METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COMPLETING A WELL

• US 20100200244A1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Petrowell Limited (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Purkis, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,833,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/373
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/06 for setting packers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/26 Storing data down-hole, e.g. in a memory or on a record carrier

Abstract

A completion apparatus (4) for completing a wellbore comprises a) a tool to alternatively open and close a throughbore (15) of the completion; b) a tool (13) to alternatively open and close an annulus defined between the outer surface of the completion and the inner surface of the wellbore; c) a tool to alternatively provide and prevent a fluid circulation route from the throughbore of the completion to the said annulus (11); and d) at least one signal receiver and processing tool (9) capable of decoding signals received relating to the operation of tools a) to c).

Claims

1. A completion apparatus for completing a wellbore comprising:

a) a tool to alternatively open and close a throughbore of the completion;

b) a tool to alternatively open and close an annulus defined between the outer surface of the completion and the inner surface of the wellbore;

c) a tool to alternatively provide and prevent a fluid circulation route from the throughbore of the completion to the said annulus; and

d) at least one signal receiver and processing tool capable of decoding signals received relating to the operation of tools a) to c).

2. A completion apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

e) a tool comprising a powered actuation mechanism capable of operating tools a) to c) under instruction from tool d).

3. A completion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein tool d) comprises a timed instruction storage means provided with a series of instructions and associated operational timings for instructing tool e) to operate tools a) to c).

4. A completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein tool c) is located, within a production string, closer to the surface of the well than either of tool a) and tool b).

5. A completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein tool c) comprises a circulation sub.

6. A completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein tool a) comprises a valve.

7. A completion apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the valve comprises a ball valve or flapper valve.

8. A completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein tool b) comprises a packer.

9. A completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one signal receiver and processing tool is capable of receiving signals sent from the surface and comprises an RFID tag receiving coil.

10. A completion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein tools d) and e) are formed in one tool having multiple features.

11. A completion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein tool e) comprises an electrical power means which comprises an electrical power storage means in the form of one or more batteries.

12. A completion apparatus according to claim 11, wherein tool e) further comprises an electrical motor driven by the batteries that provides motive power to operate, either directly or indirectly, tools a) to c).

13. A completion apparatus according to claim 11, wherein tool e) preferably moves a piston to provide hydraulic fluid power to operate tools a) to c).

14. A completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein tool d) comprises a second signal receiving means and said second signal receiving means of tool d) comprises a pressure sensor.

16. A method of completing a wellbore comprising the steps of:

—

i) running in a completion apparatus according to claim 1 into the wellbore;

ii) operating tool a) to close the throughbore of the completion;

iii) increasing the pressure within the fluid in the tubing to pressure test the completion;

iv) operating tool b) to close the said annulus;

v) operating tool c) to provide a fluid circulation route from the throughbore of the completion to the said annulus and circulate fluid through the production tubing and out into the annulus and back to surface;

vi) operating tool c) to prevent the fluid circulation route from the throughbore of the completion to the said annulus such that fluid is prevented from circulating; and

vii) operating tool a) to open the throughbore of the completion.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein tool c) is operated to provide or prevent fluid circulation through a sidewall of the completion.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein one or more of steps ii), iv), v), vi) and vii) are carried out by transmitting a signal arranged to be received by the signal receiver means of tool d).

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein steps ii), iv), v), vi) and vii) further comprise transmitting the signal without requiring intervention into the completion and without requiring cables to transmit power and signals from surface to the completion.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein step ii) and/or step vi) comprises coding a means to carry data at the surface with the signal, introducing the means to carry data into the fluid path such that it flows toward and through at least a portion of the completion such that the signal is received by the said signal receiver means of tool d).

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein step iv) and/or step v) and/or step vii) further comprise sending the signal via a change in the pressure of fluid contained within the throughbore of the completion.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein step iv) comprises sending the signal via a predetermined frequency of changes in the pressure of fluid contained within the throughbore of the completion such that a second signal receiving means of tool d) detects said signal.

23. A method according to claim 22 further comprising verifying that tool b) has operated to close the said annulus.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein step v) further comprises sending the signal via a different predetermined frequency of changes in the pressure of fluid contained within the throughbore of the completion compared to the frequency of step iv) such that the second signal receiving means of tool d) detects said signal and acts to operate tool c) to provide a fluid circulation route from the throughbore of the completion to the said annulus.

25. A method according to claim 21, wherein step vii) comprises sending the signal via a different predetermined frequency of changes in the pressure of fluid contained within the throughbore of the completion compared to the frequency of steps iv) and v) such that the second signal receiving means of tool d) detects said signal and acts to operate tool a) to open the throughbore of the completion.

26. A method according to claim 16, wherein step iii) further comprises increasing the pressure within the fluid in the tubing to pressure test the completion by increasing the pressure of fluid at the surface of the well in communication with fluid in the throughbore of the completion above the closed tool a).

27. A method according to claim 16, wherein tool c) is run into the well in a closed configuration such that fluid cannot flow from the throughbore of the completion to the said annulus via side ports formed in tool c).

28. A method according to claim 16, wherein tool a) is run into the well in an open configuration such that fluid can flow through the throughbore of the completion without being impeded or prevented by tool a).

29. A method according to claim 16, wherein tool b) is run into the wellbore in an unset configuration such that the annulus is not closed by it during running in.

30. A method according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises storing a series of instructions in a storage means at surface prior to running the completion into the wellbore.

15. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. A downhole needle valve tool comprising:

an electric motor having a rotational output;

an obturating member for obturating a fluid pathway;

wherein the obturating member is rotationally coupled to the rotational output of the electric motor; and

wherein rotation of the obturating member results in axial movement of the obturating member relative to the electric motor and the fluid pathway;

such that rotation of the obturating member in one direction results in movement of the obturating member into sealing engagement with the fluid pathway and rotation of the obturating member in the other direction results in movement of the obturating member out of sealing engagement with the fluid pathway.

33. A downhole needle valve tool according to claim 32, wherein the obturating member comprises a needle member and the fluid pathway comprises a seat into which the needle may be selectively inserted in order to seal the fluid pathway and thereby selectively allow and prevent fluid to flow along the fluid pathway.

34. A downhole needle valve tool according to claim 32, wherein the needle valve tool is used to allow for selective energisation of a downhole sealing member, typically with a downhole fluid and piston.

35. A downhole needle valve tool according to claim 34, wherein the downhole sealing member is a packer tool and the downhole fluid is fluid from the throughbore of a completion/production tubing.

36. A downhole needle valve tool according to claim 34, wherein the packer is hydraulically set by pressure from a downhole pump tool.

37. (canceled)