Tubing conveyed multiple zone integrated intelligent well completion

• US 8,893,783 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Tips, Timothy R., Richards, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, ROBERT EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US13/913,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20140083684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 166/369, 166/313, 166/373, 166/374, 166/375, 166/250.01, 731/521.8, 731/525.1, 731/525.2
• US Class Current: 166/250.01
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves

Abstract

A system for use with a well having multiple zones can include multiple well screens which filter fluid flowing between a tubing string and respective ones of the zones, at least one optical waveguide which senses at least one property of the fluid as it flows between the tubing string and at least one of the zones, multiple flow control devices which variably restrict flow of the fluid through respective ones of the well screens, and multiple pressure sensors which sense pressure of the fluid which flows through respective ones of the well screens. A tubing string for use in a subterranean well can include at least one well screen, at least one flow control device which selectively prevents and permits substantially unrestricted flow through the well screen, and at least one other flow control device which is remotely operable, and which variably restricts flow through the well screen.

Claims

1. A method of operating a tubing string in a subterranean well, the method comprising:

closing all of multiple flow control devices connected in the tubing string, the tubing string including multiple well screens which filter fluid flowing between the tubing string and respective ones of multiple earth formation zones, at least one optical waveguide which senses at least one property of the fluid as it flows between the tubing string and at least one of the zones, the multiple flow control devices which variably restrict flow of the fluid through respective ones of the multiple well screens, and multiple pressure sensors which sense a pressure differential across respective ones of the multiple flow control devices;

at least partially opening a first selected one of the flow control devices; and

measuring a first change in the property sensed by the optical waveguide and a first change in the pressure of the fluid as a result of the opening of the first selected one of the flow control devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

closing all of the multiple flow control devices after the at least partially opening the first selected one of the flow control devices;

at least partially opening a second selected one of the flow control devices; and

measuring a second change in the property sensed by the optical waveguide and a second change in the pressure of the fluid as a result of the opening of the second selected one of the flow control devices.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing the multiple well screens, the optical waveguide, the multiple flow control devices, and the multiple pressure sensors in the well in a single trip into the well.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the tubing string further comprises multiple hydraulic control devices which control application of hydraulic actuation pressure to respective ones of the multiple flow control devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a single one of the hydraulic control devices controls application of hydraulic actuation pressure to multiple ones of the flow control devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensors sense pressure of the fluid external to the tubing string.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensors sense pressure of the fluid internal to the tubing string.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow control devices comprise remotely hydraulically actuated variable chokes.

9. The method of claim1, wherein the flow control devices comprise autonomous variable flow restrictors.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow control devices receive the fluid from the respective ones of the multiple well screens.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned external to the well screens.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned between the well screens and the zones.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned internal to the well screens.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing an electric pump in the tubing string after the measuring.

15. A method of installing a tubing string in a subterranean well, the method comprising:

conveying the tubing string with a safety valve into the well in a single trip;

landing the tubing string;

then setting multiple packers in the tubing string;

closing all of multiple flow control devices connected in the tubing string, the tubing string including multiple well screens which filter fluid flowing between the tubing string and respective ones of multiple earth formation zones, at least one optical waveguide which senses at least one first property of the fluid as it flows between the tubing string and at least one of the zones, the multiple flow control devices which variably restrict flow of the fluid through respective ones of the multiple well screens, and multiple sensors which sense at least one second property of the fluid which flows through respective ones of the multiple well screens;

at least partially opening a first selected one of the flow control devices; and

measuring a first change in the first property sensed by the optical waveguide and a first change in the pressure of the fluid as a result of the opening of the first selected one of the flow control devices.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

closing all of the multiple flow control devices after the at least partially opening the first selected one of the flow control devices;

at least partially opening a second selected one of the flow control devices; and

measuring a second change in the first property sensed by the optical waveguide and a second change in the second property of the fluid as a result of the opening of the second selected one of the flow control devices.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the conveying further comprises installing the multiple well screens, the optical waveguide, the multiple flow control devices, and the multiple sensors in the well in the single trip into the well.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the tubing string further comprises multiple hydraulic control devices which control application of hydraulic actuation pressure to respective ones of the multiple flow control devices.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a single one of the hydraulic control devices controls application of hydraulic actuation pressure to multiple ones of the flow control devices.

20. The method claim 15, wherein lines extending along the tubing string are installed without making any connection in the lines during the conveying.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising installing an electric pump in the tubing string after setting the multiple packers.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising installing an electric pump in the tubing string, wherein the tubing string is installed without making any connection in lines extending along the tubing string.

23. A method of installing a tubing string in a subterranean well, the method comprising:

conveying the tubing string with a safety valve into the well in a single trip;

producing fluid via the tubing string;

then installing an electric pump in the tubing string;

closing all of multiple flow control devices connected in the tubing string, the tubing string including multiple well screens which filter fluid flowing between the tubing string and respective ones of multiple earth formation zones, at least one optical waveguide which senses at least one first property of the fluid as it flows between the tubing string and at least one of the zones, the multiple flow control devices which variably restrict flow of the fluid through respective ones of the multiple well screens, and multiple sensors which sense at least one second property of the fluid which flows through respective ones of the multiple well screens;

at least partially opening a first selected one of the flow control devices; and

measuring a first change in the first property sensed by the optical waveguide and a first change in the second property of the fluid as a result of the opening of the first selected one of the flow control devices.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

closing all of the multiple flow control devices after the at least partially opening the first selected one of the flow control devices;

at least partially opening a second selected one of the flow control devices; and

measuring a second change in the first property sensed by the optical waveguide and a second change in the second property of the fluid as a result of the opening of the second selected one of the flow control devices.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the conveying further comprises installing the multiple well screens, the optical waveguide, the multiple flow control devices, and the multiple sensors in the well in the single trip into the well.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the tubing string further comprises multiple hydraulic control devices which control application of hydraulic actuation pressure to respective ones of the multiple flow control devices.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein a single one of the hydraulic control devices controls application of hydraulic actuation pressure to multiple ones of the flow control devices.