Intermediate disconnection tool to be placed in a shuttle lowered into a well for exploiting a fluid, and related shuttle and method

• US 8,887,817 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2010
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geoservices Equipements (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Geoservices Equipements (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Le Briere, Bruno, Laplane, Clement, Didi, Abdelkader, Chatelet, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Yong-Suk (Philip)
• Application Number:
  US13/377,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20120186826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 166/377, 166/242.6, 166/242.1, 166/65.1, 166/65.6
• US Class Current: 166/377
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/06 Releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints

Abstract

This tool comprises an upper portion and a lower portion able to move relative to each other between a connected position and a completely disconnected position. The tool comprises an immobilization member that can be freed from the upper portion relative to the lower portion, a member for releasing the immobilization member, and a mechanism for moving the release member housed in the tool. The movement mechanism comprises an actuator and a receptor for receiving a control signal.

Claims

1. An intermediate disconnecting tool, intended to be placed in a lower assembly lowered into a well, comprising:

an upper portion, intended to be connected to a cable working line, and a lower portion, intended to be connected to a bottom tool, the upper portion and the lower portion being mounted so as to move relative to each other between a connected position in which the upper and lower portions are connected on each other and a completely disconnected position, in which the upper portion can be raised to the surface independently of the lower portion, one of the upper portion and the lower portion defining a head, the other of the upper portion and the lower portion defining a receiving cavity receiving the head sealably in the connected position;

at least one immobilization member that can be freed from the upper portion relative to the lower portion in the connected position;

a release member for releasing the immobilization member, able to move between an activation position for activating the immobilization member and a release position for releasing the immobilization member;

a mechanism for moving the release member housed in the tool, the movement mechanism comprising an actuator including an energy source, and a receptor for receiving a control signal for powering the actuator via the energy source after receiving the control signal;

wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one member for elastic stressing of the release member towards a release position and at least one retaining member for keeping the release member in an activation position against the stressing member, the actuator being able to release the retaining member after receiving the control signal,

wherein the tool defines at least one pressure equalization orifice connecting the receiving cavity and the outside of the tool, the tool comprising a pressure equalization member able to move in the pressure equalization orifice between a closing configuration closing the pressure equalization orifice and a pressure equalization configuration through the pressure equalization orifice, the pressure equalization member being separate from the release member, the release member in the activation position keeping the pressure equalization member in the closing configuration, the release member in the release position allowing the movement of the pressure equalization member from the closing configuration towards the pressure equalization configuration.

2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the pressure equalization member comprises a rod defining an inner channel, the inner channel being released in the pressure equalization configuration, the inner channel being closed in the closing configuration.

3. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the release member defines a housing for receiving the pressure equalization member emerging in a peripheral surface of the release member, the pressure equalization member being arranged in the receiving housing in the release position.

4. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the or each pressure equalization orifice extends radially relative to an axis (X-X′

) of extension of the tool.

5. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor, the energy source comprising an electrical power battery of the electric motor.

6. The tool according to claim 5, wherein the electric motor has a power consumption of less than 5 watt.

7. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a rotary cam, the retaining member cooperating with the rotary cam so that the rotation of the rotary cam disengages the retaining member from the release member.

8. The tool according to claim 7, wherein the retaining member comprises at least one pivoting hook having a free end engaged against the rotary cam.

9. The tool according to claim 1, wherein, the tool being arranged in the well, the receptor is configured to receive an electric, electromagnetic, magnetic, mechanical or acoustic control signal emitted from the surface, or a control signal received from a retarder carried by the tool.

10. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is completely received in the upper portion.

11. A lower assembly intended to be lowered in a well, comprising:

a connector for connecting to a cable working line;

at least one bottom tool; and

the intermediate disconnecting tool according to claim 1,

wherein at least in the disconnected position of the intermediate disconnecting tool, the connector is connected to the upper portion of the intermediate disconnecting tool, the bottom tool being connected to the lower portion of the intermediate disconnecting tool.

12. The lower assembly according to claim 11, further comprising at least one measuring tool inserted between the upper portion and the connector, the lower assembly comprising at least one intervention tool arranged under the lower portion.

13. The lower assembly according to claim 11, further comprising at least one measuring tool inserted between the upper portion and the connector, the lower assembly comprising at least one measuring tool arranged under the lower portion.

14. An intermediate disconnecting tool, intended to be placed in a lower assembly lowered into a well, comprising:

an upper portion, intended to be connected to a cable working line, and a lower portion, intended to be connected to a bottom tool, the upper portion and the lower portion being mounted so as to move relative to each other between a connected position in which the upper and lower portions are connected on each other and a completely disconnected position, in which the upper portion can be raised to the surface independently of the lower portion, one of the upper portion and the lower portion defining a head, the other of the upper portion and the lower portion defining a receiving cavity receiving the head sealably in the connected position;

at least one immobilization member that can be freed from the upper portion relative to the lower portion in the connected position;

a release member for releasing the immobilization member, able to move between an activation position for activating the immobilization member and a release position for releasing the immobilization member;

a mechanism for moving the release member housed in the tool, the movement mechanism comprising an actuator including an energy source, and a receptor for receiving a control signal for powering the actuator via the energy source after receiving the control signal;

wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one member for elastic stressing of the release member towards a release position and at least one retaining member for keeping the release member in an activation position against the stressing member, the actuator being able to release the retaining member after receiving the control signal, and

wherein the upper portion comprises a first electric section, the lower portion comprising a second electric section intended to be connected to an electrical line of the bottom tool, the tool comprising at least one intermediate electrical section connecting the first section to the second section, the intermediate electrical section being disconnectable.

15. A lower assembly intended to be lowered in a well, comprising:

a connector for connecting to a cable working line;

at least one bottom tool; and

the intermediate disconnecting tool according to claim 14,

wherein at least in the disconnected position of the intermediate disconnecting tool, the connector is connected to the upper portion of the intermediate disconnecting tool, the bottom tool being connected to the lower portion of the intermediate disconnecting tool.

16. A method for disconnecting a lower assembly comprising:

a connector for connecting to a cable working line;

at least one bottom tool; and

an intermediate disconnecting tool comprising;

an upper portion, intended to be connected to the cable working line, and a lower portion, intended to be connected to the bottom tool, the upper portion and the lower portion being mounted so as to move relative to each other between a position connected on each other and a completely disconnected position, in which the upper portion can be raised to the surface independently of the lower portion, one of the upper portion and the lower portion defining a head, the other of the upper portion and the lower portion defining a receiving cavity receiving the head sealably in the connected position;

at least one immobilization member that can be freed from the upper portion relative to the lower portion in the connected position;

a member for releasing the immobilization member, mounted able to move between an activation position for activating the immobilization member and a release position for releasing the immobilization member;

a mechanism for moving the release member housed in the tool, the movement mechanism comprising an actuator including an energy source, and a receptor for receiving a control signal capable of for powering the actuator via the energy source after receiving the control signal;

wherein the movement mechanism comprises at least one member for elastic stressing of the release member towards the release position and at least one retaining member for keeping the release member in the activation position against the stressing member, the actuator being able to release the retaining member after receiving the control signal, and

wherein at least in the disconnected position, the connector is connected to the upper portion, the bottom tool being connected to the lower portion, and

wherein the tool defines at least one pressure equalization orifice connecting the receiving cavity and the outside of the tool, the tool comprising a pressure equalization member able to move in the pressure equalization orifice between a closing configuration closing the pressure equalization orifice and a pressure equalization configuration through the pressure equalization orifice,

the method comprising;

receiving a control signal of the actuator from the surface via the receptor

activating the actuator via the energy source housed in the tool

disengaging the retaining member via the actuator away from the release member;

moving the release member between the activation position of the immobilization member and the release position of the immobilization member under the effect of the stress member and releasing-the immobilization member;

passing the pressure equalization member from the closing configuration towards the pressure equalization configuration upon reaching the release position of the release member;

moving the upper portion via the cable working line, without moving the lower portion to go from the connected position to the completely disconnected position.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the pressure equalization member goes from the closing configuration to the pressure equalization configuration under the effect of the pressure from the outside fluid applied on the tool.