System and method for releasing and retrieving memory tool with wireline in well pipe

• US 7,537,061 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Precision Energy Services Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Hall, Joe, Campbell, Scott, Ash, Sam, Casey, Leonard, Marsh, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Neuder; William P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hutchins; Cathleen R
• Application Number:
  US11/423,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20070284116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 166/250.01, 166/385, 166/66, 166/65.1
• US Class Current: 166/385
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/001 Self-propelling systems or apparatus, e.g. for moving tools within the horizontal portion of a borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/14 for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/01 Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like

Abstract

Memory tool deployment method, system, and apparatus include a landing ring fit on a pipe deployed in a well. A drop-off tool has a landing collar and has a tool string with one or more memory tools. The drop-off tool is connected to a wireline and is deployed through the pipe in the well with the wireline. The drop-off tool is landed on the landing ring on the pipe so that the memory tools extend beyond the pipe. The wireline is released from the drop-off tool and is removed from the pipe so that logging operations can be performed. After logging, the wireline is redeployed in the pipe in the well and is reconnected to the drop-off tool to retrieve the memory tools from the pipe.

Claims

1. A memory tool deployment method, comprising:

fitting a landing assembly having a landing ring on an end of a pipe, the landing assembly defining at least one slot for communicating fluid around the landing ring;

deploying the pipe and the landing ring in a well;

connecting a memory tool to a wireline;

deploying the memory tool through the pipe in the well with the wireline;

landing the memory tool on the landing ring on the pipe by engaging a landing collar on the memory tool against the landing ring so that the memory tool extends exposed in the well beyond the end of the pipe;

releasing the memory tool from the wireline;

removing the wireline from the pipe; and

allowing fluid flow between an interior of the pipe and the well beyond the end of the pipe by diverting fluid communication around the engagement of the landing collar against the landing ring via the at least one slot defined in the landing assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

redeploying the wireline in the pipe in the well;

reconnecting the memory tool to the wireline; and

retrieving the memory tool from the pipe.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the act of retrieving the memory tool from the pipe comprises:

determining if the memory tool can be pulled though the landing ring on the pipe;

retrieving the memory tool from the pipe with the wireline if the memory tool can be pulled though the landing ring; and

removing the pipe and the memory tool together from the well if the memory tool cannot be pulled though the landing ring.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of connecting the memory tool to the wireline further comprises connecting a well tractor to the wireline and the memory tool, and wherein the method further comprises actuating the well tractor to move the memory tool through the pipe if the memory tool becomes substantially hindered while deploying the memory tool through the pipe with the wireline.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of landing the memory tool on the landing ring on the pipe comprises biasing the engagement of the landing collar on the memory tool against the landing ring.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of landing the memory tool on the landing ring on the pipe comprises:

engaging the landing collar on the memory tool against an insert installed in the landing assembly, the insert having the landing ring and having the at least one slot allowing fluid flow to be diverted past the engagement of the landing collar against the landing ring.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

moving the pipe at least partially out of the well; and

obtaining data with the memory tool while moving the pipe.

8. A memory tool deployment system, comprising:

a landing assembly deployable on an end of a pipe in a well and defining a passage having a landing ring, the landing assembly defining at least one slot for communicating fluid around the landing ring;

a coupling member connectable to a coupling mechanism attached to a wireline deployable through the pipe; and

a tool connected to the coupling member, the tool deployable with the wireline though the pipe and deployable at least partially through the passage in the landing assembly, the tool having a landing collar engageable with the landing ring and having a memory tool capable of extending exposed in the well beyond the landing ring and the end of the pipe,

wherein the at least one slot in the landing assembly diverts fluid communication around the engagement of the landing collar with the landing ring and allows fluid flow between an interior of the pipe and the well beyond the end of the pipe.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the landing assembly comprises:

a housing connecting to an end of the pipe and defining a first passage communicating with the pipe; and

an insert positioned in the first passage of the housing and defining a second passage, the second passage having the landing ring, the insert defining the at least one slot for communicating fluid around the landing ring.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the insert comprises an outside surface having the at least one slot, the at least one slot having first and second openings communicating with the second passage and disposed on opposing sides of the landing ring.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the tool comprises an elongated body having first and second ends and having the landing collar thereon, the elongated body having the memory tool connected to the first end and having the coupling member connected to the second end.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the landing collar is movable on the elongated body, and wherein the tool comprises at least one spring positioned on the elongated body and biasing movement of the landing collar relative to the second end of the elongated body.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the coupling member connected to the tool comprises a fishneck connected to the second end of the elongated body and connectable to a fishing tool mechanism as the coupling mechanism attached to the wireline.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the elongated body comprises:

a bar having the coupling member coupled to one end and having the landing collar moveably positioned thereon;

at least one spring positioned on the bar between the coupling member and the landing collar; and

an extension member coupled to another end of the bar and supporting the memory tool.

15. The system of claim 8, further comprising a well tractor connecting to the wireline and connectable to the tool via the coupling mechanism attached to the wireline.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the coupling member is configured to form a wet connection with the coupling mechanism to provide communication between the wireline and the memory tool.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the tool comprises a mud pulse telemetric component positioned on the tool for communication with the memory tool.

18. A memory tool deployment apparatus comprising:

an insert disposable in a bore of a pipe in a well and defining an internal passage, the internal passage having a landing ring, the insert defining at least one slot for communicating fluid around the landing ring;

an elongated body having first and second ends and deployable with a wireline through the bore of the pipe, the first end having a memory tool;

a coupling member connected to the second end of the elongated body and connectable to a coupling mechanism attached to the wireline deployable through the bore of the pipe; and

a landing collar positioned on the elongated body and engageable with the landing ring of the insert,

wherein the at least one slot in the insert diverts fluid communication around the engagement of the landing collar with the landing ring and allows fluid flow between the bore of the pipe and the well beyond an end of the pipe.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the coupling member comprises a fishneck connected to the second end of the elongated body and connectable with a fishing tool mechanism as the coupling mechanism attached to the wireline.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the elongated body comprises:

a bar having the coupling member coupled to one end and having the landing collar moveably positioned thereon, wherein the at least one spring is positioned on the bar between the coupling member and the landing collar; and

an extension member coupled to another end of the bar and supporting the memory tool.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the coupling member is configured to form a wet connection with the coupling mechanism to provide communication between the wireline and the memory tool.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the elongated body comprises a mud pulse telemetric component positioned on the elongated body for communication with the memory tool.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the landing collar is movable on the elongated body, and wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one spring positioned on the elongated body and biasing movement of the landing collar relative to the second end of the elongated body.

24. A memory tool deployment system, comprising:

means for deploying a memory tool with a wireline through a pipe in a well;

means for passing the memory tool through a landing ring on an end of the pipe;

means for engaging the landing ring to support the memory tool in the well beyond an end of the pipe;

means for releasing the memory tool from the wireline; and

means on the landing ring for diverting fluid flow through at least one slot communicating fluid around the engagement of the memory tool with the landing ring to allow fluid communication between an interior of the pipe and the well beyond the end of the pipe.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for subsequently retrieving the released memory tool from the pipe with the wireline.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the means for deploying the memory tool with the wireline through the pipe in the well comprise means for moving the memory tool through the pipe if the memory tool becomes substantially hindered while deploying the memory tool through the pipe with the wireline.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the means for engaging the landing ring to support the memory tool in the well beyond the end of the pipe comprises means for biasing the engagement with the landing ring.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the means for releasing the memory tool from the wireline comprises means for electrically uncoupling connection between the wireline and the memory tool.