Wells – Processes – With indicating – testing – measuring or locating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-16
2001-12-11
Schoeppel, Roger (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
With indicating, testing, measuring or locating
C166S264000, C166S278000, C166S387000, C166S068500, C166S074000, C166S077200, C166S106000, C166S147000, C166S148000, C166S184000, C175S059000, C073S152290, C073S152390, C073S152420
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328103
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to operations performed in conjunction with subterranean wells and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a method and apparatus for performing a completion cleanup operation downhole.
Just prior to placing a well in production after a gravel packing operation or stimulation treatment therein, it is common practice to remove completion fluids from a hydrocarbon-bearing zone intersected by the well. In the usual situation, a substantial portion of the completion fluids in the zone are deposited there as a result of the gravel packing or stimulation treatment. If no gravel packing or stimulation treatments have been performed, then the completion fluids in the zone may be mud or other fluids introduced into the well during drilling or completion of the well. As used herein, the term “completion fluid” is used to indicate fluid which is introduced into a zone from a source other than the zone during drilling or completion of a well intersecting the zone.
Generally, the completion cleanup operation is accomplished by transporting an extensive amount of temporary production and fluid handling equipment to the well. This equipment may include temporary piping, manifolds, test heads, separators, line heaters, tanks, burner booms, etc. The temporary equipment is typically used because there is not yet any permanent production equipment installed at the well or the permanent production equipment is not designed to handle the cleanup operation.
The temporary equipment is rigged up on location and the well is flowed until all or most of the completion fluid has been removed from the hydrocarbon bearing zone. Any hydrocarbons produced in this operation may be burned off or otherwise disposed of, thereby creating safety and environmental problems. The completion fluids must also be disposed of, which is an additional environmental problem and adds to the expense of the operation.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that it would be quite desirable to provide an improved method of performing a completion cleanup operation. The improved method should not require that completion fluids and/or hydrocarbons be disposed of at the surface, and the method should be more economical, convenient to perform and safer than past cleanup operations. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide such an improved method, and an apparatus useful in performing the method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In carrying out the principles of the present invention, in accordance with an embodiment thereof, a method is provided in which a completion cleanup operation is performed downhole. The method does not require an extensive amount of temporary equipment to be transported and installed at a well, does not require the burning of hydrocarbons at the surface, and does not require disposal at the surface of hydrocarbons and/or completion fluids. Apparatus which may be used in the method is also provided.
In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which completion fluids are removed from a hydrocarbon-bearing producing zone and then injected into a disposal zone downhole. In this manner, no significant quantity of hydrocarbons or completion fluids are brought to the surface for disposal. The method may be performed conveniently and economically, with only a limited amount of equipment needed to perform the method. Additionally, the method is compatible with gravel packing, formation fracturing and other well completion operations.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which fluid is pumped from a producing zone and into a disposal zone by a downhole pump. Various pumping methods may be utilized. For example, a hydraulic motor, which operates in response to fluid flowed therethrough, may be conveyed into the well by coiled tubing. The motor may be connected to a pump, so that when fluid is circulated through the coiled tubing, the pump pumps completion fluid from the producing zone and into the disposal zone. As another example, the downhole pump may be driven by an electric motor connected to a wireline or other electrical conductor.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, instead of pumping fluids from the producing zone to the disposal zone, the fluids are permitted to flow from the producing zone into a tubular string, and then the fluids are pumped from the tubular string into the disposal zone, for example, by a pump located at the surface. When the fluids are flowed into the tubular string, the fluids may be permitted to flow to the surface, where the fluids may be analyzed to determine whether the producing zone has been cleaned up.
In still another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus used in the method may include fluid sensors, including fluid identification sensors, and communication devices for transmitting fluid property information to the surface. In this manner, the fluids flowed from the producing formation may be analyzed downhole, without the need of bringing them to the surface. The communication devices may include telemetry devices, such as acoustic telemetry devices, mud pulse telemetry devices, electromagnetic telemetry devices, etc.
These and other features, advantages, benefits and objects of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon careful consideration of the detailed description of a representative embodiment of the invention hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings.
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Halliburton Reservoir Services PTS Tool Systems and Fast Test Technique by Roger L. Schultz, undated.
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Pahmiyer Robert C.
Ringgenberg Paul David
Halliburton Energy Service,s Inc.
Imwalle William M.
Schoeppel Roger
Smith Marlin R.
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