SHEARABLE SLEEVE

The present invention relates to a shearable sleeve. More specifically the invention relates to a shearable sleeve for supporting a disintegrable plug element in a pipe string. The invention also relates to a plug device including such a shearable sleeve as well as a plug assembly in a pipe string.

Disintegrable plugs, such as glass plugs and ceramic plugs, are known from the prior art. Disintegrable plugs are also known where disintegration of the plug element may be initiated by means of hydraulic pressure controlled from topside, which reduces the need for interventions runs into the well. A disadvantage of several of the known disintegrable plugs is that residues from the plug element itself or from plugs seats, shearing devices, loading devices and or other parts of activation mechanisms become loose and enter the well stream, potentially damaging well equipment such as pumps or other components used in the circulation of well fluids after opening of the plug.

US2019017345 A1 discloses a disintegrable plug element resting on a shearable sleeve in a pipe string. In one of the disclosed embodiments, the plug elements rests in a seat at the upper portion of the shearable sleeve, where a sealing element is sealing between the plug element and the surrounding pipe string. When the plug element is exposed to an increasing hydraulic pressure from above, the axial force exerted by the plug element on the seat portion of the shearable sleeve increases. At a pre-defined axial force, radial protruding tabs of the shearable sleeve shear off from the sleeve, whereby the plug element is free to move axially downwardly in the pipe string together with a cylindrical “main” portion of the shearable sleeve. When being moved downwardly, the plug element moves into contact with a loading device in the form of one or more spikes/knives or similar. The forced contact with the spikes initiates disintegration of the plug element by the creation of point loads in the plug element. By continued hydraulic pressure application, the plug element is then crushed into very small pieces. One drawback of this embodiment is that the radial protruding tabs are resting against an axial support surface in the pipe string. When the tabs are sheared off, the main portion of the shearable sleeve is displaced axially downwardly into the well, away from the tabs. When the plug element disintegrates, the tabs have no radial support and will fall into the well. In another embodiment disclosed in the same application, another shearable sleeve is provided where the radial protruding tabs are provided at the lower and opposite end compared to the seat portion. However, the present applicant has realized that by proving radial protruding shear tabs at one of the circumferential end surfaces of a substantially cylindrical sleeve, may lead to an unfavourable load case upon activation wherein the sleeve starts bending instead of shearing as intended. This may further lead to an unreliable activation/opening of the plug.

US 2018/0245421 A1 discloses a plug arrangement including glass provided in one or more seats in a plug housing, the seats forming support members for supporting the glass in an axial direction.

WO 2019/011563 A1 discloses a well tool device comprising a housing with an axial through-bore in which a sleeve is releasably connected to the housing. A frangible disc is arranged in a bore of the sleeve in sealing engagement with the sleeve, where the sleeve is axially displaceable in the bore.

The invention has for its object to remedy or to reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative to prior art.

The object is achieved through features, which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.

The invention is defined by the independent patent claim. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The invention generally relates to a shearable sleeve for supporting a disintegrable plug element in a pipe string. The plug element may be made fully or partially from glass, ceramic, a vitrified material or any other material suitable for use as a disintegrable plug element in a downhole well.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a shearable sleeve for supporting a disintegrable plug element in a pipe string, the shearable sleeve having:

- a first portion including a first circumferential end surface;

- a seat for supporting the disintegrable plug element , the seat being included in the first portion of the shearable sleeve,

- a second portion including a second circumferential end surface; and

- a surface extending axially between the first and second circumferential end surfaces and formed with one or more radial, outwardly extending protrusions adapted to shear off from the rest of the sleeve when being exposed to a predefined axial force and one or more recesses for receiving one or more loading devices for initiating disintegration of the disintegrable plug element upon contact with the plug, wherein the one or more radial protrusions is/are axially offset relative to the first circumferential end surface of the shearable sleeve.

By providing the one or more shearable, radial protrusions at an axial distance from the plug seat, the unfavourable load case/distribution mentioned above may be at least partially avoided. By also providing the one or more radial protrusions with an axial offset from the second circumferential end surface, this positive effect on the load case may be even more pronounced. The axial distance from the first, and potentially also second, circumferential end surface to the radial protrusions may be in the order of 5 millimetres or more, preferably 1 centimetre or more. In an even more preferred embodiment, the radial protrusions may be provided substantially half-way between the between the first and second circumferential end surfaces. Providing the shearable protrusions/tabs near an axial mid portion of the shearable sleeve may be beneficial both for avoiding bending of the sleeve upon activation and for leaving the shearable protrusions radially supported/”trapped” after activation/disintegration of the plug element so that they do not fall into the well, as will be better understood with reference to the following description and the drawings.

In a preferred embodiment and in a position of use, the first portion of the shearable sleeve may be an upper portion and the second portion may be lower portion of the shearable sleeve. However, alternatively, the first portion with the seat may be a lower portion, whereby the plug element may be placed inside the outer surface portion of the shearable sleeve before activation.

The surface extending between the circumferential end surfaces may, except from the mentioned protrusions and recesses be substantially cylindrical.

However, in other embodiments the surface may be slightly conical.

In a preferred embodiment, the shearable sleeve may be provided as one piece of material, which significantly simplifies constructions and reliability of use. The shearable sleeve may typically be made from a metal alloy such as aluminium bronze, nickel bronze or nickel aluminium bronze.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a plug device for insertion into a pipe string, the plug device comprising:

- a shearable sleeve according to the first aspect of the invention;

- a disintegrable plug element adapted to be supported by the seat;

- one or more loading devices adapted to be received in the one or more recesses of the shearable sleeve and adapted to initiate disintegration of the disintegrable plug element upon contact with the plug element; and

- one or more sealing devices for providing a substantially fluid-tight connection between the disintegrable plug element and the pipe string.

The one or more loading devices may be one or more pegs, spikes, knives or similar adapted to generate sufficient point loads in the plug element to initiate disintegration. In use, the loading device(s) may preferably be connected directly to the inside of the pipe string and fit complementarily into the one or more recesses in the shearable sleeve. In an alternative embodiment, the one or more loading devices may be connected directly to the inside of an insert member, i.e. in a separate housing for the disintegrable plug element.

In one embodiment, the plug device may include one or more support rings for supporting the disintegrable plug element in the seat and/or in the pipe string. The one or more support rings may be made in a material that is softer than the shearable sleeve and/or pipe string and may contribute to supporting the disintegrable plug element to prevent local stress and tension and thereby avoid unintentional disintegration of the plug element. The support ring(s) may comprise PEEK, brass, aluminium, rubber, a plastic material etc.

In one embodiment the plug device may be as provided as kit of parts. This may be useful when the plug device is to be installed directly into pipe string, where a part of the pipe string directly constitutes a housing for the plug device. The plug device may be sold and shipped as a kit of parts and assembled on site. The advantage of having the plug device directly installed in the pipe string is that it requires fewer parts, including fewer seals, and that fewer hydraulic potential leakage paths are created.

In an alternative embodiment the plug device may further comprise an insert member for installation of the plug device in a pipe string. The insert member may be provided in the form of an insert cylinder or similar into which the at least the shearable sleeve and disintegrable plug element may be preassembled. Preferably, also the loading devices and one or more seals may be a part of the pre-assembled plug device. The advantage of this is that instead of selling/shipping the plug device as loose kit of parts, the main parts of the plug device may be pre-assembled, which simplifies installation for the end user. The drawback of this embodiment is that it adds more parts as well as an additional, potential leakage path between the disintegrable plug element and the pipe string, requiring one or more additional seals.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a plug assembly in a pipe string, the plug assembly including

- a plug device according to the second aspect of the invention; and

- a plug housing in which the plug device is arranged, wherein the disintegrable plug element is movable in an axial direction of the pipe string between a first position in which the plug element is spaced from the loading device and a second position in which the plug element is in contact with the loading device.

In one embodiment, the plug device is axially movable together with the main portion of the shearable sleeve after the radial protrusion has/have been sheared off as will be better understood with reference to the following description and the appurtenant drawings.

In the following are described examples of preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a shearable sleeve according to the invention;

Fig. 2-5 show the shearable sleeve from Fig. 1 in different positions of use in a plug assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a shearable sleeve according to the invention;

Fig. 7 shows an insert member as used together with the shearable sleeve from Fig. 6; and

Figs. 8-11 show the shearable sleeve from Fig. 6 and the insert member from Fig. 7 in different positions of use in a plug assembly according to the invention.

In the following, the reference numeral 1 will be used to denote a shearable sleeve according to the first aspect of the invention, whereas reference numerals 10 and 100 will be used to denote a plug device and plug assembly, respectively, according to the second and third aspects of the invention. Identical reference numerals are used to identify identical or similar features in the drawings. The drawings are shown simplified and schematically and various features therein are not necessarily drawn to scale.

In Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a shearable sleeve 1 according to the invention is shown in a top view to the left, in a cross-sectional axial view in the middle and in a perspective view to the right. The shearable sleeve 1, which is formed substantially cylindrically, has a first portion 2, including a first circumferential end surface 4. The first portion 2 includes a seat 6 adapted to support a disintegrable plug element 8 (as shown in Figs. 2-4) in use. Opposite the first portion 2, the shearable sleeve 1 is provided with a second portion 12 including a second circumferential end surface 14. Between the first and second circumferential end surfaces 4, 14 a substantially cylinder-shaped surface 16 is extending. In use of the shown embodiment, the first portion 2 defines an upper portion of the shearable sleeve 1, while the second portion 12 defines a lower portion. The cylinder surface 16 has a substantially smooth inner portion 18. From an outer portion 20 of the cylinder surface 16 three protrusions 22 are extending radially outwardly and defining shearable parts of the shearable sleeve 1. In alternative embodiments, the number of protrusions 22 may be lower or higher. The circumferential length, axial thickness etc. of the radial protrusions 22 may be varied to tailor the shear strength of the shearable sleeve for different activation pressures. The shearable sleeve shown in Fig. 1 is adapted to withstand pressures up to 10000 psi before shearing. Depending on the shear rating of the shearable sleeve 1, the radial protrusions 22 may have an axial thickness in the order to 5- 15 millimetres. In the shown embodiment, each radial protrusion 22 covers about 90° of the circumference of the outer cylinder surface 20, each protrusion 22 separated by a 45° gap 24. In the transition between each protrusion 22 and each gap 24, the outer portion 20 of the sleeve 16 is formed with small, slim recess/scratch 26 extending axially from above each radial protrusion 22 to the lower circumferential surface 14. The scratches contribute to a clearer shearing of the protrusions 22 and thereby a more reliable activation of the plug assembly. The shearable sleeve 1 is further formed with one or more, here three, recesses 28 adapted to house loading devices for initiating disintegration of a plug element as will become clearer with reference to the following drawings. In the shown embodiment, the three recesses 28 are distributed evenly around the first circumferential end surface 4 and extend about 2/5 of the axial length of the shearable sleeve 1 downwardly. The radial protrusions 22 are provided at a distance from both circumferential end surfaces 4, 14 of the shearable sleeve, i.e. the protrusions 22 are provided axially offset both from the seat 6 and from the lower, second portion 12 of the shearable sleeve 1. As explained above, this has the advantage of improving the load distribution in the shearable sleeve 1 during activation, reducing the risk of the cylinder surface 16 bending instead of the protrusions /tabs 22 shearing off as intended. In the shown embodiment, the protrusions 22 are provided substantially half-way between the first and second circumferential end surfaces 4, 14, though slightly nearer to the second circumferential end surface 14. This has the additional benefit that the radial protrusions 22 will be “hidden” behind the rest of the shearable sleeve 1 after shearing, i.e. between the rest of the shearable sleeve 1 and the pipe string 30, when the rest of the shearable sleeve 1 is displaced axially downwardly in the pipe string 30 by hydraulic pressure from above as will be explained in the following. By carefully designing the plug device 10 and assembly 100 such the axial displacement length (L as shown in Fig. 4) of the disintegrable plug element 8 together with the main portion of the shearable sleeve 1 after shearing is shorter than a length H from the radial protrusion 22 to the first, upper circumferential surface 4, the radial protrusions 22 will remain locked behind the shearable sleeve 1 after disintegration of the plug element 8 and will not fall into the well stream. The shearable sleeve 1 is in the shown embodiment provided as one solid piece of material, here made from an aluminium brass nickel alloy.

Fig. 2 shows, at the upper left, a top view of a plug assembly 100 according to the third aspect of the invention. An axial cross-section R-R is shown at the upper right, while enlarged details of parts V and W are shown below. A pipe string 30, which may be a part of a production tubing, casing or similar, is formed with a housing 32 for receiving a plug device 10 according to the invention. In the shown embodiment, the housing 32 is an incorporated part of the pipe string 30 and is provided at the connection between an upper and lower pipe 30a, b of the pipe string. The shearable sleeve 1 is provided in the housing 32 so that the radial protrusions 22 are resting against an abutment surface 34. The abutment surface 34 may be provided as an integrated part of the pipe string 30, but in the shown embodiment the abutment surface 34 is provided as a separate abutment member, here in the form of a ring, resting on top, circumferential edge of the lower pipe 30b at the connection to the upper pipe 30a in the housing 32 as best shown in enlarged detail V. The advantage of providing the abutment surface 34 as a separate insert member, is that different abutment members may be provided for shearable sleeves 1 of different geometric configurations without having to make any changes to the housing 32 or pipe string 30 as such. The disintegrable plug element 8, here in the form of a glass plug, is resting in the seat 6 of the shearable sleeve 1 via a support ring 36, the support ring 36 being provided in a relatively soft material, such as PEEK, as discussed above. The support ring 36 prevents or at least reduces local shear stresses in the glass plug, thereby reducing the risk of unintended disintegration. A first seal 38 is provided in a first circular recess 39 in inner wall of the upper pipe 30a, giving a fluid-tight connection between the glass plug 8 and the upper pipe 30a. Loading devices 40, herein the form of knives, are connected directly on the inside of the pipe string 30 in a second circular recess 41. The loading device further extend and fit complementary into the three, upper recesses 28 in the shearable sleeve 1, as best seen in enlarged view W. A second seal 45 is provided in a recess 43 in the outer wall of the lower pipe 30b at the connection between the upper and lower pipes to create a fluid-tight connection between the pipes 30a, b in the pipe string. 30. In Fig. 2, the plug assembly 100 is shown prior to activation, i.e. prior to shearing off the radial protrusions 22 of the shearable sleeve 1 as will be discussed below. In the shown embodiment, the plug device 10, i.e. the shearable sleeve 1, the disintegrable plug element 8, the first seal 38 and optionally also the abutment ring 34 and/or the support ring 36 may be sold/shipped as a kit of parts.

Fig. 3 shows the plug assembly 100 from Fig. 2 in the same views and with the same enlarged details after activation of the plug assembly 100, i.e. after shearing off of the radial protrusions 22 from the shearable sleeve 1. When it is desirable open the plug assembly 100, i.e. to disintegrate the disintegrable plug element 8, the hydraulic pressure is increased in the pipe string 30 above the disintegrable plug element 8. The hydraulic pressure exerts a downwardly directed force on the disintegrable plug element 8, the disintegrable plug element 8 further pushing downwardly on the shearable sleeve 1. The shearable sleeve is supported in the pipe string 30 by the radial protrusions 22 “hanging” on the abutment ring 34 as best seen in enlarged detail AL. When the downwardly acting force reaches a pre-defined limit, the radial protrusions 22 are sheared off from the rest of the shearable sleeve 1, as indicated in Fig. 3. As discussed above, the shearable sleeve 1 may be designed and tailored for different activation pressures by the shape/design of the radial protrusions and choice of material for the shearable sleeve 1. After activation/shearing the radial protrusions 22 remain non-movably supported by the abutment ring 34, while the disintegrable plug element 8 starts moving downwardly in the pipe string 30 together with the seat 6 and the rest of the shearable sleeve 1.

In Fig. 4 the plug assembly is shown when the disintegrable plug element 8 has moved downwardly in the pipe string 30 to come into contact with the loading devices 40 as can be best seen in enlarged detail AR. At this stage the disintegrable plug element 8 has move a length L downwardly in the pipe string, while the radial protrusions remain “trapped” between the sheared sleeve 1, the inner wall of the pipe string 30 and the abutment ring 34, as best seen in enlarged detail AP. Since displacement length L is shorter than the length H (as indicated in Fig. 1) from the radial protrusions 22 to the upper circumferential surface 4, as explained above, the radial protrusions 33 will remain “trapped” also after disintegration of the plug element 8, as can also be seen in Fig. 5, in particular in the enlarged view AT. The first seal 38 creates a fluid-tight fit between the disintegrable plug element 8 both in the initial starting position, best shown in enlarged views V and W in Fig. 2, through the whole axial downward displacement, as best seen in enlarged views AL and AM in Fig. 3, and until contact has been made with the loading devices 40, best seen in enlarged views AP and AR in Fig. 4. This leads to a more reliable disintegration of the plug element 8 as the pressure may be increased further upon contact with the loading devices 40 until the plug element is disintegrated.

Fig. 5 shows the remainder of the plug assembly 100 after disintegration of the disintegrable plug element 8. Since the plug housing 32 in the shown embodiment is constituted by a slightly expanded inner diameter section of the pipe string 30, the inner diameter is of the pipe string 30 is maintained also across the housing 32 after opening, avoiding restrictions. As can be clearly seen in Fig. 5, the inner diameter of the shearable sleeve 1 is substantially equal to that of the inner diameter of the pipe string 30 except from in the housing 32. The fact the loading devices 40 are rigidly connected directly to the inside of the pipe string 30 ensures that the loading devices remain fixed to the pipe string 30 and do not fall into the well stream.

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a shearable sleeve 1 according to the invention. A top view is shown to the left, a cross-sectional axial view F-F in the middle and a perspective view to the right. The shearable sleeve 1 has a slightly different geometric configuration than the one in Fig. 1, though its functionality is similar. As can be seen in the figure, each of the radial protrusions 22 cover only about 45° of the circumference of the outer portion 20 of the surface 16, while the gap 24 between each protrusion covers about 90°. In fact, the shearable sleeve shown in Fig. 6 is designed to withstand pressures up to 5000 psi before activation/shearing while the one in Fig. 1 is design to withstand 10000 psi as mentioned above. The radial protrusions 22 are provided substantially half-way between the upper and lower circumferential surfaces 4, 14, here slightly closer to the upper circumferential surface 4. As shown in Fig. 1, also this shearable sleeve 1 is provided scratches 26 defining the transition between the radial protrusions 22 and the gaps 24 therebetween. Three recesses 28 adapted to house loading devices 40 are provided at the upper circumferential surface and extend about 1/4 of the axial length of the shearable sleeve 1 downwardly.

Fig. 7 shows an insert member 42, here in the form of an insert cylinder, used together with the shearable sleeve 1 from Fig. 6. The insert cylinder 42 functions as a separate housing for the disintegrable plug element 8, enabling preassembly of the disintegrable plug element 8, shearable sleeve 1, loading devices 40 and seal as will be explained below with reference to the following figures. In particular, the insert cylinder is formed with holes 52 into which the loading devices 40 (not shown in Fig. 7) may be connected and it is adapted to receive the disintegrable plug element 8, the shearable sleeve 1 and seals, as will be explained below with reference to Fig. 8.

In Fig. 8, the shearable sleeve from Fig. 6 and insert cylinder 42 from Fig. 7are shown as included in a second embodiment of a plug device 10 and plug assembly 100 according to the invention. In particular, the shown embodiment differs from mainly from the one shown in Figs. 2-4 in that the plug device 10 includes the insert member 42 functioning as a separate housing for the disintegrable plug element 8. The insert cylinder 42 has an inner diameter substantially identical to that of the shearable sleeve 1 and the pipe string 30 (except from the expanded diameter portion). A seal 50 is provided in an inner circular recess 51 of the insert cylinder 42 and seals between the disintegrable plug element 8 and insert cylinder 42. The shearable sleeve 1 is fitted into the insert cylinder 42 from below after insertion of the seal 50 and the disintegrable plug element 8 so that the radial protrusions are flush with the outer diameter of the insert cylinder 42. The shearable sleeve 1 connects to the inside of the insert cylinder 42 by means of frictional contact. The insert cylinder 42 is formed with a circular recess 46 in its outer, upper portion for receiving an upper seal 48 for sealing between the insert cylinder 42 and the pipe string 30. In use the radial protrusions 22 are supported in the pipe string 30 via abutment member 34, here in the form of an abutment cylinder. The plug device 10 according to the shown embodiment, including insert cylinder 42, disintegrable plug device 8, shearable sleeve 1 and seal 50 may be sold/shipped pre-assembled, significantly simplifying installation in the pipe string 30 by an end user.

When increasing the hydraulic pressure from topside, the downwardly acting force on the disintegrable plug element 8, and thereby also the radial protrusions 22, increases. The radial protrusions 22 are in this embodiment supported by the abutment cylinder 34. When the force exceeds the pre-defined limit (corresponding to a pressure of 5000 psi in this embodiment), the radial protrusions shear off from the rest of the sleeve 1, and the disintegrable plug element 8 and the sheared sleeve 1 is moved axially downwardly in the pipe string 30 inside the insert cylinder 42 and abutment cylinder 34. The disintegrable plug element 8 eventually comes into contact with the loading device 40 and disintegrates, as shown in Fig. 11. Both the radial protrusions 22 and the loading devices 40 remain fixed in the plug assembly also after activation/opening.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.