SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHIFTING A TOOL IN A WELL
A technique is employed to shift a well tool located in a wellbore. A shifting tool is moved downhole into proximity with a well tool that is to be shifted. The shifting tool comprises one or more engagement members that enable engagement with any of a variety of well tools having a variety of sizes. A sensor system provides an indication as to when the shifting tool is moved into proximity with a specific well tool.
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Many types of well tools are used downhole in well related operations. Some of these downhole devices can be designed to operate in two or more configurations. A shifting tool is used to shift the device from one configuration to another by engaging a profile in the downhole device and then moving the shifting tool up or down to shift the device from one configuration to another. Examples of devices that can be shifted include a variety of valves and other downhole devices.
The shifting tools used to shift downhole well tools are mechanical devices designed to engage downhole tools of a specific size having a latch profile of a specific diameter. A collet can be used to engage a latch profile in the downhole tool, or in other applications spring loaded dogs can be used to engage the latch profile. Hydraulic pressure or other forces move the collet or spring loaded dogs up or down until engaged with the latch profile. However, the radial travel of the collet or dogs is limited, and therefore the shifting tool must be matched to a downhole device of a particular size. In many applications, restrictions also are located above and/or below the downhole tool. Because the shifting tool must be able to pass through the restriction, the size of the shifting tool, and thus the size of the downhole tool that can be shifted, is limited.
SUMMARYIn general, the present invention provides a system and method for shifting a well tool located downhole in a wellbore. A shifting tool is designed for movement downhole into proximity with a well tool that is to be shifted. The shifting tool comprises one or more engagement members that are able to engage a variety of well tools having a variety of sizes. Additionally, a sensor system may be used to detect when the shifting tool is moved into proximity with a specific well tool.
Certain embodiments of the invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:
In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for shifting a device, e.g. a well tool, located downhole in a wellbore. The system and method utilize a shifting tool that may be selectively moved downhole to engage one or more well tools. For example, the shifting tool can be used to shift an individual well tool, or the shifting tool can be used to shift a plurality of well tools. The design of the shifting tool enables use of the individual shifting tool in shifting a variety of well tools having a variety of sizes and configurations. This unique design also enables use of the shifting tool to shift a plurality of well tools during the same trip downhole, even if the well tool size varies from one well tool to another. For example, the shifting tool can be actuated to shift a small well tool having an engagement profile with a relatively small diameter followed by a subsequent actuation in which the shifting tool is used to shift a larger well tool having an engagement profile with a relatively larger diameter.
In one embodiment, the shifting tool system utilizes a “smart” shifting tool that can automatically detect the presence of a well tool. In some applications, the shifting tool is automatically actuated to engage a specific well tool when, for example, the shifting tool is moved into proximity with the well tool. The shifting tool system also can utilize a shifting tool that automatically disengages from the well tool upon the occurrence of a predetermined parameter, e.g. passage of a specific amount of time.
Referring generally to
In the embodiment illustrated, well system 20 comprises a completion 30 deployed within wellbore 22 via, for example, a tubing 32. In many applications, completion 30 is deployed within a cased wellbore having a casing 34, however the completion 30 also can be deployed in an open bore application. As illustrated, completion 30 comprises one or more well tools 36, and one or more of the well tools 36 is shiftable between two or more configurations. The shiftable well tools 36 may have a variety of sizes and configurations. For example, the shiftable well tools 36 may comprise one or more packers and one or more valves, plugs or sliding sleeves. Depending on the application, the well tools 36 may comprise many types of valves, including ball valves, flapper valves, disk valves, flow control valves, circulating or reversing valves, and other valves that are shifted during a given downhole procedure.
Well system 20 further comprises a shifting tool system 38 having a shifting tool 40 and a deployment mechanism or conveyance 42. Depending on the specific application, conveyance 42 may have a variety of forms. For example, conveyance 42 may comprise tubing, e.g. pipe, coiled tubing, wireline, slick line, or other suitable conveyances. Additionally or alternatively, a tractor or stroker 44 can be used to move shifting tool 40 along wellbore 22. In the example illustrated, shifting tool 40 is moved along the interior of tubing 32 for selective engagement with one or more of the well tools 36.
The shifting tool 40 can be used in selective operations in which, for example, a specific well tool 36 is located, engaged and shifted. In other applications, shifting tool 40 can be used for multiple operations in which a plurality of well tools 36 can be shifted from one configuration to another. Shifting tool 40 is designed to enable engagement with well tools of different sizes. For example, the shifting tool 40 is designed to engage well tool engagement profiles even when the engagement profiles have different diameters from one well tool to the next.
In the example illustrated in
One example of a shifting tool 40 is illustrated in
Actuator 54 is mounted in a shifting tool body 56 and may be coupled to engagement members 52 via a variety of connection mechanisms 58 depending on the style of actuator 54 and of engagement members 52. In some embodiments, engagement members 52 can be spring mounted to actuator 54 or to connection mechanisms 58 to facilitate engagement with the corresponding well tool upon expansion of the engagement members 52 via actuator 54. By way of example, actuator 54 may comprise a motor, a shape memory alloy, a hydraulic piston, a gas chamber, or another type of actuator able to force engagement members 52 into suitable engagement with a well tool 36 to enable shifting of the well tool.
In some applications, electrical power can be provided to actuator 54 from a battery 60 via a powerline 62. The battery 60 is illustrated as mounted in shifting tool body 56, however battery 60 (or another suitable power supply) also can be positioned at other locations. The battery 60, or another suitable battery/power supply, also can be used to power a microprocessor 64 which is connected to actuator 54 to provide appropriate control signals to the actuator via one or more control lines 66. In the illustrated embodiment, microprocessor 64 is mounted in shifting tool body 56, although the processing of data and the transmission of control signals could be from other locations.
As illustrated in
Many types of microprocessors 64 and sensor systems 46 can be incorporated into shifting tool 40. In one example, sensor system 46 is a radiofrequency identification (RFID) sensor system, and signature tags 50 (
The shifting tool 40 is deployed on conveyance 42 in its collapsed position in which engagement members 52 are located radially inward. In some applications, tractor 44 (
Referring again to
As the shifting tool 40 is pulled upwardly via conveyance 42, the sensor or sensors 48 detects the presence of a signature tag 50 that corresponds with a specific well tool 36, as illustrated in
An upward pull of the shifting tool 40 via conveyance 42 moves the engagement members 52 into location at engagement profile 70, and actuator 54 continues the radial outward movement of engagement members 52 to fully engage the shifting tool 40 with engagement profile 70, as illustrated in
By way of example, each sensor 48 may comprise an RFID reader, and each signature tag 50 may comprise an RFID tag. In this embodiment, the RFID tags are run with the well tools 36 when completion 30 is deployed downhole. The RFID reader detects the presence of the RFID tags and provides an appropriate signal to microprocessor 64 which controls actuation of actuator 54 according to programmed instructions. The use of microprocessor 64 enables shifting tool 40 to be programmed for actuation according to a specific procedural protocol, e.g. a protocol in which shifting tool 40 is automatically actuated when moved into proximity with specific well tools 36.
Upon completing the shifting of the well tool 36, the engagement members 52 are retracted to the collapsed position, as illustrated in
Once shifting tool 40 is in its collapsed configuration with engagement members 52 retracted, the shifting tool 40 can freely be withdrawn or moved along wellbore 22, as illustrated in
The shifting tool 40 can be used to actuate an individual well tool 36, a plurality of well tools 36, or specific well tools 36 selected from a plurality of shiftable well tools deployed in a wellbore. As a result, multiple valves and other well tools can be run with one or more completions 30, and the single shifting tool 40 can be used to selectively actuate the disparate well tool devices. Furthermore, unique signature tags, e.g. unique RFID tags, can be used to enable selective actuation of individual valves and/or other well tools. For example, microprocessor 64 can be programmed to cause actuation of the shifting tool 40 upon receipt of signals from specific signature tags, enabling the selective activation of individual well tools according to a desired, predetermined procedure. Accordingly, the shifting tool system provides great flexibility for actuating well tools having a variety of sizes and configurations and for activating specific well tools according to desired patterns or procedures.
The well system 20 and the shifting tool system 38 can be constructed in a variety of forms for use in many different types of environments. For example, well system 20 may utilize one or more completions 30 having many types of configurations and utilizing a variety of shiftable well tools. Additionally, shifting tool system 38 can employ various types of conveyances, and shifting tool 40 can have various configurations. For example, shifting tool body 56 can be constructed in several shapes and forms. Additionally, the number and type of sensors and signature tags can be changed depending on the applications in which shifting tool 40 is utilized. The actuator, processor, and engagement members 52 also can be changed or adjusted according to the application and according to the well tools to be shifted by shifting tool 40.
Accordingly, although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this invention. Such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims.
Claims
1. A system for use in a wellbore, comprising:
- a shifting tool comprising: a body; an engagement member mounted to the body, the engagement member being radially movable to enable engagement with downhole well tools of a variety of sizes; an actuator coupled to the engagement member to selectively move the engagement member into and out of engagement with at least one downhole well tool; and a sensor system cooperating with the actuator to detect the proximity of the engagement member with respect to the at least one downhole well tool, wherein the actuator moves the engagement member toward an engaged configuration following detection.
2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the shifting tool further comprises a microprocessor coupled to the sensor system to process signals from the sensor system and to control the actuator based on signals from the sensor system.
3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises a sensor and a plurality of unique signature tags, each signature tag being associated with a corresponding downhole well tool.
4. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a conveyance coupled to the shifting tool to convey the shifting tool through the wellbore.
5. The system as recited in claim 4, further comprising a downhole well tool having an engagement profile positioned for receipt of the engagement member.
6. The system as recited in claim 4, further comprising a plurality of downhole well tools, each downhole well tool having an engagement profile positioned for receipt of the engagement member.
7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the downhole well tools comprises a valve.
8. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the downhole well tools comprises a sliding sleeve.
9. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the downhole well tools comprises a packer.
10. A method, comprising:
- moving a shifting tool in a wellbore;
- detecting a signature tag indicative of a well tool proximate the shifting tool;
- actuating the shifting tool based on detection of the signature tag, the actuation being sufficient to engage the shifting tool with one of several well tool engagement profile diameters; and
- shifting the well tool.
11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein moving comprises moving the shifting tool downhole via a conveyance.
12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein detecting comprises using a radio frequency identification sensor to detect a radiofrequency signature tag.
13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein actuating comprises moving a plurality of engagement members in a radially outward direction.
14. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising moving the shifting tool following actuation to move an engagement member into engagement with an engagement profile of the well tool.
15. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising controlling actuation of the shifting tool with a microprocessor.
16. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising controlling actuation of the shifting tool with a microprocessor positioned within the shifting tool.
17. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein actuating comprises automatically actuating the shifting tool after detection of the signature tag.
18. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising automatically releasing the shifting tool from engagement with the well tool.
19. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein shifting comprises shifting a plurality of well tools with the shifting tool.
20. A method, comprising:
- constructing a shifting tool with a body and an engagement member;
- providing an actuator to extend the engagement member from the body in a manner that enables engagement with well tools having any of a variety of sizes; and
- using a non-contact sensing system to sense the presence of the shifting tool at a well tool.
21. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising actuating the shifting tool to engage the well tool; and shifting the well tool.
22. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein using comprises using a radiofrequency identification sensor and a signature tag at the well tool.
23. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising using the shifting tool to shift a plurality of well tools having different sizes.
Type: Application
Filed: May 28, 2008
Publication Date: Dec 3, 2009
Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION (Sugar Land, TX)
Inventor: Dinesh R. Patel (Sugar Land, TX)
Application Number: 12/128,226
International Classification: E21B 47/09 (20060101);