Wells – Processes – Placing or shifting well part
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-02
2001-07-03
Neuder, William (Department: 3671)
Wells
Processes
Placing or shifting well part
C166S066600, C166S321000, C166S374000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253857
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to operations performed within subterranean wells and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides apparatus and methods for controlling fluid flow within a subterranean well.
In horizontal well open hole completions, fluid migration has typically been controlled by positioning a production tubing string within the horizontal wellbore intersecting a formation. An annulus formed between the wellbore and the tubing string is then packed with gravel. A longitudinally spaced apart series of sliding sleeve valves in the tubing string provides fluid communication with selected portions of the formation in relatively close proximity to an open valve, while somewhat restricting fluid communication with portions of the formation at greater distances from an open valve. In this manner, water and gas coning may be reduced in some portions of the formation by closing selected ones of the valves, while not affecting production from other portions of the formation.
Unfortunately, the above method has proved unsatisfactory, inconvenient and inefficient for a variety of reasons. First, the gravel pack in the annulus does not provide sufficient fluid restriction to significantly prevent fluid migration longitudinally through the wellbore. Thus, an open valve in the tubing string may produce a significant volume of fluid from a portion of the formation longitudinally remote from the valve. However, providing additional fluid restriction in the gravel pack in order to prevent fluid migration longitudinally therethrough would also deleteriously affect production of fluid from a portion of the formation opposite an open valve.
Second, it is difficult to achieve a uniform gravel pack in horizontal well completions. In many cases the gravel pack will be less dense and/or contain voids in the upper portion of the annulus. This situation results in a substantially unrestricted longitudinal flow path for migration of fluids in the wellbore.
Third, in those methods which utilize the spaced apart series of sliding sleeve valves, intervention into the well is typically required to open or close selected ones of the valves. Such intervention usually requires commissioning a slickline rig, wireline rig, coiled tubing rig, or other equipment, and is very time-consuming and expensive to perform. Furthermore, well conditions may prevent or hinder these operations.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a method of controlling fluid flow within a subterranean well, which method does not rely on a gravel pack for restricting fluid flow longitudinally through the wellbore. Additionally, it would be advantageous to provide associated apparatus which permits an operator to produce or inject fluid from or into a selected portion of a formation intersected by the well. These methods and apparatus would be useful in open hole, as well as cased hole, completions.
It would also be advantageous to provide a method of controlling fluid flow within a well, which does not require intervention into the well for its performance. Such method would permit remote control of the operation, without the need to kill the well or pass equipment through the wellbore.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In carrying out the principles of the present invention, in accordance with an embodiment thereof, an actuator is provided which is remotely operable by opening and/or closing at least one valve connected between a low pressure chamber and a first chamber formed between first and second members. A pressurized fluid source may also be utilized to provide a differential pressure between the first chamber and a second chamber formed between the first and second members, thereby biasing the members to displace relative to each other.
In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided which includes an outer housing and an inner mandrel sealingly received in the housing and forming first and second chambers therebetween. A pressure differential between the first and second chambers biases the mandrel to displace relative to the housing. To achieve the pressure differential, each of the chambers is connected to one of a pressurized fluid source and a low pressure chamber. One or more remotely controllable valves is utilized to provide the connections between the first and second chambers, and the pressurized fluid source and the low pressure chamber.
In another aspect of the present invention, a chamber is formed between a housing and a mandrel sealingly received in the housing. The chamber contains a fluid preventing relative displacement between the housing and mandrel. A valve is utilized to connect the chamber to a low pressure chamber, thereby permitting the fluid to discharge from the chamber and permitting relative displacement between the housing and the mandrel. The valve may be remotely controllable by connecting the valve to a receiver which is capable of operating the valve in response to a remotely transmitted signal being received by the receiver.
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 descriptions of representative embodiments of the invention hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings.
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Halliburton Energy Service,s Inc.
Imwalle William M.
Neuder William
Petravick Meredith C.
Smith Marlin R.
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