Method of centralising tubing in a wellbore

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9874059-B2
Application number	US-201415023296-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2014
Priority date	Sep 20, 2013
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

A method of centralizing a tubing in a wellbore includes providing one or more expandable elements between the tubing and a surrounding casing located in a wellbore and expanding the expandable elements against the casing so as to cause the tubing to become centered within the casing. Alternatively, one or more portions of a tubing are expanded against a surrounding casing located in a wellbore so as to cause the tubing to become centered within the casing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of centralising tubing in a wellbore comprising:
providing one or more expandable elements between a tubing and a surrounding casing located in a wellbore and expanding said expandable elements against the casing so as to cause the tubing to centre within the casing;
said method further comprising:
forming one or more holes in the tubing for access to an annulus between the tubing and the casing;
injecting a sealant material through the one or more holes in the tubing, into the annulus between the tubing and the casing; and
forming a fluid-tight seal between the tubing and the casing,
wherein the expandable elements are provided between the tubing and an intermediate tubular such that, on activation, the intermediate tubular is expanded outwardly against the casing.

2. The method according to claim 1 when carried out on tubing that has been pre-installed in the wellbore.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the holes are further provided for one or more of the following reasons:
i) placing of the expandable elements between the tubing and the casing; and
ii) performing a clean-out operation in the annulus.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of forming one or more holes comprises a radial depth control to ensure that the holes are only provided in the tubing and do not extend into the casing if the tubing is lying on or near to the casing.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the seal forms a permanent barrier for well abandonment.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the expandable elements are activated mechanically, electrically, magnetically, chemically, hydraulically, pneumatically or explosively, or wherein the intermediate tubular is expanded mechanically, electrically, magnetically, chemically, hydraulically, pneumatically or explosively.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the expandable elements comprise a spring, a jack, a piston or an expandable material.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the expandable elements are operated substantially simultaneously, or wherein the portions of the tubing are expanded substantially simultaneously.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein one or more expandable elements are re-set and/or re-used in order to centralise the tubing.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein one or more supporting elements are provided to maintain the tubing in a desired position after the one or more expandable elements have been expanded.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising re-positioning, radially or axially, the expandable element before re-expanding the expandable element to aid centralisation of another part of the tubing.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the expandable elements are provided on the tubing or casing prior to installation of the tubing in the casing.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the expandable elements are initially provided in a compact configuration and the method comprises activating the expandable elements when it is desired to centralise the tubing within the casing.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein portions of the intermediate tubular which are expanded are radial portions so as to leave a fluid flow path through the annulus between the tubing and the casing prior to said step of injecting a sealant material through the one or more holes in the tubing.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the expandable elements are provided between the tubing and casing and/or activated down-hole using wireline, coiled tubing or pipe.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the expandable elements or expanded portions are radially positioned around the tubing, with equal spacing there-between.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed using wireline.

18. An apparatus for centralising tubing in a wellbore, comprising:
a tool configured to provide one or more expandable elements between a tubing and a surrounding casing located in a wellbore and to expand said expandable elements against the casing so as to cause the tubing to centre within the casing;
the apparatus further comprising:
a tool configured to form one or more holes in the tubing for access to an annulus between the tubing and the casing; and
a tool configured to inject a sealant material through the one or more holes in the tubing, into the annulus between the tubing and the casing and forming a fluid-tight seal between the tubing and the casing,
wherein the expandable elements are provided between the tubing and an intermediate tubular such that, on activation, the intermediate tubular is expanded outwardly against the casing.

Assignees

• Statoil Petroleum As

Inventors

• Grimsbo Gjermund
• Hemmingsen Pål Viggo
• Godøy Rune

Classifications

• E21B17/10 Primary

  Wear protectors; Centralising devices {, e.g. stabilisers} · CPC title

• E21B43/103 Primary

  of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like · CPC title

• E21B17/1007

  for the internal surface of a pipe, e.g. wear bushings for underwater well-heads · CPC title

• E21B17/1078

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

• E21B43/105

  Expanding tools specially adapted therefor · CPC title