Wells – Processes – With indicating – testing – measuring or locating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-29
2001-04-17
Neuder, William (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
With indicating, testing, measuring or locating
C166S053000, C166S066000, C166S072000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216784
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to operations performed in conjunction with subterranean wells and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a well control system utilizing a subsurface electro-hydraulic power unit.
It is common practice to control operation of a downhole hydraulically actuated well tool, such as a safety valve, from the earth's surface using fluid pressure transmitted from the surface to the tool via hydraulic lines, or control lines. Where the tool is within a few thousand feet of the surface, this method is quite satisfactory in practice. However, where the tool is located more than a few thousand feet deep in the well, hydrostatic pressure in the control lines, resistance to fluid flow through the control lines, the cost of running the control lines, the danger of damage to the control lines, the increased number of control line couplings and, therefore, potential leak paths, and other factors make this method unfeasible, or at least undesirable.
To solve this problem, hydraulically actuated well tools may be discarded in favor of electrically actuated well tools, or the hydraulically actuated well tools may be redesigned so that some other means is used to actuate the tools. Unfortunately, this solution to the problem requires that substantial costs be incurred in making changes to existing well tools having proven capabilities and reliable operation histories, etc.
Therefore, it may be readily seen that it would be quite desirable to provide a method whereby existing hydraulically actuated well tools may be remotely operated from the surface, without requiring use of hydraulic control lines extending between the surface and the tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In carrying out the principles of the present invention, in accordance with an embodiment thereof, a well control system and associated methods are provided which utilize a subsurface electro-hydraulic power unit. The power unit is at least partially controlled by a surface control system in communication therewith. The well control system may operate without the use of any hydraulic control lines extending between the surface control system and the power unit.
In one aspect of the present invention, the power unit includes a motor-driven pump which receives electrical power for its operation either from the surface control system via electric lines, or from an internal power source. The pump is connected to one or more well tools using control lines and, thus, no modification of existing control line operated well tools is required for their operation with the power unit.
In another aspect of the present invention, the power unit may be configured so that it selectively actuates redundant well tools. In this manner, a second well tool may be actuated by the power unit after a first well tool becomes incapable of performing its function. The power unit may include a valve which is operated in response to a signal transmitted from the surface control system to the power unit to select from among the redundant well tools for actuation thereof.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the power unit may include features which conserve electrical power consumed by the power unit. These features may be particularly desirable where the power unit includes a power supply, such as batteries. In one such feature, the power unit may include a pressure transducer which is used to monitor the pressure of the pump output, thereby enabling the pump to be shut off when the pressure is in a predetermined acceptable range for actuating a certain well tool. In another such feature, a position sensor may be utilized in the well tool to monitor the position of a member of the tool, thereby enabling the pump to be shut off when the member is in a predetermined acceptable position or range of positions.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the power unit may include a reservoir for fluid pumped by the pump. A fluid quality sensor may monitor the quality of the fluid in the reservoir. An indication of fluid quality may be transmitted by the power unit to the surface control system.
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.
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Halliburton Energy Service,s Inc.
Herman Paul I.
Neuder William
Smith Marlin R.
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