MODULAR CONNECTOR AND METHOD

• US 20080245570A1
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: PARTOUCHE, ASHERS
• Granted Patent: US 7,913,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/48
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/02 Couplings; joints expandable couplings or joints E21B43/106
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/028 Electrical or electro-magnetic connections
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/18 Pipes provided with plural fluid passages E21B17/203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/08 Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 15/02 allowing substantial longitudinal adjustment by use of a long screw-threaded part
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/04 allowing adjustment or movement of the multiline swivel type F16L39/06

Abstract

A modular tool for use in subterranean formations includes a first module, a second module and one or more connectors for connecting the first and second modules. In particular, the first module includes a first collar that at least partially defines an exterior of the tool and that includes a first engagement mechanism at a first end of the collar and a second engagement mechanism at a second end of the collar. The first module also includes a fluid passageway for passing drilling fluid therethrough. The second module has a similar configuration as includes similar architecture. The one or more connectors facilitate the connection of at least one flowline fluidly connected to an exterior of the tool, and an electrical pathway for transmitting power and/or data between the modules.

Claims

1. A modular tool for use in subterranean formations comprising:

a first module including a first collar at least partially defining an exterior of the tool wherein the collar includes an first engagement mechanism at a first end of the collar and a second engagement mechanism at a second end of the collar, and a fluid passageway for passing drilling fluid therethrough;

a second module including a second collar at least partially defining an exterior of the tool wherein the collar includes an first engagement mechanism at a first end of the collar for engaging the second end of the first collar and a second engagement mechanism at a second end of the collar, and a fluid passageway extending a length of the module for passing drilling fluid therethrough; and

one or more connectors for connecting the first and second modules, the one or more connectors connecting at least one flowline from the first module and one flow line from the second module for flowing an auxiliary fluid between the first and the second module, and connecting at least one wire from the first module and one wire from the second module for transmitting power and/or data between the modules, and the one or more connectors being configured for passing drilling fluid between the first and the second module.

2. A modular tool according to claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism of the first and the second modules include a male threaded portion at the first end of the collars and a female threaded portion at the second end of the collars.

3. A modular tool according to claim 1, wherein the fluid passageway extents from a first end to a second end of the modules.

4. A modular tool according to claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanisms of the first and the second modules are opposing threaded portions.

5. A modular tool according to claim 4, wherein the first module is a probe module that includes an assembly for isolating a portion of a wellbore wall.

6. A modular tool according to claim 5, wherein the probe module is disposed adjacent a drill bit.

7. A modular tool according to claim 5, wherein the assembly includes an inlet fluidly connected to an exterior of the tool and the at least one flow line is fluidly connected to the inlet.

8. A modular tool according to claim 7, wherein the second module is a pump-out module connected to the probe module, the pump-out module including a pump fluidly connected to the inlet.

9. A modular tool according to claim 8, wherein the probe module that includes a first inlet for receiving virgin fluid and a second inlet for receiving contaminated fluid, at least one of the inlets being fluidly connected to the pump-out module.

10. A modular tool according to claim 5, wherein the second module is one of a hydraulic module and a DFA module.

11. A system for drilling a well bore, the comprising:

a drill string for providing a flow of drilling fluid from the surface;

a formation testing tool having a first end operatively connected to the drill string, the tool comprising;

a plurality of modules each including at least one flowline and a drilling fluid passageway, wherein a first of the plurality of modules is operatively connectable to a first end or a second end of a second of the plurality of modules, thereby allowing transmission of the fluid in the flowline and the drilling fluid passageway between the first and second modules; and

a drill bit operatively connected to a second end of the testing tool, the drill bit receiving drilling fluid from the drill string through the first and second modules.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the first of the plurality of modules is a probe module threadingly connected to a second of the plurality of modules.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the second of the plurality of modules is one of a pump-out module, a DFA module and a hydraulics module.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the flowline is fluidly connected to an exterior of the tool.

15. A system according to claim 14, further including a second flowline wherein the first flowline is adapted to receive virgin formation fluid, and the second flowline is fluidly connected to the exterior of the tool and is adapted to receive contaminated formation fluid.

16. A system according to claim 11, further including at least one electrical connection between the first and second modules.

17. A method of assembling a downhole tool at a job site, the method comprising:

providing a first module having a collar that at least partially defines an exterior of the tool wherein the collar includes first threaded portion at a first end of the collar and a second threaded portion at a second end of the collar, a fluid passageway extending a length of the module for passing drilling fluid therethrough;

providing a second module having a collar that at least partially defines an exterior of the tool, wherein the collar includes a first threaded portion at a first end of the collar and a second threaded portion at a second end of the collar, a fluid passageway extending a length of the module for passing drilling fluid therethrough; and

connecting a flowline of the first module to a flowline of the second module.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the flowline of the first module is fluidly connected to one of the exterior of the tool and an interior of the tool.

19. A method according to claim 17, further including connecting an electrical pathway of the first module to an electrical pathway of the second module, the pathways being adapted for transmitting at least one of power and data.

20. A method according to claim 17, further including connecting a second flowline of the first module to an exterior of the tool.

21. A method of reconfiguring a plurality of modules for a while-drilling tool to obtain a plurality of tools, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of modules, wherein each module includes at least one flowline and a drilling fluid passageway;

connecting the plurality of modules in a first configuration to obtain a first downhole tool; and

connecting the plurality of modules in a second configuration to obtain a second downhole tool.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein providing a plurality of modules includes providing at least two modules from the group consisting of a pump-out module, a probe module, a hydraulics module, a DFA module, and a sample bottle module.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein connecting the plurality of modules includes connecting at least the pump-out module and the sample bottle module to obtain a sampling tool.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein connecting the plurality of modules includes connecting at least the pump-out module and the probe module to obtain a pressure tool.

25. A method according to claim 24, further including connecting the sample bottle module to obtain a sampling tool.