IP Library Granted Patent US 9,404,335
Granted Patent B2
US 9,404,335 · App. 14/357,828 · Granted Aug 2, 2016

Annular barrier system with flow lines

Inventors: Jørgen Hallundbæk (Græsted, DK); Paul Hazel (Aberdeen, GB)
Assignee: WELLTEC A/S
E21B33/127E21B33/1243E21B33/1277
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,404,335
App. No.
14/357,828
Granted
Aug 2, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to an annular barrier system ( 100 ) connected with a well head ( 40 ) via a well tubular structure ( 3 ), comprising a first annular barrier ( 1 ) and a second annular barrier ( 21 ) to be expanded in an annulus ( 2 ) between the well tubular structure and an inside wall ( 4 ) of a casing ( 20 ) or a borehole ( 5 ) downhole for providing zone isolation between a first zone ( 8 ) and a second zone ( 9 ), each annular barrier comprising a tubular part ( 6 ) extending in a longitudinal direction for mounting as part of the well tubular structure, an expandable sleeve ( 7 ) surrounding the tubular part and defining a space ( 13 ), an opening ( 11 ) for letting fluid into the space to expand the sleeve, and a first connection part ( 15 ) and a second connection part ( 16 ) connecting the expandable sleeve with the tubular part, and wherein the first connection part is arranged nearest to the well head, the system further comprising a flow line ( 17 ) fluidly connecting the well head with the opening for supplying fluid to the opening for expanding the expandable sleeve. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a well completion system and method.

Claims (36)

1. An annular barrier system connected with a well head via a well tubular structure, comprising:

a first annular barrier and a second annular barrier to be expanded in an annulus between the well tubular structure and an inside wall of a casing or a borehole downhole for providing zone isolation between a first zone and a second zone, each annular barrier comprising:

a tubular part extending in a longitudinal direction for mounting as part of the well tubular structure;

an expandable sleeve surrounding the tubular part and defining a space;

an opening for letting fluid into the space to expand the sleeve; and

a first connection part and a second connection part connecting the expandable sleeve with the tubular part, and wherein the first connection part is arranged nearest to the well head,

the system further comprising a first flow line fluidly connecting the well head with the opening of the first annular barrier for supplying fluid to the opening for expanding the expandable sleeve, and the second connection part of the first annular barrier having a second opening and the second opening of the second connection part being fluidly connected with an opening arranged in the first connection part of the second annular barrier via a second flow line for expanding the expandable sleeve of the second annular barrier, the space of the expandable sleeve of the first annular barrier and the space of the expandable sleeve of the second annular barrier being directly fluidly connected via the second flow line, the second flow line being configured to allow fluid to pass directly from the space of the first annular barrier to the space of the second annular barrier,

wherein a two-way valve is arranged in the second opening, the two-way valve being configured, at a predetermined pressure, to disconnect communication to the second annular barrier and to open fluid communication to an annular space between the annular barriers in their expanded condition to pressurise the annular space.

2. An annular barrier system according to claim 1 , wherein a valve is arranged in the opening of the first connection part of the first annular barrier.

3. An annular barrier system according to claim 2 , wherein the valve is adapted to close at a predetermined pressure.

4. An annular barrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the first flow line extends along an outer face of the well tubular structure.

5. An annular barrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the first flow line may extend inside or in a groove in the well tubular structure.

6. An annular barrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the first flow line has an overall outer diameter (D fl ) which is substantially smaller than an overall outer diameter (D tp ) of the tubular part.

7. An annular barrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the first connection part has the opening fluidly connected to the well head via the first flow line.

8. An annular barrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a release device arranged in connection with the opening of the first annular barrier for disconnecting the first flow line after expansion of the sleeve.

9. An annular barrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a pressure sensor tool.

10. An annular barrier system according to claim 9 , wherein the tool comprises a gas detection unit and/or a pressure measuring unit.

11. An annular barrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a third annular barrier comprising:

a tubular part extending in a longitudinal direction for mounting as part of the well tubular structure;

an expandable sleeve surrounding the tubular part and defining a space;

an opening for letting fluid into the space to expand the sleeve; and

a first connection part and a second connection part connecting the expandable sleeve with the tubular part, and wherein the first connection part is arranged nearest to the well head,

the system further comprising a flow line fluidly connecting an opening in the second connection part of the second annular barrier with an opening in the first connection part of the third annular barrier for supplying fluid to the opening for expanding the expandable sleeve of the third annular barrier.

12. An annular barrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the two-way valve is a switch valve fluidly connecting the first flow line with the second flow line when the fluid reaches a predetermined pressure.

13. An annular barrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the second flow line is connected with a fluid channel in the first annular barrier, and the channel extends through the first annular barrier in order to let fluid into the annular space.

14. An annular barrier system according to claim 12 , wherein the switch valve is a hydrostatic switch.

15. A well completion system comprising an annular barrier system according to claim 1 , a well tubular structure and a well head.

16. A well completion system according to claim 15 , wherein a well head valve is connected to a pumping unit.

17. A well completion system according to claim 15 , wherein a cutting device is arranged in connection with the well head for cutting the flow line after expansion of the sleeves.

18. A method for expanding an annular barrier of the annular barrier system according to claim 1 , in an annulus between a well tubular structure and an inside wall of a casing or a borehole downhole, the method comprising the steps of:

pressurising a fluid, and

leading the fluid into the space of the annular barrier via the first flow line so that the expandable sleeve expands.

19. A method for arranging an annular barrier system according to claim 1 in a well completion system, comprising the steps of:

mounting an annular barrier as part of the well tubular structure,

connecting the first flow line to the opening of the annular barrier, and

lowering the well tubular structure with the mounted annular barrier into a casing and/or a borehole while feeding the first flow line.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Apr 10, 2019
From: WELLTEC OILFIELD SOLUTIONS AG
To: WELLTEC OILFIELD SOLUTIONS AG
Reel/Frame 048853/0289 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2018
From: WELLTEC A/S
To: WELLTEC OILFIELD SOLUTIONS AG
Reel/Frame 047724/0079 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2014
From: HALLUNDBAEK, JORGEN
To: WELLTEC A/S
Reel/Frame 032876/0975 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2014
From: HAZEL, PAUL
To: WELLTEC A/S
Reel/Frame 032877/0015 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 11191287 · Nov 30, 2011 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140311759A1 · Oct 23, 2014