SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES AND PROCESSES FOR CONTROLLING TOOLS IN A WELL BORE

• US 20090223663A1
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Marathon Oil Company (Marathon Oil Corporation)
• Inventors: Purkis, Daniel G., Snider, Philip M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,194,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/250.150
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/138 Devices entrained in the flow of well-bore fluid for transmitting data, control or actuation signals

Abstract

A dedicated hydraulic line for transmission of a signal device capable of generating one or more unique signals to one or more tools within a subterranean well. Each tool can be equipped with a reader device for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to the signal device. Each reader device can control operation of the tool associated therewith if the reader device is programmed to respond to signals received from the control device. Hydraulic fluid used to operate the tool can be conveyed via the dedicated hydraulic line or a separate hydraulic line. A separate hydraulic line can be used to reset the tool.

Claims

1. A hydraulic control system for use in a subterranean well comprising:

a control line positioned in a subterranean well and extending adjacent at least one tool positioned within the subterranean well, said control line being sized to permit passage of a control device and each of said at least one tool has a reader device connected thereto.

2. The hydraulic control system of claim 1 wherein said control line has one end at or near the surface of the earth.

3. The hydraulic control system of claim 2 wherein said control line has another end that is open to the well.

4. The hydraulic control system of claim 1 wherein said control device is capable of generating one or more unique signals.

5. The hydraulic control system of claim 4 wherein said control device is a radio frequency identification device, a device carrying a magnetic bar code, a radioactive device, an acoustic device, a surface acoustic wave device, or a low frequency magnetic transmitter.

6. The hydraulic control system of claim 5 wherein said reader device is connected to a battery.

7. The hydraulic control system of claim 5 wherein said reader device has an antenna.

8. The hydraulic control system of claim 7 wherein said antenna substantially surrounds said control line.

9. The hydraulic control system of claim 8 wherein said antenna is configured substantially as a coil and said control line extends through said coil.

10. The hydraulic control system of claim 1 wherein said at least one tool is a plurality of tools.

11. The hydraulic control system of claim 1 wherein said control line is hydraulically connected to each of said at least one tool.

12. The hydraulic control system of claim 11 wherein each hydraulic connection between said control line and said tool is provided with a valve, the actuation of said valve capable of being controlled by said reader device.

13. The hydraulic control system of claim 11 further comprising:

a first hydraulic line positioned in a subterranean well and hydraulically connected to each of said at least one tool positioned within the subterranean well.

14. The hydraulic control system of claim 13 wherein said control line and said first hydraulic line are connected.

15. The hydraulic control system of claim 13 further comprising:

a second hydraulic line positioned in a subterranean well and hydraulically connected to each of said at least one tool such that increasing hydraulic pressure in said first hydraulic line moves a component in said tool one direction while increasing pressure in said second hydraulic line moves said component in an opposite direction.

16. The hydraulic control system of claim 15 wherein said control line and said second hydraulic line are connected.

17. The hydraulic control system of claim 16 further comprising:

a valve substantially at the connection of said control line and said second hydraulic line.

18. The hydraulic control system of claim 17 further comprising:

a second reader device for controlling said valve.

19. The hydraulic control system of claim 1 wherein said control line is secured to production casing.

20. The hydraulic control system of claim 1 wherein said control line is secured to tubing.

21. A process comprising:

conveying at least one control device capable of generating one or more unique signals through a control line positioned in a subterranean well so as to control the operation of at least one tool positioned in the well outside of the control line.

22. The process of claim 21 further comprising:

discharging said at least one control device from the control line into the well.

23. The process of claim 21 wherein said at least one control device controls the operation of a plurality of tools.

24. The process of claim 21 wherein each of said at least one tool has a reader device connected thereto that is capable of receiving one or more unique signals from each of said at least one control device and controlling the operation of the tool connected thereto upon receipt of specific unique signal that the reader device is programmed to respond to.

25. The process of claim 24 further comprising:

transmitting a signal from said reader device to said at least one control device.

26. The process of claim 21 wherein said at least one control device is a radio frequency identification device, a device carrying a magnetic bar code, a radioactive device, an acoustic device, a surface acoustic wave device, or a low frequency magnetic transmitter.

27. The process of claim 21 further comprising:

conveying hydraulic fluid via said control line for operation of said at least one tool, said one or more unique signals from said at least one control device capable of controlling the flow of said hydraulic fluid to said at least one tool.

28. The process of claim 27 further comprising:

conveying hydraulic fluid to said at least one tool via a hydraulic line positioned in the well so as to reset said tool after hydraulic fluid is conveyed via said control line.

29. The process of claim 28 wherein said control line is connected to said hydraulic line in the well, the process further comprising:

conveying said at least one control device to the surface of the earth.

30. The process of claim 28 further comprising:

transmitting a signal from said reader device to said at least one control device.

31. The process of claim 30 further comprising:

measuring well, formation, fluid conditions or combinations thereof by means of gauges that said at least one signal device is equipped with.

32. The process of claim 31 wherein said control line is connected to said hydraulic line in the well, the process further comprising:

conveying said at least one control device to the surface of the earth.

33. A process comprising:

conveying hydraulic fluid via a first hydraulic line to at least one tool positioned in a subterranean well to control the operation of said tool; and

conveying at least one control device through a control line positioned in the well and outside of the first hydraulic line and said at least one tool, each of said at least one control device capable of generating one or more unique signals for controlling flow of said hydraulic fluid from said first hydraulic line to said at least one tool.

34. The process of claim 33 wherein each of said at least one tool has a reader device connected thereto capable of receiving said one or more unique signals.

35. The process of claim 33 wherein said control line is connected to first hydraulic line in the well, the process of further comprising:

conveying said at least one control device to the surface of the earth.

36. The process of claim 34 further comprising:

transmitting a signal from said reader device to said at least one control device.

37. The process of claim 33 further comprising:

measuring well, formation, fluid conditions or combinations thereof by means of gauges that said at least one signal device is equipped with.

38. The process of claim 37 wherein said control line is connected to first hydraulic line in the well, the process further comprising:

conveying said at least one control device to the surface of the earth via said first hydraulic line.

39. The process of claim 33 further comprising:

conveying hydraulic fluid to said at least one tool via a second hydraulic line positioned in the well so as to reset said tool after hydraulic fluid is conveyed via said first hydraulic line.

40. The process of claim 39 wherein said control line is connected to said second hydraulic line in the well, the process further comprising:

conveying said at least one control device to the surface of the earth via said second hydraulic line.