System, apparatus and method for abrasive jet fluid cutting

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method for abrasive jet fluid cutting is provided wherein an abrasive jet fluid cutting assembly comprises a hose for receiving a coherent abrasive jet-fluid containing a solid abrasive; a helix / spring attached inside the high-pressure hose; and a jet-nozzle connected to the hose. Wherein the coherent abrasive laden jet-fluid is pumped under high pressure through the high-pressure hose and across the helix. As the jet-fluid traverses the helix, the jet-fluid rotates at a high rate creating a vortex. The disclosed subject matter further includes a system and method for using the abrasive jet fluid cutting nozzle assembly.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. Non-Provisional No. 11 / 938,830, filed Nov. 13, 2007 and entitled “SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ABRASIVE JET FLUID CUTTING” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional No. 60 / 865,638 filed on Nov. 13, 2006, entitled “SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR A JET-FLUID CUTTING NOZZLE” and is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD[0002]The present disclosure relates to drilling and cutting systems and their methods of operation and, more particularly, to a system and apparatus for a jet-fluid cutting nozzle.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0003]Many wells today have a deviated bore horizontally drilled extending away from a generally vertical axis main well bore. The use of horizontal drilling technology has increased production fourfold over that previously achieved from vertical wells. The drilling of such sidetracking is accomplished via multiple steps. After casing and cementing a well bore, historically a multi-stage milling proce...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]This disclosure relates to the cutting of perforation(s), slot(s), shape(s), and window(s) in submerged down-hole well bore casing(s) whose inside diameter is about 100 mm or larger, and more particularly, to the controlled and precise use of a jet-fluid and nozzle configuration to cut perforation(s), slot(s), shape(s) and window(s) through a well bore casing or multiple nested well bore casings, thereby facilitating and providing access to the formation structure beyond the casing(s) or completely severing a single or multiple nested well bore casings where the casing(s) may be cemented in place at any depth.

[0019]Programmed movement of a jetting-shoe and abrasive-jet-nozzle allows lower kick off points and landing early in the reservoir, due to the ability of short radius sidetracking provided by cutting larger and longer casing window sections than is possible with conventional machining processes.

[0020]Short-radius technology is employed for the re-entry of existing vertical wells and to prevent having to kick off the well into problem zones. Short-radius wells are those with a build-up rate higher than 25° / 30 m.

[0021]Another aspect of using programmed movement of a jetting-shoe and abrasive-jet-nozzle is that it eliminates the requirement to first deploy a whip-stock wedge placed in the casing at the desired well bore depth location required for sidetracking during conventional milling of the casing window.

[0023]A further aspect of the present disclosure is a novel nozzle and nozzle configuration creating a vortex in the region directly in front of the nozzle and that vortex travels downstream a distance away from the nozzle and thereby generates additional cutting and penetrating capabilities.

Problems solved by technology

Although simple in concept, the execution of casing window milling is complicated and difficult to achieve in a timely fashion.

Several complicating factors are that the well bore casing is made of steel or similarly hard material and the casing is difficult to access down a deep well borehole.

The sidetrack window entry point machined through the steel casing is narrow at the top, and can cause the sidetracking rotating drill pipe to be damaged and break, because of the rubbing of the rotating drill pipe against the narrow top window opening and burrs left on the machined casing.

Abrasive casing cutting with jet nozzles has been attempted to replace conventional milling, but the present abrasive cutting processes cannot achieve proper casing window cutting required for sidetracking or horizontal drilling.

A deficiency in this prior art method is that the length of the cuts that the disclosed jet nozzle makes into the rock formation is limited because the jet nozzle is stationary with respect to the jet nozzle head.

The offered method is deficient in that only an upward motion along a well bore is possible due to the design of the expandable arms.

Furthermore, the prior art reference does not provide guidance as how to overcome the problem of the two expandable arms being set against the well bore wall from preventing motion in a downward direction.

A result of the prior art design deficiency is that sharp angles are formed between the well wall, thereby causing the jet streams emitted at the jets at the distal ends of the expandable arms to only cut small scratches into the well bore walls.

The prior art reference is deficient in that the apparatus requires multi-hoses to be connected from the surface to the apparatus for power and control.

The prior art methods are also deficient in that often the cutting line established by the cutting nozzle creates a pie or fanned shape cut as it penetrates the casing.

This causes difficulty in removing the pieces cut out by conventional means, due to the fact the rear face of the piece is larger than the opening cutout by the cutting tool.

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