Method and apparatus for perforating and slotting well flow conductors

Claim 1

A method of cutting openings in a non-metallic flow conductor secured in a wellbore in a solution mining operation comprising the steps of: supporting a jet nozzle head on one end of a continuous string of steel tubing; running said steel tubing and said jet nozzle head into said non-metallic flow conductor until said nozzle head is at the depth at which the openings are desired in said non-metallic flow conductor; providing said jet nozzle head with a plurality of discharge jet nozzles arranged in a plurality of vertically spaced arrays, each array having a plurality of said jet nozzles arranged in a common horizontal plane, each said jet nozzle having a diameter in the range of 0.03125 inches to 0.093 inches and arranged in a predetermined configuration such that each said jet nozzle is positioned 90° from the adjacent said jet nozzles in the same horizontal nozzle array while being positioned 45° from the adjacent said jet nozzles in other vertically spaced nozzle arrays, said jet nozzle head including centralizer means on the exterior thereof to center said jet nozzle head in said non-metallic flow conductor in said wellbore; positioning said jet nozzle of said jet nozzle head within one to 20 nozzle jet diameters of said non-metallic flow conductor; pumping a fluid through said steel tubing and out said jet nozzle head until openings are cut in said non-metallic flow conductor by said fluid; sealing around said tubing at a quickly releasable wellhead including rubber gasket means on said non-metallic flow conductor and retaining said fluid in the annulus within said non-metallic flow conductor around said steel tubing above said jet nozzle head and out through a side outlet in said wellhead below the point of sealing around said steel tubing; and removing said steel tubing and said jet nozzle head from said well.

Claim 2

A method of cutting openings in a non-metallic flow conductor secured in a wellbore in a solution mining operation comprising the steps of: supporting a jet nozzle head on one end of a continuous string of steel tubing; running said steel tubing and said jet nozzle head into said non-metallic flow conductor until said nozzle head is at the depth at which the openings are desired in said non-metallic flow conductor; providing said jet nozzle head with a plurality of discharge jet nozzles arranged in a plurality of vertically spaced arrays, each array having a plurality of said jet nozzles arranged in a common horizontal plane, each said jet nozzle having a diameter in the range of 0.03125 inches to 0.093 inches and arranged in a predetermined configuration such that each said jet nozzle is positioned 90° from the adjacent said jet nozzles in the same horizontal nozzle array while being positioned 45° from the adjacent said jet nozzles in other vertically spaced nozzle arrays, said jet nozzle head including centralizer means on the exterior thereof to center said jet nozzle head in said non-metallic flow conductor in said wellbore; positioning said jet nozzle of said jet nozzle head within one to 20 nozzle jet diameters of said non-metallic flow conductor; pumping a fluid through said steel tubing and out said jet nozzle head until openings are cut in said non-metallic flow conductor by said fluid; sealing around said tubing at a quickly releasable wellhead including rubber gasket means on said non-metallic flow conductor and retaining said fluid in the annulus within said non-metallic flow conductor around said steel tubing above said jet nozzle head and out through a side outlet in said wellhead below the point of sealing around said steel tubing; and removing said steel tubing and said jet nozzle head from said well.

Claim 9

A system for cutting holes in a non-metallic flow conductor in a wellbore in a solution mining operation comprising: a jet nozzle head having a plurality of jet nozzles arranged in a plurality of vertically spaced arrays, each array having a plurality of said jet nozzle arranged in a common horizontal plane, each jet nozzle having a diameter in the range of 0.03125 inches to 0.093 inches and arranged in a predetermined configuration such that each said jet nozzle is positioned 90° from the adjacent said jet nozzles in the same horizontal nozzle array while being positioned 45° from the adjacent said jet nozzles in other vertically spaced nozzle arrays, to direct jets of fluid at said non-metallic flow conductor in said wellbore for cutting said holes in said non-metallic flow conductor, said jet nozzle head including centralizer means on the exterior thereof to center said jet nozzle head in said non-metallic flow conductor; a string of continuous steel tubing connected at a first end with said jet nozzle head; a storage reel having a fluid conducting hub connected with the opposite second end of said string of continuous steel tubing for storing said string of continuous steel tubing and conducting fluid into said second end of said string of continuous steel tubing s said string of continuous steel tubing is moved in said wellbore and said reel is rotated to pay out and take up said string of continuous steel tubing on said reel; fluid pump means connected with said hub for pumping a fluid to said hub of said reel; a continuous tubing injector supported above said well including a tubing guide assembly for guiding said continuous steel tubing between said injector and said storage reel; and a quickly releasable wellhead connectable on said non-metallic conductor including rubber gasket means for sealing around said string of continuous steel tubing is run into and pulled from said non-metallic flow conductor.

Claim 10

A system for cutting holes in a non-metallic flow conductor in a wellbore in a solution mining operation comprising: a jet nozzle head having a plurality of jet nozzles arranged in a plurality of vertically spaced arrays, each array having a plurality of said jet nozzle arranged in a common horizontal plane, each jet nozzle having a diameter in the range of 0.03125 inches to 0.093 inches and arranged in a predetermined configuration such that each said jet nozzle is positioned 90° from the adjacent said jet nozzles in the same horizontal nozzle array while being positioned 45° from the adjacent said jet nozzles in other vertically spaced nozzle arrays, to direct jets of fluid at said non-metallic flow conductor in said wellbore for cutting said holes in said non-metallic flow conductor, said jet nozzle head including centralizer means on the exterior thereof to center said jet nozzle head in said non-metallic flow conductor; a string of continuous steel tubing connected at a first end with said jet nozzle head; a storage reel having a fluid conducting hub connected with the opposite second end of said string of continuous steel tubing for storing said string of continuous steel tubing and conducting fluid into said second end of said string of continuous steel tubing s said string of continuous steel tubing is moved in said wellbore and said reel is rotated to pay out and take up said string of continuous steel tubing on said reel; fluid pump means connected with said hub for pumping a fluid to said hub of said reel; a continuous tubing injector supported above said well including a tubing guide assembly for guiding said continuous steel tubing between said injector and said storage reel; and a quickly releasable wellhead connectable on said non-metallic conductor including rubber gasket means for sealing around said string of continuous steel tubing is run into and pulled from said non-metallic flow conductor.