Remote intervention logic valving method and apparatus
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorsSteven B. Lonnes, William A. Sorem
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system of valves in which the valves operate over a designated pressure interval and are arranged to actuate performance of a sequenced set of events by downhole tools with the application of pressure to said valves.
Claims26
A system comprising two or more valves fluidically coupled to a deployment means;
- wherein each of said valves independently operates over its designated pressure interval based on applied pressure in the system;
- and wherein the two or more valves are arranged to autonomously actuate performance of a sequenced set of events by one or more downhole tools based on an applied fluid pressure in the system to the two or more valves.
A method for perforating and treating multiple intervals of one or more subterranean formations intersected by a wellbore, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) deploying a bottom-hole assembly (“BHA”) utilizing a tubing string within said wellbore, said BHA having a perforating device and a sealing mechanism;
- (b) using said perforating device to perforate at least one interval of said one or more subterranean formations;
- (c) positioning said BHA within said wellbore and activating said sealing mechanism so as to establish a hydraulic seal below said at least one perforated interval;
- (d) pumping a treating fluid down the annulus between said tubing string and said wellbore and into the perforations created by said perforating device, without removing said perforating device from said wellbore;
- (e) releasing said sealing mechanism;
- and
- (f) repeating steps (b) through (e) for at least one additional interval of said one or more subterranean formations;
- wherein at least two of said steps are actuated by a system of two or more valves fluidically coupled to the tubing string, wherein each of said valves independently operates over its designated pressure interval based on applied pressure in the BHA and is configured to independently actuate one or more downhole tools in response to applied fluid pressure in the valve's designed pressure interval, and wherein the two or more valves are arranged to autonomously actuate performance of said two or more steps based on an applied fluid pressure on the system of valves through the BHA.
An apparatus for actuating performance of a sequenced set of events by one or more downhole tools, the apparatus comprising a combination of two or more valves arranged within sub-assemblies and fluidically connected by a deployment means;
- wherein one sub-assembly communicates with another sub-assembly through pressure isolating connections, and wherein the combination of two or more valves autonomously actuates performance of the sequenced set of events by one or more downhole tools based on an applied fluid pressure in the apparatus to the combination of two or more valves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.