WELL SERVICING METHODS AND SYSTEMS

Abstract

Well servicing methods and systems are described, in one embodiment comprising a pressure containment housing fluidly connected directly to a wellhead of a wellbore, and a reel positioned inside the housing on which is spooled a communication line. One method comprises introducing the communication line into the pressurized wellbore without a well control stack, the communication line being introduced and driven into the wellbore by controlling a reel, the reel being internal to a pressurized housing removably connected directly to a wellhead of the wellbore. Fluid flow may move the communication line to a desired location in the wellbore. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It may not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The manner in which the objectives of the invention and other desirable characteristics may be obtained is explained in the following description and attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1. is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a prior art system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic partial cross-sectional views of a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic process information flow sheet that may be useful in understanding certain embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of introducing a communication line into a wellbore proximate a reservoir, comprising: (a) pumping a treatment fluid through the wellbore and into the reservoir; and(b) using said treatment fluid for propelling the communication line into the wellbore without significant damage to the communication line.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising introducing the communication line into a well control stack removably connected to a wellhead of the wellbore.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising introducing the communication line into the pressurized wellbore without a well control stack, the communication line being introduced and driven into the wellbore by controlling a reel, the reel being internal to a pressurized housing removably connected directly to a wellhead of the wellbore.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising connecting the housing and reel directly to the wellhead prior to introducing the communication line into the pressurized wellbore.

5. The method of claim 3 comprising flanging the housing directly to the wellhead.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the communication line comprises an optical fiber, and powering the reel by delivering power magnetically through a non-magnetic wall of the housing.

7. The method of claim 6 comprising diffusing an optical signal using a first optical connector, transmitting the diffused signal through the optical fiber to a second optical connector, and refocusing the signal to the diameter of the optical fiber.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising transmitting the signal through an optical pressure bulkhead in a wall of the housing.

9. The method of claim 6 comprising transmitting optical signals in both directions through the optical fiber, the optical fiber comprising one or more than one optical fiber.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the communication line is a wire, and the method comprises transmitting an electrical signal to a data acquisition system by means selected from wireless and wire transmission means.

11. The method of claim 3 comprising guiding the communication line into the pressurized wellbore employing a guide mechanism.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising retrieving the communication line from the pressurized wellbore using the guide mechanism.

13. The method of claim 1 comprising leaving the communication line in the wellbore and dissolving the communication line by chemical, thermal, or physical action or combination of these actions.

14. The method of claim 1 comprising propelling the communication line into the wellbore using a pumping system that pumps one or more treatment fluids into the wellbore.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising pumping two or more treatment fluids into the wellbore in succession to drive the communication line into the wellbore.

16. The method of claim 14 comprising mixing or combining treatment fluids and/or solids prior to pumping the treatment fluids into the wellbore.

17. The method of claim 14 comprising controlling the mixing or combining using data selected from data obtained downhole from the wellbore, surface data, or some combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 14 comprising acquiring wellbore data using a surface data acquisition system.

19. The method of claim 14 comprising pumping a first treatment fluid into the wellbore to unspool the communication line, followed by one or more subsequent treatment fluids.

20. The method of claim 14 comprising respooling the communication line.

21. The method of claim 6 comprising sensing a wellbore condition employing methods selected from a sensor attached to a distal end of the optical fiber, gratings on the optical fiber, doping of the fiber, and combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 21 comprising using the sensed wellbore condition data to monitor or model subsequent well operations.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the propelling comprises controlling unspooling and/or spooling of the communication line from or onto a reel, the controlling selected from automatic, electronic, computerized, and combinations thereof.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the reel is instrumented to measure and control line unspooling/spooling length based on a controller input via a communication port, the communications port selected from wire, wireless, or combination thereof.

25. A system comprising: (a) a reel for propelling a communication line into a pressurized wellbore,(b) the reel mounted directly on a well control stack fluidly connected to the pressurized wellbore.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the reel is selected from an optical fiber reel and a micro-fiber reel, and wherein the well control stack may be selected from a blowout preventer (BOP), stuffing box, a lubricator, and combinations thereof.

27. The system of claim 26 comprising means for collecting wellbore data.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the means is part of a hub of a spool of the reel.

29. The system of claim 25 comprising one or more control components adapted to control unspooling of the reel, the control components selected from automatic, electronic, computerized, and combinations thereof.

30. A system comprising: (a) a pressure containment housing fluidly connected directly to a wellhead of a wellbore; and(b) a reel positioned inside the housing on which is spooled a communication line.

31. The system of claim 30 comprising a drive mechanism for the reel located within the housing.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein power to turn the reel is delivered magnetically though a non-magnetic housing wall or portion of wall using a magnetic coupling.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the communication line is an optical fiber, and an optical signal is diffused at the optical connector device, passed from a rotating hub of the reel to a diffused optical connector which refocuses the optical signal to the diameter of the optical fiber.

34. The system of claim 33 comprising an optical fiber pressure bulkhead in the housing wall.

35. The system of claim 30 wherein the communication line is a micro-wire, and the housing comprises a receiver device comprising a non-EMF-blocking port in the housing comprising materials selected from plastics, quartz, ceramic, or combination thereof.

36. The system of claim 30 comprising an articulating guide adapted to guide the communication line into an appropriate position in the well flow.

37. The systems of claim 30 comprising one or more control components adapted to control unspooling of the reel, the control components selected from automatic, electronic, computerized, and combinations thereof.