Fluid control modules for use with downhole tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9038716-B2
Application number	US-47881909-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2009
Priority date	Jun 5, 2009
Publication date	May 26, 2015
Grant date	May 26, 2015

Abstract

Downhole tool fluid flow control apparatus including a first fluid valve between a first portion of a first flowline and a second portion of a second flowline. The first and second flowlines are adjacent each other. A second fluid valve is between a second portion of the first flowline and a first portion of the second flowline. The first and second fluid valves are controllable to cause fluid flow between the first portion of the first flowline and the second portion of the second flowline or between the first portion of the second flowline and the second portion of the first flowline.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a downhole tool having an elongated body formed by a plurality of discrete modules coupled end-to-end, thus forming first and second flowlines each extending the collective length of the plurality of discrete modules, wherein a first one of the modules comprises a selectively extendable fluid admitting assembly to admit formation fluid into the first and second flowlines, wherein a second one of the modules comprises:
a first portion of the first flowline;
a second portion of the first flowline;
a first portion of the second flowline;
a second portion of the second flowline;
a first fluid valve fluidly coupled between the first portion of the first flowline and the second portion of the second flowline;
a second fluid valve fluidly coupled between the first portion of the second flowline and the second portion of the first flowline;
a third fluid valve fluidly coupled between the first and second portions of the first flowline; and
a fourth fluid valve fluidly coupled between the first and second portions of the second flowline, wherein the first, second, third and fourth fluid valves are controllable to cause fluid to flow from the first portion of the first flowline to the second portion of the second flowline or from the first portion of the second flowline to the second portion of the first flowline; and
wherein the second module does not comprise means for direct fluid communication with the formation, wherein a third one of the modules comprises a first pump, and wherein a fourth one of the modules comprises a second pump.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third and fourth fluid valves are further controllable to cause the fluid to flow between the first and second portions of the first flowline or the first and second portions of the second flowline.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the fluid valves is a two-way valve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the fluid valves is electrically or hydraulically controllable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first sensor coupled to the first flowline and a second sensor coupled to the second flowline.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first, second, third and fourth fluid valves are controllable to enable the first sensor to obtain a measurement from fluid flowing from the first portion of the second flowline and to enable the second sensor to obtain a measurement from fluid flowing from the first portion of the first flowline.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to the first flowline and a plurality of sensors coupled to the second flowline.

8. An apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of discrete modules coupled end-to-end to form at least a portion of a downhole tool having first and second flowlines each extending the collective length of the plurality of discrete modules;
a first fluid valve disposed within a first module of the plurality of discrete modules, wherein the first module comprises first and second portions of the first flowline and first and second portions of the second flowline, wherein the first portion of the first flowline is upstream or downstream relative to the second portion of the second flowline, and wherein the first fluid valve is coupled between the first portion of the first flowline and the second portion of the second flowline; and
a second fluid valve disposed within the first module and coupled between the second portion of the first flowline and the first portion of the second flowline, wherein the second portion of the first flowline is upstream or downstream relative to the first portion of the second flowline, and wherein the first and second fluid valves are controllable to cause fluid to flow between the first portion of the first flowline and the second portion of the second flowline or between the first portion of the second flowline and the second portion of the first flowline;
wherein the first module can fluidly communicate only with an adjacent one of the plurality of modules, wherein a third one of the modules comprises a first pump, and wherein a fourth one of the modules comprises a second pump.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first fluid valve is further coupled between the first and second portions of the first flowline.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second fluid valve is further coupled between the first and second portions of the second flowline.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first fluid valve or the second fluid valve is a three-way valve.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a third fluid valve coupled between the first and second portions of the first flowline and a fourth fluid valve coupled between the first and second portions of the second flowline, wherein the first module comprises the third and fourth fluid valves.

13. An apparatus for use with a drillstring, comprising:
a plurality of discrete modules coupled end-to-end, thereby forming first and second flowlines each extending the collective length of the plurality of discrete modules, wherein each of the plurality of discrete modules comprises a body that surrounds corresponding portions of each of the first and second flowlines;
wherein a first module of the plurality of discrete modules comprises a plurality of fluid flow valves to control a flow of fluid through and between the first and second flowlines, wherein actuating one or more of the plurality of fluid flow valves causes fluid flowing in an upstream portion of the first flowline to flow through a downstream portion of the second flowline;
wherein the first module is not configured to:
selectively seal off or isolate selected portions of a wellbore wall;
fluidly couple directly to a subterranean formation; or
draw a fluid sample directly from the subterranean formation; and

wherein a second module of the plurality of discrete modules is configured to:
selectively seal off or isolate a selected portion of the wellbore wall;
fluidly couple directly to the subterranean formation; and
draw a fluid sample directly from the subterranean formation, wherein a third module of the plurality of discrete modules comprises a first pump, and wherein a fourth module of the plurality of discrete modules comprises a second pump.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein actuating one or more of the plurality of fluid flow valves further causes fluid flowing in an upstream portion of the second flowline within the first module to flow through a downstream portion of the first flowline within the first module.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of fluid flow valves is a two-way valve.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of fluid flow valves is a three-way valve.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a first sensor coupled to the first flowline within the first module and a second sensor coupled to the second flowline within the first module.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of fluid flow valves are controllable to enable a measurement to be obtained from either the first sensor or the second sensor from fluid flowing from the upstream portion of the first flowline within the first module.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of fluid flow valves are controllable to enable a measurement to be obtained via the first sensor from fluid flowing from an upstream portion of the second

Assignees

• Briquet Stephane
• Milkovisch Mark
• Dyas Scott
• Evans Ii Wade W
• Zanca Kevin
• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Briquet Stephane
• Milkovisch Mark
• Dyas Scott
• Evans Ii Wade W
• Zanca Kevin

Classifications

• E21B49/10 Primary

  using side-wall fluid samplers or testers · CPC title