Completion technique and treatment of drilled solids
View Patent ↗An onshore oil or gas well is completed with a coiled tubing unit. A completion liquid is circulated through coiled tubing and thereby removing solids from the well. The completion liquid and drilled solids pass into a tank where the solids are removed and the cleansed completion liquid is redelivered into the well. In some embodiments, drilled solids from the completion liquid are dewatered to a suitable extent in the tank and dumped into a bin where they are mixed with cotton motes to sorb any free liquid. In some embodiments, drilled solids from drilling an onshore subterranean well are mixed with cotton motes to sorb free liquid. The mixture of cotton motes and drilled solids are disposed of in a manner consistent with appropriate regulations, as by delivery to a commercial landfill, which may be either privately or municipally owned.
1. A method of completing a subterranean onshore well with a coiled tubing unit after a production string has been cemented in the well comprising
setting completion equipment in the production string and thereafter fracing a zone through the production string;
after fracing the zone, drilling up the completion equipment with a cutting element on coiled tubing from the coiled tubing unit;
circulating a completion liquid through the production string and through coiled tubing from the coiled tubing unit and thereby removing solids including frac sand from the production string;
passing the completion liquid and solids into a tank and separating the completion liquid from the solids;
redelivering the completion liquid from the tank through the production string and through coiled tubing from the coiled tubing unit;
discharging solids from the tank; and
mixing cotton motes with the frac sand and sorbing free liquid from the frac sand;
disposing of a mixture of the cotton motes and solids by trucking the mixture to a commercial landfill.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein circulating and redelivering the completion liquid comprises pumping the completion liquid down the coiled tubing and up through an annulus between the coiled tubing and the production string.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the completion equipment comprises at least one bridge plug.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the coiled tubing unit is wheeled.
5. A method of treating solids from an onshore well comprising
delivering a liquid into the onshore well and discharging a mixture containing the solids from the onshore well into a tank;
separating the slurry into a liquid and solids in the tank;
removing the solids from the tank; and
mixing cotton motes with the solids and sorbing free liquid from the solids.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the onshore well is in the process of being drilled by a drilling rig, the liquid delivered into the onshore well is a drilling mud and the solids comprise drilled solids.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising disposing of a mixture of the cotton motes and solids.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein disposing of the mixture comprises delivering the mixture to a commercial landfill.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein delivering the mixture comprises hauling the mixture in a truck.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the onshore well is in the process of being completed by a coiled tubing unit, the liquid delivered into the well is a completion liquid and the solids comprise frac sand and pieces of bridge plug.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the solids comprise frac sand.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein delivering the mixture comprises hauling the mixture in a truck.
13. The method of claim 6 wherein the solids are rock cuttings created by drilling a wellbore in the earth.
14. A method of completing a subterranean onshore well with a coiled tubing unit after a production string has been cemented therein comprising
circulating a completion liquid through the production string and through coiled tubing from the coiled tubing unit and thereby removing solids from the production string;
passing the completion liquid and solids into a tank and separating the completion liquid from the solids;
redelivering the completion liquid from the tank through the production string and through coiled tubing from the coiled tubing unit;
discharging solids from the tank;
mixing cotton motes with the solids and sorbing free liquid from the solids;
disposing of a mixture of the cotton motes and solids by trucking the mixture to a commercial landfill.