WO2016090110A1

WO2016090110A1 - Cable protector gauge carrier for reading reservoir pressure through cement

Info

Publication number: WO2016090110A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/063681
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhong SHEN; Vi Van NGUY; Takayuki Kanno; Soon Seong Chee
Original assignee: Schlumberger Canada Limited; Services Petroliers Schlumberger; Schlumberger Technology B.V.; Schlumberger Technology Corporation
Priority date: 2014-12-03
Filing date: 2015-12-03
Publication date: 2016-06-09

Abstract

A permanent downhole monitoring gauge is installed onto a casing with a mounting body. The assembly includes a snorkel and an actuator that extends a snorkel head outward through surrounding material to reduce the distance between the fluid measuring port and the fluid in the well.

Description

CABLE PROTECTOR GAUGE CARRIER FOR READING RESERVOIR PRESSURE THROUGH CEMENT

INVENTORS: Zhong Shen

Van Van Nguy

Takayuki Kanno

Soon Seong Chee

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.

62/087,137, filed December 3, 2014 entitled CABLE PROTECTOR GAUGE CARRIER FOR READING RESERVOIR PRESSURE THROUGH CEMENT which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND:

[0002] Hydrocarbon fluids such as oil and natural gas are obtained from a subterranean geologic formation, referred to as a reservoir, by drilling a well that penetrates the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Once a wellbore is drilled, various forms of well completion components may be installed in order to control and enhance the efficiency of producing the various fluids from the reservoir. Much of the equipment used downhole is controlled through cabling of some sort. The cabling must be protected from the relatively harsh environment downhole.

SUMMARY:

[0003] Reservoir monitoring and control is useful for production or monitoring wells to ensure continuous oil or gas production. In order to read downhole formation pressure Perforating is usually required after cementing the casing to establish the communication between the formation and the well bore. A Solid Gauge Mandrel that carries Permanent Downhole Pressure Gauge then will be used and made up with the tubing or coupling as part of the tubing string to read the pressure from tubing or annulus (the volume between the tubing and the casing). [0004] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a cable protector assembly for use in a downhole reservoir. The assembly includes a gauge configured to measure a characteristic of the reservoir, and a mounting body having an interior surface and an exterior surface and being configured to be coupled to a casing in the downhole reservoir with the interior surface of the mounting body engaging the casing. The gauge is carried by the mounting body. The assembly also includes a plurality of communication ports in the mounting body which provide fluid communication between the downhole reservoir and the gauge. The assembly further includes a snorkel mechanism including a snorkel head and a port section. The snorkel head is movable between a retracted state and a deployed state. In the retracted state the snorkel head is recessed within the mounting body and the port section is out of alignment with the gauge. In the deployed state the snorkel head is extended beyond the exterior surface of the mounting body and the port section is in alignment with the gauge to allow fluid communication from the snorkel head to the gauge.

[0005] In further embodiments the present disclosure is directed to a method of deploying a downhole gauge in a well. The method includes securing a mounting body to a casing. The mounting body has an interior surface engaging the casing, an exterior surface, a communication port, and a snorkel mechanism movable from a retracted position and a deployed position. The method also includes embedding a gauge within the mounting body in fluid communication with the communication port, running the mounting body and casing into the well to a desired location, and moving the snorkel mechanism to the deployed position with the snorkel mechanism extending beyond the exterior surface of the mounting body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES:

[0006] Figure 1 shows a cross coupling cable protector and a solid gauge mandrel according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0007] Figures 2A and 2B show cross-sectional and top views, respectively, of the Gauge Carrier Type Cable Protector according to embodiments of the present disclosure. [0008] Figure 3 is an illustration of a cable protector according to embodiments of the present disclosure including a side and end view.

[0009] Figures 4A-D are cross sectional views of the cable protector of Figure 3 along sections A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D of Figure 3, respectively.

[0010] Figure 5 shows orthogonal front and right views of the cable protector assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0011] Figures 6A and 6B show a cross sectional view of a snorkel mechanism in retracted and deployed states, respectively, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] Figure 7 shows a cross sectional bottom view of the snorkel of Figures 6 A and 6B according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 8 shows an alternate structure for the snorkel assembly of Figures

6A, 6B, and 7 according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

[0014] Cable protectors are used in a downhole completion string to protect and support hydraulic and/or electrical lines while these lines are travelling downhole to its final depth. For example, when gauge and solid gauge mandrel are used in the tubing string, the PDC (Permanent Downhole Cable) lines of the Gauge are protected by cable protectors. Fig. 1 shows a cross coupling cable protector 100 and a solid gauge mandrel 102 for a single gauge according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a Gauge Carrier Type Cable Protector 100 that is designed to be able to accommodate a Permanent Downhole Pressure Gauge (now shown) which will read the formation pressure after the casing is cemented, including: integrating the Permanent Downhole Pressure Gauge into a Downhole Cable Protector 100 which has been engineered with communication ports to reading the formation pressure after the casing is cemented, mitigating the Perforating operation and the usage of a Solid Gauge Mandrel, and allowing more flexible in the placement of the Gauge. The gauge can be anywhere on the tubing string by using this type of gauge cable protector. (Using a Solid Gauge Mandrel, the gauge position will be restricted by the tubing/ pup joint length).

[0015] The cable protector 100 also provides a means to reducing the distance of the fluid path between the Gauge and the reservoir, reducing the fluid path will minimize the cement barrier between the communication port on the Gauge; therefore increasing the likelihood of the Gauge to monitor the reservoir's pressure.

[0016] Figures 2A and 2B show cross-sectional and top views, respectively, of the Gauge Carrier Type Cable Protector 110 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The Cable Protector 110 is mounted on a casing 1 12 outer diameter with a Permanent Downhole Gauge 114 assembled on it. The casing 112 will be run into the Well Bore until the Gauge Carrier Type Cable Protector 1 10 reaches a desired depth, such as a Formation Zone. There are multiple communication ports 116 on the Cable Protector 110 which are designed to read the pressure from the formation zone. Several different methods can be used to make the communication ports 116 as close as possible to the Well Bore to minimize the cement between ports and well bore. The casing then will be cemented. The gauge will read the formation pressure probably through a thin layer of cement.

[0017] Figure 3 is an illustration of a cable protector 120 according to embodiments of the present disclosure including a side and end view. The cable protector 120 carries a gauge 122, such as a permanent downhole gauge, mitigating the need for a solid gauge mandrel. This construction also mitigates the need for a perforating operation after cementing by designing multiple communication ports on the cable protector 120. This construction also allows greater flexibility to place the gauge 122 at any position of the tubing since it will not restricted by the coupling or tubing length. Figures 4A-D are cross section views along sections A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D of Figure 3, respectively. Reference is made to Figures 3 and 4A-D together. The cable protector 120 includes a main body 124 and a lower body 126 which clamp on a tubing/casing (not shown) of the completion string using a suitable fastener such as a cross coupling cable protector. The main body 124 can include multiple holes 128 which will form communication ports to enable fluid communication between the reservoir and the gauge 122. The holes 128 can be protected by filter screens 130 to reduce debris and other contamination. The holes 128 connect to a gauge port which reaches to the gauge to allow measurement.

[0018] After ensuring the holes 128 are all able to communicate to the gauge port, the entrance of the drilled holes can be blocked by welding to prevent debris or cement from going into the holes 128. The main body 124 has also been designed with extra space to protect other possible cables/ control lines/ sensors that will bypass to lower equipment (best seen in Figure 4A). In order to avoid axial or rotational slippage during running in hole, a set screw 132 will be used and torqued onto tubing/casing. The gauge 122 can be mounted onto the main body 124 by mounting screws 134 and clamping screws 136.

[0019] Figure 5 shows orthogonal front and right views of the cable protector assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The cable protector 120 is mounted to a casing 140 (which can be tubing, casing, or another completion structure). The cable protector assembly 120 can be mounted at any suitable location along the casing 140. The assembly 120 includes an upper body 124 and a lower body 126. A plurality of holes 128 are formed to allow communication with the fluid in the reservoir for measurement. The assembly 120 can include wear pads 142 mounted to an exterior surface of the assembly 120 to protect against wear as the assembly 120 is run in hole.

[0020] Figures 6A and 6B show a cross sectional view of a snorkel mechanism

150 in retracted and deployed states, respectively, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The mechanism 150 includes a snorkel head 152, a port section 154, multiple sealing rings 156, and an actuator 158 (shown to greater advantage in Figure 7). The snorkel head 152, in the retracted position, is flush with the exterior surface of the main body 124 of the assembly 120. When the assembly 120 is in place and the time to measure arrives, the actuator 158 is triggered to push the snorkel head 152 outward toward the formation. The snorkel head 152 pushes outward into the cement (or other material) surrounding the casing, resulting in a smaller distance between the snorkel head and the formation fluid which it monitors. The port section 154 is initially out of alignment with a gauge port 160, but when the snorkel 150 is deployed it aligns with the gauge port 160 to allow the gauge 122 to read pressure. The actuator 158 can be a hydraulic port which permits hydraulic pressure to be selectively applied to the snorkel head 152 to extend it outward into the deployed position shown in Figure 6B.

[0021] Figure 7 shows a cross sectional bottom view of the snorkel of Figures 6A and 6B according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The actuator 158 in this example is a hydraulic port; however, other embodiments can include an electrical or mechanical actuator. Other trigger mechanisms are also possible, such as a hydrostatic setting snorkel.

[0022] Figure 8 shows an alternate structure for the snorkel assembly of Figures

6A, 6B, and 7 according to embodiments of the present disclosure in retracted and deployed states. The snorkel assembly 150 includes a spring 162 and a dissolvable ring 164 which initially holds the snorkel 150 in the retracted position. When the dissolvable ring is dissolved, the force of the spring deploys the snorkel 150. In other embodiments the spring is initially held in check using degradable components, or a shear screw, or another suitable restraint which, when removed, allows the force of the spring to deploy the snorkel 150. In yet further embodiments, the spring can be replaced with another form of stored energy such as a nitrogen gas charge, or a hydraulic port, or an electrical actuator.

[0023] While the present disclosure has been disclosed with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications and variations there from. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cable protector assembly for use in a downhole reservoir, comprising:

a gauge configured to measure a characteristic of the reservoir;

a mounting body having an interior surface and an exterior surface and being configured to be coupled to a casing in the downhole reservoir with the interior surface of the mounting body engaging the casing, wherein the gauge is carried by the mounting body;

a plurality of communication ports in the mounting body, wherein the communication ports provide fluid communication between the downhole reservoir and the gauge; and

a snorkel mechanism including a snorkel head and a port section, wherein:

the snorkel head is movable between a retracted state and a deployed state; in the retracted state the snorkel head is recessed within the mounting body and the port section is out of alignment with the gauge; and in the deployed state the snorkel head is extended beyond the exterior surface of the mounting body and the port section is in alignment with the gauge to allow fluid communication from the snorkel head to the gauge.

2. The cable protector assembly of claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured to move the snorkel mechanism from the retracted state to the deployed state.

3. The cable protector assembly of claim 2 wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic line.

4. The cable protector assembly of claim 2 wherein the actuator comprises a spring, the cable protector assembly further comprising a restraint configured to selectively release the spring to allow the snorkel mechanism to move to the deployed state.

5. The cable protector assembly of claim 4 wherein the restraint comprises at least one of a dissolvable member, a degradable member, or a shear pin.

6. The cable protector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising filter screens covering the communication ports.

7. The cable protector assembly of claim 1, further comprising wear pads on the exterior surface of the mounting body configured to protect against wear during run in hole.

8. A method of deploying a downhole gauge in a well, comprising:

securing a mounting body to a casing, wherein the mounting body comprises an interior surface engaging the casing, an exterior surface, a communication port, and a snorkel mechanism movable from a retracted position and a deployed position;

embedding a gauge within the mounting body in fluid communication with the communication port;

running the mounting body and casing into the well to a desired location;

moving the snorkel mechanism to the deployed position with the snorkel mechanism extending beyond the exterior surface of the mounting body.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein moving the snorkel to the deployed position comprises bringing the snorkel mechanism into alignment with the communication ports to allow the gauge to measure a characteristic of the well.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein moving the snorkel mechanism to the deployed position comprises actuating a hydraulic line.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein moving the snorkel mechanism to the deployed position comprises releasing a spring.

12. The method of claim 1 1 wherein releasing a spring comprises dissolving or degrading a dissolvable or degradable member.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising covering the communication ports with a filter screen.