U.S. patent application number 14/647608 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-05 for a downhole tool and downhole system.
The applicant listed for this patent is WELLTEC A/S. Invention is credited to Tomas Sune ANDERSEN, Jorgen HALLUNDB K, Lars MANGAL.
Application Number | 20150315850 14/647608 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47290828 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150315850 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HALLUNDB K; Jorgen ; et
al. |
November 5, 2015 |
A DOWNHOLE TOOL AND DOWNHOLE SYSTEM
Abstract
A downhole tool (1) for insertion into a casing (2) having a
lateral (3) extending from a main casing, the ma in casing having a
first diameter (D.sub.1) and the lateral having a second diameter
(D.sub.2), the first diameter being larger than the second
diameter, the downhole tool comprising a tool body having a first
tool end and a second tool end and a tool width, a wire-line (8)
connected with the first end of the tool body, a wireline guide
device (9) arranged at least partly around the wireline, wherein
the wireline is movably arranged with in the wireline guide device,
and the guide device is releasably connected (activated by 25) with
the tool body. The present invention furthermore relates to a
downhole system and to a method for guiding a wireline of a
downhole tool as described above.
Inventors: |
HALLUNDB K; Jorgen; (Gr.ae
butted.sted, DK) ; ANDERSEN; Tomas Sune; (Helsingor,
DK) ; MANGAL; Lars; (Hellerup, DK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WELLTEC A/S |
Allerod |
|
DK |
|
|
Family ID: |
47290828 |
Appl. No.: |
14/647608 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
December 6, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/075774 |
371 Date: |
May 27, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/385 ;
166/241.5; 166/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 23/14 20130101;
E21B 41/0035 20130101; E21B 17/10 20130101; E21B 17/1014
20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 17/10 20060101
E21B017/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 7, 2012 |
EP |
12196097.5 |
Claims
1. A downhole tool for insertion into a casing having a lateral
extending from a main casing, the main casing having a first
diameter and the lateral having a second diameter, the first
diameter being larger than the second diameter, the downhole tool
comprising: a tool body having a first tool end and a second tool
end and a tool width, a wireline connected with the first end of
the tool body, and a wireline guide device arranged at least partly
around the wireline, wherein the wireline is movably arranged
within the wireline guide device, and the guide device is
releasably connected with the tool body.
2. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the wireline guide
device has a transport position and a guide position, the wireline
guide device having a width which is larger than the second
diameter of the lateral at least in the guide position.
3. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the wireline guide
device has a first width in the transport position and a second
width in the guide position, the first width being smaller than the
second width.
4. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the wireline guide
device comprises a first part and a second part, the first part
extending in a first direction and the second part extending in a
second direction, defining an angle between the parts.
5. A downhole tool according to claim 4, wherein the first part is
longer than the second part in the guide position.
6. A downhole tool according to claim 3, wherein the wireline guide
device is expandable from the first width to the second width, the
second width being larger than the diameter of the lateral.
7. A downhole tool according to claim 6, wherein the downhole tool
comprises a pump for inflating the wireline guide device.
8. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the wireline guide
device comprises a guide body part, and at least a first arm and a
second arm, the first and second arms each comprising a first arm
part and a second arm part, the first and second arm parts each
having a first arm part end and a second arm part end, the first
arm part ends of the arm parts being rotatably connected with the
guide body part, and the second arm part ends of each arm part of
each arm being rotatably connected with each other.
9. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the wireline guide
device has an outer face, and a magnet forms part of the outer
face.
10. A downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the wireline
guide device is disconnectable from the tool body by means of a
contact.
11. A downhole tool according to claim 1, further comprising a
lateral locator.
12. A downhole tool according to claim 11, wherein the lateral
locator comprises an activation means for activating the contact
and/or expanding the wireline guide device.
13. A downhole system comprising: a casing having a lateral
extending from a main casing, and a downhole tool according to
claim 1.
14. A method for guiding a wireline of a downhole tool according to
claim 1, comprising the steps of: inserting the downhole tool into
the casing, locating the lateral, positioning the wireline guide
device in a transition area between the main casing and the
lateral, and guiding the wireline through the wireline guide device
at the transition area for ensuring that a distance is provided
between the wireline and the transition area when the downhole tool
is present in the lateral.
15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of
activating the wireline guide device from the first width to the
second width when locating the lateral.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a downhole tool for
insertion into a casing having a lateral extending from a main
casing. The present invention furthermore relates to a downhole
system and to a method for guiding a wireline of a downhole tool as
described above.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] From time to time, operations need to be performed in wells
downhole. This type of operation, such as the opening or closing of
a sliding sleeve, is often performed by means of a downhole
wireline tool. In the event that the sliding sleeve is arranged in
a lateral or side track, the wireline tool is diverted into the
lateral and the wireline of the wireline tool is forced against the
edge formed between the main part of the casing and the lateral. As
the wireline tool moves forward in the lateral, the wireline slides
against the edge and is torn and frayed. A wireline performing many
jobs may thus eventually be damaged to such an extent that it
cannot be reused for further operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It 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 downhole
wireline tool which is capable of preventing the wireline from
being damaged as the tool moves forward in the well.
[0004] 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 downhole tool for insertion into a casing
having a lateral extending from a main casing, the main casing
having a first diameter and the lateral having a second diameter,
the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, the
downhole tool comprising: [0005] a tool body having a first tool
end and a second tool end and a tool width, [0006] a wireline
connected with the first end of the tool body, and [0007] a
wireline guide device arranged at least partly around the wireline,
wherein the wireline is movably arranged within the wireline guide
device, and the guide device is releasably connected with the tool
body.
[0008] In addition, the wireline guide device may have a transport
position and a guide position, the wireline guide device having a
width which is larger than the second diameter of the lateral at
least in the guide position.
[0009] Also, the wireline guide device may have a first width in
the transport position and a second width in the guide position,
the first width being smaller than the second width.
[0010] The first width may be equal to or smaller than the tool
width.
[0011] Further, the wireline guide device may be arranged fully
surrounding the wireline.
[0012] Moreover, the wireline guide device may comprise a first
part and a second part, the first part extending in a first
direction and the second part extending in a second direction,
defining an angle between the parts.
[0013] Also, the first part may be longer than the second part in
the guide position.
[0014] The wireline guide device may comprise a first part and a
second part, each part having a first part end and a second part
end, and the first part ends may be joined or connected and define
an angle between the parts.
[0015] The angle in the transport position may be smaller than the
angle in the guide position.
[0016] Furthermore, the angle in the transport position may be
smaller than 90.degree..
[0017] In addition, the first part may, in the transport position,
be connected with the tool body.
[0018] The wireline guide device may have a through-going opening
in which the wireline extends, the opening having a diameter which
is larger than a diameter of the wireline.
[0019] Also, the wireline guide device may comprise a spring for
ensuring that the angle is larger than 20.degree..
[0020] Furthermore, a spring may be arranged in the connection
between the first part and the second part.
[0021] Moreover, the first part may be extendable in a longitudinal
direction thereof.
[0022] Additionally, the first part may comprise a spring for
extending the first part in the longitudinal direction.
[0023] Further, the second end of the first and second parts may
have a rounded shape.
[0024] The wireline guide device may be expandable from the first
width to the second width, the second width being larger than the
diameter of the lateral.
[0025] In addition, the wireline guide device may comprise an
inflatable element.
[0026] Also, the wireline guide device may be configured as a disc
or a cone.
[0027] Furthermore, the downhole tool may comprise a pump for
inflating the wireline guide device.
[0028] Also, the wireline guide device may comprise a guide body
part, and at least a first arm and a second arm, the first and
second arms each comprising a first arm part and a second arm part,
the first and second arm parts each having a first arm part end and
a second arm part end, the first arm part ends of the arm parts
being rotatably connected with the guide body part, and the second
arm part ends of each arm part being rotatably connected with each
other.
[0029] The guide body may comprise a first body part and a second
body part, the first body part being displaceably connected with
the second body part.
[0030] Also, the first body part may be threadingly connected with
the second body part.
[0031] Moreover, the first arm parts may be slidably connected with
the guide body.
[0032] In addition, the wireline guide device may have an outer
face, and a magnet may form part of the outer face.
[0033] Further, the wireline guide device may be disconnectable
from the tool body by means of a contact.
[0034] The contact may be an electronic contact or a mechanical
contact.
[0035] Furthermore, the tool body may comprise an activation means
for activating the contact in order to release the wireline guide
device.
[0036] The downhole tool as described above may further comprise a
lateral locator.
[0037] Also, the lateral locator may comprise an activation means
for activating the contact and/or expanding the wireline guide
device.
[0038] Additionally, a sensor may be arranged in the lateral
locator.
[0039] The present invention also relates to a downhole system
comprising: [0040] a casing having a lateral extending from a main
casing, and [0041] a downhole tool according to the invention.
[0042] The present invention further relates to a method for
guiding a wireline of a downhole tool as described above,
comprising the steps of: [0043] inserting the downhole tool into
the casing, [0044] locating the lateral, [0045] positioning the
wireline guide device in a transition area between the main casing
and the lateral, and [0046] guiding the wireline through the
wireline guide device at the transition area for ensuring that a
distance is provided between the wireline and the transition area
when the downhole tool is present in the lateral.
[0047] The method as described above may further comprise the step
of activating the wireline guide device from the first width to the
second width when locating the lateral.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0048] 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
[0049] FIG. 1a shows the downhole tool according to the present
invention in a casing and having a wireline guide device which is
shown in its transport position,
[0050] FIG. 1b shows the downhole tool of FIG. 1a in its guide
position,
[0051] FIG. 2a shows one embodiment of the tool having a
cone-shaped wireline guide device,
[0052] FIG. 2b shows the tool of FIG. 2a in its guide position,
[0053] FIG. 3a shows another embodiment of the tool having an
inflatable wireline guide device,
[0054] FIG. 3b shows the tool of FIG. 3a in its guide position,
[0055] FIG. 4a shows yet another embodiment of the tool in its
transport position,
[0056] FIG. 4b shows the tool of FIG. 4a in its guide position,
[0057] FIG. 4c shows an enlarged view of the wireline guide device
of FIGS. 4a and 4b,
[0058] FIG. 5a shows yet another embodiment of the tool in its
transport position and having a magnet in the wireline guide
device,
[0059] FIG. 5b shows the tool of FIG. 5a in its guide position,
[0060] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the wireline guide device,
and
[0061] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the wireline guide device
having extendable arms.
[0062] 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. Especially, the angle between the main casing and the
lateral is not as large as in most wells as illustrated in the
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0063] FIG. 1a shows a downhole tool 1 for insertion into a casing
2 in a borehole 30. The casing 2 has a lateral 3 extending from a
main casing 4 in an angle from the main casing for extending into
the reservoir. The main casing has a first diameter D.sub.1 which
is larger than a second diameter D.sub.2 of the lateral. The
downhole tool comprises a tool body 5 having a first tool end 6 and
a second tool end 7 and a tool width w.sub.t which in FIG. 1 is
also the outer diameter of the tool body. A wireline 8 is connected
with the first tool end 6 and is thus arranged closest to the top
of the well. The downhole tool 1 further comprises a wireline guide
device 9 which is arranged around the wireline so that the wireline
is slidably arranged within the wireline guide device 9. The
wireline guide device 9 is furthermore releasably attached to the
tool. The tool comprises a driving unit, such as a downhole
tractor, having wheels 27 rotatably arranged on wheel arms 28 for
driving the tool forward in the casing. As the tool moves into the
lateral as shown in FIG. 1b, the wireline 8 is pressed towards a
transition area 31 between the main casing and the lateral or an
edge 29 formed by the connection between the main casing and the
lateral. As the wireline guide device 9 reaches the transition, the
wireline guide device is seated in a guide position as shown in
FIG. 1b in which the wireline guide device 9 is separated from the
tool body 5, and the wireline guide device 9 guides the wireline 8
so that the wireline does not scrape against the metal edge 29
between the main casing 4 and the lateral 3.
[0064] The wireline guide device 9 has a width w.sub.d which is
larger than the second diameter of the lateral in the guide
position, as shown in FIG. 1b, and the wireline guide device 9 is
therefore not capable of entering the lateral and is thus left
behind in the transition area 31. The wireline guide device 9
comprises a first part 10 and a second part 11. The first part
extends in a first direction and the second part extends in a
second direction, defining an angle a between the first and the
second parts. The first part is longer than the second part so that
the wireline guide device is not forced into the lateral by the
drag in the wireline as the tool moves into the lateral. The first
part 10 and the second part 11 are joined or manufactured with a
fixed angle a, and the second part extends into the lateral but as
the angle is fixed, the first part 10 is maintained outside the
lateral. The wireline guide device 9 is arranged fully surrounding
the wireline, and as the tool moves into the lateral, the wireline
slides in the wireline guide device 9 and is thus kept at a
distance from the sharp edge 29 in the transition between the main
casing 4 and the lateral 3. When the downhole tool 1 returns from
the lateral, the wireline guide device 9 is forced upwards by the
first end of the tool body 5, and the wireline guide device is
therefore not left behind when the tool is retracted from the
well.
[0065] In FIGS. 2a and 2b, the wireline guide device 9 has the
shape of a hollow cone, thus matching the shape of the first end of
the tapering tool body as shown in FIG. 2a. The wireline guide
device 9 has a through-going opening 32 in which the wireline 8
extends, and the opening has a diameter which is larger than a
diameter of the wireline 8, so that the wireline can easily slide
within the wireline guide device 9. When transported down through
the main casing, the wireline guide device is in its transport
position and kept in connection with the first end 6 of the tool
body 5. As the tool moves into the lateral 3, as shown in FIG. 2b,
the wireline guide device 9 is, due to its larger width, prevented
from entering the lateral 3 and is left behind, and the wireline 8
slides through the through-going opening 32. As illustrated by the
dotted lines, the wireline guide device 9 may also be tilted.
However, due to its shape, the wireline guide device cannot enter
the lateral in the tilted position either.
[0066] The wireline guide device 9 has a transport position, shown
in FIG. 3a, and a guide position, shown in FIG. 3b, and the
wireline guide device 9 has a first width w.sub.d1 in the transport
position and a second width w.sub.d2 in the guide position and the
expanded position. The first width w.sub.d1 is smaller than the
second width w.sub.d2 so that the downhole tool 1 is capable of
passing restrictions down the main casing 4, while the wireline
guide device 9 is unable to enter the lateral 3 since the width
w.sub.d of the wireline guide device 9 in the expanded position is
larger than the second diameter of the lateral 3. The wireline
guide device 9 is inflated by means of a pump 33 in the tool just
before the tool enters the lateral 3. The opening in the wireline
guide device may be conical so that the wireline 8 can run through
the wireline guide device without significantly bending, as
illustrated with dotted lines. The lateral 3 is located by a
lateral locator 24 having a sensor 34 for detecting the lateral.
When the lateral 3 is detected, the lateral locator 24 projects a
locator arm 35, and approximately simultaneously an activation
means 25 activates the wireline guide device 9 which is inflated to
its second width w.sub.d2. The locator arm in its projected
position will force the tool 1 to move into the lateral 3 as the
tool moves forward in the casing. As can be seen, the first width
of the wireline guide device 9 is equal to or smaller than the tool
width, so that the wireline guide device does not prevent the
downhole tool 1 from moving forward in the main part 4 of the
casing until the tool locates the lateral into which the tool
should enter. Thus, the wireline guide device 9 comprises an
inflatable element 36 arranged around a wireline guide device body
in which the wireline 8 slides when the wireline guide device 9 is
seated in the opening 37 of the lateral 3 as shown in FIG. 3b. The
opening 37 of the lateral 3 is in most wells larger than
illustrated in the drawings since the angle between the lateral and
the main casing is smaller.
[0067] In FIG. 4a, the wireline guide device 9 comprises a guide
body part 14 and at least a first arm 15 and a second arm 16, the
arms being projectable from the tool body towards the casing. The
wireline guide device 9 has a projected position or a guide
position as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, and a transport position in
which the wireline guide device 9 may vary in width in relation to
the guide position. The first and second arms each comprises a
first arm part 17 and a second arm part 18, and the first and
second arm parts each has a first arm part end 19 and a second arm
part end 20. The first arm part ends of the arm parts are rotatably
connected with the guide body part 14, and the second arm part ends
20 of each arm parts 17, 18 are rotatably connected with each
other. The first arm parts 17 are slidably connected with the guide
body part 14 in a groove 38 in the body part as illustrated with
dotted lines in FIG. 4a.
[0068] In another embodiment, the guide body part 14 may comprise a
first body part 39 and a second body part 40, the first body part
being displaceably connected with the second body part, as shown in
FIG. 4c. The first body part 39 is threadingly connected with the
second body part 40 by means of a threaded shaft 41 which may be
rotated by a motor in the tool.
[0069] In FIGS. 5a and 5b, the wireline guide device 9 has an outer
face 21, and a magnet 22 forming part of the outer face 21. The
magnet 22 is an electromagnet which is activated when the tool 1 is
near the lateral 3, and as the tool 1 enters the lateral 3, the
magnet 22 comes closer to the casing 3 and is thus able to attach
to the metal casing as shown in FIG. 5b. The wireline guide device
9 is disconnectable from the tool body 5 by means of a contact 23,
and the contact is either an electronic contact or a mechanical
contact as shown in FIG. 5a. The tool body 5 comprises an
activation means 25 for activating the contact in order to release
the wireline guide device 9 from the tool body. The activation
means 25 may activate the contact when the locator arm 35 of the
lateral locator 24 "hits" against the lateral, and thus a reaction
force is created which can activate the contact. The wireline guide
device 9 is arranged around the wireline, and as the tool 1 is
retracted from the casing, the first end 6 of the tool body 5
contacts the wireline guide device 9 and deactivates the magnet 22
which releases from the casing and thus is retracted with the tool
1.
[0070] In FIG. 6, the wireline guide device 9 comprises a first
part 10 and a second part 11, each part having a first part end 44
and a second part end 45 and the first part ends being connected
and defining an angle a between the parts. The first and the second
parts 10, 11 are movable away from each other so that the parts are
projecting from the tool body 5. The wireline guide device 9 is
shown in its transport and retracted position in which the angle is
smaller than the angle in the projected position and the guide
position, and the angle in the transport position is smaller than
90.degree.. The first part 10 is, in the transport position,
connected with the tool body 5 and held in contact by an
electromagnet 46. The wireline guide device 9 comprises a spring 47
which is arranged in the connection between the first part 10 and
the second part 11 for ensuring that the angle a is larger than
30.degree. when the electromagnet 46 no longer holds the first part
10 in contact with the tool body 5. The first part 10 is thus
forced away from the second part 11 by means of the spring 47 when
the first part is released.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 7, the first part 10 and the second part 11
are extendable in a longitudinal direction 51 thereof. The first
part 10 and the second part 11 comprise a spring 50 (illustrated
with dotted lines) for extending the first part and the second part
in the longitudinal direction 51. In another embodiment, only the
first part is extendable. Contacts 52 (illustrated with dotted
lines) hold the first part 10 and the second part 11 in their
retracted position as shown in FIG. 7, and upon release, the spring
forces an extendable part 53 away from a main part 54 of the first
and second parts. The spring is arranged within the parts. The
contact may be activated upon location of the lateral. As shown,
the second end of the first and second parts has a rounded
shape.
[0072] The invention further relates to a downhole system 100, as
shown in FIGS. 1a-4b, comprising the casing having the lateral 3
extending from the main casing 4, and comprising the downhole tool
1. The tool 1 is inserted in the main part of the casing, often
through a well head, and then the lateral 3 is located. When
locating the lateral 3, the wireline guide device 9 is positioned
in a transition area 31 between the main casing 4 and the lateral
3. The wireline 8 is guided through the wireline guide device 9 at
the transition area 31 for ensuring that there is a distance I (as
shown in FIG. 4b) between the wireline 8 and the transition area 31
when the downhole tool is present in the lateral. In some
embodiments, the wireline guide device 9 is expandable or
inflatable from a first width to a second width and in these
embodiments, the wireline guide device is activated to expand from
the first width to the second width when locating the lateral and
shortly thereafter.
[0073] By a casing is meant any kind of pipe, tubing, tubular,
liner, string etc. used downhole in relation to oil or natural gas
production.
[0074] The downhole tractor may have projectable arms having wheels
27, 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.RTM..
[0075] 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.
* * * * *