Inductive coupler activated completion system
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsKlaus B. Huber, Joe C. Hromas, Nolan C. Lerche
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A well completion apparatus disposed in a wellbore having first and second tubings and a tool disposed in the second tubing. An inductive coupler has a male coil located in the first tubing and is configured to receive an input signal. A female coil in the inductive coupler is attached to the first tubing and is electrically connected to the tool for inductively coupling to the male coil. An output signal is induced in the female in response to the input signal received in the male coil, and the output signal is provided to activate the tool in response to the input signal.
Claims27
A well completion apparatus disposed in a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
- first and second tubings;
- a tool disposed in the second tubing;
- and
- an inductive coupler, including:
- a first coil moveable in the first tubing to and past the tool in the second tubing, the first coil adapted to receive an input signal;
- and
- a second coil electrically connected to the tool for inductively coupling to the first coil, an output signal being generated in the second coil in response to the input signal to activate the tool.
A well completion apparatus disposed in a wellbore having a first zone and a second zone, the apparatus comprising:
- first and second tools disposed in the first and second zones, respectively;
- and
- an inductive coupler, including:
- a first coil located in the wellbore and adapted to receive an input signal;
- a plurality of second coils electrically connected to respective first and second tools,
- wherein the first coil is movable in the wellbore for selectively positioning the first coil adjacent the second coils to selectively activate the first and second tools in response to the input signal.
A well completion apparatus disposed in a wellbore having a first zone and a second zone, the apparatus comprising:
- first and second downhole devices disposed in the first and second zones, respectively;
- and
- an energy coupler, including:
- an energy source movable in the wellbore and adapted to receive an activating signal;
- a first energy coupler portion responsive to the activating signal in an electrically contactless fashion;
- and
- a second energy coupler portion responsive to the activating signal in an electrically contactless fashion,
- wherein the energy source is movable in the tubing for selectively positioning the energy source adjacent the first and second energy generators to selectively activate the first and second tools.
A method of activating a downhole device located in a first tubing in a wellbore, the method comprising:
- lowering a first coil member down a second tubing;
- providing an input signal to the first coil member when the first coil member is positioned adjacent a second coil member electrically coupled to the downhole device, wherein an output signal is induced in the second coil member to activate the downhole device;
- and
- further lowering the first coil member in the second tubing past the downhole device.
A method of activating first and second tools disposed in first and second zones, respectively, of a wellbore, the method comprising:
- lowering a first coil member down the wellbore;
- and
- providing an input signal to the first coil member once the first coil member is selectively positioned adjacent one of a plurality of second coil members to selectively activate the first or second tool.
An apparatus for activating a plurality of downhole devices in a well, comprising:
- a tubing;
- first inductive coupler portions positioned at different depths in the well and attached to the tubing;
- and
- a second inductive coupler portion moveable in the first tubing into selective alignment with one of the first inductive coupler portions and adapted to receive signals to generate respective signals in the first inductive coupler portions for activating the downhole devices.
Apparatus for activating a plurality of downhole devices in a well, comprising:
- a tubing;
- and
- an energy coupler, including:
- an energy source moveable in the tubing and adapted to generate an activating signal;
- and
- a plurality of signal generators attached to the tubing at different depths in the wellbore, the energy source being selectively moveable to one of the plurality of signal generators, each signal generator being adapted to receive in an electrically contactless fashion the activating signal to activate a corresponding one of the downhole devices.
A method of activating a plurality of downhole devices in a plurality of respective zones in a wellbore, comprising:
- lowering an energy source down the wellbore;
- selectively positioning the energy source adjacent one of a plurality of signal generators electrically coupled to respective downhole devices;
- and
- energizing the energy source to generate a signal in one of the signal generators to activate a respective downhole device.
A well completion apparatus disposed in a wellbore, comprising:
- a plurality of perforating guns;
- first inductive coupler portions for activating respective perforating guns;
- a second inductively coupler portion selectively positionable adjacent one of the first inductive coupler portions, the second inductive coupler portion adapted to receive an input signal that is coupled to one of the first inductive coupler portions,
- each perforating gun including an electrically activatable firing module, a detonating assembly, and an actuating system coupled to the firing module for ballistically coupling the firing module to the detonating assembly in response to presence of greater than a predetermined amount of pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.