Back to results
US 6,634,388 B1Granted
Annular fluid manipulation in lined tubular systems
AssigneeSafetyliner Systems, LLC
InventorsJack Curtis Taylor, Max Jerry Roach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lined tubular system and method provides for the manipulation and control of annular fluids in channels (18) between the tubular (10) and the liner (17). This structure allows for profiling of the exterior wall of a liner such that one or more continuous channels are provided along the length of the lined tubular system. The system may also include one or more non-crushable members or tubes between the liner's exterior surface and host tubular's interior surface. Rounded, granular particles or spacers in the annulus between the liner and host may provide an alternative path for fluid flow. The particles or spacers may be uniformly or randomly distributed in the annulus.
Claims18
A tubular system, comprising:
- a tubular;
- a liner in the tubular, the liner having an outer wall engaging an inner wall of the tubular, the liner having an inner wall defining a hollow bore;
- wherein said liner has a plurality of channels formed in said outer wall, said channels defining a corresponding plurality of fluid flow passages between said liner and said tubular;
- wherein at least two of said channels intersect each other;
- and
- wherein said channels have respective transverse cross-sectional shapes, at least two of said cross-sectional shapes being different.
3 more elements
A tubular system comprising:
- a tubular;
- a liner in the tubular, the liner having an outer wall engaging an inner wall of the tubular, the liner having an inner wall defining a hollow bore;
- wherein said liner has a plurality of channels formed in said outer wall, said channels defining a corresponding plurality of fluid flow passages between said liner and said tubular;
- wherein at least two of said channels intersect each other;
- and
- wherein said channels have respective transverse cross-sectional shapes, said cross-sectional shapes being substantially the same.
3 more elements
A tubular system comprising:
- a tubular;
- a liner in the tubular, the liner having an outer wall engaging an inner wall of the tubular, the liner having an inner wall defining a hollow bore;
- the liner having at least one channel formed in said outer wall, said channel defining a fluid flow passage between said liner and said tubular;
- and
- at least one non-crushable member disposed in said channel,
- said non-crushable member being generally in the shape of a helix, said helix having a longitudinal axis which extends along said channel, such that fluid flowing through said channel flows within said helix, along said longitudinal axis of said helix.
3 more elements
A composite tubular system comprising:
- a host tubular;
- a polymeric liner located in the host tubular and in partial abutting contact with the host tubular;
- and
- a channel defined between the polymeric liner and the host tubular, the channel providing a path for the flow of an operational fluid;
- a port through the host tubular which controls the pressure of the operational fluid so that said pressure does not cause collapse of the liner;
- a tube coupled to the port and terminating at a point inside the liner;
- and
- a venturi nozzle on the end of the tube.
5 more elements
A composite tubular system comprising:
- a host tubular;
- a polymeric liner located in the host tubular and in partial abutting contact with the host tubular;
- and
- a channel defined between the polymeric liner and the host tubular, the channel providing a path for the flow of an operational fluid;
- a port through the host tubular which controls the pressure of the operational fluid so that said pressure does not cause collapse of the liner;
- and
- a pump coupled to the port;
- the pump providing sufficient pressure to the channel to maintain a minimum cross sectional area of the channel.
5 more elements
A composite tubular system comprising:
- a host tubular;
- a polymeric liner located in the host tubular and in partial abutting contact with the host tubular;
- and
- a channel defined between the polymeric liner and the host tubular;
- further comprising a non-compressible fluid filling the channel;
- wherein the non-compressible fluid is relatively insoluble with a second fluid disposed within the liner which may permeate through the liner to the channel.
3 more elements
A composite tubular system comprising:
- a host tubular;
- a polymeric liner located in the host tubular and in partial abutting contact with the host tubular;
- and
- a channel defined between the polymeric liner and the host tubular;
- further comprising a non-compressible fluid filling the channel;
- and
- an apparatus which generates a measuring-while-drilling signal, wherein the channel is capable of serving as a communications channel for the measuring-while-drilling signal.
4 more elements
In a composite tubular system comprising a host tubular of length L;
- a polymeric liner located in the host tubular and in partial abutting contact with the host tubular;
- and a channel defined between the polymeric liner and the host tubular, a method of determining the location of a blockage within the liner, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) depressurizing the channel and the volume within the liner;
- b) impressing a differential pressure along the channel;
- c) measuring a baseline flowrate through the channel at the differential pressure, the baseline flowrate being defined as Q0;
- d) pressurizing the volume from one end of the liner to the blockage within the liner, the length of that end of the volume within the liner being defined as the location to be determined;
- e) measuring a first test flowrate through the channel with said one end of the volume pressurized, the first test flowrate being defined as Q1;
- f) pressuring the other end of the volume within the liner;
- g) measuring a second test flowrate through the channel with both ends of the liner pressurized, the second test flowrate being defined as Q2;
- and
- h) calculating the location of the blockage with the following formula:
- ((Q0−Q1)×L)/(Q0−Q2)=the distance of the blockage from the initially pressurized end.
9 more elements
A composite tubular system comprising:
- a host tubular;
- a polymeric liner located in the host tubular and in partial abutting contact with the host tubular;
- and
- a channel defined between the polymeric liner and the host tubular, the channel providing a flow path for an operational fluid;
- a port formed in the host tubular, a tube coupled to the port and terminating at a point inside the liner, and a Venturi nozzle disposed inside the liner on the end of the tube;
- and
- a pump coupled to the port which controls the pressure of the operational fluid in the channel so that said pressure does not cause collapse of the liner.
4 more elements
A composite tubular system comprising:
- a host tubular;
- a polymeric liner located in the host tubular and in partial abutting contact with the host tubular;
- and
- a channel defined between the polymeric liner and the host tubular;
- a non-compressible fluid filling the channel, the non-compressible fluid being relatively insoluble with a second fluid disposed within the liner which may permeate through the liner to the channel.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.