Coiled tubing conveyed milling
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsGerald D. Lynde, John P. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Milling in casing that is over 4½ inches is done with coiled tubing that is anchored against torque reaction. An improved debris catcher is part of the bottom hole assembly to capture cuttings from the milling. A thruster can be used to maintain weight on the mill during the milling. The coiled tubing supports a mud motor to drive the mill. Return fluid is separated from the cuttings and returned to the surface.
Claims24
A method for cutting objects downhole, comprising:
- running in a cutting apparatus connected to a downhole motor and an anchor on coiled tubing into a well;
- providing a debris catcher in fluid communication with said coiled tubing and an annular space around said coiled tubing during said running in;
- setting the anchor;
- operating said motor to turn the cutting apparatus;
- cutting an object that obstructs the wellbore or cutting a wellbore tubular in two;
- catching debris generated by the cutting apparatus and moving in said annular space with said debris catcher.
A method for cutting objects downhole, comprising:
- running in a cutting apparatus connected to a downhole motor and an anchor on coiled tubing into a well;
- providing a debris catcher on said coiled tubing during said running in;
- setting the anchor;
- operating said motor to turn the cutting apparatus;
- catching debris generated by the cutting apparatus with said debris catcher;
- providing a retractable flow diverter on an exterior of said debris catcher;
- using pressurized fluid delivered to said debris catcher to actuate said flow diverter to close an annular space around said debris catcher.
A debris catcher for downhole use, comprising:
- a body having a first passage to conduct pressurized fluid therethrough and a second passage to accept debris;
- a flow diverter selectively radially extendable from said body after delivery downhole to impede flow in an annular space around said body to direct debris into said second passage, said diverter during delivery retracted to said body and out of said annular space, said passages remaining open whether said diverter is retracted or extended.
A debris catcher for downhole use, comprising:
- a body having a first passage to conduct pressurized fluid therethrough and a second passage to accept debris;
- a flow diverter selectively radially extendable from said body after delivery downhole to impede flow in an annular space around said body to direct debris into said second passage, said diverter during delivery retracted to said body and out of said annular space;
- a nozzle that uses fluid from said first passage to induce debris to enter said second passage.
A debris catcher for downhole use, comprising:
- a body having a first passage to conduct pumped fluid therethrough and a discrete second passage to accept debris;
- a venturi nozzle that uses pumped fluid from said first passage to reduce pressure and thereby induce fluid laden with debris to enter said second passage at a distance from a screen and thereafter push said fluid laden with debris from behind, said fluid laden with debris moving through said second passage in said body toward said screen and in a direction opposite from pumped fluid movement in said first passage, whereupon said debris remains in said second passage and said fluid exits said second passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.