FIELD JOINT FOR A DOWNHOLE TOOL

• US 20110272140A1
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Campo, Chris Del, Ervin, Steve, Briquet, Stephane, Hayes, Kevin, Nahas, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 8,240,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/242.6
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/0285 characterised by electrically insulating elements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

A field joint for connecting a plurality of downhole tool modules is disclosed. The modules include a housing and an electrical line. A bulkhead is coupled to a first module that includes a first conduit aperture for receiving an electrical connector assembly. The first electrical connector assembly is releasably coupled to the exterior portion of the first module and includes a first connector having a first end adapted for electrical coupling to an electrical line. A connector block is coupled to the second module that includes a second conduit aperture positioned to substantially face the first conduit aperture when the first and second modules are joined. A second electrical connector is disposed in the second conduit aperture and is electrically coupled to an electrical line such that an electrical contact is established with a second end of the first connector when the first and second modules are joined.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of modules collectively configured to be positioned within a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein the plurality of modules includes a first module and a second module;

a first auxiliary line extending through the first and second modules;

a second auxiliary line extending through the first and second modules;

a first hydraulic line extending through the first and second modules;

a second hydraulic line extending through the first and second modules; and

a connector disposed between the first and second modules;

wherein the first module comprises;

a displacement system;

a first portion of the first auxiliary line;

a first portion of the second auxiliary line;

a first portion of the first hydraulic line;

a first portion of the second hydraulic line; and

a hydraulic pump fluidly configured to drive the displacement system via receiving, at least indirectly, hydraulic fluid from the first portion of the first hydraulic line and returning, at least indirectly, hydraulic fluid to the first portion of the second hydraulic line;

wherein the second module comprises;

a second portion of the first auxiliary line;

a second portion of the second auxiliary line;

a second portion of the first hydraulic line;

a second portion of the second hydraulic line; and

an inlet configured to transmit fluid from the formation into the second portion of the first and/or second auxiliary lines via operation of the displacement system; and

wherein the connector comprises;

a first hydraulic line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the first hydraulic line;

a second hydraulic line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the second hydraulic line;

a first auxiliary line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the first auxiliary line; and

a second auxiliary line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the second auxiliary line.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second module further comprises a setting piston operated via communication with the second portion of the first hydraulic line and the second portion of the second hydraulic line.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 where the hydraulic pump of the first module is a first hydraulic pump, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a setting piston; and

a second hydraulic pump configured to operate the setting piston.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electrical line extending through the first and second modules, wherein:

the first module comprises a first portion of the electrical line;

the second module comprises a second portion of the electrical line; and

the connector further comprises an electrical line connection communicably coupling the first and second portions of the electrical line.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the plurality of modules further comprises a third module comprising:

a third portion of the electrical line; and

an electrical controller communicably coupled to the third portion of the electrical line.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the third module further comprises:

a third portion of the first auxiliary line;

a third portion of the second auxiliary line;

a third portion of the first hydraulic line; and

a third portion of the second hydraulic line.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a first electrical line extending through the first and second modules; and

a second electrical line extending through the first and second modules;

wherein the first module comprises a first portion of the first electrical line and a first portion of the second electrical line;

wherein the second module comprises a second portion of the first electrical line and a second portion of the second electrical line;

wherein the connector further comprises a first electrical line connection communicably coupling the first and second portions of the first electrical line; and

wherein the connector further comprises a second electrical line connection communicably coupling the first and second portions of the second electrical line.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the plurality of modules further comprises a third module comprising:

a third portion of the first electrical line;

a third portion of the second electrical line; and

an electrical controller communicably coupled to the third portions of the first and second electrical lines.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the third module further comprises:

a third portion of the first auxiliary line;

a third portion of the second auxiliary line;

a third portion of the first hydraulic line; and

a third portion of the second hydraulic line.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inlet is a first inlet configured to transmit virgin formation fluid from the formation into the second portion of the first auxiliary line via operation of the displacement system, and wherein the second module further comprises a second inlet configured to transmit contaminated formation fluid from the formation into the second portion of the second auxiliary line via operation of the displacement system.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the displacement system comprises:

a first pump out module fluidly coupled to the first auxiliary line; and

a second pump out module fluidly coupled to the second auxiliary line.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of modules collectively configured for conveyance within a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation;

a first flow line extending through the plurality of modules;

a second flow line extending through the plurality of modules;

a third flow line extending through the plurality of modules;

a fourth flow line extending through the plurality of modules; and

a connector disposed between first and second ones of the plurality of modules;

wherein the first one of the plurality of modules comprises;

a displacement system;

a first portion of the first flow line;

a first portion of the second flow line;

a first portion of the third flow line;

a first portion of the fourth flow line; and

a pump fluidly configured to drive the displacement system via receiving, at least indirectly, fluid from the first portion of the first flow line and returning, at least indirectly, fluid to the first portion of the second flow line; and

wherein the second one of the plurality of modules comprises;

a second portion of the first flow line;

a second portion of the second flow line;

a second portion of the third flow line;

a second portion of the fourth flow line; and

an inlet configured to transmit fluid from the formation into the second portion of the third and/or fourth flow lines via operation of the displacement system;

wherein the connector comprises;

a first flow line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the first flow line;

a second flow line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the second flow line;

a third flow line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the third flow line; and

a fourth flow line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the fourth flow line.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second module further comprises a setting piston operated via communication with the second portion of the first flow line and the second portion of the second flow line.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an electrical line extending through the plurality of modules, wherein:

the first module comprises a first portion of the electrical line;

the second module comprises a second portion of the electrical line; and

the connector further comprises an electrical line connection communicably coupling the first and second portions of the electrical line.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the plurality of modules further comprises a third module comprising:

a third portion of the electrical line; and

an electrical controller communicably coupled to the third portion of the electrical line.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the third module further comprises:

a third portion of the first flow line;

a third portion of the second flow line;

a third portion of the third flow line; and

a third portion of the fourth flow line.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a first electrical line extending through the plurality of modules; and

a second electrical line extending through the plurality of modules;

wherein the first module comprises a first portion of the first electrical line and a first portion of the second electrical line;

wherein the second module comprises a second portion of the first electrical line and a second portion of the second electrical line;

wherein the connector further comprises a first electrical line connection communicably coupling the first and second portions of the first electrical line; and

wherein the connector further comprises a second electrical line connection communicably coupling the first and second portions of the second electrical line.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of modules further comprises a third module comprising:

a third portion of the first electrical line;

a third portion of the second electrical line; and

an electrical controller communicably coupled to the third portions of the first and second electrical lines.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the third module further comprises:

a third portion of the first flow line;

a third portion of the second flow line;

a third portion of the third flow line; and

a third portion of the fourth flow line.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of tools collectively configured for conveyance within a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation;

a first flow line extending through the plurality of tools;

a second flow line extending through the plurality of tools;

a third flow line extending through the plurality of tools;

a fourth flow line extending through the plurality of tools; and

a connector disposed between first and second ones of the plurality of tools;

wherein the first tool of the plurality of tools comprises;

a displacement system;

a first portion of the first flow line;

a first portion of the second flow line;

a first portion of the third flow line;

a first portion of the fourth flow line; and

a pump fluidly configured to drive the displacement system via receiving, at least indirectly, fluid from the first portion of the first flow line and returning, at least indirectly, fluid to the first portion of the second flow line; and

wherein the second tool of the plurality of tools comprises;

a second portion of the first flow line;

a second portion of the second flow line;

a second portion of the third flow line;

a second portion of the fourth flow line; and

an inlet configured to transmit fluid from the formation into the second portion of the third and/or fourth flow lines via operation of the displacement system;

wherein the connector comprises;

a first flow line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the first flow line;

a second flow line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the second flow line;

a third flow line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the third flow line; and

a fourth flow line connection fluidly coupling the first and second portions of the fourth flow line.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the first tool comprises first and second pump out modules coupled to the first portions of the third and fourth flow lines, respectively.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the second tool comprises:

a hydraulic module configured to control flow of hydraulic fluid in the second portion of at least one of the first and second flow lines; and

a probe module configured to hydraulically couple the inlet to at least one of the second portions of the third and fourth flow lines.