Apparatus and method for downhole data acquisition and or monitoring

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for downhole data acquisition and/or monitoring is configured to be disposed within a completion (12) and comprises a hanger (36) configured to latch into a control line spool (38), a retrofit valve (40) for location within the subsurface safety valve (16) of the completion (12), and a sensing arrangement (42) including an optical fiber line (44). In use, the apparatus (10) is configured to be run into the completion (12) and is operable to provide data acquisition and/or monitoring capability in the well, including up or near total depth and in particular but not exclusively in the region of the well subjected to an intervention operation, such as a chemical injection operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for downhole data acquisition and/or monitoring, the apparatus comprising: a valve device adapted to be run into a borehole, the valve device comprising: a body; an axial flow passage; and a valve member for permitting selective access through the axial flow passage of the valve device, wherein the valve device is configurable between an open configuration in which the valve member permits passage of fluid through the axial flow passage of the valve device and a closed configuration; a conveyance for conveying the valve device into and/or from the borehole, the conveyance comprising a sensing arrangement including an optical fiber for providing downhole data acquisition and/or monitoring in the borehole, wherein the sensing arrangement is disposed through the body of the valve device and extends beyond the valve device into the borehole; and a hanger configured to support the apparatus within a spool located at a wellhead, the hanger comprising a lock arrangement for securing the hanger to the spool so as to support the apparatus within the spool.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber forms a loop.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing arrangement comprises a plurality of the optical fiber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing arrangement extends continuously from surface to the downhole location.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve device comprises one of more valve device optical fibers having optical connectors configured to interconnect other optical fibers above and below the valve device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body of the valve device comprises or defines a passage through which the sensing arrangement is disposed, the passage isolated from the axial flow passage of the valve device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve device is configured to engage a valve in the borehole.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve device comprises a lock arrangement for securing the valve device to the borehole.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of: the lock arrangement of the valve device is activatable from surface using a control line; and the lock arrangement of the valve device is activatable automatically on reaching a desired location in the borehole.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising or operatively associated with the spool.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising or operatively associated with a fluid injection arrangement.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fluid injection arrangement comprises at least one of: a fluid injection line; and an injection fluid communication channel disposed in the body of the valve device for communicating fluid to be injected through the valve device, the injection fluid communication channel isolated from the axial fluid passage of the valve device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fluid injection arrangement comprises an injection valve.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lock arrangement of the hanger comprises one or more radially extendable lock members.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hanger comprises a sleeve, the sleeve being axially moveable to activate the lock arrangement of the hanger.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the loop returns to surface via the conveyance.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the spool comprises at least one of: a no-go or landing nipple; and a locking recess for engagement with the lock arrangement of the hanger to secure the hanger in the spool.

18. A completion system comprising the apparatus according to claim 1.

19. A method for downhole data acquisition and/or monitoring, the method comprising: providing an apparatus according to claim 1 in a borehole; and obtaining data using the sensing arrangement of the apparatus.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising engaging the valve device with a valve in the borehole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other aspects of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a completion system including an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a hanger of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of a retrofit valve device of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective cut-away view of an exemplary hanger for use in embodiments of the present disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective cut-away view of a retrofit valve for use in embodiments of the present disclosure;

(7) FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of part of the retrofit valve shown in FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section view of the retrofit valve shown in FIG. 5;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a perspective cut-away view of an injection arrangement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective cut-away view of an injection valve; and

(11) FIG. 10 shows a completion system including an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(12) FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows an apparatus 10 for downhole data acquisition and/or monitoring according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. In use, the apparatus 10 is configured to be disposed within an existing completion 12 and is operable to provide data relating to the formation F, in particular but not exclusively data acquisition in the region where a fluid injection operation has been, or is to be, carried out.

(13) As shown in FIG. 1, the completion 12 comprises a string of connected sections of production tubing 14 and a number of downhole tools, including in the illustrated embodiment a subsurface safety valve 16, a pressure/temperature (PT) gauge 18, a production packer 20, and a liner hanger 22 supporting a sand screen arrangement 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the completion 12 comprises two sand screens 26, although it will be understood that the completion 12 may comprise any number of sand screens 26. Annulus 28 surrounding the sand screen arrangement 24 has been packed, e.g. with gravel 30, to prevent or at least mitigate ingress of particulate matter into the completion 12.

(14) As can be seen from FIG. 1, the completion 12 forms an axial flow passage 32 from the formation F to surface S and, in use, hydrocarbons from the formation F enter the completion 12 via perforations 34 in the sand screens 26 and pass to surface S via the axial flow passage 32.

(15) As described above, production of hydrocarbons from a given formation, such as the formation F shown in FIG. 1, will typically vary over the operational life of a well and it may be necessary or desirable to perform an intervention operation or workover operation in order to stimulate or in some cases re-establish production from the formation F. One such intervention operation used to stimulate production in the event of excessive water ingress (“liquid loading”) involves a chemical treatment whereby a foaming agent is injected into the formation F.

(16) As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 is configured to be disposed within the completion 12 and comprises a hanger 36 configured to latch into a control line spool 38, a retrofit valve 40 for location within the subsurface safety valve 16 of the completion 12, and a sensing arrangement—represented generally by 42—including an optical fiber line 44.

(17) In use, the apparatus 10 is configured to be run into the completion 12 and is operable to provide data acquisition and/or monitoring capability in the well, including up or near total depth and in particular but not exclusively in the region of the well subjected to an intervention operation, such as a chemical injection operation.

(18) FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the hanger 36 shown in FIG. 1, the hanger 36 shown engaged with the spool 38.

(19) As shown in FIG. 2, the spool 38 has a body 46 having an axial throughbore 48. A bore restriction in the form of no-go or landing nipple 50 is formed in the axial throughbore 48 of the spool 38. A locking recess 52 is formed in the spool 38 and in the illustrated embodiment the locking recess 52 is disposed uphole of the landing nipple 50. Lateral bores 54 are provided in the body 46 for receiving optical fiber lines 56. Lateral bore 58 is provided in the body 46 for receiving a control line 60, which in the illustrated embodiment takes the form of a hydraulic control line.

(20) The hanger 36 comprises a body 62 having a shoulder 64 for engaging the landing nipple 50 of the spool 38. A number of circumferentially arranged dogs 66 are disposed in pockets 68 formed in the body 62. Packer seals 70 are disposed in respective grooves 72 and straddle a lateral port 74. In use, when the shoulder 64 of the hanger 36 lands on the landing nipple 50 of the spool 38, the lateral port 74 communicates with control line 60.

(21) The body 62 comprises a fluid conduit 76 for communicating fluid from the control line 60 to braided line 78 which includes a hydraulic control line 80 and an optical fiber line 82 (shown in FIG. 3).

(22) A sleeve 84—biased by spring 86—is disposed within and axially moveable relative to the body 62, In use, movement of the sleeve 84 urges the dogs 66 radially outwards into engagement with the locking recess 52. The spring 86 biases the sleeve 84 to the position shown in FIG. 2 which supports the dogs 66 in their radially extended position.

(23) FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings shows an enlarged view of the retrofit valve 40 shown in FIG. 1. The retrofit valve 40 has a body 88, an axial flow passage 90 and a valve member 92 which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a flapper moveable between an open position in which the valve member 92 permits passage of fluid through the axial flow passage 90 and a closed position (as shown in FIG. 3) in which the valve member 92 closes the axial flow passage 90.

(24) The retrofit valve 40 is configured to be run into the subsurface safety valve 16 of the completion 12, a lock arrangement 94 of the valve 40 operable to secure retrofit valve 40 to a locking recess 96 provided in the subsurface safety valve 16 as will be described below. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock arrangement 94 of the retrofit valve 40 comprises a number of circumferentially arranged dogs 98 disposed in pockets 100 formed in the body 88. A sleeve 102 is disposed within and axially moveable relative to the body 88. In use, movement of the sleeve 102 urges the dogs 98 radially outwards into engagement with the locking recess 96 to support the retrofit valve 40 within the subsurface safety valve 16.

(25) As shown in FIG. 3, packer seals 104 are disposed in respective grooves 106, the packer seals 104 preventing leakage of fluid between the retrofit valve 40 and the subsurface safety valve 16. The packer seals 104 also form part of an activation arrangement for the valve member 92 since, in use, when the lock arrangement 94 engages the locking recess 96, the packer seals 104 straddle a port 108 provided in the body 88 which communicates, via conduit 110, with a control line 112 associated with the subsurface safety valve 16. Beneficially, this permits the valve member 92 of the retrofit valve 40 to be operated using existing control infrastructure.

(26) As shown in FIG. 3, the port 110 communicates with a sleeve 114—biased by spring 116—which is disposed within and axially moveable relative to the body 88. In use, pressure applied via control line 112 moves the sleeve 114 axially relative to the body 88 which in turn moves the valve member 92 to the open position. Beneficially, the spring 116 biases the valve member 92 towards the closed position such that in the event of loss of power to the valve 40 the valve 40 will close and maintain well integrity.

(27) In use, once the valve 40 has engaged the subsurface safety valve 16, the subsurface safety valve 16 can be maintained in an open configuration, well control being provided by the valve 40.

(28) Beneficially, embodiments of the present disclosure thus permit retrofit deployment into, and data acquisition and/or monitoring operations to be carried out in, pre-existing or mature wells without the requirement to modify the existing infrastructure.

(29) As described above, the apparatus 10 comprises a sensing arrangement 42 including an optical fiber line 44 and in the illustrated embodiment the valve 40 has optical connectors configured to interconnect optical fibers above and below the valve 40, thereby providing a continuous sensing arrangement from surface to the downhole location.

(30) FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings shows a hanger 1036 for use in embodiments of the present disclosure.

(31) The hanger 1036 comprises a body 1062 having a shoulder 1064 for engaging the landing nipple 50 of the spool 38 (shown in FIG. 3). A number of circumferentially arranged dogs 1066 are disposed in pockets 1068 formed in the body 1062. Packer seals 1070 are disposed in respective grooves 1072 and straddle a lateral port 1074. In use, when the shoulder 1064 of the hanger 1036 lands on the landing nipple 50 of the spool 38, the lateral port 1074 communicates with control line 60.

(32) The body 1062 comprises a fluid conduit 1076 for communicating fluid from the control line 60 to braided line 78. A sleeve 1084—biased by spring 1086—is disposed within and axially moveable relative to the body 1062. In use, movement of the sleeve 1084 urges the dogs 1066 radially outwards into engagement with the locking recess 52. The spring 1086 biases the sleeve 1084 to the position shown in FIG. 2 which supports the dogs 1066 in their radially extended position.

(33) FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show a retrofit valve 1040 for use in embodiments of the present disclosure.

(34) The retrofit valve 1040 has a body 1088, an axial flow passage 1090 and a valve member 1092 which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a flapper moveable between an open position in which the valve member 1092 permits passage of fluid through the axial flow passage 1090 and a closed position (as shown in FIG. 5) in which the valve member 1092 closes the axial flow passage 1090.

(35) The retrofit valve 1040 is configured to be run into the subsurface safety valve 16 of the completion 12, a lock arrangement 1094 operable to secure retrofit valve 1040 to a locking recess 96 provided in the subsurface safety valve 16 as will be described below. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock arrangement 1094 of the retrofit valve 1040 comprises a number of circumferentially arranged dogs 1098 disposed in pockets 1100 formed in the body 1088. A sleeve 1102 is disposed within and axially moveable relative to the body 1088. In use, movement of the sleeve 1102 urges the dogs 1098 radially outwards into engagement with the locking recess 96 to support the retrofit valve 1040 within the subsurface safety valve 16.

(36) Packer seals 1104 are provided to prevent leakage of fluid between the retrofit valve 1040 and the subsurface safety valve 16. The packer seals 1104 also form part of an activation arrangement for the valve member 1092 since, in use, when the lock arrangement 1094 engages the locking recess 1096, the packer seals 1104 straddle a port 1108 provided in the body 1088 which communicates with the control line 112 associated with the subsurface safety valve 16. Beneficially, this permits the valve member 1092 of the retrofit valve 1040 to be operated using existing control infrastructure.

(37) The port 1108 communicates with a sleeve 1114—biased by spring 1116—which is disposed within and axially moveable relative to the body 1088. In use, pressure applied via control line 112 moves the sleeve 1114 axially relative to the body 1088 which in turn moves the valve member 1092 to the open position. Beneficially, the spring 1116 biases the valve member 1092 towards the closed position such that in the event of loss of power to the valve 1040 the valve 1040 will close and maintain well integrity.

(38) Referring now also FIGS. 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings, the apparatus 1010 comprises a fluid injection arrangement 1120 configured to inject fluid into the formation F, for example but not exclusively in order to perform a chemical treatment.

(39) In the illustrated embodiment, the fluid injection arrangement 1120 comprises a fluid injection line 1122 configured to engage a connector 1124 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) on the retrofit valve 1040. The fluid injection arrangement 1120 further comprises a centraliser 1126, a weight bar 1128 and a quick connect connector 1130 for coupling to the connector 1124.

(40) As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 for example, the valve 1140 comprises an injection fluid communication channel 1132 for communicating the fluid to be injected through the valve 1040.

(41) As shown in FIG. 9, the fluid injection arrangement 1120 comprises an injection valve 1134, which in the illustrated embodiment takes the form of a chemical injection valve.

(42) An injection line 1136, which in the illustrated embodiment takes the form of a capillary string, is provided for communicating the injection fluid from the valve 1040 to the injection valve 1134.

(43) Embodiments of the present disclosure may thus facilitate fluid injection operations to be carried out while maintaining full well control capability, since operation of the injection arrangement 1120 is unaffected by the configuration of the valve 1040; in contrast to conventional injection techniques and equipment which require the completion system safety control valve to be open in order to permit injection systems to be run into the borehole.

(44) It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary of the present disclosure and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

(45) FIG. 10 shows an apparatus 2010 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus 2010 is similar to the apparatus 10 and like components are represented by like numerals incremented by 2000.

(46) Apparatus 2010 is configured to be disposed within an existing completion 12 and is operable to provide data relating to the formation F, in particular but not exclusively data acquisition in the region where a fluid injection operation has been, or is to be, carried out.

(47) As shown in FIG. 10, the apparatus 2010 is configured to be disposed within the completion 12 and comprises a hanger 2036 configured to latch into a control line spool 2038, a retrofit valve 2040 for location within the subsurface safety valve 16 of the completion 12, and a sensing arrangement 2042 including an optical fiber line 2044. In this embodiment, however, the optical fiber line 2044 comprises a loop.

(48) In use, the apparatus 2010 is configured to be run into the completion 12 and is operable to provide data acquisition and/or monitoring capability in the well, including up or near total depth and in particular but not exclusively in the region of the well subjected to an intervention operation, such as a chemical injection operation.