US 6,186,229 B1 · Downhole connector for production tubing and control line and method

Abstract

A connector is disclosed to facilitate the testing of a control line or lines adjacent a bottomhole assembly. A running tool is connected to a lower portion of the connector which is, in turn, connected to the bottomhole assembly. The running tool allows testing of the control line adjacent the bottomhole assembly and thereafter, the operation of components of the bottomhole assembly. The running tool is removed and the upper portion of the string, including the mating portion of the connector at its lower end, is inserted into the wellbore. The connector components are self-aligning and lock to each other downhole to complete the production tubing and the control line tubing to the surface. Multiple control lines are envisioned between the surface and the bottomhole assembly. Multiple connectors can be used in a given production string, and provisions can be made for operation of a multiplicity of downhole components from the control line system which extends along the production tubing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for downhole testing, from the surface, of at least one control line adjacent a downhole tool assembly comprising:

at least one tubular housing connectable to the downhole tool assembly, said at least one tubular housing comprising at least one exterior connection connected to said at least one control line which extends toward the downhole tool assembly;
a running tool having an interior defined by a wall and connectable to said at least one tubular housing to allow said at least one tubular housing with said at least one control line and the downhole tool assembly to be run to a desired location downhole, said running tool in fluid communication with said at least one exterior connection through an opening in said wall so as to allow a pressure test at said desired location through said running tool of said at least one control line which extends from said at least one exterior connection.

A method of testing at least one control line downhole comprising:

connecting a tubular housing to a downhole tool assembly, said tubular housing having at least one external control line and at least one connection for said at least one control line;
connecting a running tool to said tubular housing;
providing fluid communication through said running tool into said external control line;
connecting tubing to said running tool;
running in said running tool on said tubing;
pressure testing the at least one external control line extending downhole from said tubular housing through said running tool.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Downhole connector for production tubing and control line and method

Life of this patent

Downhole connector for production tubing and control line and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20