Methods and apparatus for wellbore construction and completion
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
- extending a drill string into the earth to form the borehole, the drill string including an earth removal member having at least one fluid passage therethrough, the earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string;
drilling the borehole to a desired location using a drilling mud passing through the at least one fluid passage;
providing at least one secondary fluid passage between the interior of the drill string and the borehole;
providing a barrier across the at least one secondary fluid passage;
rupturing the barrier, thereby opening the at least one secondary fluid passage; and
directing a physically alterable bonding material into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole through the at least one secondary fluid passage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates methods and apparatus for lining a wellbore. In one aspect, a drilling assembly having an earth removal member and a wellbore lining conduit is manipulated to advance into the earth. The drilling assembly includes a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path. Fluid is flowed through the first fluid flow path, and at least a portion of which may return through the second fluid flow path. In one embodiment, the drilling assembly is provided with a third fluid flow path. After drilling has been completed, wellbore lining conduit may be cemented in the wellbore.
734 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
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extending a drill string into the earth to form the borehole, the drill string including an earth removal member having at least one fluid passage therethrough, the earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string; drilling the borehole to a desired location using a drilling mud passing through the at least one fluid passage; providing at least one secondary fluid passage between the interior of the drill string and the borehole; providing a barrier across the at least one secondary fluid passage; rupturing the barrier, thereby opening the at least one secondary fluid passage; and directing a physically alterable bonding material into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole through the at least one secondary fluid passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
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extending a drill string into the earth to form the borehole, the drill string including an earth removal member having at least one fluid passage therethrough, the earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string; drilling the borehole to a desired location using a drilling mud passing through the at least one fluid passage; providing at least one secondary fluid passage between an interior of the drill string and the borehole; providing a sleeve positioned over an element of the drill string and intermediate the at least one secondary passage and the annulus and at least one shear element interconnecting the sleeve to the element of the drill string; moving the sleeve to allow a physically alterable bonding material to flow through the at least one secondary passage; and directing the physically alterable bonding material into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
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extending a drill string into the earth to form the borehole, the drill string including an earth removal member having at least one fluid passage therethrough, the earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string; drilling the borehole to a desired location using a drilling mud passing through the at least one fluid passage; providing at least one secondary fluid passage between an interior of the drill string and the borehole; providing a float shoe intermediate a location where a physically alterable bonding material is introduced into the interior of the drill string and the at least one secondary passage; positioning a float collar in the float shoe, thereby preventing flow of the physically alterable bonding material from the location between the drill string and borehole to the interior of the drill string; and directing the physically alterable bonding material into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole through the at least one secondary fluid passage. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
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extending a drill string into the earth to form the borehole, the drill string including an earth removal member having at least one fluid passage therethrough, the earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string; drilling the borehole to a desired location using a drilling mud passing through the at least one fluid passage; providing at least one secondary fluid passage between an interior of the drill string and the borehole; directing a physically alterable bonding material into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole through the at least one secondary fluid passage; and allowing the physically alterable bonding material to harden in the annulus between the drill string and the borehole. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
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extending a drill string into the earth to form the borehole, the drill string including an earth removal member having at least one fluid passage therethrough, the earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string; drilling the borehole to a desired location using a drilling mud passing through the at least one fluid passage; providing at least one secondary fluid passage between an interior of the drill string and the borehole; directing a physically alterable bonding material into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole through the at least one secondary fluid passage; positioning a one way valve intermediate a location where the physically alterable bonding material is introduced into the interior of the drill string and the at least one second passage, thereby preventing flow of the physically alterable bonding material from the location between the drill string and borehole to the interior of the drill string; and allowing the physically alterable bonding material to harden in the annulus. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
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extending a drill string into the earth to form the borehole, the drill string including an earth removal member having at least one fluid passage therethrough, the earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string; drilling the borehole to a desired location using a drilling mud passing through the at least one fluid passage; providing at least one secondary fluid passage between an interior of the drill string and the borehole; directing a physically alterable bonding material into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole through the at least one secondary fluid passage; providing at least one additional secondary passage intermediate the lower terminus of the borehole and a surface location; cementing the borehole at a location adjacent to the terminus of the borehole; further directing the physically alterable bonding material down the drill string; and directing the physically alterable bonding material through the additional secondary passage.
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33. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
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extending a drill string into the earth to form the borehole, the drill string including an earth removal member having at least one fluid passage therethrough, the earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string; drilling the borehole to a desired location using a drilling mud passing through the at least one fluid passage; providing at least one secondary fluid passage between an interior of the drill string and the borehole; directing a physically alterable bonding material into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole through the at least one secondary fluid passage; and drilling through at least a portion of the earth removal member. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
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extending a drill string into the earth to form the borehole, the drill string including an earth removal member having at least one fluid passage therethrough, the earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string; drilling the borehole to a desired location using a drilling mud passing through the at least one fluid passage; providing at least one secondary fluid passage between an interior of the drill string and the borehole; directing a physically alterable bonding material into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole through the at least one secondary fluid passage; and milling at least a portion of the earth removal member.
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39. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
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operating a drill string to form the borehole, the drill string including a drill bit positioned at a lower end of the drill string, wherein the drill bit has at least one fluid passage therethrough, and at least one secondary fluid passage between an interior of the drill string and the borehole, wherein the at least one secondary fluid passage is initially closed; drilling the borehole to a desired location while flowing a drilling mud through the at least one fluid passage; positioning a one-way valve above the at least one secondary passage after flowing the drilling mud; and directing a cement through the at least one secondary fluid passage into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole, wherein the one way valve prevents the cement in the annulus from flowing back up the interior of the drill string. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
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extending a drill string into the earth to form the borehole, the drill string including an earth removal member having at least one fluid passage therethrough, the earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string; drilling the borehole to a desired location using a drilling mud passing through the at least one fluid passage; providing at least one secondary fluid passage between an interior of the drill string and the borehole; directing a physically alterable bonding material into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole through the at least one secondary fluid passage; positioning a one way valve intermediate a location where the physically alterable bonding material is introduced into the interior of the drill string and the at least one second passage, thereby preventing flow of the physically alterable bonding material from the location between the drill string and borehole to the interior of the drill string; and drilling through at least a portion of the earth removal member.
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48. A method of cementing a borehole, comprising:
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extending a drill string into the earth to form the borehole, the drill string including an earth removal member having at least one fluid passage therethrough, the earth removal member operatively connected to a lower end of the drill string; drilling the borehole to a desired location using a drilling mud passing through the at least one fluid passage; providing at least one secondary fluid passage between an interior of the drill string and the borehole; directing a physically alterable bonding material into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole through the at least one secondary fluid passage; positioning a one way valve intermediate a location where the physically alterable bonding material is introduced into the interior of the drill string and the at least one second passage, thereby preventing flow of the physically alterable bonding material from the location between the drill string and borehole to the interior of the drill string; and milling at least a portion of the earth removal member.
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Specification