Patent Grant
7228898
The present application is related to the following copending applications: application Ser. No. 10/680,625 filed Oct. 7, 2003; and application Ser. No. 10/680,440 filed Oct. 7, 2003. The entire disclosures of these related applications are incorporated herein by this reference.
The present invention relates generally to operations performed and equipment utilized in conjunction with subterranean wells and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a gravel pack completion with fluid loss control and fiber optic wet connect.
While it is known to install a fiber optic line in a well completion, for example, to sense and monitor well parameters such as pressure and temperature in the completion, it has proven difficult to install the fiber optic line with the completion. In one system, a tube is strapped to the outside of a completion string as the string is installed in the well. The fiber optic line is then pumped down through the tube. In another system, the fiber optic line is contained in the tube or other protective sheathing as the completion string is installed in the well.
Unfortunately, such systems do not permit fiber optic connections to be made after the completion string is installed. In many situations, it may be desirable to install a completion in sections, such as when separately gravel packing intervals in a horizontal or highly deviated wellbore. In such situations, it would be beneficial to be able to connect fiber optic lines installed with the separate gravel packed sections. It would also be beneficial to be able to utilize fluid loss control devices with the separate gravel packed sections, and to utilize a travel joint for spacing out the completion string below a tubing hanger, for example.
In carrying out the principles of the present invention, in accordance with an embodiment thereof, a gravel pack completion system is provided which permits fiber optic lines separately installed in a wellbore to be connected to each other as corresponding separate assemblies of the completion system are installed in the wellbore.
In one aspect of the invention, a system for completing a subterranean well is provided. The system includes multiple assemblies installed in a wellbore. Each of the assemblies includes a fiber optic line. The fiber optic lines are operatively connected to each other after the assemblies are installed in the wellbore.
In another aspect of the invention, a completion system is provided which includes a longitudinally telescoping travel joint. A fiber optic line extends longitudinally through the travel joint.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a system for completing a subterranean well includes a gravel packing assembly having a fiber optic connector, and a seal assembly having another fiber optic connector. The seal assembly is oriented relative to the gravel packing assembly, thereby aligning the fiber optic connectors, when the seal assembly is engaged with the gravel packing assembly in the well.
In a further aspect of the invention, a system for completing a subterranean well includes an assembly installed in a wellbore. The assembly includes a fluid loss control device and a fiber optic line. Another assembly having a fiber optic line is installed in the wellbore and engaged with the first assembly. The fluid loss control device permits flow through the device, and the fiber optic lines are operatively connected to each other, in response to engagement between the assemblies in the wellbore.
These and other features, advantages, benefits and objects of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon careful consideration of the detailed description of representative embodiments of the invention hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings.
Representatively illustrated in
As depicted in
Note that, although a gravel packed completion is described herein as incorporating principles of the invention, the invention is not limited to gravel packed completions or any other type of completions, nor is the invention limited to any particular detail of the completion system 10 described herein. Instead, the principles of the invention have a wide variety of possible applications, and the system 10 is described merely to illustrate an example of the benefits which may be derived from the invention.
To prevent loss of well fluid into a formation or zone 24 intersected by the wellbore 14, a fluid loss control device 26 is included in the assembly 12. Preferably, the device 26 is actuated to prevent flow through a longitudinal passage 28 of the assembly 12 when the service tool 16 is retrieved from within the assembly. This operates to prevent well fluid from flowing into the formation 24. When actuated by retrieval of the service tool 16, the device 26 may permit one-way flow through the device (e.g., upward flow through the passage 28 as depicted in
The assembly 12 further includes a fiber optic line 30. The fiber optic line 30 extends longitudinally through the screen 22, and through a gravel pack packer 32 of the assembly 12. In the embodiment depicted in
Preferably, the fiber optic line 30 is installed on the assembly 12 as it is run into the wellbore 14, for example, by strapping it to the assembly. To facilitate passage of the fiber optic line 30 through the packer 32, fiber optic connectors 34 may be used to operatively connect a lower portion of the fiber optic line to another portion of the fiber optic line extending through the packer.
These connectors 34 may be connected at the surface, for example, when the packer 32 is made up to the rest of the assembly 12, and so the connectors would be known to those skilled in the art as making a “dry” connection. Connectors which are operatively connected in the wellbore 14 would be known to those skilled in the art as making a “wet” connection, since the connection would be made while submerged in well fluid.
As used herein, the term “fiber optic connector” is used to indicate a connector which is operably coupled to a fiber optic line so that, when one fiber optic connector is connected to another fiber optic connector, light may be transmitted from one fiber optic line to another fiber optic line. Thus, each fiber optic connector has a fiber optic line operably coupled thereto, and the fiber optic lines are connected for light transmission therebetween when the connectors are connected to each other.
Another fiber optic connector 36 is operably coupled to the fiber optic line 30 above the packer 32. Associated with the packer 32 is an orienting device 38, depicted in
Also associated with the packer 32 is a seal bore 40. The seal bore 40 could be formed directly on the packer 32, or it may be separately attached to the packer, such as a polished bore receptacle. Similarly, the orienting device 38 could be formed on the packer 32 or separately attached thereto.
As depicted in
The assembly 42 is similar in many respects to the assembly 12, in that it includes a gravel pack packer 44, a fluid loss control device 46, a well screen 48 and a fiber optic line 50. In a unique aspect of the invention, the fiber optic line 50 is operatively connected to the fiber optic line 30 in the wellbore (thus making a “wet” connection) when the assembly 42 is engaged with the assembly 12.
The assembly 42 includes an orienting device 52 near a lower end thereof. The orienting device 52 is depicted in
Seals 56 carried on the assembly 42 sealingly engage the seal bore 40 of the assembly 12, thereby interconnecting the passage 28 to a similar longitudinal passage 58 formed through the assembly 42. The fluid loss control device 26 may be opened in response to engagement between the assemblies 12, 42, and so the passages 28, 58 are in communication with each other. Note that the fluid loss control device 26 can be opened before, during or after engagement between the assemblies 12, 42.
However, the fluid loss control device 46 is actuated to its closed configuration (preventing at least downward flow through the device in the passage 58) in response to retrieval of a gravel packing service tool, such as the tool 16 described above, from within the assembly 42. The fluid loss control device 46 may be a Model FSO device available from Halliburton Energy Services of Houston, Tex., in which case the device may prevent both upward and downward flow (i.e., in each direction through the device) when closed. Thus, as depicted in
The fiber optic line 50 is similar to the fiber optic line 30 in that it preferably extends longitudinally through sidewalls of the screen 48 and packer 44. To facilitate interconnection of the packer 44 to the remainder of the assembly 42 and provision of the fiber optic line 50 in the packer, the assembly may include “dry” fiber optic connectors 64 between upper and lower portions of the fiber optic line.
Although only two of the gravel packing assemblies 12, 42 are described as being installed in the wellbore 14 and engaged with each other downhole, it will be readily appreciated that any number of assemblies (whether or not they are specifically gravel packing assemblies) may be installed as desired. As with the assembly 12, the assembly 42 includes an upper orienting device 66, a seal bore 68 and a fiber optic connector 70 operably coupled to the fiber optic line 50, so that another gravel packing assembly (or other type of assembly) may be engaged therewith in the wellbore 14.
In
Engagement between the orienting devices 66, 76 rotationally orients the assemblies 42, 72 relative to each other, so that the fiber optic connectors 70, 78 are aligned with each other. Operative connection between the fiber optic connectors 70, 78 in the wellbore 14 forms a “wet” connection.
The fiber optic connector 78 is operably coupled to a fiber optic line 80 extending to a remote location, such as the earth's surface or another location in the well. The fiber optic line 80 may be divided into separate portions to facilitate running the assembly 72 into the wellbore. For example, “dry” connectors 82 may be used above and below various components of the assembly 72, so that the components may be conveniently interconnected in the assembly as it is made up at the surface.
As depicted in
In
The fluid loss control devices 88, go are of the type which permit one-way flow through the devices. The device 88 permits flow from the wellbore 14, through the screen 22 and into the passage 28, but prevents outward flow through the screen, in the manner of a check valve. Similarly, the device go permits flow inward through the screen 48 from the wellbore 14 to the passage 58, but prevents outward flow through the screen.
In
Thus, a coil 96 of the fiber optic line 80 is contained in the travel joint 84 sidewall. The coil 96 permits the length of the fiber optic line 80 to vary to accommodate changes in the travel joint 84 length. Note that it is not necessary for the coil 96 to extend about the passage 94, since it could instead be positioned on one lateral side of the mandrel 92 in the sidewall of the travel joint 84, if desired.
Preferably, the coil 96 of the fiber optic line 80 has a radius of curvature of at least approximately two inches in order to ensure satisfactory transmission of optical signals through the fiber optic line. The coil 96 more preferably has a radius of curvature of at least approximately three inches.
Of course, a person skilled in the art would, upon a careful consideration of the above description of representative embodiments of the invention, readily appreciate that many modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, and other changes may be made to these specific embodiments, and such changes are contemplated by the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited solely by the appended claims and their equivalents.
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