US 9,428,999 B2Granted

Multiple zone integrated intelligent well completion

AssigneeHaliburton Energy Services, Inc.

InventorsTimothy R. Tips, William M. Richards

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Abstract

A system for use with a well having multiple zones can include multiple well screens which filter fluid flowing between a completion string and respective ones of the zones, at least one optical waveguide which senses at least one property of the fluid as it flows between the completion string and at least one of the zones, multiple flow control devices which variably restrict flow of the fluid through respective ones of the well screens, and multiple pressure sensors which sense pressure of the fluid which flows through respective ones of the well screens. A completion string for use in a subterranean well can include at least one well screen, at least one flow control device which selectively prevents and permits substantially unrestricted flow through the well screen, and at least one other flow control device which is remotely operable, and which variably restricts flow through the well screen.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A system for use with a subterranean well having multiple earth formation zones, the system comprising:

a production string comprising a first control line carried thereon;
and
a completion string coupled to the production string, wherein the completion string comprises a second control line carried thereon, wherein the first control line on the production string is coupled to the second control line on the completion string via a wet connection;
wherein the completion string further comprises:
multiple well screens which filter fluid flowing between the completion string in the well and respective ones of the multiple zones;
at least one optical waveguide which senses at least one property of the fluid as it flows between the completion string and at least one of the zones;
multiple flow control devices which variably restrict flow of the fluid through respective ones of the multiple well screens;
multiple hydraulic control devices which control application of hydraulic actuation pressure to respective ones of the multiple flow control devices to control operation of the multiple flow control devices to variably restrict flow of the fluid through the multiple well screens, wherein the multiple hydraulic control devices are disposed within the completion string, and wherein the multiple hydraulic control devices control operation of the multiple flow control devices using one or more signals transmitted to the multiple hydraulic control devices via the first and second control lines;
and
multiple pressure sensors which sense pressure of the fluid which flows through respective ones of the multiple well screens.

7 more elements

A method of operating a completion string in a subterranean well, the method comprising:

closing all of multiple flow control devices connected in the completion string, the completion string including an electrical control line carried on the completion string, multiple well screens which filter fluid flowing between the completion string and respective ones of multiple earth formation zones, at least one optical waveguide which senses at least one property of the fluid as it flows between the completion string and at least one of the zones, the multiple flow control devices which variably restrict flow of the fluid through respective ones of the multiple well screens, multiple pressure sensors which sense pressure of the fluid which flows through respective ones of the multiple well screens, and at least one hydraulic control device disposed within the completion string;
controlling operation of the multiple flow control devices via the at least one hydraulic control device in response to one or more signals transmitted to the at least one hydraulic control device via the electrical control line;
at least partially opening a first selected one of the flow control devices;
and
measuring a first change in the property sensed by the optical waveguide and a first change in the pressure of the fluid as a result of the opening of the first selected one of the flow control devices.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/960,437Filed 6 Aug 2013 · continuation
Priority: 26 Sep 2012
Published: US 2014/0083690 A127 Mar 2014
Granted: 30 Aug 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

E21B 43/12
Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells: methods or apparatus for…
E21B 34/10
In wells: operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
E21B 43/08
Subsoil filtering: screens or liners
E21B 43/14
Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells: obtaining from a…

Family

PCT/US2012/057215Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Sep 2012
Application13/950,674Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Jul 2013
US 2014/0083691 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 Mar 2014
US 9,163,488 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2014/0083690 A1Published application
US 9,428,999 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.