Method of and apparatus for completing a well

• US 8,833,469 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Petrowell Limited (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Purkis, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Yong-Suk (Philip)
• Application Number:
  US12/677,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20100200244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 166/373, 166/332.8, 166/250.01, 166/65.1, 166/64
• US Class Current: 166/373
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/06 for setting packers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/26 Storing data down-hole, e.g. in a memory or on a record carrier

Abstract

A completion apparatus (4) for completing a wellbore comprises a) a tool to alternatively open and close a throughbore (15) of the completion; b) a tool (13) to alternatively open and close an annulus defined between the outer surface of the completion and the inner surface of the wellbore; c) a tool to alternatively provide and prevent a fluid circulation route from the throughbore of the completion to the said annulus (11); and d) at least one signal receiver and processing tool (9) capable of decoding signals received relating to the operation of tools a) to c).

Claims

1. A completion apparatus for completing a wellbore comprising:

a downhole barrier tool to alternatively open and close a throughbore of the completion apparatus;

a downhole packer tool to alternatively open and close an annulus defined between the outer surface of the completion apparatus and the inner surface of the wellbore;

a downhole circulation tool to alternatively provide and prevent a fluid circulation route from the throughbore of the completion apparatus to the annulus above the packer tool; and

a downhole signal receiver and processing tool that decodes wireless signals received to operate the downhole barrier tool, the downhole packer tool and the downhole circulation tool;

wherein the circulation tool is located below the signal receiver and processing tool, and both the packer tool and the barrier tool are located below the circulation tool.

2. The completion apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a downhole actuation tool comprising a powered actuation mechanism to operate the downhole barrier tool, the downhole packer tool and the downhole circulation tool under instruction from the downhole signal received processing tool.

3. The completion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the downhole signal receiver and processing tool comprises a downhole timed instruction storage means provided with a series of instructions and associated operational timings for instructing the downhole actuation tool to operate the downhole barrier tool, the downhole packer tool and the downhole circulation tool.

4. The completion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the downhole signal receiver and processing tool and the downhole actuation tool are formed in one downhole tool having multiple features.

5. The completion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the downhole actuation tool comprises an electrical power means which comprises an electrical power storage means in the form of one or more batteries.

6. The completion apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the downhole actuation tool further comprises an electrical motor driven by the batteries that provides motive power to operate, either directly or indirectly, the downhole barrier tool, the downhole packer tool and the downhole circulation tool.

7. The completion apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the downhole actuation tool preferably moves a piston to provide hydraulic fluid power to operate the downhole barrier tool, the downhole packer tool and the downhole circulation tool.

8. The completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downhole circulation tool is located, within a production string, closer to the surface of the well than either of the downhole barrier tool and the downhole packer tool.

9. The completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downhole circulation tool comprises a circulation sub.

10. The completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downhole barrier tool comprises a valve.

11. The completion apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the valve comprises a ball valve or a flapper valve.

12. The completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downhole packer tool comprises a packer or the like.

13. The completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one downhole signal receiver and processing tool is capable of wirelessly receiving signals sent from the surface and comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag receiving coil.

14. The completion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downhole signal receiver and processing tool comprises a second signal receiving means capable of decoding wireless signals received relating to the operation of the downhole barrier tool, the downhole packer tool and the downhole circulation tool and said second signal receiving means of the downhole signal receiver and processing tool comprises a pressure sensor.

15. A method of completing a wellbore comprising the following steps in turn of:

i) running in a completion apparatus into the wellbore, the completion apparatus being provided at a lower end of a production tubing which is adapted to selectively contain fluid at pressure, the completion apparatus comprising;

a downhole barrier tool to alternatively open and close a throughbore of the completion apparatus;

a downhole packer tool to alternatively open and close an annulus defined between an outer surface of the completion apparatus and an inner surface of the wellbore;

a downhole circulation tool to alternatively provide and prevent a fluid circulation route from the throughbore of the completion apparatus to the annulus; and

a downhole signal receiver and processing tool that decodes wireless signals received relating to the operation of the downhole barrier tool, the downhole packer tool and the downhole circulation tool;

ii) operating the downhole barrier tool to close the throughbore of the completion apparatus;

iii) increasing a pressure within the production tubing to pressure test the completion apparatus and the production tubing;

iv) operating the downhole packer tool to close the annulus;

v) operating the downhole circulation tool to provide a fluid circulation route from the throughbore of the completion apparatus to the annulus and circulate a fluid through the production tubing and out into the annulus and back to a surface;

vi) operating the downhole circulation tool to prevent the fluid circulation route from the throughbore of the completion apparatus to the annulus such that the fluid is prevented from circulating; and

vii) operating the downhole barrier tool to open the throughbore of the completion apparatus.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the downhole circulation tool is operated to provide or prevent fluid circulation through a sidewall of the completion.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein one or more of the steps ii), iv), v), vi) and vii) are carried out by transmitting a signal arranged to be received by a signal receiver means of the downhole signal receiver and processing tool.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the steps ii), iv), v), vi) and vii) further comprise transmitting the signal without requiring an intervention into the completion apparatus and without requiring cables to transmit power and signals from the surface to the completion apparatus.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step ii) and/or the step vi) comprises coding a means to carry data at the surface with the signal, introducing the means to carry data into the fluid path such that it flows toward and through at least a portion of the completion apparatus such that the signal is received by the signal receiver means of the downhole signal receiver and processing tool.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step iv) and/or the step v) and/or the step vii) further comprise sending the signal via a change in the pressure of the fluid contained within the throughbore of the completion apparatus.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step iv) comprises sending the signal via a predetermined frequency of changes in the pressure of the fluid contained within the throughbore of the completion apparatus such that a second signal receiving means of the downhole signal receiver and processing tool detects said signal.

22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising verifying that the downhole packer tool has operated to close the annulus.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step v) further comprises sending the signal via a different predetermined frequency of changes in the pressure of the fluid contained within the throughbore of the completion apparatus compared to the frequency used in the step iv) such that a second signal receiving means of the downhole signal receiver and processing tool detects said signal and acts to operate the downhole circulation tool to provide a fluid circulation route from the throughbore of the completion apparatus to the annulus.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step vii) comprises sending the signal via a different predetermined frequency of changes in the pressure of the fluid contained within the throughbore of the completion apparatus compared to the frequency used in the steps iv) and v) such that a second signal receiving means of the downhole signal receiver and processing tool detects said signal and acts to operate the downhole barrier tool to open the throughbore of the completion apparatus.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step iii) further comprises increasing the pressure within the production tubing to pressure test the completion apparatus by increasing the pressure of a fluid at the surface of the well in communication with the fluid in the throughbore of the completion apparatus above the closed downhole barrier tool.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein the downhole circulation tool is run into the well in a closed configuration such that fluid cannot flow from the throughbore of the completion apparatus to the annulus via side ports formed in the downhole circulation tool.

27. The method according to claim 15, wherein the downhole barrier tool is run into the well in an open configuration such that fluid can flow through the throughbore of the completion apparatus without being impeded or prevented by the downhole barrier tool.

28. The method according to claim 15, wherein the downhole packer tool is run into the wellbore in an unset configuration such that the annulus is not closed by it during running in.

29. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises storing a series of instructions in a storage means at surface prior to running the completion apparatus into the wellbore.