Baker Hughes Corporation

Benn A Voll

Bennett M Richard

John W Harrell

Elmer R Peterson

Allen Dale Gabrysch

Paulo S Tubel

John Todd Broome

Brian Bidigare

Rick Peterson

Michael H Johnson

John Lindley Baugh

Martin Paul Coronado

Michael J Johnson

Christian F Bayne

Simon Angelle

Steve Stringfellow

Matthew S Kebodeaux

Ken Dyson

Edward T Wood

Michael W Norris

John C Welch

Morten Myhre

Ray P Vincent

Michael A Jarrett

James R Zachman

Eddie Glenn Bowen

Yusheng Yuan

Perry Douglas Baycroft

Edward J Zisk, Jr

David A Bilberry

Van Nhat Ho

Bobby E Hall

Graeme H Falconer

Wilfred Schexnayder

Kelvin D Smejkal

Hang Nguyen

Jim Goodson

Gary Corbett

Cedric Nix

Brett Collins

J Todd Broome

Steve B Hodges

Jack E Charles

Mohamed F Khodaverdian

Matthew Shane Clews

Todd Broome

Michael Johnson

Ray Vincent

Van N Ho

Glynn Williams

An apparatus and associated method for controlling a flow of a fluid between a wellbore tubular and a formation may utilize a particulate control device positioned external to the wellbore tubular and a flow control device having a retrievable flow restriction element that controls a flow parameter of a fluid flowing between the particulate control device and a bore of the wellbore tubular. The flow control device may be re-configured in the wellbore and/or be used to inject a fluid into the formation.

Flow control device with one or more retrievable elements and related methods

A method and system for monitoring and controlling an injection operation is disclosed. A plurality of distributed fiber optic sensors is located in a production well. Fluid is injected into an injection well spaced apart from the production well. A parameter of a formation between the production well and the injection well is determined from measurements from the formation obtained using the fiber optic sensors. At least one of an injection of fluid into the injection well and a flow into the production well is controlled in response to the determined parameter.

Monitoring of downhole parameters and tools utilizing fiber optics

A technique for providing auxiliary conduits in multi-trip completions is disclosed. The technique has particular applicability to liner mounted screens which are to be gravel packed. In the preferred embodiment, a protective shroud is run with the gravel pack screens with the auxiliary conduits disposed in between. The auxiliary conduits terminate in a quick connection at a liner top packer. The gravel packing equipment can optionally be secured in a flow relationship to the auxiliary conduits so as to control the gravel packing operation. Subsequent to the removal of the specialized equipment, the production tubing can be run with an auxiliary conduit or conduits for connection down hole to the auxiliary conduits coming from the liner top packer for a sealing connection. Thereafter, during production various data on the well can be obtained in real time despite the multiple trips necessary to accomplish completion. The various completion and/or production activities can also be accomplished using the auxiliary conduits such as actuation of down hole flow control devices, chemical injection, pressure measurement, distributed temperature sensing through fiber optics, as well as other down hole parameters.

Method of providing hydraulic/fiber conduits adjacent bottom hole assemblies for multi-step completions

A completion technique to replace cementing casing, perforating, fracturing, and gravel packing with an open hole completion is disclosed. Each zone to be isolated by the completion assembly features a pair of isolators, which are preferably tubular with a sleeve of a sealing material such as an elastomer on the outer surface. The screen is preferably made of a weave in one or more layers with a protective outer, and optionally an inner, jacket with openings. The completion assembly can be lowered on rigid or coiled tubing which, internally to the completion assembly, includes the expansion assembly. The expansion assembly is preferably an inflatable design with features that provide limits to the delivered expansion force and/or diameter. A plurality of zones can be isolated in a single trip.

Expandable packer isolation system

A downhole completion method and an expandable filtration apparatus are disclosed. The filter assembly comprises a plurality of layers beginning with a coated perforated base pipe. The coating reduces the force required for expansion. A drainage layer overlays the base pipe with the filtration layer above it. The drainage layer improves flow through the filtration layer and protects it from burrs in the base pipe. A filtration enhancement layer fits over the filtration layer and an outer shroud protects the assembly during run in. The assembly can be used as made or expanded downhole in one or a series of expansions.

Multi-layer screen and downhole completion method

The present invention provides systems utilizing fiber optics for monitoring downhole parameters and the operation and conditions of downhole tools. In one system fiber optics sensors are placed in the wellbore to make distributed measurements for determining the fluid parameters including temperature, pressure, fluid flow, fluid constituents and chemical properties. Optical spectrometric sensors are employed for monitoring chemical properties in the wellbore and at the surface for chemical injection systems. Fiber optic sensors are utilized to determine formation properties including resistivity and acoustic properties compensated for temperature effects. Fiber optic sensors are used to monitor the operation and condition of downhole devices including electrical submersible pumps and flow control devices. In one embodiment, a common fluid line is used to monitor downhole parameters and to operate hydraulically-operated devices. Fiber optic sensors are also deployed to monitor the physical condition of power lines supplying high electric power to downhole equipment. A light cell disposed downhole is used to generate electric power in the wellbore, which is used to charge batteries.

The present invention provides a method for efficiently packing proppant in an extended reach, horizontal, open hole annulus. For a given set of fixed parameters, such as the wellbore size, screen size and formation fracture pressure, the method provides a combination of critical parameter values, including the proppant density, the mixture ratio of proppant and liquid and the pump rate which will yield an efficient and effective placement of the proppant in the annulus.

Method of packing extended reach horizontal wells

Three embodiments of an expandable screen are described. In the preferred embodiment, the base layer, filtering layer, and outer layer are joined together in a sintering furnace in the form of a flat sheet which is in turn rolled up. The layered sheet is then formed into a tube by rolling it to make a longitudinal or spiral joint which is welded with connections placed on ends. In an alternative embodiment, the base layer and filtering layer are sintered together and formed into a tube which is in turn inserted into an outer protective tube. In a third embodiment, a base pipe is perforated and its exterior surface threaded. A wire runs through the threads with a protective jacket over the underlying assembly. Upon expansion, the opening sizes remain relatively constant.

Well completion method and apparatus

A system for preferable use in gravel packing is disclosed which includes a plurality of transport tubes which are mounted outside of gravel pack screens. The multiplicity of shunt tubes cover a particular zone so that the tubes have a varying length to deposit gravel at different portions of the zone. The tops of the tubes are preferably sealed until ready for use and activated by applied pressure. In the preferred embodiment, rupture discs are found at the tops of each of the tubes, set for different pressures so as to open up the transport tubes to the lower most portion of a particular zone and later in sequence to the higher-most portion. The transport tubes are affixed to each section of pipe and are made up when two sections of pipe are made up to alignment marks. When the marks are aligned, the transport tube segments from each pipe section are in an aligned and sealed relation while the tool joint is properly torqued.

Downhole screen with tubular bypass

A system for enhancing hydrocarbon production in long and deviated subterranean wells. Gravel is placed in the annulus between the screen liner and the borehole, together with annular isolation elements. Selective flow control is achieved. Sequential control or commingled production is achievable from multiple producing intervals of the borehole. A differential valve is incorporated in the screen liner service string to allow for gravel placement across multiple screen-liner sections, separated by annular isolation elements in a continuous one stage placement operation, thereby reducing time and complexity of such operations.

Hydrocarbon preparation system for open hole zonal isolation and control

A method and apparatus for manufacturing any given length of a completion filter assembly is described. An outer perforated jacket is assembled over the filter media, which is itself placed over a coarse support screen or drainage layer. In the preferred embodiment, the drainage layer and outer jacket have end rings such that when advanced through a die are pushed together with the filter media in between to effect a seal of the subassembly. The subassembly can then be placed on a support pipe which is perforated, and if metallic, the end rings are welded to the support pipe to complete the assembly. Optionally, many of the components can be made of materials which lend buoyancy to the assembly so that when it is advanced into a long lateral, it will float to assist in its proper positioning.

Downhole screen and method of manufacture

The present invention allows a well to be produced through a screen without the need for a gravel pack. This is accomplished by the placement of an expandable screen that can move radially outwardly when placed at the desired location against the wellbore and be porous enough with sufficient open area to allow production from the formation. The screen is placed in the desired location by using coiled tubing which can be preperforated for a support for the screen. The screen is protected during delivery to the desired location in the wellbore by providing a disposable or removable outer cover which can be disposed of after proper location on the screen in the wellbore.

Coiled tubing screen and method of well completion

New compositions have been discovered which are useful as slurry concentrates to carry solid particles along in a fluid. A non-limiting example would be to carry proppants in a concentrate to a completion fluid being pumped downhole in a hydrocarbon recovery operation. The composition employs both a trivalent salt, such as aluminum chlorohydrate, as a viscosifying agent, and a surfactant. Surprisingly, it has been discovered that a synergistic effect is present between the aluminum chlorohydrate and the surfactant in that less of each component is required when both are used together to suspend the same amount of solids, than if one or the other is used separately. The viscoelasticity of the concentrate may be easily broken by dilution; other mechanisms are also anticipated.

Application of aluminum chlorohydrate in viscosifying brine for carrying proppants in gravel packing

The present invention provides a method for obtaining equalized production from deviated wellbores. A plurality of spaced apart flow control device are deployed along the length of the wellbore. The fluid from various zones are drawn in a manner that depletes the reservoir uniformly along the entire length of the wellbore. Each flow control device is initially set at a rate determined from initial reservoir simulations or models. The depletion rate, water, oil and gas content, pressure, temperature and other desired parameters are determined over a time period. This data is utilized to update the initial reservoir model, which in turn is utilized to adjust the flow rate from one or more zones so as to equalize the flow rate from the reservoir. The present invention also provides a flow control device which includes an outer shroud that reduces the effect of fluid impact on the flow control device and one or more tortuous paths which carry the formation fluid into the production tubing. A control unit controls the flow output from the flow control device. The control unit may communicate with surface equipment or act autonomously to take actions downhole based on programmed instructions provided to the control unit.

Flow control apparatus and methods

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Benn A Voll