Pulsating rotational flow for use in well operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9328587-B2
Application number	US-201414567411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2014
Priority date	Jul 3, 2012
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A system for use with a subterranean well can include a fluid oscillator which discharges pulsating fluid from a tubular string in a direction at least partially toward an end of the tubular string proximate a surface of the earth. A method can include discharging a fluid from the tubular string, thereby applying a reaction force to the tubular string, which reaction force biases the tubular string at least partially into the well. Another method can include discharging a pulsating fluid from a fluid oscillator in a direction at least partially toward an end of the tubular string, and drilling into an earth formation with a drill bit connected at an opposite end of the tubular string in the well.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for use with a subterranean well, the system comprising:
a fluid oscillator which discharges pulsating fluid from a tubular string in a first direction at least partially toward a first end of the tubular string proximate a surface of the earth; and
a fluid switch to control selection of a port from among a plurality of ports to discharge the pulsating fluid from the tubular string in the first direction, each port arranged to discharge the pulsating fluid from the tubular string in the first direction at least partially toward the first end of the tubular string proximate the surface of the earth.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid oscillator also discharges the pulsating fluid rotationally about the tubular string.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular string is positioned in a wellbore inclined relative to vertical.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the discharged fluid carries particulate matter through an annulus formed between the tubular string and a wellbore.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein discharge of the pulsating fluid from the tubular string produces a vibratory reaction force applied to the tubular string in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the second direction is toward a second end of the tubular string, the second end being inserted into the well.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the second direction is toward a drill bit connected at a second end of the tubular string.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular string comprises a coiled tubing.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein discharge of the fluid from the tubular string applies a reaction force to the tubular string, which reaction force at least partially biases the tubular string into the well.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the discharged fluid cleans a well surface.

11. A method for use with a subterranean well, the method comprising:
discharging, using a fluid oscillator, a pulsating fluid from a tubular string in a first direction at least partially toward a first end of the tubular string;
controlling, using a fluid switch, selection of a port from among a plurality of ports to discharge the pulsating fluid from the tubular string in the first direction, each port arranged to discharge the pulsating fluid from the tubular string in the first direction at least partially toward the first end of the tubular string proximate the surface of the earth; and
drilling into an earth formation with a drill bit connected at a second end of the tubular string in the well.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the fluid oscillator also discharges the pulsating fluid rotationally about the tubular string.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the tubular string is positioned in a wellbore inclined relative to vertical during the discharging.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the discharged fluid carries drill cuttings through an annulus formed between the tubular string and a wellbore.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the discharging further comprises producing a vibratory reaction force applied to the tubular string in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second direction is at least partially toward the second end of the tubular string.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the tubular string comprises a coiled tubing.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the discharging applies a reaction force to the tubular string, which reaction force at least partially biases the tubular string into the well.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Surjaatmadja Jim B
• Hunter Timothy H
• Pipkin Robert L

Classifications

• E21B7/24

  Drilling using vibrating or oscillating means, e.g. out-of-balance masses (percussion drilling E21B1/00) · CPC title

• E21B28/00

  Vibration generating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for stimulating production ({for fishing for or freeing objects E21B31/005;} for transmitting measuring-signals E21B47/14; for geophysical measurements G01V1/02) · CPC title

• E21B41/0035

  Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches · CPC title

• E21B41/0078

  Nozzles used in boreholes (drilling by liquid or gas jets E21B7/18; drill bits with nozzles E21B10/60; perforators using direct fluid action E21B43/114; obtaining a slurry of minerals using nozzles E21B43/29) · CPC title

• E21B21/00

  Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor (freeing objects stuck in boreholes by flushing E21B31/03) · CPC title