Apparatus, systems and methods for controlling flow communication with a subterranean formation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10689950-B2
Application number	US-201715494617-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2017
Priority date	Apr 22, 2016
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

In one aspect, there is provided a flow control apparatus comprising a confirmation profile that is establishable, in response to completion of a wellbore operation that has changed a condition of the flow control apparatus, for releasably retaining an indicator tool that is being displaced within the wellbore via a workstring.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flow control apparatus comprising:
a confirmation profile that is establishable, in response to completion of a wellbore operation that has changed a condition of the flow control apparatus;
wherein:
the confirmation profile is configured to receive and releasably retain an indicator tool that is being displaced within the wellbore via a workstring;
the change in condition of the flow control apparatus includes a displacement of a moveable member; and
the establishment of the confirmation profile is effected by the displacement of the moveable member, relative to the confirmation profile, between hard stops that define a range of travel of the moveable member, wherein the confirmation profile is established outside the range of travel defined by the hard stops.

2. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing including an internal surface;
wherein:
the confirmation profile is recessed into the internal surface of the housing.

3. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ;
wherein:
the confirmation profile is configured such that, while the indicator tool is releasably retained within the confirmation profile, opposition to relative displacement between the indicator tool and the confirmation profile, along the axis of the wellbore, is effected by interference between the indicator tool and the confirmation profile.

4. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein:
the movable member and the confirmation profile are co-operatively configured such that the displacement of the movable member relative to the confirmation profile effects uncovering of the confirmation profile such that the confirmation profile is established.

5. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 4 ;
wherein the movable member includes a flow control member, and the displacement of the movable member, for effecting establishment of the confirmation profile, includes displacement of the flow control member to an open position.

6. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:
a locate profile configured to receive and releasably retain the indicator tool;
wherein:
the movable member, the locate profile and the confirmation profile are co-operatively configured such that the locate profile remains disposed for receiving and releasably retaining the indicator tool upon displacement of the movable member relative to the confirmation profile.

7. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ;
wherein the established confirmation profile is disposed such that the releasable retaining of the indicator tool is effectible when the indicator tool becomes aligned with the confirmation profile.

8. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:
a locate profile for releasably retaining the indicator tool.

9. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 8 ;
wherein the width of the confirmation profile is the same, or substantially same as the width of the locate profile.

10. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 8 ;
wherein the locate profile is disposed such that the releasable retaining of the indicator tool is effectible when the indicator tool becomes aligned with the locate profile.

11. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 ;
wherein:
the locate profile, the confirmation profile and the moveable member are cooperatively configured such that, while the confirmation profile is established, the locate profile is configured for receiving and releasable retaining the indicator tool.

12. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ;
wherein the flow control apparatus is configured for coupling to a casing string.

13. The flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 12 ;
wherein the coupling is a threaded coupling.

14. A system comprising:
an indicator tool that is deployable into a wellbore via a workstring; and
a downhole flow control apparatus including a confirmation profile that is establishable, in response to completion of a wellbore operation that has changed a condition of the flow control apparatus;
wherein:
the conformation profile is configured to receive and releasably retain the indicator tool that is being displaced relative to the wellbore via the workstring;
the change in condition of the flow control apparatus includes a displacement of a moveable member; and
the establishment of the confirmation profile is effected by the displacement of the moveable member, relative to the confirmation profile, between hard stops that define a range of travel of the moveable member, the confirmation profile being established outside the range of travel defined by the hard stops.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14 ;
wherein:
the movable member and the confirmation profile are co-operatively configured such that the displacement of the movable member relative to the confirmation profile effects uncovering of the confirmation profile such that the confirmation profile is established.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 ;
wherein the movable member includes a flow control member, and the displacement of the movable member, for effecting establishment of the confirmation profile, includes displacement of the flow control member to an open position.

17. The system as claimed in claim 14 ;
wherein the releasable retaining of the indicator tool, for which the confirmation profile is establishable, is effectible when the indicator tool becomes aligned with the confirmation profile.

18. The system as claimed in claim 14 ;
wherein the downhole flow control apparatus includes a locate profile for releasably retaining the indicator tool.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18 ;
wherein the locate profile is disposed such that the releasable retaining of the indicator tool is effectible when the indicator tool becomes aligned with the locate profile.

20. A downhole process comprising:
within a wellbore, performing a downhole wellbore operation with effect that a confirmation profile is established upon completion of the downhole wellbore operation, wherein:
the confirmation profile is configured to receive and releasably retain an indicator tool that is being displaced within the wellbore via a workstring;
the change in condition of the flow control apparatus includes a displacement of a flow control member; and
the establishment of the confirmation profile is effected by the displacement of the flow control member, relative to the confirmation profile, between hard stops that define a range of travel of the flow control member, the confirmation profile being established outside the range of travel defined by the hard stops;

confirming the completion of the downhole wellbore operation by locating the indicator tool within the confirmation profile and detecting the locating of the indicator tool within the confirmation profile by detecting resistance to uphole displacement of the indicator tool relative to the wellbore.

21. The downhole process as claimed in claim 20 ;
wherein the downhole wellbore operation effects displacement of the flow control member with effect that: (i) the confirmation profile is established, and (ii) fluid communication is effected between the wellbore and a subterranean formation.

22. The downhole process as claimed in claim 21 ;
wherein the displacement of the flow control member effects uncovering of the confirmation profile.

23. The d

Assignees

• Ncs Multistage Inc

Inventors

• Johnson Tim
• Ravensbergen John

Classifications

• E21B34/14 Primary

  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

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title

• E21B47/09

  Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells {, e.g. the position of an extending arm}; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes · CPC title

• E21B2034/007

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic