Subsurface electro-hydraulic power unit
First Claim
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1. An electro-hydraulic well control system, comprising:
- a downhole electro-hydraulic power unit in communication with, and at least partially controlled by, a surface control system;
a first hydraulically actuated tool interconnected in a tubular string and hydraulically connected to the power unit; and
a second hydraulically actuated tool interconnected in the tubular string and hydraulically connected to the power unit, and the second tool performing a function redundant to that of the first tool, the power unit actuating the second tool to perform the function when the first tool is incapable of performing the function.
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Abstract
A subsurface electro-hydraulic power unit provided by the present invention permits existing hydraulically actuated well tools to be utilized in situations where control lines extending from the tools to the surface are undesirable or economically prohibitive. In a described embodiment, an electro-hydraulic power unit is in communication with a surface control system. The power unit may be supplied with electrical power from the surface control system, or it may include a power supply, such as batteries. The power unit may respond to a signal transmitted from the surface control system to select from among multiple redundant well tools for actuation thereof.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electro-hydraulic well control system, comprising:
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a downhole electro-hydraulic power unit in communication with, and at least partially controlled by, a surface control system;
a first hydraulically actuated tool interconnected in a tubular string and hydraulically connected to the power unit; and
a second hydraulically actuated tool interconnected in the tubular string and hydraulically connected to the power unit, and the second tool performing a function redundant to that of the first tool, the power unit actuating the second tool to perform the function when the first tool is incapable of performing the function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling well tools installed in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
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interconnecting first and second hydraulically actuated tools and a downhole electro-hydraulic power unit in a tubular string, the second tool performing a function redundant to that of the first tool;
positioning the tubular string in the well;
establishing communication between the power unit and a surface control system; and
transmitting a signal from the surface control system to the power unit to thereby cause the power unit to actuate the second tool when the first tool is incapable of performing the function. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electro-hydraulic well control system, comprising:
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a downhole power unit interconnected in a tubular string positioned in a well, the power unit including a pump and a fluid reservoir connected to the pump, the power unit further including a fluid quality sensor connected to the reservoir; and
a surface control system in communication with the power unit, the surface control system receiving an indication of quality of fluid in the reservoir from the fluid quality sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An electro-hydraulic well control system, comprising:
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a surface control system; and
a downhole power unit in communication with the surface control system and interconnected in a tubular string positioned in a well, the power unit including a pump having an output connected to a pressure sensor of the power unit and to a hydraulically actuated tool interconnected in the tubular string, the pump ceasing to operate in response to an indication from the pressure sensor that a pressure has been produced by the pump that is in a predetermined range to actuate the tool. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification