Gravel pack inner string hydraulic locating device
First Claim
1. A method of hydraulically locating an inner string in a downhole assembly, the method comprising:
- pumping fluid out an outlet port on the inner string disposed in the downhole assembly;
moving the inner string through an inner passage in the downhole assembly;
at least partially restricting the pumped fluid from the outlet port in a sealable space in the inner passage of the downhole assembly, the sealable space associated with a first location on the downhole assembly;
detecting a pressure buildup of the pumped fluid in response to the at least partial restriction; and
correlating, in response to the detected pressure buildup, a first position of the inner string to the first location in the downhole assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A downhole assembly, such as a toe-to-heel gravel pack assembly, has a body with a body passage, outlet ports for slurry, and screens for fluid returns. An inner string deploys in the body to perform the toe-to-heel gravel packing. A telescoping adjustment device allows the inner string to space out properly when deployed to the toe of the assembly. Sealing surfaces of a locating device in the body separate a sealable space and seal against seals on the inner string movably disposed therein. Fluid pumped in the string produces a pressure buildup when the string'"'"'s port communicates with the sealable space. The pressure buildup indicates that the tool is positioned at a first location in the assembly, and other positions for placement of the tool can then be calculated therefrom.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of hydraulically locating an inner string in a downhole assembly, the method comprising:
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pumping fluid out an outlet port on the inner string disposed in the downhole assembly; moving the inner string through an inner passage in the downhole assembly; at least partially restricting the pumped fluid from the outlet port in a sealable space in the inner passage of the downhole assembly, the sealable space associated with a first location on the downhole assembly; detecting a pressure buildup of the pumped fluid in response to the at least partial restriction; and correlating, in response to the detected pressure buildup, a first position of the inner string to the first location in the downhole assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A downhole assembly, comprising:
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a body disposed in a borehole and defining a body passage therethrough; first sealing surfaces disposed in the body passage and separating a sealable space in the body passage, the sealable space associated with a first location on the downhole assembly; an inner string movably disposed in the body passage on either side of the sealable space and defining an inner bore therethrough, the inner string defining an outlet port communicating with the inner bore and having first seals disposed on the inner string, the first seals selectively sealing with the first sealing surfaces and communicating the inner bore with the sealable space through the outlet port, wherein the outlet port communicates fluid out of the inner bore of the inner string to the body passage of the body as the inner string is moved on either side of the sealable space, and wherein a pressure buildup produced by the outlet port communicating fluid to the sealable space indicates a first position of the inner string corresponding to the first location in the downhole assembly. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A downhole apparatus, comprising:
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a body disposed in a borehole and defining a body passage therethrough; an inner string movably disposed in the body passage, the inner string defining an inner bore therethrough and defining an outlet port communicating with the inner bore; means for communicating fluid from the inner bore of the inner string out the outlet port to the body passage of the body as the inner string is moved on either side of a sealable space in the body passage; means for at least partially sealing the outlet port with the sealable space in the body passage, the sealable space associated with a first location on the downhole apparatus; means for building up pressure in response to fluid in the inner bore communicated to the sealable space through the outlet port; and means based on the buildup of pressure for correlating a first position of the inner string with the first location in the downhole apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A downhole assembly, comprising:
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a body disposed in a borehole and defining a body passage therethrough, the body defining a flow port at a second location on the downhole assembly between a screen and a float shoe; first sealing surfaces disposed in the body passage and separating a sealable space in the body passage, the sealable space associated with a first location on the downhole assembly being disposed between the flow port and the float shoe; an inner string movably disposed in the body passage and defining an inner bore therethrough, the inner string defining an outlet port communicating with the inner bore and having first seals disposed on the inner string, the first seals selectively sealing with the first sealing surfaces and communicating the inner bore with the sealable space through the outlet port, wherein a pressure buildup produced by the outlet port communicating fluid to the sealable space indicates a first position of the inner string corresponding to the first location in the downhole assembly. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A downhole assembly, comprising:
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a body disposed in a borehole and defining a body passage therethrough; first sealing surfaces disposed in the body passage and separating a first sealable space in the body passage, the first sealable space associated with a first location on the downhole assembly; second sealing surfaces disposed in the body passage and separating a second sealable space in the body passage, the second sealable space associated with a second location on the assembly; an inner string movably disposed in the body passage and defining an inner bore therethrough, the inner string defining an outlet port communicating with the inner bore and having first seals disposed on the inner string, the first seals selectively sealing with the first and second sealing surfaces and communicating the inner bore with the first and second sealable space through the outlet port, wherein a pressure buildup produced by the outlet port communicating fluid to the first sealable space indicates a first position of the inner string corresponding to the first location in the downhole assembly, and wherein another pressure buildup produced by the outlet port communicating fluid to the second sealable space indicates a second position of the inner string corresponding to the second location in the downhole assembly. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification