Method of providing hydraulic/fiber conduits adjacent bottom hole assemblies for multi-step completions

• US 6,983,796 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Norris, Michael W., Voll, Benn A., Bayne, Christian F., Zisk, Edward J. Jr., Zachman, James R., Bilberry, David A., Falconer, Graeme H., Broome, J. Todd, Hodges, Steve B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, KENNETH L
• Application Number:
  US09/754,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20020007948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 166/250.17, 166/338, 166/340, 166/341, 166/344, 166/381, 166/387, 166/278, 166/51, 166/65.1, 166/123, 166/181, 166/235, 166/385, 439/194, 439/190
• US Class Current: 166/278
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/003 with electrically conducting or insulating means E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/026 Arrangements for fixing cables or wirelines to the outside of downhole devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling

Abstract

A technique for providing auxiliary conduits in multi-trip completions is disclosed. The technique has particular applicability to liner mounted screens which are to be gravel packed. In the preferred embodiment, a protective shroud is run with the gravel pack screens with the auxiliary conduits disposed in between. The auxiliary conduits terminate in a quick connection at a liner top packer. The gravel packing equipment can optionally be secured in a flow relationship to the auxiliary conduits so as to control the gravel packing operation. Subsequent to the removal of the specialized equipment, the production tubing can be run with an auxiliary conduit or conduits for connection down hole to the auxiliary conduits coming from the liner top packer for a sealing connection. Thereafter, during production various data on the well can be obtained in real time despite the multiple trips necessary to accomplish completion. The various completion and/or production activities can also be accomplished using the auxiliary conduits such as actuation of down hole flow control devices, chemical injection, pressure measurement, distributed temperature sensing through fiber optics, as well as other down hole parameters.

Claims

1. A method of completion of a well, comprising:

attaching at least one auxiliary conduit or cable to a downhole assembly;

providing a connection to said conduit or cable;

running in said downhole assembly with said cable or conduit to a desired location in the well;

tagging into said downhole assembly and said connection of said conduit or cable downhole on at least one subsequent trip into the well with a tubular having at least one auxiliary cable or conduit extending along said tubular'"'"'s length from the surface;

communicating through said auxiliary cable or conduit between the surface and the downhole assembly on a real time basis.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing said tagging in without rotation.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

selectively locking any connection resulting from said tagging in.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring said auxiliary conduit or cable adjacent said downhole assembly in a manor which permits monitoring or altering adjacent well conditions or the functioning of the downhole assembly.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using said auxiliary cable or conduit to operate at least a portion of said downhole assembly.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

running at least one cable and at least one conduit auxiliary to the downhole assembly;

securing said cable to said conduit.

7. A method of completion of a well, comprising:

attaching at least one auxiliary conduit or cable to a downhole assembly;

providing a connection to said conduit or cable;

running in said downhole assembly with said cable or conduit to a desired location in the well;

tagging into said downhole assembly and said connection of said conduit or cable downhole on at least one subsequent trip into the well with a tubular having at least one auxiliary cable or conduit extending along its length from the surface;

communicating through said auxiliary cable or conduit between the surface and the downhole assembly on a real time basis;

tagging into said downhole assembly on a subsequent trip with production tubing having at least one auxiliary cable or conduit which is also connectable to said connection of said cable or conduit on the downhole assembly;

communicating during production through auxiliary cable or conduit between the surface and the downhole assembly on a real time basis.

8. A method of completion of a well, comprising:

attaching at least one auxiliary conduit or cable to a downhole assembly;

providing a connection to said conduit or cable;

running in said downhole assembly with said cable or conduit to a desired location in the well;

tagging into said downhole assembly and said connection of said conduit or cable downhole on at least one subsequent trip into the well with a tubular having at least one auxiliary cable or conduit extending along its length from the surface;

communicating through said auxiliary cable or conduit between the surface and the downhole assembly on a real time basis;

plugging said connection during said running in of the downhole assembly and auxiliary cable or conduit;

unplugging said connection with another trip into the well.

9. A method of completion of a well, comprising:

attaching at least one auxiliary conduit or cable to a downhole assembly;

providing a connection to said conduit or cable;

running in said downhole assembly with said cable or conduit to a desired location in the well;

tagging into said downhole assembly and said connection of said conduit or cable downhole on at least one subsequent trip into the well with a tubular having at least one auxiliary cable or conduit extending along its length from the surface;

communicating through said auxiliary cable or conduit between the surface and the downhole assembly on a real time basis;

configuring said auxiliary conduit or cable adjacent said downhole assembly in a manor which permits monitoring or altering adjacent well conditions or the functioning of the downhole assembly;

using a gravel pack screen and packer for said downhole assembly extending said cable or conduit through said packer to said connection.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

delivering gravel through said at least one of conduits.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

running in an outer jacket, assembled over said cable or conduit, together with said screen and packer.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

running in at least one fiber optic cable on said screen;

using said fiber optic to determine fluid conditions flowing to said screen.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing a winding inlet channel for inflow to said screen;

locating said fiber optic in said channel.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

using a fiber optic cable to monitor the compaction of gravel per unit length of screen;

using a plurality of conduits for gravel deposition at different locations of said screen;

sensing downhole conditions during production through said screen using said fiber optic cable.

15. A method of completion of a well, comprising:

attaching at least one auxiliary conduit or cable to a downhole assembly;

providing a connection to said conduit or cable;

running in said downhole assembly with said cable or conduit to a desired location in the well;

tagging into said downhole assembly and said connection of said conduit or cable downhole on at least one subsequent trip into the well with a tubular having at least one auxiliary cable or conduit extending along said tubular'"'"'s length from the surface;

communicating through said auxiliary cable or conduit between the surface and the downhole assembly on a real time basis;

using fiber optic as said cable.

16. A method of completion of a well, comprising:

attaching at least one auxiliary conduit or cable to a downhole assembly;

providing a connection to said conduit or cable;

running in said downhole assembly with said cable or conduit to a desired location in the well;

tagging into said downhole assembly and said connection of said conduit or cable downhole on at least one subsequent trip into the well with a tubular having at least one auxiliary cable or conduit extending along its length from the surface;

communicating through said auxiliary cable or conduit between the surface and the downhole assembly on a real time basis;

using fiber optic as said cable;

using said fiber optic to measure a downhole condition on or about said downhole assembly.

17. A method of completion of a well, comprising:

attaching at least one auxiliary conduit or cable to a downhole assembly;

providing a connection to said conduit or cable;

running in said downhole assembly with said cable or conduit to a desired location in the well;

tagging into said downhole assembly and said connection of said conduit or cable downhole on at least one subsequent trip into the well with a tubular having at least one auxiliary cable or conduit extending along said tubular'"'"'s length from the surface;

communicating through said auxiliary cable or conduit between the surface and the downhole assembly on a real time basis;

running said auxiliary conduit or cable in a U-shaped path so as to provide a pair of connections;

extending said U-shaped path to the surface as a result of said tagging, an auxillary conductor or cable attached to a tubular run in from the surface, into a respective connection on a subsequent trip into the wellbore.

18. A method of completion of a well, comprising:

attaching at least one auxiliary conduit or cable to a downhole assembly;

providing a connection to said conduit or cable;

running in said downhole assembly with said cable or conduit to a desired location in the well;

tagging into said downhole assembly and said connection of said conduit or cable downhole on at least one subsequent trip into the well with a tubular having at least one auxiliary cable or conduit extending along said tubular'"'"'s length from the surface;

communicating through said auxiliary cable or conduit between the surface and the downhole assembly on a real time basis;

providing an external through on said downhole assembly;

mounting a fiber optic cable in said through.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

securely mounting said fiber optic cable to said through to allow real time sensing of a downhole condition on or about the downhole assembly.

20. A method of completion of a well, comprising:

attaching at least one auxiliary conduit or cable to a downhole assembly;

providing a connection to said conduit or cable;

running in said downhole assembly with said cable or conduit to a desired location in the well;

tagging into said downhole assembly and said connection of said conduit or cable downhole on at least one subsequent trip into the well with a tubular having at least one auxiliary cable or conduit extending along its length from the surface;

communicating through said auxiliary cable or conduit between the surface and the downhole assembly on a real time basis;

mounting a fiber optic cable inside said conduit.