Methods and apparatus for enhancing fluid production from a well

Abstract

A method of enhancing fluid production from a well is provided. A downhole plunger having the maximum permissible outer diameter for the well is installed in the well. Methods and apparatus for determining the maximum permissible outer diameter for a downhole plunger for use in the well are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of enhancing fluid production from a well, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) evaluating whether a downhole plunger having a first outer diameter can travel freely within a tubing of the well by
 (i) dropping a drive plunger and a measuring sleeve within the tubing of the well, the measuring sleeve having the first diameter and the drive plunger having a diameter less than the first diameter and being positioned below the measuring sleeve in the tubing; 
 (ii) if the measuring sleeve becomes lodged in the tubing, concluding that a downhole plunger having the first outer diameter cannot travel freely within the tubing of the well and using the drive plunger to dislodge and surface the measuring sleeve; or 
 (iii) if the measuring sleeve does not become lodged in the tubing, concluding that a downhole plunger having the first outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well; 
   (b) if the downhole plunger having the first outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well, evaluating whether a downhole plunger having a second outer diameter that is larger than the first outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well by repeating steps (i), (ii) and (iii) using a measuring sleeve having the second outer diameter; and   (c) if the downhole plunger having the second outer diameter cannot travel freely within the tubing of the well, installing a downhole plunger having the first outer diameter in the well and performing artificial lift using the downhole plunger having the first outer diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 (d) if the downhole plunger having the second outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well, evaluating whether a plunger having a third outer diameter that is larger than the second outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well by repeating steps (i), (ii) and (iii) using a measuring sleeve having the third outer diameter; and   (e) if the downhole plunger having the third outer diameter cannot travel freely within the tubing of the well, installing a downhole plunger having the second outer diameter in the well and performing artificial lift using the downhole plunger having the second outer diameter.   
     
     
         3 . The method as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 (f) if the downhole plunger having the third outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well, evaluating whether a plunger having a fourth outer diameter that is larger than the third outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well by repeating steps (i), (ii) and (iii) using a measuring sleeve having the fourth outer diameter; and   (g) repeating step (f) as required for downhole plungers having successively larger outer diameters until the largest plunger diameter that can travel freely in the well has been determined, and installing a downhole plunger having the largest plunger diameter that can travel freely in the well in the well and performing artificial lift using the downhole plunger having the largest plunger diameter that can travel freely in the well.   
     
     
         4 . A method of enhancing fluid production from a well, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) evaluating whether a downhole plunger having a first outer diameter can travel freely within a tubing of the well by
 (i) dropping a drive plunger and a measuring sleeve within the tubing of the well, the measuring sleeve having the first diameter and the drive plunger having a diameter less than the first diameter and being positioned below the measuring sleeve in the tubing; 
 (ii) if the measuring sleeve becomes lodged in the tubing, concluding that a downhole plunger having the first outer diameter cannot travel freely within the tubing of the well and using the drive plunger to dislodge and surface the measuring sleeve; or 
 (iii) if the measuring sleeve does not become lodged in the tubing, concluding that a downhole plunger having the first outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well; 
   (b) if the downhole plunger having the first outer diameter cannot travel freely within the tubing of the well, evaluating whether a downhole plunger having a second outer diameter that is smaller than the first outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well by repeating steps (i), (ii) and (iii) using a measuring sleeve having the second outer diameter; and   (c) if the downhole plunger having the second outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well, installing a downhole plunger having the second outer diameter in the well and performing artificial lift using the downhole plunger having the second outer diameter.   
     
     
         5 . A method as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
 (d) if the downhole plunger having the second outer diameter cannot travel freely within the tubing of the well, evaluating whether a downhole plunger having a third outer diameter that is smaller than the second outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well by repeating steps (i), (ii) and (iii) using a measuring sleeve having the third outer diameter; and   (e) if the downhole plunger having the third outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well, installing a plunger having the third outer diameter in the well and performing artificial lift using the downhole plunger having the third outer diameter.   
     
     
         6 . A method as defined in  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:
 (f) if the downhole plunger having the third outer diameter cannot travel freely within the tubing of the well, evaluating whether a plunger having a fourth outer diameter that is smaller than the third outer diameter can travel freely within the tubing of the well by repeating steps (i), (ii) and (iii) using a measuring sleeve having the fourth outer diameter; and   (g) repeating step (f) as required for downhole plungers having successively smaller outer diameters until the largest plunger diameter that can travel freely in the well has been determined, and installing a downhole plunger having the largest plunger diameter that can travel freely in the well in the well and performing artificial lift using the downhole plunger having the largest plunger diameter that can travel freely in the well.   
     
     
         7 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the drive plunger or the measuring sleeve within the tubing is monitored using an echometer. 
     
     
         8 . A method of determining the maximum permissible diameter for a downhole plunger that can be used in a well, the method comprising the steps of:
 evaluating a plurality of different plunger outer diameters to determine whether plungers having at least two of the plurality of different plunger outer diameters can travel freely in a tubing of the well by repeating, for the plurality of different plunger outer diameters, the steps of
 (i) selecting a first one of the plurality of different plunger outer diameters for analysis; 
 (ii) dropping a drive plunger and a first measuring sleeve within the tubing of the well, the first measuring sleeve having the first one of the plurality of different plunger outer diameters, and the drive plunger having a diameter that is smaller than the first one of the plurality of different plunger outer diameters and being positioned below the first measuring sleeve in the tubing; 
 (iii) if the first measuring sleeve becomes lodged in the tubing, concluding that a downhole plunger having the first one of the plurality of different plunger outer diameters cannot travel freely within the tubing of the well and using the drive plunger to dislodge and surface the first measuring sleeve; or 
 (iv) if the first measuring sleeve does not become lodged in the tubing, concluding that a downhole plunger having the first one of the plurality of different plunger outer diameters can travel freely within the tubing of the well; and 
   concluding that the maximum permissible diameter for a downhole plunger that can be used in the well is equal to the largest one of the plurality of different plunger outer diameters that will still allow a plunger to travel freely in the well.   
     
     
         9 . The method as defined in  claim 8 , comprising repeating the steps of dropping a drive plunger and a measuring sleeve having one of the plurality of different plunger outer diameters within the tubing of the well for as many of the plurality of different plunger outer diameters as is required to determine the maximum permissible diameter for a downhole plunger that can be used in the well. 
     
     
         10 . The method as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the movement of the drive plunger or the measuring sleeve within the tubing is monitored using an echometer. 
     
     
         11 . A method of determining whether a downhole plunger having a first outer diameter can travel freely within a well, the method comprising the steps of:
 dropping a drive plunger in a tubing of the well below a measuring sleeve, the measuring sleeve having an outer diameter equal to the first outer diameter and the drive plunger having an outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter;   allowing the drive plunger and the measuring sleeve to fall in the tubing; and   if the measuring sleeve becomes lodged in the tubing, concluding that a downhole plunger having the first outer diameter cannot travel freely within the well and using the drive plunger to dislodge and surface the measuring sleeve; or   if the measuring sleeve does not become lodged in the tubing, concluding that a downhole plunger having the first outer diameter can travel freely within the well.   
     
     
         12 . The method as defined in  claim 11 , comprising surfacing both the measuring sleeve and the plunger if the measuring sleeve does not become lodged in the tubing. 
     
     
         13 . The method as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising monitoring movement of the drive plunger or the measuring sleeve using an echometer. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for determining the maximum permissible outer diameter of downhole plunger that can be used in a well, the apparatus comprising:
 a measuring sleeve comprising a generally cylindrical outer shell defining an outer diameter and a hollow interior defining a fluid path through the measuring sleeve; and   a drive plunger having an outer diameter smaller than the measuring sleeve for surfacing the measuring sleeve if the measuring sleeve becomes lodged in the tubing.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the drive plunger comprises a venturi plunger or a pad plunger. 
     
     
         16 . A kit comprising a drive plunger and a plurality of measuring sleeves, each one of the plurality of measuring sleeves comprising a different outer diameter. 
     
     
         17 . A kit as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the drive plunger has an outer diameter of 1.90″, and wherein the plurality of measuring sleeves comprise measuring sleeves having outer diameters of 1.91″, 1.92″ and 1.93″. 
     
     
         18 . A kit as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of measuring sleeves further comprise measuring sleeves having outer diameters of 1.94″ and 1.95″. 
     
     
         19 . A kit as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the drive plunger has an outer diameter of 2.34″, and wherein the plurality of measuring sleeves comprise measuring sleeves having outer diameters of 2.35″, 2.36″ and 2.37″. 
     
     
         20 . A kit as defined in  claim 19  wherein the plurality of measuring sleeves further comprises measuring sleeves having outer diameters of 2.38″, 2.39″ and 2.40″. 
     
     
         21 . A kit as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the drive plunger comprises a venturi plunger or a pad plunger. 
     
     
         22 . A kit as defined in  claim 16 , wherein a minimum internal diameter of each one of the plurality of measuring sleeves along its length comprises at least 1″. 
     
     
         23 . A kit as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising an echometer.