Automated remote actuation system
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsRex Burgos, Douglas A. Pipchuk, Larry J. Leising
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique provides an actuation system employed to actuate a tool, such as a downhole tool. The tool is actuated by an actuator element, e.g. a ball, which is selectively releasable from a remote location for interaction with the tool. A carrier is used to hold the actuator element at the remote location until its desired release for interaction with the tool. The carrier may comprise an electro-mechanical actuator mechanism positioned to control release of the actuator element upon receipt of an appropriate control signal.
Claims20
A system for use in a well, comprising:
- a downhole tool actuated by an actuator element;
- a downhole carrier to carry a plurality of the actuator elements from a well surface to a position in the well, the downhole carrier comprising an electro-mechanical actuator mechanism selectively operable, from the well surface, to control release of each actuator element, at least one of the actuator elements being provided for actuation of the downhole tool;
- and
- coiled tubing to convey the downhole carrier into the well;
- and
- a control line routed along a flow path of the coiled tubing from a surface location to the downhole carrier to control operation of the electro-mechanical actuator mechanism.
A method for use in a well, comprising:
- coupling a ball actuatable tool into a tool string;
- positioning a ball carrier in the tool string;
- positioning a ball in the ball carrier;
- delivering the tool string, the ball actuatable tool, the ball, and the ball carrier downhole into a wellbore;
- sending a control signal downhole, via a communication line deployed in a flow path of the tool string, to a receiver/controller of the ball carrier;
- based on the control signal, enabling an electro-mechanical device to release a ball from the ball carrier;
- and
- providing a secondary input to the ball carrier to cause release of the ball from the ball carrier.
A system, comprising:
- a carrier that is part of a bottom hole assembly deployable, via a coiled tubing, in a wellbore, the carrier being sized to carry a plurality of actuator elements which are releasable to actuate at least one downstream tool, the carrier comprising an electro-mechanical actuator mechanism positioned to control release of at least one of the actuator elements from the carrier upon receipt of a control signal from the wellbore surface, the release of the actuator elements controlled by control signals sent along a control line disposed in a flow path of the coiled tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.