Reverse circulation cementing system for cementing a liner

• US 9,869,157 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Sevadjian, Emile, Kohn, Gary, Stautzenberger, Arthur, Noffke, Richard, Hartman, Grant, Maddux, Stephen, Daigle, Odee, Humphrey, Ryan, Matus, David
• Primary Examiner(s): LOIKITH, CATHERINE A
• Application Number:
  US14/906,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20160160603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/06 Sleeve valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/134 Bridging plugs
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/14 for cementing casings into boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/12 operated by movement of casings or tubings
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/142 unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/10 Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/103 of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/106 Couplings or joints therefor

Abstract

Reverse circulation cementing of a liner in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation is presented. A running tool with expansion cone, release assembly, annular isolation device, and reverse circulation assembly is run-in with a liner. The annular isolation device is set against the casing. A valve, such as a dropped-ball operated sliding sleeve valve, opens reverse circulation ports for the cementing operation. The liner annulus is cemented using reverse circulation. The expandable liner hanger is expanded into engagement with the casing. Conventional circulation is restored. The running tool is released and pulled from the hole.

Claims

1. A method of cementing a liner in a wellbore extending through a subterranean zone using reverse circulation, the method comprising the steps of:

a. running a tubing string into the wellbore so that a wellbore annulus is defined therebetween, the tubing string defining an interior passageway along its length and having a reverse circulation assembly, a liner hanger, and a liner positioned below the liner hanger;

b. circulating fluid along a conventional circulation path during step a) by flowing fluid downhole through the interior passageway and uphole through the wellbore annulus;

c. sealing the wellbore annulus uphole from the liner by setting an annular isolation device in the wellbore annulus; and

d. flowing cement along a reverse circulation path downhole from the annular isolation device by opening a reverse circulation port of the reverse circulation assembly to permit fluid flow from the interior passageway to the wellbore annulus at a position between the annular isolation device and the liner hanger.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of e) setting the cement in the wellbore annulus about the liner.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step e) comprises setting the cement into a solid material using a setting process selected from the group consisting of:

thermal, evaporative, drainage, chemical setting processes, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising a step f) of setting the liner hanger.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step f) is performed prior to the completion of step e).

6. The method of claim 4, wherein step f) comprises radially expanding an expandable liner hanger or at least one set of slips into engagement with a casing positioned in the wellbore.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of setting the liner hanger further comprises dropping a drop-ball or caged-ball.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising a step g) of establishing conventional flow after step f).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein step g) comprises flowing fluid through a liner hanger bypass valve, thereby allowing fluid flow from the liner hanger to the wellbore annulus uphole of the annular isolation device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of disconnecting the liner from the tubing string uphole from the liner.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the annular isolation device is set at a location in the wellbore having a casing, and wherein the annular isolation device is radially expanded to seal the wellbore annulus between the casing and the tubing string.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of setting the annular isolation device further comprises the step of increasing tubing pressure to set the annular isolation device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the annular isolation device is set by mechanical expansion, explosive expansion, memory metal expansion, swellable material expansion, electromagnetic force-driven expansion, hydraulic expansion, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) further comprises flowing fluid from the surface through the interior passageway, through a bottom outlet of the liner, and uphole along the wellbore annulus to the surface.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step d) further comprises flowing fluid downhole through the interior passageway of the tubing string, through the reverse circulation port of the reverse circulation assembly, into the wellbore annulus at the position between the annular isolation device and the liner hanger, downhole through the wellbore annulus, and uphole through the interior passageway.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein step d) further comprises opening a reverse circulation return port of the reverse circulation assembly to permit fluid flow from the interior passageway to the wellbore annulus at a position uphole from the annular isolation device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step d) further comprises flowing the fluid through the reverse circulation return port, through a bypass passageway of the tubing string, and into the wellbore annulus at the position uphole from the annular isolation device to bypass the annular isolation device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein step d) further comprises flowing the fluid uphole through the wellbore annulus.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the bypass passageway of the tubing string extends along at least a length of the annular isolation device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of opening the reverse circulation return port comprises one or both of:

moving a reverse circulation sliding sleeve to an open position and dropping a drop-ball or caged ball to operate the reverse circulation sliding sleeve.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of opening the reverse circulation port comprises one or both of:

moving a reverse circulation sliding sleeve to an open position and dropping a drop-ball or caged ball to operate the reverse circulation sliding sleeve.

22. A method of cementing a liner in a wellbore extending through a subterranean zone using reverse circulation, the method comprising the steps of:

a. running a tubing string into the wellbore, defining a wellbore annulus therebetween, the tubing string having a reverse circulation assembly, a liner hanger, a liner positioned below the liner hanger, and defining an interior passageway along its length;

b. circulating fluid along a conventional circulation path during step a) by flowing fluid downhole through the interior passageway and uphole through the wellbore annulus;

c. sealing the wellbore annulus uphole from the liner;

d. flowing cement along a reverse circulation path downhole from an annular isolation device, downhole along the length of the liner, and uphole through the interior passageway along the liner; and

e. running a cement plug downhole through the interior passageway at the end of step d).

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the cement plug actuates a valve assembly allowing fluid flow from the interior passageway above the cement plug to the liner hanger.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of actuating a valve assembly further comprises sliding a sleeve in response to increasing tubing pressure.