US3561531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for landing well pipe in permafrost formations
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
•
Filing: 1969-08-21
•
Granted: 1971-02-09
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Expires: 1989-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A method for landing and suspending well pipe strings in wells penetrating subsurface formations including formations adjacent the earth''s surface particularly susceptible to subsidence, such as permafrost formations or zones, that prevents damage from subsidence. At least one (outer) well pipe is run and set in the permafrost formation and cemented to the permafrost formation. At least one other (inner) well pipe is run and set through the permafrost formation in lower level subsurface formations and cemented only to the lower level subsurface formations below the bottom of the permafrost formation. The entire weight of the inner well pipe is supported on the outer well pipe. In the event of subsequent subsidence of the permafrost formation, the outer well pipe may subside without affecting the inner well pipe. A third inner well pipe is suspendible on and within the inner well pipe without causing buckling of the inner well pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 Terrell V Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:31
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/04; E21B33/10; E21B33/13; E21B33/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S166/00; Y10S166/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A method for landing and suspending well pipes in a well penetrating subsurface formations including a permafrost formation that prevents damage from ground suBsidence and removal of formation lateral support comprising: forming said well in said permafrost formation; setting a first well pipe and a second well pipe of lesser diameter than said first well pipe in said permafrost formation; cementing said first and second well pipes together and to said permafrost formation; attaching a first casing head to said second well pipe; extending said well to below said permafrost formation; running a third well pipe into said well through said first casing head; cementing said third well pipe to a subsurface formation only at the bottom of said third well pipe and only below said permafrost formation; supporting the entire weight of said third well pipe on said second well pipe in a manner such that said second well pipe is movable downwardly relative to said third well pipe; attaching a second casing head to said third well pipe; running a fourth well pipe through said second casing head; cementing said fourth well pipe only on the bottom of said fourth well pipe in said well; and setting said fourth well pipe with the entire weight of said fourth well pipe supported on said second casing head.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
218 words
A method for landing and suspending well pipes in a well penetrating subsurface formations including a permafrost formation that prevents damage from ground suBsidence and removal of formation lateral support comprising: forming said well in said permafrost formation; setting a first well pipe and a second well pipe of lesser diameter than said first well pipe in said permafrost formation; cementing said first and second well pipes together and to said permafrost formation; attaching a first casing head to said second well pipe; extending said well to below said permafrost formation; running a third well pipe into said well through said first casing head; cementing said third well pipe to a subsurface formation only at the bottom of said third well pipe and only below said permafrost formation; supporting the entire weight of said third well pipe on said second well pipe in a manner such that said second well pipe is movable downwardly relative to said third well pipe; attaching a second casing head to said third well pipe; running a fourth well pipe through said second casing head; cementing said fourth well pipe only on the bottom of said fourth well pipe in said well; and setting said fourth well pipe with the entire weight of said fourth well pipe supported on said second casing head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 1 in which said third well pipe is supported on said second well pipe by means of first slips and said fourth well pipe is supported on said second casing head by means of second slips.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 2 including setting said fourth well pipe with the entire weight of said fourth well pipe plus additional tension supported on said second slips.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as recited in claim 3 in which said additional tension is sufficient to always maintain tension is said fourth well pipe after said third well pipe and second casing head reach a stable position upon subsidence of said first casing head and complete transfer of the weight of said fourth well pipe and third well pipe from said first slips to the cement cementing said third well pipe in said well.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 4 including arranging centralizers on the outer surface of said fourth well pipe to aid in preventing buckling of said third well pipe.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for landing and suspending well pipe in a well drilled through a permafrost formation into lower level subsurface formations comprising: running and setting at least one outer well pipe in said permafrost formation; cementing said outer well pipe to said permafrost formation; running and setting at least one other inner well pipe through said permafrost formation and in said lower level subsurface formations; cementing said inner well pipe only to said lower level subsurface formations below the bottom of said permafrost formation; and supporting the entire weight of said inner well pipe on said outer well pipe in a manner such that said outer well pipe is permitted to move downwardly relative to said inner well pipe.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for landing and suspending well pipe in a well drilled through a permafrost formation into lower level subsurface formations comprising: running and setting at least one outer well pipe in said permafrost formation; cementing said outer well pipe to said permafrost formation; running and setting at least one other inner well pipe through said permafrost formation and in said lower level subsurface formations; cementing said inner well pipe only to said lower level subsurface formations below the bottom of said permafrost formation; and supporting the entire weight of said inner well pipe on said outer well pipe in a manner such that said outer well pipe is permitted to move downwardly relative to said inner well pipe.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
247 words
A method for landing and suspending well pipe in a well drilled through a permafrost formation into lower level subsurface formations comprising: running and setting an outer well pipe in said permafrost formation; cementing said outer well pipe to a said permafrost formation; running and setting an inner well pipe through said permafrost formation and in said lower level subsurface formation; cementing said inner well pipe only to said lower level subsurface formations below the bottom of said permafrost formation; supporting the entire weight of said inner well pipe on said outer well pipe in a manner such that said outer well pipe is permitted to move downwardly relative to said inner well pipe; running and setting another inner well pipe through said permafrost formation and in said lower level subsurface formation; and cementing said other inner well pipe only on the bottom of said other inner well pipe in said well, said other inner well pipe in said well, said other inner well pipe being set with the entire weight of said other inner well pipe plus additional tension supported on said outer well pipe and said additional tension being sufficient to always maintain tension in said other inner well pipe after said inner well pipe has reached a stable position upon subsidence of said outer well pipe and complete transfer of the weight of said other inner well pipe and said inner well pipe to the cement cementing said inner well pipe in said well.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
247 words
A method for landing and suspending well pipe in a well drilled through a permafrost formation into lower level subsurface formations comprising: running and setting an outer well pipe in said permafrost formation; cementing said outer well pipe to a said permafrost formation; running and setting an inner well pipe through said permafrost formation and in said lower level subsurface formation; cementing said inner well pipe only to said lower level subsurface formations below the bottom of said permafrost formation; supporting the entire weight of said inner well pipe on said outer well pipe in a manner such that said outer well pipe is permitted to move downwardly relative to said inner well pipe; running and setting another inner well pipe through said permafrost formation and in said lower level subsurface formation; and cementing said other inner well pipe only on the bottom of said other inner well pipe in said well, said other inner well pipe in said well, said other inner well pipe being set with the entire weight of said other inner well pipe plus additional tension supported on said outer well pipe and said additional tension being sufficient to always maintain tension in said other inner well pipe after said inner well pipe has reached a stable position upon subsidence of said outer well pipe and complete transfer of the weight of said other inner well pipe and said inner well pipe to the cement cementing said inner well pipe in said well.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 7 in which said inner well pipe is supported on said outer well pipe by means of first slips and said other inner well pipe is supported by means of second slips.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 8 including arranging centralizer means of the outer surface of said other inner well pipe to aid in preventing buckling of said inner well pipe.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
170 words
A system of landed and suspended well pipes in wells drilled through a permafrost formation into subsurface formations to prevent damage from ground subsidence and resultant removal of formation lateral support comprising: a first well pipe set in said permafrost formation; a second well pipe smaller in diameter than said first well pipe set in said permafrost formation and cemented to said first well pipe and to said permafrost formation; a first casing head attached to said second well pipe; a third well pipe attached to said first casing head and extending to below said permafrost formation and cemented to subsurface formations only below the bottom of said permafrost formation, said third well pipe being supported from said in a manner such that said second well pipe is moveable downwardly relative to said third well pipe; a second casing head attached to said third well pipe; and a fourth well pipe suspended from said second casing head and cemented to subsurface formations only below the bottom of said permafrost formation.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
170 words
A system of landed and suspended well pipes in wells drilled through a permafrost formation into subsurface formations to prevent damage from ground subsidence and resultant removal of formation lateral support comprising: a first well pipe set in said permafrost formation; a second well pipe smaller in diameter than said first well pipe set in said permafrost formation and cemented to said first well pipe and to said permafrost formation; a first casing head attached to said second well pipe; a third well pipe attached to said first casing head and extending to below said permafrost formation and cemented to subsurface formations only below the bottom of said permafrost formation, said third well pipe being supported from said in a manner such that said second well pipe is moveable downwardly relative to said third well pipe; a second casing head attached to said third well pipe; and a fourth well pipe suspended from said second casing head and cemented to subsurface formations only below the bottom of said permafrost formation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as recited in claim 10 including slips for supporting the entire weight of said third well pipe on said second well pipe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as recited in claim 11 including additional slips for suspending said fourth well pipe from said second casing head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 12 including centralizer means arranged on said fourth well pipe for aiding in preventing buckling of said third well pipe.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
111 words
An arrangement of well pipes landed and suspended in wells drilled through a permafrost formation into subsurface formations comprising: at least one well pipe set and cemented in said permafrost formation; at least one other well pipe smaller in diameter than said first well pipe set through said permafrost formation and in said lower level subsurface formations below said permafrost formation, said other well pipe being cemented only to said lower level subsurface formation below the bottom of said permafrost formation; means for supporting said other well pipe on said one well pipe in a manner such that said one well pipe is movable downwardly relative to said other well pipe.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
111 words
An arrangement of well pipes landed and suspended in wells drilled through a permafrost formation into subsurface formations comprising: at least one well pipe set and cemented in said permafrost formation; at least one other well pipe smaller in diameter than said first well pipe set through said permafrost formation and in said lower level subsurface formations below said permafrost formation, said other well pipe being cemented only to said lower level subsurface formation below the bottom of said permafrost formation; means for supporting said other well pipe on said one well pipe in a manner such that said one well pipe is movable downwardly relative to said other well pipe.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
157 words
An arrangement of well pipes landed and suspended in wells drilled through a permafrost formation into subsurface formations comprising: one outer well pipe set and cemented into said permafrost formation; one inner well pipe set through said permafrost formation and into said lower level subsurface formations, said inner well pipe being cemented only to said lower level formations below the bottom of said permafrost formation; means for supporting the entire weight of said inner well pipe on said outer well pipe in a manner such that said outer well pipe is moveable downwardly relative to said inner well pipe; another inner well pipe set through said permafrost formation and into said lower level subsurface formations, said other inner well pipe being cemented only to said lower level subsurface formations below the bottom of said permafrost formation; and means for supporting the entire weight of said other inner well pipe plus additional tension on said inner well pipe.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
157 words
An arrangement of well pipes landed and suspended in wells drilled through a permafrost formation into subsurface formations comprising: one outer well pipe set and cemented into said permafrost formation; one inner well pipe set through said permafrost formation and into said lower level subsurface formations, said inner well pipe being cemented only to said lower level formations below the bottom of said permafrost formation; means for supporting the entire weight of said inner well pipe on said outer well pipe in a manner such that said outer well pipe is moveable downwardly relative to said inner well pipe; another inner well pipe set through said permafrost formation and into said lower level subsurface formations, said other inner well pipe being cemented only to said lower level subsurface formations below the bottom of said permafrost formation; and means for supporting the entire weight of said other inner well pipe plus additional tension on said inner well pipe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 15 including slips supporting said inner well pipe on said outer well pipe.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 16 including additional slips supporting said other inner well pipe on said inner well pipe.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 17 in which said additional tension is sufficient to always maintain tension in said other inner well pipe after said inner well pipe reaches a stable position upon subsidence of said outer well pipe and complete transfer of weight of said other inner well pipe and inner well pipe from said slips to the cement cementing said inner well pipe into said well.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 18 including centralizer means arranged on said other inner well pipe to aid in preventing buckling of said inner well pipe.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 19 in which said slips and said additional slips are directed in an upward direction only.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-08 | 1974-08-10 | 1975-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-08 | 1978-08-10 | 1979-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-08-10 | 1983-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |