Multizone retrieval system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9879501-B2
Application number	US-201414508750-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2014
Priority date	Mar 7, 2014
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

In one aspect, an apparatus for use in a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment contains an outer assembly that includes an isolation packer corresponding to each of a plurality of zones along the wellbore, wherein each isolation packer is configured to be set in the wellbore, a release module associated with each isolation packer to release its associated isolation packer after such isolation packer has been set in the wellbore, and a disconnect module below each isolation packer that is armed using a first force and activated using a second force.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A completion assembly for use in a wellbore, comprising:
an outer assembly for placement in the wellbore, the outer assembly including:
an isolation packer corresponding to each of a plurality of zones along the wellbore, wherein each isolation packer is configured to be set in the wellbore;
a release module associated with each isolation packer to deactivate its associated isolation packer from a set position after such isolation packer has been set in the wellbore; and
a disconnect module below each isolation packer for separating the outer assembly into two sections wherein the disconnect module is armed using a first force and activated using a second mechanical force.

2. The completion assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the disconnect modules is configured to be activated independently.

3. The completion assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer assembly, when pulled upward, will disconnect at an uppermost disconnect module in the outer assembly that has been activated.

4. The completion assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one disconnect module includes an expansion joint that separates after the expansion joint has traveled a selected distance, thereby enabling the outer string to separate at such disconnect module.

5. The completion assembly of claim 4 , wherein the at least one disconnect module includes a shearing device that shears when the expansion joint travels the selected distance.

6. The completion assembly of claim 4 , wherein the at least one disconnect module includes a first seal device that remains in the wellbore after outer assembly has been separated at such disconnect module, wherein the first seal device allows creating of a seal between the first seal device and a second seal device run into the wellbore.

7. The completion assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one release module further includes an expansion joint.

8. The completion assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one release module is integrated into its associated packer.

9. The completion assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
an inner assembly movable in the outer assembly that includes an activation tool to independently and activate each disconnect module.

10. The completion assembly of claim 9 , wherein the inner assembly is configured to be set in the outer assembly to align a crossover port in the inner assembly with a flow port corresponding to each zone in the outer assembly to supply a treatment fluid to each such flow port.

11. The completion assembly of claim 1 , wherein each disconnect module is configured to be armed when the wellbore is subjected to a pressure above a threshold pressure.

12. The completion assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the outer assembly is pulled upward: the release modules sequentially release their associated isolation packers; and the outer string is separated at the uppermost disconnect module that has been activated.

13. A method of placing a retrievable completion assembly in a multi-zone wellbore, the method comprising:
placing a completion assembly that includes an outer assembly and an inner assembly in the multi-zone wellbore, wherein the outer assembly includes: an isolation packer corresponding to each zone; a release module associated with each isolation packer to deactivate its associated isolation packer from a set position in the wellbore; and a disconnect module below each isolation packer for separating the outer assembly into two sections wherein the disconnect module is armed using a first hydraulic force and activated using a second mechanical force, wherein the outer assembly when pulled upward will disconnect at an uppermost disconnect module that has been armed and activated;
setting at least one isolation packer corresponding to at least one selected zone;
arming the disconnect module below the at least one set packer; and
activating the disconnect module below the at least one set packer to allow for separation of the outer assembly at the activated disconnect module.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the outer assembly includes a flow port corresponding to each zone and the inner assembly includes a frac port for supplying a treatment fluid to each of the flow ports, wherein the method further comprises:
isolating an area around the flow port corresponding to the selected zone;
opening the flow port corresponding to the selected zone; and
supplying the treatment fluid to the selected zone via the frac port and the flow port corresponding to the selected zone.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
pulling the outer assembly to cause the outer assembly to separate at the activated disconnect module; and
removing the outer assembly from the wellbore.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one disconnect module includes an expansion joint that expands after the disconnect module has been armed and separates after a selected travel after it has been activated.

17. The method of claim 13 , the methodfurther comprises:
hydraulically setting all isolation packers;
hydraulically arming all disconnect modules; and
treating the at least one selected zone.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the inner assembly is movable in the outer assembly and includes an activation tool configured to activate each disconnect module.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein when the outer assembly is pulled upward, the release modules sequentially release their associated isolation packers and enable an upper section of the outer assembly to disconnect from a remaining section of the outer assembly at an uppermost disconnect module that has been activated to allow the outer assembly to be pulled from the wellbore.

Assignees

• Hammer Aaron C
• Allen Jason A
• O'Brien Robert S
• Cochran Travis E
• Koli Jai K
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Hammer Aaron C
• Allen Jason A
• O'Brien Robert S
• Cochran Travis E
• Koli Jai K

Classifications

• E21B43/14

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title

• E21B33/124 Primary

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

• E21B33/12 Primary

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

• E21B23/00

  Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells (setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10) · CPC title

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title