System and Method for Removing Debris from a Downhole Wellbore

Abstract

A method for removing fines and debris from a downhole wellbore in a formation, including introducing a tubing string having a downhole debris removal tool disposed substantially near the lower end of the tubing string into the downhole wellbore; positioning the downhole debris removal tool substantially proximal to the fines and debris; circulating fluid through the downhole debris removal tool for disintegrating the fines and debris; and collecting the fines and debris in the downhole debris removal tool for removal out of the downhole wellbore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole debris removal tool, comprising:
 a mandrel having an upper end and a lower end and a central passageway extending therebetween;   a screen basket having an upper end and a lower end, the screen basket slidably disposed about the mandrel and operatable between an open position and a closed position; and   a nose member having an upper end and a lower end and located substantially proximal to and in fluid communication with the lower end of the mandrel, the lower end of the nose member having one or more outlets for providing a stream of fluid therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole debris removal tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the screen basket includes a flared end for sealing with the upper end of the nose member when in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole debris removal tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein upper end of the screen basket is in a sealed arrangement with the mandrel for creating an annular space between the inner surface of the screen basket and the outer surface of the mandrel for retaining fines and debris. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole debris removal tool as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the upper end of the nose member terminates in an angular shoulder for sealing with the flared end of the lower end of the screen basket. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole debris removal tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the screen basket includes a plurality of screen openings sized to allow fluid to pass through while retaining fines and debris. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole debris removal tool as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the flared end is a gage ring. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole debris removal tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an upper sub connected to the upper end of the mandrel, the upper sub having a larger diameter than the mandrel for engaging with the upper end of the screen basket when in the open position.   
     
     
         8 . A method for removing fines and debris from a downhole wellbore in a formation, comprising:
 introducing a tubing string having a downhole debris removal tool disposed substantially near the lower end of the tubing string into the downhole wellbore;   positioning the downhole debris removal tool substantially proximal to the fines and debris;   circulating fluid through the downhole debris removal tool for disintegrating the fines and debris; and   collecting the fines and debris in the downhole debris removal tool for removal out of the downhole wellbore.   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the disintegrating the fines and debris comprises:
 flowing a fluid under pressure through one or more outlets disposed through the end of the downhole debris removal tool.   
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the collecting the fines and debris comprises:
 filtering the fines and debris from the fluid through screens disposed about the downhole debris removal tool.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 advancing distally the tubing string into the downhole wellbore.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the introducing a tubing string having a downhole debris removal tool further comprises:
 flowing a fluid under pressure through one or more outlets disposed through the end of the downhole debris removal tool.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the positioning the downhole debris removal tool further comprises:
 reversing direction of travel of the tubing string to create a larger distance between the downhole debris removal tool and the fines and debris.   
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the collecting the fines and debris in the downhole debris removal tool further comprises:
 slidably closing the downhole debris removal tool to contain the fines and debris within the downhole debris removal tool.   
     
     
         15 . A method for recovering hydrocarbon gas from a downhole wellbore in a formation, comprising:
 providing one or more substantially lateral wellbores and one or more substantially vertical wellbores in fluid communication with one another in the formation;   introducing a submersible pump into one or more of the one or more vertical wellbores;   extracting water from the downhole wellbore through one or more of the substantially vertical wellbores;   extracting the hydrocarbon gas from the downhole wellbore through one or more of the one or more substantially lateral wellbores and the one or more substantially vertical wellbores;   introducing a tubing string having a downhole debris removal tool disposed substantially near the lower end of the tubing string into the downhole wellbore;   positioning the downhole debris removal tool substantially proximal to a blockage of fines and debris;   circulating fluid through the downhole debris removal tool for disintegrating the blockage of fines and debris; and   collecting the fines and debris in the downhole debris removal tool for removal out of the downhole wellbore.   
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 removing the downhole debris removal tool from the downhole wellbore.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 resuming the extraction of the hydrocarbon gas from the downhole wellbore through one or more of the one or more substantially lateral wellbores and the one or more substantially vertical wellbores.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the disintegrating the blockage comprises:
 flowing a fluid under pressure through one or more outlets disposed through the end of the downhole debris removal tool.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the collecting the fines and debris comprises:
 filtering the fines and debris from the fluid through screens disposed about the downhole debris removal tool.   
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the positioning the downhole debris removal tool further comprises:
 reversing direction of travel of the tubing string to create a larger distance between the downhole debris removal tool and the fines and debris.   
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the collecting the fines and debris in the downhole debris removal tool further comprises:
 slidably closing the downhole debris removal tool to contain the fines and debris within the downhole debris removal tool.   
     
     
         22 . A method for recovering hydrocarbon gas from a coal seam gas well, comprising:
 providing one or more substantially lateral wellbores and one or more substantially vertical wellbores in fluid communication with one another in a coal seam;   introducing a submersible pump into one or more of the one or more vertical wellbores;   extracting water from the downhole wellbore through one or more of the substantially vertical wellbores;   running a tubing string having a downhole debris removal tool disposed substantially near the lower end of the tubing string into one or more of the one or more substantially lateral wellbores;   circulating fluid through the downhole debris removal tool for disintegrating a mass of coal fines;   collecting the coal fines in the downhole debris removal tool for removal out of the coal seam gas well;   removing the downhole debris removal tool from the coal seam gas well; and   extracting the hydrocarbon gas from the coal seam gas well through one or more of the one or more substantially lateral wellbores and the one or more substantially vertical wellbores.   
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the running a tubing string may further comprise:
 running a second tubing string having a downhole debris removal tool disposed substantially near the lower end of the second tubing string into one or more of the one or more substantially vertical wellbores.   
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 moving distally the downhole debris removal tool further into the coal seam gas well.   
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the disintegrating a mass of coal fines comprises:
 flowing a fluid under pressure through one or more outlets disposed through the end of the downhole debris removal tool.   
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the collecting the fines and debris comprises:
 filtering the fines and debris from the fluid through screens disposed about the downhole debris removal tool.   
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the positioning the downhole debris removal tool further comprises:
 reversing direction of travel of the tubing string to create a larger distance between the downhole debris removal tool and the fines and debris.   
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the collecting the fines and debris in the downhole debris removal tool further comprises:
 slidably closing the downhole debris removal tool to contain the fines and debris within the downhole debris removal tool.