Systems and methods for downhole communication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9926769-B2
Application number	US-201414258254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2014
Priority date	Nov 7, 2013
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A method of conducting multiple stage treatments. The method includes running a string into a borehole. The string having at least a first sleeve assembly and a second sleeve assembly. The first sleeve assembly in a position closing a port in the string; communicating from a radial exterior of the string or from a location downhole of the first and second sleeve assemblies to a first electronic trigger of the first sleeve assembly to trigger the first sleeve assembly into moving longitudinally relative to the string to open the port. Performing a treatment operation through the port; communicating from the radial exterior of the string or from a location downhole of the first and second sleeve assemblies to a second electronic trigger of the second sleeve assembly to trigger the second sleeve assembly into moving longitudinally relative to the string to close the port.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of conducting multiple stage treatments, the method comprising:
running a string into a borehole, the string having at least a first sleeve assembly and a second sleeve assembly, the first sleeve assembly in a position closing a port in the string;
communicating from a radial exterior of the string or from a location downhole of the first and second sleeve assemblies to a first electronic trigger of the first sleeve assembly to trigger the first sleeve assembly to move longitudinally relative to the string to open the port;
performing a treatment operation through the port; and,
communicating from the radial exterior of the string or from a location downhole of the first and second sleeve assemblies to a second electronic trigger of the second sleeve assembly to trigger the second sleeve assembly to move longitudinally relative to the string to close the port;
wherein the first and second sleeve assemblies contain sufficient power to move relative to the string.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching a control line to the radial exterior of the string, wherein the control line carries current to trigger the first and second electronic triggers, but does not provide power to the first and second sleeve assemblies.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching a spliceless control line to the radial exterior of the string from at least a location uphole of the first and second sleeve assemblies to the location downhole of the first and second sleeve assemblies, wherein the control line carries current to trigger the first and second electronic triggers.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching a spliceless control line to the radial exterior of the string from an uphole end of the string to a toe of the string.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second sleeve assembly includes a dissolvable insert, the method further comprising, subsequent moving the second sleeve assembly to close the port, dissolving the insert to form a radial aperture in the second sleeve assembly substantially aligned with the port and producing through the radial aperture and the port.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the string includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced ports and a plurality of first and second sleeve assemblies, wherein dissolving the insert occurs subsequent performing a fracture treatment through each longitudinally spaced port.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating from a radial exterior of the string to an electronic trigger of the first and second sleeve assemblies includes communicating via induction.

8. A method of conducting multiple stage treatments, the method comprising:
running a string into a borehole, the string having at least a first sleeve assembly and a second sleeve assembly, the first sleeve assembly in a position closing a port in the string;
communicating from a radial exterior of the string or from a location downhole of the first and second sleeve assemblies to a first electronic trigger of the first sleeve assembly to trigger the first sleeve assembly to move longitudinally relative to the string to open the port;
performing a treatment operation through the port; and,
communicating from the radial exterior of the string or from a location downhole of the first and second sleeve assemblies to a second electronic trigger of the second sleeve assembly to trigger the second sleeve assembly to move longitudinally relative to the string to close the port;
wherein communicating from the location downhole of the first and second sleeve assemblies to the first and second electronic triggers of the first and second sleeve assemblies includes attaching a control line along the radial exterior of the string, and directing current flow in an uphole direction from the control line through one or more gap subs within the string.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein current through at least one of the one or more gap subs in a closed condition charges a battery or capacitor.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of pairs of first and second sleeve assemblies in the string, and associating at least each pair with one of the one or more gap subs.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of packer assemblies, and associating each packer assembly with one of the one or more gap subs.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising opening one of the one or more gap subs to electrically insulate an uphole portion of the string from a downhole portion of the string, relative to the one of the one or more gap subs that is opened, to form an EM antenna having a length of the downhole portion, and sending EM signals via the EM antenna.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein sending EM signals includes sending EM signals to a different string in a lateral borehole or to surface.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising measuring a strength of EM signals received at the different string or at the surface.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising using a measurement of the strength of EM signals received at the different string or at the surface to measure effective resistance of formations to indicate water movement.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising varying the length of the EM antenna by opening a different gap sub amongst the one or more gap subs.

17. The method of claim 8 , further comprising detecting long wavelength EM through-earth signals generated by long wavelength current passing from the control line to a return ground.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising measuring resistivity changes in a subsurface formation as water displaces oil by detecting the long wavelength EM through-earth signals.

19. A method of wireless EM through-earth communication, the method comprising:
directing current in a downhole direction along a conductor cable installed on an exterior of a tubular within a first lateral;
directing current, within the tubular and via one or more gap subs in an electrically closed condition, in an uphole direction from a downhole end of the conductor cable;
activating one of the one or more gap subs to an electrically open condition electrically insulating an uphole portion of the tubular from a downhole portion of the tubular, relative to the one of the one or more gap subs, forming an EM antenna having a length of the downhole portion;
sending EM signals from the EM antenna to a second lateral or surface; and
measuring strength of the EM signals received at the second lateral or surface.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising using a measurement of the strength of EM signals received at the different string or at the surface to measure effective resistance of formations to indicate water movement.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising varying the length of the EM antenna by opening a different gap sub amongst the one or more gap subs.

22. A downhole communication and control system comprising:
a string insertable within a borehole;
at least two electronically triggered devices amongst a plurality of electronically triggered devices within the string; and,
a control line secured to an exterior of the string, the control line in electrical communication with each of the at least two devices;
wherein the control line is spliceless from at least downhole the at least two devices to uphole the at least two devices.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the contr

Assignees

• Wood Edward T
• Holmes Kevin C
• Mills Aubrey C
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Wood Edward T
• Holmes Kevin C
• 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