# US 12,215,583 B2 · ESP blanking plug with sand trap

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- Number: US 12,215,583 B2
- Document ID: US12215583B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/707,186
- Filed: 2022-03-29
- Published: 2023-10-05
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2022-03-29
- Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Inventors: Hussain Al Majid; Jawad M. Al Khalifah; Alaa S. Shawly
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215583B2

## CPC

- E21B 43/38: in the well
- E21B 17/18: Pipes provided with plural fluid passages {(E21B17/203 takes precedence)}
- E21B 43/10: Setting of casings, screens, liners {or the like} in wells
- E21B 43/128: {Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives}
- E21B 27/005: {Collecting means with a strainer}
- E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A blanking plug for isolating the wellbore of a fluid-producing well during operation of an electric submersible pump is provided with a sand trap positioned at the upper end of the plug. The sand trap is in the form of a mesh basket and includes a particulate accumulation chamber and a filter in a wall of the chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A blanking plug having an upper end and a downhole end comprising:
a flow isolation mechanism at the downhole end of the blanking plug;
at least one positioning structure for positioning the blanking plug in a tubing string of a well;
at least one locking device for holding the blanking plug at a first working position in the tubing string; and
a sand trap positioned at the upper end of the blanking plug, the sand trap comprising a particulate accumulation chamber and a filter in a wall of the chamber,
wherein the blanking plug and the sand trap are configured to be run-in and retrieved from the well without being separated.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The blanking plug of claim 1, further comprising:
a fishing neck positioned on the sand trap.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The blanking plug of claim 1, further comprising:
a pressure equalization passage extending within the blanking plug from a pressure equalization port located proximate the upper end of the blanking plug to the flow isolation mechanism.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The blanking plug according to claim 1, wherein the positioning structure comprises at least one of a no-go shoulder and a plurality of radially extendable locking dogs.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The blanking plug of claim 1, further comprising:
a fishing neck positioned on the sand trap;
a pressure equalization passage extending within the blanking plug from a pressure equalization port located proximate the upper end of the blanking plug to the flow isolation mechanism; and
wherein the positioning structure comprises at least one of a no-go shoulder and a plurality of radially extendable locking dogs.

### Claim 6

A system for producing fluids from a fluid-producing formation in the earth comprising:
a wellbore extending from a well surface to the fluid-producing formation;
a tubing string positioned in the wellbore;
a Y-tool having upper and lower connections in fluid communication with the tubing string;
a pump connected to the Y-tool for pumping fluid from the lower connection to the upper connection of the Y-tool; and
the blanking plug having an upper end and a downhole end positioned in the tubing string between the upper and lower connections of the Y-tool, the blanking plug comprising a sand trap positioned at its upper end, the sand trap comprising a particulate accumulation chamber and a filter in a wall of the chamber,
wherein the blanking plug and the sand trap are configured to be run-in and retrieved from the well without being separated.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the pump is an electric submersible pump (ESP).

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the blanking plug further comprises:
a flow isolation mechanism at the downhole end of the blanking plug;
at least one positioning structure for positioning the blanking plug at a first working position in the tubing string between the upper and lower connections of the Y-tool;
at least one locking device for holding the blanking plug at the first working position in the tubing string; and
a fishing neck positioned on the sand trap.

### Claim 9

A method of producing fluids from a fluid-producing formation in the earth, comprising the steps:
drilling a wellbore from a surface to the fluid-producing formation;
installing a casing in the wellbore;
installing a production tubing string in the wellbore, providing an annular space between the casing and the tubing string;
providing a Y-tool in the annular space and having upper and lower connections in fluid communication with the tubing string;
installing a pump in the Y-tool for pumping fluid from the lower connection to the upper connection of the Y-tool;
providing a blanking plug having an upper end and a downhole end, the blanking plug comprising a sand trap positioned at its upper end, the sand trap comprising a particulate accumulation chamber and a filter in a wall of the chamber;
running the blanking plug and the sand trap down the tubing string to a first working position determined by at least one positioning structure on the blanking plug between the upper and lower connections of the Y-tool;
pumping fluid containing particulates from the formation to the surface via the Y-tool;
after a period of accumulation of particulates in the sand trap, retrieving and withdrawing the blanking plug from the tubing string;
disposing of the accumulated particulates contained in the sand trap without separating the blanking plug and the sand trap;
again running the blanking plug and the sand trap down the tubing string to the first working position; and
resuming pumping fluid containing particulates from the formation to the surface via the Y-tool.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of producing fluids according to claim 9, wherein the pump is an electric submersible pump (ESP).

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of producing fluids according to claim 9, wherein the blanking plug further comprises:
a flow isolation mechanism at the downhole end of the blanking plug.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of producing fluids according to claim 9, wherein the blanking plug further comprises:
at least one locking device for holding the blanking plug at a first working position in the tubing string.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of producing fluids according to claim 9, wherein the blanking plug further comprises:
a fishing neck positioned on the sand trap.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of producing fluids according to claim 9,
wherein the pump is an electric submersible pump (ESP), and
wherein the blanking plug further comprises:
a flow isolation mechanism at the downhole end of the blanking plug;
at least one locking device for holding the blanking plug at a first working position in the tubing string; and
a fishing neck positioned on the sand trap.