Claims
- 1. A well tool adapted to be disposed in a wellbore, comprising:
a body having at least one communication line conduit; at least one fitting sealingly engaged to each communication line conduit and adapted to sealingly engage a communication line; and a test flow path defined in the body that provides fluid communication between the exterior of the body and at least one communication line conduit so as to allow the testing of the sealing engagement of the fittings associated with the at least one communication line conduit.
- 2. The well tool of claim 1, wherein each of the communication line conduits is defined axially through the body.
- 3. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the test flow path includes a testing conduit that extends to the well tool internal bore.
- 4. The well tool of claim 3, further comprising:
a testing plug disposed within the testing conduit; and the testing plug including a testing plug passageway that provides fluid communication between a source of pressurized fluid and the test flow path.
- 5. The well tool of claim 4, wherein the testing plug includes a testing plug seal prohibiting fluid communication between the source and the well tool internal bore.
- 6. The well tool of claim 1, wherein:
the test flow path is selectively connectable to a source of pressurized fluid prior to deployment of the well tool in a wellbore; and the well tool is adapted to be disposed in the wellbore when the test flow path is not connected to the source of pressurized fluid
- 7. The well tool of claim 1, wherein the well tool is a packer.
- 8. The well tool of claim 1, further comprising a settable element that is not actuated during the testing of the sealing engagement of the fittings.
- 9. The well tool of claim 8, wherein:
the communication line conduit is in fluid communication with the settable element and the test flow path; and at least one seal is disposed in the communication line conduit isolating the settable element from the test flow path.
- 10. The well tool of claim 9, wherein the pressure acting against the settable element is balanced with the pressure within the test flow path when the well tool is disposed in a wellbore.
- 11. The well tool of claim 10, wherein the well tool is a packer.
- 12. The well tool of claim 1, further comprising:
a conduit tubing provided in at least one communication line conduit; and the conduit tubing sealingly engaged to its associated communication line conduit in at least two seal areas located a distance apart.
- 13. The well tool of claim 12, wherein each seal area comprises a seal disposed within a groove defined on the communication line conduit.
- 14. The well tool of claim 12, wherein:
the body comprises a plurality of body sections joined at junctions; and at least one of the junctions is located between the two seal areas.
- 15. The well tool of claim 14, wherein the at least one of the junctions is in fluid communication with the communication line conduit.
- 16. The well tool of claim 12, wherein:
a first space is generally defined interior to the conduit tubing; a second space is generally defined between the two seal areas and between the conduit tubing and the communication line conduit; and the first space is pressure balanced with the second space when the well tool is disposed in a wellbore.
- 17. A method for pressure testing the sealing engagement of the fittings associated with at least one communication line conduit included in a well tool, the fittings also adapted to sealingly engage a communication line, the method comprising:
transmitting pressurized fluid from the exterior of the well tool, through a test flow path defined in the well tool, and into at least one communication line conduit so as to test the sealing engagement of the associated fittings; monitoring the pressure of the pressurized fluid to detect the presence of leaks in the sealing engagement of the fittings; and deploying the well tool into a wellbore subsequent to the monitoring step.
- 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, before the transmitting step, inserting a testing plug in a testing conduit of the test flow path, the testing plug providing fluid communication between a source of pressurized fluid and the test flow path.
- 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising, after the monitoring step, replacing the testing plug with a standard plug that prevents fluid communication between the exterior of the well tool and the communication line conduit but allows fluid communication between the communication line conduit and the well tool internal bore.
- 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the inserting step comprises inserting a first testing plug piece and a rupture disk in the testing conduit, the first testing plug piece providing fluid communication between the source and the test flow path and the rupture disk initially prohibiting fluid communication between the well tool internal bore and communication line conduit.
- 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising, after the monitoring step, bursting the rupture disk to provide fluid communication between the well tool internal bore and the communication line conduit.
- 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising, after the bursting step, replacing the first testing plug with a standard plug that prevents fluid communication between the communication line conduit and the exterior of the well tool.
- 23. The method of claim 17, further comprising, after the monitoring step, preventing fluid communication between the communication line conduit and the well tool exterior but allowing fluid communication between the well tool internal bore and the communication line conduit.
- 24. The method of claim 17, wherein the well tool is a packer.
- 25. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmission step comprises transmitting the pressurized fluid without actuating a settable element of the well tool.
- 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the settable element and the test flow path are both in fluid communication with the communication line conduit.
- 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising isolating the settable element from the test flow path.
- 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising, after the transmission step, balancing the pressure acting against the settable element with the pressure within the test flow path.
- 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the well tool is a packer.
- 30. The method of claim 17, further comprising:
providing a conduit tubing within at least one communication line conduit; sealing the conduit tubing to its associated communication line conduit in two seal areas located a distance apart so that a first space is generally defined interior of the conduit tubing and a second space is generally defined between the seal areas and between the conduit tubing and the communication line conduit; and balancing the pressure between the first space and the second space subsequent to the transmission step.
- 31. The method of claim 30, wherein each seal area comprises a seal disposed within a groove defined on the communication line conduit.
- 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the transmission step comprises transmitting fluid into the first space.
- 33. The method of claim 30, wherein the balancing step occurs subsequent to the monitoring step.
- 34. A system for pressure testing the sealing engagement of the fittings associated with at least one communication line conduit included in a well tool, comprising:
at least one well tool including: at least one communication line conduit; at least one fitting sealingly engaged to each communication line conduit and adapted to sealingly engage a communication line; a test flow path defined in the well tool that provides fluid communication between the exterior of the well tool and at least one communication line conduit so as to allow the testing of the sealing engagement of the fittings; and a source of pressurized fluid selectively connectable to the test flow path.
- 35. A method for pressure testing the sealing engagement of the fittings associated with at least one communication line conduit included in a well tool, the fittings also adapted to sealingly engage a communication line, comprising:
connecting a source of pressurized fluid from the exterior of the well tool to a test flow path defined in the well tool; injecting pressurized fluid from the source through the test flow path and into at least one communication line conduit so as to test the sealing engagement of the associated fittings; monitoring the pressure of the pressurized fluid to detect the presence of leaks in the sealing engagement of the fittings; and deploying the well tool into a wellbore subsequent to the monitoring step.
- 36. A method for pressure testing the sealing engagement of the fittings associated with at least one communication line conduit included in a well tool, the well tool including a settable element, the fittings also adapted to sealingly engage a communication line, the method comprising:
transmitting pressurized fluid through a test flow path and into the communication line conduit so as to test the sealing engagement of the fittings, the transmission step occurring without the actuation of the settable element; monitoring the pressure of the pressurized fluid to detect the presence of leaks in the sealing engagement of the fittings; and deploying the well tool into a wellbore subsequent to the monitoring step.
- 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the settable element and the test flow path are both in fluid communication with the communication line conduit.
- 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising isolating the settable element from the test flow path.
- 39. The method of claim 38, further comprising, after the transmission step, balancing the pressure acting against the settable element with the pressure within the test flow path.
- 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the well tool is a packer.
- 41. A method for pressure testing the sealing engagement of the fittings associated with at least one communication line conduit included in a well tool, the fittings also adapted to sealingly engage a communication line, the method comprising:
providing a well tool having at least one communication line conduit; providing a conduit tubing within at least one communication line conduit; sealing the conduit tubing to its associated communication line conduit in two seal areas located a distance apart so that a first space is generally defined interior of the conduit tubing and a second space is generally defined between the seal areas and between the conduit tubing and the communication line conduit; and testing the sealing engagement of the fittings; and deploying the well tool into a wellbore subsequent to the testing step.
- 42. The method of claim 41, wherein each seal area comprises a seal disposed within a groove defined on the communication line conduit.
- 43. The method of claim 41, wherein the testing step comprises injecting pressurized fluid into the first space.
- 44. The method of claim 41, further comprising balancing the pressure between the first space and the second space.
- 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the balancing step occurs subsequent to the testing step.
- 46. The method of claim 41, wherein:
the well tool is made up of a plurality of body sections joined at junctions; and at least one of the junctions is located within the second space.
- 47. A well tool adapted to be disposed in a wellbore, comprising:
a body having at least one communication line conduit; at least one fitting sealingly engaged to each communication line conduit and adapted to sealingly engage a communication line; a test flow path that provides fluid communication to at least one communication line conduit so as to allow the testing of the sealing engagement of the associated fittings; and a settable element that is not actuated during the testing of the sealing engagement of the fittings.
- 48. The well tool of claim 47, wherein:
the communication line conduit is in fluid communication with the settable element and the test flow path; and at least one seal area is located in the communication line conduit isolating the settable element from the test flow path.
- 49. The well tool of claim 48, wherein each seal area comprises a seal disposed within a groove defined on the communication line conduit.
- 50. The well tool of claim 48, wherein the pressure acting against the settable element is balanced with the pressure within the test flow path when the well tool is disposed in a wellbore.
- 51. The well tool of claim 50, wherein the well tool is a packer.
- 52. A well tool adapted to be disposed in a wellbore, comprising:
a body having at least one communication line conduit; at least one fitting sealingly engaged to each communication line conduit and adapted to sealingly engage a communication line; a test flow path that provides fluid communication to at least one communication line conduit so as to allow the testing of the sealing engagement of the associated fittings; a conduit tubing provided in at least one communication line conduit; and the conduit tubing sealingly engaged to its associated communication line conduit in at least two seal areas located a distance apart.
- 53. The well tool of claim 52, wherein each seal area comprises a seal disposed within a groove defined on the communication line conduit.
- 54. The well tool of claim 52, wherein:
the body comprises a plurality of body sections joined at junctions; and at least one of the junctions is located between the two seal areas.
- 55. The well tool of claim 54, wherein the at least one of the junctions is in fluid communication with the communication line conduit.
- 56. The well tool of claim 52, wherein:
a first space is generally defined interior to the conduit tubing; a second space is generally defined between the two seal areas and between the conduit tubing and the communication line conduit; and the first space is pressure balanced with the second space when the well tool is disposed in a wellbore.
- 57. A method for pressure testing the sealing engagement of the fittings associated with at least one communication line conduit included in a well tool, the fittings also adapted to sealingly engage a communication line, the method comprising:
providing a well tool having at least one communication line conduit, the well tool made up of a plurality of body sections joined at junctions, at least one junction in fluid communication with at least one communication line conduit; pressure testing the sealing engagement of the fittings; isolating the at least one junction from the pressure generated in the pressure testing step; and deploying the well tool into a wellbore subsequent to the testing step.
- 58. A well tool adapted to be disposed in a wellbore, comprising:
a body having at least one communication line conduit; at least one fitting sealingly engaged to each communication line conduit and adapted to sealingly engage a communication line; a test flow path that provides fluid communication to at least one communication line conduit so as to allow the testing of the sealing engagement of the associated fittings; the body made up from a plurality of body sections joined at junctions; at least one junction in fluid communication with at least one communication line conduit; and the at least one junction sealingly isolated from the test flow path.
- 59. A well tool adapted to be disposed in a wellbore, comprising:
a one-piece mandrel having at least one communication line conduit; at least one fitting sealingly engaged to each communication line conduit and adapted to sealingly engage a communication line; and a test flow path defined in the body that provides fluid communication between the exterior of the body and at least one communication line conduit so as to allow the testing of the sealing engagement of the fittings associated with the at least one communication line conduit.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/420,013 filed by Jackson on Oct. 19, 1999.
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09420013 |
Oct 1999 |
US |
Child |
09733486 |
Dec 2000 |
US |