Retractable joint and cementing shoe for use in completing a wellbore

• US 20060185855A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc), Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Jordan, John Christopher, Galloway, Gregory G., Brunnert, David J., Martens, James G., Colvard, R. L., Lirette, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 7,730,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/380
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/08 Casing joints
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/10 Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems

Abstract

An improved method and/or apparatus for completing a wellbore is provided. In one embodiment, a method of lining a pre-drilled wellbore is provided. The method includes the act of providing a casing assembly, the casing assembly including a string of casing; and a retractable joint comprising an inner tubular and an outer tubular. The method further includes the acts of running the casing assembly into the pre-drilled wellbore and actuating the retractable joint, thereby reducing the length of the casing assembly through movement between the inner and outer tubulars.

Claims

1. A method of lining a pre-drilled wellbore, comprising:

providing a casing assembly, the casing assembly comprising;

a string of casing; and

a retractable joint comprising an inner tubular and an outer tubular;

running the casing assembly into the pre-drilled wellbore; and

actuating the retractable joint, thereby reducing the length of the casing assembly through movement between the inner and outer tubulars.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the retractable joint comprises a shearable member coupling the inner and outer tubulars.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the act of actuating the retractable joint comprises setting at least some of the weight of the casing on the retractable joint, thereby breaking the shearable member.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the casing assembly further comprises a hanger and the method further comprises landing the hanger into a casinghead.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting cement through the casing assembly and into an annulus between the casing assembly and the wellbore.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the retractable joint is disposed at an end of the casing string distal from a surface of the wellbore.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the casing assembly further comprises a second retractable joint.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the retractable joint further comprises an anti-rotation member coupling the inner and outer tubulars.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein anti-rotation member comprises a slip.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein anti-rotation member comprises a ball.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein anti-rotation member comprises a shearable member.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein anti-rotation member comprises a spline.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer tubular has a vane disposed on an outer surface thereof.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the length of the casing assembly is greater than a depth of the wellbore.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the casing assembly further comprises a guide shoe and the act of running comprises running the casing assembly into the pre-drilled wellbore until the guide shoe rests on the bottom of the wellbore.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the casing assembly further comprises a guide shoe, the guide shoe comprising

a body comprising an axial bore therethrough and at least one port through a wall thereof;

a liner covering the port, the lining configured to rupture at a predetermined pressure; and

a nose disposed on the body and made from a drillable material and having a bore therethrough.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the nose has a blade disposed on an outer surface thereof.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the body has a vane disposed on an outer surface thereof.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the liner is made from a drillable material.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the body further comprises a second port through the wall thereof, the second port is covered by the liner or a second liner having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the liner, the first port is axially disposed proximate to the nose and the second port is axially disposed distal from the nose, and the diameter of the second port is less than the diameter of the first port.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the body further comprises a second port through the wall thereof, the second port is covered by a second liner having a thickness greater than the thickness of the liner, the first port is axially disposed proximate to the nose and the second port is axially disposed distal from the nose, and the diameter of the second port substantially equal to the diameter of the first port.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising injecting wellbore fluid through the casing assembly, wherein the pressure will increase inside the guide shoe, thereby rupturing the liner.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising drilling through the nose of the guide shoe.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the retractable joint is configured so that the inner tubular will slide into the outer tubular when the retractable joint is actuated.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the retractable joint is configured so that the outer tubular will slide over the inner tubular when the retractable joint is actuated and the inner tubular is made from a drillable material.

32. A method of using the shoe of claim 26, comprising:

attaching the guide shoe of claim 21 to a string of casing;

running the guide shoe into a wellbore; and

injecting cement through the casing to the guide shoe, wherein the pressure will Increase inside the guide shoe, thereby rupturing the liner.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising drilling through the nose of the guide shoe.

26. A guide shoe for use with a string of casing in a wellbore, comprising:

a body comprising an axial bore therethrough and at least one port through a wall thereof;

a liner covering the port, the liner configured to rupture at a predetermined pressure; and

a nose disposed on the body, made from a drillable material, and having a bore therethrough.

27. The shoe of claim 26, wherein the nose has a blade disposed on an outer surface thereof.

28. The shoe of claim 26, wherein the body has a vane disposed on an outer surface thereof.

29. The shoe of claim 26, wherein the liner is made from a drillable material.

30. The shoe of claim 26, wherein the body further comprises a second port through the wall thereof, the second port is covered by the liner or a second liner having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the liner, the first port is axially disposed proximate to the nose and the second port is axially disposed distal from the nose, and the diameter of the second port is less than the diameter of the first port.

31. The shoe of claim 26, wherein the body further comprises a second port through the wall thereof, the second port is covered by a second liner having a thickness greater than the thickness of the liner, the first port is axially disposed proximate to the nose and the second port is axially disposed distal from the nose, and the diameter of the second port substantially equal to the diameter of the first port.

34. A retractable joint for use with a string of casing in a wellbore, comprising:

an outer tubular having an inside diameter for a substantial portion thereof;

an inner tubular having an outside diameter for a substantial portion thereof, wherein the outside diameter is less than the inside diameter; and

an axial coupling axially coupling the inner tubular to the outer tubular.

35. The retractable joint of claim 34, wherein the axial coupling comprises a shearable member.

36. The retractable joint of claim 34, wherein the axial coupling comprises a slip.

37. The retractable joint of claim 34, further comprising a seal disposed between the inner and outer tubulars.

38. The retractable joint of claim 34, wherein an end of the inner tubular has a second outside diameter that is greater than the inside diameter.

39. The retractable joint of claim 34, further comprising an anti-rotation member coupling the inner and outer tubulars.

40. The retractable joint of claim 39, wherein the anti-rotation member comprises a slip.

41. The retractable joint of claim 39, wherein the anti-rotation member comprises a ball.

42. The retractable joint of claim 39, wherein anti-rotation member comprises a shearable member.

43. The retractable joint of claim 39, wherein anti-rotation member comprises a spline.

44. The retractable joint of claim 34, wherein the outer tubular has a vane disposed on an outer surface thereof.

45. A method for manufacturing a retractable joint for shipment to a well-site comprising:

manufacturing an outer sleeve, an outer casing, an inner sleeve, and a crossover;

sliding the outer sleeve over the inner sleeve;

attaching the outer casing to the outer sleeve;

attaching the crossover to the inner sleeve;

sliding the crossover into the outer casing;

attaching the outer sleeve to the crossover with temporary retainers; and

sending the retractable joint to the well-site.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

receiving the retractable joint at the well-site;

removing the temporary retainers;

extending the retractable joint;

inserting shear members; and

attaching the retractable joint to a string of casing.