Downhole device and downhole system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11002124-B2
Application number	US-201715428451-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2017
Priority date	Feb 10, 2016
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

The present invention relates to a downhole device for being moved downwards in a well by fluid to assist stimulation of a production zone of the well, the well comprising a well tubular structure having a first opening and a first movable sleeve arranged opposite the first opening, and the well tubular structure having an inner diameter, the downhole device having an axial extension, and comprising: a first part comprising two projection elements having a profile matching grooves in the sleeve, and a second part comprising: a body, two anchor elements projectable from the body for anchoring the second part in the well tubular structure, and a sealing element configured to seal against the well tubular structure, the downhole device further comprising: a displacement mechanism comprising a piston movable within a piston cylinder to displace, in the axial extension, the first part in relation to the second part when anchored in the well tubular structure to operate the sleeve. The invention also relates to a downhole system for stimulating a formation surrounding a well tubular structure of a well. Finally, the present invention relates to a stimulation method for stimulating a formation by means of a downhole system according to the invention.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A downhole device for being moved downwards in a well by fluid to assist stimulation of a production zone of the well, the well comprising a well tubular structure having a first opening and a first movable sleeve arranged opposite the first opening, the well tubular structure having an inner diameter, the downhole device having an axial extension and comprising:
a first part comprising:
two projection elements having a profile matching grooves in the sleeve, and

a second part comprising:
a body,
two anchor elements projectable from the body for anchoring the second part in the well tubular structure, and
a sealing element configured to seal against the well tubular structure, the sealing element being spaced from and, in use, positioned downhole from the two anchor elements,

wherein the downhole device further comprises a displacement mechanism comprising a piston movable within a piston cylinder to displace, in the axial extension, the first part in relation to the second part when the two anchor elements are anchored in the well tubular structure and the two projection elements are engaged with the grooves in the sleeve to operate the sleeve.

2. A downhole device according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement mechanism further comprises a spring being compressed during movement of the piston in relation to the piston cylinder.

3. A downhole device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is a cup seal.

4. A downhole device according to claim 1 , wherein each projection element is movable in a radial direction in and out of a projection cylinder.

5. A downhole device according to claim 4 , wherein the projection cylinder is fluidly connected with the piston cylinder so that fluid in the piston cylinder forces the projection element out of the projection cylinder upon movement of the piston into the piston cylinder.

6. A downhole device according to claim 4 , wherein the piston has a first piston end extending into the piston cylinder, the first piston end having a face area, and the first part has a first end and a second end being connected to the second part, and the first end has a surface area being larger than the face area of the piston so that pressurised fluid in the well tubular structure forces the piston further into the piston cylinder.

7. A downhole device according to claim 4 , wherein each anchor element is movable in a radial direction in and out of an anchor cylinder.

8. A downhole device according to claim 7 , further comprising an anchor activation cylinder, the anchor cylinder being fluidly connected with the anchor activation cylinder so that fluid in the anchor activation cylinder forces the anchor element out of the anchor cylinder upon movement of an activation piston into the anchor activation cylinder.

9. A downhole device according to claim 1 , further comprising a pump adapted to provide pressurised fluid to the anchor cylinder and/or the projection cylinder to project the anchor elements and/or projection elements, respectively.

10. A downhole device according to claim 1 , wherein the second part further comprises a protrusion projecting radially from the body.

11. A downhole device according to claim 1 , further comprising a positioning tool configured to determine a position of the downhole device along the well tubular structure.

12. A downhole device according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit configured to control the movement of the projection elements and/or the anchor elements.

13. A downhole device according to claim 1 , wherein the well tubular structure includes at least one recess to receive the two anchoring elements.

14. A downhole system for stimulating a formation surrounding a well tubular structure of a well, the well having a top, comprising:
a well tubular structure comprising:
at least two openings for allowing fluid to flow into and/or out of the well tubular structure,
at least a first movable sleeve and a second movable sleeve, each movable sleeve being arranged opposite one of the openings in a first position and uncovering the openings in a second position, and each movable sleeve having at least one groove,

a system pump configured to pressurise the well tubular structure, and
a downhole device according to claim 1 .

15. A stimulation method for stimulating a formation by means of a downhole system according to claim 14 , comprising:
submerging the downhole device in the well tubular structure,
pressurising the well tubular structure,
moving the downhole device along the well tubular structure,
positioning the first part of the downhole device opposite the first movable sleeve,
engaging the groove of the first movable sleeve by means of a projection element,
anchoring the anchor elements in the well tubular structure,
moving the first part in relation to the second part in a first direction, the first movable sleeve thereby uncovering the opening,
stimulating the formation by injecting fluid out of the opening,
moving the first part in relation to the second part in a second direction opposite the first direction, thereby closing the opening,
releasing the projection elements and anchor elements,
moving the downhole device along the well tubular structure,
positioning the first part of the downhole device opposite the second movable sleeve, and
engaging the groove of the second movable sleeve by means of the projecting element.

16. A stimulation method according to claim 15 , wherein moving the first part in relation to the second part is performed by pressurised fluid pressing the first part towards the second part in the first direction.

Assignees

• Welltec As

Inventors

• Kumar Satish

Classifications

• E21B23/042 Primary

  using a single piston or multiple mechanically interconnected pistons · CPC title

• E21B43/26 Primary

  by forming crevices or fractures · 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

• E21B23/0411

  specially adapted for anchoring tools or the like to the borehole wall or to well tube · CPC title

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title