PERFORATING SYSTEMS AND FLOW CONTROL FOR USE WITH WELL COMPLETIONS

• US 20190316449A1
• Filed: 04/04/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: THRU Tubing Solutions Incorporated (Estate of R Randall Rollins)
• Original Assignee: THRU Tubing Solutions Incorporated (Estate of R Randall Rollins)
• Inventors: SCHULTZ, Roger L., TOLMAN, Randy C, FERGUSON, Andrew M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,927,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/08 Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 27/02 Dump bailers, i.e. containers for depositing substances, e.g. cement or acids
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/13 Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/116 Gun or shaped-charge perforators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/09 Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells , e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/107 using acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/18 through the well fluid , e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry

Abstract

A well completion system can include fluid flow through a flow passage, and one or more diverters deployed into the flow passage downhole of a perforating assembly, the diverters and the perforating assembly being concurrently displaced by the fluid flow. A perforating assembly can include a perforator, and a control module including a memory, a motion sensor, a timer, and a controller that causes the perforator to fire in response to a lack of motion for a predetermined period of time. A well completion method can include flowing fluid through a flow passage, deploying a perforating assembly into the flow passage, and displacing the perforating assembly through the flow passage by the fluid flow at a predetermined flow rate for a predetermined flow time, and ceasing the fluid flow at an end of the predetermined flow time, thereby placing the perforating assembly at a desired location for forming perforations.

Claims

1. A well completion system, comprising:

fluid flow through a flow passage of a casing having first perforations formed therein; and

one or more first diverters deployed into the flow passage downhole of a perforating assembly, the one or more first diverters and the perforating assembly being concurrently displaced through the flow passage by the fluid flow.

2. The well completion system of claim 1, in which one or more second diverters are deployed into the flow passage uphole of the perforating assembly, so that the second diverters and the perforating assembly are concurrently displaced by the fluid flow through the flow passage.

3. The well completion system of claim 1, in which the first diverters block the fluid flow through the first perforations.

4. The well completion system of claim 3, in which the perforating assembly is configured to degrade after the perforating assembly forms second perforations through the casing.

5. The well completion system of claim 4, in which one or more second diverters are deployed into the flow passage uphole of the perforating assembly, and the second diverters block flow through the second perforations.

6. The well completion system of claim 1, in which first fractures are formed into an earth formation by the fluid flow through the first perforations concurrently with the perforating assembly and the first diverters being displaced through the flow passage by the fluid flow.

7. The well completion system of claim 6, in which the first diverters prevent the fluid flow outward through the first perforations after the first fractures are formed, and the fluid flow is thereby diverted to flow outward through second perforations formed by the perforator.

8. The well completion system of claim 7, in which second fractures are formed by the fluid flow outward through the second perforations.

9. The well completion system of claim 1, in which the first diverters are contained in a container, and the first diverters are released from the container downhole prior to, simultaneously with or after second perforations being formed through the casing by the perforator.

10. The well completion system of claim 1, in which the perforating assembly includes a flow restrictor that restricts flow through an annulus formed between the perforating assembly and the casing.

11. The well completion system of claim 1, in which the perforating assembly is displaced by the fluid flow to a desired location along the flow passage, and a perforator of the perforating assembly fires only if the perforating assembly remains motionless at the desired location for a predetermined period of time.

12. The well completion system of claim 1, in which the perforating assembly includes a collar locator, and a perforator of the perforating assembly fires only if the collar locator detects a predetermined number of casing collars.

13. The well completion system of claim 1, in which the perforating assembly includes a collar locator, and a perforator of the perforating assembly fires only if an output of the collar locator indicates that the perforating assembly has remained motionless at the desired location for a predetermined period of time.

14. The well completion system of claim 1, in which the first diverters are retained between a flow restrictor and a perforator of the perforating assembly.

15. The well completion system of claim 14, in which the first diverters are contained in a container between the flow restrictor and a perforator of the perforating assembly.

16. The well completion system of claim 14, in which the first diverters are contained in a container that is configured to degrade downhole and release the first diverters from the container.

17. The well completion system of claim 1, in which a flow restrictor is connected to the perforating assembly by a tether.

18. The well completion system of claim 17, in which the first diverters are releasably attached to the tether.

19. The well completion system of claim 18, in which the first diverters are released from the tether downhole.

20. The well completion system of claim 17, in which the perforating assembly includes a drag device that frictionally engages an interior surface of the casing as the perforating assembly displaces through the flow passage.

21. The well completion system of claim 1, in which the perforating assembly includes at least one sensor that detects the fluid flow out of the first perforations at a location longitudinally spaced apart along the flow passage from a perforator of the perforating assembly.

22. The well completion system of claim 21, in which the at least one sensor comprises an acoustic sensor.

23. The well completion system of claim 21, in which the at least one sensor comprises first and second pressure sensors longitudinally spaced apart along the flow passage.

24. The well completion system of claim 21, in which the perforator is positioned at a desired location for forming second perforations when the at least one sensor detects the fluid flow out of the first perforations.

25. The well completion system of claim 1, further comprising a telemetry control system that sends a signal to the perforating assembly downhole.

26. The well completion system of claim 25, in which the signal comprises a pressure pulse signal.

27. The well completion system of claim 25, in which a perforator of the perforating assembly fires in response to receipt of the signal by a control module of the perforating assembly.

28. A well completion method, comprising:

flowing fluid through a flow passage of a casing lining a wellbore;

deploying one or more diverters and a perforating assembly into the flow passage;

displacing the diverters and the perforating assembly together through the flow passage by the fluid flow; and

ceasing the fluid flow, thereby placing a perforator of the perforating assembly at a desired location for forming new perforations through the casing.

29. The well completion method of claim 28, in which the deploying comprises deploying the diverters into the flow passage prior to deploying the perforating assembly into the flow passage, so that the diverters precede the perforating assembly through the flow passage.

30. The well completion method of claim 28, in which the deploying comprises deploying the diverters into the flow passage after deploying the perforating assembly into the flow passage, so that the diverters follow the perforating assembly through the flow passage.

31. The well completion method of claim 28, further comprising the diverters blocking the fluid flow through the new perforations.

32. The well completion method of claim 28, in which the ceasing comprises the diverters blocking the fluid flow through the new perforations.

33. The well completion method of claim 28, further comprising the perforating assembly degrading downhole after the perforating assembly forms the new perforations through the casing.

34. The well completion method of claim 28, further comprising forming first fractures into an earth formation by the fluid flow, the first fractures forming concurrently with the displacing of the perforating assembly and the diverters through the flow passage by the fluid flow.

35. The well completion method of claim 34, in which the diverters prevent the fluid flow outward through existing perforations after the first fractures are formed, and the fluid flow is thereby diverted to flow outward through the new perforations formed by the perforator.

36. The well completion method of claim 35, in which second fractures are formed by the fluid flow outward through the new perforations.

37. The well completion method of claim 28, in which the diverters are contained in a container, and the diverters are released from the container downhole prior to, simultaneously with or after the new perforations being formed through the casing by the perforator.

38. The well completion method of claim 28, in which the flowing further comprises restricting the fluid flow through an annulus formed between the perforating assembly and the casing.

39. The well completion method of claim 28, further comprising firing the perforator in response to the perforating assembly remaining motionless at the desired location for a predetermined period of time.

40. The well completion method of claim 28, in which the perforating assembly includes a collar locator, and further comprising firing the perforator in response to the collar locator detecting a predetermined number of casing collars.

41. The well completion method of claim 28, in which the perforating assembly includes a collar locator, and further comprising firing the perforator only if an output of the collar locator indicates that the perforating assembly has remained motionless at the desired location for a predetermined period of time.

42. The well completion method of claim 28, further comprising retaining the diverters between a flow restrictor and the perforator.

43. The well completion method of claim 42, further comprising containing the diverters in a container between the flow restrictor and the perforating assembly.

44. The well completion method of claim 28, further comprising containing the diverters in a container, and degrading the container downhole, thereby releasing the diverters from the container.

45. The well completion method of claim 28, further comprising connecting a flow restrictor to a remainder of the perforating assembly by a tether.

46. The well completion method of claim 45, further comprising releasably attaching the diverters to the tether.

47. The well completion method of claim 46, further comprising releasing the diverters from the tether downhole.

48. The well completion method of claim 45, in which the perforating assembly includes a drag device, and in which the displacing further comprises the drag device frictionally engaging an interior surface of the casing as the perforating assembly displaces through the flow passage.

49. The well completion method of claim 28, in which the perforating assembly includes at least one sensor, and further comprising the at least one sensor detecting the fluid flow out of existing perforations at a location longitudinally spaced apart along the flow passage from the perforator.

50. The well completion method of claim 49, in which the detecting comprises the at least one sensor detecting acoustic noise due to the fluid flow through the existing perforations.

51. The well completion method of claim 49, in which the at least one sensor comprises first and second pressure sensors longitudinally spaced apart along the flow passage.

52. The well completion method of claim 49, in which the perforator is positioned at the desired location for forming the new perforations when the at least one sensor detects the fluid flow out of the existing perforations.

53. The well completion method of claim 28, further comprising a telemetry control system sending a signal to the perforating assembly downhole.

54. The well completion method of claim 53, in which the sending comprises generating a pressure pulse signal.

55. The well completion method of claim 53, further comprising the perforator firing and thereby forming the new perforations in response to receipt of the signal at the perforating assembly.

56. A perforating assembly for use in a subterranean well, the perforating assembly comprising:

a perforator; and

a control module including a memory, a motion sensor, a timer, and a controller that causes the perforator to fire in response to a lack of motion sensed by the motion sensor for a predetermined period of time.

57. The perforating assembly of claim 56, further comprising a collar locator, and in which the controller causes the perforator to fire in response to the lack of motion sensed by the motion sensor for the predetermined period of time after detection of a predetermined number of casing collars by the collar locator.

58. The perforating assembly of claim 56, further comprising a collar locator, and in which the perforator of the perforating assembly fires only if the collar locator detects a predetermined number of casing collars.

59. The perforating assembly of claim 56, further comprising a collar locator, and in which the perforator of the perforating assembly fires only if an output of the collar locator indicates that the perforating assembly has remained motionless for a predetermined period of time.

60. The perforating assembly of claim 56, in which one or more diverters are retained between a flow restrictor and the perforator of the perforating assembly.

61. The perforating assembly of claim 60, in which the diverters are contained in a container between the flow restrictor and the perforating assembly.

62. The perforating assembly of claim 61, in which the container is configured to degrade downhole and release the diverters from the container.

63. The perforating assembly of claim 56, in which a flow restrictor is connected to a remainder of the perforating assembly by a tether.

64. The perforating assembly of claim 63, in which one or more diverters are releasably attached to the tether.

65. The perforating assembly of claim 63, further comprising a drag device configured to frictionally engage an interior surface of a casing.

66. A perforating assembly for use in a subterranean well, the perforating assembly comprising:

a perforator; and

one or more diverters attached to the perforator.

67. The perforating assembly of claim 66, in which the diverters are attached exterior to the perforator.

68. The perforating assembly of claim 66, in which the diverters are secured to an outer housing of the perforating assembly.

69. The perforating assembly of claim 66, in which the diverters are retained between a flow restrictor and the perforator.

70. The perforating assembly of claim 69, in which the diverters are contained in a container between the flow restrictor and the perforating assembly.

71. The perforating assembly of claim 70, in which the container is configured to degrade downhole and release the diverters from the container.

72. The perforating assembly of claim 66, in which a flow restrictor is connected to the perforating assembly by a tether.

73. The perforating assembly of claim 72, in which the diverters are releasably attached to the tether.

74. The perforating assembly of claim 66, further comprising a control module including a memory, a motion sensor, a timer, and a controller that causes the perforator to fire in response to a lack of motion sensed by the motion sensor for a predetermined period of time.

75. The perforating assembly of claim 74, further comprising a collar locator, and in which the controller causes the perforator to fire in response to the lack of motion sensed by the motion sensor for the predetermined period of time after detection of a predetermined number of casing collars by the collar locator.

76. The perforating assembly of claim 74, further comprising a collar locator, and in which the perforator of the perforating assembly fires only if the collar locator detects a predetermined number of casing collars.

77. A well completion method, comprising:

flowing fluid through a flow passage of a casing lining a wellbore;

deploying a perforating assembly into the flow passage;

displacing the perforating assembly through the flow passage by the fluid flow at a predetermined flow rate for a predetermined flow time; and

ceasing the fluid flow at an end of the predetermined flow time, thereby placing a perforator of the perforating assembly at a desired location for forming perforations through the casing.

78. The well completion method of claim 77, further comprising displacing a plug to a predetermined location along the flow passage, thereby determining a volume of the fluid corresponding to displacement of the perforating assembly to the desired location along the flow passage.

79. The well completion method of claim 78, in which the predetermined location comprises a restriction in the flow passage.

80. The well completion method of claim 77, in which the deploying comprises deploying one or more diverters into the flow passage prior to deploying the perforating assembly into the flow passage, so that the diverters precede the perforating assembly through the flow passage.

81. The well completion method of claim 77, in which the deploying comprises deploying one or more diverters into the flow passage after deploying the perforating assembly into the flow passage, so that the diverters follow the perforating assembly through the flow passage.

82. The well completion method of claim 77, in which the ceasing comprises one or more diverters blocking the fluid flow through the perforations in the casing.

83. The well completion method of claim 77, further comprising the perforating assembly degrading downhole after the perforating assembly forms the perforations through the casing.

84. The well completion method of claim 77, further comprising forming fractures into an earth formation by the fluid flow concurrently with the displacing of the perforating assembly through the flow passage by the fluid flow.

85. The well completion method of claim 77, in which the flowing further comprises restricting the fluid flow through an annulus formed between the perforating assembly and the casing.

86. The well completion method of claim 77, further comprising firing the perforator in response to the perforating assembly remaining motionless at the desired location for a predetermined period of time.

87. The well completion method of claim 77, in which the perforating assembly includes a collar locator, and further comprising firing the perforator in response to the collar locator detecting a predetermined number of casing collars.

88. The well completion method of claim 77, further comprising retaining one or more diverters between a flow restrictor and the perforator.

89. The well completion method of claim 88, further comprising containing the diverters in a container between the flow restrictor and the perforator.

90. The well completion method of claim 77, further comprising containing the diverters in a container, and degrading the container downhole, thereby releasing the diverters from the container.

91. The well completion method of claim 77, further comprising connecting a flow restrictor to the perforating assembly by a tether.

92. The well completion method of claim 91, further comprising releasably attaching one or more diverters to the tether.

93. The well completion method of claim 92, further comprising releasing the diverters from the tether downhole.

94. The well completion method of claim 77, in which the perforating assembly is displaced to the desired location, without use of a collar locator.