Methods and apparatus for wellbore construction and completion

• US 20040221997A1
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Maguire, Patrick G., Haugen, David M., Odell, Albert C. II, Galloway, Gregory G., Moyes, Peter Barnes, Lirette, Brent J., Giroux, Richard L., Murray, Mark, Le, Tuong Thanh, Brunnert, David J., Tilton, Frederick T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,311,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/380
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/07 Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/00 Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor freeing objects stuck in boreholes by flushing E21B31/03
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/085 Underbalanced techniques, i.e. where borehole fluid pressure is below formation pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/103 Down-hole by-pass valve arrangements, i.e. between the inside of the drill string and the annulus valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/14 for cementing casings into boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/143 for underwater installations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/02 Fluid rotary type drives
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/10 Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/20 Driving or forcing casings or pipes into boreholes, e.g. sinking; Simultaneously drilling and casing boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/203 using down-hole drives

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.

Claims

1. A method for lining a wellbore, comprising:

providing a drilling assembly comprising an earth removal member and a wellbore lining conduit, wherein the drilling assembly includes a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path;

advancing the drilling assembly into the earth;

flowing a fluid through the first fluid flow path and returning at least a portion of the fluid through the second fluid flow path; and

leaving the wellbore lining conduit at a location within the wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the drilling assembly further includes a third fluid flow path and the method further comprises flowing at least a portion of the fluid through the third fluid flow path.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the drilling assembly comprises a tubular assembly, at least a portion of the tubular assembly being disposed within the wellbore lining conduit.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first fluid flow path is within the tubular assembly.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second fluid flow path is within an annular area formed between an outer surface of the tubular assembly and an inner surface of the wellbore lining conduit.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the second fluid flow path is within the tubular assembly.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second fluid flow paths are in fluid communication when the drilling assembly is disposed in the wellbore.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second fluid flow paths are in opposite directions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the drilling assembly extends below a lower end of the wellbore lining conduit while advancing the drilling assembly into the earth.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising relatively moving a portion of the drilling assembly and the wellbore lining conduit.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing a length of the drilling assembly.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising closing at least a portion of the first fluid flow path.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising introducing a physically alterable bonding material through the first fluid flow path to an annular area defined by an outer surface of the wellbore lining conduit and an inner surface of the wellbore.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the wellbore lining conduit comprises at least one fluid flow restrictor on an outer surface thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying a cementing assembly into the wellbore.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the cementing assembly with a single direction plug.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising flowing a second portion of the fluid through a third flow path.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the earth removal member is capable of forming a hole having a larger outer diameter than an outer diameter of the wellbore lining conduit.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively altering a trajectory of the drilling assembly.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a balancing fluid followed by a physically alterable bonding material.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising increasing an energy of the return fluid.

22. An apparatus for lining a wellbore, comprising:

a drilling assembly comprising an earth removal member, a wellbore lining conduit, and a first end, the drilling assembly including a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path therethrough, wherein fluid is movable from the first end through the first fluid flow path and returnable through the second fluid flow path when the drilling assembly is disposed in the wellbore.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the drilling assembly further comprises a third fluid flow path.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of a mud motor;

logging while drilling system;

measure while drilling systems;

gyro landing sub;

a geophysical measurement sensors;

a stabilizer;

an adjustable stabilizer;

a steerable systems;

a bent motor housing;

a 3D rotary steerable system;

a pilot bit;

an underreamer;

a bi-center bit;

an expandable bit;

at least one nozzle for directional drilling;

a liner hanger assembly;

a sealing member;

a flow splitting member; and

combination thereof.

25. A method for placing tubulars in an earth formation comprising:

advancing concurrently a portion of a first tubular and a portion of a second tubular to a first location in the earth;

further advancing the second tubular to a second location in the earth;

inserting a drilling assembly in the second tubular; and

advancing the drilling assembly through a lower end of the second tubular.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the drilling assembly includes an earth removal member and a third tubular.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the drilling assembly further includes a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising flowing fluid through the first fluid flow path and returning at least a portion of the fluid through the second fluid flow path.

29. 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; 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.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising flowing a physically alterable bonding material through the drill string and into an annulus between the drill string and the borehole prior to directing the physically alterable bonding material into the annulus between the drill string and the borehole through the at least one secondary fluid passage.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein opening the at least one secondary fluid passage, comprises:

providing a barrier across the at least one secondary fluid passage; and

rupturing the barrier.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein directing the physically alterable bonding material through the secondary fluid passage includes blocking the at least one fluid passage through the earth removal member.

33. A method of drilling a wellbore with casing, comprising:

placing a string of casing operatively coupled to a drill bit at the lower end thereof into a previously formed wellbore;

urging the string of casing axially downward to form a new section of wellbore;

pumping fluid through the string of casing into an annulus formed between the string of casing and the new section of wellbore; and

diverting a portion of the fluid into an upper annulus in the previously formed wellbore.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the fluid is diverted into the upper annulus from a flow path in a run-in string of tubulars disposed above the string of casing.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the flow path is selectively opened and closed to control the amount of fluid flowing through the flow path.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the portion of fluid is diverted through the string of casing.