Downhole tool assembly with debris relief, and method for using same

• US 8,490,702 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc. (NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ncs Oilfield Services Canada Inc.
• Inventors: Stromquist, Marty, Getzlaf, Donald, Nipper, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Kenneth L
• Application Number:
  US12/708,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20110198082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 166/171, 166/179, 166/180, 166/237, 166/238, 166/240, 166/311, 166/373, 166/316, 166/332.7, 166/332.1, 166/298, 166/55, 166/55.1, 166/177.5, 166/66, 166/250.01
• US Class Current: 166/298
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/006 "J-slot" systems, i.e. lug and slot indexing mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/06 for setting packers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/128 with a member expanded radially by axial pressure E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/114 Perforators using direct fluid action on the wall to be perforated, e.g. abrasive jets
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures

Abstract

A tool assembly and method for completing a well are provided. The tool includes debris relief features that enable use in solids-laden environments, for example in the presence of sand. Forward and reverse circulation pathways to the isolated interval are present to allow clearing of debris from the wellbore annulus while the sealing device remains set against the wellbore.

Claims

1. An assembly for treating an interval of a wellbore, composing:

a fluid jet perforation device, deployed on a tubing string;

a resettable sealing device deployed on the tubing string in fluid communication with the fluid jet perforation device;

the sealing device including a J-profile with a pin slidably-disposed in said J-profile for use in actuation of the sealing device

wherein the J-profile comprises one or more debris discharge ports through the J-profile to permit discharge of the debris upon slidable movement of the pin within the J-profile.

2. The assembly as in claim 1, further comprising

a mechanical casing collar locator having outwardly biased locating members slidable against the cased wellbore to verify a downhole location of the assembly prior to actuation of the resettable sealing device.

3. The assembly as in claim 2, wherein the mechanical casing collar locator comprises a cavity beneath the outwardly biased locating members, for allowing passage of fluid and debris through the mechanical casing collar locator to the tubing string.

4. The assembly as in claim 1, wherein the pin is actuated by application of mechanical force to the tubing string.

5. The assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the J-profile is sized at least 1/16 inch greater than a diameter of the pin to allow debris accumulation and movement within the J-profile without impeding travel of the pin along the J-profile.

6. The assembly as in claim 1, wherein the fluid jet perforation device is assembled above the resettable sealing device.

7. A method for abrasive perforation and treatment of a formation intersected by a cased wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tool assembly comprising

a fluid jet perforation device, and

a sealing device comprising a J-profile with a pin for use in actuation of the sealing device;

deploying the tool assembly on a tubing string within the cased wellbore;

setting the sealing device against the cased wellbore;

while the sealing device is set against the cased wellbore;

jetting abrasive fluid from the fluid jet perforation device to perforate the cased wellbore for forming one or more perforations;

while the sealing device remains set against the cased wellbore, circulating treatment fluid down an annulus formed by the cased wellbore to treat the one or more perforations;

circulating the treatment fluid from the annulus;

delivering abrasive fluid to the tubing string while delivering the treatment fluid down the annulus; and

,

unsetting the sealing device from the cased wellbore.

8. The method as in claim 7, further comprising actuating the sealing device by application of mechanical force to the tubing string.

9. The method as in claim 7, wherein the abrasive fluid comprises sand.

10. The method as in claim 7, wherein the treatment fluid comprises flowable solids.

11. The method as in claim 7, further comprising the step of

equalizing pressure above and below the sealing device by applying a force to the tubing string to actuate an equalization valve.

12. The method as in claim 7, further comprising the step of

equalizing pressure between the tubing string and the annulus without unseating the sealing device from the cased wellbore.

13. The method as in claim 7, further comprising the step of

moving the tool assembly to another interval within the wellbore and repeating one or more of the steps recited in claim 7.

14. The method as in claim 7, further comprising the step of

providing a valve assembly between the fluid jet perforation device and the sealing device.

15. An assembly for treating an interval of a wellbore, comprising:

a fluid jet perforation device, deployed on a tubing string;

a resettable sealing device deployed on the tubing string in fluid communication with the fluid jet perforation device;

the sealing device including a J-profile with a pin slidably-disposed in said J-profile for use in actuation of the sealing device

wherein the pin is held to the assembly by a clutch ring, and wherein the clutch ring comprises

an aperture to permit discharge of the debris from about the pin while the pin slides within the J-profile.

16. An assembly for eating an interval of a wellbore, comprising:

a fluid jet perforation device, deployed on a tubing string;

a resettable sealing device deployed on the tubing string in fluid communication with the fluid jet perforation device;

the sealing device including a J-profile with a pin slidably-disposed in said J-profile for use in actuation of the sealing device

an equalization valve for actuating slidable movement of the sliding pin within the resettable sealing device

wherein the equalization valve comprises;

an equalization valve plug slidably disposed within an equalization valve housing continuous with the resettable sealing device for actuating slidable movement of the pin within the J-profile.

17. The assembly as in claim 16, wherein the equalization plug is slidably actuated by application of mechanical force to the tubing string to set or unset the resettable sealing device within the wellbore.

18. A method for abrasive perforation and treatment of a formation intersected by a cased wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tool assembly comprising

a fluid jet perforation device, and

a sealing device comprising a J-profile with a pin for use in actuation of the sealing device;

deploying the tool assembly on a tubing string within the cased wellbore;

setting the sealing device against the cased wellbore;

while the sealing device is set against the cased wellbore;

jetting abrasive fluid from the fluid jet perforation device to perforate the cased wellbore for forming one or more perforations;

while the sealing device remains set against the cased wellbore, circulating treatment fluid down an annulus formed by the cased wellbore to treat the one or more perforations;

circulating the treatment fluid from the annulus;

monitoring pressure of the abrasive fluid within the tubing string;

monitoring a rate and pressure of the treatment fluid delivered down the annulus;

estimating a fracture extension pressure during treatment of the cased wellbore; and

unsetting the sealing device from the cased wellbore.

19. A method for abrasive perforation and treatment of a formation intersected by a cased wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tool assembly comprising

a fluid jet perforation device, and

a sealing device comprising a J-profile with a pin for use in actuation of the sealing device;

deploying the tool assembly on a tubing string within the cased wellbore;

setting the sealing device against the cased wellbore;

while the sealing device is set against the cased wellbore;

jetting abrasive fluid from the fluid jet perforation device to perforate the cased wellbore for forming one or more perforations;

while the sealing device remains set against the cased wellbore, circulating treatment fluid down an annulus formed by the cased wellbore to treat the one or more perforations;

circulating the treatment fluid from the annulus;

reverse circulating the treatment fluid from the annulus to surface through the tubing string; and

unsetting the sealing device from the cased wellbore.

20. The method as in claim 19, wherein the sealing device remains set against the cased wellbore during reverse circulation.

21. The method as in claim 19, wherein the treatment fluid comprises flowable solids, and wherein the flowable solids are circulated to surface through the J-profile.

22. A method for abrasive perforation and treatment of a formation intersected by a cased wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tool assembly comprising

a fluid jet perforation device, and

a sealing device comprising a J-profile with a pin for use in actuation of the sealing device;

deploying the tool assembly on a tubing string within the cased wellbore;

setting the sealing device against the cased wellbore;

while the sealing device is set against the cased wellbore;

jetting abrasive fluid from the fluid jet perforation device to perforate the cased wellbore for forming one or more perforations;

while the sealing device remains set against the cased wellbore, circulating treatment fluid down an annulus formed by the cased wellbore to treat the one or more perforations;

circulating the treatment fluid from the annulus;

opening an equalization passage extending through the sealing device to permit fluid communication of a first portion of the annulus beneath the sealing device to a second portion of the annulus above the sealing device; and

,

unsetting the sealing device from the cased wellbore.