Claims
- 1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:
a liner section; an electrical device positioned outside the liner section; a first inductive coupler portion attached to the liner section and electrically connected to the electrical device; and a second inductive coupler portion positioned inside the liner section to communicate electrical signaling with the first inductive coupler portion.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrical cable connected to the second inductive coupler portion for connection to a power and telemetry source.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical device comprises a resistivity electrode.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liner section comprises a casing section.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical device comprises a control module.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electrical device further comprises a monitoring device.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liner section comprises a coupling module adapted to be connected to at least another liner portion.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a production tubing section, the second inductive coupler portion attached to the production tubing section.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the liner section comprises a casing section.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liner section comprises a locating member, and the apparatus further comprises a tool including a locating mating member to engage the liner section locating member to position the first and second inductive coupler portions in proximity to each other.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liner section comprises an orientation member, and the apparatus further comprises a tool including a mating orientation member to engage the liner section orientation member to orient the second inductive coupler portion relative to the first inductive coupler portion.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liner section comprises a housing defining a cavity in which the first inductive coupler portion is positioned.
- 13. A module for use in a wellbore having a liner, comprising:
a housing adapted to be connected to the liner; an electrical device mounted outside the housing; and an inductive coupler portion attached to the housing and electrically coupled to the electrical device.
- 14. The module of claim 13, wherein the liner comprises a casing.
- 15. The module of claim 13, wherein the inductive coupler portion is positioned to enable the inductive coupler portion to communicate with another inductive coupler portion in the wellbore.
- 16. The module of claim 13, wherein the housing defines a bore having an inner diameter that is substantially the same as or greater than the bore of the liner.
- 17. The module of claim 13, wherein the electrical device comprises a monitoring device.
- 18. The module of claim 13, wherein the electrical device comprises a control device.
- 19. A method of communicating with an electrical device in a wellbore, having a liner section, comprising;
providing an inductive coupler mechanism, the inductive coupler mechanism comprising a first part inside the liner section and a second part attached to the liner section and electrically connected to the electrical device that is mounted outside the liner section; and communicating electrical signaling between the first and second parts of the inductive coupler mechanism to communicate with the electrical device.
- 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising retrieving measurements made by the electrical device through the inductive coupler mechanism.
- 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating power between the first and second parts of the inductive coupler mechanism.
- 22. A completion string for use in a wellbore, comprising:
a casing section; a production tubing section; a first inductive coupler portion attached to the production tubing section; and a second inductive coupler portion attached to the casing section and positioned in the proximity of the first inductive coupler portion.
- 23. Apparatus for use in a well having a main bore and a lateral branch, the lateral branch comprising an electrical device, the apparatus comprising:
an inductive coupler mechanism to electrically communicate electrical signaling in the main bore with the electrical device in the lateral branch.
- 24. Apparatus to communicate electrical signaling from a main bore of a well to equipment in a lateral branch, comprising:
a connector mechanism adapted to connect equipment in the main bore to equipment in the lateral branch; and a first inductive coupler portion attached to the connector mechanism to communicate electrical signaling with the lateral branch equipment.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising an electrical cable connected to the inductive coupler portion.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a second inductive coupler portion connected to the electrical cable and attached to the connector mechanism, the second inductive coupler portion adapted to communicate signaling with the main bore equipment.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a third inductive coupler portion that is part of the main bore equipment to inductively couple to the second inductive coupler portion.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a fourth inductive coupler portion that is part of the lateral branch equipment to inductively couple to the first inductive coupler portion.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the connector mechanism is further adapted to connect equipment in the main bore to equipment in a second lateral branch, the apparatus further comprising a second inductive coupler portion attached to the connector mechanism to communicate electrical signaling with the second lateral branch equipment.
- 30. A completion string for use in a well having a main bore and a lateral branch, comprising:
equipment in the main bore and in the lateral branch; a first inductive coupler assembly proximal the equipment in the main bore; a second inductive coupler assembly proximal the equipment in the lateral branch; and an electrical cable connecting the first and second inductive coupler assemblies.
- 31. The completion string of claim 30, further comprising equipment in a second lateral branch, the completion string further comprising a third inductive coupler assembly proximal the equipment in the lateral branch.
- 32. The completion string of claim 31, further comprising a fourth inductive coupler assembly proximal the main bore equipment and a second electrical cable connecting the third and fourth inductive coupler assemblies.
- 33. The completion string of claim 30, wherein the equipment in the main bore includes a tubing, the completion string further comprising a connector member between the tubing and the lateral branch equipment.
- 34. The completion string of claim 33, wherein the lateral branch equipment comprises an electrical device.
- 35. The completion string of claim 34, wherein the electrical device comprises a monitoring module.
- 36. The completion string of claim 34, wherein the electrical device comprises a control module.
- 37. The completion string of claim 33, further comprising a casing having a window open to the lateral branch, wherein the connector member extends through the casing window.
- 38. The completion string of claim 33, wherein the first inductive coupler assembly comprises one portion attached to the tubing and another portion attached to the connector member.
- 39. The completion string of claim 38, wherein the second inductive coupler assembly comprises one portion attached to the connector member and another portion attached to the lateral branch equipment.
- 40. The completion string of claim 30, further comprising a hydraulic control line adapted to extend from the main bore to the lateral branch.
- 41. The completion string of claim 40, further comprising a lateral branch connector adapted to connect the main bore equipment to lateral branch equipment, the lateral branch connector comprising a conduit to carry the cable and a conduit to carry the hydraulic control line.
- 42. A method of communicating between main bore equipment and lateral branch equipment in a well, comprising:
providing a first inductive coupler assembly electrically connected to the main bore equipment and in communication with the lateral branch equipment; and transmitting electrical signaling over an electrical cable connected to the first inductive coupler assembly.
- 43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:
providing a second inductive coupler assembly electrically connected to the lateral branch equipment; and electrically connecting the second inductive coupler assembly to the first inductive coupler assembly.
- 44. A completion string, comprising:
a liner having an inner bore; and a liner module connected to the liner and comprising:
a housing defining an inner bore having a diameter that is substantially the same as or greater than the inner bore of the liner, one or more electrical devices positioned outside the housing, and an inductive coupler portion electrically connected to the one or more electrical devices.
- 45. The completion string of claim 44, further comprising a protective sleeve around the one or more electrical devices.
- 46. The completion string of claim 44, further comprising a coating layer around the one or more electrical devices.
- 47. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:
a first device comprising a first inductive coupler portion; a tubing assembly comprising a second inductive coupler portion and adapted to communicate with the first inductive coupler portion, the tubing further comprising a third inductive coupler portion; and a liner assembly comprising a fourth inductive coupler portion adapted to communicate with the third inductive coupler portion.
- 48. An apparatus for use in a junction between a main bore and a lateral bore, comprising:
a lateral branch connector having a pressure control conduit, the lateral branch having a first end adapted to mate with equipment in the main bore, and the lateral branch having a second end adapted to mate with equipment in the lateral bore, the pressure control conduit extending from the first end to the second end.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/784,651, filed Feb. 15, 2001, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/212,278, filed Jun. 19, 2000, and which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/196,495, filed Nov. 19, 1998.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60212278 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09784651 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
Child |
09859944 |
May 2001 |
US |
Parent |
09196495 |
Nov 1998 |
US |
Child |
09784651 |
Feb 2001 |
US |