CA2325164A1 - Pbr with tec bypass and wet disconnect/connect feature - Google Patents

Pbr with tec bypass and wet disconnect/connect feature Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2325164A1
CA2325164A1 CA002325164A CA2325164A CA2325164A1 CA 2325164 A1 CA2325164 A1 CA 2325164A1 CA 002325164 A CA002325164 A CA 002325164A CA 2325164 A CA2325164 A CA 2325164A CA 2325164 A1 CA2325164 A1 CA 2325164A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
downhole
conductor
section
connector
seal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002325164A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Russell A. Miller
David Cameron
Walter Myron
Robert C. Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Baker Hughes Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Baker Hughes Inc filed Critical Baker Hughes Inc
Publication of CA2325164A1 publication Critical patent/CA2325164A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/46Bases; Cases
    • H01R13/52Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
    • H01R13/523Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases for use under water
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B17/00Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/02Couplings; joints
    • E21B17/028Electrical or electro-magnetic connections

Abstract

A wet connect/disconnect arrangement is disclosed for a downhole system that allows installation of various tools and/or a string and subsequent electrical connection to the downhole system in a wet environment. Several embodiments are disclosed, all of which produce a clean, reliable connection.

Description

Eta~.rketound of be ve~t~,'on Field of the Invention The invention relates to dowahole electrical connections made up in a wet environment. More particularly, the invention relates to downhole sealed connectors which self clean upon makeup to avoid contamination in the connection.
Prior Art Downholc power/signal wire eozanection/disconneetion has always been a problem for the industry. More specifically, beosuse the downhole cnvimnment is extremely hostile to eleetdc connection (salt water, fresh water, acids, eto.), it has traditionally been tb,ought that a reliable Awet coz~,nection~ could not be reliably effected. Prior art sy9tems that employ conz~.ections made in the downhole environment that have had some reliability.
Unfortunately, they are quite small and require an unlikely degree of precision when the connection is to be made 5000 feet belovt~ the surface, Therefore, although these connectors are capable of providing a good electrical conneotion, they fail to solve the need for connection of an uphole string to a downhole string far below the surface.
Such connections are required for the plurality of tools incorporated therein which require power sad instructions.
as ~of the Tt~tion The above-disoussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by the wet connectorldisconnector embodiments of the invention, ,All of the embodiments of the invention avoid tine need to stab-in a small connector.
The stabbing-in of the tubing itself is all that is necessary to make up the conuectiozl. This is a substantial benefit to the arc in view of the growing use of electrically activated downhole tools. The invention ensures reliability of such systems due to an increase iri the likelihood of conrtcction and a reduction in the care needed to effect the connection.
Most of the embodiments of the invention employ an insulator that protects a conductor installed with the downhole equipment. The insulator may be rubber, plastic, metal, a grease, etc. with the joining principal being to maintain the conductor in a very clean condition. Additionally, some of the embodiments fuzther include a hydraulic fluid wash to ensure the conductor does not become contaminated when the insulator is pierced or otherwise reoa,ovcd by the string/connector being stabbed in. Generally, the conductor on the stab-in tool is also protected by one or more of the insulators noted above. Other embodiments do z~ot employ conductor insulators on the downhole string but rely upon a 1o cleansing action of the uphole string upon stab-in to remove any debris or oxidation that may have accumulated on the downhole conductors.
With cash of the embodiments of the invctltioir, the process of stabbing in causes certain events to occur which lead to ~eoura reliable cozax~,ections.
In addition to the ability to wet connect, the invention further allows fvr a wet disooanect and reconnect by providing a means for leaving a portion of the uphole string connected to the downlwle string. More particularly, the connection made during stabblng-in is not disturbed, Rather a piece of the uphale secrion, which itself provides a new insulated conductor (or not insulated) for a subsequent stab-1n procedure, is left behind, Thus, in the event that the uphole section of string needs to be pulled, a reconnection may be made at a later time in the salve irianrier as the original conductor mating. In order to be able to leave a seetxon downhvle, a switch section must also be employed to break the connection with the upper sag. The switch section must break the connection in a scaled environment to prevent a short circuit upon reconnecting the uphole string.
The above-discussed and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and drawings.
T3rief~r tai on of th Dr wing Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES:
FIGURE 1 is a schematic elevation view of the concept of the invention;
FTGURE 2 is an enlarged view of a specific embodiment for circumscribed portion A of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of az~ alternate specific embodiment fox circumscribed portion A;
FIGURES 4A and 4B are a top and bottom portiozt of an alternate connection apparatus for the circumscribed portion A iur~ FIGURE 1 in a non-connected position;
FIGURES SA and 5B are a top and bottom portion of the embodiment of FIGURE
4A and 4B in a connected position;
FIGURES 6 A and 6B are disconnected and connected views, respectively of another alternate embodiment for the circumscribed section A in FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 7 is another alternate embodiment tbr the circumscribed section A in FIGURE 1;
FIGURES 8A and 8B are disoonnected and co~ar~ectod views respectively of another alternate embodiment ~or the circumscribed section A in FIGURE 1;
FIGURES 9A and 9B are an embodiment of the circurnscribcd area B in FIGURE i;
FIGURES l0A-C are various positions of an alternate embodiment of the circumscribed section B in FIGURE 1;
FIGURES 11-13 are an elongated quarto-section view of the cool of this embodiment of the invention to illustrate the disassembled condition;
rIGURES 14-17 are together an elongated quarter-section view of another ooraneetor tool of tl7~e invention;
FIGURE 18 is a cross section view of the portion of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 11 taken along section line 15-15; and FIGURE 19 is a cross section view of the portion of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 12 taken along section line 16-16, j1 tai ~scrifltion of the~referr~odime-1~t Referring to FIGURE 1, a schematic illustration is provided to teach the ooncept of the iove~ntion in its broadest sense without details on the specifio mechanisms of operable models. It will be understood that many different embodiments are possible which are capable of being employed to effect the broad concept of the invention. Some embodiments preferred by the inventors hereof are described in detail hercunder referencing FIGURES 1-10 which depict them. each of the FICiUREB following FIGURE 1 illustrate small sections of FIGURE 1 to teach one of skill in the art a way of connecting or disconnecting the circumscribed areas A or B of FIGURE 1. It is also to be appreciated that in many instances in this specification reference is made to "electrica.l connectors"; this terminology is for exemplary proposes only and it is intended that the reader understand that other conductors such as fiber optic conductors could also be etnploycd, The broad concept of the invention begins with the premise that a lower section of wellborc has been completed with a tool string 12 having one or more electrically actuated or controlled tools which may have sensors, ete. This lower section 12 is for any cumber of reasons, which are knows to those of skill in the art, isolated from as upper section of tubing string 14. For this rcasoa a means of providing an electrical connection between the upper section 14 and lower section 12 is needed. As noted above, such connections have been difficult in the prior art because of the harsh downholc environment. The invention, therefore, provides a system for such connection by e~celuding the downhole fluids from the seotion 12 conductors (or cleaning them) and ensuring that contaminants do not become inuoduccd thereto during connection. Lower section 12 includes embedded wires 16 which are connected at the factory to conductor pads 18. Conductor pads 18 arc generally en~beddcd in the tubing and will include a seal thercover to prevBnt contamination. Lower section 12 is run in the hole or otherwise disposed downhole iu this condition and will rem~a~in in a scaled condition with respect to the pads 18 until an upper section x4 is run in the hole to make a connection with pads 18. Exactly how the pads are connected is discussed hereunder.
It will be appreciated in the FIGURE 1 illustration that another distinct part is illustrated between lowet section la and upper section 14, This is reconnect section. 20.
Reconnect section 20 is optional to operability of the system with respect to the original connection. It should be appreciated from a review of FIGURE 1 that the features of lower section 12 sre duplicated in reconnect section 20. Thus, it will be understood that upper section 14 might only contain features sufficient to mate with lower section 12 and avoid reconnect section 20. In a preferred enabodimcnt. however, reconnect section 20 is included. The section allows for the original connection to remain intact if the upper section 14 is pulled for some reason. This prevents contamination of the conductor pads 18.
By way of explanatiozt once the conductor pads 18 are freed fxom the i~ztsulation that protects them (in this type of embodiment) by tlxe action of stabbing in the uphole section, they are left unprotected from the elements. With the upper section attached, no eztvironmental fluid can contact the pads, If the upper section is pulled however, the conductors would be subject to attack by wellbore fluids, Reconnecting to these conductor pads would be unlikely to succeed. For this reason reconnect section 20 is employed.
continuing now with the discussion of section 20, the section includes a disconnect for the wires in the upper section 1~4 so that the termination. of electrical continuity caused by the pulling of section 14 does not allow a Alive connection to contact downhole fluids. This is important to prevent damage to downhole electrical tools or destruction of the system upon reconnect. The disconnection area is schematically illustrated by circumscribed area B in FIGURE 1.
Reconnect section 20 is solely provided to create a stacked system capability.
More specifically, reconnect section 20 is connected at the factory to the upper section 14 with a shearable or otherwise releasable connection to upper section 14, In the event upper section 14 must be reznoved from the hole, it leaves in its wake, reconnect section 20 which includes new sealed connector pads 18' and wires 24 which connect to the original stab in connectors 26. A subsequent upper section may then be stabbed into the reconnect section with the same reliability as the original eonnteetion the concept of the reconnect section may be employed over and ever again as many times as a disconnect attd reconnect are necessary, The reconnect sections simply eonti~ue to stack up as strings are pulled and reconnected.
'I~rning now to specific mechanisms of the invention, circumscribed area A is discussed first and 16 directed to several embodiments for creating a clean electrical connection with reliability and high confidence. In tb~ese FIGURES only the connection meohsni.sm is illustrated. It is to be understood that the mechanism is part of section 14 or section 20 as desired. Following the discussion of area A, circumscribed area B is discussed. Area B is directed to embodiments for breaking the connection with the wires 22 of section 14 when that section is pulled, Referring to FIGUR>3 2, a cover 30 illustrated herein as plastio but which may be rubber or metallic is positioned is a sealed relationship over conductor 18.
Thus, while this portion of lower seotion 12 is exposed to wellbore fluid, the conductor 18 is protected. The connection mechanism which is shown in plane after run in but before actuation. includes a bare 34, preferably filled with hydraulic fluid 30 (vr similar). A wedge 3S is provided in the bore 34 which is driven like a piston preferably by pressure from a proximate or remote source into contact with electrical connector 40 connected with wire 44 from the upper section. filectrical connector 40 includes a ramped surface 46 and a punch 48, Ramped surface 46 is complementary to wedge 38 and connector 40 is urged thereby toward seal material 42. Continued urging of connector 40 results in piercing of seal 42.
Upon the piercing of seal 42, fluid 36 esoapes from bore 34, flooding the area bctwoen seal 42 and seal 30. The flooding action displaces wellborc fluids and provides a clean dielecixic embodunent in which the conneotion can be made. Cozttizaued urging of connector 40 causes the punch 48 to pierce seal 30 and conic into eleotrical contact with conductor pad 18. It should be noted that fluid 36 rnay preferably be dielectric fluid or a dielectric grease.
The grease is preferred due to its viscosity and therefore its tendency to remain around the connection.
Referring now to FIGURE 3, an altcmate connection mechanism is illustrated.
This meehaniszx~., it will be appreciated, is very similar to the embodiment of FIGURE 2 and merely adds seals 50 which are prefez~ably chevron type seals. For clarity, the other pants of this embodizzaent, though slightly different in some respects are numbered identically to FIGURE 2. The FIGURfi 3 embodiment provides additional, if redundant, assurance of the continued elean.liness of the connection area. Seals SO do not allow fluid to pass in either direction whereas seal 50' allows fluid to pass in only the Aout~ direction relative to the spaoe defined by seals 50, 50'. Thus. the movement of the cleansing fluid 36, which in this ezz~.bodiment is preferably hydraulic fluid, will sweep all remnants of well fluids out of the connection space and provide a clean connection area, Referring to FIGURES 4A, 48 and 5A, SB aztofiher alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Because of the relative comple~city of the embodialeztt, it is illustrated in both a nonconnected and connected ~Pozx~a, FIGURES 4A, 4B anti 5A, 5B, respectively, Referring first to FIGURES 4A and 4B, lower section 12 will provide a reference, This embodiment functions by sliding the upper section, or reconneot section if so equipped, relative to the lower section 12' against spring biased rings whzeh cover the conductor pads. >_,ower aeation 12 of this embodizraent includes spring 60 based upon land 62 which biases ring 64 to a position where it covers pad 18, Section 12' also includes preferably two o-rings 66, which seal against ring 64, and a wiper 68. Section 14', or 20' if so equipped, includes spriuo~g 70 which rests on spring stop 72 and biases ring 74 to a position covering conductor pad 76. Ring 74 is sealed over conductor pad 76 by o-rings 78 mounted in riag 74. Conductor pad 76 is preferably spring loaded by springs 80 so that it will be biased against conductor pad 18 when so positioned.
An astute reader, skihed izt the art, will recognize that there is a volume 82 that likely is contatninatod, and that this volume might be problexna,tic to the connection even in view of wiper 68. To eliminate this possibility, the inventors hereof have provided an enclosed hydraulic fluid reservoir 84 which opens via a rupture disk 86 to volume S2. A
piston 88 is provided which is opezably connected to reservoir 84 and positioned such that the Asliding pasta of this cmbodirnent as discussed above causes piston 88 to move into reservoir 84 increasing pressure therein until rupture disk 86 fails and hydraulic fluid is expelled into volume 82. The hydraulic fluid will displace any wellbore fluids in the volume 82 and render the area clean.
In operation, piston 88 lands on. ring 6~4 and expels the hydraulic fluid as discussed.
Once piston 88 is fuhy depressed into the bore of reservoir 84, shoulder 90 begins to urge ring 64 dowrihole by over coming the bias of spring 60. Next, ring 74 comes into contact with shoulder 92 of seotion 12' and is urged uphole by overcomiag the spring 72 with downhole movement of the upper section or the reconnect section as the case msy be.
Conductor pad 76 is uncovered at the time it reaches wiper 6S and is wiped clean to remove any oxidation that may have developed over time, Continued downhole movement of the uphole section aligns conductor pads 18 and 76 and the connection is complete.
FIGITRE 5A and SB illustrate this embodiment in tlae connected condition to promote understanding of the invention.
Referring now to FIGURES 6A and 6B, yet another alternative mechanism for the circumscribed area A in FIGURE 1 is illustrated. The lower section of the drawing is an alternative configuration of section 12 and thus is identified as 12". The conductive pads also differ in appearance and thus are designated 18". The upper section 14"
(it should be understood that the upper section of the FIGLTR>J could also be the reconnect section) includes a fluid-filled chamber 100 having an exhaust port 102 sealed by a one-way valve 103 and a rupture disk 104. The chamber 100 is sealed at its other end by seal 106. In a preferred arrangement several o-ring scale are also supplied and are identl$ed by 108.
Focusing on the portion of upper section 14" that defines chamber 100, it will be noted that two wipers 110 are provided. One wiper would be effective but two is preferred for redundancy and better cleaning. Contact pads 112 are provided in this area and are protected by fluid 114 in chamber 100.
In use, nose x 16 of section 12" is urged into seal 106 ultimately rupturing the seal.
since o-rings 108 will prevent fluid 114 from escaping around nose 116, the fluid instead becomes pressurized. As the pressure in chamber 100 increases, burst disk 104 ruptures and fluid 114 is conveyed thraugh~. the valve 103 to the tubing LD. Since valve 103 will not ~ permit fluid to pass in the other direction, the conaeetaon area in the chamber 100 will remain clean, continued movenrlent of nose 1 I6 into chamber I 00 brings pads 18" into wiping contact with wipers 114 where the conductor pads 18" are cleaned of any oxides that have formed thereon. The pads 18" then align with pads 112 and the connection is made as ihustrated in FXGURE 6B.
In FIGURE 7 another alternative embodiment of the invention relating to circumscribed axes A is illustrated. Ia this embodiment the upper scctian provides a connector 120 which is composed of a low totnperature melt metal (obviously, meltaztg temperature must be above well temperature at projected depth). The metal connector 120 is positioned adjacent conductor pad 18 aztd includes a coil 122 proximate thereto, the 2S proximity being sufficient to melt the connector 120. As in previous embodiments, seals 134, 132 arc provided and a reservoir 128 izxcludes fluid 130 actuated by a piston 126 to flush the contact area.. In this embodiment a surface actuated current or a downhole actuated current melt the connector 120 wliich then flows into electrical contact with conductor pad 18.
In another alternate embodiment for circumscribed Section A, referring to FIGURES 8A and 8B lower section 12 includea two conductor pads 18. The upper section of the drawing which again can be the equivalent of section 14 or section 20 in FIGURE 1 depending upon whether a reconnect option after a pull-out is to be provided, provides a nose 130 with several seals 132 of preferably the chevron type. Attached to nose 130 by a release mechanism, preferably a shear pin 134, is connector wedge 136 which houses a piercing conductor pad 138 in fluid 140 under seal 142. Upon downward movement of the upper srctian of the drawing (14 or 20) a sprig 144 is urged against s ring 146 to move the same downhole uxltil it contacts landing 148 of counter wedge 150. Further downward movement causes oouater wedge 150 to move downhole behind conaeotor wedge 136 to cause conductor pads 138 to pierce cover 142 and come into contact with conductor pads 1$
to complete the circuit.
As discussed above, in the event upper section 141s removed tom the hole, the connections must be broken to prevent a short circuit, This is, for illustrative purposes, at the area marked B on FIGURE 1. It is important to note that just stretching the connectors to break leaves them exposed to wellbore fluids and invites short circuit.
Therefore the inventors hereof have provided the follovYing two embodiments of disconnects.
It is to be i 5 understood, however, that other mechanisms for providing such a disconneot are clearly within the scope of the invention.
tuning now to FIGURES 9A and 9B, the first disconnect embodiment is illustrated in the connected position and the disconnected position. The disconnect itself comprises a connector pad 162 disposed a top an insulator 160 in a recess 172 in section 12. The recess 172 is sealed by cover 168 which may be of a plurality of distinct materials so long as they either deflect or allow a. sealed sliding of the pins 166 tl'terethroug_lz, rn the case of deflection, the pins 166 need not slide through cover 168 (tlie non-sliding arrangement being illustrated herein).
As one can readily ascertain ~Qm the drawings, pins 166 provide a base for pads 164, the pins extending to outside cover 168 and into connection with plate 170, The disconnect is oonneeted together in the f~etory and appears as illustrated in FIGURE 9A.
When a disconnect is desired, pulling the tool causes the switch to be in the cotadition illustrated in FIGURE 9B wherein the electrical connection is broken and the ends of the downhole wires are protected within reoess 172 and cover 168. It will be apparent to one of skill in the art that if upper portion 174 of the drawings is to be removed altogether the discannect will have to shear at a point gbove the cover 168. Alternatively, the portion 174 could simply be a ring which remains downhole.

Refcn7.ag now to FIGURES 10A, lOB and l OC a second disconnect embodiment is illustrated. This discozmect is intended to work in much the same way that the embodiment of FIGURES 9A 9B works and thus only the distinctions are discussed here.
Contact bar 180 i6 connected to as uphole piece of the pipe and supports actuator pin 182 and contact pins 184. Pin 182 includes a wedge 186 which is angled sufficiently to actuate slide '190 through slide pitch 188_ Actuation of slide 190 moves it (to the right in the drawing) to align ports 192 with contact receptacles 194 wherein contact pads 196 are disposed atxd co~anected to wires 198_ Once alignnacnt as described is complete, pins 184 may come into electrical cozttact with pads 196 (pads 196 are insulated from the metallic tool by insulation 1.0 200).
The length of the pins 182 and 184 is imporCant to the operation of the invention.
Upon disconnecting, it is required that the slide 190 be closed (under bias of spring 204) prior to pins 184 pulling free from membrane 202. By so requiring, the breach in the seal of membrane 202 due to the pins 184 being oxtended therethrough is not able to allow 15 contamination xztto receptacles 194. Obviously it is intended that slide 190 make sealing contact with the sur~~ounding area. This embodiment is made up in the factory preferably but is also useable in the field because of the ability of pica. 182 to actuate slide 190 in a time frame where the pins 184 will protectively be in membrane 202.
In yet another embodiment of the invention wherein conductors are aligned and 20 connected. Referring initially to FIGURES 11-13 a more schematic view of the invention is illustrated. The view does not contain all of the pants of the invention and tlius is inter~.ded to convey the locations and orientation of the connectors, Tool 10 breaks down to a top half (comprising FIGURES 11 and 12) and a bottom half comprising FIGURE
13.
When. the halves are separated as illustrated in FIGURES 11-13, lower seal adapters 212 25 (twelve of them on the embodiment shown although more or fewer could be employed) are visible on bottom half (FIGURE 13) and the complemcntaiy upper seal adapters 214 (an equal number to the nutzaber of lower seal adapters 212). Upper 5ca1 adapters preferably include a pair of o-rings 270 to fluid tightly seal the lower seal adapters. Upper seal adapters 214 are connected to the uphole environment via conduits 218 while at the 30 other end of the connection, lower seal adapters 12 are connected to the downhole environment via conduit 20. The conduits 218 and 220 preferably contain fiber optic conductors. The mating ends of the conductors arc cleaned by preferably a hydraulic fluid which may be applied irr a number o~ ways including adaptations of the embodiments preferably does not include threads between the alignment profile and end conneotions.
Although the top aad bottom portions of the tool are run in the hole together (asseTribled at the Surface), an alignment profile 222 is provided in the tool to align the top and bottom halves in the event that they axe separated. Therefore, referring directly to FIGURfi.S 12 and 13, a profile 22h is a raised area in a predetermined orientation on the anchor sub 226. The profile 224 mates with a complementary profile 228 in bottom half (FIGURE 13). The profile and complementary profile operate similarly to a conventional ozientation sub which is well known to one of ordinary skill in tile art, The orientation profiles ensure that the lower seal adapters 212 wih align and mate with upper seal adapters 214 zeliably.
Turning now to the internal components of this embodiment of the invention, re'Perring to FIGURES 14-19, and beginaing at the upholc cod of the tool, a box thread 230 is provided to attach the tool to a work string (not shown). The box thread 230 is cut in body 232 which extends downhole to threadedly rotate with author sub 234 at thread 236.
Body 232 supports, near the uphole end thereof, diso spring retaiaer cap 238 which is threaded to the O.D. of body 232 at thread 240_ Cap 238 is further preferably anchored by cap screw 242. Cap 238 functiozas to retain preferably a plurality of disc springs (bellcville washers) 244. Springs 244 absorb longitudinal movement of upper and lower seal adapters.
Moreover, the washers keep the upper and lower seal adaptots positively shouldered internally which is important for pump dowse, replaceable optic fiber installation and other installations. Disc spriags 24.4 ate xnaintaincd in position at the downhole end by rotaincr sub 246. Sub 246 is annular and is threaded to disc spr~Lt~.g adjustment sub 248 at thread 250.
Downhole of attachracnt sub 248 and radially outwardly of body 232 is upper connector 252. Upper connector 252 houses upper seal adapters 214 at the downhole end thereof and a line connector assembly 254 which preferably cornpriscs a pair of ferrules and a jam nut (not individually shown). The connector 252 is retaiaed in position on body 232 by shear screw 256 and shoulder screw 258. These latter screws are best viewed in FIGURE 18. A plurality of bores 260 are provided in upper connector 252 to receive oonduit 218. Lower connector 262 (FIGURES 15 and 19) is disposed downhole of upper connector 252 and houses lower seal adapter 212, bore 264 for conduit 220 and a control line connector 260 which comprises a pair of ferrules and a,jam nut (not individually shown). It should be noted that FIGURE 15 provides a cross section view of the tool which shows the upper and lower seal adapters that were explained previously herein.
It should also be noted that upper seal adapter 214 includes two sets of o-rings 268 and 270. Rings 268 seal upper seal adapter 214 to upper connector 252 while rings 270 seal the lower seal adapter 212 into the upper seal adapter 214 when it is so engaged. Lower adapter 212 may be for conventional conductors or fiber optic conductors. FIGURE 19 illustrates three of four (212a) in conventional form and one (212b) in fiber optic fozrn , Bridging FrGUR.~S 15 and 16 is sleeve 272 which covers the components of the snap in/snap out feature of the invention (components discussed hereunder).
Sleeve 272 is connected to seal housing 274 which includes locking dogs 276. Seal housing is also threaded at 278 for a body loclc ring 280. The lock ring 280 is rotationally arrested by roll pin 236. Seal housing 274 is sealed to anchor sub 234 by seal stack 281.
Radiahy outwardly og seal housing 274 (FIGURES 16 and 17) are housing 282 and control line sub 284. Housing 282 includes several seals 286, several screws 288 and a dog receiving profile 290.
Radially inwardly of sleeve 272 (FTGUItE 16) is the snap in/snap out assembly mentioned above. The assembly includes. begintling from the uphole end, a shear ring retainer 292 which is connected to the anchor sub 234 by shear ring 294. Shear ring retainer 292 is also connected to support ring 298 through set screws 296 and thread 300.
Support ring 298 supports set down sleeve 30Z and is in contact with body lock housing 306, Body lock ring housing 306 is connected to body lock ring 304 conventionally and including a set screw 308 to arrest rotational movement. Body lock ring housing 306 is also thresdedly connected to set down sleeve 302 by thread 310. Body lock ring housing 306 oannot move up or downhole because of shear screw 312 which engages anchor sub 234.
Body lock ring housing 306 is connected to latch 314 by parting ring 316 Which is a ring having holding profiles 318 to retain the body lock ring housing 306 to latch 314 until a predetermined tensile load is placed thereon which. breaks the parting ring 316.
In operation and aiiter running in the hole, a pressure line 243 (FIC3URE 16) pressurizes a pistaa area 318 sealed by seals 86_ Upon reaching a predetermined pressure, shear screw 288 shears and allows liousing 282 to move downhole thus locating recess 290 over locking dogs 276 allowing them to move ra,dially outwardly to disBngage from anchor sub 234. Once aaohor sub 234 is disengaged from the dogs 276 it will be free to move.
Body lock ring 280 is provided to prevent housing 282 from moving back uphole and zeseating the dogs 276. After initial setting then, the housing portioa of the tool is permanently moved and the dogs 276 are permanently disengaged from anchor sub 234.
Following this disengagement, the tool upper portion (FZCrURES 11 and 12) and lower portion (FIGLrRE 13) are separable using the snap inJsnap out assembly in order to develop a pzoper space-out for the particular well, the tool may be snapped iti/anapped out as ~rioany times as necessary until su~cicnt weight is committed and the aacbor sub 234 supports the latch 314. Tn this latter condition the snap out feature is disabled.
Once the space out is appropriate, set down weight which exceeds the shear strength of shear ring 294 and shear screw 312 is applied. After shearing, anchor sub 234 moves downhol~ through lock z~iztg 304 and is retained is this positioa unt9,1 retrieval is necessary or desired.
In order to retrieve the tool. a tensile load is placed on the anchor sub which transmits to the body lock ring 304, the parting ring 316 and the latch 314.
When a prcdctermiaed tensile load is exceeded, the parting ring fails and the anchor Sub 34 moves uphole. This unsupports latch 314 allowing the latch to deflect into recess 320 and the snap out sub is operational. Continued tensile load will disengage the upper portion of the tool from the lower portion for retrieval. The process as described can then be repeated with a new or rebuilt upper portion.
While preferred cxnbodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing fromt the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.
What i.s claimed is:

Claims (5)

  1. CLAIM 1. A downhole conductor connection device comprising:
    a downhole portion including a lower conductor leading further downhole and an orientation profile;
    an uphole portion having a conductor leading further uphole and a complementary orientation profile;
    at least one lower seal adapter connected to said lower conductor; and at least one upper seal adapter connected to said upper conductor, said lower seal adapter being receivable in said upper seal adapter to connect said lower conductor to said upper conductor.
  2. CLAIM 2. A downhole conductor connection device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said connection device further includes a snap in/snap out thread.
  3. CLAIM 3. A downhole conductor connection device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said device further comprises a dog support system to lock said device in a selected position.
  4. CLAIM 4. A downhole conductor connection device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said dog support system is collapsible upon pressuring control line to shift housing.
  5. CLAIM 5. A method for downhole conductor connection comprising:
    running a downhole and uphole connector portions in a sealed engaged condition;
    opening said sealed engaged connector;
    orientating said uphole connector with said downhole connector; and reengaging at least one conductor.
CA002325164A 1999-11-05 2000-11-06 Pbr with tec bypass and wet disconnect/connect feature Abandoned CA2325164A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16357599P 1999-11-05 1999-11-05
US60/163,575 1999-11-05

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CA002325164A Abandoned CA2325164A1 (en) 1999-11-05 2000-11-06 Pbr with tec bypass and wet disconnect/connect feature
CA002358288A Expired - Lifetime CA2358288C (en) 1999-11-05 2000-11-06 A wet connect/disconnect and reconnect apparatus and method

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CA002358288A Expired - Lifetime CA2358288C (en) 1999-11-05 2000-11-06 A wet connect/disconnect and reconnect apparatus and method

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AU (2) AU7140200A (en)
CA (2) CA2325164A1 (en)
GB (2) GB0026910D0 (en)
NO (3) NO20005558D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2001033032A1 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6789621B2 (en) 2000-08-03 2004-09-14 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Intelligent well system and method
US7222676B2 (en) 2000-12-07 2007-05-29 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Well communication system
US7487830B2 (en) * 2002-11-11 2009-02-10 Baker Hughes Incorporated Method and apparatus to facilitate wet or dry control line connection for the downhole environment
US8711655B2 (en) 2009-03-17 2014-04-29 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Single well reservoir characterization apparatus and methods

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3753206A (en) * 1971-12-09 1973-08-14 Trw Inc Electrical connector with coaxial contacts
US4806114A (en) * 1985-09-14 1989-02-21 The British Petroleum Company P.L.C. Underwater electrically conductive coupling
US4921438A (en) * 1989-04-17 1990-05-01 Otis Engineering Corporation Wet connector
US5141051A (en) * 1991-06-05 1992-08-25 Ensco Technology Company Electrical wet connect and check valve for a drill string
US5967816A (en) * 1997-02-19 1999-10-19 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Female wet connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20005558D0 (en) 2000-11-03
AU7140200A (en) 2001-05-10
NO20074304L (en) 2001-09-04
WO2001033032A9 (en) 2002-05-10
GB2360881B (en) 2004-03-17
NO335867B1 (en) 2015-03-09
AU1469601A (en) 2001-05-14
NO325395B1 (en) 2008-04-21
WO2001033032A1 (en) 2001-05-10
GB0026910D0 (en) 2000-12-20
GB2360881A (en) 2001-10-03
GB0114072D0 (en) 2001-08-01
CA2358288A1 (en) 2001-05-10
NO20013320L (en) 2001-09-04
NO20013320D0 (en) 2001-07-04
CA2358288C (en) 2005-06-28
AU779822B2 (en) 2005-02-10

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Legal Events

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FZDE Discontinued