Baker Hughes Corporation

Graeme H Falconer

Michael W Norris

Benn A Voll

Christian F Bayne

James R Zachman

Robert C Smith

Mark McCorry

Edward J Zisk, Jr

David A Bilberry

Steve Johnstone

Allan Macleod

J Todd Broome

Steve B Hodges

Stan A Ralph

Steve G Hall

William D Ritchie

John Morrison

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 pressure control system for a wet connect/disconnect hydraulic control line connector includes a reservoir and a piston in said reservoir. The reservoir contains hydraulic fluid or equivalent and the piston is biased by hydrostatic pressure or an atmospheric chamber and hydrostatic pressure. Pressure in the hydraulic line being controlled by the system is controllable based upon the existence or lack of an atmospheric chamber and its placement. The method for controlling pressure in a hydraulic control line wet connector includes running the control system and biasing the piston to control pressure.

Pressure control system for a wet connect/disconnect hydraulic control line connector

The wellbore is adapted for use as a lubricator for assembly of lengthy installations. The subsurface safety valve is used in conjunction with a nipple inserted into the wellbore and held in position by a packer. A plug is part of the nipple assembly. Upon setting of the packer, two barriers downhole are created to facilitate assembly of tools such as a perforating gun in the wellbore behind two barriers. The tool, such as a perforating gun, has a running tool below it which engages the plug. When the assembly is made up in the wellbore, the plug is engaged by the running tool and released from the nipple. The plug can then be advanced through the open subsurface safety valve to the proper location for deployment of a perforating gun, for example. Upon completion of the downhole procedures, such as perforating, the tools are brought uphole and the plug is sealingly relatched in the nipple, thus recreating the necessary two barriers to permit opening the wellbore at the surface to remove the assembly of the downhole tools and the running tool. The plug can be reengaged as many times as necessary for installation of a variety of equipment. The nipple can then also be removed after the packer is released.

Downhole lubricator for installation of extended assemblies

The invention is an assembly which is run into the wellbore to straddle pre-existing control line connections used normally for actuation of a sleeve for a single subsurface safety valve. The lower flapper is closed through the use of one of the control lines. It is then tested against formation pressure to make sure that it holds. Upon determination that the lower flapper is holding, the upper flapper is shut off using the other control line. By adding additional pressure to the control line for the lower sleeve, further movement of the lower sleeve is obtained to urge another sleeve into contact with the upper flapper to provide support for it so that it can be tested from above. Once the two flappers have been tested, uphole assembly in the wellbore can begin through the wellhead in the zone above the tested valves once assembled. Coiled tubing or wireline can be advanced sealingly through the wellhead as the assembly is lowered past the flappers which are now allowed to open. The flapper assembly is eventually removed.

Downhole lubricator and method

Growing community of inventors

Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Graeme H Falconer