US 10,704,383 B2 · Downhole operations using remote operated sleeves and apparatus therefor

Abstract

One or more remote-operated sleeve valves are placed along a tubular string downhole. The sleeves can be opened and closed wirelessly, and in embodiments over and over again. Differential pressure between wellbore fluid pressure and an accumulator chamber enable repeated shifting. Each sleeve can have a unique actuation code removing constraints regarding sequence of operation and need for well intervention to access the sleeves. Hydraulic fracturing can be achieved without wellbore obstructions, and other operations benefit for reduced expense in service rigs and the ability or selectively shut off problem zones. Remote signals received downhole include those generated by percussive and seismic, distinguishable from background noise including during pumping.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A system for remotely managing the fluid flow in a wellbore comprises:

one or more remote operated sleeve valves located along a tubular string in the wellbore and forming an annulus therebetween, each of the remote operated sleeve valves having a tubular housing and a bore in fluid communication through one or more ports to the annulus, the sleeve being bi-directional and hydraulically actuable to open the ports in one direction and hydraulically actuable to close the ports in the other direction, spent drive fluid being dumped into a dump reservoir;
and
a signal transmitter at surface for generating wireless signals, each signal comprising a digital code, each digital code represented by a variable number of signal amplitudes exceeding a threshold over a period of time to produce a unique digital code, each unique digital code corresponding to a unique sleeve valve of the one or more remote operated sleeve valves;
and
a signal receiver at each sleeve for actuating the sleeve valve upon receipt of the unique digital code corresponding to the unique sleeve valve.

2 more elements

A method for fluid management of a wellbore accessed by a tubular string, the tubular string extending along wellbore and forming a wellbore annulus therebetween, the method comprising:

locating a plurality of remote operated sleeve valves spaced along the tubular string, each sleeve valve being a unique sleeve valve having a corresponding unique digital code and actuable between an open position to establish fluid communication between the tubular string and the wellbore annulus and closed position;
generating wireless signals to serially transmit a plurality of digital codes each represented by a variable number of signal amplitudes exceeding a threshold over a period of time to produce a plurality of unique digital codes corresponding to each of two or more unique sleeve valves of the plurality of sleeve valves;
the locating of at least one remote operated sleeve valve comprises locating a plurality of sleeve valves spaced on the tubular string, each sleeve valve being a unique sleeve valve having a corresponding unique digital code;
actuating two or more unique sleeve valves to manage fluid communication by
transmitting a first unique digital code of the plurality of unique digital codes for receipt by and actuation of a first sleeve valve, and
transmitting a subsequent unique digital code for receipt by and actuation of a subsequent sleeve valve.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Downhole operations using remote operated sleeves and apparatus therefor

Life of this patent

Downhole operations using remote operated sleeves and apparatus therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27