OA16628A - Downhole sand control apparatus and method with tool position sensor. - Google Patents

Abstract

A technique facilitates performance of a treatment application in a lateral wellbore. The technique may be employed in an open lateral wellbore and comprises deploying a completion within the open wellbore wall of the lateral wellbore. A service tool is used in cooperation with the completion to perform a gravel packing or other well treatment operation while maintaining hydrostatic pressure on the open lateral wellbore to prevent collapse of the open lateral wellbore. A variety of features may be incorporated into the completion or used in cooperation with the completion to facilitate the well treatment operation while maintaining the hydrostatic pressure until completion of the desired gravel pack.

Description

Hydrocarbon fluids, e.g. oil and naturel gas, are obtained from a subterranean géologie formation by drilling a well that pénétrâtes the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Once a wellbore is driîled, various forms of well completion components may be installée! to control and enhance the efficiency of producing fluids from the subterranean géologie formation. In certain applications, the production of hydrocarbon fluids Is enhanced by drilling and completing latéral wellbores extending from a primary wellbore, e.g. a generally vertical wellbore. Various gravel packing operations are is employed to create gravel packs around the complétions in the latéral wellbores.

SUMMARY

In general, the présent disclosure provides a methodology and system for treating, e.g.

gravel packing, a latéral wellbore. The methodology and system may be employed in an open hole latéral wellbore and comprise a completion conveyed into the latéral wellbore. A service tool is used in coopération with the completion to perform the gravel packing or other well treatment operation while maintaining hydrostatic pressure on the open latéral wellbore to prevent collapse of the wellbore. A variety of features may be Incorporated into the completion or used in coopération with the completion to facilitate the well treatment operation while maintaining the hydrostatic pressure until completion of the desired gravel pack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS îo Certain embodiments will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals dénoté like éléments. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying figures illustrate only the various implémentations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope of various technologies described herein, and:

îs Figure 1 is an illustration of a well system having an example of a completion deployed in an open hole latéral wellbore, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

s Figure 2 is an illustration similar to that of Figure 1 but showing completion of a junction which is coupled with the completion disposed in the open hole latéral wellbore, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 3 is an illustration similar to that of Figure 2 but showing the addition of an io intermediate completion deployed in the primary wellbore, according to an alternate embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 4 is an illustration similar to that of Figure 3 but showing deployment a work string and service tool down to the completion disposed in the open hole latéral wellbore, according to an 15 embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 5 is an illustration similar to that of Figure 4 in which a bail has been dropped to divert gravel slurry to an alternate path tubing separate from the main flow path of the completion, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 6 is an illustration of a completed gravel pack disposed around the completion in the open hole latéral wellbore, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 7 is an illustration similar to that of Figure 6 with the addition of an upper completion coupled to the intermediate completion, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

Figure 8 is an illustration of an example of the well system in a producing configuration, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of some illustrative embodiments of the présent disclosure. However, it will be understood by those of 35 ordinary skill in the art that the system and/or methodology may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.

The disclosure herein generally relates to a system and methodology that facilitate performance of a treatment operation in a latéral wellbore. For example, the system and methodology facilitate gravel packing operations in open hole latéral wellbores. According to an embodiment of the well system, a completion is deployed in a latéral wellbore. Subsequently, a junction is completed and coupled to the completion in the latéral wellbore to form an enclosed flow path from a primary wellbore, e.g. a generally vertical wellbore, to the latéral wellbore. After completing the junction, a service tool may be used to facilitate formation of a gravel pack in the io latéral wellbore while maintaining hydrostatic pressure. The hydrostatic pressure is applied through the completion in the latéral wellbore and into contact with the open wellbore wall of the latéral wellbore to maintain the integrity of the latéral wellbore by, for example, preventing collapse. The hydrostatic pressure may be released once the gravel pack is completed.

is The completion deployed in the latéral wellbore may comprise an alternate path system which directs gravel slurry, for performing the gravel packing operation, along an alternate flow path outside of the primary flow path extending through the completion. The alternate path system may comprise an alternate path tubing, such as a shunt tube, extending along the completion to a desired discharge location. For example, the gravel slurry may be directed along the alternate path 20 tubing to an annular région surrounding one or more sand screens. In some applications, the entire gravel slurry used to form the gravel pack is directed down through an interior of the junction within the primary internai flow path until directed outwardly to the alternate path tubing via, for example, a shrouded port closure sleeve. Thus, the gravel slurry is completely contained, routed along the alternate path tubing, and discharged at the desired location with respect to the gravel pack.

The alternate path system may be employed when performing the gravel packing operation through the completed junction. However, the alternate path system also may be utilized in other types of applications. For example, the alternate path system may be used to facilitate formation of the desired gravel pack prior to completion of the junction between the primary wellbore and the 30 latéral wellbore.

Depending on the spécifie parameters of a given well environment and well treatment operation, the components of the well system and the spécifie methodology may be adjusted. For example, the completion deployed in the latéral wellbore may be run with a variety of suitable 35 packers, such as a packer/disconnect, an external casing packer, a swell packer, or a completion packer. The service tool may be designed to both maintain hydrostatic pressure when performing the gravel pack and to allow for a post job cleaning operation. Many other types of components and tools may be incorporated into the system to facilitate well treatment operations, e.g. gravel packing operations, in single or multiple latéral wellbores.

Referring generally to Figure 1, an example of one type of system and methodology for performing the treatment operation in a latéral wellbore is illustrated. The example is provided to facilitate explanation, and it should be understood that a variety of components and operational techniques may be utilized with the well System described herein. The various complétions 10 described may utilize a variety of packers, valves, sliding sleeves, screens, tubing, engagement devices, crossover ports, and other components selected for use in many types of environments and applications.

In Figure 1, an embodiment of a well system 20 is illustrated as comprising a completion 22 is deployed in a well 24. In this example, completion 22 is deployed in a latéral wellbore 26 which extends from a primary wellbore 28, e.g. a generally vertical wellbore. In the example illustrated, the primary wellbore 28 is cased with a casing 30 and the latéral wellbore 26 is an open hole latéral wellbore defîned by an open wellbore wall 32. Depending on the spécifie application, various well complétions may be used in the well 24 and well 24 may comprise many types of wellbores, including deviated, e.g. horizontal, single bore, multilatéral, single zone, multi-zone, cased, uncased (open bore), or other types of wellbores.

In the example illustrated, completion 22 comprises a packer 34 which may be an open hole packer designed to seal off the latéral wellbore section extending from the packer 34 to the toe of 2$ the latéral wellbore 26. By way of example, packer 34 may comprise an external casing packer, a swell packer, a completion packer or another packer suitable for the desired application, e.g. an open hole application. Completion 22 also may comprise a variety of other components, such as a sand screen 36 or a plurality of sand screens 36. The completion 22 also may comprise a polished bore réceptacle 38 or other suitable device for receiving the service tool as described in greater detail below. A set down collar 40 also may be used in coopération with the polished bore réceptacle 38. Various other components, such as a flapper valve or other type of fluid loss device 42, may be further incorporated into the completion 22.

In the spécifie example illustrated, completion 22 is designed to route gravel slurry through 35 an alternate path system 44. By way of example, the alternate path system 44 may comprise an alternate path tubing 46, e.g. at least one shunt tube 48, positioned to deliver gravel slurry to a discharge location 50. The alternate path tubing 46 discharges the gravel slurry at the discharge location 50 to create the desired gravel pack in the annulus around, for example, sand screens 36. According to an example of the présent technique, the gravel slurry is directed downhole along a main flow path 52 which extends into the interiorof completion 22. As explained in greater detail below, the gravel slurry may be directed through a work string and service tool deployed within the main flow path 52 and coupled with the completion 22. In such an application, the work string and the service tool contain the gravel slurry within main flow path 52 until discharged to the exterior of the main flow path 52, e.g. to the alternate path system 44. In this embodiment, a director device io 54 works in coopération with the service tool to direct gravel slurry into the alternate path tubing 46. During the gravel packing or other servicing operation, the gravel slurry may be directed along the main flow path 52 while remaining fully enclosed within the work string and service tool until the gravel slurry is directed into the alternate path tubing 46 for delivery to the discharge location 50. This enables control and containment of 100% of the gravel slurry used in forming the desired is gravel pack around completion 22. By way of example, the director device 54 may comprise a shrouded port closure sleeve 56.

In the example îllustrated, a whipstock 58 or other suitable device may be used to facilitate formation of the latéral wellbore 26. The whipstock 58 also may be used to facilitate other completion activities, such as completion of a junction used to couple the completion 22 with an intermediate completion in the région of transition between the primary wellbore 28 and the latéral wellbore 26. The whipstock 58 may be designed as a retrievable component to enable access to possible additional latéral wellbores disposed beneath the îllustrated latéral wellbore 26.

2$ Refem'ng generally to Figure 2, an illustration of well system 20 is provided in which a junction 60 has been completed and coupled with completion 22 via, for example, a connector 62, such as a disconnect sub. In this embodiment, the junction 60 is positioned above a template 64. Once the junction 60 is completed, an intermediate completion 66 may be run downhole via a suitable running tool 68 and coupled with junction 60 in primary wellbore 28, as îllustrated in Figure

3. Depending on the application, the intermediate completion 66 may comprise a variety of components, such as a packer 70. In the embodiment îllustrated, packer 70 is designed to form a seal with a casing 30 within primary wellbore 28. Additional packers 70 and other components may be deployed in primary wellbore 28 beneath junction 60.

Following placement of the intermediate completion 66, a service tool 72 is run downhole on a work string 74, as îllustrated in Figure 4. The service tool 72 is deployed down through intermediate completion 66 and junction 60 before being received within completion 22 via polished bore réceptacle 38. The service tool 72 is designed to engage and seal within polished bore réceptacle 38 to enable maintenance of hydrostatic-pressure on the open hole latéral wellbore 26 during a gravel packing operation. The hydrostatic pressure is maintained within completion 22 and within an annulus 76 between completion 22 and the surrounding open wellbore wall 32 to preserve the integrity of the open hole latéral wellbore 26, e.g. to prevent collapse of the latéral wellbore. The design of service tool 72, completion 22, and junction 60 also serves to maintain sand exclusion within the junction 60 during the gravel packing operation.

io

Service tool 72 may be designed with a variety of components and features to facilitate performance of a desired well treatment operation. In the example illustrated, the service tool 72 is designed to facilitate a gravel packing operation and comprises a crossover port body 78 located to direct the gravel slurry out of the service tool 72, into the shrouded port closure sleeve 56, and then is into the alternate path tubing 46 for delivery to the discharge location 50. By way of further example, the service tool 72 may comprise one or more flow control valves 80, a service tool collet 82, a fluid loss device 84, and suitable seals 86 for forming a seal with the surrounding polished bore réceptacle 38. However, these components are described and illustrated to provide examples of components that may be included in the service tool 72, and other embodiments of the service 20 tool may comprise additional, alternate, and/or modified components to facilitate the desired well treatment operation. The service tool 72 and completion 22 also may be used to perform a post gravel pack cleaning operation.

In Figure 5, a drop member, such as a bail 88, is moved down through work string 74 and 25 service tool 72 until seated proximate crossover port body 78. When gravel slurry is delivered down through work string 74 and service tool 72 within main flow path 52, the bail 88 directs the flow of gravel slurry out through crossover port body 78. The gravel slurry then flows into the director device 54, e.g. into shrouded port closure sleeve 56, and along alternate path tubing 46 until discharged at discharge location 50. During the flow of gravel slurry, hydrostatic pressure is 3o maintained in the latéral wellbore 26.

In this example, ail of the gravel slurry is discharged through the alternate path tubing 46 to create a gravel pack 90, as illustrated in Figure 6. The gravel pack 90 is located in the annulus 76 between completion 22 and the surrounding open wellbore wall 32. As well fluid flows from a surrounding formation, the gravel pack 90 serves to filter the inflowing well fluid before entering completion 22 through sand screens 36. Following formation of gravel pack 90, the hydrostatic pressure may be released in latéral wellbore 26. After the gravel pack 90 is formed, the service tool 72 may be withdrawn and fluid loss device 42 may be allowed to close, thus preventing any further down flow of fluid aiong main flow path 52.

Once the service tool 72 is withdrawn, an upper completion 92 may be delivered down through primary wellbore 28 for engagement with intermediate completion 66, as illustrated in Figure 7. During deployment of the upper completion 92, a valve 94 in intermediate completion 66 may be used to prevent flow along the main flow path 52. However, once the well 24 is fully ίο completed, valve 94 may be opened to a producing configuration which allows production fluids to flow upwardly through well 24, as illustrated in Figure 8.

In some applications, the ability to complété junction 60 and then to perform the gravel packing operation while maintaining hydrostatic pressure greatly facilitâtes formation of the desired u gravel pack 90. In these applications, the alternate path system 44 may be employed to deliver the gravel slurry, however other gravel slurry delivery Systems also may be employed to direct the gravel slurry to a desired location along completion 22. The alternate path system 44 also may be used in a variety of applications to facilitate the gravel packing operation. In some of these applications, the alternate path system 44 is used to contain and deliver 100% of the gravel slurry

2o for a controlled discharge of ail of the gravel slurry when forming gravel pack 90. The alternate path System 44 may be used in applications which perform the gravel packing operation after completing junction 60 or prior to completing junction 60.

The spécifie configuration of well system 20 and completion 22 may vary depending on the 2S parameters of a given application. Additionally, the junction 60, director device 54, alternate path system 44, and other components of the system may be formed in a variety of configurations and from a variety of materials suitable for a selected operation and environment. Also, various types of service tools 72 and work strings 74 may be used to deliver gravel slurry or other treatment fluids down to completion 22 through main flow path 52.

Furthermore, several types of intermediate complétions and upper complétions may be employed depending on the spécifies of a given treatment application and/or production application. Additional complétions also may be employed in additional latéral wellbores. Each of the additional latéral wellbores may be gravel packed or otherwise treated as described above. For example, the 35 gravel packing of each additional latéral wellbore can be conducted by completing the corresponding junction and then forming the gravel pack while maintaining hydrostatic pressure. The alternate flow path system also can be employed with each corresponding completion located in the additional latéral wellbores.

Although only a few embodiments of the system and methodology hâve been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the daims.

Claims (18)

1. What is claimed is:

   1. A method for monitoring a position of a service tool in a wellbore, comprising:

   posîtioning the service tool having a sensor assembly coupled thereto within the wellbore:

   moving the service tool within the wellbore;

   measuring a distance travelled by the service tool in the wellbore with the sensor assembly; and determining a position of the service tool in the wellbore by comparing the distance travelled to a stationary reference point.
2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a wheel that rolls against the wellbore as the service tool moves within the wellbore, and wherein the distance travelled corresponds to a number of révolutions of the wheel.
3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein measuring the distance travelled by the service tool further comprises sensing variations in a magnetic field produced by a magnet adapted to rotate through the same angular distance as the wheel.
4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the magnet is disposed on or in an axle that extends through the wheel.
5. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly comprises an acoustic sensor.
6. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured distance is at least one of an axial distance and a rotational distance.
7. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating at least one of a velocity of the service tool in the wellbore and an accélération of the service tool in the wellbore.
8. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the stationary reference point is disposed on a stationary completion assembly.
9. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

   transmitting at least one of the measured distance and the position of the service tool to at least one of an operator and a recorder; and moving the service tool in the wellbore in response to at ieast one of the transmitted distance travelled and the transmitted position of the service tool.
10. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the service tool comprises at least one of a wireline tool, a shifting tool, a fishing tool, and a drilling and measurement logging tool.
11. 11. A method for monitoring a position of a service tool in a wellbore, comprising:

    running a downhole tool assembly into the wellbore, wherein the downhole tool assembly comprises the service tool coupled to a completion assembly, wherein the service tool comprises a sensor assembly, and wherein the completion assembly comprises a packer;

    setting the packer at a fixed position in the wellbore, thereby making the completion assembly stationary within the wellbore;

    actuating the sensor assembly into an engaged position such that a wheel of the sensor assembly is in contact with a wall of the wellbore;

    releasing the service tool from the completion assembly after the packer is set such that the service tool is adapted to move within the wellbore with respect to the stationary completion assembly;

    10’ moving the service tool within the wellbore with respect to the stationary completion assembly, wherein the wheel is adapted to roll along the wall of the wellbore as the service tool moves;

    measuring a distance travelled by the service tool in the wellbore, wherein the distance corresponds to a number of révolutions of the wheel; and determining a position of the service tool in the wellbore in relation to the fixed position of the completion assembly.
12. 12. The method of claim 11, transmitting at least one of the distance travelled by the service tool in the wellbore and the position of the service tool in the wellbore to at least one of an operator and a recorder.
13. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the service tool in the wellbore in response to at least one of the transmitted distance travelled and the transmitted position of the service tool to align one or more crossover ports disposed through the service tool with one or more completion ports disposed through the completion assembly.
14. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising flowing a treatment fluid through the one or more crossover ports and the one or more completion ports and into an annulus formed between the completion assembly and the wall of the wellbore and below the packer.
15. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising moving the service tool into a reversing position such that the one or more crossover ports are disposed above the packer.
16. 16. A downhole tool assembly, comprising:

    a completion assembly;

    a packer coupled to the completion assembly and adapted to anchor the completion assembly in a stationary position within a wellbore;

    a service tool coupled to the completion assembly, wherein the service tool is adapted to release from the completion assembly after the packer is anchored; and a sensor assembly coupled to the service tool, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a wheel that is adapted to contact and roll along a wall of the wellbore as the service tool moves a distance within the wellbore, wherein the sensor assembly is adapted to measure the distance travelled by the service tool, wherein the distance corresponds to a number of révolutions of the wheel, and wherein the sensor assembly is adapted to détermine a position of the service tool in the wellbore by comparing the distance travelled to a stationary reference point.
17. 17. The downhole tool assembly of claim 16, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises:

    an axle extending through the wheel;

    a magnet disposed on or in at least one of the axle and the wheel, wherein the magnet is adapted to rotate through the same angular distance as the wheel;

    a sensor adapted to sense variations in a magnetic field produced by the magnet as the magnet rotâtes; and a circuit in communication with the sensor.
18. 18. The downhole tool assembly of claim 17, wherein at least one of the sensor and the circuit is disposed in an atmospheric chamber.