Modular connector

• US 9,416,655 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2015
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Partouche, Ashers, Villareal, Steven G., Pop, Julian J., Hoefel, Albert, Harms, Kent D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sayre, James G
• Application Number:
  US14/595,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20150122478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/02 Couplings; joints expandable couplings or joints E21B43/106
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/028 Electrical or electro-magnetic connections
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/18 Pipes provided with plural fluid passages E21B17/203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/08 Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 15/02 allowing substantial longitudinal adjustment by use of a long screw-threaded part
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/04 allowing adjustment or movement of the multiline swivel type F16L39/06

Abstract

A downhole modular tool includes a first module, a second module, a third module, and one or more connectors for connecting the first, second, and third modules. Each module includes a drill collar, a drilling fluid passageway, a first fluid passageway, and a second fluid passageway. The one or more connectors connect any one of the first, second, and third modules, to another of the first, second, and third modules to transfer the drilling fluid, the first fluid, and the second fluid between the connected modules.

Claims

1. A modular downhole tool, comprising:

a first module, a second module, and a third module, each comprising;

a drill collar;

a drilling fluid passageway to direct a drilling fluid through the module;

a first formation fluid passageway to direct a first formation fluid through the module; and

a second formation fluid passageway to direct a second formation fluid through the module; and

a connector configured to connect to an end of each one of the first, second, and third modules to couple any one of the first, second, and third modules to another of the first, second, and third modules to transfer the drilling fluid, the first formation fluid, and the second formation fluid between the connected modules, wherein the connector comprises a body assembly having a first fluid conduit configured to direct the first formation fluid through the connector, and a second fluid conduit configured to direct the second formation fluid through the connector.

2. The modular downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a body assembly for fluidly connecting the first formation fluid passageway of any one of the first, second, and third modules to the first formation fluid passageway of another of the first, second and third modules.

3. The modular downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a body assembly separate from the first module, the second module, and the third module.

4. The modular downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third modules each comprise a hydraulic fluid passageway to direct a hydraulic fluid through the module;

and wherein the connector is configured to transfer the hydraulic fluid between the connected modules.

5. The modular downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third modules each comprise an electrical line to transmit power and/or data through the module;

and wherein the connector is configured to transfer the power and/or data between the connected modules.

6. The modular downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a probe module comprising:

a first inlet fluidly connected to an exterior of the downhole tool to receive the first formation fluid; and

a second inlet fluidly connected to an exterior of the downhole tool to receive the second formation fluid.

7. The modular downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a probe module having a probe configured to isolate a portion of a wall of a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation and to withdraw the first formation fluid and the second formation fluid from the subterranean formation into the first module;

and wherein the second module comprises a pump-out module to pump the first formation fluid and the second formation fluid between the first, second, and third modules.

8. The modular downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a probe module having a probe configured to isolate a portion of a wall of a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation and to withdraw the first formation fluid and the second formation fluid from the subterranean formation into the first module;

wherein the second module comprises a downhole fluid analysis module coupled to the probe module by the connector; and

wherein the third module comprises a pump-out module to pump the first formation fluid and the second formation fluid between the first, second, and third modules.

9. The modular downhole tool of claim 1, comprising a second connector configured to connect to the end of each one of the first, second, and third modules to couple any one of the first, second, and third modules to another of the first, second, and third modules to transfer the drilling fluid, the first formation fluid, and the second formation fluid between the connected modules.

10. The modular downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a first probe module having a first probe configured to isolate a portion of a wall of a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation;

wherein the third module comprises a second probe module having a second probe configured to isolate a portion of a wall of a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation; and

wherein the second module comprises a hydraulic module coupled to the first probe module and the second probe module to provide hydraulic power to the first probe module and the second probe module via a hydraulic fluid.

11. The modular downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a first downhole fluid analysis module to analyze the first formation fluid;

and wherein the second module comprises a pump-out module to pump the first formation fluid and the second formation fluid between the first, second, and third modules.

12. A modular downhole tool, comprising:

a first module, a second module, and a third module, each comprising;

a drill collar;

a drilling fluid passageway to direct a drilling fluid through the module;

a first fluid passageway to direct a first fluid through the module; and

a second fluid passageway to direct a second fluid through the module, wherein the first and second fluids each comprise formation fluid and wherein the first and second fluid passageways are isolated from the drilling fluid passageway; and

a connector configured to connect to an end of each one of the first, second, and third modules to couple any one of the first, second, and third modules to another of the first, second, and third modules to transfer the drilling fluid, the first fluid, and the second fluid between the connected modules.

13. The modular downhole tool of claim 12, wherein the first fluid comprises formation fluid and wherein the second fluid comprises hydraulic fluid.

14. The modular downhole tool of claim 12, wherein the first and second fluids each comprise formation fluid, and wherein the first module, the second module and the third module each comprise:

a hydraulic fluid passageway to direct a hydraulic fluid through the module, wherein the connector is configured to transfer the hydraulic fluid between the connected modules.

15. The modular downhole tool of claim 12, wherein the connector comprises a body assembly having a first fluid conduit configured to direct the first fluid through the connector, a second fluid conduit configured to direct the second fluid through the connector, and a third fluid conduit configured to direct a hydraulic fluid through the connector.

16. The modular downhole tool of claim 12, wherein the first module, the second module and the third module each comprise:

a first engagement mechanism at a first end of the drill collar; and

a second engagement mechanism at a second end of the drill collar;

wherein the first engagement mechanism of any one of the first, second, and third modules is configured to couple to the second engagement mechanism of another of the first, second, and third modules.

17. The modular downhole tool of claim 12, wherein the drilling fluid passageway, the first fluid passageway, and the second fluid passageway each extend along a length of the module from a first end of the module to a second end of the module.

18. The modular downhole tool of claim 12, the first, second, and third modules each comprise an electrical line to transmit power and/or data through the module, and wherein the connector comprises an electrical pathway to transfer the power and/or data between the connected modules.