Gravel pack service tool used to set a packer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016102525-A1
Application number	US-201414890735-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 22, 2014
Priority date	Nov 13, 2013
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is a gravel pack service tool that utilizes an internal closure device to set a packer. One disclosed system includes a completion string including at least one packer, a service tool configured to be arranged within the completion string and having an interior that provides a flow path for fluids and a crossover tool, and a closure device arranged within the flow path and being actuatable between an open position and a closed position in response to a signature pressure pulse detected by the closure device, wherein, when the closure device is in the open position, the fluids are able to bypass the closure device and flow to lower portions of the service tool, and wherein, when the closure device is in the closed position, the fluids are prevented from bypassing the closure device and a pressure within the service tool is increased to set the at least one packer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a completion string disposable within a wellbore and including at least one packer; a service tool configured to be arranged at least partially within the completion string and having an interior that provides a flow path for fluids, the service tool further including a crossover tool; and a closure device arranged within the flow path and being actuatable between an open position and a closed position in response to a signature pressure pulse detected by the closure device, wherein, when the closure device is in the open position, the fluids are able to bypass the closure device and flow to lower portions of the service tool, and wherein, when the closure device is in the closed position, the fluids are prevented from bypassing the closure device and a pressure within the service tool is increased to set the at least one packer.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the service tool further includes a wash pipe and the flow path extends within the interior of the service tool from at least the crossover tool to a distal end of the wash pipe.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the closure device comprises:
a body providing one or more radial outlet ports; a movable valve member arranged within the body, the movable valve member defining one or more outlets; and an inlet defined in the body and fluidly communicating with the movable valve member and the one or more outlets, wherein, when the closure device is in the open position, the one or more outlets are aligned with the one or more radial outlet ports to allow the fluids to flow through the closure device, and, wherein, when the closure device is in the closed position, the one or more outlets are misaligned with the one or more radial outlet ports and thereby prevent the fluids from flowing through the closure device.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the closure device further comprises:
a sensing system in fluid communication with the flow path via the inlet and the movable valve member, the sensing system including one or more pressure sensors configured to detect and report fluid pressures within the closure device; a signal processor communicably coupled to the sensing system and configured to generate a command signal when the sensing system detects the signature pressure pulse; and an actuation device communicably coupled to the signal processor and configured to receive the command signal and actuate the movable valve member in response thereto, whereby the closure device is moved between the open and closed positions.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the actuation device is at least one of an electrical actuation device, a mechanical actuation device, an electromechanical actuation device, a hydraulic actuation device, and a pneumatic actuation device.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the signal processor includes a timer configured to delay transmission of the command signal for a predetermined time period.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the signature pressure pulse comprises a pressure signature selected from the group consisting of a predetermined number of pressure pulses, a predetermined amplitude of a pressure pulse, a frequency of pressure pulses, or any combination thereof.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a circulating sleeve movably arranged within the flow path adjacent to and below the crossover tool, the closure device being operatively coupled to the circulating sleeve below the crossover tool.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the circulating sleeve is axially movable within the service tool in response to increasing fluid pressure, and wherein, when the circulating sleeve moves downward within the service tool, a return flow path is exposed and provides fluid communication with an annulus defined between the wellbore and the completion string above the at least one packer.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the service tool includes a wash pipe and the closure device is arranged within the wash pipe at or near a distal end of the wash pipe.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the service tool includes a three-way crossover and the closure device is arranged within the flow path and connected to an internal connection of the three-way crossover.

12 . A method, comprising:
arranging a service tool at least partially within a completion string disposed within a wellbore and having at least one packer, the service tool including a crossover tool and an interior that provides a flow path; flowing a fluid in the flow path and through a closure device arranged within the flow path when the closure device is in an open position; detecting a signature pressure pulse with the closure device; actuating the closure device to a closed position in response to the signature pressure pulse and thereby preventing the fluids from bypassing the closure device; and setting the at least one packer by increasing a fluid pressure within the service tool.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the closure device comprises a body providing one or more radial outlet ports and having a movable valve member arranged within the body and defining one or more outlets, and wherein flowing the fluid through the closure device comprises:
aligning the one or more outlets with the one or more radial outlet ports; receiving the fluid in an inlet defined in the body and conveying the fluid to the movable valve member; and ejecting the fluid from the closure device via the one or more outlets and the one or more radial outlet ports.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein detecting the signature pressure pulse with the closure device comprises:
detecting fluid pressure within the closure device with a sensing system in fluid communication with the flow path, the sensing system including one or more pressure sensors; and reporting the fluid pressure to a signal processor communicably coupled to the sensing system.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein actuating the closure device to the closed position comprises:
generating a command signal when the sensing system detects the signature pressure pulse; receiving the command signal with an actuation device communicably coupled to the signal processor; and actuating the movable valve member in response to the command signal, wherein, when the closure device is in the closed position, the one or more outlets are misaligned with the one or more radial outlet ports and thereby prevent the fluids from flowing through the closure device.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising delaying transmission of wherein the command signal for a predetermined time period with a timer included in the signal processor.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the service tool further includes a circulating sleeve movably arranged within the flow path adjacent to and below the crossover tool, the closure device being operatively coupled to the circulating sleeve below the crossover tool, the method further comprising:
axially moving the circulating sleeve in response to increasing fluid pressure within the service tool; exposing a return flow path as the circulating sleeve moves downward within the service tool, the return flow path providing fluid communication with an annulus defined between the wellbore and the completion string above the at least one packer; and maintaining fluid pressure on a surrounding formation in the wellbore via the return flow path, and thereby mitigate swabbing effects on the formation.

18 . The method of claim

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Ross Colby Munro

Classifications

• E21B43/04 Primary

  Gravelling of wells · CPC title

• E21B33/126

  with fluid-pressure-operated elastic cup or skirt (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B34/10 Primary

  operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole · CPC title

• E21B23/06 Primary

  for setting packers · CPC title

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title