Shunt system with shroud secured by a locking member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10683709-B2
Application number	US-201515541945-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2015
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

An assembly adapted to be disposed within an oil or gas wellbore and including first and second completion joints, each including a base pipe, a shunt tube disposed along the base pipe, and a tubular outer shroud disposed about respective portions of the shunt tube and the base pipe; a jumper tube coupling the shunt tube of the first completion joint to the shunt tube of the second completion joint; and a tubular sliding shroud disposed about at least one of the first and second completion joints and adapted to slide longitudinally to a run-in position, in which the tubular sliding shroud is disposed about the jumper tube and respective portions of the first and second completion joints, thereby covering the jumper tube. A method and apparatus are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly adapted to be disposed within a wellbore, the assembly comprising:
first and second completion joints, each of which comprises:
a base pipe;
a shunt tube disposed along the base pipe; and
a tubular outer shroud disposed about respective portions of the shunt tube and the base pipe;

a jumper tube coupling the shunt tube of the first completion joint to the shunt tube of the second completion joint; and
a tubular sliding shroud disposed about at least one of the first and second completion joints and adapted to slide longitudinally to a run-in position, in which the tubular sliding shroud is disposed about the jumper tube and respective portions of the first and second completion joints, thereby covering the jumper tube;
wherein the assembly further comprises:
a locking mechanism connected to the first completion joint, the locking mechanism being operable to secure a first end portion of the tubular sliding shroud; and/or
a retaining member connected to the second completion joint, the retaining member being operable to secure a second end portion of the tubular sliding shroud;

wherein the assembly comprises the locking mechanism connected to the first completion joint;
wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to at least partially secure the tubular sliding shroud in the run-in position;
wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
a support member connected to the first completion joint;
a groove formed into the support member;
a key disposed at least partially within the groove;
a tubular locking member adapted to be disposed about the first completion joint, and adapted to slide longitudinally relative to the support member into a locking position; and
a cavity formed into the tubular locking member;

and
wherein when the tubular locking member is in the locking position, the tubular locking member is disposed about the support member and the first end portion of the tubular sliding shroud.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein respective portions of the base pipes and shunt tubes that are longitudinally disposed between the tubular outer shrouds of the first and second completion joints are covered by the tubular sliding shroud when the tubular sliding shroud is placed in the run-in position.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the key is moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position;
wherein the key nests within the groove when the key is in the retracted position, such that the tubular sliding shroud and the tubular locking member can slide freely past the support member into the run-in position and the locking position, respectively;
wherein the key protrudes from the support member when the key is in the deployed position; and
wherein the cavity is adapted to receive the key when the tubular locking member is in the locking position and the key is in the deployed position.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein when the tubular locking member is in the locking position and the key is in the deployed position, the key secures the tubular locking member in the locking position and obstructs longitudinal displacement of the tubular sliding shroud.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the tubular locking member is integrally formed with the first end portion of the tubular sliding shroud.

6. An apparatus adapted to be disposed within a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
a tubular base pipe;
a tubular support member disposed about the tubular base pipe and defining an internal passage through which the tubular base pipe extends;
a groove formed into the tubular support member;
a key disposed at least partially within the groove;
a tubular sliding member adapted to be displaced longitudinally relative to the tubular support member into a locking position, in which the tubular sliding member is disposed about the tubular support member; and
a cavity formed into the tubular sliding member and adapted to receive the key when the tubular sliding member is in the locking position;
wherein the key is adapted to be disposed within both the groove and the cavity to secure the tubular sliding member in the locking position;
wherein the tubular base pipe and the tubular support member are formed separately.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the key is moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position;
wherein the key nests within the groove when the key is in the retracted position, such that the tubular sliding member can slide freely past the tubular support member into the locking position;
wherein the key protrudes from the tubular support member when the key is in the deployed position; and
wherein the cavity is adapted to receive the key when the tubular sliding member is in the locking position and the key is placed in the deployed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the tubular support member is adapted to support a jumper tube coupling a shunt tube of a first completion joint to a shunt tube of a second completion joint.

9. An apparatus adapted to be disposed within a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
a support member;
a groove formed into the support member;
a key disposed at least partially within the groove;
a tubular sliding member adapted to be displaced longitudinally relative to the support member into a locking position, in which the tubular sliding member is disposed about the support member; and
a cavity formed into the tubular sliding member and adapted to receive the key when the tubular sliding member is in the locking position;
wherein the key is adapted to be disposed within both the groove and the cavity to secure the tubular sliding member in the locking position;
wherein the key is moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position;
wherein the key nests within the groove when the key is in the retracted position, such that the tubular sliding member can slide freely past the support member into the locking position;
wherein the key protrudes from the support member when the key is in the deployed position;
wherein the cavity is adapted to receive the key when the tubular sliding member is in the locking position and the key is placed in the deployed position;
wherein a threaded hole is formed into the support member;
wherein the key comprises:
a housing;
a shaft supported within the housing, the shaft comprising opposing first and second end portions, the first end portion being threaded; and
a handle disposed within the housing and connected to the second end portion of the shaft, the handle operable to rotate the shaft;

wherein the key is placed in the retracted position by threading the first end of the shaft into the threaded hole; and
wherein the key is placed in the deployed position by threading the first end of the shaft out of the threaded hole.

10. An apparatus adapted to be disposed within a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
a support member;
a groove formed into the support member;
a key disposed at least partially within the groove;
a tubular sliding member adapted to be displaced longitudinally relative to the support member into a locking position, in which the tubular sliding member is disposed about the support member; and
a cavity formed into the tubular sliding member and adapted to receive the key when the tubular sliding member is in the locking position;
wherein the key is adapted to be disposed within both the groove and the cavity to secure the tubular sliding member in the locking position;
wherein the groove defines a surface of the support member;
wherein a pin-hole is formed into the surface of the support member; and
wherein the key comprises:
a body having a housing formed therein; and
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Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Veit Jan
• Gommel Matthew Ryan

Classifications

• E21B43/04 Primary

  Gravelling of wells · CPC title

• E21B17/046 Primary

  with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches · CPC title

• E21B43/267

  reinforcing fractures by propping · CPC title

• E21B17/18

  Pipes provided with plural fluid passages {(E21B17/203 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E21B43/08

  Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)} · CPC title