Multi-barrier system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8955600-B2
Application number	US-201113080363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2011
Priority date	Apr 5, 2011
Publication date	Feb 17, 2015
Grant date	Feb 17, 2015

Abstract

A multi-barrier system includes a first valve and a second valve that are both in fluidic communication with a lower completion. The first valve and the second valve are positioned proximate an uphole extent of the lower completion, and a member in operable communication with the first valve and the second valve. The system is configured such that both the first valve and the second valve are open when the member is in a first position, the first valve is closed and the second valve is open when the member in a second position, the first valve is open and the second valve is closed when the member is in a third position, and the first valve and the second valve are both closed when the member is in a fourth position. The first valve and the second valve are closable in response to retrieval of an upper completion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multi-barrier system comprising:
a first valve in fluidic communication with a lower completion;
a second valve in fluidic communication with the lower completion, the first valve and the second valve being in series such that flow through one of the first and the second valve also flows through the other of the first and the second valve, the first valve and the second valve being positioned proximate an uphole extent of the lower completion; and
a member in operable communication with the first valve and the second valve configured to cause the first valve and the second valve to actuate between open and closed by movement of the member, the member configured to have both the first valve and the second valve open in response to the member being in a first position, the first valve closed and the second valve open in response to the member being in a second position, the first valve open and the second valve closed in response to the member being in a third position, and the first valve and the second valve both closed in response to the member being in a fourth position, each of the first position, the second position, the third position and the fourth position being a different position with each of the four positions of the member being achieved in sequence in response to the member moving in a same direction, the first valve and the second valve being closable in response to retrieval of an upper completion.

2. The multi-barrier system of claim 1 , further comprising a seal sealably engagable with the lower completion and a borehole.

3. The multi-barrier system of claim 1 , wherein closure of either the first valve or the second valve seals the lower completion.

4. The multi-barrier system of claim 1 , wherein sealing integrity of each of the first valve and the second valve are independently testable while closed when the other valve is open.

5. The multi-barrier system of claim 1 , further comprising a shifting tool operably connectable with the member.

6. The multi-barrier system of claim 5 , wherein the shifting tool is retrievable with the upper completion.

7. The multi-barrier system of claim 5 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are openable upon reengagement with an upper completion.

8. The multi-barrier system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the multi-barrier systems are stackable.

9. The multi-barrier system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure-balancing device in operable communication with at least one of the first valve, the second valve and the member configured to prevent a hydraulic lock condition.

10. The multi-barrier system of claim 1 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are actuatable through mechanical linkage to an upper completion.

11. A method of redundantly sealing a wellbore nonpermanently upon retrieval of an upper completion, comprising:
retrieving an upper completion from a lower completion;
moving a member in a same direction during the retrieving;
closing a first valve with movement of the member from a first position to a second position while maintaining a second valve open, the first position being different than the second position;
closing the second valve with movement of the member from the second position to a third position while opening the first valve with the movement of the member from the second position to the third position, the second position being different than the third position;
closing the first valve with movement of the member from the third position to a fourth position while maintaining the second valve closed, the third position being different than the fourth position; and
redundantly sealing the wellbore.

12. The method of redundantly sealing a wellbore nonpermanently upon retrieval of an upper completion of claim 11 , further comprising disconnecting a shifting tool from operable communication with the first valve and the second valve with the retrieving.

13. The method of redundantly sealing a wellbore nonpermanently upon retrieval of an upper completion of claim 11 , further comprising:
connecting an upper completion to the lower completion; and
opening the first valve and the second valve.

14. The method of redundantly sealing a wellbore nonpermanently upon retrieval of an upper completion of claim 13 , further comprising:
opening the first valve while maintaining the second valve closed; and
closing the first valve while opening the second valve.

15. The method of redundantly sealing a wellbore nonpermanently upon retrieval of an upper completion of claim 11 , further comprising opening multiple valves in an upper completion connected to the lower completion.

16. The method of redundantly sealing a wellbore nonpermanently upon retrieval of an upper completion of claim 11 , further comprising balancing pressure across a member in operable communication with the first valve and the second valve while moving the member.

17. The method of redundantly sealing a wellbore nonpermanently upon retrieval of an upper completion of claim 16 , further comprising avoiding a hydraulic lock with the pressure balancing.

Assignees

• Lauderdale Donald P
• Schexnayder Wilfred
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Lauderdale Donald P
• Schexnayder Wilfred

Classifications

• E21B34/063 Primary

  Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc (E21B34/103 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B34/101

  with means for equalizing fluid pressure above and below the valve · 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

• E21B34/142

  unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons · CPC title