US 2020/0048993 A1 · TOOL ASSEMBLY WITH A FLUIDIC AGITATOR AND A COATING

Abstract

The tool assembly vibrates a casing string or drill string in a wellbore. The tool assembly includes a housing, an insert mounted in the housing as a fluidic agitator, a coating on the insert, and a cover fitted over the insert. The coating on the insert provides erosion resistance and a smooth surface compatible with high velocity fluid flow required to achieve the strength and frequency of desired high strength and low frequency pressure pulses.

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

A tool assembly for deployment into a wellbore, the tool assembly comprising:

a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
an insert mounted in said housing;
a cover fitted over said insert in said housing, said cover sealing said insert within said housing,
wherein said insert comprises an inlet chamber, a vortex chamber, and a feedback chamber in fluid connection between said vortex chamber and said inlet chamber, said inlet chamber being in fluid connection with said vortex chamber directly and through said feedback chamber,
wherein said insert comprises:
a first input channel connecting said inlet chamber to one side of said vortex chamber;
a second input channel connecting said inlet chamber to an opposite side of said vortex chamber;
a first transition channel connecting said vortex chamber to one side of said feedback chamber;
a second transition channel connecting said vortex chamber to an opposite side of said feedback chamber;
a first flowback channel extending from said feedback chamber to said inlet chamber;
and
a second flowback channel extending from said feedback chamber to said inlet chamber;
and
a coating covering said inlet chamber, said first input channel, said second input channel, and said vortex chamber,
wherein fluid flow through said insert has a pressure profile comprised of a plurality of levels determined by said feedback chamber,
wherein said pressure profile has a frequency determined by said feedback chamber, when said inlet chamber maintains a constant position and fluid connection to said vortex chamber, and
wherein said inlet chamber, said vortex chamber, and said feedback chamber are in an asymmetric flow path.

14 more elements

A method for fluid control in a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a coating to an insert,
assembling a tool comprised of a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said insert being mounted in said housing, and a cover fitted over said insert in said housing, said cover sealing said insert within said housing,
wherein said insert comprises an inlet chamber, a vortex chamber, and a feedback chamber in fluid connection between said vortex chamber and said inlet chamber, said inlet chamber being in fluid connection with said vortex chamber directly and through said feedback chamber,
wherein said insert comprises:
a first input channel connecting said inlet chamber to one side of said vortex chamber;
a second input channel connecting said inlet chamber to an opposite side of said vortex chamber;
a first transition channel connecting said vortex chamber to one side of said feedback chamber;
a second transition channel connecting said vortex chamber to an opposite side of said feedback chamber;
a first flowback channel extending from said feedback chamber to said inlet chamber;
and
a second flowback channel extending from said feedback chamber to said inlet chamber,
wherein said coating covers said inlet chamber, said first input channel, said second input channel, and said vortex chamber,
wherein said inlet chamber, said vortex chamber, and said feedback chamber are in an asymmetric flow path,
wherein said inlet chamber further comprises a switch means for the flow path alternating between said first input channel and said second input channel,
wherein fluid flow through said insert has a pressure profile comprised of a plurality of levels determined by said feedback chamber, and
wherein said pressure profile has a frequency determined by said feedback chamber, when said inlet chamber maintains a constant position and fluid connection to said vortex chamber;
installing said tool in a string;
flowing a fluid through said insert and over said coating;
alternating the flow path between said first input channel and said second input channel;
and
generating vibrations in said tool according to the pressure profile,
wherein said inlet chamber is in fluid connection with said inlet of said housing, and
wherein said vortex chamber is in fluid connection with said inlet chamber, said vortex chamber having an output in fluid connection to said outlet of said housing.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,292 words

Summary1,496 words

#Not applicable.

Brief description of the drawings10 figures

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the tool assembly, according to embodiments of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of an embodiment of an insert of the tool assembly according to embodiments of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of an embodiment of an insert of the tool assembly according to embodiments of the present invention, showing flow paths.

Detailed description3,515 words

#The tool assembly with fluidic agitator disclosed in US Patent Publication No. 20190153798, published on 23 May 2019 for the current Applicant, requires high velocity fluid flow through the fluidic agitator in order to achieve the strength and frequency of the desired vibrations or pressure pulses. The high velocity fluid flow erodes components in the insert of the fluidic agitator. The present invention is an improved tool assembly with a fluidic agitator and coating to extend the working life of tool assembly. The coating on certain portions of the insert maintains reliability and precision of the control of the efficiency and effectiveness of the fluid control tool assembly. The coating is hard and smooth to have erosion resistance without disrupting fluid flow past the coating. Due to the sensitivity of hydraulic pulse to the geometry of the components, the surface condition of this hard coating is also required to be smooth enough for fluid to pass the hard coating with less disruption to fluid flow.

#Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the tool assembly 10 is a fluid control downhole tool that can be adapted for use as a fluidic agitator or a fluidic oscillator. FIG. 1 shows the tool assembly 10 for installation in a tubular string, such as a drill string or a casing string to be deployed in a wellbore. The tool assembly 10 includes a housing 20 having an inlet 22 and an outlet 24, an insert 30 mounted in the housing 20, and a cover 26 fitted over the insert 30 in the housing 20. The cover 26 seals the insert 30 within the housing 20 for installation in a casing string or drill string. The insert 30 comprises an inlet chamber 32, a vortex chamber 34, and a feedback chamber 36. The housing 20 and cover 26 can be adapted to be incorporated in a tubular string with fluid flow through the tool assembly 10 in line with the tubular string, which may extend from a surface location to a downhole location in a wellbore.

#As shown in FIG. 5, the fluid flow of the tool assembly 10 has a pressure profile with a plurality of levels. In this embodiment, there are three levels: a lower level 72, a middle level 74, and a higher level 76. The strength of the pressure pulse has a greater range than conventional fluidic oscillators and fluidic agitators. The build up and peak of the higher level 76 can be achieved with only the insert 30 of the present invention. The frequency between the higher level 76 pressure pulses has a greater range than conventional fluidic oscillators and fluidic agitators. The time between peaks of the higher level can be achieved at lower frequencies with only the insert 30 of the present invention. The tool assembly 10 provides for pressure pulses and vibrations downhole in the more desirable lower frequencies and stronger pulses for fluidic agitators.

Facts

Application

16/658,967Filed 21 Oct 2019

Priority

21 Nov 2017

Published

13 Feb 2020

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

E21B 28/00
Vibration generating arrangements for boreholes or wells
E21B 41/02
Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00: in situ inhibition of corrosion in boreholes or wells
E21B 31/005
Fishing for or freeing objects in boreholes or wells: using vibrating or oscillating means
E21B
Earth or rock drilling

Tool assembly with a fluidic agitator and a coating

Life of this patent

Tool assembly with a fluidic agitator and a coating

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description5,292 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,292 words