EA031139B1 - Extendable downhole tool for determining orientation of an element in an underground well - Google Patents

Abstract

A downhole tool for determining orientation of an element connected to the tool body in an underground well may include a flow control device which controls a flow between an interior and an exterior of the tool body to thereby transmit a signal indicative of an orientation of the body, the flow control device being extendable outwards relative to the body. A method of determining orientation of an element in an underground well may comprise connection of a downhole tool to the element, transmitting at least one signal from the downhole tool by way of controlling a flow between an interior and an exterior of the downhole tool body, the signal being indicative of an orientation of the downhole tool in the well, and moving a housing of the tool outwards relative to the generally tubular body of the tool. A downhole system for determining orientation of an element in an underground well may include a downhole tool connected to the element and positioned in the well bore, said tool including a housing which is outwardly extendable relative to a generally tubular tool body, said tool being configured to transmit at least one signal indicative of an orientation of the element by way of controlling a flow between an interior and an exterior of the downhole tool body.

Description

The present invention relates generally to the equipment used and the work performed in connection with the drilling of wells, and more specifically, in one example embodiment disclosed below, offers a sliding downhole tool for determining the orientation of an element connected to the tool body in an underground well.

The level of technology

Usually the space in the wellbore is very limited, so you need to use it effectively. Unfortunately, existing downhole tools, which are used to determine the orientation of structures in wells, can occupy a considerable amount of space, therefore the applicability of such downhole tools may be limited.

Thus, it is obvious that improvements in the design and application of downhole tools are constantly required.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the downhole system and the corresponding method in which the principles of the present invention can be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a downhole system and a corresponding method, with the downhole tool pushed outward.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of one example of a downhole tool.

FIG. 4-6 show cross-sections of additional examples of downhole tools.

Detailed disclosure of the invention

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a well system 10 for determining the orientation of an element in an underground well and the corresponding method in which the principles of the present invention can be implemented. However, it is necessary to clearly understand that the system 10 and the method are exclusively one of the examples of implementing the principles of the present invention in practice, and various other examples are possible. Therefore, the scope of this application is not limited to the elements of the system 10 and the method disclosed herein and / or shown in the drawings.

In the example of FIG. 1, a tubular column 12 is arranged in the wellbore 14. The tubular column 12 is shown in FIG. 1, made in the form of a casing, but in other examples other types of tubular columns (such as a shank, sleeveless long-length pipes, perforated pipes, etc.) may be used.

FIG. 1 wellbore 14 is generally depicted horizontal and open, i.e. uncased, but in other examples, the wellbore may be generally vertical or inclined, may be cased with casing pipes, secret columns, cement, etc. That is, the scope of the present invention is not limited to any specific features of the tubular column 12 and the trunk 14 wells shown in the drawings or described in this application.

The tubular string 12 contains certain elements that require the ability to specify their orientation in the wellbore 14. To such elements in the example of FIG. 1, the window 16 and the orienting profile 18 refer. However, it should be clear that the principles of the present invention can be applied when orienting elements of any type in the wellbore. Other types of orientable elements may include, for example, a locking joint for orienting and securing the diverter or whipstock, perforator, diverter or whipstock, etc. Thus, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the orientation of any particular type of elements in the wellbore.

A downhole tool 20 is also connected to the tubular column 12. The downhole tool 20 indicates the orientation of the window 16 and the profile 18 in azimuth relative to the wellbore 14 and gravity by selectively controlling the flow of fluid 22 between the space inside and the space outside the tool when the fluid circulates through the tubular column 12.

In the example of FIG. 1, fluid 22 flows through an internal channel 24 extending longitudinally through a tubular column 12. Fluid 22 exits the distal end (not shown) of the tubular column 12 and returns through the annular space 26 formed between the tubular column and the wellbore 14.

By selectively opening and closing the flow control device 28 (or by reducing or increasing the flow through it) of the tool 20, pressure signals can be transmitted to the earth’s surface or to another remote location equipped with a pressure sensor to detect pressure in channel 24. For example, opening flow control device 28 causes a decrease in pressure in channel 24, and closure of the flow control device causes an increase in pressure in that channel.

Such pressure control can be used to transmit signals indicating the orientation in the bore 14 of the borehole of the tool 20 and its associated elements (such as window 16 and profile 18, etc.). Appropriate methods for transmitting such signals are disclosed in US Publication No. 2012/0106297, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the use of these methods.

- 1 031139 bov.

To determine the orientation in the borehole of the tool 20 and the associated elements, this tool contains an orientation sensor 30 (such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, etc.), a processor 32, and a memory 34. The processor 32 can be programmed to actuate the flow control device 28 in a certain way (bringing to the open, closed position, opening and closing at a given speed, opening and / or closing according to a certain algorithm, etc.) with the indication of the orientation sensor 30 that tool 20 and p isoedinennye elements oriented or not oriented properly. Thus, the scope of the present invention is not limited to any particular method of transmitting orientation signals to a remote location through flow control device 28.

The flow control device 28 may comprise a valve or choke with flow control between the space inside and the space outside, in general, of the tubular body 36 of the tool 20. The flow control device 28, the sensor 30, the processor 32, the memory 34 and the power elements 38 may be installed in the box 40, made with the possibility of extension to the outside through the wall of the housing 36.

Note that the flow control device 28, the sensor 30, the processor 32, the storage device 34 and the power supply elements 38 do not have to be all installed in the box 40, and each of these components need not be installed in the box. Thus, the scope of the present invention is not limited to any particular arrangement or combination of components in the tool 20.

FIG. 1 box 40 is removed in the housing 36. This configuration allows you to move the tool 20 in the casing and other confined spaces when installing the tubular column 12 in the wellbore 14 of the well. When the limitation of the outer diameter of the tool 20 is no longer required, the box 40 may be pulled out of the body 36 to the outside, as shown in FIG. 2

In the configuration of FIG. 2, the internal dimension D in the tool 20 is increased due to the extension of the box 40 to the outside. This increased size D provides the ability to move fluids (such as cement, fluids to influence the formation, etc.) and objects (such as cementing tool 42, other types of tools, etc.) through channel 24 with smaller restrictions.

Box 40 may be pushed out during the orientation process at any desired point. For example, the box 40 may be pushed out either before or after setting the desired orientation of the tool 20 in the wellbore 14, before or after the signals indicating the orientation are transmitted through the flow control device 28, etc.

In one example, the box 40 may be pushed out in response to movement in the body 36 of an object (for example, a dart 42, a cork, a ball, a probe, etc.) displacing the box 40 to the outside. For example, the dart 42, when pushing it through the housing 36 to initiate the cementing operation, may apply to the box 40 a force that biases it outwards.

FIG. 3-5 are illustrations of additional examples of ways of pushing the box 40 out. However, it should be understood that these are exclusively examples from a great variety of different types of methods that can be used to move the box 40, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to using any particular moving method .

In the example of FIG. 3, a seal 44 is provided between the box 40 and the housing 36, allowing a pressure differential between the space inside and the space outside the housing 36 to be applied to the box 40. By applying a pressure differential (for example, after installing a plug or dart 42 for cementing), the box 40 moves out through the wall of the housing 36. The magnitude of the pressure drop can be set, for example, by means of shear pins, shear elements of other types, a clamp, actuated by pressure, etc. FIG. 3 box 40 is shown between the extended and retracted positions.

In the example of FIG. 4 displacement devices 46 (such as springs, compressed gas vessels, etc.) apply bias forces to the box 40. The tabs 48 may release the box 40, allowing it to move in response to bias forces. The latch 48 can control the processor 32.

In the example of FIG. 5, motors 50 (such as electric motors, hydraulic motors, etc.) move box 40 outwardly. For example, motors 50 may rotate threaded rods that engage with female threaded components attached to housing 36. If necessary, other actuators may be used.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a downhole tool 20. In this example, box 40 is pushed out in response to a signal 52 (for example, an electromagnetic or acoustic signal, etc.) transmitted from an object 54 (such as a ball, dart, cork and etc.) that moves (for example, moves with a stream, falls, is transported) through channel 24. For example, object 54 can transmit a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal to downhole tool 20 (for example, using passive or active tag technology) .

- 2 031139

The tool 20 includes a receiver or sensor 56 receiving a signal 52. The processor 32, in response to receiving the corresponding signal 52 from the object 54, can release the latches 48 in the examples in FIG. 3, 4 and 6, to drive the motors 50 in the example of FIG. 5 or to allow the box 40 to extend outward in another manner.

Alternatively, the object 54 may not be used, and the sensor 56 may detect the pressure in the channel 24 when controlled from a remote location. For example, sensor 56 may be configured as a pressure sensor that detects pressure in channel 24. A specific level and / or character of increase and / or decrease in pressure can be used as a signal that causes the box 40 to extend outwards.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, any method of transmitting a signal to tool 20 causing the box 40 to extend outside can be used. For example, a signal can be transmitted over a wireless channel (for example, by electromagnetic, acoustic telemetry, channel pressure pulses, etc.) or using electrical, hydraulic, optical and other conductors (for example, from the inside, from the outside and / or inside the wall of the tubular column 12).

Upon receiving a pull-out signal from box 40, tool 20 can acknowledge receiving a signal by sending a confirmation signal back to a remote location, for example, by using flow control device 28 to selectively control flow between the space outside and the space inside the housing 36, as described above. After fully extending to the outside of the box 40, the tool 20 can transmit a signal to a remote location, indicating that the device is in an extended configuration.

In other examples, the box 40 may be pushed out by means of a mandrel (for example, of a conical or other shape), which is moved through the channel 24. Thus, the scope of the present invention is not limited to any particular way of extending the box 40 to the outside.

Once the box 40 is pulled out, it can be locked in that position. As a result, the channel 24 will not be narrowed due to the presence in it of the box 40. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, any method of locking the box 40 in the outwardly extended position can be used.

Now it should be quite clear that the presented invention offers significant improvements in the field of implementation and operation of downhole tools for determining the orientation of an element in an underground well. In the examples described above, the box 40 (with or without flow control device 28, orientation sensor 30, etc., located therein) can be removed when the tool 20 is installed in the well and can then be pushed outward to increase the internal dimension D in the housing 36 of the device, thereby reducing the narrowing in the tool.

This application provides a downhole tool 20 for determining the orientation of an element connected to a tool body in an underground well. In one example, the downhole tool 20 may include a flow control device 28 that controls the flow between the space outside and the space inside the body 36 of the well tool 20, so as to transmit at least one signal indicating the orientation of the body 36 in the well. The device 28 flow control is installed with the possibility of extension to the outside of the housing 36.

The housing 36 may have a substantially tubular shape. The device 28 of the flow control can be located in the box 40, made with the possibility of extension to the outside through the wall of the housing 36.

The downhole tool 20 is made with the possibility of increasing the internal size D in the housing 36 when extending to the outside of the device 28 of the control flow.

The flow control device 28 can move outward in response to a bias force applied by an object (such as a tool 42) that moves in the housing 36, in response to the application of a predetermined pressure in the space inside the housing 36, in response to applying pressure to the instrument 20 with a given the nature of the changes, in response to the application of a specified pressure drop to the tool 20, in response to the signal 52 transmitted by the object 54, which moves in the housing 36, or in response to the transmission of the specified signal to the tool 20.

The downhole tool 20 may include a sensor 56, which receives a signal 52 transmitted by the object 54 in the housing 36.

The downhole tool 20 may include a motor 50 and / or a bias device 46 that move the flow control device 28.

A method for determining the orientation of an element (for example, a window 16, an orienting profile 18, etc.) in an underground well is also disclosed above. In one example, the method may comprise attaching the downhole tool 20 to the element; transmitting at least one signal from the downhole tool 20 by controlling the flow between the space inside and the space outside the body of the downhole tool, which signal indicates the orientation in the well of the well tool 20; and moving the box 40 of the downhole tool 20 outward relative to,

- 3 031139 in General, the tubular body 36 of the downhole tool 20.

The method may comprise positioning the element and the downhole tool 20 in the well, and the attachment of the downhole tool is carried out in a known orientation with respect to the element.

The step of moving the box 40 can be performed after the step of positioning the element and the downhole tool 20 in the well.

The transmission step may comprise flow control between the space inside and the space outside the housing 36 by means of the flow control device 28 for transmitting the signal in this way.

Flow control device 28 may be located in box 40.

The displacement step may include an increase in the internal dimension D in the housing 36.

The displacement step may be performed in response to the bias force applied by the object that moves in the housing 36, in response to the application of a predetermined pressure in the space inside the housing 36, in response to pressure applied to the tool 20 with a predetermined pattern of changes, in response to signal transmission object 54, which moves in the housing 36, or in response to the application to the tool 20 specified pressure differential.

A well system 10 is also described above for determining the orientation of a feature in an underground well. In one example, the borehole system may comprise a downhole tool 20 attached to an element (for example, window 16, orienting profile 18, etc.) and located in the wellbore 14, the borehole tool 20 comprising a box 40 configured to extend outwardly relative to the overall tubular body 36, while the downhole tool 20 is configured to transmit at least one signal indicative of the orientation of the element, by controlling the flow between the space inside and the space outside the casing of the downhole tool.

Although the above described various examples, each of which has certain characteristics, it should be understood that the specific features of one example may not necessarily be used only with this example. On the contrary, any of the features described above and / or shown in the drawings can be combined with any of the examples in addition to or instead of any of the other features of these examples. The signs of one example and the signs of other examples are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, the scope of the present invention covers any combination of these features.

Despite the fact that each of the examples described above contains a certain combination of features, it should be clear that all the features of a specific example need not be used. On the contrary, any described signs can be used without the simultaneous use of any or any other signs.

It should be clear that the various embodiments disclosed above may be used without departing from the principles of the present invention in different spatial positions, for example, in a tilted, inverted, horizontal, vertical, and so on, and in various configurations. The embodiments are described solely as examples of useful applications of the principles of the present invention, which are not limited to any specific details of these embodiments.

In the above description of typical examples, the terms of directions (such as above, below, upper, lower, etc.) are used for ease of reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be clear that the scope of the present invention is not limited to any specific areas described above.

The terms containing, containing, having, having and similar terms used in the present description are not limiting. If, for example, a system, method, device, fixture, and the like is described as containing some feature or element, the system, method, device, fixture, and the like may contain this feature or element and may also contain other features or elements. Similarly, the term contains used in the meaning of contains, not limited to.

Of course, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon careful consideration of the above disclosures of embodiments of the present invention that many modifications, additions, exceptions and other changes can be made to the specific embodiments, and such changes are covered by the principles of the present invention. For example, the structures described as performed separately, in other examples, may be integral, and vice versa. Accordingly, the above description should be considered as provided for example and illustration only, and the nature and scope of the present invention is limited solely by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims (40)

CLAIM 1. A downhole tool for determining the orientation of an element connected to the tool body. - 4 031139 rules, in an underground well, containing a flow control device, configured to control the flow between the space inside and the space outside the body of the downhole tool, to thereby transmit at least one signal indicating the orientation of the body, and the flow control device is made with possibility of extension to the outside relative to the body. 2. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the body has a generally tubular shape, wherein the flow control device is located inside a box configured to extend out through the wall of the body. 3. The downhole tool according to claim 1, configured to increase the internal size in the housing when extending to the outside of the flow control device. 4. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the flow control device is configured to extend outward in response to the bias force applied by the object moving in the housing. 5. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the flow control device is configured to extend outward in response to the application of a predetermined pressure to the space inside the housing. 6. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the flow control device is adapted to extend to the outside in response to applying pressure to this tool with a predetermined pattern of change. 7. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the flow control device is adapted to extend to the outside in response to a given pressure differential applied to the tool. 8. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the flow control device is adapted to extend out in response to a signal transmitted by an object moving in the housing. 9. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the flow control device is adapted to extend to the outside in response to transmitting a signal from a remote location to the tool. 10. The downhole tool of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to receive a signal transmitted by an object in the housing. 11. The downhole tool of claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to move a flow control device. 12. The downhole tool of claim 1, further comprising a displacement device configured to move the flow control device. 13. The method of determining the orientation of the element in an underground well, containing the connection of the downhole tool according to claim 1 to the element; transmitting from the downhole tool by controlling the flow between the space inside and the space outside the body of the downhole tool at least one signal indicating the orientation of the downhole tool in the well; and moving the box of the downhole tool outward relative to the overall tubular body of the downhole tool. 14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising positioning the element and the downhole tool in the well, wherein the attachment of the downhole tool is performed in a known orientation with respect to the element. 15. The method according to 14, in which the movement is performed after positioning. 16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the transmission further comprises flow control between the space inside and the space outside the housing through the flow control device to thereby transmit the signal. 17. A method according to claim 16, in which the flow control device is located inside the box. 18. The method according to item 13, in which the movement further comprises an increase in internal size in the housing. 19. The method according to item 13, in which the movement is performed in response to the bias force applied by the object moving in the housing. 20. The method according to item 13, in which the movement is performed in response to the application of a given pressure to the space inside the housing. 21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the movement is performed in response to the application of pressure to the instrument with a predetermined pattern of change. 22. The method according to item 13, in which the movement is performed in response to the application to the tool specified pressure differential. 23. The method according to item 13, in which the movement is performed in response to the signal transmission object moving in the housing. 24. The method according to item 13, in which the movement is performed in response to the transmission tool signal from a remote location. 25. The method of claim 13, further comprising the sensor receiving a downhole tool. - 5 031139 la transmitted by the object in the housing. 26. The method according to item 13, in which the movement further comprises moving the box through the engine. 27. The method according to claim 13, wherein the movement further comprises moving the box by means of a biasing device. 28. A downhole system for determining the orientation of an element in an underground well, comprising a downhole tool according to claim 1, attached to the element and located in a well bore, wherein the downhole tool contains a box configured to extend outwardly with respect to the tubular body as a whole, the downhole tool is configured to transmit at least one signal indicating the orientation of the element by controlling the flow between the space inside and the space outside and downhole tool. 29. The downhole system of Claim 28, wherein the downhole tool further comprises a flow control device configured to control the flow between the space inside and the space outside the body to thereby transmit the signal. 30. The downhole system of Claim 29, wherein the flow control device is located within the box. 31. The downhole system of Claim 28, wherein an increase in the internal size in the housing is provided by extending outward the flow control device. 32. The downhole system of Claim 28, wherein the box is configured to extend outward in response to the bias force exerted by the object moving in the housing. 33. The downhole system of Claim 28, wherein the box is configured to extend outward in response to the application of a predetermined pressure to the space inside the housing. 34. The downhole system of Claim 28, wherein the box is configured to extend outward in response to application of pressure to a tool with a predetermined pattern of change. 35. The downhole system of Claim 28, wherein the box is configured to extend outward in response to the application of a predetermined pressure drop to the tool. 36. The downhole system of Claim 28, wherein the box is configured to extend outward in response to a signal transmitted by an object moving in a housing. 37. The downhole system of Claim 28, wherein the box is configured to extend outward in response to transmitting to the instrument a predetermined signal from a remote location. 38. The downhole system of claim 28, in which the downhole tool further comprises a sensor configured to receive a signal transmitted by an object in the housing. 39. The downhole system of Claim 28, wherein the downhole tool further comprises an engine configured to move the box. 40. The downhole system of claim 28, in which the downhole tool further comprises a biasing device configured to move the box. - 6 031139 FIG. four FIG. five