Well plug debris capturing system
A debris capturing system includes: a plug catcher including: a first plug catcher run having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a first valve in an open position and positioned on the first end of the first plug catcher run; a second plug catcher run having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and a second valve in a closed position and positioned on the first end of the second plug catcher run; and a controller; where the controller is configured to cycle the first valve to a closed position, and to cycle the second valve to an open position.
1 . A debris capturing system, comprising:
a plug catcher configured to receive a slurry of debris suspended in the lubricant and filter the slurry to produce a recycled lubricant, wherein the plug catcher comprises:
a first plug catcher run having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a first valve in an open position and positioned on the first end of the first plug catcher run;
a second plug catcher run having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and
a second valve in a closed position and positioned on the first end of the second plug catcher run;
a flush pump configured to flush and clean the first plug catcher run and second plug catcher run without using wellbore pressure; and
a controller;
wherein the controller is configured to cycle the first valve to a closed position to prevent the slurry from flowing into the first plug catcher run, and to cycle the second valve to an open position to allow the slurry to flow into the second plug catcher run when a first differential pressure across the first plug catcher run exceeds a first maximum differential pressure; and
wherein the first maximum differential pressure is in the range of from 10 psi to 50 psi.
2 . The debris capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is a hydraulic controller comprising a hydraulic unit and the first valve and second valve are hydraulic valves, wherein the hydraulic unit is in hydraulic communication with the first valve and second valve.
3 . The debris capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are electric valves that are in electrical communication with the controller.
4 . The debris capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the debris of the slurry comprises portions of a plug.
5 . The debris capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises an input component, wherein the controller is configured to cycle the first valve to a closed position and to cycle the second valve to an open position when an operator provides an input to the input component.
6 . The debris capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the plug catcher further comprises:
a first pressure sensor on the first end of the first plug catcher run; and
a second pressure sensor on the second end of the first plug catcher run.
7 . The debris capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the plug catcher continuously filters the slurry to produce the recycled lubricant.
8 . The debris capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the debris capturing system further comprises a manifold in fluid communication with the plug catcher and configured to receive the recycled lubricant, wherein the manifold comprises a plurality of outlet streams and a plurality of manifold valves positioned on the plurality of outlet streams, wherein the controller is configured to cycle the plurality of manifold valves independently between an open position and a closed position.
9 . The debris capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the debris capturing system further comprises a tank in fluid communication with the plug catcher and configured to receive the recycled lubricant from the plug catcher.
10 . The debris capturing system of claim 1 , further comprising a basket in fluid communication with the plug catcher and configured to receive flushed debris for inspection from the plug catcher.
11 . A drill out system, comprising:
a drill configured to bore a well, wherein the drill comprises a hollow volume that supplies a lubricant into the well; and
the debris capturing system of claim 1 in fluid communication with the well.
12 . A method of removing debris from a drill out system, comprising the steps of:
lubricating a drill with a lubricant;
drilling a plug positioned in a well with the drill, wherein the drilling produces a slurry comprising debris suspended in the lubricant;
transporting the slurry in the well to a plug catcher comprising:
a first plug catcher run having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a first valve in an open position and positioned on the first end of the first plug catcher run;
a second plug catcher run having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a second valve in a closed position and positioned on the first end of the second plug catcher run; and
a flush pump configured to flush and clean the first plug catcher run and second plug catcher run without using wellbore pressure;
filtering the slurry in the first plug catcher run to produce a recycled lubricant;
activating a controller to cycle the first valve from an open position to a closed position to prevent the slurry from flowing into the first plug catcher run and to cycle a second valve from a closed position to an open position to allow the slurry to flow into the second plug catcher run once a first differential pressure across the first plug catcher run exceeds a first maximum differential pressure, wherein the first maximum differential pressure is in the range of from 10 psi to 50 psi;
filtering the slurry in the second plug catcher run to produce the recycled lubricant; and
flushing debris present in the first plug catcher run after the first valve is closed without using wellbore pressure.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the activating step comprises providing an input to an input component of the controller to activate the controller.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first differential pressure is based on a first pressure measurement from a first pressure sensor positioned on the first end of the first plug catcher run and a second pressure measurement from a second pressure sensor positioned on the second end of the first plug catcher run.
15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising, after filtering the slurry in the second plug catcher run, reactivating the controller to cycle the first valve from the closed position to the open position and to cycle the second valve from the open position to the closed position.
16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising transporting the recycled lubricant from the plug catcher to a tank.
17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising transporting the recycled lubricant from the plug catcher to a manifold comprising a plurality of output streams and a plurality of manifold valves.
18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
flushing the debris present in the first plug catcher run after the first valve is closed to a basket that is in fluid communication with the plug catcher; and
inspecting the debris in the basket.