Multifunction End Cap for Coiled Tube Telemetry

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016153276-A1
Application number	US-201314904090-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 14, 2013
Priority date	Aug 14, 2013
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multifunctional end cap assembly for use in terminating the toe end of subsurface coiled tubing strings that include multiple sensors. The assembly includes provisions for turnarounds for DTS or DAS systems as well as provisions for connecting formation pressures with a pressure transducer within the coiled tubing string.

First claim

1 . A multifunction end cap assembly for sealing the toe or lower end of a subsurface coiled tubing string comprising:
a. a metallic end cap including a weldable surface used to seal against the toe end of the coiled tubing string; b. multiple ribs extending from the location of the weldable surface and into the interior of the coiled tubing string and attached to a front plate of the end cap assembly; c. a turnaround for sensing optical fibers positioned within the extended ribs and connected by first and second conduits to first and second openings in the front plate of the end cap assembly; d. an inlet port opening in the side of the metallic end cap providing a pressure pathway from outside the end cap through a third conduit to a third opening in the front plate of the end cap assembly.

2 . The multifunction end cap assembly for sealing the toe or lower end of a subsurface coiled tubing string of claim 1 further comprising:
a. conduit tubing within the coiled tubing string connected to the first and second openings of the front plate of the end cap assembly and providing communication from the first and second conduits of the turnaround positioned within the extended ribs back to the surface.

3 . The multifunction end cap assembly for sealing the toe or lower end of a subsurface coiled tubing string of claim 1 further comprising:
a. pressure tubing within the coiled tubing string connected to the third opening of the front plate of the end cap assembly, providing pressure communication the inlet port opening in the side of the end cap and then connected within the coiled tubing string to a pressure transducer.

4 . A multifunction end cap assembly for sealing the toe or lower end of a subsurface coiled tubing string comprising:
a. a metallic end cap including a weldable surface used to seal against the toe end of the coiled tubing string; b. multiple ribs extending from the location of the weldable surface and into the interior of the coiled tubing string and attached to a front plate of the end cap assembly; c. a single ended conduit positioned within the extended ribs and connected to a first opening in the front plate of the end cap assembly; said single ended conduit exiting an opening in the end cap via a check valve; d. an inlet port opening in the side of the metallic end cap providing a pressure pathway from outside the end cap through a second conduit to a second opening in the front plate of the end cap assembly.

5 . The multifunction end cap assembly for sealing the toe or lower end of a subsurface coiled tubing string of claim 4 further comprising:
a. conduit tubing within the coiled tubing string connected to the first opening of the front plate of the end cap assembly and providing communication from the single ended conduit positioned within the extended ribs back to the surface.

6 . The multifunction end cap assembly for sealing the toe or lower end of a subsurface coiled tubing string of claim 4 further comprising:
a. pressure tubing within the coiled tubing string connected to the second opening of the front plate of the end cap assembly, providing pressure communication the inlet port opening in the side of the end cap and then connected within the coiled tubing string to a pressure transducer.

7 . A method for installing sensors for subsurface coiled tubing strings, the method comprising:
a. coupling a multifunction end cap to the toe or lower end of a subsurface coiled tubing string; wherein said multifunction end cap comprises an integrated turnaround and an inlet port opening in the side of the multifunction end cap; b. coupling the inlet port opening via pressure conduit tubing to a pressure transducer within the coiled tubing; c. coupling the integrated turnaround to conduit tubing within the coiled tubing; d. welding the end cap to the coiled tubing to seal against the toe end of the coiled tubing; and e. running a fiber optic sensor into the conduit tubing coupled to the integrated turnaround.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein said running a fiber optic sensor comprises circulating a fluid flow through the conduit tubing coupled to the integrated turnaround to carry the fiber optic sensor through the integrated turnaround and back to the surface.

9 . The method of claim 7 wherein said running a fiber optic sensor comprises circulating a fluid flow through the conduit tubing coupled to the integrated turnaround to pump a pull cable through the integrated turnaround; attaching the pull cable to a fiber optic sensor; and pulling the fiber optic sensor through the integrated turnaround and back to the surface.

10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising installing the coiled tubing in a subsurface environment and employing the fiber optic sensor for distributed temperature or distributed acoustic sensing.

11 . A method for installing sensors for subsurface coiled tubing strings, the method comprising:
a. coupling a multifunction end cap to the toe or lower end of a subsurface coiled tubing string; wherein said multifunction end cap comprises single ended conduit exiting an opening in the end cap via a check valve, and an inlet port opening in the side of the multifunction end cap; b. coupling the inlet port opening via pressure conduit tubing to a pressure transducer within the coiled tubing; c. coupling the single ended conduit to conduit tubing within the coiled tubing; d. welding the end cap to the coiled tubing to seal against the toe end of the coiled tubing; e. running a fiber optic sensor into the conduit tubing coupled to the single ended conduit.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein said running a fiber optic sensor comprises circulating a fluid flow through the conduit tubing coupled to the single ended conduit and out of the opening in the end cap via a check valve to carry the fiber optic sensor to the toe end of the coiled tubing string.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising installing the coiled tubing in a subsurface environment and employing the fiber optic sensor for distributed temperature or distributed acoustic sensing.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc
• Haliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Park Brian
• Jaaskelainen Mikko

Classifications

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• E21B19/22

  Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes {(lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003)} · CPC title

• E21B17/20

  Flexible or articulated drilling pipes {, e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables} · CPC title

• E21B47/135

  using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves · CPC title

• E21B47/065

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic