Dual barrier open water well completion systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9404333-B2
Application number	US-201314418052-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2013
Priority date	Jul 31, 2012
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

A well completion system in accordance with one or more embodiments includes a shallow set barrier installed in an upper completion section of a well, a deep set barrier installed in a lower section of the well, a first sensor disposed to gauge a pressure in a first area between the deep set barrier and the shallow set barrier and a communication device to communicate the gauged pressure. The lower section may be located below a production completion when it is installed in the upper completion section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A well completion system, comprising:
a shallow set barrier ( 56 ) installed in an upper section ( 58 ) of a well ( 10 ) extending down from a wellhead ( 16 ) to a formation ( 9 );
a deep set barrier ( 54 , 114 ) installed in a lower section ( 28 ) of the well, the lower section located below a production completion when it is installed in the upper section;
a first sensor ( 64 , 328 ) disposed to gauge a pressure in a first area ( 62 ) between the deep set barrier and the shallow set barrier; and
a communication device ( 62 , 78 , 124 ) coupled with the first sensor to communicate the gauged pressure wherein the deep set barrier is formed by a lower completion ( 138 ) comprising:
an upper packer ( 30 ) installed in the lower section of the well,
a lower packer ( 138 ) installed below the upper packer;
an intermediate barrier valve ( 44 ) located between the upper packer and the lower packer, the intermediate barrier valve and the upper packer forming an upper deep set barrier ( 114 ); and
a lower barrier valve ( 36 ) located below the lower packer, the lower barrier valve and the lower packer forming a lower deep set barrier ( 112 ).

2. The well completion system of claim 1 , further comprising a subsea isolation device ( 72 ) connected to the wellhead.

3. The well completion system of claim 1 , wherein the well is suspended.

4. The well completion system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor and the communication device are located behind a casing ( 24 ) installed in the well.

5. The well completion of claim 1 , wherein a production completion ( 86 ) is installed in the upper section, and further comprising:
an additional shallow set barrier ( 102 ) installed above the shallow set barrier.

6. The well completion of claim 1 , wherein the deep set barrier comprises an upper deep set barrier ( 114 ) and a lower deep set barrier ( 112 ).

7. The well completion of claim 6 , comprising a second sensor ( 80 , 228 ) disposed to gauge pressure in a second area ( 118 ) between the upper deep set barrier and the lower deep set barrier.

8. The well completion of claim 6 , wherein the second sensor is coupled to the communication device; and
the first sensor, the second sensor, and the communication device are located behind a casing installed in the well.

9. The well completion of claim 1 , wherein the deep set barrier comprises:
a lower deep set barrier ( 112 ) including a lower barrier valve ( 36 ) and a lower packer ( 30 or 138 ); and
an upper deep set barrier ( 114 ) including an intermediate barrier valve ( 44 ) and an intermediate packer ( 42 or 30 ).

10. The well completion of claim 9 , wherein the intermediate barrier valve is a dual trip saver formation isolation valve.

11. The well completion of claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor ( 80 , 228 ) disposed to gauge a second pressure in a second area ( 118 ) between the upper deep set barrier and the lower deep set barrier.

12. The well completion of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second sensor ( 80 , 228 ) disposed to gauge a second pressure in an area exterior ( 146 ) of the lower completion between the upper packer and the lower packer; and
a port ( 84 ) providing pressure communication between the area exterior and an interior ( 135 ) of the lower completion between the lower barrier valve and the intermediate barrier valve.

13. A well comprising:
a casing ( 24 ) extending down from a wellhead ( 16 ) toward a formation ( 9 );
a subsea isolation device ( 72 ) connected at the wellhead;
an upper deep set barrier ( 114 ) comprising an intermediate packer ( 42 or 30 ) and an intermediate barrier valve ( 44 ) installed in a lower section ( 28 ) of the casing;
a lower completion ( 26 or 138 ) installed in the lower section and providing a lower deep set barrier ( 114 ) comprising a lower packer ( 30 or 138 ) and a lower barrier valve ( 36 );
a gravel pack port ( 34 ) formed through the lower completion between the lower barrier valve and the lower packer and providing communication between an interior ( 135 ) of the lower completion and an exterior ( 146 );
a device ( 46 ) sealing the gravel pack port;
a first sensor ( 64 , 328 ) gauging pressure in a first area ( 62 ) between the shallow set barrier and the upper deep set barrier; and
a second sensor ( 80 , 228 ) gauging pressure in a second area ( 118 ) between the upper deep set barrier valve and the lower deep set barrier valve.

14. The well of claim 13 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are located behind the casing.

15. The well of claim 13 , wherein the intermediate packer comprises slips ( 144 ) engaging the casing and the lower packer does not include slips.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Patel Dinesh R

Classifications

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• E21B33/064

  specially adapted for underwater well heads · CPC title

• E21B43/04

  Gravelling of wells · CPC title

• E21B33/12

  Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) · CPC title

• E21B33/124 Primary

  Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space · CPC title