Clean Up and Actuation Tool, Method, and System

In the resource recovery and fluid sequestration industries significant cost is associated with runs in the borehole. Reduction of the cost can be achieved with combinations of actions undertaken in a single run. While much effort has been expended in the pursuit of reducing the number of runs, some operations have remained independent and therefore costly.

An embodiment of a well cleanup and actuation tool including a cleanup portion of the tool configured to direct flowing fluid into an annular space radially outwardly of the tool and in a downhole direction, while accepting return fluid and entrained debris through a pathway therein, an actuation configuration connected to the cleanup portion, the actuation configuration comprising a profile thereon and a flow passage that bypasses the profile.

An embodiment of a method for cleaning and actuating in a borehole, including conveying fluid through the tool, cleaning a target area with the fluid, and bypassing the profile of the actuation section of the tool with the fluid.

An embodiment of a wellbore system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a cleanup and actuation tool disposed within or as a part of the string.

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring to, a sectional view of a well cleanup and actuation toolis illustrated along with arrows that indicate a fluid flow direction through the tool, during use. The toolcomprises a cleanup sectionand an actuation sectionthat both conveys the fluid passing through the cleanup sectionand operates to actuate something in the downhole environment. The cleanup section may be any commercially available fluid flow based debris entrainment system used for cleaning boreholes, such as but not limited to the VACS™ borehole cleanup system commercially available from Baker Hughes. The two sectionsandare attached to each other and to a string at surface and run simultaneously to advantageously clean the borehole and actuate a tool in a single run. In order to successfully accomplish this result it is important that the cleanup fluid not interfere with the actuation profilethat is presented on the actuation section. Actuation sectionthen is configured, in embodiments, to pass the cleanup fluid to the downhole end of the toolto effect cleanup while avoiding the profile.

Continuing with reference to, the first embodiment of actuation sectioncan be appreciated to have a housingwithin which is a flow area that may be constructed as a plurality of gun drilled holesor could be constructed as an annular space in some embodiments, which would look the same in). Within these holes will be fluid flow that moves in the direction of arrows. Feeding the gun drilled holesis fluid that is passed through a crossover subthat itself includes gun drill holes. Circumferentially between the gun drilled holesare located cross over portsthat lead flowing fluid back to the annulusand back to surface. At a downhole end of housingare venturi portsthat turn some of the fluid flow of arrowsto an uphole direction arrowsand into the return path. Due to the angle of the venturi ports, a lower pressure is generated in fluid downhole of the venturi portsthan uphole thereof. These therefore increase fluid velocity and turbulence. In embodiments, there may also optionally be included a filterto filter fluid flowing through the ports. A bottom capincludes openingsthat direct another portion of the fluid from flow(from the gun drill holes) to the annulusand around an endof sectionto the return path. The flow of arrowswill entrain debris, introducing it to the return pathwhile the flow of arrowswill help increase velocity of fluid flow in the returnas well as enhance turbulence in the flow to ensure debris entrainment, maintained suspension, and transport. In this embodiment, the debris is transported to surface. As noted above, the flow of fluid does not impact the profileas relevant flow is maintained radially inwardly of the profile. This leaves profilefree to engage a radially outwardly positioned complementary profileof a downhole feature (string, casing, tool, etc.) that is to be actuated.

Referring to, an alternate embodiment of the toolis illustrated. As can be ascertained by brief review the embodiment is very similar to that ofbut does include two departures that provide benefit to a user. Only these two features need be detailed as the balance of the toolin the embodiment is the same as that ofand hence the discussion above is applicable. Theembodiment includes a flapperthat opens from fluid flow entering the return pathand will close () if velocity in flow,ebbs. This will prevent entrained debris falling back out of the toolif the flow regime that picked up that debris is reduced in rate or stops. The flapper closing action under such circumstance will be automatic and may be due to gravity if the toolis employed in a vertical borehole or may be due to a torsion spring as is common for use with flappers in the industry, or both. Additionally, the embodiment may also or instead include a filterat an uphole end of the actuation section. This filter will prevent debris that is entrained in the fluid from entering the annulusuphole of the sectionwhere it would need to be transported to surface. Rather, the filter allow for fluid to flow through but the debris to be trapped in the actuation section.

Referring to, another embodiment of sectionis illustrated. This embodiment does not include gundrills and hence avoids the need to build a housing that has them. Rather this embodiment employs a structure that encourages fluid flowing in the annulusto bypass the profilesimply by facilitating a lower resistance pathway. To this end, a colletincludes three profilesas illustrated in the end view of. Theprofilesare spaced apart by about 120 degrees, in the illustrated embodiment (90 degrees, 180 degrees and other number of degrees are also contemplated), and leave open areasbetween them. Fluid may easily flow in the open areasand will tend to bypass the profilessince fluid will always follow the path of least resistance. Enhancing the likelihood of flow into the open areasis a mandrelthat includes in its structure an hourglass type shape. Specifically referring to, it can be seen that the mandrelis reduced in cross section at a longitudinal mid pointof the shapeand is thicker toward its ends. This provides for a greater flow area that makes up open areas. Arrowsinhelp to illustrate this flow. At the downhole end of the toolfluid will reverse direction as in the foregoing embodiments, entrain debris and head back to surface in the return path.

In yet another embodiment, making reference to, sectionincludes a mandrelhaving a cap. Capincludes openingsthat are slits or nozzles configured to increase fluid flow velocity and turbulence therethrough as the fluid is entering the return path. In this embodiment the profilemay be fully circumferentially complete or still may be circumferentially incomplete as desired since the fluid flow in annuluswill bypass the profilethrough a colletthat supports the profile. More specifically, the colletis configured with an inlet openingand one outlet opening, these being located on either longitudinal end of the profile so that fluid may pass under the profile. In embodiments, the outletmay also be configured with a nozzleto increase fluid velocity and turbulence. In some embodiments, the nozzlewill be angled (illustration indicating one possible angle) to enhance debris entrainment while also increasing fluid velocity and turbulence. This embodiment may also be configured with the flapper and/or the debris filter as illustrated in, if desired.

In each embodiment disclosed, a method for cleanup of a borehole and actuation of a downhole tool in the same run is enabled.

Referring to, a borehole systemis illustrated. The systemcomprises a boreholein a subsurface formation. A stringis disposed within the borehole. A well cleanup and actuation toolas disclosed herein is disposed within or as a part of the string.

Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1: A well cleanup and actuation tool including a cleanup portion of the tool configured to direct flowing fluid into an annular space radially outwardly of the tool and in a downhole direction, while accepting return fluid and entrained debris through a pathway therein, an actuation configuration connected to the cleanup portion, the actuation configuration comprising a profile thereon and a flow passage that bypasses the profile.

Embodiment 2: The tool as in any prior embodiment, wherein the cleanup portion is a fluid flow based debris entrainment tool.

Embodiment 3: The tool as in any prior embodiment, wherein the actuation configuration includes a standoff housing that supports on a radially outward face thereof the profile.

Embodiment 4: The tool as in any prior embodiment, wherein the housing includes openings therein to form the passage.

Embodiment 5: The tool as in any prior embodiment, wherein the openings are axially oriented.

Embodiment 6: The tool as in any prior embodiment, wherein the housing includes at a downhole end thereof, a nozzle.

Embodiment 7: The tool as in any prior embodiment, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct a jet of fluid radially outwardly of the actuation configuration.

Embodiment 8: The tool as in any prior embodiment, wherein the actuation configuration includes open portions about a circumference thereof.

Embodiment 9: The tool as claimed in any prior embodiment, wherein the profile extends radially from the actuation configuration in specific circumferential positions thereof.

Embodiment 10: The tool as in any prior embodiment, wherein the specific circumferential positions are at 90 degrees, 120 degrees, or 180 degrees from one another.

Embodiment 11: The tool as in any prior embodiment, wherein the actuation configuration includes gun drill holes therein.

Embodiment 12: The tool as in any prior embodiment, wherein one or more of the gun drill holes includes a back angle section to create a venturi action in the actuation configuration that assists in transporting debris entrained fluid, during use.

Embodiment 13: A method for cleaning and actuating in a borehole, including conveying fluid through the tool as in any prior embodiment, cleaning a target area with the fluid, and bypassing the profile of the actuation section of the tool with the fluid.

Embodiment 14: The method as in any prior embodiment, further including causing the fluid to cross over between an inside flow path and an annular flow path.

Embodiment 15: The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the bypassing is conveying fluid radially inwardly of the profile.

Embodiment 16: The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the conveying is through a gundrilled passage.

Embodiment 17: The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the conveying is through a housing.

Embodiment 18: The method as in any prior embodiment, wherein the conveying is circumferentially adjacent the profile.

Embodiment 19: The method as in any prior embodiment, further comprising actuating a feature with the profile.

Embodiment 20: A wellbore system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a cleanup and actuation tool as in any prior embodiment disposed within or as a part of the string.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” can include a range of +8% of a given value.

The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a borehole, and/or equipment in the borehole, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.