Method for annular sealing

• US 6,431,282 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Bosma, Martin Gerards Rene, Lohbeck, Wilhelmus Christianus Maria, Cornelissen, Erik Kerst, Marketz, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US09/543,065
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 166/207, 166/217, 166/242.2, 166/242.7, 166/277, 166/285, 166/286, 166/288, 166/295, 166/300, 166/384, 299/469.5, 299/523
• US Class Current: 166/288
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/14 for cementing casings into boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/103 of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like

Abstract

Method for sealing an annulus between two solid tubulars or between a solid tubular and a borehole which comprises the use of a thermoset or thermoplastic material in forming the seal between at least part of the outer surface of a tubular and at least part of the inner surface of the other tubular or the wellbore in which the seal is formed by expanding the inner tubular.

Claims

1. Method for sealing an annulus between two solid tubulars or between a solid tubular and a borehole which comprises placing a thermoset or thermoplastic material between at least part of an outer surface of an expandable inner tubular and at least part of an inner surface of an outer tubular or the wellbore;

and forming a seal by expanding the inner tubular against said thermoset or thermoplastic material;

wherein one or more of the solid tubulars are reeled tubulars; and

wherein said one or more of the solid tubulars are at least partially coated with an elastomer; and

wherein electrical cables and/or hydraulic lines are present in the elastomeric coating.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said expandable tubular is at least partly cladded with an elastomer, in which the seal is formed by bringing said expandable tubular into a borehole followed by expansion of the tubular.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein one said expandable tubular is at least partly cladded with an elastomer, in which the seal is formed by bringing said expandable tubular into another tubular followed by expansion of said expandable tubular.

4. Method according to claim 1, in which said thermoset or thermoplastic material is an elastomer containing a closed cell structure.

5. Method according to claim 1, in which said thermoset or thermoplastic material is an elastomer also containing expanded, malleable microbubbles.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said expandable tubular is at least partly cladded with a thermoplastic elastomer, in which the seal is formed by bringing said expandable tubular into the borehole or into another tubular followed by expansion of the expandable tubular.

7. Method according to claim 6, in which at least part of the wellbore or the other tubular is heated before and/or during expansion of the tubular.

8. Method according to claim 7, in which heating is provided by means of a hot liquid, a chemical reaction or by electricity.

9. Method according to claim 6, in which said thermoset or thermoplastic material is an elastomer also containing expanded, malleable microbubbles.

10. Method according to claim 1, in which the seal is provided by placing an in-situ vulcanising elastomer into the wellbore or into another tubular, followed by expanding the expandable tubular.

11. Method according to claim 10, in which a two component room temperature vulcanisable elastomer is used to provide the seal.

12. Method according to claim 10, in which setting of the elastomer is carried out prior to the tubular expansion.

13. Method according to claim 10, in which setting of the elastomer is completed after the tubular expansion.

14. Method according to claim 10, in which use is made of a room temperature vulcanisable silicone rubber.

15. Method according to claim 10, in which said thermoset or thermoplastic material is an elastomer also containing a chemical blowing agent and/or expanded malleable microbubbles.

19. Method according to claim 1, in which the seal is provided between tubulars or between a tubular and a borehole when the deviation from the tolerance of the tubular as set by the manufacturer is at least 50% of the tolerance set.

20. Method according to claim 19, in which the deviation of the tolerance is at least 200% of the tolerance set.

21. Method according to claim 20, in which the deviation of the tolerance is at least 1000% of the tolerance set.

22. A well provided with a tubular sealed according to claim 1, wherein the tubular serves as a production tubular through which hydrocarbon fluid is transported to the surface and through which optionally a service and/or kill line passes over at least a substantial part of the length of the tubular, through which line fluid can be pumped towards the bottom of the borehole while hydrocarbon fluid is produced via the surrounding production tubular.

23. A tubular provided with an inner tubular sealed to said outer tubular according to claim 1, wherein the inner tubular serves as a transportation means for transportable fluids.

16. Method for sealing an annulus between two solid tubulars or between a solid tubular and a borehole which comprises placing a, thermoset or thermoplastic material between at least part of an outer surface of an expandable tubular and at least part of an inner surface of an outer tubular or the wellbore;

and forming a seal by expanding the inner tubular against said thermoset or thermoplastic material, in which at least a section of the expandable tubular is surrounded by a sleeve comprising a thermoplastic or thermoset material in which a number of burstable containers are embedded, which containers comprise a chemical activator which is released into the annular space surrounding the expanded tubular and which activator reacts with a cement or other chemical composition and/or the sleeve such that said chemical composition and/or the sleeve solidifies in response to the tubular expansion.

17. Method according to claim 16, in which of the inner tubular is expanded by use of a mandrel having a frusto-conical, parabolic or elliptical shape.

18. Method according to claim 16, wherein said mandrel is heated.

24. Method according to claim 16, in which the seal is provided between tubulars or between a tubular and a borehole when the deviation from the tolerance of the tubular as set by the manufacturer is at least 50% of the tolerance set.

25. Method according to claim 24, in which the deviation of the tolerance is at least 200% of the tolerance set.

26. Method according to claim 25, in which the deviation of the tolerance is at least 1000% of the tolerance set.

27. A well provided with a tubular sealed according to claim 16, wherein the tubular serves as a production tubular through which hydrocarbon fluid is transported to the surface and through which optionally a service and/or kill line passes over at least a substantial part of the length of the tubular, through which line fluid can be pumped towards the bottom of the borehole while hydrocarbon fluid is produced via the surrounding production tubular.

28. A tubular provided with an inner tubular sealed to said outer tubular according to claim 16, wherein the inner tubular serves as a transportation means for transportable fluids.