Abstract:
A tool assembly for performing a wellbore operation including an actuatable tool, a location device, and on-board controller are together dimensioned and arranged to be deployed in the wellbore as an autonomous unit. The actuatable tool, such as a perforating gun having associated charges, perforates a wellbore along a selected zone of interest. The location device, such as casing collar locator, senses the location of the actuatable tool based on a physical signature provided along the wellbore. The on-board controller or micro-processor is configured to send an activation signal to the actuatable tool when the location device has recognized a selected location of the tool based on the physical signature. The tool assembly further includes a multi-gate safety system. The safety system prevents premature activation of the actuatable tool.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for secondary sealing of a perforation present within a wellbore casing associated with a primary sealing agent. The wellbore casing defines a casing conduit present within a wellbore that extends between a surface region and a subterranean formation. The systems and methods include a sealing apparatus that retains a charge of sealing material with a secondary sealing agent and is conveyed within the casing conduit to within a threshold distance of the perforation. The systems and methods further include selectively releasing the charge of sealing material from the sealing apparatus, such as by a release mechanism, to deliver the charge of sealing material to the perforation, to supplement the primary sealing agent (and/or a seal formed thereby), and/or to decrease a flow rate of a fluid from the casing conduit through the perforation.
Abstract:
A tool assembly is provided that includes an actuatable tool such as a valve or a setting tool. And includes a location device that senses the location of the tool assembly within a tubular body based on a physical signature. The tool assembly also includes an on-board controller configured to send an activation signal to the actuatable tool when the location device has recognized a selected location of the tool based on the physical signature. The actuatable tool, the location device, and the on-board controller are together dimensioned and arranged to be deployed in the wellbore as an autonomous unit.
Abstract:
A tool assembly for performing a wellbore operation including an actuatable tool, a location device, and on-board controller are together dimensioned and arranged to be deployed in the wellbore as an autonomous unit. The actuatable tool, such as a perforating gun having associated charges, perforates a wellbore along a selected zone of interest. The location device, such as casing collar locator, senses the location of the actuatable tool based on a physical signature provided along the wellbore. The on-board controller or micro-processor is configured to send an activation signal to the actuatable tool when the location device has recognized a selected location of the tool based on the physical signature. The tool assembly further includes a multi-gate safety system. The safety system prevents premature activation of the actuatable tool.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for operating and maintaining downhole wireless networks. The methods and systems use a downhole tool, such as a hydrophone, as part of the downhole wireless network. The downhole tool may be used, for example, to perform maintenance on the downhole wireless network, to overcome and/or correct communications errors along the network, to update and reprogram communication nodes in the downhole wireless network, to determine characteristics of nearby geologic formations, reservoirs, fluids, and tubulars, and/or to act as a substitute or topside node for the downhole wireless network.
Abstract:
Remotely actuated screenout relief valves, systems and methods are disclosed herein. The methods include providing a proppant slurry stream that includes proppant to a casing conduit that is defined by a casing string that extends within a subterranean formation. The methods further include detecting an operational parameter that is indicative of a screenout event within the casing conduit. Responsive to the detecting, the methods include providing a flush fluid stream to the casing conduit, opening the remotely actuated screenout relief valve, and displacing the proppant from the casing conduit into the subterranean formation with the flush fluid stream via the remotely actuated screenout relief valve. The methods may further include closing the remotely actuated screenout relief valve. The systems include hydrocarbon wells that include the remotely actuated screenout relief valve and/or hydrocarbon wells that include controllers that are configured to perform at least a portion of the methods.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for restricting fluid flow in a casing conduit, including a wellbore 32 that extends within a subterranean formation 22, a casing string 42 that extends within the wellbore and defines a portion of the casing conduit, a plurality of motion-arresting structures 100 that project from an inner surface of the casing string 42 to define a plurality of reduced-area regions of the casing conduit, and an autonomous sealing device 150 that defines a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration. The methods include conveying the autonomous sealing device 150 through the casing conduit, determining that the autonomous sealing device is located within a target portion of the casing conduit, expanding the autonomous sealing device to the expanded configuration, retaining the autonomous sealing device on a selected motion-arresting structure 100, and restricting fluid flow within the casing conduit 42 with the autonomous sealing device.
Abstract:
A tool assembly is provided that includes an actuatable tool such as a valve or a setting tool. And includes a location device that senses the location of the tool assembly within a tubular body based on a physical signature. The tool assembly also includes an on-board controller configured to send an activation signal to the actuatable tool when the location device has recognized a selected location of the tool based on the physical signature. The actuatable tool, the location device, and the on-board controller are together dimensioned and arranged to be deployed in the wellbore as an autonomous unit.
Abstract:
Discrete wellbore devices (40), hydrocarbon wells (20) including a downhole communication network (70) and the discrete wellbore devices (40), and systems and methods including the same are disclosed herein. The discrete wellbore devices (40) include a wellbore tool (50) and a communication device (90) including a plurality of nodes (72). The wellbore tool (50) is configured to perform a downhole operation within a wellbore conduit (32) that is defined by a wellbore tubular (30) of the hydrocarbon well (20). The communication device (90) is operatively coupled for movement with the wellbore tool (50) within the wellbore conduit (32). The communication device (90) is configured to communicate with a downhole communication network (70) that extends along the wellbore tubular (30) via a wireless communication signal(88). The methods include actively and/or passively detecting a location of the discrete wellbore device (40) within the wellbore conduit (32). The methods additionally or alternatively include wireless communication between the discrete wellbore device (40) and the downhole communication network (70).
Abstract:
Drag-enhancing structures for downhole operations are included in a downhole assembly that further includes a tool string, extends past a maximum transverse perimeter of the tool string, and increases resistance to fluid flow past the downhole assembly when the downhole assembly is pumped in a downhole direction within a wellbore conduit. The systems and methods include conveying the downhole assembly in the downhole direction within the wellbore conduit. The systems and methods further may include decreasing the resistance to fluid flow past the downhole assembly after the downhole assembly is located within a target region of the wellbore conduit and/or flowing a sealing material past the downhole assembly while the downhole assembly is located within the wellbore conduit.