Abstract: A method to test or monitor the integrity of a cement barrier, comprising providing an assembly therebelow including: a perforating device; a control mechanism to control the perforating device, a pressure sensor, a wireless communication device and a pressure sensor. The perforating device is activated to perforate casing below the barrier and a pressure test may be conducted. The creation of the perforation(s) below the barrier allows an assessment of the integrity of the barrier across its entire width, and especially its bond to the formation, rather than only a central portion of the barrier. Electromagnetic or acoustic wireless signals are used to retrieve data from below the barrier.

Abstract: A rupture apparatus (50) often deployed within a wall of a casing string (53) of an oil and gas well, comprising a housing (51) defining a housing bore (54) with a bore inlet and a bore outlet; a carriage carrying a rupturable component (12) the carriage being moveable in the housing bore between a rupturable position, an open and a closed position. Thus the bore can be opened or closed or closed subject to rupture of the rupturable component (12). Moreover, after rupture the bore can still be closed. Wireless signals are normally used to for control, especially electromagnetic or acoustic signals. A pressure balancing port (6) may be defined in a wall of the housing allowing fluid communication between at least a portion of the housing bore, and an outside of the housing which can pressure-balance the carriage such that it remains stationary unless actuated.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in sensing temperature in a wellbore, comprising: tubing comprising a plurality of temperature sensor modules provided at locations along the inside of the tubing, said temperature sensor modules comprising temperature sensors provided at least in part by at least one semiconductor element having electrical properties that vary with temperature; an electrical network configured to electrically connect to the semiconductor elements to in use allow measuring of the respective electrical properties of the semiconductor elements to infer a thermal characteristic of the semiconductor element; and at least one control module electrically connected to multiple temperature sensor modules, via the electrical network, and configured to receive and process an electrical signal associated with the temperature sensor modules to enable inference of the temperature of the semiconductor elements and the environment to which the tubing is exposed at the location of that semiconductor element.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a reservoir comprising setting at least one barrier in a well separating it into upper and lower isolated sections. A perforating gun or other perforating device is provided in the lower isolated section, along with a control mechanism, wireless communication device and a pressure sensor. After the barrier is set, the perforating gun is activated in order to create at least one perforation between the well and a surrounding reservoir. The well, or part of it, is suspended or abandoned but the pressure is still monitored and a wireless, preferably acoustic or electromagnetic, data signal is transmitted from the lower isolated section to above the barrier. Data from the suspended/abandoned part of the well may be used to infer characteristics of the reservoir so that it may be exploited more appropriately especially through another well.

Abstract: A method to manipulate a well, comprising running an apparatus (60a) having a container (68a) with a volume of gas at a higher pressure than a surrounding portion of the well. The well is isolated, and a wireless control signal, such as an electromagnetic or acoustic signal, is sent to operate a valve assembly (62a) to selectively allow or resist fluid exit from a portion of the container (68a), via a port (61a). Some of the pressurised gas may itself be expelled in to the surrounding portion of the well, or it may be used to drive a fluid out of the container, such as an acid.

Abstract: A method to manipulate a well comprising providing an apparatus (60) in a well (14) below a packer (22) or other annular sealing device, the apparatus comprising a container (68) having a volume of gas which is sealed at the surface and nm into the well, such that the pressure in the container (68) is at a lower pressure than the surrounding well. When the apparatus is below the packer, a wireless control signal, is sent to operate a valve assembly (62) to selectively allow fluid to enter the container whereby at least 50 litres of fluid is drawn into the container. In this way, the apparatus can be used independent of perforating guns, to clear perforations or other areas in the well or may be used for a variety of tests such as an interval test, drawdown test or a connectivity test such as a pulse or interference test.

Abstract: A well (10) in a geological structure (11), the well (10) comprising: a first casing string (12a) and a second casing string (12b) inside the first casing string (12a) and defining a first inter-casing annulus (14a) therebetween. A wirelessly controllable valve (16a), in the second casing string (12b) provides fluid communication between the first inter-casing annulus (14a) and a second casing bore (14b). The first or second casing string are less than 250 meters longer in length than the second or first casing string respectively and may be the same length. The distal ends of the first and second casing strings may be in a substantially impermeable formation (11). A number of benefits can be realised from such an arrangement. For example, in the event of a “blow-out”, kill fluid may be introduced into the well bore without the need to drill a relief well.

Abstract: A rupture apparatus (50) often deployed within a wall of a casing string (53) of an oil and gas well, comprising a housing (51) defining a housing bore (54) with a bore inlet and a bore outlet; a carriage carrying a rupturable component (12) the carriage being moveable in the housing bore between a rupturable position, an open and a closed position. Thus the bore can be opened or closed or closed subject to rupture of the rupturable component (12). Moreover, after rupture the bore can still be closed. Wireless signals are normally used to for control, especially electromagnetic or acoustic signals. A pressure balancing port (6) may be defined in a wall of the housing allowing fluid communication between at least a portion of the housing bore, and an outside of the housing which can pressure-balance the carriage such that it remains stationary unless actuated.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in sensing temperature in a wellbore, comprising: tubing comprising a plurality of temperature sensor modules provided at locations along the inside of the tubing, said temperature sensor modules comprising temperature sensors provided at least in part by at least one resistive element having electrical properties that vary with temperature; an electrical network configured to electrically connect to the resistive elements to in use allow measuring of the respective electrical properties of the resistive elements to infer a thermal characteristic of the resistive element; and at least one control module electrically connected to multiple temperature sensor modules, via the electrical network, and configured to receive and process an electrical signal associated with the temperature sensor modules to enable inference of the temperature of the resistive elements and the environment to which the tubing is exposed at the location of that resistive element.

Abstract: A well (10) in a geological structure, the well (10) comprising a first casing string (12a) with a second casing string (12b) partially inside, and a third casing string (13c) partially inside the second casing string (12b). A first inter-casing annulus (14a) is defined between the first (12a) and second casing strings (12b), and a second inter-casing annulus (14b) is defined between the second (12b) and third casing strings (12c). A primary fluid flow control device (16a), such as a wirelessly controllable valve, on the second casing provides (12b) fluid communication between the first inter-casing annulus (14a) and the second inter-casing annulus (14b); and a secondary fluid flow control device (16b), such as a second wirelessly controllable valve, on the third casing string (12c) provides fluid communication between the second inter-casing annulus (14b) and a bore of the third casing (14c).

Abstract: Apparatus for use in sensing temperature in a wellbore, comprising: tubing comprising a plurality of temperature sensor modules provided at locations along the inside of the tubing, said temperature sensor modules comprising temperature sensors provided at least in part by at least one semiconductor element having electrical properties that vary with temperature; an electrical network configured to electrically connect to the semiconductor elements to in use allow measuring of the respective electrical properties of the semiconductor elements to infer a thermal characteristic of the semiconductor element; and at least one control module electrically connected to multiple temperature sensor modules, via the electrical network, and configured to receive and process an electrical signal associated with the temperature sensor modules to enable inference of the temperature of the semiconductor elements and the environment to which the tubing is exposed at the location of that semiconductor element.

Abstract: A method of controlling a well in a geological structure, the well comprising: a first casing string (12a), and a second casing string (12b) at least partially inside the first casing string thus defining a first inter-casing annulus therebetween. A primary fluid flow control device (16a), such as a wirelessly controllable valve, is provided in the second casing string (12b) to provide fluid communication between the first inter-casing annulus (14a) and a bore (14b) of the second casing string (12b). In the event of well “blow-out”, a relief well (40) may be drilled and a fluid communication path formed between the relief well and the first casing string of the well rather than extend to lower and/or narrower sections of casing. A kill fluid can then be introduced via the relief well (40) and the primary fluid flow control device (16a) used to direct fluid to the second casing bore (14b).

Abstract: Apparatus (100) for use in sensing temperature in a wellbore, comprising: tubing (110) comprising a plurality of temperature sensor modules (120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720) provided at locations along the inside of the tubing, said temperature sensor modules comprising temperature sensors (321, 421) provided at least in part by at least one semiconductor element having electrical properties that vary with temperature; an electrical network (115) configured to electrically connect to the semiconductor elements to in use allow measuring of the respective electrical properties of the semiconductor elements to infer a thermal characteristic of the semiconductor element; and at least one control module (130, 330, 430) electrically connected to multiple temperature sensor modules, via the electrical network, and configured to receive and process an electrical signal associated with the temperature sensor modules to enable inference of the temperature of the semiconductor elements and the environment to which the tubi

Abstract: Apparatus (100) for use in sensing temperature along a wellbore, comprising: tubing (110) comprising at least 6 temperature sensor modules (120) provided at locations along the inside of the tubing, each temperature sensor module comprising a temperature sensor comprising a crystal oscillator having an electrical oscillation frequency that varies with temperature; the tubing having an external diameter of less than 14 mm at the location of at least 6 temperature sensor modules.

Abstract: A method of pressure testing a casing system (12) comprising deploying an apparatus (110) with a container (68) formed from drill pipe or production tubing, on a string of drill pipe or production tubing into a well, such that a port (61) thereof is provided in an isolated section of the well. The isolated section of the well has a higher pressure than the pressure of a gas sealed in the container (68). The port (61) is opened and pressure in the isolated section is monitored to assess its integrity. Communication with the apparatus is achieved by wireless means sending pressure data, control signals for controlling the port and/or other data or commands.

Abstract: Apparatus (100) for use in sensing temperature along a wellbore, comprising: tubing (110) comprising a plurality of temperature sensor modules (120) provided at locations along the inside of the tubing, having electrical properties that vary with temperature; and an electrical network (115) comprising a plurality of wires and said plural temperature sensor modules, wherein the wires and plural temperature sensor modules are configured as a matrix by which the wires comprise a first group of wires and a second, different group of wires and each wire of the first group is electrically connected to each wire of the second group once, by different temperature sensor modules, such that each temperature sensor module can be individually electrically connected by a pair of wires comprising a first wire from the first group and a second wire from the second group.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus and method for expelling fluid which comprises a container defining a void which is separated into three separate sections by a floating piston and control member, each having a dynamic seal. A portion of the container defining one of the void sections has a different cross-sectional area than the portion of the container defining another void section. In use, a fluid to be expelled is provided in one void section, and a reduced pressure (compared to the well) is sealed in another void section. The apparatus also comprises a wireless electromagnetic or acoustic receiver. When a signal is received by the wireless receiver to activate the apparatus, a valve or other mechanism maybe activated to release the floating piston and connected control member such that the lower pressure void and differing cross-sectional areas of the container drives and expels fluid out of the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in sensing temperature in a wellbore, comprising: tubing comprising a plurality of temperature sensor modules provided at locations along the inside of the tubing, said temperature sensor modules comprising temperature sensors provided at least in part by at least one resistive element having electrical properties that vary with temperature; an electrical network configured to electrically connect to the resistive elements to in use allow measuring of the respective electrical properties of the resistive elements to infer a thermal characteristic of the resistive element; and at least one control module electrically connected to multiple temperature sensor modules, via the electrical network, and configured to receive and process an electrical signal associated with the temperature sensor modules to enable inference of the temperature of the resistive elements and the environment to which the tubing is exposed at the location of that resistive element.

Abstract: Apparatus (100) for use in sensing temperature along a wellbore, comprising: tubing (110) comprising a plurality of temperature sensor modules (120) provided at locations along the inside of the tubing, having electrical properties that vary with temperature; and an electrical network (115) comprising a plurality of wires and said plural temperature sensor modules, wherein the wires and plural temperature sensor modules are configured as a matrix by which the wires comprise a first group of wires and a second, different group of wires and each wire of the first group is electrically connected to each wire of the second group once, by different temperature sensor modules, such that each temperature sensor module can be individually electrically connected by a pair of wires comprising a first wire from the first group and a second wire from the second group.

Abstract: A well (10) comprising a packer apparatus, the packer apparatus comprising: a packer (16) and an activation mechanism; wherein the activation mechanism comprises an expansion mechanism for expanding the packer (16) and a wireless receiver (360) optionally a transceiver. For certain embodiments the wireless receiver may be acoustic and/or electromagnetic. The receiver is adapted to receive a wireless control signal and control the activation mechanism and wherein the packer apparatus is provided downhole in any one of the following locations, (i) on a production tubing; (ii) in a casing annulus between two different casing strings; (iii) between the casing and formation; (iv) on a sub-assembly within an uncased section of the well and (v) on a drill string.