The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 21, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 06, 2002
Charles R. Dawson, Houston, TX (US);
Mark W. Biegler, Houston, TX (US);
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A method of installing tubular conduits (e.g. casing, liners, sand screens) into a highly deviated borehole. A lower plug is attached at one end of a portion of a tubular conduit. This end is inserted into a borehole. After insertion of the length of conduit intended to be buoyancy-aided into the borehole, an inflatable plug insert is attached at the upper end. The inflatable plug has a built-in valve designed to enable fluid communication between the buoyancy-aided tubular section and the insertion string. A pump is attached to the built-in valve and the fluid within the section intended to be buoyancy-aided is removed, after which the built-in valve is closed. The buoyancy provided by the evacuated section enables insertion of the tubular conduit into boreholes greatly deviated from the vertical, reducing running drag and the risk of the tubular becoming differentially stuck. After the tubular conduit is inserted to the desired depth, the built-in valve is opened allowing the fluid above the plug insert to fill the buoyancy-aided section. Conventional well construction activities then resume.