Apparatus and methods for forming and using subterranean salt cavern
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
E21B-043/12
E21B-043/28
E21B-021/12
E21B-043/00
E21B-043/29
E21F-017/16
B65G-005/00
출원번호
US-0270100
(2014-05-05)
등록번호
US-9366126
(2016-06-14)
발명자
/ 주소
Tunget, Bruce
출원인 / 주소
Tunget, Bruce
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
13
초록▼
Apparatus for solution mining and gas storage in a salt cavern formed by solution mining comprises a flow diverting conduit string that is provided in fluid communication with two or more concentric conduits within the single main bore, with at least one lateral opening from an internal passageway w
Apparatus for solution mining and gas storage in a salt cavern formed by solution mining comprises a flow diverting conduit string that is provided in fluid communication with two or more concentric conduits within the single main bore, with at least one lateral opening from an internal passageway with an outer annular passageway communicating with the surface under a single valve tree. Flow control devices, flow diverters and/or isolation conduits can be inserted into the flow diverting conduit string, enabling a dissolution zone in the salt cavern to be varied to control the shape of the cavern. Furthermore the flow diverting conduit string used to form the cavern can also be used for dewatering and gas storage.
대표청구항▼
1. A method of forming and using a subterranean salt cavern by solution mining and storing fluids at substantial flow rates using a single installation of a flow diverting conduit string, the method comprising the steps of: i) forming a first borehole in a salt deposit;ii) positioning said single in
1. A method of forming and using a subterranean salt cavern by solution mining and storing fluids at substantial flow rates using a single installation of a flow diverting conduit string, the method comprising the steps of: i) forming a first borehole in a salt deposit;ii) positioning said single installation of said flow diverting conduit string within said first borehole, said flow diverting conduit string having at least one downhole opening in a dissolution zone of said first borehole and comprising an inner conduit string disposed within an outer conduit string, with an inner passageway in said inner conduit string being disposed within at least a first annular passageway between said inner conduit string and said outer conduit string;iii) injecting water down said flow diverting conduit string out of said at least one downhole opening to dissolve salt in said dissolution zone to form brine and enlarge said dissolution zone to form a salt cavern;iv) extracting said brine from said first borehole using said flow diverting conduit string;v) using said flow diverting conduit string within said first borehole or said salt cavern to flow fluids at a substantial fluid flow rate through a flow area of said inner passageway and said at least a first annular passageway; andvi) selectively controlling flow through at least one lateral opening in said flow diverting conduit string, said at least one lateral opening communicating with one of said passageways (24, 25), whereby said water or said fluids flow through said lateral opening to said dissolution zone or said salt cavern, or said brine or said fluids flow through said at least one lateral opening from said dissolution zone or said salt cavern. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one lateral opening is formed in said outer conduit string and a flow of water or hydrocarbons is directed from said at least one lateral opening to said dissolution zone or said salt cavern. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a flow control apparatus comprising a flow diverter or a plug is disposed within said inner passageway of said flow diverting conduit string for: i) diverting said water or said fluids flowing downwardly through said inner passageway to said at least one lateral opening and to said dissolution zone or said salt cavern, and allowing said brine or said fluids from said dissolution zone to flow upwardly through said first annular passageway past said flow diverter; and/orii) diverting said brine or said fluids entering said at least one lateral opening from said dissolution zone upwardly through said inner passageway, allowing said water or said fluids flowing downwardly through said first annular passageway to flow past said flow diverter to said downhole opening. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein an exit conduit extension projects into said first borehole or said salt cavern through a bore of said flow diverter and one or more tools are deployed in said first borehole or said salt cavern using a cable which extends through said exit conduit extension. 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one further opening is formed in the wall of said inner conduit string below said flow diverter or said plug and a flow of said water or said brine crosses over between said inner passageway and said first annular passageway. 6. The method according to claim 3, wherein upper and lower flow diverters and/or plugs are disposed within said inner passageway, each flow diverter having a bore communicating with said inner passageway or each plug blocking said inner passageway, and diverting flow to or from a respective lateral opening, at least one further opening being formed in the wall of said inner conduit string between said upper and lower flow diverters and/or said plugs, whereby flow to or from the lower flow diverter or diverted by a lower plug crosses over between the inner passageway and the first annular passageway. 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising isolating opposing fluid flows within or about said flow diverting conduit string for controlling fluid flows during said solution mining, subterranean hydrocarbon separation and dewatering operations with a subsurface valve arrangement formed with a flow control apparatus. 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising removing or replacing said flow control apparatus from within said inner passageway to bring said subsurface valve arrangement of said flow diverting conduit string into communication with said fluid flows of said solution mining, subterranean hydrocarbon separation and dewatering operations. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of lateral openings are provided at different subterranean depths within said first borehole or said salt cavern in said inner conduit string, said plurality of lateral openings being selectively opened and closed to vary the depth of fluid flow to or from said flow diverting conduit string within said first borehole or said salt cavern. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one isolation conduit is used to close said at least one lateral opening, wherein said at least one isolation conduit is placeable from said inner passageway of said flow diverting conduit string and is movable in an axial direction to open or close said at least one lateral opening. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a second annular passageway is formed around said outer conduit string below an annular isolation device, and fluid is injected into said second annular passageway to vary a water level in said first borehole or said subterranean salt cavern and thereby vary the height of said dissolution zone. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one lateral borehole branching off from a flow diverting conduit string associated with said first borehole is drilled into salt formation, wherein at least one further flow diverting conduit string, communicating with at least one lower end of a junction of wells, is inserted into said at least one lateral borehole, and wherein one or more salt caverns are formed by solution mining through said at least one further flow diverting conduit string. 13. A method of forming, using, or storing fluid in, or extracting fluid from, a bore through salt or a subterranean salt cavern with a single placement of a flow diverting conduit string having at least one downhole opening in said bore through said salt or said subterranean salt cavern, wherein said flow diverting conduit string comprises an inner conduit string disposed within an outer conduit string, with an inner passageway in said inner conduit string disposed within at least a first annular passageway between said inner conduit string and said outer conduit string, and with at least one lateral opening in said outer conduit string, wherein said at least one downhole opening communicates with at least one of said passageways at a substantial flow rate that is associated with an area of said inner passageway and said at least a first annular passageway, wherein the method comprises the steps of: i) controlling said substantial flow rate of injected fluid down one of said passageways out of said at least one downhole opening at one subterranean depth to force fluid out of said subterranean salt cavern at a different subterranean depth into said at least one lateral opening and upward through said flow diverting conduit string; and/orii) controlling said substantial flow rate of injected fluid downward and through said at least one lateral opening in said outer conduit string at one subterranean depth to force fluid out of said subterranean salt cavern at a different subterranean depth into said at least one downhole opening. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein a flow diverter or a plug is disposed in said inner passageway for: i) diverting injected fluid flowing downwardly through said inner passageway to said lateral opening and to said subterranean salt cavern, forcing fluid from said subterranean salt cavern to flow upwardly through said first annular passageway past said flow diverter or said plug; and/orii) diverting fluid, entering said lateral opening from said subterranean salt cavern, upwardly through said inner passageway, in response to injected fluid flowing downwardly through said first annular passageway past said flow diverter or said plug. 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said flow diverting conduit string is formed from sections, wherein each section comprises: i) an inner conduit string section having threaded ends for screwing to complementary threaded ends of adjacent inner conduit string sections; andii) an outer conduit string section having ends which abut ends of an adjacent outer conduit string when said inner conduit string section is screwed to said complementary threaded ends of said adjacent inner conduit string, wherein said threaded ends of said inner conduit string and said complementary threaded ends of said adjacent inner conduit string are screwed together and said abutting ends of said outer conduit string and said adjacent outer conduit string are welded together. 16. The method according to claim 13, wherein said flow diverting conduit string is formed from sections, wherein each section comprises: i) an outer conduit string section having snapped ends or threaded ends for snapping or screwing to complementary snap ends or threaded ends of adjacent outer conduit string sections, andii) an inner conduit string section having mandrel ends which are resiliently sealed to receptacle ends of an adjacent inner conduit string when said snapped ends or threaded ends of said outer conduit string section are snapped or screwed to complementary snap ends or threaded ends of said adjacent outer conduit string. 17. The method according to claim 13, wherein fluid hydrocarbon is injected or retrieved from at least one of said inner passageway and said first annular passageway, and wherein said fluid hydrocarbon is separated for retrieval, stored, or separated and stored within said subterranean salt cavern between said injection and retrieval. 18. A method for forming and using a subterranean cavern, the method comprising the steps of: i) providing a single installation of a flow diverting string comprising a plurality of lateral openings into a subterranean salt deposit to provide a flow rate through a passageway of said flow diverting string;ii) providing a liquid at a substantial flow rate through at least a first lateral opening of the plurality of lateral openings in the flow diverting string to a subterranean salt deposit to dissolve a first portion of salt into the liquid and form a first portion of a subterranean cavern within the subterranean salt deposit;iii) providing a liquid at a substantial flow rate through at least a second lateral opening of the plurality of lateral openings in the flow diverting string to the subterranean salt deposit to dissolve a second portion of the salt into the liquid and form a second portion of a subterranean cavern within the subterranean salt deposit;iv) removing the liquid and the first portion of the salt and/or the second portion of the salt from the subterranean cavern at said substantial flow rate using the flow diverting string; andv) providing a fluid hydrocarbon or compressed air into the subterranean cavern for storage at said substantial flow rate using the flow diverting string. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the step of selectively providing the liquid through said at least a first lateral opening and the step of selectively providing the liquid through said at least a second lateral openings comprises preventing flow of the liquid through at least one other of the plurality of lateral openings using at least one isolation apparatus. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of preventing flow of the liquid through said at least one other of the lateral openings using said at least one isolation apparatus comprises actuating said at least one isolation apparatus using a braided wire line and/or a slick wire line. 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing a cushion fluid into the subterranean cavern to prevent contact between the liquid and a selected portion of the salt. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the flow diverting string comprises a first conduit and a second conduit, and wherein the step of removing the liquid containing dissolved salt from the subterranean cavern comprises providing a fluid into the subterranean cavern through the first conduit to displace the liquid and the portion of the salt into the second conduit. 23. The method of claim 18, wherein the flow diverting string comprises a first conduit and a second conduit, wherein the step of providing the hydrocarbon fluid into the subterranean cavern for storage, separation and storage, retrieval, or separation and retrieval comprises providing the fluid hydrocarbon through the first conduit, thereby displacing the liquid containing dissolved salt into the second conduit, and wherein the step of removing the hydrocarbons or liquid containing dissolved salt from the subterranean cavern comprises receiving the fluid hydrocarbon above a liquid interface or the liquid containing dissolved salt below said liquid interface through the second conduit. 24. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of providing the fluid hydrocarbon into the subterranean cavern for storage comprises installing at least one safety or isolation apparatus above or into the flow diverting string. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the flow diverting string comprises an inner conduit and an outer conduit, and wherein the step of installing said at least one safety or isolation apparatus above or into said flow diverting string comprises: i) providing a conduit bridging a discontinuous section of said inner conduit;ii) installing said at least one safety or isolation apparatus therein;iii) replacing said conduit bridging the discontinuous section of said inner conduit;iv) removing fluid from said subterranean cavern through said inner conduit; andv) removing said conduit bridging a discontinuous section of said inner conduit allowing said at least one safety or isolation apparatus to control said inner conduit and said outer conduit by closing across inside diameters of said inner conduit and said outer conduit. 26. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: i) providing at least one additional flow diverting string into at least one additional subterranean cavern; andii) providing a chamber junction in communication with the flow diverting string, said at least one additional flow diverting string, and the surface via at least one main conduit. 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of selectively accessing the flow diverting string and/or said at least one additional flow diverting string by inserting a bore selector into the chamber junction, wherein the bore selector prevents access to at least one of: the flow diverting string and said at least one additional flow diverting string. 28. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of anchoring the flow diverting string to a bottom of the subterranean cavern. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of anchoring the flow diverting string comprises permitting insoluble materials to fall to the bottom of the subterranean cavern.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (13)
McCoy,Allan R.; Melear,Darrell, Annular safety and flow control system for underground gas storage.
Pool ; II F. W. (370 Clayton St. Denver CO 80206) Hawley MacDonald (2659 Bridger Ct. Evergreen CO 80439) Abramov Gregory J. (ulitsa Udaltsova ; 14 ; kv .96 Moscow RUX), Hydraulic device for forming a cavity in a borehole.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.