Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02597563 2009-09-08
ONE TRIP CEMENTED EXPANDABLE MONOBORE LINER SYSTEM AND
METHOD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of this invention is the method of running a tubular inside
casing
and securing it and more particularly to techniques for protecting the
mounting location
for the tubular on the casing as the casing is cemented and thereafter
cementing the liner
after it is expanded into the mounting location.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Figure 1 is illustrative of the prior techniques of running in casing
with a
casing shoe 16 near its lower end. If later a tubular is run in and needs to
be attached to
the casing by expansion, the presence of cement debris in the support area on
the casing
where the tubular will be attached could prevent a sealed connection from
being obtained.
One way around that would be to deliver the cement into a shoe mounted below
the point
at which the liner will be attached later. Another method would be to run
brushes and
scrapers into the mounting location after cementing to be sure it was clean so
that a good
seal and support for the tubular subsequently installed can be obtained.
However these
techniques require significant amounts of time and create an associated cost.
[0004] The present invention protects the mounting location on the casing
during
cementing with a barrier sleeve that covers a recess. The barrier sleeve
defines a sealed
annular space that contains an incompressible material. This allows the
barrier sleeve to
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be compliant to changes in hydrostatic pressure as the casing is lowered into
place.
Cementing is done through the barrier sleeve. The barrier sleeve is
subsequently drilled
out exposing a recess and a locating profile and optionally a sliding sleeve
valve. The
tubular can then be positioned accurately using the locating profile and a
collet
mechanism on the expansion tool and expanded in to sealing contact with the
casing. Due
to the recess, the drift diameter of the tubular after expansion into the
recess is at least as
large as the casing drift diameter. The entire tubular can be expanded to its
lower end and
a run in shoe at the lower end of the tubular can be retrieved and removed
from the well
with the swaging assembly and the running string that delivered it. The
sliding sleeve in
the casing shoe can be selectively opened and closed with a shifting tool run
on the
expansion string above the expansion tools, running tool, and the liner to be
expanded.
Another option is for this sliding sleeve to be located in the liner to be
expanded below
the upper portion that mounts in the above casing. The port opened and closed
by this
sliding sleeve can be used to either pump cement into the annulus or to return
the
wellbore fluid displaced by cement from the annulus into the casing string.
When the
sliding sleeve is in the casing shoe, to allow for fluid flow between the
outside of this port
and the annulus below the shoe after the shoe has been cemented with the
string to which
it is attached an additional outer sleeve is run on the outside of the recess
sleeve. This
outer sleeve is connected at its lower end to the inner barrier sleeve via a
guide nose. The
flow path between the outside of the ports and the annulus is opened when the
nose is
drilled out and under reamed. A cement retainer device is to be located at the
bottom of
the string preventing cement pumped into the annulus from entering into the
expanded
liner due to density differences. This retainer device can be the location
from which
cement is pumped into the annulus or where the wellbore fluid displaced by the
cement is
returned from the annulus to the inside of the casing string. The cement
retainer can be
drilled out in a subsequent trip into the hole. These advantages and others of
the present
invention will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art from a
review of the
description of the preferred embodiment and the claims that appear below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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[0005] An apparatus to protect the mounting area of casing and a locating
profile and optionally a sliding sleeve valve and a flow path from the outside
of the
valve to the annulus when subsequent attachment of an expanded liner is
intended and
the expanded liner is to be cemented in place. A barrier sleeve, nose, and
outer sleeve
define a sealed cavity having a loose incompressible material inside that
covers the
mounting location on the casing. A locating profile and an optional sliding
sleeve valve
and a flow path from the outside of the valve to the annulus can be provided.
The
cementing of the casing takes place through the barrier sleeve. After the
cementing, the
sleeve and nose are drilled out and the incompressible material is removed to
the surface
with the drill cuttings. A liner is inserted in the casing and is preferably
expanded into
sealing contact with the mounting location on the casing. After expansion a
cement
retainer positioned at the bottom of the expanded liner and the sliding sleeve
located
either above the mounting location of the liner in the casing shoe or in the
liner below
the mounted top section allow cement to be delivered outside the expanded
liner and the
displaced wellbore fluid to return into the casing through so that the liner
can be
cemented. The cement retainer can be delivered with either the liner or the
expansion
tools to allow expansion and cementing in a single trip. A shifting tool can
be run on
the expansion string to actuate the sliding sleeve and if necessary to allow
for cement to
be pumped from the drill string into the annulus through the sliding sleeve.
The cement
retainer can be milled out in a separate trip.
[0005a] Accordingly, in one aspect there is provided a completion method,
comprising:
inserting a tubular string comprising a wall that defines a passage
therethrough to be expanded through an existing tubular;
providing a recess in the existing tubular into which the string is
expanded;
providing a valve in said wall of said tubular to be expanded or said
existing tubular; and
expanding the tubular to be expanded into said recess such that the
internal diameter of said expanded tubular adjacent said valve is at least as
large as an
internal diameter of the existing tubular outside said recess.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Figure I is a prior art production casing illustrating a standard
casing
shoe at the lower end;
[0007] Figure 2 shows a production string with the shoe track of the present
invention;
[00081 Figure 3 shows the production casing with the shoe track of the present
invention run into the wellbore;
[0009] Figure 4 is the view of Figure 3 after cementing;
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[0010] Figure 5 is the view of Figure 4 showing the shoe track exposed after
drillout and the wellbore extended below the production casing;
[0011] Figure 6 is the view of Figure 5 showing the reaming of the extension
bore
just drilled;
[0012] Figure 7 is a close up view of the now exposed shoe;
[0013] Figure 8 shows the liner run in on a running tool and in position to be
expanded;
[0014] Figure 9 is the view of Figure 8 indicating the initial stroking of the
swage, which results in release from the running tool;
[0015] Figure 10 is the view of Figure 9 showing the anchor released and
weight
being set down to reposition for the next stroke of the swage;
[0016] Figure 11 is the view of Figure 10 showing the next stroke of the
swage;
[0017] Figure 12 is the view of Figure 11 showing the swage advancing toward
the lower end of the liner;
[0018] Figure 13 is the view of Figure 12 with the swage now engaging the
running shoe of the liner at its lower end;
[0019] Figure 14 is the view of Figure 13 with the liner fully expanded and
the
swage being removed with the running shoe by withdrawing the running tool from
the
fully expanded liner;
[0020] Figure 15 is a close up view of the sleeve protecting the recessed shoe
during cementing;
[0021] Figures 16a-16b show the capture of the guide nose assembly;
[0022] Figures 17a-17b show the shearing out of the guide nose assembly from
the tubular or liner;
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[0023] Figures 18a-18b show the guide nose fully released and captured;
[0024] Figures 19a-19b show the emergency release feature;
[0025] Figure 20 shows a casing shoe in its run in configuration with locating
profile, sliding sleeve valve closed over a port, recessed expanded liner
mounting
location, barrier sleeve, guide nose and outer sleeve;
[0026] Figure 21A is a view of the casing shoe in Figure 20 as it is being
drilled and under reamed with the valve closed;
[0027] Figure 21B is a view of the casing shoe in Figure 20 after it has been
drilled and under reamed with the valve closed;
[0028] Figure 22 shows a liner expanded in place;
[0029] Figure 23 shows expansion of a liner with a swage;
[0030] Figure 24 is the view of Figure 23 showing the removal of the swage and
guide nose;
[0031] Figure 25 shows a separate run to insert the cement retainer for
cementing;
[0032] Figure 26 is the view of Figure 25 showing the cement retainer set in
place
and disengaged by its running tool, while the shifting tool is opening the
sliding sleeve
valve;
[0033] Figure 27 shows cement being pumped into the annulus through the drill
string and cement retainer and the displaced wellbore fluid being returned
through the
sliding sleeve valve into the casing;
[0034] Figure 28 shows the sliding sleeve valve being shut by the shifting
tool as
the drill string is pulled from the well;
[0035] Figure 29 shows a drill string milling away the cement retainer before
it
continues on to drill the next section;
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[0036] Figure 30 shows a closable aperture for use in cementing located in the
portion of the liner to be expanded;
[0037] Figure 31 shows a cementing shoe delivered with the liner before
expansion and the swage initiates expansion;
[0038] Figure 32 shows the expansion of Figure 31 complete and the
cementing shoe tagged into by the bottom hole assembly;
[0039] Figure 33 is the view of Figure 32 with cement delivered down the
string
and through the cementing shoe;
[0040] Figure 34 is the view of Figure 33 after cementing and removal of the
bottom hole assembly leaving the cementing shoe in place;
[0041] Figure 35 is the view of Figure 34 showing the cementing shoe being
milled out;
[0042] Figure 36 shows an alternative to Figure 31 delivering the cement
retainer
at the bottom of the swage assembly used for expanding;
[0043] Figure 37 is an alternative to Figure 36 where the shoe is delivered
with
the swage assembly;
[0044] Figure 38 shows cementing by delivering into the top of the annulus of
the
expanded liner and taking well fluid returns through the shoe;
[0045] Figure 39 shows removal of the swage assembly from the shoe after the
cement is delivered to hold the cement in place;
[0046] Figure 40 shows the shoe being drilled or milled out after the
cementing is
concluded;
[0047] Figure 41 show an expandable tubular run in with a cementing isolation
device near the lower end of the string and inside it;
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[0048] Figure 42 is the view of Figure 41 with the cementing isolation device
outside the tubular;
[0049] Figure 43 shows the expansion nearly complete;
[0050] Figure 44 shows the expansion system engaging the isolation device and
moving down to conclude the expansion;
[0051] Figure 45 shows the cementing device repositioned in the tubular and
ready for cementing;
[0052] Figure 46 shows cementing through the expansion assembly and the
cementing device; and
[0053] Figure 47 shows the cementing device milled out after cementing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0054] Figure 1 illustrates a casing string 10 having a known landing collar
12
and a standard float collar 14 as well as a casing shoe 16 adjacent its lower
end
18.Typically, in the past, the cement is pumped through the casing shoe 16 and
then a
dart or wiper is used to displace cement from the casing 10 and out through
the shoe 16
and into the surrounding annulus. When the well is to be drilled deeper, the
shoe 16 is
drilled out but residual cement could still be present. The presence of such
cement or
shoe debris after drilling can affect the seal that is subsequently needed
when a liner is
inserted and secured to the casing 10. This is particularly a concern when the
liner is to be
expanded to secure it to a recessed mounting location at the bottom of the
casing 10.
[0055] The present invention addresses this concern with a barrier sleeve 20
shown in Figures 2 and 15. As shown in Figure 15, the casing string 22 has a
lower
section 24. Inside section 24 is a barrier sleeve 20 mounted and defining an
annular space
28 that contains an incompressible material 30. Preferably the incompressible
material 30
is loosely mounted sand but other materials can be used. The purpose of the
material 30
is to control the burst of barrier sleeve 20 and the collapse of recessed
mounting location
24 in response to increasing hydrostatic pressures as the depth of the casing
22 increases,
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when it is lowered into initial position. Sleeve 20 is preferably fiberglass
sealed at ends
32 and 34. Sleeve 20 initially covers locating profile 36 and recessed
mounting location
38, which will later serve as the location for securing a tubular such as a
liner by a variety
of methods. The preferred method of expansion will be described in more detail
below.
Sleeve 20 is preferably a material that can be quickly drilled such as
plastics or
composites, to mention a few. During cementing of the casing 22, the sleeve 20
has an
inner surface 40, which is contacted by the cement. Ultimately a dart or wiper
plug 42
passes through casing 22 and lands on landing collar 12 (see Figures 3 & 4) to
displace
most of the cement out of the casing 22 and into the surrounding annulus. The
sleeve 20
is subsequently drilled out allowing the incompressible material 30 to escape
and
exposing the clean locating profile 36 and recessed mounting location 38 for
subsequent
attachment of a tubular as will be described below. The drilling removes all
of seal rings
42 and 46 without damaging the casing 22 or recess sleeve 24.
[0056] The method can be understood by beginning at Figure 3, where the casing
22 is mounted in the desired position for cementing in the wellbore 26. The
assembly
includes landing collar 12 and float collar 14. The assembly shown in Figure
15 is at the
lower end of the assembly, but for clarity only the barrier sleeve 20 is
referenced in the
schematic illustration.
[0057] Figure 4 shows that cement 48 has been displaced by plug 42 landing on
landing collar 12. As a result, cement 48 is pushed through sleeve 20, through
run in shoe
50 and into annulus 52.
[0058] In Figure 5, a drill string 54 with a bit assembly 56 has been advanced
through the casing 22 and has milled out the wiper 42 and the sleeve 20 to
expose
locating recess 36 and long recess 38. The incompressible material 30 is
released and
circulated to the surface with the drill cuttings from the action of bit
assembly 56.
[0059] Figure 6 illustrates the enlarging of the new section of wellbore 58 to
a
new dimension 60 using an under-reamer or an RWD bit 62. Depending on the
nature of
the bit assembly 56, the wellbore 60 can be created in a single trip in the
hole or in
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multiple trips. Figure 7 shows the drilling of wellbore 60 complete and the
drill string 54
and bit assembly 56 removed from the wellbore 60 and stored at the surface.
[0060] Figure 8 shows a running string 64 that supports a liner or other
tubular 66
at locking dogs 68. The assembly further comprises an anchor 70 with slips 72
that are
preferably pressure sensitive to extend slips 72 and allow them to retract
when pressure is
removed. Also in the assembly is a piston and cylinder combination 74 that
drives a
swage 76, in response to pressure applied to the piston and cylinder
combination 74.
Initially, as illustrated in Figure 9, pressure is applied to extend the slips
72 and drive
down the swage 76 as illustrated schematically by arrows 78. The upper end or
expandable liner hanger 80 of the tubular 66 is expanded into recessed
mounting location
38 for support from casing 22. The swage 76 is then stroked enough to suspend
the
tubular 66 to casing 22. As illustrated in Figure 10, when weight is set down
at the
surface, after internal pressure is removed, the slips 72 have been released
and the piston
and cylinder combination 74 is re-cocked for another stroke for swage 76. The
dogs 68
become undermined and release their grip on tubular 66 as the piston and
cylinder
combination is re-cocked. Figure 11 shows the subsequent stroking, further
expanding
the tubular 66. Optionally, one or more open hole packers 82 can be used to
ultimately
make sealing contact in wellbore 60 after expansion.
[0061] Figure 12 illustrates the continuation of the movement of the swage in
response to applied surface pressure to anchor 70 and piston and cylinder
combination
72. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that force magnification can be
incorporated
into piston and cylinder combination 72 and it is possible for a greater force
can be
applied to swage 76 at the beginning of each stroke as compared to the balance
of each
stroke. These features are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,222,669 to Sonnier
issued on
May 29, 2007. However, other techniques can be used for swaging or even to
secure the
tubular 66 to long recess 38 or another location initially covered by a sleeve
such as 20
during cementing of the casing 22, without departing from the invention.
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[0062] Eventually in Figure 13, the running string 64 expands the open hole
packers 82 into sealing contact with the wellbore 60 as it approaches the run
in shoe 84
mounted near the lower end 86 of tubular 66. A grasping mechanism 88 is shown
schematically at the lower end of the expansion string 64. Contact is made and
the run in
shoe 84 is released and grabbed by mechanism 88. Swage 76 expands lower end 86
of
tubular 66 enough so that the run in shoe can be retrieved through it. When
the string 64
is removed from the wellbore 60 and to the surface, it takes with it the
anchor 70, the
piston and cylinder combination 74 and the run in shoe 84, leaving a large
opening 90 in
the lower end of tubular 66, as shown in Figure 14. Those skilled in the art
will
appreciate that the run in shoe 84 facilitates insertion of the tubular 66 by
presenting a
guide nose as the tubular is initially advanced into position, as shown in
Figure 8.
Optionally, it has a valve in it to check upward flow and allow downward
circulation to
facilitate insertion of the tubular 66. Removal of the run in shoe 84 as
described above
presents a large opening in the lower end of the tubular 66 to facilitate
subsequent drilling
operations or other completion techniques.
[0063] Figures 16-19 show the grasping mechanism 88 in greater detail. It has
a
top sub 100 connected at thread 102 below dogs 68. Top sub 100 is connected to
mandrel
104 at thread 106. The run in shoe 84 is attached to tubular 66 by virtue of
ring 108 held
against rotation by pin 110, which extends from shoe 84. Threads 112 on ring
108 engage
threads 114 on tubular 66. Ring 116 holds ring 112 in position on shoe 84.
Shoe 84 has a
groove 118 and a stop surface 120. Top sub 100 has a surface 122 that lands on
surface
120 as the grasping mechanism 88 advances with the swage 76. When surface 122
hits
surface 120 the tubular 66 has not yet been expanded. Mandrel 104 has a series
of
gripping collets 124 that land in groove 118 when surfaces 120 and 122
contact. When
this happens, as shown in Figure 16a the collets are aligned with recess 126
on mandrel
104 so that they can enter recess 118 in shoe 84. Mandrel 104 has a ring 128
held on by
shear pins 130. When a downward force is applied to shoe 84 through the
contact
between surfaces 120 and 122, threads 112 and 114 shear out and the shoe 84
drops down
and is captured on ring 128. At this point, shown in Figure 17a, surface 132
on mandrel
104 supports collets 124 in groove 118. The shoe 84 is now captured to the
mandrel 104.
As the mandrel 104 moves down in tandem with the swage 76, the tubular 66 is
expanded
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to bottom. Thereafter, the swage 76 and the grasping mechanism 88 and the
attached shoe
84 can all be removed to the surface, as shown in Figure 18a. If, for any
reason the shoe
84 fails to release from the tubular 66 or gets stuck on the way out to the
surface, a pull
on the string 64 shears out pins 130, allowing the collets 124 to become
unsupported as
surface 134 is presented opposite recess 118 as shown in Figure 19a. Those
skilled in the
art will appreciate that other devices can be used to snare the shoe 84 as the
swage 76
advances. The ability to remove shoe 84 is advantageous as it removes the need
to mill it
out and further reduces the risk of the shoe 84 simply turning in response to
a milling
effort, once it is no longer held against rotation by the now expanded tubular
66.
[0064] Those skilled in the art will now appreciate the advantages of the
above
described aspects of the present invention. The sleeve 20 shields a subsequent
mounting
location for the tubular 66 on casing 22 from contamination with the cement 48
used in
the installation of casing 22. Thus regardless of the method of sealed
attachment between
the tubular 66 and the casing 22, there is a greater assurance that the proper
sealing
support will be obtained without concern that cement may have fouled the
mounting
location. The assembly including the sleeve 20 is compliant to changes in
hydrostatic
pressure resulting from advancement of the casing 22 downhole. At the
conclusion of
expansion or other technique to secure tubular 66 to casing 22, the lower end
of the
tubular 66 is left open as the run in shoe 84 is retrieved.
[0065] In certain jurisdictions or with certain operators, just trying to seal
around
the expanded liner 66 with external packers 82 is not adequate and there is a
desire to
meet local regulations and provide a monobore completion with the ability to
cement the
expanded liner. The preferred embodiment of this invention allows such
cementing to
occur and the expansion and cementing process for the liner to occur in either
one or two
trip. Comparing the casing shoe of Figure 15 with that of Figure 20 it can be
seen that
they are the same but the version of Figure 20 has an additional feature of a
sliding sleeve
valve 200 illustrated in the closed position in Figure 20. The recessed
mounting location
202 is covered by a barrier sleeve 204 whose position is maintained with one
or more
centralizers 206. An incompressible filler material or fluid 208 initially
occupies the
volume behind the barrier sleeve 204 and inside the recessed mounting location
202, the
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volume between outer sleeve 210 and recess sleeve 209, and the volume above
guide
nose 207 and between outer sleeve 210 and barrier sleeve 204. This continuous
volume
containing filler material or fluid 208 will be run in without applied
pressure. As the
shoe is run in the hole the hydrostatic pressure inside of the barrier sleeve
204, below the
guide nose 207, and outside of the outer sleeve 210 will increase as collapse
pressure on
the items defining the volume. Burst disks 203 can be included in the guide
nose 207 to
allow communication between the volume containing the filler material or fluid
208 and
the wellbore the shoe is being run in after a certain differential pressure is
reached. This
communication equalizes the pressure removing the collapse forces. During
equalization
wellbore fluid can enter the filler material or fluid volume and coexist with
the filler
material or volume 208. For run in the sliding sleeve valve 200 is preferably
closed
rather than the open position shown in Figure 20 but either position can be
used because
the space occupied by filler material 208 is isolated so no flow can occur
though while
the casing attached at connection 212 is being cemented. The cement should not
enter
through the burst disks 203 as the volume is equalized in pressure and
captured from
flow. After the casing is cemented, a bit is inserted to drill out the
protective assembly of
the sleeve 204, centralizers 206, and parts of guide nose 207, as depicted in
Figure 21 A.
The filler material or fluid 208 is removed to the surface with circulation.
The nose and
the wellbore below it are then under reamed and the condition depicted in
Figure 21 B is
achieved. The drilling and under reaming is continued to extend the wellbore
to accept
the next section of tubular 218 In Figure 21 B sliding sleeve valve 200 is
exposed as is
recessed mounting location 202. Port 214 is closed and arrow 216 indicates no
flow
through it is possible. Figure 22 shows the next section of tubular 218 in
position and
expanded into recessed mounting location 202 and beyond. As shown in Figure
23, the
assembly to do this expansion can include a combination of an anchor and
stroker shown
schematically as 220 that is connected to a swage 222 that can be of any
number of
different designs. As shown in Figure 20, sliding sleeve valve 200 has a
groove 224 that
is preferably engaged at before expansion of the top of the expanded liner or
expandable
liner hanger by a collet assembly located on the stroker tool 220 that
operates
bidirectionally so that on the trip down with the liner 218, the stroker 220
the collet can
provide a confirmation indication of overpull or set down weight that the
liner is in the
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proper location for expansion of its top inside of the recessed mounting
location 202.
Tubular string 218 preferably has no external packers to seal the annulus 228
that extends
around it. As shown in figure 24, it is possible for a guide nose 230 to be
run on the
bottom of the expandable liner and retrieved after expansion by a retrieval
tool 226 at the
bottom of the expansion string.
[00661 Figures 25 - 29 illustrate a 2nd trip method of cementing the expanded
liner. A cement retainer 234 is run in on a work string 236 below a shifting
tool 232.
First, the cement retainer 234 is to be set at the bottom of liner 218. At
this point, any
pressure tests can be performed to confirm that the cement retainer 234 is set
properly as
valve 200 is closed. Next as shown in figure 26, the running tool 235 for the
cement
retainer 234 is released and the work string 236 is tripped up hole. As the
shifting tool
232 passes through the valve a similar collet assembly engages the groove 224.
With this
indication weight is set down and the drill string is turned to the right.
Spring loaded
dogs on the shifting tool 232 engage slots in the sliding sleeve valve 200
causing the
sliding sleeve valve 200 to unscrew down opening it. Once the sliding sleeve
valve 200
has been opened the work string 236 is tripped down hole reengaging the cement
retainer
running tool 235 into the cement retainer 234. As shown in figure 27, cement
237 is
delivered through the work string 236, the shifting tool 232, the cement
retainer running
tool 235, and the cement retainer 234 and into the annulus 228 around the
tubular string
218. Wellbore fluids 239 displaced by the pumped cement from annulus 228 go
through
sliding sleeve valve 200. In Figure 28, the shifting tool 232 is located in
the sliding
sleeve valve 200 and forces the sliding sleeve 200 shut on the way out
trapping the
cement 237 in the annulus 228. Figure 29 shows a separate trip in which the
cement
retainer 234 is milled out by a drill bit 244 before continuing on to drill
the next hole
section.
[00671 Yet another option is for the sliding sleeve valve 200 to be located in
the
top of the expanded liner string 218, just below the mounted section 231. This
arrangement is shown in Figure 30. This sliding sleeve valve 200 would be
expanded
along with the liner string 218 which it is part of to allow for at least as
large a drift as the
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parent casing above it. Once expanded it would be operated as mentioned above
and all
cementing methods discussed in this application could be applied.
[0068] A method of running the expandable liner string 218, mounting the upper
section of the liner string 218 to the recessed mounting location 202 via
expansion,
continuing on to expand the entire liner string 218, setting a cement retainer
234 in the
bottom of the expanded liner string 218, opening a sliding sleeve valve 200
for the return
of displaced wellbore fluids 239 from the annulus 228, pumping cement 237 in
to the
annulus, and closing the sliding sleeve valve 200 in one trip is illustrated
in Figures 31-
35. The primary difference between this method and that detailed above and in
Figures
25-29 is that the cement retainer 234 is run in on the same trip as the liner
218 and
expansion tools 220. Figure 31 illustrates a liner 218 that has been delivered
and mounted
in the recessed mounting location 202 with the guide shoe 230 and the cement
retainer
234 already in place as a combined device 246. As soon as the expandable liner
218 is
mounted and adequate length has been expanded the sliding sleeve valve 200 can
be
opened as discussed above by shifting tool 232. The expansion tool 220 then
returns to
expanding the liner string 218. When the expansion tool 220 tags into the
device 246, as
shown in Figure 32, cement 237 can be pumped from the surface through the
expansion
string 236 that extends to the surface. As previously described, the displaced
wellbore
fluid 239 from cementing go through now open sliding sleeve 200 and to the
surface
through annulus 240. Figure 33 shows the cement 237 pumped into the annulus
228.
Figure 34 shows the expansion string 236 removed which results in the closure
of sliding
sleeve valve 200. The device 246 has been left in the borehole for a
subsequent trip with
the mill or bit 244, as shown in Figure 3 5.
[0069] Figures 36 and 37 illustrate alternative ways to deliver a cementing
shoe
268 to the lower end of a liner 270. In Figure 36, the shoe 268 is delivered
with the liner
270 and sits on or near its bottom during the expansion with the swage 272.
Eventually, a
gripping device 274 engages the shoe 268 to allow it to pass well fluids in
the case of
cement being delivered into the annulus 276. After a pre-measured amount of
cement is
delivered the gripping device is raised to stop the cement in the annulus 276
from coming
into the liner 270. This technique is illustrated in Figures 38-40. In Figure
38 arrows 278
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indicate displaced well fluids from pumping cement represented by arrow 280
through
ports 262. The cement is delivered down the string 282 and with the help of a
diverter
device known in the art allows the cement 280 to go down the annulus 270.
After a pre-
measured quantity of cement has been delivered to the annulus 270 the swage
272 is
picked up closing the passages in the shoe 268, as shown in Figure 39. The
shoe 268 is
later drilled or milled as shown with a bit or mill 286. The hole may then be
drilled
deeper and expanded in diameter with under-reamer 288. While introducing
cement at
the top of the liner has been described those skilled in the art will
appreciate that cement
can be pumped down through the shoe 268 and well fluid displaced out openings
such as
258 or 262, as an alternative technique for cementing.
[0070] Figure 41 shows the expandable tubular or liner 300 delivering a cement
isolation device 302 located near the lower end and inside the liner 300.
Figure 42 is the
same except the cement isolation device is extending beyond the lower end of
the liner
300. In Figure 43 the liner 300 is expanded by the swage assembly 304 and the
expansion
has progressed to near the end of the liner. In Figure 44, the cement
isolation device is
captured as the swage assembly 304 finishes the expansion out through the end
of the
liner 300. In Figure 45 the swage assembly 304 is raised up positioning the
cement
isolation device 302 in sealing contact with the liner 300. In Figure 46 the
cement 306 is
pumped through the string 308 and the swage assembly 304 and into the annulus
310.
After cement delivery, the string and swage assembly 304 is removed and a mill
312 is
run into the liner 300 to mill the cement isolation device 302 out. The cement
isolation
assembly can employ an actuable seal 314 that can be energized by pressure or
mechanically or in other ways to seal against the inner wall of the liner 300
when brought
back inside it. The ability to take the device 302 right through the liner 300
allows the
swage assembly 304 to go clean through to the end of the liner 300 in
expanding it. The
actuable seal 314 then allows the device 302 to seal against the now enlarged
liner 300.
The device 302 can be made of soft metals or non-metallic materials to shorten
milling
time shown in Figure 47. The advantage to delivering the device 302 below the
liner 300
is that it can be larger so that after expansion of the liner 300 and the
device 302 needs to
be brought back into sealing contact in the liner, the gap to bridge is that
much smaller.
The device 302 can be configured to allow fluid to pass through in one or both
directions
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during run in to facilitate insertion. While the tubular 300 is referred to as
a liner other
structures involving openings such as screens or slotted liners or casing can
also be used
in the described method. Figures 41-47 illustrate a one trip deliver, expand
and cement
system.
[00711 The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are
illustrative
and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials,
as well as
in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made without departing
from the
spirit of the invention.
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