The present disclosure relates generally to downhole completion assemblies and methods of completing a hydrocarbon well.
Conventional completion operations for hydrocarbon wells utilize a plurality of conventional plugs to fluidly isolate a plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones from one another during the stimulation process. More specifically, the conventional completion operations generally utilize a first conventional plug, which is positioned within a tubular conduit of a downhole tubular of the hydrocarbon well, to form a first fluid seal within the tubular conduit. The conventional completion operations then perforate and pressurize an uphole region of the downhole tubular, thereby producing fractures within the subterranean formation. A second conventional plug, which is positioned uphole from a first perforated region of the downhole tubular, then is utilized to form a second fluid seal within the tubular conduit. The perforate-pressurize-seal process is repeated a plurality of times to stimulate the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones; and, subsequent to the conventional completion operations, the tubular conduit includes a plurality of spaced-apart conventional plugs that must be removed to permit production from the hydrocarbon well.
Some conventional completion operations may utilize soluble conventional plugs that are designed to dissolve after a period of time in contact with wellbore fluids. Some conventional completion operations may utilize a milling device to mill the conventional plugs from the tubular conduit. While effective under certain circumstances, these mechanisms for removal of conventional plugs may be time-consuming, costly, and/or unreliable. Thus, there exists a need for improved downhole completion assemblies and methods of completing a hydrocarbon well.
Downhole completion assemblies and methods for completing a hydrocarbon well are disclosed herein. The downhole completion assemblies are configured to be utilized during a completion operation of a hydrocarbon well and/or to be positioned within a tubular conduit of a downhole tubular that extends within a wellbore of the hydrocarbon well. The downhole completion assemblies include an uphole sub-assembly. The uphole sub-assembly may define an uphole end of the downhole completion assembly and/or may include a perforation device. The downhole completion assemblies also include a downhole sub-assembly. The downhole sub-assembly may define a downhole end of the downhole completion assembly and/or may include a sealing structure that is configured to form a fluid seal within the tubular conduit. The downhole completion assemblies also include a coupler. The coupler may be configured to selectively and repeatedly couple and decouple the uphole sub-assembly and the downhole sub-assembly to one another.
The methods include positioning a downhole completion assembly within a target region of a tubular conduit of a downhole tubular of a hydrocarbon well. The downhole completion assembly includes an uphole sub-assembly and a downhole sub-assembly. The methods also include forming a fluid seal within the tubular conduit, such as with a sealing structure of the downhole sub-assembly, and decoupling the downhole sub-assembly from the uphole sub-assembly. The methods further include operatively translating the uphole sub-assembly in an uphole direction within the tubular conduit, perforating the downhole tubular, such as with a perforation device of the uphole sub-assembly, and operatively translating the uphole sub-assembly in a downhole direction within the tubular conduit. The methods also include coupling the uphole sub-assembly to the downhole sub-assembly, ceasing the fluid seal, and operatively translating the downhole completion assembly in the uphole direction within the tubular conduit.
As shown in
As illustrated collectively by
As indicated in dashed lines at 44 in
In some examples, an umbilical 90 may be operatively attached to uphole sub-assembly 200. Umbilical 90 may extend within tubular conduit 42 from uphole sub-assembly 200 to surface region 10 and/or may be configured to provide a motive force to move uphole sub-assembly 200 and/or downhole completion assembly 100 in the uphole direction. Examples of the umbilical include coiled tubing, a workover pipe, a wireline, and/or a slick line. Umbilical 90 may provide a physical, or a mechanical, connection between surface region 10 and uphole sub-assembly 200 and/or between surface region 10 and downhole completion assembly 100. Additionally or alternatively, umbilical 90 may be configured to convey electrical power, and/or one or more data signals, to the wellbore, to downhole completion assembly 100, and/or to uphole sub-assembly 200.
In some examples, umbilical 90 may be permanently attached to uphole sub-assembly 200 and/or may be configured to remain attached to uphole sub-assembly 200 during the completion operations. In some examples, umbilical 90 may be configured to selectively detach from, and reattach with, uphole sub-assembly 200 during the completion operations. As illustrated in
As shown in the examples of
Mechanical connector 288 may include any suitable structure for operatively and selectively connecting umbilical 90 and uphole sub-assembly 200. For example, mechanical connector 288 may include a latch that is configured to selectively and operatively attach mechanical connector 288 to umbilical 90. In some examples, attachment module 280 further may include a swivel 286 that is operatively coupled between mechanical connector 288 and uphole sub-assembly 200 and may be configured to permit uphole sub-assembly 200 to rotate relative to umbilical 90 when mechanical connector 288 is coupled to umbilical 90.
With continued reference to
Attachment power contact 282 and attachment data contact 284 may include any suitable structures for providing electrical power and/or one or more data signals between uphole sub-assembly 200 and umbilical 90. As discussed herein with reference to mechanical connector 288, attachment power contact 282, and/or attachment data contact 284, may be configured to be selectively attached with, detached from, and reattached with a respective conduit of umbilical 90.
As further shown in
Uphole sub-assembly conduits 202, 204 may be electrically connected to electrical contacts 282, 284 of attachment module 280. For example, uphole sub-assembly power conduit 202 may be connected, or electrically connected, to attachment power contact 282. As another example, uphole sub-assembly data conduit 204 may be connected, or electrically connected, to attachment power contact 282. The uphole sub-assembly conduit(s) additionally or alternatively may be electrically connected to coupler 400. In such examples, uphole sub-assembly power conduit 202 and/or uphole sub-assembly data conduit 204 may be described as being configured to conduct power and/or data between umbilical 90 and coupler 400.
Coupler 400 may include any suitable structure, and/or combination of sub-structures, such that coupler 400 may provide selective and operative coupling between uphole sub-assembly 200 and downhole sub-assembly 300. Coupler 400 may be configured to be selectively transitioned between a coupled state 402, an example of which is shown in
As illustrated in
Referring back to
In some examples, electrical connectors 412, 414 include a downhole portion that is operatively coupled to downhole sub-assembly 300 and an uphole portion that is operatively coupled to uphole sub-assembly 200. In such examples, the uphole portion of electrical connectors 412, 414 may be configured to be operatively and selectively interconnected with, decoupled from, and recoupled with the downhole portion of electrical connectors 412, 414.
Electrical connectors 412, 414 also may be electrically connected with one or more downhole sub-assembly conduits that may be configured to conduct an electric current along at least a portion of a length of downhole sub-assembly 300. As shown in the examples of
In some examples, and as illustrated in
As discussed in more detail with reference to
In view of the above, and as illustrated in
Conveyance module may be powered by any suitable source or mechanism, such as with conveyance module being an electrically powered conveyance module or a hydraulically powered conveyance module. As an example, conveyance module 260 may include a conveyance motor 270 that may be configured to provide the motive force for facilitating operative translation of uphole sub-assembly 200. In some examples, conveyance module 260 and/or conveyance motor 270 may be electrically powered. In such examples, conveyance module may include one or more conveyance module electrical contacts, such as a conveyance module power contact 262 that is configured to convey electrical power from umbilical 90 and/or uphole sub-assembly power conduit 202 to conveyance module 260, such as to power conveyance module 260. Conveyance module 260 also may include a conveyance module data contact 264 that is configured to convey one or more data signals from umbilical 90 and/or uphole sub-assembly data conduit 204 to conveyance module 260, such as to permit control of conveyance module 260 from the surface region. Conveyance module power contact 262 and/or conveyance module data contact 264 may be electrically connected to uphole sub-assembly conduits 202, 204. Additionally or alternatively, conveyance module power contact 262 and/or conveyance module data contact 264 may be electrically connected to attachment module 280. Conveyance module electrical contacts 262, 264 may define a single contact or may define distinct contacts.
Conveyance module 260 may include one or more conveyance structures for urging uphole sub-assembly 200 and/or downhole completion assembly 100 in a desired direction of translation. Examples of the conveyance structures include a tractor, a propeller, an impeller, and/or a fluid jet. In some examples, conveyance module 260 may be configured to operatively engage with the downhole tubular to operatively translate uphole sub-assembly 200 and/or downhole completion assembly 100 within the tubular conduit.
Referring back to
Cleaner module 240 may include any suitable structure for agitating debris within the downhole tubular. For example, as schematically illustrated in
In some examples, cleaner module 240 and/or motor 252 may be electrically powered. Cleaner module 240 may include one or more cleaner module electrical contacts, such as a cleaner module power contact 242 that may be configured to convey electrical power to cleaner module 240 from umbilical 90 and/or uphole sub-assembly power conduit 202. The cleaner module additionally or alternatively may include a cleaner module data contact 244 that may be configured to convey one or more data signals from umbilical 90 and/or from uphole sub-assembly data conduit 204 to the cleaner module, such as to permit control of cleaner module 240 from the surface region.
With continued reference to
As shown in
As a more specific example, the trailing end may correspond to the downhole end of uphole sub-assembly 200 during translation of uphole sub-assembly 200 in the uphole direction, and the trailing end may correspond to the uphole end of uphole sub-assembly 200 during translation of uphole sub-assembly 200 in the downhole direction. With this in mind, pump module 220 may include and/or be a reversible pump that may be configured to selectively switch a pumping direction of the debris. As an example, the reversible pump may be configured to selectively pump debris in the downhole direction when uphole sub-assembly 200 and/or downhole completion assembly 100 is translated in the uphole direction and/or to pump debris in the uphole direction when uphole sub-assembly 200 and/or downhole completion assembly 100 is translated in the downhole direction.
In some examples, pump module 220 may pump debris that have been agitated by cleaner module 240. Thus, as illustrated in
Pump module 220 may be electrically powered and may include one or more pump module electrical contacts. As examples, pump module 220 may include a pump module power contact 222 and/or a pump module data contact 224, which may include similar electrical connectivity and/or serve similar purposes as those discussed in more detail herein with reference to the conveyance module electrical contacts and the cleaner module electrical contacts.
Shifting focus to downhole sub-assembly 300, downhole sub-assembly 300 may include a sealing module 320 that may include sealing structure 310 configured to form a fluid seal within the tubular conduit of the hydrocarbon well. Sealing structure 310 also may be described as being configured to selectively and operatively form a plug in the tubular conduit. Thus, as discussed herein, downhole sub-assembly 300 also may be referred to as a sealing sub-assembly, a plug sub-assembly, and/or an isolation sub-assembly. Sealing module 320 may be configured to selectively and operatively transition sealing structure 310 between a disengaged state, in which the downhole sub-assembly 300 is free to move within the tubular conduit, and an engaged state, in which sealing structure 310 operatively engages the downhole tubular and forms the fluid seal within the tubular conduit. In some examples, sealing structure 310 includes a resilient sealing body 328, and sealing structure 310 is configured to selectively compress resilient sealing body 328 against the downhole tubular to form the fluid seal within the tubular conduit.
With continued reference to
In some examples, power module 380 may include one or more power module electrical contacts that may be electrically connected to coupler 400 and/or may be electrically connected to the downhole sub-assembly conduits. More specifically, power module 380 may include a power module data contact 384 that may be configured to convey one or more data signals to power module 380 and/or a power module power contact 382 that may be configured to convey electrical power to power module 380.
Downhole sub-assembly 300 further may include a downhole sub-assembly communication module 390 that may be configured to communicate with at least one other component of the hydrocarbon well. In some examples, downhole sub-assembly communication module 390 may be configured to receive data signals from a surface region, such as via umbilical 90. In some examples, downhole sub-assembly communication module 390 may include a communication module power contact 392 and/or a communication module data contact 394 that may be electrically connected to coupler 400 and/or to the downhole sub-assembly conduits.
As illustrated in
Downhole sub-assembly communication module 390 also may be electrically connected to at least one other component and/or module included in the downhole sub-assembly, such as to actuate the component and/or module responsive to a data signal received from at least one other component of the hydrocarbon well. As an example, sealing module 320 may be configured to selectively actuate transitioning of sealing structure 310 between the engaged state and the disengaged state responsive to receipt of a transition data signal from downhole sub-assembly communication module 390. In some examples, downhole sub-assembly 300 may be configured to self-destruct responsive to receipt of self-destruct data signal received by downhole sub-assembly communication module 390. As a more specific example, responsive to receipt of the transition data signal received by downhole sub-assembly communications module 390, sealing module 320 may be configured to actuate transition of sealing structure 310 from the engaged state to the disengaged state to release downhole sub-assembly 300 from the downhole tubular and cause downhole sub-assembly 300 to fall downhole in hydrocarbon well 50 away from the target region of the tubular conduit or be displaced downhole by pumping fluid from surface.
It is within the scope of the present disclosure that at least one component, module, device, and/or sub-assembly of downhole completion assembly 100 discussed herein with reference to
Methods 500 include positioning a downhole completion assembly at 505, forming a fluid seal at 510, decoupling a downhole sub-assembly of the downhole completion assembly from an uphole sub-assembly of the downhole completion assembly at 515, and translating the uphole sub-assembly in an uphole direction at 525. Methods 500 further include perforating the downhole tubular at 530, translating the uphole sub-assembly in a downhole direction at 540, coupling the uphole sub-assembly with the downhole sub-assembly at 555, ceasing the fluid seal at 560, and translating the downhole completion assembly in the uphole direction at 565. Methods 500 also may include conveying at 520, fracturing at 532, retrieving at 535, cleaning the tubular conduit at 545, cleaning the coupler at 550, and repeating at 570.
Positioning the downhole completion assembly at 505 may include positioning the downhole completion assembly within the tubular conduit and/or within a target, or a desired, region of the tubular conduit. As an example, the positioning at 505 may include flowing the downhole completion assembly in a downhole direction within the tubular conduit. As another example, the positioning at 505 may include utilizing a conveyance module of the downhole completion assembly to provide a motive force to translate the downhole completion assembly in an uphole direction or in the downhole direction. As yet another example, the positioning at 505 may include utilizing an umbilical that may be operatively attached to the downhole completion assembly to pull the downhole completion assembly in the uphole direction.
The positioning at 505 may be performed with any suitable timing and/or sequence during methods 500. As examples, the positioning at 505 may be performed prior to forming the fluid seal at 510 and/or prior to decoupling at 515.
An example of the positioning at 505 is illustrated in
For example, the positioning at 505 may include flowing downhole completion assembly 100 in downhole direction 34 to a first target region and/or a downhole-most target region such as to form a first set of perforations or a downhole-most set of perforations within downhole tubular 40. The positioning at 505 alternatively may include translating downhole completion assembly 100 in uphole direction 32, such as by pulling downhole completion assembly 100 with umbilical 90, which may extend to surface region 10. As an example, translating downhole completion assembly 100 in uphole direction 32 may be performed as a part of the repeating at 570 and/or to form a set of perforations within downhole tubular 40 that are uphole from the downhole-most set of perforations within downhole tubular 40. Stated another way, translating downhole completion assembly 100 in uphole direction 32 may be performed to position downhole completion assembly 100 in a second target region that is uphole of a current target region and/or from the downhole-most target region.
As discussed herein, downhole sub-assembly 300 may include sealing module 320 having a sealing structure 310 that may be configured to form a fluid seal within the tubular conduit of the hydrocarbon well. As shown in the sequence illustrated between
Referring back to
The forming the fluid seal at 510 may include transitioning sealing structure 310 from the disengaged state to an engaged state 326, in which sealing structure 310 forms fluid seal 322 within the tubular conduit. The forming the fluid seal at 510 additionally or alternatively may include operatively engaging sealing structure 310 with downhole tubular 40 to resist motion of downhole sub-assembly 300 within tubular conduit 42. Stated another way, the forming the fluid seal at 510 may include securing downhole sub-assembly 300 within a desired, or target, region of the downhole tubular.
The forming the fluid seal at 510 may be performed at any suitable timing and/or sequence during methods 500. As examples, the forming the fluid seal at 510 may be performed subsequent to the positioning at 505 and/or prior to the decoupling at 515. Subsequent to forming the fluid seal at 510, methods 500 also may include maintaining the fluid seal during one or more other steps or portions of methods 500. As examples, methods 500 may include maintaining the fluid seal during the decoupling at 515, during the translating at 525, during the perforating at 530, during the translating at 540, and/or during the coupling at 555.
As illustrated in
The decoupling at 515 may be performed with any suitable timing and/or sequence during methods 500. As examples, the decoupling may be performed subsequent to the positioning at 505, subsequent to the forming the fluid seal at 510, and/or prior to the translating at 525.
As discussed herein, in some examples, coupler 400 includes an uphole coupler portion 420 that is operatively attached to uphole sub-assembly 200, and a downhole coupler portion 430 that is operatively attached to downhole sub-assembly 300. In such examples, the decoupling at 515 may include releasing uphole coupler portion 420 from downhole coupler portion 430. As a more specific example, uphole coupler portion 420 and downhole coupler portion 430 may define a coupling mechanism, and the decoupling at 515 may include releasing the coupling mechanism.
Referring again to
For example, the conveying at 520 may include conveying an electrical power and/or a data signal between the uphole sub-assembly and the downhole sub-assembly. As discussed herein with reference to
In some examples, the conveying at 520 may include communicating a data signal wirelessly. For example, the conveying at 520 may include wirelessly communicating a data signal between communication modules of the uphole sub-assembly and the downhole sub-assembly. In such examples, the conveying at 520 may include communicating the data signal between the uphole sub-assembly and the downhole sub-assembly subsequent to the decoupling at 515 and/or prior to the coupling at 555.
A data signal communicated during the conveying at 520 may include information respective to the functioning and/or status of any given component of hydrocarbon well 50. For example, the conveying may include communicating a data signal from the downhole sub-assembly to the uphole sub-assembly and/or to the surface region that includes information respective to a status and/or function of the downhole sub-assembly. As examples, the data signal may include information respective to a seal integrity of the sealing structure, a seal status of the sealing structure, a power status of the downhole completion assembly and/or a coupling status between the uphole sub-assembly and the downhole sub-assembly.
Referring back to
The translating at 525 may be performed with any suitable timing and/or sequence within methods 500. As examples, the translating at 525 may be performed subsequent to the forming the fluid seal at 510, subsequent to the decoupling at 515, and/or prior to perforating at 525.
Turning back to
The perforating at 530 may be performed with any suitable timing and/or sequence within methods 500. As examples, the perforating at 530 may be performed subsequent to the translating at 525, substantially simultaneously with the translating at 525, and/or prior to the translating at 525. For example, methods 500 may include forming one or more perforations and/or at least partially perforating the downhole tubular with the perforation device before and/or while the uphole sub-assembly is translated in the uphole direction at 525.
Referring back to
In some examples, subsequent to the perforating at 530, methods 500 may include fracturing a target zone of the subsurface region of hydrocarbon well 50 at 532. Stated another way, and as illustrated in
For examples in which the fracturing at 532 includes forming at least one fracture 60 within the target zone 22 of subsurface region 20, methods 500 further may include propping the at least one fracture with a proppant 72. As an example, the proppant 72 may be entrained within fracturing fluid 70, and the propping may include flowing the proppant into the at least one fracture 60 via tubular conduit 42 and/or the one or more perforations 44.
The fracturing at 532 may be performed with any suitable timing and/or sequence within methods 500. As examples, the fracturing at 532 may be performed subsequent to the perforating at 530, prior to the retrieving at 535, and/or subsequent to the retrieving at 535. Stated another way, the fracturing may be performed while the uphole sub-assembly is positioned within the downhole tubular or while the uphole sub-assembly is not positioned within the downhole tubular.
Referring again to
The retrieving at 535 may be performed with any suitable timing and/or sequence within methods 500. As examples, the retrieving may be performed during the forming the fluid seal at 510, subsequent to the decoupling at 515, subsequent to the perforating at 530, and/or prior to the coupling at 555. When the retrieving includes retrieving the downhole completion assembly to the surface region, the retrieving may be performed subsequent to the coupling at 555 and/or subsequent to the ceasing at 560.
Methods 500 further may include replenishing the downhole completion assembly, which may be performed subsequent to and/or as part of the retrieving at 535. In some examples, the replenishing may include replacing, or exchanging, one or more components, modules, devices, and/or subassemblies of the downhole completion assembly. For example, the replenishing may include replacing the perforation device of the uphole sub-assembly, replacing at least one shaped charge of the perforation device, and/or replacing the perforation device electrical conductor that extends between the uphole end of the perforation device and the downhole end of the perforation device.
In some examples, the replenishing may include replacing one or more components, modules, devices, and/or sub-assemblies of the downhole completion assembly that may have been exhausted, damaged, and/or rendered unusable during the completion operations. As discussed herein with reference to
Returning to
The translating at 540 may be performed to position the uphole sub-assembly proximate to downhole sub-assembly within the tubular conduit, such as to permit coupling of the uphole sub-assembly and the downhole sub-assembly. Additionally or alternatively, when methods 500 include retrieving the uphole sub-assembly at 535, the translating at 540 may be performed to translate uphole sub-assembly from the surface region to a desired, or selected, region within the tubular conduit, such as the target region and/or proximate to the downhole sub-assembly.
The translating at 540 may be performed in any suitable manner. As an example, the translating at 540 may include pumping a conveyance fluid into an uphole end region of the tubular conduit to flow the uphole sub-assembly in the downhole direction. Additionally or alternatively, the translating at 540 may include utilizing the conveyance module of the uphole sub-assembly to provide a motive force to operatively translate the uphole sub-assembly in the downhole direction.
In some examples, the translating at 540 may utilize a combination of the conveyance fluid and the conveyance module to operatively translate the uphole sub-assembly in the downhole direction. As an example, the conveyance fluid may be utilized to operatively translate uphole sub-assembly 200 to and/or proximate perforations 44 that are uphole from downhole sub-assembly 300, as illustrated in
As discussed herein with reference to
The cleaning the tubular conduit at 545 may include agitating debris present within the tubular conduit with the cleaner module of the downhole completion assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the cleaning the tubular conduit at 545 may include pumping debris present within the tubular conduit with the pump module of the downhole completion assembly. As discussed herein with reference to
In some examples, the cleaning the tubular conduit at 545 may include agitating the debris with the cleaner module, and pumping debris agitated by the cleaner module with the pump module. Thus, in such examples, the pumping may be performed substantially simultaneously with the cleaning, and/or subsequent to the agitating.
In other examples, the cleaning the tubular conduit at 545 may include either of the pumping and the agitating. Stated another way, in some examples, performing either of the pumping and the agitating may be sufficient to move the debris from the path of and/or proximate to the uphole sub-assembly and/or the downhole completion assembly, such that the other of the pumping and the cleaning is not needed.
As discussed herein, pumping the debris with the pump module may include pumping the debris toward the trailing end of the uphole sub-assembly and/or the downhole completion assembly, in which the trailing end corresponds to the downhole end during uphole translation and corresponds to the uphole end during downhole translation. Put differently, the pumping the debris may be performed during uphole and/or downhole translation of the uphole sub-assembly and/or the downhole completion assembly.
The pumping the debris may be performed with any suitable timing and/or sequence within methods 500. As examples, the cleaning at 545 may include at least one of pumping debris from proximate the downhole completion assembly, pumping the debris in the downhole direction during the operatively translating uphole sub-assembly in the uphole direction at 525, pumping debris in the downhole direction during the operatively translating the downhole completion assembly in the uphole direction at 565, and/or pumping debris in the in the uphole direction during the operatively translating the uphole sub-assembly in the downhole direction at 540.
Agitating the debris also may be performed with any suitable timing and/or sequence within methods 500. As examples, the cleaning at 545 may include at least one of agitating debris from proximate the downhole completion assembly, agitating the debris during the operatively translating the uphole sub-assembly in the uphole direction at 525, agitating debris during the operatively translating the downhole completion assembly in the uphole direction at 565, and/or agitating debris during the operatively translating the uphole sub-assembly in the downhole direction at 540. As a further example, the cleaning at 545 may be performed in conjunction with pumping conveyance fluid 74 within the wellbore, as these operations may displace debris out of the tubular conduit and into the subsurface region.
In some examples, debris may accumulate, and/or may be deposited, within the coupler of the downhole completion assembly during the completion operations. This may inhibit, or even preclude, the coupler from forming the couple between the uphole sub-assembly and downhole sub-assembly. As a more specific example, debris may accumulate within the coupler while the coupler is in the decoupled state and/or while the uphole and downhole sub-assemblies are physically separated during methods 500.
In view of the above, and referring to
The cleaning the coupler at 550 may be performed with any suitable timing and/or sequence within methods 500. As examples, cleaning the coupler at 550 may be performed subsequent to the decoupling at 515, subsequent to the perforating at 530, subsequent to the operatively translating the uphole sub-assembly in the downhole direction at 540, at least partially concurrently with the operatively translating the uphole sub-assembly in the downhole direction at 540, prior to the coupling at 555, and/or at least partially concurrently with the coupling at 555.
The cleaning the coupler at 550 may be performed in any suitable manner. As an example, cleaning the coupler may include utilizing the pump module of the uphole sub-assembly to pump fluid in the direction of, through, and/or within the coupler such as to remove debris deposited therein.
Turning back to
The coupling at 555 may be performed with any suitable sequence and/or timing within methods 500. As examples, the coupling at 555 may be performed subsequent to the operatively translating the uphole sub-assembly in the downhole direction at 540 and/or prior to operatively translating the downhole completion assembly in the uphole direction at 565.
The coupling at 555 may be performed in any suitable manner. In some examples, the coupling at 555 may include transitioning coupler 400 from the decoupled state to the coupled state, in which the coupler may interlock the uphole sub-assembly and the downhole sub-assembly. As a more specific example, the coupling at 555 may include coupling the uphole and downhole portions of the coupler, such as described in more detail herein with reference to
In some examples, it may not be possible to adequately perform the coupling at 555, for example, because obstructing debris is present within coupler 400 and/or one or more portions of coupler 400 were rendered damaged or inoperable during one or more preceding steps of methods 500. As such, methods 500 may include determining a success of the coupling at 555. Stated another way, methods 500 may include determining whether uphole sub-assembly 200 and downhole sub-assembly 300 are adequately coupled through coupler 400 subsequent to the coupling at 555. Determining the success of the coupling at 555 may be achieved in any suitable manner. For example, determining the success of the coupling at 555 may include measuring an electric current through the electrical connectors of coupler 400.
When methods 500 include the determining the coupling at 555 was unsuccessful, methods 500 may further include causing the downhole sub-assembly to self-destruct such as to remove downhole sub-assembly 300 from a target region of the downhole tubular. For example, when the coupling at 555 is determined to be unsuccessful, methods 500 may include wirelessly communicating a data signal to the communication module of the downhole sub-assembly that triggers self-destruction of the downhole sub-assembly. The data signal may be communicated through the downhole communication network, such as from the communication module of the uphole sub-assembly to the communication module of the downhole sub-assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the data signal may be communicated by transmitting a pressure pulse from the surface region and/or the uphole sub-assembly to the downhole sub-assembly. The data signal received by the downhole sub-assembly and/or the communication module thereof may trigger ceasing the fluid seal at 560, such as to cause downhole sub-assembly to fall or otherwise be displaced in the downhole direction within the tubular conduit.
When methods 500 include causing the downhole sub-assembly to self-destruct, methods 500 subsequently may include retrieving the uphole sub-assembly to the surface region, replacing the downhole sub-assembly with a new, or replacement, downhole sub-assembly, and/or operatively translating the downhole completion assembly in the downhole direction.
Referring again to
The ceasing the fluid seal at 560 may be performed with any suitable timing and/or sequence within methods 500. As an example, the ceasing the fluid seal at 560 may be performed subsequent to the coupling at 555. In such examples, the ceasing the fluid seal at 560 may be performed to permit the translating the downhole completion assembly in the uphole direction at 565. As another example, the ceasing the fluid seal at 560 may be performed prior to the coupling at 555, such as part of causing self-destruction of the downhole sub-assembly when the coupling at 555 is unsuccessful.
Referring again to
Additionally or alternatively, when it is desirable to replenish one or more components, modules, devices, and/or sub-assemblies of the downhole completion assembly and/or the downhole sub-assembly following the perforating at 530 and/or the ceasing at 560, the translating at 565 may be performed as a part of the retrieving at 535.
The translating at 565 may be performed in any suitable manner. As examples, the translating at 565 may include utilizing the conveyance module of the downhole completion assembly to provide a motive force to operatively translate the downhole completion assembly in the uphole direction. Additionally or alternatively, the translating at 565 may include utilizing the umbilical to pull the downhole completion assembly in the uphole direction.
The translating at 565 may be performed with any suitable timing and/or sequence within methods 500. As examples, the translating at 565 may be performed subsequent to the coupling at 555 and/or subsequent to the ceasing at 560.
Referring again to
For example, performing methods 500 a first time may include perforating a first region within the downhole tubular that may define a downhole-most region of the downhole tubular or a downhole-most perforated region of the downhole tubular. Repeating methods 500 may include perforating a second region within the downhole tubular that is uphole of the downhole-most region of the downhole tubular, and repeating methods 500 a second time may include perforating a third region within the downhole tubular that is uphole of the second region. Stated more generally, repeating methods 500 one or more times may include perforating a plurality of spaced-apart regions of the downhole tubular, in which each region is uphole from a previously perforated region. This may include repeating utilizing a single downhole sub-assembly and/or repeating without leaving a plurality of plugs within the tubular conduit.
The repeating at 570 may include repeating a subset of steps of methods 500. For example, methods 500 may include the positioning at 505, followed by the forming the fluid seal at 510, followed by the decoupling at 515, followed by the translating at 525, followed by the perforating at 540. In such examples, the repeating at 570 may include repeating the translating at 525, followed by repeating the perforating at 530, any suitable number of times, such as to perforate any suitable number of spaced-apart regions of the downhole tubular, without ceasing the fluid seal at 560.
In some examples, during the repeating at 570, methods 500 may include repeating the coupling and determining the repeating the coupling as unsuccessful. In such examples, the repeating at 570 may include causing the downhole sub-assembly to self-destruct, such as discussed in more detail herein.
In the present disclosure, several of the illustrative, non-exclusive examples have been discussed and/or presented in the context of flow diagrams, or flow charts, in which the methods are shown and described as a series of blocks, or steps. Unless specifically set forth in the accompanying description, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that the order of the blocks may vary from the illustrated order in the flow diagram, including with two or more of the blocks (or steps) occurring in a different order and/or concurrently.
As used herein, the term “and/or” placed between a first entity and a second entity means one of (1) the first entity, (2) the second entity, and (3) the first entity and the second entity. Multiple entities listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same manner, i.e., “one or more” of the entities so conjoined. Other entities may optionally be present other than the entities specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those entities specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B,” when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” may refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including entities other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other entities). These entities may refer to elements, actions, structures, steps, operations, values, and the like.
As used herein, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more entities should be understood to mean at least one entity selected from any one or more of the entities in the list of entities, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every entity specifically listed within the list of entities and not excluding any combinations of entities in the list of entities. This definition also allows that entities may optionally be present other than the entities specifically identified within the list of entities to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those entities specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) may refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including entities other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other entities). In other words, the phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B, and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” may mean A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, A, B, and C together, and optionally any of the above in combination with at least one other entity.
In the event that any patents, patent applications, or other references are incorporated by reference herein and (1) define a term in a manner that is inconsistent with and/or (2) are otherwise inconsistent with, either the non-incorporated portion of the present disclosure or any of the other incorporated references, the non-incorporated portion of the present disclosure shall control, and the term or incorporated disclosure therein shall only control with respect to the reference in which the term is defined and/or the incorporated disclosure was present originally.
As used herein the terms “adapted” and “configured” mean that the element, component, or other subject matter is designed and/or intended to perform a given function. Thus, the use of the terms “adapted” and “configured” should not be construed to mean that a given element, component, or other subject matter is simply “capable of” performing a given function but that the element, component, and/or other subject matter is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the function. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that elements, components, and/or other recited subject matter that is recited as being adapted to perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being configured to perform that function, and vice versa.
As used herein, the phrase, “for example,” the phrase, “as an example,” and/or simply the term “example,” when used with reference to one or more components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods according to the present disclosure, are intended to convey that the described component, feature, detail, structure, embodiment, and/or method is an illustrative, non-exclusive example of components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods according to the present disclosure. Thus, the described component, feature, detail, structure, embodiment, and/or method is not intended to be limiting, required, or exclusive/exhaustive; and other components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, including structurally and/or functionally similar and/or equivalent components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
As used herein, “at least substantially,” when modifying a degree or relationship, may include not only the recited “substantial” degree or relationship, but also the full extent of the recited degree or relationship. A substantial amount of a recited degree or relationship may include at least 75% of the recited degree or relationship. For example, an object that is at least substantially formed from a material includes objects for which at least 75% of the objects are formed from the material and also includes objects that are completely formed from the material. As another example, a first length that is at least substantially as long as a second length includes first lengths that are within 75% of the second length and also includes first lengths that are as long as the second length.
The systems and methods disclosed herein are applicable to the oil and gas, well drilling, and/or well completion industries.
It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinations that are directed to one of the disclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62/951,322, filed Dec. 20, 2019, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62951322 | Dec 2019 | US |