A COMPLETION COMPONENT WITH POSITION DETECTION
The present invention relates to a completion component having a circumference for insertion into a well tubular structure, comprising a tubular base part having an axial extension and a thickness and being adapted to be mounted as part of the well tubular structure, and a displaceable part having a thickness and being displaceable in relation to the tubular base part from a first position to a second position, wherein the tubular base part comprises a plurality of first markers and the displaceable part comprises a second marker for determining a position of the displaceable part in relation to the tubular base part, the first and second markers being arranged with a marker distance, wherein the first markers are different in geometrical size or material, or arranged with a varying mutual distance. The present invention also relates to a downhole system and to a method for determining a position of a displaceable part of a completion component according to the present invention in relation to a tubular base part.
The present invention relates to a completion component, a downhole system and a method for determining a position of a displaceable part of a completion component.
BACKGROUND ARTMany of the completion components in a well or a completion downhole comprise movable parts, which is why it is relevant to identify the position of the movable parts. The completion component may for instance be an inflow control device, which can be open and closed for inflow of fluid into the well. Accordingly, it may be desirable to determine whether a specific inflow control device is open or closed and to verify this.
Equipment for performing identification of components downhole is known and may for instance be tools which are arranged to make contact with the components in order to identify the position of the movable part of the component. However, in this operation there is a risk that the tool may accidentally displace the movable part and thereby open or close the component, contrary to what was intended. Furthermore, when the tool makes contact with the component and the surrounding area, there is a risk that it wears the components and damages them.
In other known tools, the identification may be performed by logging or scanning tools. However, such tools often provide inaccurate determinations, which means that the operators of the well will not know for certain the position of the movable parts.
One solution is known from US2008/0236819 in which one magnet is arranged in a fixed part and another magnet in the sliding part of a sliding sleeve. The position of the sliding part is then detected by moving a Casing Collar Locator (CCL) past the fixed magnet and by moving the CCL further past the slidable magnet. By estimating the velocity of the CCL, the position of the slidable magnet in relation to the fixed magnet can then be calculated. The solution is dependent on an accurate velocity determination which is impossible to get, and this hence results in a corresponding uncertainty in the determination of the position of the sliding sleeve. Furthermore, the determination of the position of the sliding sleeve is dependent on a permanent magnet which over time has shown to reduce its strength when exposed to the high temperatures downhole and to pumps during downhole operations. Thus, such solution will be inadequate, if not impossible, during the entire lifespan of a well, and the precision of the position determination will be too uncertain when also considering the velocity dependency.
Hence, there is a need for a more reliable way of determining the position of the movable parts of a completion component downhole.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to wholly or partly overcome the above disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. More specifically, it is an object to provide an improved completion component in which the position of a displaceable part may easily be determined, also in high temperature wells having a sliding sleeve which has been in the well for more than 20 years.
Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a downhole system having a detection tool in which determination of the position of the displaceable part of the completion component is facilitated independently of a velocity of the detection tool and with the determination having a high degree of reliability.
The above objects, together with numerous other objects, advantages and features, which will become evident from the below description, are accomplished by a solution in accordance with the present invention by a completion component having a circumference for insertion into a well tubular structure, comprising:
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- a tubular base part having an axial extension and a thickness and being adapted to be mounted as part of the well tubular structure, and
- a displaceable part having a thickness and being displaceable in relation to the tubular base part from a first position to a second position, wherein the tubular base part comprises a plurality of first markers and the displaceable part comprises a second marker for determining a position of the displaceable part in relation to the tubular base part, the first and second markers being arranged with a marker distance, wherein the first markers are different in geometrical size or material, or arranged with a varying mutual distance.
The first markers may be passive non-inducing markers.
By having passive non-inducing markers, the tool detecting the marker distance does not rely on an inducing device, such as a magnet, which may be discharged over time due to bumps induced to the casing, or due to the high temperature downhole.
In an embodiment, the displaceable part may be displaceable in an axial direction in relation to the tubular base part.
Further, the displaceable part may be displaceable by rotation in relation to the tubular base part.
In one embodiment, the displaceable part may be arranged within the tubular base part.
In another embodiment, the displaceable part may be arranged outside the tubular base part.
Also, the displaceable part may be arranged in a groove of the tubular base part.
Moreover, the marker distance may be larger than zero, so that the first and second markers do not overlap in the axial extension.
Furthermore, the first markers may be grooves in the tubular part.
Said grooves may have different depths and/or different extensions in the axial extension.
In this way, the first markers function as a bar code for identifying a specific completion component down the well. When manufacturing a completion component, such bar code could be implemented and subsequent the manufacture, information about the component type and the manufacturing date could be gained by detecting the pattern of first markers forming the “bar code”.
Additionally, the marker may be a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.
Further, the marker may be a geometrical pattern provided by varying the thickness of the tubular base part and the displaceable part, respectively.
In an embodiment, the markers may be ring-shaped.
In this way, the tool is capable of detecting the markers independently of its orientation.
Also, the displaceable part may be made of a ferromagnetic, non-magnetic material.
Moreover, the markers may be made of a ferromagnetic, non-magnetic material.
Further, the markers may be made of a material which is different from that of the displaceable part.
In addition, one first marker may be made of a different ferromagnetic, non-magnetic material than another first marker.
Also, the first markers may be arranged at a first position along the circumference of the completion component and the second marker may be arranged at an angle (α) along the circumference from the first marker.
This angle may be at least 45°.
Alternatively, the angle may be 90°, preferably 180°.
Moreover, the first markers may be different from the second marker.
The completion component as described above may comprise a projecting element which is connected with either the tubular base part or the displaceable part and which may be adapted to engage grooves in the other part.
By having a projecting element engaging a groove, the displaceable part is prevented from returning to its initial position when the displaceable part is slid axially. And hence the position of the displaceable part is known and does not unintentionally change.
In addition, the projecting element may be connected by means of a spring device.
Also, the completion component may comprise a plurality of first and second markers spaced around the circumference.
Hereby it is obtained that the position of a specific marker may be determined independently of the orientation of the completion component in relation to the detection tool.
Furthermore, the emitter may be a gamma ray source or an x-ray source.
Additionally, the marker may be elongated and extend along the axial extension.
Elongated markers are especially expedient in circumstances where the displaceable part rotates in relation to the tubular part.
In an embodiment, the displaceable part may be displaceable in intermediate positions arranged between the first and second positions.
Moreover, the tubular base part may have a first opening and the displaceable part may have a second opening, the first and second openings not overlapping in a first position of the displaceable part, and the first and second openings overlapping in a second position of the displaceable part.
The first and second openings may have substantially the same size.
Also, in the intermediate positions of the displaceable part, the first and second openings may be partly overlapping.
Hereby it is possible to control a fluid flow rate through the completion component by displacing the second opening in the displaceable part in relation to the first opening in the tubular base part, and the present invention facilitates the determination and establishment of how high the fluid rate is by determining the marker distance between the markers.
Furthermore, the tubular base part may have a thread engaging a thread in the displaceable part.
In addition, the completion component may comprise a screen arranged on the outside of the openings.
Further, the completion component may be any kind of completion component having a stationary part being the tubular base part and the displaceable part, such as a sleeve, a sliding or rotational sleeve, an annular barrier, an inflow control device, a valve, or a packer.
The present invention also relates to a downhole system comprising:
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- a well tubular structure,
- a completion component having a circumference for insertion into a well tubular structure, comprising:
- a tubular base part having an axial extension and a thickness and being adapted to be mounted as part of the well tubular structure, and
- a displaceable part having a thickness and being displaceable in relation to the tubular base part from a first position to a second position, wherein the tubular base part comprises a plurality of first markers and the displaceable part comprises a second marker for determining a position of the displaceable part in relation to the tubular base part, the first and second markers being arranged with a marker distance, and
- a detection tool having a detection unit for detecting a marker distance between the first markers of the tubular base part and the second marker of the displaceable part,
wherein the detection unit comprises a first detector having a first detection range in the axial extension and a second detector having a second detection range in the axial extension, the first and second detection ranges defining a common detection range in the axial direction, the common detection range being larger than the marker distance between the first and second markers independently of the position of the displaceable part in relation to the tubular base part.
In an embodiment, the distance between the first and second markers may be detected independently of a velocity of the detection tool.
Also, the detection unit may comprise a first detector having a first detection range in the axial extension and a second detector having a second detection range in the axial extension, the first and second detection ranges defining a common detection range in the axial direction, the common detection range being larger than the marker distance between the first and second markers.
Moreover, the first detection range and the second detection range may each be half the common detection range.
Furthermore, the detection unit may comprise intermediate detectors arranged between the first and second detectors.
The marker distance may be determined by simultaneous detection of the first and second markers by two separate detectors.
The detectors of the downhole system as described above may be magnetometers.
Said magnetometers may detect changes in the magnitude and/or direction of the magnetic field.
Also, the detectors may be readers or Geiger counters.
Further, the detector unit may comprise a plurality of magnets.
Moreover, the magnets may have a north pole and a south pole, and two adjacent magnets may be arranged so that repelling poles are arranged in opposite directions.
In an embodiment, the detectors may be arranged along a line arranged between two adjacent magnets.
In addition, the detectors may be arranged with a predetermined distance between them, so that when two detectors detect the markers, the position of the displaceable part may be determined.
Furthermore, the first detector may be different from the second detector.
Also, the detector unit may comprise a plurality of magnets functioning as an inducing device.
By having the magnetic field inducing device in the tool and not in the completion component, there is no risk that the magnet loses its magnetic inducing ability over time due to bumps induced to the casing, or due to the high temperatures in the well. Known solutions have magnets in the completion component which lose their magnetism over time. Completion components, such as sliding sleeves, are seldom adjusted in position and must be fully functional, also after 20 years.
Further, the magnets of the detector unit may have a magnetic field source axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal tool axis.
Additionally, the first markers of the displaceable part of the completion component may be passive non-inducing markers.
The present invention further relates to a completion comprising any of the aforementioned completion components.
The detection tool may comprise a centraliser for maintaining the detection tool in a predetermined radial distance from the completion component.
Also, the detection tool may comprise a measurement device adapted to continuously measure a radial distance from the detection tool to the completion component.
In an embodiment, the detection unit may comprise a processor device adapted to process observations provided by the detectors for calculating the marker distance on the basis of the detectors detecting the respective markers.
Moreover, the detection tool may comprise a communication unit adapted for communicating the determined marker distance to an external source.
In the downhole system according to the present invention, the communication may be performed via a wireline.
The present invention furthermore relates to a method for determining a position of a displaceable part of a completion component as described above in relation to a tubular base part, comprising the steps of:
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- arranging a first marker in connection with the tubular base part,
- arranging an additional first marker in connection with the tubular base part at a predetermined distance from the other first marker,
- arranging a second marker in connection with the displaceable part, and
- moving a detection tool having a detection unit past the first and second markers in order to detect the first and second markers simultaneously and hence to detect a marker distance between the first and second markers independently of a velocity of the detection tool.
The method as described above may comprise the step of arranging a first detector having a first detection range in the axial extension and a second detector having a second detection range in the axial extension for providing a common detection range in the axial extension, wherein the common detection range is larger than the marker distance between the first and second markers.
Further, said method may comprise the step of arranging a plurality of intermediate detectors between the first and second detectors with predetermined distances between them.
Additionally, the method according to the present invention may comprise the step of determining the marker distance by simultaneous detection of the first and second markers by two separate, different detectors.
Finally, this method may comprise the step of processing observations provided by the detectors for calculating the marker distance on the basis of the detectors detecting the respective markers.
The invention and its many advantages will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show some non-limiting embodiments and in which
All the figures are highly schematic and not necessarily to scale, and they show only those parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, other parts being omitted or merely suggested.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONAs can be seen from
The first markers are passive non-inducing markers so that the tool detecting the markers relies on an inducing device, such as a magnet, which loses its magnetic force over time due to the high temperature downhole and/or due to bumps induced to the casing.
The displaceable part 4 is displaceable in the axial direction in relation to the base part by means of a key tool operating with a stroking tool (shown in
In
In the first position, the first and second openings 20, 21 do not overlap in the axial extension of the completion component, and the markers 5, 6 are arranged having a first marker distance X, X1 between them.
In
The displaceable part 4 of completion component 1 may be moved axially or rotated in relation to the tubular base part 3 in order to activate or deactivate the completion component 1. In
In
As can be seen from
In
The marker may also be a geometrical pattern provided by varying the thickness of the base part and the displaceable part, respectively. The detectors may be readers, such as RFID readers for reading an RFID tag being the marker, Geiger-counters for reading an x-ray source being the marker or magnetometers. As can be seen in
The completion component 1 may be a sleeve as shown in
In
The completion component may comprise a plurality of first and second markers spaced around the circumference. Hereby it is obtained that the position of a specific marker may be determined independently of the orientation of the completion component in relation to the detection tool.
In
In the upper completion component la, the displaceable part 4 is displaced into a first position in relation to the base part 3, in which the first opening 20 in the base part is open so that fluid may flow into the well tubular structure 2.
In the middle completion component lb, the displaceable part 4 is displaced into a second position in relation to the base part 3, in which the first opening 20 in the base part is partly open, so that less fluid than in the upper completion component 1a may flow into the well tubular structure 2.
In the lower completion component 1c, the displaceable part 4 is displaced into a third position in relation to the base part 3, in which the first opening 20 in the base part is closed, so that no fluid may flow into the well tubular structure 2.
The detection tool 50 having the detection unit 51 is rapidly lowered into the well tubular structure 2 past the completion components 1a-1c and determines the position of the displaceable parts 4 of each completion component as described above. When the detection tool 50 has determined and verified the position of the displaceable parts 4 and thereby, in this embodiment, determined which completion components 1a-1c are open, partly open and closed, this may be communicated to the operator of the completion. By means of the downhole system according to the present invention it is obtained that the position of the displaceable parts of the completion components may be determined independently of the velocity of the detection tool 50 when it moves through the well tubular structure 2.
As shown in
The completion component 1 may either be a rotational sleeve or an axially slidable sleeve. In
The guiding pin 43 is shown in
The invention further relates to a method for determining a position of the displaceable part of the completion component in relation to the tubular base part, so that a function of the completion component can be detected, e.g. whether a sliding sleeve is closed, partly open or fully open, or whether an annular barrier is expanded. The method comprises the steps of arranging a first marker in connection with the tubular base part and arranging a second marker in connection with the displaceable part. After displacement of the displaceable part in relation to the tubular base part as a result of the expansion of an annular barrier or in order to open or close the sleeve, a detection tool having a detection unit is moved past the first and second markers for detecting the first and second markers and hence a marker distance being the distance between the markers. The first detector may be arranged having a first detection range in the axial extension of the tool and the completion component, and a second detector may be arranged having a second detection range in the axial extension for providing a common detection range in the axial extension so that the common detection range is larger than the marker distance between the first and second markers. Since the detection is able to detect both first and second markers at the same time, the determination of the position of the completion component is performed independently of a velocity of the detection tool. Furthermore, the detection is performed without the detection tool having any physical contact with the completion component.
A plurality of intermediate detectors may be arranged between the first and second detectors with predetermined distances between them. Thus, the marker distance may be determined by simultaneous detection of the first and second markers by two separate different detectors.
A stroking tool is a tool providing an axial force. The stroking tool comprises an electrical motor for driving a pump. The pump pumps fluid into a piston housing to move a piston acting therein. The piston is arranged on the stroker shaft. The pump may pump fluid into the piston housing on one side and simultaneously suck fluid out on the other side of the piston.
By fluid or well fluid is meant any kind of fluid that may be present in oil or gas wells downhole, such as natural gas, oil, oil mud, crude oil, water, etc. By gas is meant any kind of gas composition present in a well, completion, or open hole, and by oil is meant any kind of oil composition, such as crude oil, an oil-containing fluid, etc. Gas, oil, and water fluids may thus all comprise other elements or substances than gas, oil, and/or water, respectively.
By a casing is meant any kind of pipe, tubing, tubular, liner, string etc. used downhole in relation to oil or natural gas production.
In the event that the tool is not submergible all the way into the casing, a downhole tractor can be used to push the tool all the way into position in the well. The downhole tractor may have projectable arms having wheels, wherein the wheels contact the inner surface of the casing for propelling the tractor and the tool forward in the casing. A downhole tractor is any kind of driving tool capable of pushing or pulling tools in a well downhole, such as a Well Tractor®.
Although the invention has been described in the above in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be evident for a person skilled in the art that several modifications are conceivable without departing from the invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A completion component having a circumference for insertion into a well tubular structure, comprising: wherein the tubular base part comprises a plurality of first markers and the displaceable part comprises a second marker for determining a position of the displaceable part in relation to the tubular base part, the first and second markers being arranged with a marker distance, wherein the first markers are different in geometrical size or material, or arranged with a varying mutual distance.
- a tubular base part having an axial extension and a thickness and being adapted to be mounted as part of the well tubular structure, and
- a displaceable part having a thickness and being displaceable in relation to the tubular base part from a first position to a second position,
2. A completion component according to claim 1, wherein the first markers are passive non-inducing markers.
3. A completion component according to claim 1, wherein the first markers are grooves in the tubular base part.
4. A completion component according to claim 3, wherein the grooves have different depths and/or different extensions in the axial extension.
5. A completion component according to claim 1, wherein the markers are ring-shaped.
6. A completion component according to claim 1, wherein the displaceable part is made of a ferromagnetic, non-magnetic material.
7. A completion component according to claim 1, wherein the markers are made of a ferromagnetic, non-magnetic material.
8. A completion component according to claim 1, wherein the markers are made of a material which is different from that of the displaceable part.
9. A completion component according to claim 1, wherein one first marker is made of a different ferromagnetic, non-magnetic material than another first marker.
10. A completion component according to claim 1, wherein the first markers are arranged at a first position along the circumference of the completion component and the second marker is arranged at an angle (a) along the circumference from the first marker.
11. A completion component according to claim 1, wherein the completion component comprises a projecting element which is connected with either the tubular base part or the displaceable part and is adapted to engage grooves in the other part.
12. A downhole system comprising:
- a well tubular structure,
- a completion component having a circumference for insertion into a well tubular structure, comprising: a tubular base part having an axial extension and a thickness and being adapted to be mounted as part of the well tubular structure, and a displaceable part having a thickness and being displaceable in relation to the tubular base part from a first position to a second position, wherein the tubular base part comprises a plurality of first markers and the displaceable part comprises a second marker for determining a position of the displaceable part in relation to the tubular base part, the first and second markers being arranged with a marker distance, and
- a detection tools having a detection unit for detecting a marker distance between the first markers of the tubular base part and the second marker of the displaceable part, wherein the detection unit comprises a first detector having a first detection range (d1) in the axial extension and a second detector having a second detection range (d2) in the axial extension, the first and second detection ranges defining a common detection range (dc) in the axial direction, the common detection range being larger than the marker distance between the first and second markers independently of the position of the displaceable part in relation to the tubular base part.
13. A downhole system according to claim 12, wherein the distance between the first and second markers is detected independently of a velocity of the detection tool.
14. A downhole system according to claim 12, wherein the detection unit comprises intermediate detectors arranged between the first and second detectors.
15. A downhole system according to claim 12, wherein the detectors are magnetometers.
16. A downhole system according to claim 15, wherein the magnetometers detect changes in the magnitude and/or direction of the magnetic field.
17. A downhole system according to claim 12, wherein the detector unit comprises a plurality of magnets functioning as an inducing device.
18. A downhole system according to claim 17, wherein the magnets of the detector unit have a magnetic field source axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal tool axis.
19. A downhole system according to claim 12, wherein the first markers of the displaceable part of the completion component are passive non-inducing markers.
20. A method for determining a position of a displaceable part of a completion component according to claim 1 in relation to a tubular base part, comprising the steps of:
- arranging a first marker in connection with the tubular base part,
- arranging an additional first marker in connection with the tubular base part at a predetermined distance from the other first marker,
- arranging a second marker in connection with the displaceable part, and
- moving a detection tool having a detection unit past the first and second markers in order to detect the first and second markers simultaneously and hence to detect a marker distance between the first and second markers independently of a velocity of the detection tool.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 11, 2014
Publication Date: Feb 4, 2016
Inventors: Jørgen HALLUNDBÆK (Græsted), Ricardo Reves VASQUES (Holte), Lars STÆHR (Glostrup), Mathias FRANCKE (Virum), Satish KUMAR (Brønshøj), Dean Richard MASSEY (Copenhagen K)
Application Number: 14/774,951