One trip perforation and flow control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9631462-B2
Application number	US-201313869690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2013
Priority date	Apr 24, 2013
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A perforating gun is run in the hole with a valve assembly. Both are remotely actuated with known telemetry techniques. The gun is fired and flow takes place through the gun and is regulated remotely from the surface without further wellbore intervention. The valve assembly can be a sliding sleeve that can be regulated between end positions and in between for flow regulation. Other valve types are contemplated. Signaling can be by acoustic or pressure pulse patterns that work in association with a processor to actuate the gun and the valve assembly in the needed sequence.

First claim

We claim:

1. A completion method, comprising:
suspending at least one perforating gun and at least one valve assembly on a running string at to a desired zone in a single trip;
shaping each of said at least one gun to substantially surround said running string in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said running string to define an annularly shaped flow path around said running string;
actuating the at least one gun remotely;
operating said at least one valve assembly remotely;
allowing flow between a surface location and the zone through said annularly shaped flow path extending between said running string and said at least one gun and said at least one valve assembly.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
said allowing flow further comprises allowing flow through said at least one gun after said actuating.

3. The method of claim 2 , comprising:
regulating said at least one valve assembly to throttle flow between an open and a closed position.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
providing at least one movable sleeve valve as said at least one valve assembly.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
providing a signal generating device at a surface location;
communicating with a processor to process a sent signal and actuate said at least one gun or said at least one valve assembly.

6. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
rotating or translating said sleeve between an open and closed position and positions in between.

7. The method of claim 5 , comprising:
locating said processor adjacent said at least one valve assembly.

8. The method of claim 7 , comprising:
providing at least one of hydraulic conduits, wire, fiber optic, acoustic, pressure pulses or vibration to actuate said at least one valve assembly.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising:
the at least one gun and at least one valve assembly comprise a plurality of guns and valve assemblies
delivering the plurality of guns and valve assemblies associated in pairs and selectively operated from a surface location in a predetermined sequence.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
regulating said at least one valve assembly to throttle flow between an open and a closed position.

11. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
providing at least one movable sleeve valve as said at least one valve assembly.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
rotating or translating said sleeve between an open and closed position and positions in between.

13. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
providing a signal generating device at a surface location;
communicating with a processor to process a sent signal and actuate said at least one gun or said at least one valve assembly.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising:
locating said processor adjacent said at least one valve assembly.

15. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
providing at least one of hydraulic conduits, wire, fiber optic, acoustic, pressure pulses or vibration to actuate said at least one valve assembly.

16. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
the at least one gun and at least one valve assembly comprise a plurality of guns and valve assemblies
delivering the plurality of guns and valve assemblies associated in pairs and selectively operated from a surface location in a predetermined sequence.

17. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
actuating said at least one gun by acoustic, hydraulic pressure from conduits or from a signal wire of adjacent instrument cable or pressure pulse patterns.

18. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
using space in said at least one gun opened by firing said at least one gun to conduct flow axially through said at least one gun to the surface.

19. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
opening said at least one valve assembly with operating said at least one gun;
providing a tortuous path for flow through said at least one gun for flow control.

20. The method of claim 19 , comprising:
screening the flow through said at least one valve assembly.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Tirado Ricardo A
• Zuklic Stephen N

Classifications

• E21B43/11

  Perforators; Permeators · CPC title

• E21B2034/002

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E21B34/00

  Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells · CPC title

• E21B43/12 Primary

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title

• E21B2200/04

  Ball valves · CPC title