Wellsite systems utilizing deployable structure

• US 7,896,088 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Thomeer, Hubertus V., Patton, Bartley, Tashiro, Hitoshi, Guerrero, Julio C., Mallalieu, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HOANG C
• Application Number:
  US12/034,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20090159295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 166/381, 166/382, 166/206
• US Class Current: 166/382
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/001 Self-propelling systems or apparatus, e.g. for moving tools within the horizontal portion of a borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/14 for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/18 Anchoring or feeding in the borehole

Abstract

An apparatus for deploying an instrument usable with a well comprises at least one reversibly expandable structure, at least one actuator operable to change a perimeter dimension of the at least one reversibly expandable structure, at least one instrument disposed interior of the at least one reversibly expandable structure, and having an axial dimension, and tractoring fluid disposed between the at least one reversibly expandable structure and the at least one instrument. The apparatus is operable to perform at least one of exerting thrust to convey the at least one instrument with respect to at least one adjacent surface, creating compensating pressure between the at least one instrument and the at least one adjacent surface, and sealing between the at least one instrument and the at least one adjacent surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for deploying an instrument usable with a well, comprising:

at least one reversibly expandable structure;

at least one actuator operable to change a perimeter dimension of the at least one reversibly expandable structure;

at least one instrument disposed interior of the at least one reversibly expandable structure, and having an axial dimension; and

tractoring fluid disposed between the at least one reversibly expandable structure and the at least one instrument,

the apparatus operable to perform at least one of exerting thrust to convey the at least one instrument with respect to at least one adjacent surface, creating compensating pressure between the at least one instrument and the at least one adjacent surface, and sealing between the at least one instrument and the at least one adjacent surface;

wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one compliant mechanism attached to an interior perimeter of the at least one reversibly expandable structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the perimeter dimension of the at least one reversibly expandable structure is variable, lockable, and adjustable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one reversibly expandable structure has a predetermined maximum and minimum perimeter dimension defined by an expansion ratio.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least one actuator is operable to move the at least one reversibly expandable structure between the maximum and minimum perimeter dimensions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one actuator comprises a one of a linear actuator, a rotary actuator, a rotatable disk actuator, a lever actuator, and a Peaucellier-Lipkin type actuatable linkage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one compliant mechanism is disposed between the at least one reversibly expandable structure and the at least one instrument.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the compliant mechanism comprises at least one compliant ring.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one reversibly expandable structure is operable to engage with instruments and adjacent surfaces having a range of dimensions.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one adjacent surface is a wellsite equipment surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one adjacent surface is a surface in a wellbore.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the instrument comprises a one of patch, a plug, an actuator, a tractor, and a logging tool.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the instrument comprises a sliding sleeve.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus produces thrust in the instrument by propagating a one of retrograde film wave motion and direct wave film motion in the tractoring fluid.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one reversibly expandable structure comprises at least a pair of reversibly expandable structures connected in series along an axial dimension of the at least one instrument.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein each of the reversibly expandable structures performs one of exerting thrust to convey the at least one instrument with respect to at least one adjacent surface, creating pressure between the at least one instrument and at least one adjacent surface, and sealing between the at least one instrument and at least one adjacent surface.

16. A method of conveying an instrument at a wellsite, comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus comprising at least one reversibly expandable structure, at least one actuator operable to change a perimeter dimension of the at least one reversibly expandable structure, at least one instrument disposed interior of the at least one reversibly expandable structure, and having an axial dimension, and tractoring fluid disposed between the at least one reversibly expandable structure and the at least one instrument;

operating the actuator to change the perimeter dimension of the at least one reversibly expandable structure; and

performing an operation on the at least one instrument with respect to at least one adjacent surface at the wellsite,

wherein performing comprising the apparatus producing thrust in the instrument by propagating a one of retrograde film wave motion and direct wave film motion in the tractoring fluid.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the perimeter dimension of the at least one reversibly expandable structure is variable, lockable, and adjustable.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one reversibly expandable structure has a predetermined maximum and minimum perimeter dimension defined by an expansion ratio and wherein the at least one actuator is operable to move the at least one reversibly expandable structure between the maximum and minimum perimeter dimensions.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one actuator comprises a one of a linear actuator, a rotary actuator, a rotatable disk actuator, a lever actuator, and a Peaucellier-Lipkin type actuatable linkage.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing at least one compliant mechanism and disposing the at least one compliant mechanism between the at least one reversibly expandable structure and the at least one instrument.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the compliant mechanism comprises at least one compliant ring.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one reversibly expandable structure is operable to engage with instruments and adjacent surfaces having a range of dimensions.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one adjacent surface comprises a wellsite equipment surface.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one adjacent surface is a surface in a wellbore.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the instrument comprises a one of patch, a plug, an actuator, a tractor, a logging tool, and a sliding sleeve.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein providing comprises providing at least a pair of reversibly expandable structures connected in series along an axial dimension of the at least one instrument.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein performing comprises each of the reversibly expandable structures performing one of exerting thrust to convey the at least one instrument with respect to at least one adjacent surface, creating pressure between the at least one instrument and at least one adjacent surface, and sealing between the at least one instrument and at least one adjacent surface.