Method to mitigate a stuck pipe during drilling operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10669798-B2
Application number	US-201815960716-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2018
Priority date	Apr 24, 2018
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for freeing differentially stuck pipe via the in-situ release of fluids from fluid-releasing tanks coupled to a centralizer or stabilizer of a pipe. Fluid-releasing tanks may be coupled to a centralizer or stabilizer of a pipe and located around the circumference of the pipe. Nozzles may be connected to the fluid-releasing tanks to enable the in-situ release of fluid from the fluid-releasing tanks. Various mechanisms may be used to open the nozzles and release the fluid from the fluid-releasing tanks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for freeing differentially stuck pipe in a wellbore, comprising:
a differentially stuck pipe in a wellbore;
a plurality of components disposed along the length of the pipe, wherein each of the plurality of components is a centralizer or a stabilizer;
a fluid-releasing tank coupled to one of the plurality of components, the fluid-releasing tank containing a fluid; and
a nozzle connected to the tank and configured to release the fluid into the wellbore such that the fluid interacts with the material contacting the pipe, wherein the nozzle comprises a heat-sensitive nozzle configured to change from a closed position to an open position when the temperature of the nozzle is greater than a threshold temperature, wherein the open position enables the release of fluid from the tank into the wellbore.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises hydrochloric acid.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pipe comprises a drill pipe.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-releasing tank is permanently coupled to the at least one of the plurality of components.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-releasing tank is formed from heterodiamond.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a filter cake.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-releasing tank is first fluid releasing tank, the system comprising a second fluid-releasing tank coupled to the one of the plurality of components, the second fluid-releasing tank comprising the fluid.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first fluid releasing tank is located 180° around the circumference of the pipe with respect to the second fluid releasing tank.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid interacts with the material contacting the pipe by reducing a friction between the pipe and the material.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid interacts with the material contacting the pipe by reducing a differential pressure between a formation fluid and a drilling fluid.

11. A method of freeing differentially stuck pipe in a wellbore, comprising:
initiating the release of a fluid from a fluid-releasing tank coupled to one of a plurality of components disposed along the length of the differentially stuck pipe, the differentially stuck pipe resulting from a pressure differential across a permeable zone of a formation, wherein each of the plurality of components is a centralizer or a stabilizer, such that the fluid is released through a nozzle into the wellbore and interacts with a material contacting the pipe; and
freeing the differentially stuck pipe after the fluid interacts with the material contacting the pipe.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the fluid comprises hydrochloric acid.

13. The method of claim 11 , comprising allowing the fluid to interact with the material surrounding the portion of differentially stuck pipe over a time period.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the material comprises a filter cake.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the nozzle comprises a heat-sensitive nozzle configured to change from a closed position to an open position when the temperature of the nozzle is greater than a threshold temperature.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein initiating the release of the fluid from the fluid-releasing tank comprises generating heat to increase the temperature of the nozzle greater than the threshold temperature such that the nozzle changes from the closed position to the open position to enable the release of the fluid.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein generating heat to increase the temperature of the nozzle greater than the threshold temperature comprises moving the differently stuck pipe to generating heat from friction between the differentially stuck pipe and the material.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the fluid-releasing tank is permanently coupled to one of the plurality of components.

19. An apparatus for freeing differentially stuck pipe in a wellbore, comprising:
a fluid-releasing tank configured to be coupled to a centralizer or a stabilizer of a drill pipe, the tank comprising an interior volume configured to contain a fluid; and
a nozzle configured to be connected to the tank and to release the fluid from the tank, wherein the nozzle comprises a heat-sensitive nozzle configured to change from a closed position to an open position when the temperature of the nozzle is greater than a threshold temperature.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , comprising the fluid, wherein the fluid comprises hydrochloric acid.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Al-Qasim Abdulaziz S
• Al-Arfaj Mohammed
• Kokal Sunil

Classifications

• E21B27/00

  Containers for collecting or depositing substances in boreholes or wells, e.g. bailers, {baskets or buckets} for collecting mud or sand; Drill bits with means for collecting substances, e.g. valve drill bits · CPC title

• E21B17/1078

  Stabilisers or centralisers for casing, tubing or drill pipes (E21B17/1007 - E21B17/1064 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B31/00 Primary

  Fishing for or freeing objects in boreholes or wells · CPC title

• E21B31/035 Primary

  controlling differential pipe sticking · CPC title

• E21B31/03 Primary

  Freeing by flushing · CPC title