Oilfield operation using a drill string

• US 10,087,752 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Bedouet, Sylvain
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Robert E
• Application Number:
  US14/994,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20160123140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/025 Side entry subs
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/07 Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/076 specially adapted for underwater installations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/124 Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/07 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/00 Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/001 specially adapted for underwater installations

Abstract

Collecting temperature data at a plurality of locations along a wellbore, performing thermo-mechanical simulations of a drill string in response to mud circulation wherein the drill string comprises a tool string suspended in the wellbore from a pipe string, determining changes in length of the pipe string due to temperature changes, positionally fixing the tool string at one of the locations, and adjusting the length of the pipe string based on the determined change in length of the pipe string. Positionally fixing the tool string may comprise lowering the drill string a side entry sub of the drill string is proximate a top end of the wellbore wherein the side entry sub is configured to allow a wireline cable to enter a bore of the drill string, positioning the side entry sub above a blow-out-preventer, and closing the blow-out-preventer around the drill string below the side entry sub.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

lowering a portion of a drill string in a wellbore until a side entry sub of the drill string is proximate a top end of the wellbore, wherein the wellbore extends into a subterranean formation, wherein the drill string includes a tool string suspended on a pipe string, and wherein the side entry sub is configured to allow a wireline cable to enter a bore of the drill string;

positioning the side entry sub above a blow-out-preventer;

closing the blow-out-preventer around the drill string below the side entry sub;

circulating mud in the drill string towards a circulation sub;

operating the tool string to perform a test;

setting two packers defining a packer interval before operating the tool string to pump formation fluid from the formation through the packer interval;

closing an isolation valve to isolate the packer interval; and

monitoring build-up pressure in the packer interval.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the side entry sub above a blow-out-preventer comprises positioning the side entry sub above a rotary table.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising pumping a logging head down to the tool string before closing the blow-out-preventer.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

opening the blow-out-preventer; and

disassembling the logging head and the side entry sub.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

altering the length of the drill string;

reassembling the side entry sub; and

repeating the positioning, closing, circulating, and operating steps.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising halting mud circulation.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising pumping a logging head affixed to an end of the wireline cable down to the tool string.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

pulling the wireline cable in tension while maintaining a slip joint in a substantially expanded position; and

clamping the wireline cable to the side entry sub.

9. A method, comprising:

lowering a portion of a drill string in a wellbore until a side entry sub of the drill string is proximate a top end of the wellbore, wherein the wellbore extends into a subterranean formation, wherein the drill string includes a tool string suspended on a pipe string, and wherein the side entry sub is configured to allow a wireline cable to enter a bore of the drill string;

positioning the side entry sub above a blow-out-preventer;

closing the blow-out-preventer around the drill string below the side entry sub;

circulating mud in the drill string towards a circulation sub;

operating the tool string to perform a test;

pumping a logging head affixed to an end of the wireline cable down to the tool string;

pulling the wireline cable in tension while maintaining a slip joint in a substantially expanded position; and

clamping the wireline cable to the side entry sub.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein positioning the side entry sub above a blow-out-preventer comprises positioning the side entry sub above a rotary table.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising pumping a logging head down to the tool string before closing the blow-out-preventer.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising halting mud circulation.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

opening the blow-out-preventer; and

disassembling the logging head and the side entry sub.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

altering the length of the drill string;

reassembling the side entry sub; and

repeating the positioning, closing, circulating, and operating steps.