Controllable production well packer

• US 20030042026A1
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Savage, William Mountjoy, Burnett, Robert Rex, Vinegar, Harold J., Carl, Frederick Gordon Jr., Hirsch, John Michele
• Granted Patent: US 7,322,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/369
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1294 characterised by a valve, e.g. a by-pass valve
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00

Abstract

The existence and rate of corrosion in a section of a well tubing or well casing is determined and monitored by installing at predetermined locations as the string is placed in the well bore, sections of pipe (20) that have been fitted with an array of piezoelectric transducers (26) and a microprocessor (28) that controls signals going to and from each array of transducers and signals going to and received from controls and intrumentation apparatus located at the earth'"'"'s surface. The microprocessors at varying locations along the string are electrically connected to the surface control and instrumentation apparatus by conductor cables and/or by wireless means using the pipe string as the conductive path for electrical signals.

Claims

1. A packer adapted for use in a well, said packer including an electrically powered device adapted for receiving AC power from the surface using at least one of the tubing or casing as a conductor.

2. A packer in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrically powered device comprises an electrically controllable valve adapted to control fluid communication from one side of said packer to another side of said packer.

3. A packer in accordance with claim 2, wherein said electrically powered device further comprises a communications and control module being electrically connected to said electrically controllable valve, said module comprising a modem adapted to receive control commands encoded within communication signals, and said module being adapted to decode said control commands received by said modem and control the movement of said valve using said control commands when said packer is operably installed.

4. A packer in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrically powered device comprises:

a sensor adapted to detect at least one physical characteristic of a surrounding environment and generate data corresponding to said physical characteristic; and

a modem adapted to receive said data from said sensor and electrically transmit said data in the form of an electrical communication signal.

5. A petroleum well for producing petroleum products, comprising:

a piping structure comprising an electrically conductive portion extending along at least part of said piping structure;

a source of time-varying current electrically connected to said electrically conductive portion of said piping structure;

an electrical return; and

a packer including an electrically powered device, said electrically powered device being electrically connected potential such that part of said time-varying current is routed through said device when said time-varying current is applied through said electrically conductive portion of said piping structure.

6. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said electrically powered device comprises an electrically controllable valve adapted to control fluid communication between one side of said packer and another side of said packer when said packer is operably installed.

7. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said electrically powered device comprises a sensor adapted to measure a physical quantity.

8. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said electrically powered device comprises a modem adapted to send and receive communications along said electrically conductive portion of piping structure.

9. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said electrically powered device comprises a chemical injection module adapted to controllably inject a substance into a flow stream.

10. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said electrically powered device comprises an electrically controllable valve adapted to control fluid communication between an exterior and an interior of a production tubing string.

11. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said electrically powered device comprises an electrically controllable valve adapted to control fluid flow within a production tube.

12. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said piping structure comprises a production tubing string of said well.

13. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said piping structure comprises a well casing of said well.

14. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said electrical return comprises a well casing of said well.

15. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said electrical return comprises at least a portion of an earthen ground.

16. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a second induction choke, said second induction choke being located about another part of said electrically conductive portion of said piping structure and at a location along said piping structure such that said electrical connection location for said time-varying current source is located between said induction chokes.

17. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a second packer.

18. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 17, wherein said second packer comprises an electrical insulator so that said electrically conductive portion of said piping structure is not electrically connected to said electrical return at said second packer when said second packer is operably installed.

19. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 17, wherein said second packer is part of said electrical return.

20. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said packer is located on said source-side of said induction choke.

21. A petroleum well in accordance with claim 5, wherein said packer is located on said electrical-return-side of said induction choke.

22. A method of operating a petroleum well comprising:

providing an electrically powered packer in a petroleum well;

providing a piping structure in said well, said piping structure comprising an electrically conductive portion extending along at least part of said piping structure;

operably installing said electrically powered packer in said well, said electrically powered packer comprising an electrically powered device, such that said device is electrically connected to said electrically conductive portion of said piping structure when said well is operable for petroleum production;

operably installing an induction choke about part of said electrically conductive portion of said piping structure;

supplying time-varying current to said piping structure;

routing part of said time-varying current through said electrically powered device using said induction choke; and

producing petroleum products with said well.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

measuring a physical quantity with said electrically powered device, wherein said electrically powered device comprises a sensor; and

varying a flow of petroleum products in said well based on said measurements.

24. A method in accordance with claim 22, further comprising the step of:

electrically controlling fluid communication between sections of said well using said packer, wherein said electrically powered device comprises an electrically controllable valve.