the formation weakening tool based on at least a hardness of the subterranean formation
weakening a portion of the subterranean formation with the formation weakening tool, the weakened portion of the subterranean formation being positioned radially-outward from the formation weakening tool and downhole of the underreamer;
moving the plurality of cutter blocks radially-outward from a retracted position to an expanded position;
cutting the weakened portion of the subterranean formation with the plurality of cutter blocks to increase the diameter of the wellbore from the first diameter to a second diameter; and
monitoring a rate of penetration of the underreamer in the subterranean formation.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
monitoring a rate of penetration of the drill bit in the subterranean formation; and
comparing the rate of penetration of the underreamer to the rate of penetration of the drill bit.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein weakening the portion of the subterranean formation comprises transmitting vibrational energy into a wall of the wellbore.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein weakening the portion of the subterranean formation comprises transmitting electro pulses into a wall of the wellbore.

Assignees

• Smith International

Inventors

• Keshavan Madapusi K
• Desai Praful C
• Cooper Iain M

Classifications

• E21B47/00

  Survey of boreholes or wells (monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08) · CPC title

• E21B7/15 Primary

  of electrically generated heat · CPC title

• E21B10/32 Primary

  with expansible cutting tools · CPC title

• E21B7/124

  with underwater tool drive prime mover, e.g. portable drilling rigs for use on underwater floors · CPC title

• E21B10/322

  cutter shifted by fluid pressure (E21B10/345 takes precedence) · CPC title