Ball dropping assembly and technique for use in a well

• US 7,624,810 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: O'Rourke, Timothy M., Fould, Jeremie C., Rea, Michael W., Linn, Bryan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay; Jennifer H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ro; Yong-Suk
• Application Number:
  US11/962,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20090159297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 166/387, 166/325, 166/319, 166/332.5, 166/374, 166/66, 166/67, 166/328, 166/75.15, 188/67, 175/39, 175/324
• US Class Current: 166/387
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/0413 using means for blocking fluid flow, e.g. drop balls or darts using balls or the like for actuating downhole valves E21B34/142
• 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 that is usable with a well includes running string that includes a tool and a flowable object that is held in a retained position within the string downhole in the well. After the string is run downhole in the well, the flowable object is released to permit the object to flow in and subsequently seat in a flow path of the string to impede fluid communication so that the tool may be actuated in response to the impeded fluid communication.

Claims

1. A method usable with a well, comprising:

running a string comprising a housing, a tool, and a flowable object held in a retained position within the housing of the string downhole in the well;

after the string is run downhole, pressurizing fluid outside the housing to release the flowable object to permit the object to flow in a flow path within the housing of the string until it is seated therein to impede fluid communication; and

actuating the tool in response to the impeded fluid communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the string comprises an obstruction in the flow path sized to prevent the flowable object when in the flow path from flowing past the obstruction, the method further comprising:

retaining the flowable object below the obstruction prior to the releasing of the flowable object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the string comprises a drill string and the obstruction is formed by a flow modulator of the drill string.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the obstruction is formed by a pathway of a flow modulator, the method further comprising:

receiving a signal at the surface of the well generated by the flow modulator and being indicative of an orientation of the tool.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

before actuation of the tool, manipulating the string to orient the tool.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the tool comprises an oriented packer or an oriented perforating gun.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of actuating the tool comprises pressurizing fluid in the primary flow path.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disposing the flowable device in a recess of a piston disposed in a pocket disposed in the housing of the string; and

securing the piston in position to retain the flowable device in the string.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of releasing the flowable object comprises actuating the piston to deploy the flowable device in the flow path.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of actuating the piston comprises exerting pressure on an outer surface via the pressurized fluid outside the housing.

11. A method usable with a well, comprising:

running a packer downhole in the well on a drill string;

using a flow modulator of the drill string to communicate an orientation of the packer to the surface of the well;

orienting the packer in response to the communicated orientation;

downhole of the flow modulator, introducing a flowable device by pressurizing fluid outside a housing into a central passageway of the string to impede fluid communication through the string such that fluid inside the central passageway becomes pressurized; and

setting the packer in response to the pressurization from the impeded fluid communication.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

stabbing the string into a tie back receptacle, wherein the act of introducing the flowable device into the central passageway comprises pressurizing an annular region that surrounds the string while the string is stabbed into the receptacle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the act of introducing the flowable object into the central passageway comprises closing a circulation valve upstream of the flowable device to increase a pressure on the flowable device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

circulating fluid through the central passageway to flow the flowable device into a seat of string.

15. A system usable with a well, comprising:

a flowable object;

a string comprising a housing defining a flow path therein, and a tool adapted to be actuated by the flowable object; and

a retaining device located in the housing of the string and comprising a piston, wherein an outer surface of the piston is in contact with fluid outside the housing,

the retaining device adapted to retain the flowable object during a run in hole state of the string, wherein the retaining device is actuated by fluid pressure acting on the outer surface of the piston to release the flowable object into the flow path, thereby impeding fluid flow in the flow path and pressurizing the fluid therein, to actuate the tool.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the retaining device is located below an obstruction in the flow path sized to prevent the flowable object from flowing past the obstruction.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the flowable object is adapted to lodge in a seat of the flow path when released, the system further comprising:

a setting tool adapted to respond to pressurization of the flow path when the flowable object is lodged in the seat to actuate the other tool.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the tool comprises a packer, a whipstock or a perforating gun.

19. A system usable with a well, comprising:

a drill string comprising a flow modulator, a packer setting tools and a packer; and

a retaining device located in the string downhole of the flow modulator, the retaining device that selectively retains a flowable object outside of a central passageway of the string and release the flowable object into the central passageway based on a pressure in an annular region outside of the retaining device exceeding a pressure threshold,

wherein the flowable object, after being released into the central passageway, lodges in a seat in the central passageway to block fluid flow and build fluid pressure therein, and

wherein the packer setting tool is actuated by the fluid pressure to set the packer.

20. A system usable with a well, comprising:

a drill string comprising a flow modulator, a packer setting tool and a packer;

a circulation valve adapted to be open and closed; and

a retaining device located in the string downhole of the flow modulator, the retaining device adapted to selectively retain a flowable object and release the flowable object into a central passageway of the string in response to the circulation valve closing,

wherein the flowable object, after being released into the central passageway, lodges in a seat in the central passageway to block fluid flow and build fluid pressure therein,

wherein the packer setting tool is actuated by the fluid pressure to set the packer.