Deep well instrumentation

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6568481
  • Patent Number
    6,568,481
  • Date Filed
    Friday, May 4, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 27, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A fiber optic instrumentation line is introduced down a hydrocarbon (oil) well bore 12 by control line 16 formed by pressure tubing conduit fixed on the outside of intermediate casing 14 and set in cement slurry 21 between casing 14 and surrounding rock 13 and reaching to the hydrocarbon production zone 15. Hollow primary member 18 accepts distal end of control line 16 at the end of casing 14. Secondary member 22 having sealed terminal control line 27 on its outer surface is lowered through primary member 18 to zone 15, automatically angularly aligning and engaging respective top and bottom end couplings 24 and 20, sealing together a respective top and end of terminal control lines 27, 16 forming a continuous, high pressure, fiber optic receiving tube, from well head 10 to well bottom. Alternatively, two lines 16 linked by loop 26 provide a continuous control line returning to the surface.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to deep wells which are drilled into the ground for extraction of fluid or gaseous materials. The invention particularly relates to oil, gas or hydrocarbon wells. Most particularly, the invention relates to means for providing instrumentation in the depths of an oil, gas or production well.




BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION




In drilling an oil well, it is customary to commence with a wellhead which provides a steel surface casing, generally around 46 cm (18 plus inches) in diameter. As drilling proceeds, successive sections of a steel intermediate casing are inserted, stage by stage, into the well bore, set in place with concrete slurry, and residual, set, internal concrete slurry plugs drilled out to continue the well bore down until a production zone, where hydrocarbon is found to be present in extractable quantities, is reached. Once contact has been made with the production zone, production tubing, of smaller diameter than the intermediate casing, is introduced down to the production zone, ready to extract hydrocarbon. A perforated production liner, intermediate in diameter (around 18 cm, otherwise 7″ or smaller)between that of the production tubing and that of the intermediate casing, may be extended beyond the end of the intermediate casing and the production tubing, allowing ingress of hydrocarbon into the production liner. The production liner allows hydrocarbon to flow into the production tubing but the intermediate casing is plugged, or sealed using a packer, against ingress of hydrocarbon from the production liner.




Fibre optic sensor line has been used, for some years, in the oil industry, to collect data from oil wells. The data collected primarily relates to temperature. Techniques exist whereby transmitted and backscattered light in a fibre optic line can be analysed to extract much useful information. Such techniques are not part of this invention. The instant invention is concerned, rather, with the introduction of a fibre optic line into an oil well.




Well data is of great economic importance, allowing the operator to give more effective surveillance to the well and thereby to enhance the productivity of the well. In these days of slimmer margins of economic viability in oil wells, and falling reserves, such data may be vital for the economy of the oil industry and, by extension, to the greater economy of the world, as a whole.




The fibre optic line is extremely fragile. It has a diameter, even with coating and sleeving, of no more than one millimeter. Its internal reflective properties can be compromised by surface contaminants. Being made of glass, it can shatter and break. It has a minimum radius of curvature below which it certainly breaks.




The environment in an oil well is extremely hostile. Drill bits, capable of penetrating hard rock, are lowered into the well and rotated with great torque by heavy steel tubes. Heavy steel casings are lowered into the drill shaft to line the shaft. The drill shaft is filled with cement and mud slurries. Residual cement plugs, once a slurry has set, are drilled out. An oil well represents a very hazardous environment for a fibre optic line.




In order to protect the fibre optic line from mechanical damage or contamination, it is customary to use control line. Control line, in the oil industry, is remarkably like metal hydraulic tubing, as used in industrial, agricultural and building site machinery. It is tough, usually 0.6 cm (


¼ inch) in outside diameter, able to sustain high pressures up to


15000 psi (100 Mega Pascals), thermally conductive, can be joined in lengths by couplings, and provides a protected, clear channel down which a fibre optic line or electrical cable can be fed.




Installing a continuous length of fibre optic line, in the current art, requires the use of a continuous length of control line. Currently, to investigate an oil well, lengths of control line are strapped to the outside of a string of steel casings which are passes down the well to reach and to cross the zone of interest, where measurements are required or desirable. Alternatively, the control line is run inside a protective oilfield tubing string, on the inside of the well bore, down to and across the zone of interest.




Should the zone of interest turn out to be the required producing interval, it is customary to complete an oilwell by topping off the zone of interest with a set concrete casing and inserting a perforated production liner into and through the zone of interest. This creates a well with two separated strings of pipes, albeit concentric.




The completion of a well with a set concrete casing and a production liner precludes running a single length of fibre optic line, inside control line, down to and across the zone of interest, while maintaining the fibre optic line external to the well bore. The plug, through which the production liner passes, blocks off the end of the intermediate casing run, preventing the fibre optic line from passing out of the end of the intermediate casing and isolating the inside of the intermediate casing from the zone of interest.




When stimulating a well, a substantial advantage is gained by being able to gather distributed temperature data, without interfering with the near well bore area and without data being masked by the presence of a hydraulically isolated zone. When fibre optic line is installed on the inside of the well bore, the well bore becomes inaccessible to other tools. The control line and the (optional) protective tubing string reduce the room available for the tools. The fragility, even of a protective tubing string and control line protected fibre optic line, and the loss of room, mean that ancillary tools cannot be inserted or operated down a well bore where a fibre optic installation is maintained. Before ancillary tools are run down the well bore, it is necessary first to retrieve the fibre optic line. Stimulation of the well can then take place, or tools run, but without the gathering of data that could have a significant impact on well productivity.




With the fibre optic line in the well bore, any fluid flowing in the well bore can affect the fibre optic line. Its temperature readings no longer reflect, with accuracy, the temperature of the rock external to the well bore, but are altered or dominated by the fluid in the well bore.




An internally installed and maintained fibre optic line, in a string of protective tubing (pipes), restricts the flow of the well and requires a larger diameter well bore to accommodate the string of protective tubing/pipes and allow adequate flow. Well bores cost a great deal of money to create, and the price rises steeply with their diameter.




It is costly to install a control line across the producing interval. Therefore, a small diameter tubing, known as a “stinger”, is used to support the control line and lower it down the well bore into the region of interest or production zone. The present invention, as well as its other advantages, also seeks to provide means which eliminate the cost, time, and well incapacity that results from the intrusive use of a “stinger”.




The present invention has, as its object, the provision of apparatus, method and means, capable of allowing the introduction and maintenance of a fibre optic line, passing into and across the zone of interest, with a portion thereof external to the wellhead, capable of being maintained in position while other operations are carried out in the well bore, unaffected by fluids flowing in the well bore and eliminating the need for a well bore of increased diameter.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




According to a first aspect, the present invention consists in an apparatus for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore in a substrate, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said apparatus comprising: a hollow primary member, for insertion to extend into the well bore; said primary member comprising a first line of conduit on the outer surface thereof and primary coupling means for accepting the distal end of said first line of conduit; said apparatus further comprising a secondary member comprising a terminal conduit and secondary coupling means for accepting the free end of said terminal conduit; said secondary member being insertable through said hollow first member for said primary coupling means to couple with said secondary coupling means for the distal end of said first line of conduit to be coupled to said free end of said terminal conduit.




According to a second aspect, the present invention consists in method for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore in a substrate, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said method including the steps of: inserting a hollow primary member to extend into the well bore; providing a first line of conduit on the outer surface of said primary member; providing primary coupling means for accepting the distal end of said first line of conduit; providing a secondary member comprising a terminal conduit and secondary coupling means for accepting the free end of said terminal conduit; and inserting said secondary member through said hollow first member for said primary coupling means to couple with said secondary coupling means for the distal end of said first line of conduit to be coupled to said free end of said terminal conduit.




The invention further provides for a method and apparatus wherein the primary member comprises a second line of conduit on the outside thereof; wherein the primary coupling means is operative to accept the distal end of the second line of conduit; wherein the terminal conduit is a loop of conduit; wherein the secondary coupling means accepts both free ends of the loop of conduit; and wherein the primary coupling means, on coupling with the secondary coupling means, couples the distal ends of the first and said second lines of conduit each to a respective one of the free ends of the loop of conduit; whereby the instrumentation line is passable through the loop of conduit back towards the surface.




The invention provides that the secondary member can be hollow and that the conduit loop is on the outside of the secondary member.




The invention further provides that the primary member and the secondary member, when coupled together, can form a continuous tube.




The invention further provides that the secondary member can be self locating on the primary member.




The invention further provides that the primary member can comprise a locating scoop, that the secondary member can comprise a locating tongue, and that the locating scoop and the locating tongue are co-operative to bring the primary coupling means and the secondary coupling means into angular registration for coupling as the secondary member is lowered through the primary member.




The invention further provides that the primary coupling means comprises one or the other of a coupling probe or a coupling socket and that the secondary coupling means comprises the other or one of the coupling probe or the coupling socket, and that the coupling probe and the coupling socket, on coupling, can form a sealed coupling between the distal end of one of the lines of conduit and one of the free ends of the loop of conduit.




The invention further provides a hollow modified member, the modified member having a secondary coupling means at its top end for accepting the proximal ends of two extension conduits, and having primary coupling means at its bottom end for accepting the distal ends of the two extension conduits, and provides that the modified member can be inserted through the primary member for the secondary coupling means on the modified member to couple with the primary coupling means on the primary member.




The invention further provides that a further modified member can be inserted through the modified member for the secondary coupling means on the further modified member to couple with the primary coupling means on the further modified member.




The invention further provides that the secondary member can be inserted through the modified member for the secondary coupling means on the secondary member to couple with the primary coupling means on the modified member.




The invention further provides that the secondary member can be inserted through the further modified member for the secondary coupling means on the secondary member to couple with the primary coupling means on the further modified member.




The invention further provides that the conduit can be control line and that the apparatus can be designed for use where the instrumentation line is a fibre optic line.




In the preferred embodiment, it is preferred that the primary member is set into the well bore with concrete or cement. It is further preferred that the well bore is part of an oilwell.




The invention is further explained by the example given in the following description and drawings











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1A

is a cross sectional schematic view, with shortened vertical scale, of an oil well incorporating the present invention, illustrating the manner in which a control line can be conducted into and down the hydrocarbon well using the primary and secondary members of the invention.





FIG. 1B

is a similar diagram, and shows another embodiment of the invention where the control line can be conducted down the hydrocarbon well, around in a loop and back out of a hydrocarbon well using the primary and secondary members of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a cutaway view, in greater detail, of the primary member of the present invention, installed within an intermediate casing.





FIG. 3

is a cutaway view of the secondary member of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a cutaway view of the primary and secondary members of the present invention, coupled together in the oil well.





FIG. 5

is a detailed cross sectional view of the coupling elements of the primary and secondary members, lined up prior to coupling.





FIG. 6

is a detailed cross sectional view showing the coupling elements of

FIG. 5

, when coupled.





FIG. 7

is a cross sectional view, looking vertically, of either of the primary or secondary members of the present invention, illustrating how control line is held on their exterior.





FIG. 8

is an isometric projection of the open upper end of the primary member, illustrating the locating scoop whereby correct angular registration with the secondary member is assured.





FIG. 9

is a view, from below, of the secondary member, showing the angular disposition of a locating tongue which engages the locating scoop of FIG.


8


and swings the secondary member into correct angular registration with the primary member.





FIG. 10

is a side view of

FIG. 9

showing further detail of the locating tongue





FIG. 11

is a schematic view of a variant preferred embodiment, comprising a chain consisting in a primary member, modified secondary members to whatever number is required, and a secondary member proper. The chain can be extended into the well bore or zone of interest however far the user requires.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Attention is first drawn to

FIGS. 1A

, showing a hydrocarbon well, in the form of an oilwell incorporating the present invention.




A wellhead


10


is set into a well bore


12


and provides support, control and registration for further operations in a manner well known in the art. The well bore


12


descends, through the surrounding rock


13


to a zone of interest


15


wherefrom hydrocarbon is to be extracted. Intermediate casing


14


is then lowered into the well bore with at least one or more parallel, adjacent, lines of control line


16


attached to the outer surface thereof. In this example a single conduit, in the form of a single control line


16


line is shown. The primary member


18


of the present invention is attached to the lower end of the intermediate casing


14


and carries the single control line from a fibre optic connection module


19


to primary coupling


20


on the primary member. The primary member is hollow, allowing cement


21


slurry to be pumped into the intermediate casing


14


and forced up from the bottom of the well bore


12


between the intermediate casing


14


and the surrounding rock


13


. When the cement


21


has set, the single control line


16


is encased between the steel intermediate casing


14


and the rock


13


surrounding the well bore


12


. The primary coupling


20


is protected by a primary coupling protective sleeve


23


, a soft metal tube, on the inside of the primary member


18


, which prevents slurry


21


or other debris entering the primary coupling


20


and against damage from drilling operations.




The cement slurry


21


having set, a drill bit is lowered through the primary member and the residual cement plug at the bottom of the well bore


12


is drilled out. Downward drilling continues until a bore of sufficient depth has been achieved to accept the secondary member


22


. A tool, on a drilling string, is lowered into the primary member


18


, the primary coupling protective sleeve


23


is engaged, and is then removed by being drawn up the well bore


12


with the drilling string. The primary member


18


and the well bore


12


are, at this stage, ready to receive the secondary member


22


.




The secondary member


22


is of a smaller outer diameter than the hollow interior of the primary member


18


and passes through the primary member


18


for the top portion of the secondary member


22


to engage the top portion of the primary member


18


to effect coupling. The secondary member


22


, like the primary member


18


, is also hollow, allowing a clear path from the wellhead


10


to the zone of interest


15


. When the secondary member


22


is lowered into the intermediate casing


14


, it couples with the primary member


18


.




In coupling, the top portion of the secondary member


22


and the top portion of the primary member


18


automatically mechanically align. The primary coupling


20


comes together with a secondary coupling


24


on the secondary member. The secondary coupling


24


carries the end of a terminal control line


27


. When the secondary member


22


has self-located on the primary member, the single control line


16


, terminated at the top end of the primary member


18


at the primary coupling


20


,is mated, by the aligned engagement of the primary coupling


20


and the secondary coupling


24


, with the terminal control line (conduit)


27


, which is closed and sealed at its far end. The single control line


16


, and the terminal control line


27


, are thereby joined to form a continuous, sealed length of control line, passing from the fibre optic connector module


19


at the surface, down to the bottom of the well bore


12


and into and through the zone of interest


15


. A fibre optic line can thus be passed, from the fibre optic connector module


19


, through the control line


16




26


, down the single control line and down the terminal control line


27


. More than one fibre optic line, and even electrical devices can be passed into and through the zone of interest. Items can be replaced when damaged or when it is desired to measure a different parameter. All these actions can be accomplished from the surface, with no intervention in the well bore


12


.




The advantage of the invention extends further. So far, the description shows how a fibre optic line (or similar item) can be passed down to the zone of interest


15


without mechanical intervention in the well bore


12


. The invention also permits continuous monitoring of the zone of interest


15


while permitting other operations to take place in or via the well bore


12


.




In the example shown, secondary member


22


is attached to the top end of a production liner


28


, a perforated steel tube which allows ingress of oil. The terminal control line


27


is attached to the outside of the production liner


28


which extends through the zone of interest


15


. The terminal control line


27


thus extends right through the zone of interest.




The control line


16


is protected against mechanical activity in the well bore


12


by being on the outside of the intermediate casing


14


, and encased in concrete


21


between the surrounding rock


13


and the intermediate casing


14


. The terminal control line


27


is protected against mechanical activity in the well bore


12


and the zone of interest


15


by being on the outside of the production liner


28


. The terminal control line


27


is further protected against hazards from the rock surrounding the production liner


28


and the lower portion of the secondary member


22


by the presence of a terminal control line protective sleeve


29


. The protective sleeve


29


is a sturdy metal sleeve, preferably of steel or titanium., which runs down the outside of the secondary member


22


from at least where it exits the primary member


18


down to at least as far as the deepest point for the terminal control line


27


. It is thus possible to execute further drilling, or other activities, with the instrumentation (fibre optic line) in place. The primary member


18


and the secondary member


22


, both being hollow, permit tools, slurries and probes to be passed through them for operation.




In the example shown, the wellhead


10


is set for production by the introduction, into the zone of interest


15


, of production tubing


30


which allows oil to be pumped from the production liner


28


to the wellhead


10


.




The terminal control line


27


, being on the outside of the production liner


28


, is in intimate thermal contact with the contents of the zone of interest


15


, and is not affected by thermal effects of flow in the production liner


28


. The control line


16


, being on the outside of the intermediate casing


14


, is isolated from fluids and conditions in the well bore


12


, being in close thermal contact with the surrounding rock


13


. The present invention thus provides thermal fidelity for the fibre optic line.




These advantages are achieved in a well bore of normal dimensions.




Attention is drawn to

FIG. 1B

showing a second embodiment of the invention. The single control line


16


is replaced with a pair of control lines, each terminating in the first member


18


and each extending from the fibre optic connection module


19


. The terminal control line is replaced by a control line loop


26


, which loops down from the top of the secondary member, and extends, depth wise, the same amount as the terminal control line


27


would extend and is fixed and protected in just the same way. When the primary and secondary members


18




22


couple, the distal end of each of the pair of control lines


16


is coupled to a respective free end of the control line loop


26


. A continuous path is thus formed from the fibre optic connection module


19


, down a first one of the control lines


16


, around the control line loop


26


, and back up to the fibre optic connection module through the second of the pair of control line


16


. An instrumentation line can thus be looped, through the continuous path.




Attention is drawn to

FIGS. 2

,


3


and


4


showing, respectively, detailed, cutaway views of the primary member


18


alone, the secondary member


22


alone, and primary


18


and secondary


22


members coupled.




The invention is hereinafter described with a preferred embodiment like that shown in

FIG. 1B

, where a control line loop


26


is employed as the furthest element for carrying the instrumentation line. It is to be appreciated that, hereinafter, whenever a reference is made to a pair of control lines


16


(as in FIG.


1


B), reference is equally made to a single control line


16


(as in FIG.


1


A), and when reference is made to control line loop


26


, reference is equally made to to a terminal control line


27


. It is also to be appreciated that, while just a single control line loop


26


(or terminal control line


27


) is shown in

FIGS. 1A and 1B

, the present invention can be employed to provide a system having a plurality of control line loops


26


, a plurality of terminal control lines


27


, or a mixture of one or more of each kind.




Returning to

FIGS. 2

,


3


and


4


, the primary member


18


, attached to the intermediate casing


14


, is in the form of a tube having a central bore


32


, extended in diameter and shaped to form a locating scoop


34


, which assists in the angular registration and alignment between the primary


18


and secondary


22


members. At the bottom of the locating scoop


34


, inside the central bore


32


, the primary coupling


20


includes a coupling probe


36


at the end of one of the two control lines


16


,accepting the control line


16


from below and pointing upwards. The control line


16


is, in this example, wound around the outside of the primary member.




The secondary member


22


comprises a locating tongue


38


which co-operates with the locating scoop


34


to register and angularly align the primary


18


and secondary


22


members as they are brought into engagement. The secondary member


22


is also in the form of a hollow tube, having a hollow centre


40


. The locating tongue


38


is, in this example, integral with the secondary coupling


24


, which accepts one end of the control line loop


26


, from above, and presents it to a coupling socket


42


, facing downwards. A spring


44


is provided on the outside of the secondary member


22


, on the side opposite to and spanning the extent of the locating tongue


38


.




When the primary


18


and secondary


22


members are brought into engagement, the production liner


28


, or any other item intended to lie below the secondary member


22


, is passed through the central bore


32


of the primary member


18


until the top of the secondary member


22


approaches the top of the primary member


18


. The spring


44


on the secondary member


22


engages the inside of the central bore


32


of the primary member and urges the locating tongue


38


into the locating scoop


34


. The locating tongue


38


and the locating scoop


34


co-operate, as the secondary member


22


is further lowered, to rotate the secondary member


22


with respect to the primary member


18


to be in correct angular alignment for the coupling probe


36


to mate with the coupling socket


42


. When the primary


18


and secondary


22


members are fully engaged, the primary member


18


supports the secondary member


22


with the coupling probe


36


fully engaged with the coupling socket


42


to provide a continuous run of control line


16




26


. The joint between the control line loop


26


and the control line


16


is sealed against any pressure and ingress of outside contaminants, likely to be encountered, by the close mechanical seal achieved between the coupling probe


36


and the coupling socket


42


. The hollow centre


40


of the secondary member


22


provides continuity down the well bore


12


for further operations.





FIGS. 2

,


3


and


4


show only one end of the control line loop


26


and one of the two lengths of control line


16


being joined. This is an artifact of the chosen view of the drawings. It is to be appreciated that at least two coupling probes


36


and coupling sockets


42


will be provided.




Attention is drawn to

FIGS. 5 and 6

, showing, in greater detail, the coupling portions of the primary


18


and secondary


22


members.




The end of the control line loop


26


terminates in a loop gland


46


, from the other side of which a secondary coupling tube


48


extends part way along a small diameter channel into the coupling socket


42


. The control line


16


, within the coupling probe


36


, terminates in a tube gland


50


from the other side of which a primary coupling tube extends a short way. When the coupling probe


36


is fully engaged in the coupling socket


42


, the ends of the primary coupling tube


52


and of the secondary coupling tube


48


meet exactly within the small diameter channel in coupling socket


42


. It is preferred that the coupling probe


36


and the coupling socket


42


are made of resilient material, such as hardened rubber or polymer, capable of making a tight seal against the environment in the well bore


12


. The invention also provides that any other form of seal, created on contact, could be used.




Attention is drawn to

FIG. 7

, showing a cross sectional view of a preferred manner of laying the control line


16


or the control line loop


26


on the outside of the primary member


18


or the secondary member


22


. The control line


16


or control line loop


26


is laid on the outer surface of the primary member


18


or the secondary member


22


and is held thereon by linearly spaced clamps


54


. The control line


16




26


is thus held firmly in place. This is a preferred arrangement, the control line


16




26


being laid in straight lines down the outside of the intermediate casing


14


and the production liner


28


as shown in

FIGS. 2

,


3


and


4


. The invention also permits the attachment of control line


16




26


by other means, such as clips, channels, tension wrapping, gluing or welding.




Attention is drawn to

FIG. 8

, showing an isometric projection of the top of the primary member


18


, and highlights the construction and function of the locating scoop


34


.




The locating scoop


34


is formed by a funnel shaped widening


56


of the central bore


32


of the primary member


18


, tapering down to the coupling probes


36


, which sit centrally and at the bottom thereof. The funnel shaped widening


56


extends around a portion of the angular extent of the top of the primary member


18


. In the preferred example shown, the angular extent of the locating scoop


34


is chosen as 120 degrees, but wider or smaller extents, right up to 360 degrees, allowing the locating tongue


38


to correct its angular registration, even if it is +/−180 degrees out, are within the invention. If the locating tongue


38


is not in the correct angular registration, as the primary


18


and secondary


22


members come together, the funnel shaped widening


56


urges the locating tongue


38


, under pressure from the spring


44


, towards the centre of the locating scoop


34


.




Attention is drawn to

FIGS. 9 and 10

.

FIG. 9

shows a view, from below, of a cross section of the secondary member


22


, and

FIG. 10

shows a side elevation of

FIG. 9

, looking directly onto the locating tongue


38


. The vertical scale of

FIGS. 9 and 10

is compressed. In the preferred embodiment, the vertical extent of the locating scoop


34


and the locating tongue


38


are each in the region of 1 meter (3 feet) to 1.5 metres (4.5 feet), though the invention still covers other vertical extents.




The locating tongue


38


is provided on the exterior of the secondary member


22


and, at the lowest part thereof, provides the coupling sockets


42


for the control line loop


26


ends. The locating tongue


38


comprises a straight portion


58


for engaging the coupling probes


36


, together, for preference, with a shaped portion


60


for fully engaging the funnel shaped widening


56


in the locating scoop


34


to form a rugged seal.




Finally, attention is drawn to

FIG. 11

, showing, schematically, how the invention further provides for extension further into the zone of interest


15


, or deeper into the ground, by means of modified secondary members


22


.




A primary member


18


comprises a primary coupling


20


which mates a pair of control lines, in the above described way, with a secondary coupling


24


on a modified secondary member


22


A. Instead of supporting a control line loop


26


, the modified secondary member


22


A carries a pair of extension control lines


16


A to a primary coupling


20


at its far end. This, in turn, can mate with the secondary coupling at the top of further modified secondary members


22


A, until a sufficient depth has been reached. Two modified secondary members


22


A are shown in this example. Finally, a true secondary member


22


terminates the string by mating with the primary coupling


20


of the final modified secondary member


22


A. Each successive modified secondary member


22


A is of a smaller diameter than the preceding primary member


18


or modified secondary member


22


A. The whole assembly thus resembles a telescopic car antenna, stretching into the ground.




The invention has so far been explained by way of example and embodiments. The invention is further described by the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. An apparatus for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said apparatus comprising: a hollow primary member having a proximal end and a distal end, for insertion to extend into the well bore with the distal end remote from the surface; said primary member comprising a first line of conduit on an outer surface thereof, the first line of conduit having a proximal end and a distal end and, the primary member further comprising primary coupling means for accepting the distal end of said first line of conduit; said apparatus further comprising a hollow secondary member having a proximal end and a distal end and a terminal conduit thereon having a proximal, free end and a distal portion and secondary coupling means for accepting the free end of said terminal conduit; said secondary member being insertable, distal end leading, through said hollow primary member for said primary coupling means to couple with said secondary coupling means for the distal end of said first line of conduit to be coupled to said free end of said terminal conduit.
  • 2. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said primary member comprises a second line of conduit on the outer surface thereof, said second line of conduit having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein said primary coupling means is operative to accept the distal end of said second line of conduit; wherein said terminal conduit is a loop of conduit providing another proximal, free end; wherein said secondary coupling means accepts both proximal free ends of said loop of conduit; and wherein said primary coupling means, on coupling with said secondary coupling means, couples the distal ends of said first and said second lines of conduit each to a respective one of said proximal free ends of said loop of conduit; whereby said instrumentation line is passable through said loop of conduit back towards the surface.
  • 3. An apparatus, according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said terminal conduit is on the outside of said secondary member.
  • 4. An apparatus, according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said primary member and said secondary member, when coupled together, form a continuous tube.
  • 5. An apparatus, according to claim 1, or claim 2, wherein said secondary member is self locating on said primary member.
  • 6. An apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said primary member comprises a locating scoop, wherein said secondary member comprises a locating tongue, and wherein said locating scoop and said locating tongue are co-operative to bring said primary coupling means and said secondary coupling means into angular registration for coupling as said secondary member is lowered through said primary member.
  • 7. An apparatus, according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said primary coupling means comprises one or the other of a coupling probe or a coupling socket and wherein said secondary coupling means comprises the other or one of said coupling probe or said coupling socket, said coupling probe and said coupling socket, on coupling, being operative to form a sealed coupling between the distal end one of said lines of conduit and one of said free ends of said loop of conduit.
  • 8. An apparatus, according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said conduit is a control line.
  • 9. An apparatus, according to claim 1 or claim 2, for use where the instrumentation line is a fibre optic line.
  • 10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the or each primary coupling means has a line of conduit receiving portion on an outside surface of the or each member on which the or each primary coupling is provided and a portion for coupling to the or each secondary coupling means on an interior of the or each member on which the or each primary coupling is provided.
  • 11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein when a secondary coupling means is coupled with a primary coupling means, the secondary coupling means is located between a outer surface of a member on which it is provided and an inner surface of a member on which the primary coupling means to which the secondary coupling means is coupled is provided.
  • 12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said terminal conduit is a loop of conduit providing another proximal, free end: wherein said primary member comprises a second line of conduit on the outer surface thereof, said second line of conduit having a proximal end and a distal end; and wherein the distal ends of said first and second lines of conduit are each coupled to a respective one of said proximal free ends of said loop of conduit when said primary coupling means couples with said secondary coupling means.
  • 13. An apparatus for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said apparatus comprising: a hollow primary member having a proximal end and a distal end, for insertion to extend into the well bore with the distal end remote from the surface; said primary member comprising a first line of conduit and a second line of conduit on an outer surface thereof, the first and second lines of the conduit each having a respective proximal end and a respective distal end and, the primary member further comprising primary coupling means for accepting the distal ends of the both first and second lines of conduit;said apparatus further comprising a hollow modified member having a top end and a bottom end and comprising two extension conduits each having a respective top, free end and a bottom end and, secondary coupling means at the top end of the modified member for accepting the top, free ends of the extension conduits; and another primary coupling means at a bottom end of said modified member for accepting bottom ends of said extension conduits, the modified member being insertable, bottom end leading, through said hollow primary member for the primary coupling means of said primary member to couple with the secondary coupling means of the modified member for the the distal ends of both first and second lines of conduit to be coupled to respective proximal, free end of said extension conduits and with the extension conduits exiting from the distal end of the primary member; said apparatus additionally comprising a secondary member having a proximal end and a distal end and being insertable, distal end leading, through said primary member, said secondary member comprising a terminal conduit looped to provide two proximal, upper, free ends and a distal, returned end portion and, another secondary coupling means on the secondary member for accepting the free ends of said terminal conduit and for coupling with the primary coupling means on the modified member for the distal end of each extension conduit to be coupled to a respective one of the proximal, upper, free ends of said terminal conduit with the distal end of the secondary member and the returned end portion of the terminal conduit extending beyond the bottom end of the modified member whereby said instrumentation line is passable down said first line of conduit and a first extension conduit through said loop of conduit back towards the surface.
  • 14. An apparatus for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said apparatus comprising: a hollow primary member having a proximal end and a distal end, for insertion to extend into the well bore with the distal end remote from the surface; said primary member comprising a first line of conduit on an outer surface thereof, the first line of conduit having a proximal end and a distal end and, the primary member further comprising primary coupling means for accepting the distal end of said first line of conduit;said apparatus further comprising a hollow modified member having a top end and a bottom end and comprising an extension conduit having a top, free end and a bottom end and, first secondary coupling means at the top end of the modified member for accepting the top, free end of said extension conduit; and another primary coupling means at a bottom end of said modified member for accepting a bottom end of said extension conduit, the modified member being insertable, bottom end leading, through said hollow primary member for the primary coupling means of said primary member to couple with the secondary coupling means of the modified member for the distal end of said first line of conduit to be coupled to said top, free end of said extension conduit with said bottom end of the modified member and said bottom end of said extension conduit exiting from said distal end of the primary member; said apparatus additionally comprising a secondary member having a proximal end and a distal end and being insertable, distal end leading, through said primary member, the secondary member comprising a terminal conduit having a proximal, free end and a distal end and another secondary coupling means on the secondary member for accepting the free end of said terminal conduit for the primary coupling means on said modified member to couple with the secondary coupling means on said terminal member for said bottom end of said extension line of conduit to be coupled to said free end of said terminal conduit with said distal end of said secondary member and said distal end of said terminal conduit extending from said bottom end of said modified member.
  • 15. An apparatus, according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein said secondary member is insertable, distal end leading, through said modified member for the secondary coupling means on said secondary member to couple with said primary coupling means on said modified member.
  • 16. An apparatus for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said apparatus comprising: a hollow primary member having a proximal end and a distal end, for insertion to extend into the well bore with the distal end remote from the surface; said primary member comprising a first line of conduit and a second line of conduit on an outer surface thereof, the first and second lines of conduit each having a respective proximal end and a respective distal end and, the primary member further comprising primary coupling means for accepting the distal ends of both first and second lines of conduit;said apparatus further comprising a first hollow modified member and a further hollow modified member each having a top end and a bottom end and comprising, respectively, first and further pairs of extension conduits, the extension conduits of each pair having, respectively, top, free ends and bottom, free ends; first secondary coupling means and a further secondary coupling means being provided at respective top ends of the first and further modified members, respectively, for accepting, respectively, the top, free ends of the first extension conduits and the top, free ends of the further extension conduits, respectively; and another primary coupling means and a further primary coupling means being provided, respectively, at respective bottom ends of the first modified member and the further modified member, respectively, for accepting, bottom, free ends of the first extension conduits and bottom, free ends of the second extension conduits, respectively, the first modified member being insertable, bottom end leading, through said hollow primary member for said primary coupling means of said primary member to couple with said secondary coupling means of the first modified member for the distal ends of the first and second lines of conduit to be coupled to respective top, free ends of the extension conduits of the first pair with the bottom end of the first modified member exiting from the distal end of the primary member, and the second modified member being insertable, bottom end leading, through said primary member and through said first modified member for said primary coupling means of said first modified member to couple with said secondary coupling means of the second modified member for the bottom ends of the extension conduits of the first pair to be coupled to respective top ends of the extension conduits of the second pair and with the bottom end of the second modified member exiting from the bottom end of the first modified member; said apparatus additionally comprising a secondary member having a proximal end and a distal end and being insertable through said primary member, said secondary member comprising a terminal conduit looped to provide two proximal, free ends and a distal, returned end portion; another secondary coupling means on the secondary member for accepting the free ends of said terminal conduit for the primary coupling means of said further modified member to couple with the secondary coupling means of said secondary member for respective bottom ends of respective extension conduits of said second pair to be coupled to respective ones of said free ends of said terminal conduit with said distal end of said secondary member and said distal, returned end portion of said terminal conduit extending beyond said bottom end of said second modified member and whereby said instrumentation line is passable down said first line of conduit, a first extension conduit, and a further extension conduit, through said looped conduit back towards the surface.
  • 17. An apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein said secondary member is insertable through said further modified member for the secondary coupling means on said secondary member to couple with the primary coupling means on said further modified member.
  • 18. A method for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said method including the steps of:providing a hollow primary member having a proximal end and a distal end inserting the hollow primary member to extend into the well bore; providing a first line of conduit on the outer surface of said primary member to extend into the well bore, the first line of conduit having a proximal end adjacent the surface and a lower distal, free end, providing primary coupling means on the primary member for accepting the distal end of said first line of conduit; providing a hollow secondary member having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a terminal conduit thereon having a proximal, upper free end and a distal end portion and secondary coupling means for accepting the free end of said terminal conduit; and inserting said secondary member distal end leading through said hollow primary member for said primary coupling means to couple with said secondary coupling means for the distal end of said first line of conduit to be coupled to said free end of said terminal conduit.
  • 19. A method, according to claim 18, including the steps of:providing a second line of conduit on the outside of said primary member to extend into the well bore, the second line of conduit having a proximal end adjacent the surface and a lower distal, free end,; accepting the distal end of said second line of conduit in said primary coupling means; providing said terminal conduit in the form of a loop of conduit so as to form a second, proximal, upper free end and a returned distal end portion ; accepting both free ends of said loop of conduit in said secondary coupling means; coupling said primary coupling means, with said secondary coupling means, for the distal ends of said first and said second lines of conduit each to be coupled to a respective one of said free ends of said loop of conduit; and passing said instrumentation line down said first line of conduit, through said loop of conduit, and back towards the surface in said second line of conduit.
  • 20. A method, according to claim 19, wherein the hollow primary member is tubular and said step of providing said second line of conduit includes the steps of attaching said first line of conduit and said second line of conduit to the outer surface of the hollow primary member and subsequently inserting said primary member into said well bore.
  • 21. A method, according to claim 19 or claim 20 wherein said step of providing said loop of conduit includes the step of attaching said loop of conduit to the outer surface of said secondary member.
  • 22. A method, according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the step of causing said primary coupling means to couple with said secondary coupling means includes the steps of employing a locating scoop and a locating tongue to cause said secondary member to achieve correct angular registration with said primary member for said primary and secondary coupling means to couple.
  • 23. A method, according to claim 18, wherein the hollow primary member is tubular and said step of providing said first line of conduit includes the step of attaching said first line of conduit to the outer surface of the hollow primary member and subsequently inserting said primary member into said well bore.
  • 24. A method, according to claim 18, or claim 23 wherein said step of providing said terminal conduit includes the step of attaching said terminal conduit to the outer surface of the secondary member.
  • 25. A method, according to claim 18 or claim 23, wherein the step of causing said primary coupling means to couple with said secondary coupling means includes the steps of employing a locating scoop and a locating tongue to cause said secondary member to achieve correct angular registration with said primary member for said primary and secondary coupling means to couple.
  • 26. A method for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said method including the steps of: providing a hollow primary member having a proximal end and a distal end inserting the hollow primary member to extend into the well bore; providing a first line of conduit and a second line of conduit on the outer surface of said primary member to extend into the well bore, the first and second lines of conduit each having a respective proximal end adjacent the surface and a respective lower distal, free end, providing primary coupling means on the primary member for accepting the distal ends of the first and second lines of conduit;providing a hollow modified member having a top end and a bottom end and having two extension conduits thereon each having a respective proximal end and a respective distal end and comprising secondary coupling means at the top end of the modified member for accepting the proximal ends of said two extension conduits, and another primary coupling means at a bottom end thereof for accepting the distal ends of said two extension conduits; and inserting said modified member through said primary member and coupling said secondary coupling means on said modified member with said primary coupling means on said primary member to couple the respective distal ends of respective first and second lines of conduit to respective proximal ends of respective extension conduits; providing a secondary member having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a terminal conduit looped to provide two proximal, upper, free ends and a distal, returned end portion and, another secondary coupling means on the secondary member for accepting the free ends of said terminal conduit and for coupling with the primary coupling means on the modified member for the distal end of each extension conduit to be coupled to respective ones of the proximal, upper, free ends of said terminal conduit with the distal end of the secondary member and the returned end portion of the terminal conduit extending beyond the bottom end of the modified member and passing said instrumentation line down said first line of conduit and a first extension conduit through said loop of conduit back towards the surface.
  • 27. A method, according to claim 26, including the steps of inserting said secondary member through said modified member and subsequently coupling said secondary coupling means on said secondary member with said primary coupling means on said modified member.
  • 28. A method, according to claim 26, wherein the hollow primary member is tubular and said step of providing said first and said second lines of conduit includes the steps of attaching said first line of conduit and said second line of conduit to the outer surface of the hollow primary member and subsequently inserting the primary member into the well bore.
  • 29. A method for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said method including the steps of:providing a hollow primary member having a proximal end and a distal end, inserting the hollow primary member to extend into the well bore; providing a line of conduit on the outer surface of said primary member to extend into the well bore, the first line of conduit having a proximal end adjacent the surface and a respective lower distal, free end, providing primary coupling means on the primary member for accepting the distal end of the line of conduit; providing a hollow modified member having a top end and a bottom end and an extension conduit thereon, the extension conduit having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising secondary coupling means at the top end of the modified member for accepting the proximal ends of said extension conduit, and another primary coupling means at a bottom end of the modified member for accepting the distal end of said extension conduit; and inserting said modified member through said primary member and coupling the secondary coupling means on said modified member with the primary coupling means on said primary member to couple the distal end of the line of conduit to the proximal end of the extension conduit; providing a secondary member having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a terminal conduit thereon having a proximal, upper free end and a distal end portion and another secondary coupling means for accepting the free end of said terminal conduit; and inserting said secondary member, distal end leading, through said hollow primary member for the primary coupling means on the modified member to couple with the secondary coupling means on the secondary member for the distal end of said extension conduit to be coupled to said free end of said terminal conduit with the distal end of the secondary member and the distal end portion of said terminal conduit exiting beyond the bottom end of the modified member.
  • 30. A method, according to claim 29, wherein the hollow primary member is tubular and said step of providing said first line of conduit includes the step of attaching said first line of conduit to the outer surface of the hollow primary member and subsequently inserting said primary member into said well bore.
  • 31. A method, according to claim 29 including the steps of inserting said secondary member through said modified member and subsequently coupling the secondary coupling means on said secondary member with the primary coupling means on said modified member.
  • 32. A method for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said method including the steps of:providing a hollow primary member having a proximal end and a distal end inserting the hollow primary member to extend into the well bore; providing a first line of conduit and a second line of conduit on the outer surface of said primary member to extend into the well bore, the first and second lines of conduit each having a respective proximal end adjacent the surface and a respective lower distal, free end, providing primary coupling means on the primary member for accepting the distal ends of the first and second lines of conduit; providing a first hollow modified member and a further hollow modified member each having a top end and a bottom end and comprising, respectively, first and further pairs of extension conduits, the extension conduits of each pair having, respectively, top, free ends and bottom, free ends; and first secondary coupling means and a further secondary coupling means at respective top ends of the first and further modified members, respectively, for accepting, respectively, the top, free ends of the first extension conduits and the top, free ends of the further extension conduits, respectively and another primary coupling means and a further primary coupling means at respective bottom ends of the first modified member and the further modified member, respectively, for accepting, bottom, free ends of the first extension conduits and bottom, free ends of the second extension conduits, respectively, and inserting the first modified member bottom end leading, through said hollow primary member for said primary coupling means of said primary member to couple with said secondary coupling means of the first modified member for the distal ends of the first and second lines of conduit to be coupled to respective top, free ends of the extension conduits of the first pair with the bottom end of the first modified member exiting from the distal end of the primary member, and inserting the second modified member bottom end leading, through said primary member and through said first modified member for said primary coupling means of said first modified member to couple with said secondary coupling means of the second modified member for the bottom ends of the extension conduits of the first pair to be coupled to respective top ends of the extension conduits of the second pair and with the bottom end of the second modified member exiting from the bottom end of the first modified member; and providing a secondary member having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a terminal conduit looped to provide two proximal, upper, free ends and a distal, returned end portion and, another secondary coupling means on the secondary member for accepting the free ends of said terminal conduit and coupling the secondary coupling means on the secondary member with the primary coupling means on the further modified member for the distal end of each extension conduit to be coupled to respective ones of the proximal, upper, free ends of said terminal conduit with the distal end of the secondary member and the returned end portion of the terminal conduit extending beyond the bottom end of the further modified member and passing said instrumentation line down said first line of conduit and a first and further extension conduit through said loop of conduit back towards the surface.
  • 33. A method, according to claim 32, including the steps of inserting said secondary member through said further modified member and subsequently coupling said secondary coupling means on said secondary member with said primary coupling means on said further modified member.
  • 34. A method, according to claim 32, including the steps of inserting said secondary member through said further modified member and subsequently coupling the secondary coupling means on said secondary member with the primary coupling means on said further modified member.
  • 35. A method, according to claim 32, wherein the hollow primary member is tubular and said step of providing said first and said second lines of conduit includes the steps of attaching said first line of conduit and said second line of conduit to the outer surface of the hollow primary member and subsequently inserting the primary member into the well bore.
  • 36. An apparatus for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said apparatus comprising: a hollow primary member having a proximal end and a distal end, for insertion to extend into the well bore with the distal end remote from the surface; said primary member comprising a first line of conduit on an outer surface thereof, the first line of conduit having a proximal end and a distal end and, the primary member further comprising primary coupling means for accepting the distal end of the first line of conduit;said apparatus further comprising a first hollow modified member and a further hollow modified member each having a top end and a bottom end and comprising, respectively, a first extension conduit and a further extension conduit, each extension conduit having a respective top, free end and a respective bottom, free end; first secondary coupling means and further secondary coupling means being provided at respective top ends of the first modified member and the further modified member, respectively, for accepting, the top, free end of the first extension conduit and the top, free end of the second extension conduit, respectively; and another primary coupling means and a further primary coupling means being provided, respectively, at bottom ends of the first modified member and the further modified member, respectively, for accepting, the bottom, free end of the first extension conduit and the bottom, free end of the second extension conduit, respectively, the first modified member being insertable, bottom end leading, through said hollow primary member for said primary coupling means of said primary member to couple with the secondary coupling means of the first modified member for the distal end of the first line of conduit to be coupled to the top, free end of the first extension conduit with the bottom end of the first modified member exiting from the distal end of the primary member, and the further modified member being insertable, bottom end leading, through said primary member and through said first modified member for the primary coupling means of said first modified member to couple with the secondary coupling means of the further modified member for the bottom end of the first extension conduit to be coupled to the top end of the further extension conduit and with the bottom end of the further modified member exiting from the distal end of the first modified member; said apparatus additionally comprising a secondary member having a proximal end and a distal end and being insertable through said primary member, the secondary member comprising a terminal conduit having a proximal, free end and a distal end and, another secondary coupling means on the secondary member for accepting the free end of said terminal conduit for the primary coupling means on said further modified member to couple with the secondary coupling means on said terminal member for said bottom end of said extension line of conduit to be coupled to said free end of said terminal conduit with said distal end of said secondary member and said distal end of said terminal conduit extending from said bottom end of said modified member.
  • 37. An apparatus, according to claim 26, wherein said secondary member is insertable through said further modified member for the secondary coupling means on said secondary member to couple with the primary coupling means on said further modified member.
  • 38. A method for providing a down-hole conduit for carrying an instrumentation line for use with a well bore, the instrumentation line passing from the surface, towards the bottom of the well bore; said method including the steps of:providing a hollow primary member having a proximal end and a distal end inserting the hollow primary member to extend into the well bore; providing a first line of conduit on the outer surface of said primary member to extend into the well bore, the first line of conduit having a proximal end adjacent the surface and a lower, distal, free end; providing primary coupling means on the primary member for accepting the distal end of the first line of conduit; providing a first hollow modified member and a further hollow modified member each having a top end and a bottom end and comprising, respectively, first and further extension conduits, the extension conduits each having a top, free end and a bottom, free end; and first secondary coupling means and a further secondary coupling means at respective top ends of the first and further modified members, respectively, for accepting, respectively, the top, free end of the first extension conduit and the top, free ends of the further extension conduit, respectively, and another primary coupling means and a further primary coupling means at respective bottom ends of the first modified member and the further modified member, respectively, for accepting, the bottom, free end of the first extension conduit and inserting the first modified member bottom end leading, through said hollow primary member for said primary coupling means of said primary member to couple with said secondary coupling means of the first modified member for the distal end of the first line of conduit to be coupled to the top, free end of the extension conduit of the first extension conduit with the bottom end of the first modified member exiting from the distal end of the primary member, and inserting the second modified member, bottom end leading, through said primary member and through said first modified member for said primary coupling means of said first modified member to couple with said secondary coupling means of the second modified member for the bottom end of the extension conduit of the first modified member to be coupled to the top end of the extension conduit of the further modified member and with the bottom end of the second modified member exiting from the bottom end of the first modified member; and providing a secondary member having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a terminal conduit having a proximal, upper, free end and a distal, returned end and, another secondary coupling means on the secondary member for accepting the free end of said terminal conduit and coupling the secondary coupling means on the secondary member with the primary coupling means on the further modified member for the distal end of the extension conduit to be coupled to the proximal, upper, free end of said terminal conduit with the distal end of the secondary member and the end of the terminal conduit extending beyond the bottom end of the further modified member and, passing said instrumentation line down said first line of conduit through the first and further extension conduit into said terminal conduit.
  • 39. A method, according to claim 38, including the steps of inserting said secondary member through said further modified member and subsequently coupling the secondary coupling means on said secondary member with the primary coupling means on said further modified member.
  • 40. A method, according to claim 38 wherein the hollow primary member is tubular and said step of providing said first line of conduit includes the step of attaching said first line of conduit to the outer surface of the hollow primary member and subsequently inserting said primary member into said well bore.
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