Managed pressure cementing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9249646-B2
Application number	US-201213676660-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2012
Priority date	Nov 16, 2011
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A method of cementing a tubular string in a wellbore includes: deploying the tubular string into the wellbore; pumping cement slurry into the tubular string; launching a cementing plug after pumping the cement slurry; propelling the cementing plug through the tubular string, thereby pumping the cement slurry through the tubular string and into an annulus formed between the tubular string and the wellbore; and controlling flow of fluid displaced from the wellbore by the cement slurry to control pressure of the annulus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of cementing a tubular string in a wellbore extending from a wellhead, comprising:
deploying the tubular string into the wellbore;
pumping cement slurry into the tubular string;
launching a cementing plug after pumping the cement slurry;
propelling the cementing plug through the tubular string, thereby pumping the cement slurry through the tubular string and into an annulus formed between the tubular string and the wellbore;
controlling flow of fluid displaced from the wellbore by the cement slurry to control pressure of the annulus; and
after the cement slurry has been pumped into the annulus:
circulating indicator fluid along a path, the path being in fluid communication with the annulus; and
monitoring a parameter of the indicator fluid during circulation thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaced fluid flow is controlled by choking.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the annulus pressure is bottomhole pressure, and
the choking is adjusted to maintain a constant bottomhole pressure as the cement slurry is pumped into the annulus.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the choking is relaxed as the cement slurry is pumped into the annulus.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the choking is relaxed as the cement slurry is pumped into a first portion of the annulus, and
the choking is tightened as the cement slurry is pumped into a second portion of the annulus.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising exerting backpressure on the annulus while setting a packoff of the tubular string.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaced fluid flow is controlled by pumping.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaced fluid flow is controlled by mixing a less dense fluid therewith.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the path has a stagnant branch in fluid communication with the annulus, and
circulation of the indicator fluid is maintained during curing of the cement slurry.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the path is across the wellhead, and
the parameter is monitored by comparing a flow rate of the indicator fluid into the wellhead to a flow rate of the indicator fluid from the wellhead.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising choking flow of the indicator fluid from the wellhead.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising adjusting the choking of the indicator fluid in response to the flow rate comparison.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the cementing plug is propelled by a chase fluid,
the method further comprises:
measuring a flow rate of the chase fluid; and
measuring a flow rate of the displaced fluid, and

the displaced fluid flow is controlled using the measured flow rates.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the wellbore is a subsea wellbore, and
a subsea wellhead is located adjacent to the subsea wellbore.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the displaced fluid flow rate is measured by diverting the displaced fluid from a bore of a pressure control assembly connected to the subsea wellhead through a subsea flow meter of the pressure control assembly.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method is performed riserlessly.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the tubular string comprises one or more stage collars, and
the method further comprises:
deploying a workstring into the tubular string;
opening one of the one or more stage collars using the workstring; and
pumping the cement slurry or sealant into the annulus via the open stage collar.

18. A method of cementing a tubular string in a wellbore, comprising:
deploying the tubular string into the wellbore, the tubular string comprising one or more cement sensors;
before pumping cement slurry, establishing communication between the cement sensors and a sampling head located at surface;
pumping the cement slurry into the tubular string;
launching a cementing plug after pumping the cement slurry;
propelling the cementing plug through the tubular string, thereby pumping the cement slurry through the tubular string and into an annulus formed between the tubular string and the wellbore;
analyzing data from the cement sensors during pumping of the cement slurry into the annulus; and
analyzing data from the cement sensors during curing of the cement slurry.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising supplying a pulse from the sampling head to the sensors, wherein the sensors comprise capacitance sensors for reflecting a return pulse.

20. A method of cementing a tubular string in a subsea wellbore, comprising:
deploying the tubular string into the subsea wellbore;
pumping cement slurry into the tubular string;
launching a cementing plug after pumping the cement slurry;
propelling the cementing plug through the tubular string using a chase fluid, thereby pumping the cement slurry through the tubular string and into an annulus formed between the tubular string and the subsea wellbore;
measuring a flow rate of the chase fluid;
measuring a mass flow rate of fluid displaced from the subsea wellbore by diverting the displaced fluid from a bore of a pressure control assembly connected to a subsea wellhead of the subsea wellbore through a subsea mass flow meter of the pressure control assembly;
performing a mass balance using the measured flow rates; and
using the mass balance, controlling flow of fluid displaced from the wellbore by the cement slurry to control pressure of the annulus.

21. A method of cementing a tubular string in a wellbore extending from a wellhead, comprising:
deploying the tubular string into the wellbore;
pumping cement slurry into the tubular string;
launching a cementing plug after pumping the cement slurry;
propelling the cementing plug through the tubular string, thereby pumping the cement slurry through the tubular string and into an annulus formed between the tubular string and the wellbore;
controlling flow of fluid displaced from the wellbore by the cement slurry to control pressure of the annulus; and
monitoring curing of the cement slurry,
wherein the curing is monitored by circulating indicator fluid across the wellhead and comparing a flow rate of indicator fluid into the wellhead to a flow rate of indicator fluid from the wellhead.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising choking flow of the indicator fluid from the wellhead.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising adjusting the choking of the indicator fluid in response to the flow rate comparison.

24. A method of cementing a tubular string in a wellbore, comprising:
deploying the tubular string into the wellbore;
pumping cement slurry into the tubular string;
launching a cementing plug after pumping the cement slurry;
propelling the cementing plug through the tubular string, thereby pumping the cement slurry through the tubular string and into an annulus formed between the tubular string and the wellbore;
controlling flow of fluid displaced from the wellbore by the cement slurry to control pressure of the annulus;
monitoring curing of the cement slurry,
wherein:
the tubular string comprises one or more cement sensors, and
curing is monitored by analyzing data from the cement sensors;

deploying a drill string into the wellbore after pumping the cement slurry; and
pumping an RFID tag through the drill string and into a second annulus formed between the drill string and the tubular string, wherein the

Assignees

• Weatherford Lamb
• Weatherford Technology Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Hannegan Don M
• Pena Cesar
• Pavel David
• Grayson Michael Brian
• Boutalbi Said
• Cooper Todd Douglas
• Dunn Timothy P
• Zamora Jr Frank

Classifications

• E21B33/143

  for underwater installations · CPC title

• E21B33/14

  for cementing casings into boreholes · CPC title

• E21B33/13 Primary

  Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like · CPC title

• E21B33/165

  Cementing plugs specially adapted for being released down-hole (cementing heads E21B33/05) · CPC title

• E21B47/0001

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic