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BR-112022007446-B1 - METHOD FOR REDUCING ANNULAR PRESSURE AROUND A LINER SUSPENDER, LINER SUSPENDER AND LINER SUSPENDER SYSTEM

BR112022007446B1BR 112022007446 B1BR112022007446 B1BR 112022007446B1BR-112022007446-B1

Abstract

METHOD FOR REDUCING ANNULAR PRESSURE AROUND A LINER HANGER, LINER HANGER AND LINER HANGER SYSTEM. Liner hangers and methods of use. An example method includes positioning a liner hanger in a wellbore; the liner hanger comprising: two sealing elements disposed on the outside of the liner hanger and having a void space between them and a pressure-reducing metal element disposed between the two sealing elements. The method further includes trapping a wellbore fluid in the void space; wherein the wellbore fluid thermally expands in the void space creating an annular pressure in the void space; and reducing the annular pressure by materially altering the pressure-reducing metal element.

Inventors

  • STEPHEN MICHAEL GRECI
  • MICHAEL LINLEY FRIPP
  • EMILE EDMUND SEVADJIAN
  • Abdolreza Gharesi

Assignees

  • HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20191224
Priority Date
20191218

Claims (20)

  1. 1. Method for reducing annular pressure around a liner hanger, the method characterized by comprising: - positioning a liner hanger (45, 100, 200) in a wellbore; the liner hanger (45, 100, 200) comprising: - two sealing elements (50, 110, 300, 400) disposed on the outside of the liner hanger (45, 100, 200) and having an empty space (315, 415) between them, and - a pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) disposed between the two sealing elements (50, 110, 300, 400); - trapping a wellbore fluid (320) in the empty space (315, 415); wherein the wellbore fluid (320) expands thermally in the void space (315, 415) creating an annular pressure in the void space (315, 415); and- reduce the annular pressure by materially altering the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410).
  2. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material change of the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) comprises changing the phase of the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410).
  3. 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the phase change of the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) comprises melting the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410).
  4. 4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the phase change of the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) comprises galvanically reacting the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410).
  5. 5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material change of the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) comprises reacting the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) with the wellbore fluid (320).
  6. 6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth, antimony, gallium, lead, tin, manganese, cadmium, aluminum, iron, magnesium, nickel, beryllium, barium, zinc, calcium, tin, copper, zirconium, yttrium, neodymium, gadolinium, silver, rhenium, any alloy thereof and any combination thereof.
  7. 7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) comprises a metal alloy having at least one alloy metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth, antimony, gallium, aluminum, calcium, magnesium and any combination thereof.
  8. 8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) is manufactured to include voids and/or a crushable hollow material within the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410).
  9. 9. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the wellbore is a wellbore of a geothermal well (10) the pressure reducing metal element (310, 410) further comprises a crushable hollow material.
  10. 10. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the wellbore is a wellbore of a geothermal well (10).
  11. 11. Liner hanger, for suspending a liner, the liner hanger (45, 100, 200) being characterized in that it comprises: - two sealing elements (50, 110, 300, 400) disposed on the outside of the liner hanger (45, 100, 200) and having an empty space (315, 415) between them, and - a pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) disposed in the empty space (315, 415) between the two sealing elements (50, 110, 300, 400); wherein the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) comprises a metal alloy having at least one alloyed metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth, antimony, gallium, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and any combinations thereof; wherein the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) is configured to be materially altered to reduce the annular pressure within the void space (315, 414); wherein the material alteration is a chemical reaction induced by a reaction with a fluid trapped within the void space (315, 415).
  12. 12. Liner hanger, according to claim 11, characterized in that the metal alloy further comprises lead, tin, manganese, cadmium, iron, nickel, beryllium, barium, zinc, copper, zirconium, yttrium, neodymium, gadolinium, silver, rhenium and any combinations thereof.
  13. 13. Liner hanger, according to claim 11, characterized in that the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) is manufactured to include voids (315, 415) within the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410).
  14. 14. Liner hanger, according to claim 11, characterized in that the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) further comprises a hollow crushable material.
  15. 15. Liner hanger system (45, 100, 200), for suspending a liner in a wellbore, the system being characterized in that it comprises: - a liner hanger comprising: - two sealing elements (50, 110, 300, 400) disposed on the outside of the liner hanger (45, 100, 200) and having an empty space (315, 415) between them, and - a pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) disposed in the empty space (315, 415) between the two sealing elements, wherein the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) is manufactured to include voids and/or crushable hollow material within the pressure-reducing metal elements (310, 410); the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) is configured to be materially altered to reduce the annular pressure within the void space; the material alteration being a chemical reaction induced by a reaction with a fluid trapped within the void space; - the liner coupled to a first end of the liner hanger (45, 100, 200), and - a conduit connected to a second end of the liner hanger (45, 100, 200).
  16. 16. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth, antimony, gallium, lead, tin, manganese, cadmium, aluminum, iron, magnesium, nickel, beryllium, barium, zinc, calcium, tin, copper, zirconium, yttrium, neodymium, gadolinium, silver, rhenium, any alloy thereof and any combination thereof.
  17. 17. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the conduit is a lining (20, 35, 405) or a layer of cement laid.
  18. 18. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the wellbore is a wellbore of a geothermal well (10).
  19. 19. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the pressure-reducing metal element (310, 410) comprises a metal alloy having at least one alloyed metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth, antimony, gallium, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and any combination thereof.
  20. 20. System according to claim 15, characterized in that it further comprises a fluid disposed between the two sealing elements (50, 110, 300, 400).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [001] This disclosure relates to the use of metal pressure-reducing elements and, more particularly, to the use of a metal element to reduce pressure against a liner hanger caused by the thermal expansion of wellbore fluids. BACKGROUND [002] Geothermal wells can be drilled through an underground formation for the purpose of moving heat in a wide variety of surface and downhole applications. In some cases, a portion of the geothermal well can be lined by placing, and typically cementing, a casing in the wellbore. A tubing string can then be run into and out of the casing. Alternatively, the tubing string can also be run into and out of any unlined portion of the wellbore. [003] In some operations, a liner may be suspended from a casing string or laid cement slab with a liner hanger. The liner hanger anchors to the inside of the casing string or laid cement slab and suspends the liner below the casing string or laid cement slab. The suspended liner and liner hanger do not extend to the surface as a casing string or laid cement slab might. A liner hanger also forms a seal with the casing string or laid cement slab to prevent fluid flow from outside the suspended liner. Fluid flow is thus directed through the liner instead. [004] Metal sealing elements can be used with liner hangers in some wellbore applications, such as those for geothermal well maintenance. Geothermal wells can have extreme temperatures (e.g., exceeding 350°F) which may make it preferable to use metal sealing elements, as they can better withstand these temperatures than some other types of sealing elements. Wellbore fluids, such as water, can become trapped between the metal sealing elements on the outside of the liner hanger. The thermal expansion of these wellbore fluids can increase the pressure load on the liner hanger. This thermal expansion can be of particular concern in geothermal wells and other wells having extreme temperatures. The present disclosure provides improved devices and methods for using liner hangers in wells having extreme temperatures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [005] Illustrative examples of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated by reference herein, wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic of an example piping system for a geothermal well penetrating an underground formation according to the examples disclosed in this document; FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-section illustrating the example piping system of FIG. 1 according to the examples disclosed in this document; FIG. 3 is an isometric illustration of an example liner hanger according to the examples disclosed in this document; FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of another example of a liner hanger according to the examples disclosed in this document; FIG. 5A is an enlarged cross-section of the sealing elements of a liner hanger after sealing and anchoring to a casing in a wellbore according to the examples disclosed in this document; FIG. Figure 5B is an enlarged cross-section of the sealing elements of a liner hanger after the pressure-reducing metal elements have reduced the pressure within the space between the sealing elements according to the examples disclosed in this document; Figure 6A is an enlarged cross-section of the sealing elements of a liner hanger after sealing and anchoring to a casing in a wellbore according to the examples disclosed in this document; and Figure 6B is an enlarged cross-section of the sealing elements of a liner hanger after the pressure-reducing metal elements have reduced the pressure within the space between the sealing elements according to the examples disclosed in this document. [006] The figures shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation regarding the environment, architecture, design or process in which different examples may be implemented. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [007] This disclosure relates to the use of metal pressure-reducing elements and, more particularly, to the use of a metal element to reduce pressure against a liner hanger caused by the thermal expansion of wellbore fluids. [008] In the following detailed description of various illustrative examples, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form part of this document and in which examples are shown by way of illustrative practice. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice them, and it will be understood that other examples may be used and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the examples disclosed. To avoid details not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the examples described in this document, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description, therefore, will not be taken in a