WELLBORE PLUG ADAPTER KIT

• US 20080128133A1
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Turley, Rocky A., McKeachnie, W. John
• Granted Patent: US 7,779,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/281
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/06 for setting packers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/138 Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/11 Perforators; Permeators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an adapter kit for use between a setting tool and a wellbore plug. In one embodiment, a method for setting a plug in a cased wellbore is provided. The method includes deploying a tool string in the wellbore using a run-in string, the tool string comprising: a setting tool coupled to the run-in string, an adapter kit, comprising an adapter sleeve, and a plug comprising a sealing member. The method further includes actuating the setting tool, wherein the setting tool exerts a force on the adapter sleeve which transfers the force to the plug, thereby expanding the sealing member into engagement with an inner surface of the casing. The method further includes separating the setting tool from the plug, wherein the adapter sleeve remains with the plug.

Claims

1. A method for setting a plug in a cased wellbore, comprising:

deploying a tool string in the wellbore using a run-in string, the tool string comprising;

a setting tool coupled to the run-in string,

an adapter kit, comprising an adapter sleeve, and

a plug comprising a sealing member;

actuating the setting tool, wherein the setting tool exerts a force on the adapter sleeve which transfers the force to the plug, thereby expanding the sealing member into engagement with an inner surface of the casing;

separating the setting tool from the plug, wherein the adapter sleeve remains with the plug.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the run-in string is wireline or coiled tubing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tool string further comprises one or more perforation guns, and the method further comprises perforating the casing at a first location, thereby forming one or more first perforations.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising injecting formation treatment fluid through the casing and into the formation via the first perforations.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising removably and at least substantially sealing the first perforations.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first perforations are sealed using ball sealers.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising injecting formation treatment fluid through the casing and into the formation via the first perforations.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising perforating the casing at a second location, thereby forming one or more second perforations.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second perforating act is performed during the same trip as the first perforating act.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising injecting formation treatment fluid through the casing and into the formation via the second perforations while the first perforations are sealed.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising removably and at least substantially sealing the first perforations.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a first radial clearance exists between an outer surface of the adapter sleeve and an inner surface of the casing and a second radial clearance exists between an outer surface of the setting tool and an inner surface of the casing and the second radial clearance is substantially greater than the first radial clearance.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the setting tool from the wellbore.

14. A tool string for use in a formation treatment operation, comprising:

a setting tool comprising a mandrel and a setting sleeve,

wherein the setting sleeve is longitudinally moveable relative to the setting tool mandrel between a first position and a second position;

an adapter kit, comprising an adapter rod and an adapter sleeve,

wherein;

the adapter rod is longitudinally coupled to the setting mandrel and releasably coupled to a plug mandrel, and

the adapter sleeve is configured so that when the setting sleeve is moved toward the second position the setting sleeve abuts the adapter sleeve;

a plug comprising the plug mandrel and a sealing member, wherein;

the sealing member is disposed along an outer surface of the mandrel, and

the adapter sleeve is configured to transfer a setting force to the plug, thereby radially expanding the sealing member.

15. The tool string of claim 14, wherein the sealing member is made from a polymer.

16. The tool string of claim 14, wherein the plug and the adapter sleeve are made from a drillable material.

17. The tool string of claim 16, wherein the plug mandrel and the adapter sleeve are made from a composite drillable material.

18. The tool string of claim 14, wherein a longitudinal gap exists between the adapter sleeve and the setting sleeve when the setting sleeve is in the first position.

19. The tool string of claim 14, wherein the plug further comprises first and second slips and first and second slip cones, wherein the slips and slip cones are disposed along an outer surface of the plug mandrel.

20. The tool string of claim 19, wherein the plug further comprises:

first and second expansion support rings each having two or more tapered wedges;

first and second expansion rings each deformable to fill a gap formed between the tapered wedges of one of the support rings,

wherein the sealing member is disposed between the first and second expansion rings.

21. The tool string of claim 20, wherein the tapered wedges are configured to extend radially when the setting sleeve is moved toward the second position.

22. The tool string of claim 20, wherein an outer surface of the expansion ring has corresponds to an angle of the tapered wedges.

23. The tool string of claim 20, wherein the plug further comprises first and second expansion cones each disposed about opposite ends of the sealing member.

24. The tool string of claim 23, wherein the first and second expansion cones each comprise a tapered first section and a substantially flat second section.

25. The tool string of claim 24, wherein the second section abuts the sealing member.

26. The tool string of claim 24, wherein the first expansion ring is disposed about the tapered first section of the first cone.

27. The tool string of claim 26, wherein the second expansion ring is disposed about the tapered first section of the second cone.

28. The tool string of claim 14, further comprising one or more perforation guns longitudinally coupled to the setting tool mandrel.

29. The tool string of claim 14, wherein the adapter rod is releasably coupled to the plug mandrel with a shearable member.