Communication system for sequential liner hanger setting, release from a running tool and setting a liner top packer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10060256-B2
Application number	US-201514943838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2015
Priority date	Nov 17, 2015
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

A communication system for sequential operation of subterranean tools involves flow based signals that are picked up with an acoustic receiver at a master controller, which then signals one or more slave controllers that operate tools and communicate back to the master controller that the subject tool has been operated. Sensors associated with the control system gather data downloaded when the master controller is pulled out of the hole. The system can be used to set a liner hanger and release a running tool and communicate that the liner hanger and running tool has activated. This can be confirmed with setting down weight and noting the running string going from tension to compression with a load cell or by translating the running string within the hole. The liner top packer can be set with a flow based signal to the master controller which is then removed with the running string.

First claim

We claim:

1. A subterranean method for sequential operation of multiple tools, comprising:
sending a flow signal to a master controller;
receiving said flow signal with a receiver at said master controller;
generating a command signal to at least one slave controller associated with an actuator for a liner hanger;
operating said liner hanger with said actuator for said liner hanger.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
sending said flow signal from a surface location.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
sending an acknowledgement signal to said master controller from said slave controller after said operating.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
communicating between said master controller and slave controller with at least one of acoustic, electromagnetic, pressure, flow and wireless signals.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
delivering said master controller with a tubular string;
removing said master controller with said tubular string after said operating.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
communicating confirmation of said operating from said master controller to a surface location when said master controller is in a borehole.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
providing, as said at least one slave controller, a plurality of slave controllers, each slave controller associated with a respective actuator for selective operation of a plurality of associated tools;
sequentially operating said actuators with different signals sensed by said receiver at said master controller.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
sending another flow signal, detected by the downhole master controller, which initiates recording of downhole parameters of at least one of pressure, temperature, tension, compression, torque; and
later retrieving data after pulling out the master controller.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
providing, as said at least one slave controller, a plurality of slave controllers each slave controller selectively operating an associated actuator for sequential operation of said liner hanger and a liner packer;
providing intelligence to said master controller such that said sending a flow signal to the master controller triggers sequential commands from said master controller to said slave controllers for sequential operation of said liner hanger and said liner packer.

10. A subterranean method for sequential operation of multiple tools, comprising:
sending a flow signal to a master controller;
receiving said flow signal with a receiver at said master controller;
generating a command signal to at least one slave controller associated with an actuator for a first tool;
operating said first tool with said actuator for said first tool;
providing, as said at least one slave controller, a plurality of slave controllers, each slave controller associated with a respective actuator for selective operation of a plurality of associated tools;
sequentially operating said actuators with different signals sensed by said receiver at said master controller;
connecting a first of said slave controllers to a liner hanger;
setting the liner hanger with a command from said master controller to said first slave controller;
connecting a second of said slave controllers to a running tool and releasing said running tool after setting said liner hanger.

11. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
receiving a flow signal at said receiver for said master controller unique for setting said liner hanger;
sending a signal to said first slave controller for setting said liner hanger;
setting down weight on a running string for a liner string after setting said liner hanger;
sensing on a load cell said running string going from a tensile to a compressive condition;
performing said releasing the running tool after said sensing.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
communicating a reading on said load cell to a surface location.

13. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
supporting said running tool on a running string;
setting down weight on said running string after setting said liner hanger;
detecting support at the surface from said set liner hanger;
releasing said running tool from said liner string.

14. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
connecting a third slave controller to a liner top packer;
receiving a flow signal at said receiver of said master controller;
commanding said third slave controller with said master controller to set said liner top packer.

15. The method of claim 14 , comprising:
confirming to said master controller from said third slave controller that said liner top packer is set.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising:
using acoustic or electromagnetic signals to perform said confirming.

17. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
confirming to said master controller from said first slave controller that said liner hanger is set.

18. The method of claim 17 , comprising:
using acoustic or electromagnetic signals for said confirming.

19. A subterranean method for sequential operation of multiple tools, comprising:
sending a flow signal to a master controller;
receiving said flow signal with a receiver at said master controller;
generating a command signal to at least one slave controller associated with an actuator for a first tool;
operating said first tool with said actuator for said first tool;
providing at least one pressure sensor with a running string supporting said master controller;
providing a ball seat in said running string;
delivering a ball to said ball seat to create pressure signals sensed by said pressure sensor for communication to said master controller from a remote location.

20. A subterranean method for sequential operation of multiple tools, comprising:
sending a flow signal to a master controller;
receiving said flow signal with a receiver at said master controller;
generating a command signal to at least one slave controller associated with an actuator for a first tool;
operating said first tool with said actuator for said first tool;
providing, as said at least one slave controller, a plurality of slave controllers each slave controller selectively operating an associated actuator for sequential operation of discrete tools;
providing intelligence to said master controller such that said sending a flow signal to the master controller triggers sequential commands from said master controller to said slave controllers for sequential operation of the discrete tools
associating said slave controllers with a liner hanger, a running tool for a liner string and a liner string packer;
sequentially operating said liner hanger and then said running tool and finally said liner string packer based on said sending a flow signal to the master controller.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Halfmann Eric
• Munshi Ammar A
• O'Connor Keven
• Palakapilly Basil J

Classifications

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• E21B47/14 Primary

  using acoustic waves · CPC title

• E21B33/12

  Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) · CPC title

• E21B43/10 Primary

  Setting of casings, screens, liners {or the like} in wells · CPC title

• E21B47/18

  through the well fluid {, e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry} · CPC title