Zone selection with smart object selectively operating predetermined fracturing access valves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10125573-B2
Application number	US-201514875269-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2015
Priority date	Oct 5, 2015
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

An intelligent dart or ball or other shape is dropped or pumped into a borehole that has multiple valves for access to the formation through which fractures are initiated. The intelligent object engages with the valves as it passes with retractable engagement dogs that are outwardly biased but not to the degree needed to find support unless the valve in question is the one that needs to be operated. In that event the dogs become supported and pressure is applied to the object to shift the valve to the open position. The object can be released at a later time remotely or can be milled out. Subsequent objects can be landed in the same sleeve after the initial object is released to close it or to close the open port by moving a second sleeve against a first sleeve. Fracturing in any order is envisioned.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for sequentially operating a plurality of tubular valves each having at least one seat thereon for subterranean access through ports at spaced locations on a tubular string having a passage therethrough and extending from a top of a well comprising:
a plurality of bodies having at least one selectively extendible member so that each body engages a predetermined said seat for support on a predetermined one of said valves on the basis of how many of said valves have been passed by said body for sequential operation of said valves whereupon passing of one or more of said seats other than said predetermined seat, without obtaining support for a respective body, operates a lockable counter device, said counter device selectively locked to prevent said extendible member from retracting into said respective body and therefor finding support for said respective body on said predetermined seat;
said respective body moving a sleeve of said valve via said predetermined seat a first distance to open a respective port and further moving said sleeve in the same direction to close said port or a first of said plurality of bodies moving a first sleeve to open a respective port and a second of said plurality of bodies moving a second sleeve toward said first sleeve to close said respective port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
said extendible member engages each of said valves that said respective body passes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
said extendible member of said predetermined body engages for support a said predetermined seat only after passing a predetermined number of said seats.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:
said extendible member is biased away from an axis of said body.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:
said lockable counter device is mechanical.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:
said lockable counter device is electrical.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
said extendible member comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring loaded dogs wherein at least some of said dogs are linked to a ratchet assembly moved by each cycle of radial movement of said dogs relative to a longitudinal axis of said body of said dogs on contact with a said seat on each valve being passed by said body.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:
said ratchet assembly moves linearly or rotationally.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:
at least some of said dogs of are linked to a cycle counter of opposed radial movements of said dogs for electrically or hydraulically or magnetically holding said dogs extended for support on a said predetermined seat of said respective valve next reached by said body.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
said body further comprises at least one seal for delivery of a force to said predetermined valve with pressure applied in said passage against said body to shift said predetermined valve to an open position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
each of said valves has two spaced said seats to accept two of said bodies for sequentially opening and then closing said valves.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
at least one of said valves comprises adjacent sleeves each having an associated seat such that a said body finding support on a first of said adjacent sleeves opens access through to a formation and another said a body supported on a second of said adjacent sleeves closes formation access.

13. The apparatuses of claim 10 , wherein:
said extendible member comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring loaded dogs;
said at least one seal comprises a plurality of spaced seals located on one side of said dogs or in a longitudinally alternating pattern with said dogs.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
said ratchet assembly movement is sensed by a processor which extends a locking member into said ratchet to lock said dogs extended from said body.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
said plurality of bodies open said valves in a direction from closest to a well bottom to closest to a surface location.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
more than one of said bodies find support on a said valve for opening and closing said valve.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
said valve is opened with pressure in said tubular string applied against said seal.

18. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:
said extendible member extends in response to one or more signals from said valves that are acoustic, mud pulses or RFID.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
said body moves to a well bottom or a catcher.

20. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:
said lockable counter device is hydraulic.

21. A wellbore treatment method, comprising:
delivering a plurality of bodies having at least one selectively extendible member to engage at least one predetermined seat on one of a plurality of valves that provide selective communication with a surrounding zone when at least one body of said plurality of bodies is supported on said at least one predetermined seat, said support occurring on the basis of how many of said valves have been passed by said body for sequential operation of said valves with different said bodies whereupon passing of each seat other than said predetermined seat operates a lockable counter device, said counter device selectively locked to prevent said extendible member from retracting into said body and therefor finding support on said predetermined seat;
opening said valve by moving said predetermined seat with said body of said plurality of bodies for access to said surrounding zone;
performing a treatment operation to said surrounding zone or producing said zone or injecting into said zone;
selectively closing at least one of said valves with continued movement in the same direction of said at least one predetermined seat after said opening and said performing.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein:
said treatment operation comprises making said treatment one or more of hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding or cementing.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Flores Perez Juan Carlos
• Sanchez James S
• Xu Yingqing
• Rosenblatt Steve

Classifications

• E21B2034/007

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E21B37/00

  Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells (E21B21/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B43/24

  using heat, e.g. steam injection · CPC title

• E21B34/14

  operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools {(E21B34/066 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title