Method to mitigate a stuck pipe during drilling operations

• US 10,669,798 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2018
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Al-Qasim, Abdulaziz S., Al-Arfaj, Mohammed, Kokal, Sunil
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephenson, Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US15/960,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20190323311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/1078 Stabilisers or centralisers for casing, tubing or drill pipes devices for off-center positioning E21B17/10; E21B17/1007 - E21B17/1064 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 27/00 Containers for collecting or depositing substances in boreholes or wells, e.g. bailers, baskets or buckets for collecting mud or sand; Drill bits with means for collecting substances, e.g. valve drill bits
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 31/03 Freeing by flushing
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 31/035 controlling differential pipe sticking

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for freeing differentially stuck pipe via the in-situ release of fluids from fluid-releasing tanks coupled to a centralizer or stabilizer of a pipe. Fluid-releasing tanks may be coupled to a centralizer or stabilizer of a pipe and located around the circumference of the pipe. Nozzles may be connected to the fluid-releasing tanks to enable the in-situ release of fluid from the fluid-releasing tanks. Various mechanisms may be used to open the nozzles and release the fluid from the fluid-releasing tanks.

Claims

1. A system for freeing differentially stuck pipe in a wellbore, comprising:

a differentially stuck pipe in a wellbore;

a plurality of components disposed along the length of the pipe, wherein each of the plurality of components is a centralizer or a stabilizer;

a fluid-releasing tank coupled to one of the plurality of components, the fluid-releasing tank containing a fluid; and

a nozzle connected to the tank and configured to release the fluid into the wellbore such that the fluid interacts with the material contacting the pipe, wherein the nozzle comprises a heat-sensitive nozzle configured to change from a closed position to an open position when the temperature of the nozzle is greater than a threshold temperature, wherein the open position enables the release of fluid from the tank into the wellbore.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises hydrochloric acid.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the pipe comprises a drill pipe.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid-releasing tank is permanently coupled to the at least one of the plurality of components.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid-releasing tank is formed from heterodiamond.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the material comprises a filter cake.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid-releasing tank is first fluid releasing tank, the system comprising a second fluid-releasing tank coupled to the one of the plurality of components, the second fluid-releasing tank comprising the fluid.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first fluid releasing tank is located 180°

around the circumference of the pipe with respect to the second fluid releasing tank.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid interacts with the material contacting the pipe by reducing a friction between the pipe and the material.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid interacts with the material contacting the pipe by reducing a differential pressure between a formation fluid and a drilling fluid.

11. A method of freeing differentially stuck pipe in a wellbore, comprising:

initiating the release of a fluid from a fluid-releasing tank coupled to one of a plurality of components disposed along the length of the differentially stuck pipe, the differentially stuck pipe resulting from a pressure differential across a permeable zone of a formation, wherein each of the plurality of components is a centralizer or a stabilizer, such that the fluid is released through a nozzle into the wellbore and interacts with a material contacting the pipe; and

freeing the differentially stuck pipe after the fluid interacts with the material contacting the pipe.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluid comprises hydrochloric acid.

13. The method of claim 11, comprising allowing the fluid to interact with the material surrounding the portion of differentially stuck pipe over a time period.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the material comprises a filter cake.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the nozzle comprises a heat-sensitive nozzle configured to change from a closed position to an open position when the temperature of the nozzle is greater than a threshold temperature.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein initiating the release of the fluid from the fluid-releasing tank comprises generating heat to increase the temperature of the nozzle greater than the threshold temperature such that the nozzle changes from the closed position to the open position to enable the release of the fluid.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein generating heat to increase the temperature of the nozzle greater than the threshold temperature comprises moving the differently stuck pipe to generating heat from friction between the differentially stuck pipe and the material.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluid-releasing tank is permanently coupled to one of the plurality of components.

19. An apparatus for freeing differentially stuck pipe in a wellbore, comprising:

a fluid-releasing tank configured to be coupled to a centralizer or a stabilizer of a drill pipe, the tank comprising an interior volume configured to contain a fluid; and

a nozzle configured to be connected to the tank and to release the fluid from the tank, wherein the nozzle comprises a heat-sensitive nozzle configured to change from a closed position to an open position when the temperature of the nozzle is greater than a threshold temperature.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, comprising the fluid, wherein the fluid comprises hydrochloric acid.