Friction reduction assembly for a downhole tubular, and method of reducing friction
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsGordon R. Mackenzie, Graeme K. Kelbie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A friction reduction assembly for a downhole tubular. The friction reduction assembly includes an electrically activated friction reduction sub. The sub includes a flowbore fluidically connected to a flowbore of the tubular and remaining open for fluid flow therethrough during both activated and non-activated states of the friction reduction sub. A friction reducer responsive to an indication of lockup of the tubular, wherein friction between the tubular and surrounding casing or borehole is reduced in an electrically activated state of the friction reduction sub. A method of reducing friction in a downhole tubular is also included.
Claims11
A friction reduction assembly for a downhole tubular, the friction reduction assembly comprising:
- an electrically activated friction reduction sub including:
- a flowbore fluidically connected to a flowbore of the tubular and remaining open for fluid flow therethrough during both activated and non-activated states of the friction reduction sub;
- and
- a friction reducer, the friction reducer including a pulser positioned within one of an annulus surrounding the flowbore of the friction reduction sub and a side pocket of the friction reduction sub, an entry opening of the annulus or side pocket in fluidic communication with the flowbore of the tubular, an exit opening of the annulus or side pocket in fluidic communication with the flowbore of the tubular, the friction reduction sub, in the activated state, configured to redirect a portion of fluid from the flowbore of the friction reduction sub through the annulus or side pocket and back into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub along a flowpath from the flowbore of the friction reduction sub through the entry opening, through the pulser, through the exit opening, and back into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub, fluidic pulses created in the fluid in the activated state by the pulser in fluidic communication with the exit opening and the flowbore of the tubular and passed directly into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub by the exit opening along the flowpath, the friction reduction sub further configured to block the fluid from passing through the pulser in the non-activated state of the friction reduction sub;
- wherein friction between the tubular and surrounding casing or borehole is reduced in the activated state of the friction reduction sub.
A method of reducing friction in a downhole tubular, the method comprising:
- inserting a tubular having a flowbore into a borehole;
- sensing a lockup of the tubular within the borehole;
- activating an electrically activated friction reduction sub subsequent to a sensed lockup of the tubular, the friction reduction sub having a flowbore fluidically connected to the flowbore of the tubular and remaining open for fluid flow therethrough during both activated and non-activated states of the friction reduction sub, the friction reduction sub further including a friction reducer, the friction reducer including a pulser positioned within one of an annulus surrounding the flowbore of the friction reduction sub and a side pocket of the friction reduction sub, an entry opening of the annulus or side pocket in fluidic communication with the flowbore of the tubular, an exit opening of the annulus or side pocket in fluidic communication with the flowbore of the tubular, the friction reduction sub, in the activated state, configured to redirect a portion of fluid from the flowbore of the friction reduction sub, through the annulus or side pocket and back into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub, along a flowpath from the flowbore of the friction reduction sub, through the entry opening, through the pulser, through the exit opening, and back into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub, fluidic pulses created in the fluid in the activated state by the pulser in fluidic communication with the exit opening and the flowbore of the tubular and passed directly into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub by the exit opening along the flowpath to create fluidic pulses in the flowbore of the tubular, the friction reduction sub further configured to block the fluid from passing through the pulser in the non-activated state of the friction reduction sub;
- and
- reducing friction between the tubular and surrounding borehole in the activated state of the friction reduction sub.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.