Electronically-Actuated Cementing Port Collar

• US 20150027706A1
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Symms, Joshua V.
• Granted Patent: US 9,316,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/289
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/06 Sleeve valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/146 Stage cementing, i.e. discharging cement from casing at different levels
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/14 operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools E21B34/066 takes precedence

Abstract

A cementing port collar has an opening sleeve biased from a closed position to an opened position relative to the collar'"'"'s exit port, and a first restraint temporarily holds the opening sleeve closed. The collar also has a closing sleeve biased from an opened position to a closed position, and a second restraint temporarily holds the closing sleeve opened. During cementing, the first restraint is electronically activated with a first trigger to release the opening sleeve opened so cement slurry can pass out of the collar'"'"'s exit port to the borehole annulus. When cementing is completed, the second restraint is electronically activated with a second trigger to release the closing sleeve closed to close off the collar to the borehole so the cement can set. The restraints can include bands of synthetic fiber, which are burned by fuses activated by a controller of the collar responding to passage of RFID tags.

Claims

1. A port collar for use on casing in a borehole, the port collar comprising:

a housing disposed on the casing and having an internal bore, the housing having at least one exit port communicating the internal bore with the borehole;

an opening valve disposed on the housing and being biased from a closed position to an opened position relative to the at least one exit port;

a first restraint temporarily holding the opening valve in the closed position, the first restraint electronically activated with a first trigger and releasing the opening valve biased to the opened position when activated;

a closing valve disposed on the housing and being biased from an opened position to a closed position relative to the at least one exit port; and

a second restraint temporarily holding the closing valve in the opened position, the second restraint electronically activated with a second trigger and releasing the closing valve biased to the closed position when activated.

2. The port collar of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an inner mandrel having the internal bore and having the at least one exit port.

3. The port collar of claim 2, wherein the opening valve comprises an opening sleeve disposed outside the inner mandrel and being movable relative thereto.

4. The port collar of claim 3, wherein the housing comprises an intermediate mandrel disposed outside the opening sleeve, the opening sleeve being movable in an annulus between the intermediate mandrel and the inner mandrel.

5. The port collar of claim 3, wherein the closing valve comprises a closing sleeve disposed outside the inner mandrel and being movable relative thereto.

6. The port collar of claim 5, wherein the housing comprises an external mandrel disposed outside the closing sleeve, the closing sleeve being movable in an annulus between the external mandrel and the inner mandrel.

7. The port collar of claim 1, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the first and second restraints and providing the first and second triggers.

8. The port collar of claim 7, wherein the controller generates the first and second triggers in response to at least one detected activation.

9. The port collar of claim 8, wherein the controller comprises a sensor responsive to a signal as the at least one detected activation.

10. The port collar of claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a reader responsive to passage of at least one radio frequency identification tag.

11. The port collar of claim 8, further comprising a shifting tool deploying in the internal bore of the housing, the shifting tool providing the at least one detected activation for the controller.

12. The port collar of claim 1, wherein the first or second restraint comprises a member placed in tension and holding the biased opening valve closed or the biased closing valve opened.

13. The port collar of claim 12, wherein the member comprises a synthetic fiber.

14. The port collar of claim 1, wherein the first or second restraint comprises a fuse connected to the first or second restraint and breaking the first or second restraint in response to the first or second trigger.

15. The port collar of claim 14, wherein the first or second restraint comprises a burnable member holding the biased closing valve opened or the biased opening valve closed, and wherein the fuse electrically burns the burnable member.

16. The port collar of claim 1, wherein the opening or closing valve comprises a biasing member biasing the opening or closing valve.

17. The port collar of claim 16, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

18. The port collar of claim 1, wherein the opening valve comprises an opening sleeve disposed on the housing and being movable relative to the at least one exit port;

and the closing valve comprises a closing sleeve disposed on the housing and being movable relative to the at least one exit port.

19. The port collar of claim 18, wherein the opening sleeve comprises at least one port moving from a misaligned condition to an aligned condition with respect the at least one exit port with the movement of the opening sleeve from the closed position to the opened position.

20. The port collar of claim 18, wherein the closing sleeve comprises at least one port moving from an aligned condition to a misaligned condition with respect the at least one exit port with the movement of the closing sleeve from the opened position to the closed position.

21. The port collar of claim 1, comprising at least one sleeve disposed on the housing and being movable relative to the at least one exit port, the at least one sleeve having the opening valve and the closing valve.

22. A port collar for use on casing in a borehole, the port collar comprising:

a housing disposed on the casing and having an internal bore, the housing having at least one exit port communicating the internal bore with the borehole;

an opening valve disposed in the housing and movable from a closed position to an opened position relative to the at least one exit port;

a closing valve disposed in the housing and movable from an opened position to a closed position relative to the at least one exit port; and

an electronic controller operatively coupled to the opening and closing valves, the electronic controller activating the opening valve from the closed position to the opened position in response to a first trigger, the controller activating the closing valve from the opened position to the closed position in response to a second trigger.

23. The port collar of claim 22, wherein the controller comprises a first restraint holding the opening valve biased in the closed position and releasing the opening valve biased to the opened position when activated by the first trigger.

24. The port collar of claim 22, wherein the controller comprises a second restraint holding the closing valve biased in the opened position and releasing the closing valve biased to the closed position when activated by the second trigger.

25. A method of operating a port collar on casing in a borehole, the method comprising:

holding an opening valve on the port collar biased in a closed position relative to at least one port on the port collar;

holding an opening valve on the port collar biased in an opened condition relative to the at least one port;

releasing the opening valve biased to the opened position in response to a first trigger downhole at the port collar; and

releasing the closing valve biased to the closed position in response to a second trigger downhole at the port collar.

26. A method of operating a port collar on casing in a borehole, the method comprising:

responding to a first electronic trigger downhole at the port collar;

moving, in response to the first electronic trigger, an opening valve on the port collar from a closed position to an opened position relative to at least one port on the port collar;

responding to a second electronic trigger downhole at the port collar; and

moving, in response to the second electronic trigger, a closing valve on the port collar from an opened position to a closed position relative to the at least one port.