Systems and methods of diverting fluids in a wellbore using destructible plugs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9624750-B2
Application number	US-201013264948-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2010
Priority date	Apr 17, 2009
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

A bridge plug arrangement includes a plug having an upper end and a bottom end. The bridge plug arrangement also optionally includes a cylindrical seat. The bridge plug arrangement further includes a tubular member. The tubular member may be part of a casing string. The tubular member is configured to receive the plug and, when used, the seat. The plug and/or the seat may be fabricated from a frangible material. Also disclosed is a method for diverting fluids in a wellbore using the bridge plug arrangement. The method may include landing the plug onto the seat within the wellbore below a subsurface zone of interest. Treatment fluids are then injected into the wellbore, where they are diverted through perforations and into a formation. The plug and/or seat is then optionally broken into a plurality of pieces through use of a downward mechanical force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bridge plug arrangement, comprising:
a plug having an upper end, a bottom end, and a beveled edge along an outer diameter proximate the bottom end of the plug;
a tubular member for receiving the plug, the tubular member having an upper end, a bottom end, and a bore extending from the upper end to the bottom end;
a shoulder disposed along an inner diameter of the tubular member below said upper end and configured to receive the beveled edge of the plug; and
one of a bore defined by a body of the plug, the bore extending from the upper end to the bottom end and configured to receive a running tool, or a hook extending from the upper end and configured to receive a running tool;
wherein the plug and is fabricated of frangible material.

2. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder is provided by a reduced inner diameter portion machined into the tubular member.

3. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 2 , wherein:
the plug defines a body that is shaped as a dome or as a cone;
the bottom end of the body defines an angle relative to the centerline of the plug; and
the angle of the bottom end of the body is essentially the same as the angle of the shoulder of the reduced inner diameter portion so as to counteract any hydraulic forces applied downwardly against the plug.

4. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the frangible material is selected from ceramic, glass, plastic, or combinations thereof.

5. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the plug is shaped as a disc.

6. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the plug further comprises a stem extending from the bottom end of the plug, the stem helping to centralize the plug within the tubular member during use.

7. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the stem is about ⅛th inch to 1 inch in length.

8. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the plug defines a body that is shaped as a cone or as a dome.

9. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the plug has a non-uniform thickness.

10. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the body is assembled from a series of segments that are weakly joined together along joints, thereby accommodating the breakage of the plug downhole by application of a mechanical force.

11. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the joints are bonded together using an adhesive.

12. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising:
a threaded mandrel that extends through the bore in the plug;
a first nut threaded onto the mandrel and secured adjacent the upper end of the plug; and
a second nut threaded onto the mandrel and secured adjacent the bottom end.

13. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 12 , wherein:
the shoulder is provided by a separate cylindrical seat disposed along an inner diameter of the tubular member;
the cylindrical seat comprises a beveled inner diameter proximate an upper end of the cylindrical seat, and a beveled outer diameter proximate a bottom end of the cylindrical seat; and
the plug lands upon the beveled inner diameter proximate the upper end of the cylindrical seat.

14. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 13 , wherein the cylindrical seat is fabricated from a frangible material.

15. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 13 , wherein:
the tubular member further comprises an enlarged inner diameter portion forming a recess, the recess having a lower beveled edge for receiving the beveled outer diameter proximate the bottom end of the cylindrical seat; and
the cylindrical seat is placed in the recess.

16. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 15 , further comprising:
an elastomeric ring placed between the seat and the lower beveled edge of the tubular member to provide a positive hydraulic seal between the seat and the lower beveled edge of the tubular member.

17. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 15 , further comprising:
a securement ring that connects onto threads within the recess of the tubular member proximate the upper end of the seat to secure the seat into place on the lower beveled edge of the tubular member.

18. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 15 , wherein:
an angle of the beveled edge proximate the bottom end of the plug and the angle of the beveled inner diameter proximate the upper end of the seat are each between about 15 degrees and 75 degrees relative to the centerline; and
the angle between the beveled outer diameter proximate the bottom end of the seat and an angle of the lower beveled edge of the tubular member are each between about 15 degrees and 75 degrees relative to the centerline.

19. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 18 , wherein:
the plug defines a body that is shaped as a dome or as a cone;
the bottom end of the body defines an angle relative to the centerline of the plug; and
the angle of the bottom end of the body is essentially the same as the angle of the beveled inner diameter proximate the upper end of the cylindrical seat so as to counteract hydraulic forces that may be applied downwardly against the plug.

20. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 18 , wherein
the angle of the beveled edge proximate the bottom end of the plug and the angle of the beveled inner diameter proximate the upper end of the seat are substantially the same; and
wherein the angle of the beveled outer diameter proximate the bottom end of the seat and the angle of the lower beveled edge within the recess of the tubular member are substantially the same.

21. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein:
the beveled edge proximate the bottom end of the plug and the shoulder along the tubular member each define an angle that is between 15 degrees and 75 degrees relative to a centerline through the tubular member; and
the angle of the beveled edge proximate the bottom end of the plug and the angle of the shoulder are substantially the same.

22. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 21 , wherein:
the beveled edge of the plug lands upon the shoulder of the tubular member; and
the angle of the beveled edge proximate the bottom end of the plug and the angle of the shoulder of the tubular member are each between about 15 degrees and 35 degrees relative to the centerline.

23. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 22 , further comprising:
an elastomeric ring between the plug and the shoulder of the tubular member to provide a hydraulic seal between the plug and the shoulder of the tubular member.

24. The bridge plug arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the beveled edge forms a substantial hydraulic seal between the plug and the tubular member.

25. A method for diverting fluids in a wellbore, comprising:
providing a tubular member within a casing string, the tubular member comprising a beveled shoulder machined into an inner diameter of the tubular member;
running a plug into the wellbore, the plug comprising an upper end, a bottom end, and a beveled edge along an outer diameter proximate the bottom end of the plug;
setting the plug onto a seating shoulder below a subsurface zone of interest, the seating shoulder defining an angle relative to a centerline of the tubular member;
injecting a fluid into the tubular member, the majority of fluid being blocked from travel below the plug, and being diverted through an aperture in the tubular member above the plug; and
optionally breaking the plug into pieces after injecting the fluid.

Assignees

• Entchev Pavlin B
• Sorem William A
• Wang Zhihua
• Baker David A
• Montgomery John K
• Mercer Larry
• Petrie Dennis H
• Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co
• Rasgas Company Ltd

Inventors

• Entchev Pavlin B
• Sorem William A
• Wang Zhihua
• Baker David A
• Montgomery John K
• Mercer Larry
• Petrie Dennis H

Classifications

• E21B34/063

  Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc (E21B34/103 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B17/1078

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

• E21B37/00

  Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells (E21B21/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• 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 · CPC title

• Y10T29/49796

  Coacting pieces · CPC title