Wiper Barrier Plug Assemblies

Abstract

A wiper barrier plug assembly can include a wiper plug, an expandable plug, and a trigger device that includes a trigger that is communicably coupled to the expandable plug, where the wiper plug, the expandable plug, and the trigger device are coupled to each other. The trigger device can be configured to detect a trigger condition while the trigger device is pumped down a cavity of the casing string. The trigger device can also be configured to operate, upon detecting the trigger condition, the expandable plug from a default position to an expanded position, where the expandable plug, when in the expanded position, is configured to abut against an inner surface of the casing string and to prevent the expandable plug from moving relative to the casing string.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wiper barrier plug assembly comprising:
 a wiper plug comprising a wiper plug body and a plurality of wipers extending from the wiper plug body, wherein the plurality of wipers is configured to contact an inner surface of a casing string disposed in a wellbore;   an expandable plug; and   a trigger device comprising a trigger that is communicably coupled to the expandable plug, wherein the wiper plug, the expandable plug, and the trigger device are mechanically coupled together, wherein the trigger device is configured to:
 detect a trigger condition while the trigger device is pumped down a cavity of the casing string formed by the inner surface; and 
 operate, upon detecting the trigger condition, the expandable plug from a default position to an expanded position, wherein the expandable plug, when in the expanded position, is configured to abut against an inner surface of the casing string and to prevent the expandable plug from moving relative to the casing string. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger device further comprises a sensor device that is configured to measure a parameter, wherein the trigger condition comprises a measurement, made by the sensor device, of the parameter that exceeds a threshold value. 
     
     
         3 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor device is configured to identify at least one individual casing pipe within the casing string, wherein the trigger condition is based on identifying the at least one individual casing pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor device detects a radioactive source within the at least one individual casing pipe, wherein the trigger condition is based on identifying the radioactive source. 
     
     
         5 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor device comprises a radio frequency (RF) identifier that identifies a RF tag, wherein the trigger condition is based on the RF identifier identifying the RF tag embedded in the at least one casing pipe of the casing string. 
     
     
         6 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one individual casing pipe is a plurality of individual casing pipes, wherein the trigger device further comprises a counter in communication with the sensor device, wherein the trigger condition occurs when the counter exceeds a threshold value. 
     
     
         7 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the trigger device further comprises a controller that evaluates the measurement made by the sensor device and a count maintained by the counter. 
     
     
         8 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger condition is based on making contact with a bottom plug disposed in a cavity formed by the casing string. 
     
     
         9 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the trigger device comprises multiple housing parts, wherein the trigger condition occurs when the multiple housing parts collapse together when the bottom plug is contacted. 
     
     
         10 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger device further comprises a timer that measures a threshold amount of time by which the trigger condition occurs. 
     
     
         11 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger device is disposed between the wiper plug and the expandable plug. 
     
     
         12 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable plug comprises a cast iron bridge plug. 
     
     
         13 . The wiper barrier plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable plug comprises a composite plug. 
     
     
         14 . A system for preparing a casing string in a wellbore for cement, the system comprising:
 a landing assembly disposed at a distal end of the casing string, wherein the landing assembly provides a channel for a first fluid to flow from a cavity of the casing string toward the surface through an annulus formed between an outer surface of the casing string and a wellbore wall;   a bottom plug affixed to an inner surface of the casing string above the landing assembly, wherein the bottom plug has a flow path that traverses therethrough and through which the first fluid flows; and   a wiper barrier plug assembly disposed in the cavity of the casing string, wherein the wiper barrier plug assembly comprises:
 a wiper plug comprising a wiper plug body and a plurality of wipers, wherein the wiper plug provides a barrier between a first fluid disposed below the wiper plug and a second fluid disposed above the wiper plug; 
 an expandable plug operable from a default position and an expanded position; and 
 a trigger device comprising a trigger, wherein the wiper plug, the expandable plug, and the trigger device are mechanically coupled together, wherein the trigger device:
 detects a trigger condition while the wiper barrier plug assembly is pumped toward the bottom plug by a pumping system; and 
 operates, upon detecting the trigger condition, the expandable plug from the default position to the expanded position, wherein the expandable plug, when in the expanded position, is configured to abut against the inner surface of the casing string prevents the expandable plug from moving relative to the casing string. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first fluid comprises a cement slurry, and wherein the second fluid comprises displacement fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the expandable plug, when in the expanded position, allows the cement slurry to cure in the annulus while preventing the displacement fluid from contaminating the cement slurry. 
     
     
         17 . A method for setting a wiper barrier plug assembly when cementing a casing string in a wellbore, the method comprising:
 detecting, by a trigger device of the wiper barrier plug assembly, a trigger condition while the wiper barrier plug assembly is pumped through a cavity of the casing string toward the bottom plug by a pumping system; and   operating, by the trigger device upon detecting the trigger condition, an expandable plug of the wiper barrier plug assembly from a default position to an expanded position, wherein the expandable plug, when in the expanded position, abuts against an inner surface of the casing string and prevents the wiper barrier plug assembly from moving relative to the casing string, wherein the wiper plug, the expandable plug, and the trigger device are coupled to each other.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein detecting the trigger event comprises determining, using a controller of the trigger device, when a number of casing collars as measured by a sensor device of the trigger device, exceeds a threshold value. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein detecting the trigger event comprises determining, using a controller of the trigger device, when a radio frequency identification signal has been received by a sensor device of the trigger device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein detecting the trigger event comprises determining, using a controller of the trigger device, when an amount of time, as measured by a timer, exceeds a threshold value.