Downhole tools utilizing electroactive polymers for actuating release mechanisms

• US 7,857,066 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Larson, Roderick A., DiFoggio, Rocco, Honekamp, Jeffrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, KENNETH L
• Application Number:
  US12/024,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20080149348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 166/98, 166/99, 166/301, 166/381, 166/178, 166/242.6
• US Class Current: 166/381
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/003 driven by piezoelectric means F04B43/046 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/00 Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps by using positive or negative pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped F04F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1243 Pivoting IF or other position variation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/06 Scanning arrangements arrangements for order-selection
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/145 by deforming or displacing surfaces , e.g. by mechanically driven vibroseis™
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/38 specially adapted for water-covered areas G01V1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/005 Devices for positioning logging sondes with respect to the borehole wall centralising devices for drilling rods or pipes E21B17/10; setting or locking tools in boreholes E21B23/00; locating objects in boreholes E21B47/09
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/10 producing rotary motion, e.g. rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/101 using intermittent driving, e.g. step motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/30 Assessment of water resources

Abstract

In one aspect, an apparatus for use in a wellbore is provided that may include: a tool configured to be conveyed into the wellbore by a conveying member; and an electro-active polymer device (“EAP device”) configured to connect the tool to the conveying member when the EAP device is in a first mode or position and disconnect the tool from the conveying member when the EAP device is in a second mode or position. In another aspect, a method for releasing a tool in a wellbore is provided which includes: releasably connecting an EAP device to a conveying member and the tool; conveying the tool in the wellbore with the conveying member; and electrically activating the EAP device to release the tool from the conveying member in the wellbore.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:

a tool configured to be conveyed into the wellbore by a conveying member; and

an electro-active polymer device (“

EAP device”

) configured to connect the tool to the conveying member when the EAP device is in a first mode and disconnect the tool from the conveying member when the EAP device is in a second mode, wherein the EAP device includes an electro-active polymer element (“

EAP element”

), a first member, a second member, and a locking element, and wherein the locking element is configured to lock the first member to the second member when the EAP element is deactivated and to unlock the first member from the second member when the EAP element is electrically activated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the EAP device further comprises a spring member configured to keep the first and second members locked when the EAP element is deactivated and to allow the first and second members to unlock when the EAP element is electrically activated.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the spring member is configured to compress to allow one of the first member and second member to move away from the other when the EAP element is electrically activated.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller configured to control the activation of the EAP device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to be electrically coupled to the EAP device and is located at one of:

(i) the surface;

(ii) in the EAP device; and

(iii) in the tool.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveying member is selected from a group consisting of:

(i) a wireline;

(ii) a coiled tubing; and

(iii) a jointed tubing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tool is selected from a group consisting of:

(i) a formation logging tool;

(ii) a formation testing tool;

(iii) a perforating gun; and

(iv) a packer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking element is configured to be moveable and is selected from a group that consists of:

(i) one or more balls; and

(ii) one or more collet fingers.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the EAP device further comprises:

a movable member, a release member, and a spring member, wherein the spring member is configured to;

(i) move into an extended position to move the movable member toward the release member when the EAP element is deactivated to cause the locking element to lock the movable member to the release member, and (ii) compress to move the movable member away from the release member to cause the locking member to unlock the movable member from the release member when the EAP element is electrically activated.

10. A method of releasing a tool in a wellbore, comprising:

releasably connecting an EAP device to a conveying member and the tool,

conveying the tool in the wellbore with the conveying member; and

electrically activating the EAP device to release the tool from the conveying member in the wellbore by;

activating an EAP element associated with the EAP device;

engaging a first member and a second member with a locking element when the EAP element is in a deactivated position; and

electrically activating the EAP element to disengage the first member from the second member when the tool is in the wellbore.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein electrically activating the EPA element causes the first member to move away from the second member to disengage the conveying member from the tool.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the locking element is selected from a group consisting of:

one or more balls; and

one or more collet fingers.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the conveying member is selected from a group consisting of:

(i) a wireline;

(ii) a coiled tubing; and

(iii) a jointed tubing.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the tool is selected from a group consisting of:

(i) a formation logging tool;

(ii) a formation testing tool; and

(iii) a perforating gun.

15. A method of releasing a tool in a wellbore, comprising:

providing an EAP device that includes a movable member, a release member, a locking element, an EAP element, and a spring member, wherein the spring member (i) moves into an extended position to move the movable member toward the release member when the EAP element is deactivated to cause the locking element to lock the movable member to the release member, and (ii) compresses to move the movable member away from the release member to cause the locking member to unlock the movable member from the release member when the EAP element is electrically activated;

engaging one of the movable member and release member to the tool and the other of the movable member and release member to the conveying member;

conveying the tool in the wellbore with the conveying member; and

electrically activating the EAP element to disengage the movable member from the release member to release the tool from the conveying member.