Indexing Stimulating Sleeve and Other Downhole Tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016130910-A1
Application number	US-201514934338-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 6, 2015
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A downhole tool is responsive to passing objects and applied fluid pressure. A plugless valve in the tool is operable from an unobstructed condition to an obstructed condition unobstructing the tool's bore to an obstructed condition obstructing the tool's bore to the applied fluid pressure. An indexer counts the objects passing through the tool's bore and permits operation of the plugless valve from the unobstructed to the obstructed condition in response to the counted number. The applied fluid pressure in the bore obstructed by the plugless valve can then communicate outside the tool via at least one port. The plugless valve can have a movable insert that moves relative to a flapper. The indexer can use ratcheting dogs, collet, J-slot, electronic sensor, and other components to count the passing objects.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A downhole tool responsive to passage of one or more objects and applied fluid pressure, the tool comprising:
a housing defining a housing bore therethrough and defining at least one port communicating the housing bore outside the housing; a plugless valve disposed in the housing and operable from an unobstructed condition unobstructing the housing bore to an obstructed condition obstructing the housing bore to the applied fluid pressure; and an indexer disposed relative to the plugless valve, the indexer counting the passage of a number of the one or more objects through the housing bore and permitting operation of the plugless valve from the unobstructed condition to the obstructed condition in response to the counted number, wherein the applied fluid pressure in the housing bore obstructed by the plugless valve in the obstructed condition communicates from the housing bore outside the housing via the at least one port.

2 . The tool of claim 1 ,
wherein the plugless valve comprises a first insert and a valve element, the first insert disposed in the housing bore and defining a first bore therethrough, the valve element disposed relative to the first insert and movable from the unobstructed condition unobstructing the first bore to the obstructed condition obstructing the first bore to the applied fluid pressure; wherein the indexer counts the passage of the number of the one or more objects and permits movement of the valve element from the unobstructed condition to the obstructed condition in response to the counted number; and wherein, in response to the applied fluid pressure against the valve element in the obstructed condition, the first insert is axially movable in the housing bore from a closed condition covering the at least one port to an opened condition exposing the at least one port.

3 . The tool of claim 2 , wherein the indexer comprises a second insert disposed in the first bore of the first insert and axially movable in the first bore from a first condition toward the valve element in the unobstructed condition to a second condition away from the valve element, the second insert in the second condition permitting the movement of the valve element from the unobstructed condition to the obstructed condition.

4 . The tool of claim 3 , wherein the indexer comprises at least one key disposed in a second bore of the second insert, the at least one key alternatingly engageable and disengagable with the passage of each object in the second bore and correspondingly disengageable and engageable with at least one slot in the first bore of the first insert.

5 . The tool of claim 4 , wherein the at least one key comprises first and second dogs disposed about the second bore, the first dogs axially displaced from the second dogs.

6 . The tool of claim 4 , wherein the indexer comprises at least one lock disposed on the second insert and alternatingly locking with the at least one slot in the first bore of the first insert.

7 . The tool of claim 6 , wherein the at least one lock comprises snap rings disposed about the second insert, at least one of the snap rings having a shoulder along a first edge for engaging in the at least one slot and having a ramp along a second edge for passing out of the at least one slot.

8 . The tool of claim 6 , wherein the indexer comprises a biasing member biasing the second insert axially in the first bore of the first insert toward the first condition.

9 . The tool of claim 4 , wherein the second insert comprises a pin, and wherein the first bore of the first insert defines a J-slot in which the pin is disposed, the J-slot defining a plurality of junctions for counting the passage of the one or more objects.

10 . The tool of claim 9 , wherein the first bore of the first insert defines a first retraction slot permitting retraction of the at least one key after first movement of the second insert in the first bore, and wherein the first bore of the first insert defines a second retraction slot permitting retraction of the at least one key after second movement of the second insert in the first bore, the second movement being after the first movement and being longer in extent than the first movement.

11 . The tool of claim 10 , wherein the second insert moved in the second movement places the second insert in the second condition.

12 . The tool of claim 4 , wherein the second insert comprises one or more collets having a plurality of fingers with the at least one key.

13 . The tool of claim 3 , wherein the second insert comprises a lock disposed on the second insert and engageable against the first insert when the second insert is in the second condition.

14 . The tool of claim 3 , wherein the indexer comprises an electronic sensor sensing the passage of the one or more objects past the electronic sensor.

15 . The tool of claim 14 , wherein the indexer comprises an actuator in operable communication with the electronic sensor, the actuator disposed relative to the second insert and axially moving the second insert toward the second condition.

16 . The tool of claim 15 , wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of a solenoid, a fuse, a heating coil, a cord, a spring, a motor, and a pump.

17 . The tool of claim 2 , wherein the valve element comprises a flapper valve pivotably connected to the first insert and pivotable from the unobstructed condition unobstructing the first bore to the obstructed condition obstructing the first bore.

18 . The tool of claim 2 , wherein the valve element in the obstructed condition obstructs the applied pressure communicated in the first bore of the first insert and permits axial movement of the first insert in the housing bore from the closed condition to the opened condition in response thereto.

19 . The tool of claim 18 , further comprising a lock disposed on the first insert and engageable in the housing bore with the first insert in the unobstructed condition.

20 . The tool of claim 19 , wherein the lock comprises a snap ring engaging in a groove defined around the housing bore.

21 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the indexer comprises an electronic sensor sensing the passage of the one or more objects for counting.

22 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the indexer comprises an actuator actuating the permission of the operation of the plugless valve.

23 . A downhole tool responsive to applied fluid pressure, the tool comprising:
a housing defining a housing bore therethrough and defining at least one port communicating the housing bore outside the housing; a first insert disposed in the housing bore and defining a first bore therethrough; a valve element disposed relative to the first insert and moveable from an unobstructed condition unobstructing the first bore to a obstructed condition obstructing the first bore; an indexer disposed relative to the first insert and the valve element, the indexer actuatable by a trigger and permitting movement of the valve element from the unobstructed condition to the obstructed condition in response to the actuation, wherein, in response to applied fluid pressure against the valve element in the obstructed condition, the first insert is axially movable in the housing bore from a closed condition covering the at least one port to an opened condition exposing the at least one port.

24 . A method of actuating a sliding sleeve downhole on a tubing strin

Assignees

• Weatherford Technology Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Gonzalez Dick S
• Garcia Cesar G

Classifications

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title

• E21B23/006 Primary

  "J-slot" systems, i.e. lug and slot indexing mechanisms · CPC title

• E21B43/14

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title

• E21B34/10 Primary

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

• E21B47/00

  Survey of boreholes or wells (monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08) · CPC title