Downhole communication and control system and method for non-sequential downhole operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9745823-B2
Application number	US-201514879516-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2015
Priority date	Nov 7, 2013
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A downhole communication and control system configured for use in a non-sequential order of treating a borehole, the system includes a string having at least three ports including first, second, and third longitudinally spaced ports arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string; at least three frac sleeve systems including first, second, and third frac sleeve systems arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string and arranged to open and close the first, second, and third ports, respectively, each frac sleeve system having self-powered, electronically triggered first and second sleeves; and, communication signals to trigger the first, second, and third frac sleeve systems into moving the first and second sleeves to open and close the ports. Also included is a method of completing downhole operations in a non-sequential order.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A downhole communication and control system configured for use in a non-sequential order of treating a borehole, the system comprising:
a string having at least three ports including first, second, and third longitudinally spaced ports arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string;
at least three frac sleeve systems including first, second, and third frac sleeve systems arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string and arranged to open and close the first, second, and third ports, respectively, each frac sleeve system having self-powered, electronically triggered first and second sleeves;
communication signals to trigger the first, second, and third frac sleeve systems into moving the first and second sleeves to open and close the ports; and,
a control line that is spliceless from downhole of the first frac sleeve system to uphole of the third frac sleeve system, the control line configured to deliver the communication signals to electronic triggers of the first, second, and third frac sleeve systems.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication signals trigger the first, second, and third frac sleeve systems into moving to open and close the ports in a non-sequential order.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication signals include:
a first communication signal, which triggers the first frac sleeve system to open the first port;
a second communication signal, which triggers the third frac sleeve system to open the third port;
a third communication signal, which triggers the first frac sleeve system to close the first port;
a fourth communication signal, which triggers the second frac sleeve system to open second port;
a fifth communication signal, which triggers the third frac sleeve system to close the third port; and,
a sixth communication signal, which triggers the second frac sleeve system to close the second port,
wherein the first through sixth communication signals are delivered sequentially.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit programmed to provide the communication signals.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second sleeve in each of the frac sleeve systems includes a dissolvable insert substantially alignable with its respective port in a closed condition of the second sleeve.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a self-powered, electronically triggered packer system between each adjacent pair of frac sleeve systems.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of gap subs, each gap sub having an electrically open and an electrically closed position, each gap sub directing current to a respective frac sleeve system when in the electrically closed position.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein each frac sleeve system includes a substantially constant inner diameter and does not require a ball seat for operability.

9. A method of completing downhole operations in a non-sequential order using the system of claim 1 , the method comprising:
triggering the first frac sleeve system to open the first port;
injecting a borehole with fluid through the first port;
triggering the third frac sleeve system to open the third port;
triggering the first frac sleeve system to close the first port, subsequent triggering the third frac sleeve system to open the third port;
injecting a borehole with fluid through the third port;
triggering the second frac sleeve system to open the second port;
triggering the third frac sleeve system to close the third port, subsequent triggering the second frac sleeve system to open the second port;
injecting a borehole with fluid through the second port; and,
triggering the second frac sleeve system to close the second port.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising dissolving a dissolvable insert in the second sleeve assembly of each frac sleeve system subsequent triggering the second frac sleeve system to close the second port.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein each first and second frac sleeve assembly in the first, second, and third frac sleeve systems includes first and second electronic triggers, and wherein triggering the first, second and third frac sleeve systems includes communicating the communication signals to each electronic trigger via an inductive coupler.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein each first and second frac sleeves in the first, second, and third frac sleeve systems is associated with an electronic trigger, and wherein triggering the first, second and third frac sleeve systems includes communicating the communication signals to each electronic trigger by directing current in a downhole direction via the spliceless control line on an exterior of the string to a location downhole of the first frac sleeve system and then in an uphole direction within the string.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein directing current in an uphole direction within the string includes passing current through at least one gap sub associated with each frac sleeve system when the at least one gap sub is in an electrically closed condition.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising charging a battery or capacitor within each gap sub.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein producing through each port includes producing through a screened sleeve through each port.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising reopening each closed port, subsequent completion of all injection treatments, and producing through each port.

17. A downhole communication and control system configured for use in a non-sequential order of treating a borehole, the system comprising:
a string having at least three ports including first, second, and third longitudinally spaced ports arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string;
at least three frac sleeve systems including first, second, and third frac sleeve systems arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string and arranged to open and close the first, second, and third ports, respectively, each frac sleeve system having self-powered, electronically triggered first and second sleeves, each frac sleeve system further including a body, first and second electronic triggers, first and second openings in the body openable to a first pressure, first and second enclosed chambers within the body having a second pressure less than that of the first pressure, and first and second piston members positioned between the first and second openings and the first and second chambers, respectively; and,
communication signals to trigger the first, second, and third frac sleeve systems into moving the first and second sleeves to open and close the ports;
wherein the communication signals sent to the first and second electronic triggers expose the first and second piston members to the first pressure via the first and second openings and movement of the first and second piston members translates to movement of the first or second sleeves.

18. A downhole communication and control system configured for use in a non-sequential order of treating a borehole, the system comprising:
a string having at least three ports including first, second, and third longitudinally spaced ports arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string;
at least three frac sleeve systems including first, second, and third frac sleeve systems arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string and arranged to open and close the first, second, and third ports, respectively, each frac sleeve system having self-powered, electronica

Assignees

• Wood Edward T
• Mills Aubrey C
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Wood Edward T
• Mills Aubrey C

Classifications

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title

• E21B43/247

  in association with fracturing processes {or crevice forming processes} · CPC title

• E21B43/14 Primary

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title

• E21B34/12

  operated by movement of casings or tubings · CPC title

• E21B34/066 Primary

  electrically actuated · CPC title