Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Anadrill, Inc.

David L Malone

Christophe M Rayssiguier

Herve Ohmer

Mark W Brockman

Peter C Masak

Ronald E Pringle

Joseph P Varkey

Jacques J Orban

Craig David Johnson

Peter Allan Goode

Michael R Johnson

Joel McClurkin

Kian Rasa

Alexandre G E Kosmala

Mike Johnson

Eric E Neme

Peter Masak

Alexandre Kosmala

Phillip K Jones

A method and apparatus that allows communications of electrical power and signaling from downhole component to another downhole component employs an inductive coupler assembly. In one arrangement, one portion of the inductive coupler assembly is attached to a production tubing section and the other portion of the inductive coupler assembly is attached to a casing or other liner section. The production tubing inductive coupler portion is electrically connected to a cable over which electrical power and signals may be transmitted. Such power and signals are magnetically coupled to the inductive coupler portion in the casing or liner section and communicated to various electrical devices mounted outside the casing or liner section. In other arrangements, inductive coupler assemblies may be used to couple electrical power and signals from the main bore to components in lateral branches of a multilateral well.

Inductively coupled method and apparatus of communicating with wellbore equipment

A technique for deploying expandables is provided. The technique comprises actuating an expansion tool such that the expansion tool imparts an outwardly directed radial force on an expandable tubular. More specifically, the expansion tool imparts radial expansion forces against an interior surface of the tubular thereby allowing the tubular to be deployed in a wellbore environment.

Technique for deploying expandables

A system for protecting the transmission of signals from and/or to a tool in a high pressure environment. The system includes a tool connected to a signal transmission line, such as an electrical cable or optical fiber. The signal transmission line is surrounded by a protective tube that is connected to the tool by a connector having a hollow chamber in communication with the interior of the tube. A fluid, such as a dielectric liquid, is disposed within the connector and the tubing at a pressure higher than the environmental pressure. In the event of a leak at, for instance, the connector, the high pressure fluid flows outwardly rather than allowing the inflow of deleterious fluid from the environment.

Pressurized system for protecting signal transfer capability at a subsurface location

A connector system for protecting the transmission of signals from and/or to a tool in a high pressure environment. The system includes a connector through which a signal transmission line, such as an electrical cable or optical fiber extends. The connector is coupled to a protective tube, and includes an internal chamber in communication with the interior of the tube. A fluid, such as a liquid, is disposed within the connector and the tubing at a pressure higher than the environmental pressure. In the event of a leak at, for instance, the connector, the high pressure fluid flows outwardly rather than allowing the inflow of deleterious fluid from the environment.

Pressurized connector for high pressure applications

A system for preventing backflow of a fluid from one zone to another, e.g. from a lower wellbore zone to an upper wellbore zone. The system is deployed in cooperation with a tube, such as a tube utilized to protect electrical or optical signal transfer lines. A one-way check valve is deployed in the fluid flow path created by the tube to prevent the backflow of an undesired fluid along the tube. A separate feed-through allows for passage of the signal transfer lines.

Backflow prevention device

A valve assembly includes a seat having at least an opening and a first surface. A cover has a contact surface that is slideably and sealingly engaged to the first surface of the seat to form a seal when the contact surface completely covers the at least one opening.

Valves for use in wells

A choke system or valve assembly includes a valve having an orifice through which fluid flow can be choked or controlled. An actuator is adapted to position the valve at one or more incremental positions between an open position and a closed position. The valve, orifice, and actuator may be adapted to provide a substantially consistent (or otherwise predetermined) change in pressure drop and flow rate between different valve positions. This is accomplished by varying the flow area of the valve orifice non-linearly as the valve is shifted or stepped through the several valve positions. Another feature is the ability of the actuator in conjunction with an indexing mechanism to provide substantially precise control of the valve orifice through the several valve positions. The indexing mechanism is separated into two portions: an indexer device to index the actuator through the several valve positions; and a positioner device to maintain the valve at a fixed position after the actuator has shifted the valve to the next incremental position.

Apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow

A reverse VSP system is provided and uses a frequency-controllable modulator of an MWD tool as a downhole seismic source. The modulator has a rotor and stator arranged to provide substantially sinusoidal outputs, and is controlled to provide a 'Vibroseis'-type frequency sweep (preferably from 1 Hz to 50 Hz). With the bit of the MWD tool in contact with the bottom of the borehole, the force generated by the frequency-controllable modulator will generate measurable axial compressional (P-) waves. These waves which move through the formation are detected by an array of geophones on the formation surface, and a reference signal is obtained by a kelly-mounted accelerometer or strain gauge. The reference signal and signals obtained by the geophones are processed using known signal processing techniques. The disclosed downhole frequency-controllable seismic source provides many advantages including: good resolution due to the ability to output a sinusoidal wave at desired frequencies and the fact that the location of the source signal is well-defined (at the bit), the ability to image formations ahead of the bit, and the ability to conduct reverse VSP processing without adding downhole hardware equipment and without requiring trips out of the well.

Inverse vertical seismic profiling using a measurement while drilling

A multi-lateral well completion system segregates and prevents commingling of the production fluids flowing from a plurality of lateral wellbores which extend outward from a main wellbore. The system includes a segregator body member that is positioned and oriented in the main wellbore adjacent the inner ends of the lateral wellbores in a manner such that the inlets of separate, longitudinal flow passages in the segregator body member are aligned to receive the production fluid flow from respective lateral wellbores. Various structures are disclosed which provide isolated, pressure-sealed communication between the inner ends of each lateral wellbore and the flow passage inlet that is aligned therewith. Each flow passage in the body member can be equipped with a remotely operated valve to control production fluid flow therethrough, as well as with sensors to monitor various characteristics of the production fluids. Gas lift of the production fluids also can be provided.

Flow segregator for multi-drain well completion

Directional drilling is achieved by a weight-on-bit control mechanism that is attached to a drill bit having asymmetrical cutters. A valve in the mechanism temporarily interrupts or bypasses mud flow toward the bit to correspondingly change the downward force acting thereon during a portion of each revolution. The bit will drill preferentially on that side of the bottom surface of the borehole where the downward force is increased, and thereby cause the borehole to curve in an azimuthal direction on such side.

Downhole weight-on-bit control for directional drilling

A LWD tool is disclosed comprising, a stator, a rotor which rotates relative to the stator thereby effecting a signal in the borehole fluid flowing therethrough, a brushless DC motor coupled to the rotor for driving the rotor, a position sensor coupled to the motor for sensing the rotational position of the motor, motor drive electronics coupled to motor for driving the motor, and a microprocessor coupled to the position sensor and to the drive electronics for controlling the drive signals to the motor based on the actual and desired positions of the motor. By controlling the drive signal to the motor, the speed of the motor is controlled, thus effecting changes in frequency and/or phase of the signal in the borehole fluid or mud. With the ability to change the frequency and/or phase, different encoding techniques such as PSK-type and FSK-type can be used. Other preferred aspects of the invention include: choosing carrier frequency based on system noise; the use of magnetic positioner and the coordination of the decelaration and acceleration of the modulator to correspond to desired magnetic positioner positions in effecting a phase shift; and jamming avoidance techniques utilizing the position sensor and microprocessor.

Logging while drilling tools, systems, and methods capable of

Methods and apparatus for determining whether an encoder of a borehole tool is jammed are disclosed. The borehole tool has a motor with a drive shaft which is coupled to and drives an encoder, a position sensor coupled to the motor for sensing the position of the motor, and a microprocessor coupled to the position sensor and to the motor in a feedback loop, with the microprocessor controlling the movement of the motor based on the sensed position of the motor and the desired position of the motor. The method for determining jamming includes: determining, at a first plurality of times, positions of the motor from the position sensor; determining position errors of the motor from the positions of the motor and desired positions of the motor as determined by the microprocessor; and determining whether the encoder is jammed based on whether the position error exceeds a threshold value. In determining jamming, the microprocessor can also determine the rotational velocity of the motor, and account is taken of whether the motor velocity exceeds a threshold velocity at a time when the position error exceeds its threshold value.

Methods and apparatus for preventing jamming of encoder of logging while

A LWD tool is disclosed comprising, an encoder for generating a signal in the borehole fluid flowing therethrough, a brushless DC motor coupled to the encoder, a position sensor coupled to the motor for sensing the rotational position thereof, motor drive electronics coupled to motor for driving the motor, a microprocessor coupled to the position sensor and to the drive electronics for controlling the drive signals to the motor based on the actual and desired positions of the motor, and a magnetic positioner which is coupled to one of the drive shafts of the system. By controlling the drive signal to the motor, the speed of the motor is controlled, thus effecting changes in frequency and/or phase of the signal. The magnetic positioner, includes inner S magnets extending in a first arc, inner N magnets extending in a second arc, outer S magnets extending in a third arc, and outer N magnets extending in a fourth arc, where the inner magnets rotate with the drive shaft. The magnetic positioner is provided to force the rotor of the encoder into an open position relative to the stator in the case of loss of power. The magnetic positioner is also used to aid in the decelaration and acceleration of the encoder during phase shifting.

Growing community of inventors

Sugar Land, TX, United States of America

David L Malone