Advancing a tubular string in a wellbore
A method for displacing a tubular string in a wellbore can include axially vibrating the tubular string at a surface location, and reducing friction between the tubular string and the wellbore due to the axially vibrating. The axial vibration may be imparted by operation of an injector assembly. The axial vibration may be imparted by operation of a vibration tool connected between the injector assembly and a wellhead or a support structure that suspends the injector assembly. The axial vibration may be imparted by varying a flow rate of fluid into the tubular string.
1 . A system for use with a subterranean well, the system comprising:
a tubular string deployed in a wellbore of the well; and
an outlet of a first pump hydraulically connected to respective inlets of first and second parallel flow paths at a surface location, in which respective outlets of the first and second parallel flow paths are hydraulically connected to each other and to an inlet of the tubular string at the surface location, and in which a flow rate of fluid pumped via the second flow path is periodically varied upstream of the hydraulic connection of the respective outlets to thereby produce axial vibration of the tubular string.
2 . The system of claim 1 , in which a time-varying flow restrictor is connected in the second flow path.
3 . The system of claim 2 , in which a control system controls operation of the time-varying flow restrictor.
4 . The system of claim 1 , in which a second pump is connected to the second flow path.
5 . The system of claim 4 , in which a control system controls operation of the second pump.
6 . The system of claim 1 , in which an output of the first pump is periodically varied to thereby vary the flow rate of the fluid into the tubular string.
7 . The system of claim 6 , in which a control system controls operation of the first pump.
8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a vibration enhancing tool connected between an injector assembly and a wellhead of the well.
9 . The system of claim 8 , in which the vibration enhancing tool amplifies the axial vibration of the tubular string.
10 . The system of claim 8 , in which the vibration enhancing tool dampens the axial vibration of the tubular string.
11 . The system of claim 8 , in which a control system controls operation of the vibration enhancing tool.
12 . The system of claim 1 , in which the tubular string comprises a vibration tool.
13 . The system of claim 1 , in which the tubular string comprises continuous coiled tubing.
14 . The system of claim 1 , in which an adjustable flow restrictor is connected in the first flow path.
15 . The system of claim 14 , in which the adjustable flow restrictor comprises a choke.