Profile-selective sleeves for subsurface multi-stage valve actuation

1. A downhole sliding-sleeve set having a plurality of interrelated sliding valves, each of the sliding valves comprising:

a valve body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and one or more fluid ports on an uphole portion of the sidewall thereof; and

a sliding sleeve received in the longitudinal bore of the valve body and movable between an uphole closed position closing the one or more fluid ports and a downhole open position opening the one or more fluid ports, the sliding sleeve comprising a longitudinal bore;

wherein the sliding sleeve comprises a sleeve-profile formed at least by a first and a second sleeve-grooves and a sleeve-ridge therebetween, the first and second sleeve-grooves and the sleeve-ridge longitudinally distributed on an inner surface of the sliding sleeve about the longitudinal bore thereof; and

wherein the longitudinal lengths S g1 , S g2 and S r of the first and second sleeve-grooves and the sleeve-ridge, respectively, are determined by:

S r =δL a +nL b , S r >0,

S g1 =m 1 L b +(1−δ) L a ,

S g2 =m 2 L b ,

m 1 +m 2 =K,

where L a , L b and δ are predetermined parameters with L a >0, L b >0 and 1≥δ≥0, n is an integer with n≥0, K is a positive integer with K>2, m 1 and m 2 are integers with m 1 ≥1, and m 2 >1, δ>0 when n=0, and n>0 when δ=0;

wherein the longitudinal length L s of the sleeve-profile is at least:

L s =L a +( n+K ) L b ;

wherein for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves, at least one of the n, K, and m 1 thereof is different; and

wherein a downhole-most portion of said second sleeve-groove S g2 is comprised of a radially-inwardly protruding portion of a stop-ring member independently formed from said sliding sleeve and forming a stop shoulder, wherein said stop-ring member is coupled to a downhole portion of said sliding sleeve.

2. The sliding-sleeve set of claim 1 , wherein the stop shoulder is downhole to the sleeve profile, and wherein the stop shoulder forms an angled portion wherein a radially-inward portion thereof is uphole of a more-downhole radially-outward portion of said stop shoulder.

3. The sliding-sleeve set of claim 1 , wherein the stop shoulder is in the sleeve-profile.

4. The sliding-sleeve set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein L a =L b .

5. A sliding-sleeve system having a collet for mating one of the plurality of interrelated sliding valves of the sliding-sleeve set as claimed in claim 4 , the collet of said sliding-sleeve system comprising:

a resiliently flexible collet-profile formed by at least a first uphole and a second downhole collet-ridges and a collet-groove therebetween, a downhole side of said second downhole collet ridge abutting said collet groove forming a radially-outwardly protruding stop shoulder;

where the first uphole collet ridge is shorter than the first sleeve-groove S g1 of the mating one of the plurality of interrelated sliding valves by an amount t 1 L b , where L b ≥t 1 L b ≥0 is a design parameter comprising a tolerance and is expressed as a fraction of length L b , and the second downhole collet ridge is shorter than the second sleeve-groove S g2 of the mating one of the plurality of interrelated sliding valves by an amount t 2 L b , where L b ≥t 2 L b ≥0 is a second design parameter comprising another tolerance and is expressed as another fraction of length L b .

6. The sliding-sleeve system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein t 1 =t 2 =t.

7. The sliding-sleeve system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein 1>t>0.

8. The sliding-sleeve system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein t is 0.5.

9. The sliding-sleeve system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein 0.9>t≥0.1.

10. The sliding-sleeve system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein 0.8>t≥0.2.

11. The sliding-sleeve system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein 0.7>t≥0.3.

12. The sliding-sleeve system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein 0.6>t≥0.4.

13. The sliding-sleeve system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein t=0.

14. The sliding-sleeve system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein t=1.

15. A plurality of collets for use downhole, each collet being movable through the bore of one or more first sliding sleeves and being receivable in a second sliding sleeve, each collet comprising:

a resiliently flexible collet-profile formed by at least a first uphole and a second downhole collet-ridges and a collet-groove therebetween, a downhole side of said second downhole collet ridge abutting said collet groove forming a radially-outwardly protruding stop shoulder, the first and second collet-ridges and the collet-groove respectively corresponding to the first and second sleeve-grooves and the sleeve-ridge;

wherein the lengths C r1 , C r2 , and C g of the first and second collet-ridges and the collet-groove, respectively, are determined by:

C r1 =( m 1 −t 1 ) L b +(1−δ) L a −ε 2 , C r1 >0,

C r2 =( m 2 −t 2 ) L b , C r2 >0,

C g =δL a +( n+t 2 ) L b +ε 2 , C g >0,

m 1 +m 2 =K,

where L a , L b and δ are predetermined parameters with L a >0, L b >0 and 1≥δ≥0, n is an integer with n≥0, K is a positive integer with K>2, m 1 and m 2 are integers with m 1 ≥1, and m 2 >1, t 1 , t 2 , and ε 2 are predetermined parameters with 1≥t 1 ≥0, 1≥t 2 ≥0, and (m 1 −t 1 )L b +(1−δ)L a >ε 2 ≥0; and

wherein the longitudinal length L c of the collet-profile is at least:

L c =L a +( n+K−t 2 ) L b ;

and wherein for any two of the plurality of collets, at least one of the n, K, and m 1 thereof is different; and

wherein the stop shoulder has an acute angle formed between an upper edge of the second downhole collet ridge and a radially-inwardly protruding surface on a downhole side edge thereof, adapted to lockingly engage a correspondingly-angled uphole side of a stop ring member.

16. The plurality of collets as claimed in claim 15 , wherein t 1 =t 2 =t.

17. The plurality of collets as claimed in claim 15 , wherein 1>t>0.

18. The plurality of collets as claimed in claim 15 , wherein t is 0.5.

19. The plurality of collets as claimed in claim 15 , wherein 0.9>t>0.1.

20. The plurality of collets as claimed in claim 15 , wherein 0.8>t>0.2.

21. The plurality of collets as claimed in claim 15 , wherein 0.7>t>0.3.

22. The plurality of collets as claimed in claim 15 , wherein 0.6>t>0.4.

23. The plurality of collets as claimed in claim 15 , wherein t=0.

24. The plurality of collets as claimed in claim 15 , wherein t=1.

25. A tubular string comprising:

a plurality of the sliding valves as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the sliding valves are arranged in the tubular string according to:

(a) for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves, at least one of the n, K, and m 1 thereof is different;

(b) the sliding valves with smaller (n+K) are uphole to those with larger (n+K);

(c) for sliding valves with a same (n+K), those with larger n are uphole to those with smaller n; and

(d) sliding valves with a same n and a same K, but with different m 1 are arranged in any order.

26. A tubular string comprising:

a plurality of the sliding valves as claimed in claim 4 ;

wherein the sliding valves are arranged in the tubular string according to:

(a) for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves, at least one of the n, K, and m 1 thereof is different;

(b) the sliding valves with smaller (n+K) are uphole to those with larger (n+K);

(c) for sliding valves with a same (n+K), those with larger n are uphole to those with smaller n; and

(d) sliding valves with a same n and a same K, but with different m 1 are arranged in any order.

27. A tubular string comprising:

the sliding-sleeve system as claimed in claim 14 ;

wherein the sliding valves are arranged in the tubular string according to:

(a) for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves, at least one of the n, K, and m 1 thereof is different;

(b) for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves with a same n and a same K, the difference between the m 1 thereof is greater than 1;

(c) the sliding valves with smaller (n+K) are uphole to those with larger (n+K);

(d) for sliding valves with a same (n+K), those with larger n are uphole to those with smaller n; and

(e) sliding valves with a same n and a same K but with different m 1 are arranged in any order.

28. The tubular string as claimed in any one of claim 25 , 26 , or 27 , wherein the tubular string is a casing string.

29. The tubular string as claimed in any one of claim 25 , 26 , or 27 , wherein the tubular string is a tubing string for receiving in a wellbore.

30. A downhole system comprising:

a tubular string comprising a plurality of interrelated sliding valves; and

a plurality of collets according to any one of claims 15 to 24 ;

wherein each of the sliding valves comprises:

a valve body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and one or more fluid ports on an uphole portion of the sidewall thereof; and

a sliding sleeve received in the longitudinal bore of the valve body and movable between an uphole closed position closing the one or more fluid ports and a downhole open position opening the one or more fluid ports, the sliding sleeve comprising a longitudinal bore;

wherein the sliding sleeve comprises a sleeve-profile formed at least by a first and a second sleeve-grooves and a sleeve-ridge therebetween, the first and second sleeve-grooves and the sleeve-ridge longitudinally distributed on an inner surface of the sliding sleeve about the longitudinal bore thereof; and

wherein the longitudinal lengths S g1 , S g2 and S r of the first and second sleeve-grooves and the sleeve-ridge, respectively, are determined by:

S r =δL a +nL b , S r >0,

S g1 =m 1 L b +(1−δ) L a ,

S g2 =m 2 L b ,

m 1 +m 2 =K,

where L a , L b and δ are predetermined parameters with L a >0, L b >0 and 1≥δ≥0, n is an integer with n≥0, K is a positive integer with K>2, m 1 and m 2 are integers with m 1 ≥1, and m 2 >1, δ>0 when n=0, and n>0 when δ=0;

wherein the longitudinal length L s of the sleeve-profile is at least:

L s =L a +( n+K ) L b ;

wherein for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves, at least one of the n, K, and m 1 thereof is different; and

wherein a downhole-most portion of said second sleeve-groove S g2 is comprised of a radially-inwardly protruding portion of a stop-ring member independently formed from said sliding sleeve and forming a stop shoulder, wherein said stop-ring member is coupled to a downhole portion of said sliding sleeve;

wherein the sliding valves are arranged in the tubular string according to:

(a) for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves, at least one of the n, K, and m 1 thereof is different;

(b) the sliding valves with smaller (n+K) are uphole to those with larger (n+K);

(c) for sliding valves with a same (n+K), those with larger n are uphole to those with smaller n; and

(d) sliding valves with a same n and a same K, but with different m 1 are arranged in any order.

31. A downhole system comprising:

a tubular string comprising a plurality of interrelated sliding valves; and

a plurality of collets according to any one of claims 15 to 24 ;

wherein each of the sliding valves comprises:

a valve body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and one or more fluid ports on an uphole portion of the sidewall thereof; and

a sliding sleeve received in the longitudinal bore of the valve body and movable between an uphole closed position closing the one or more fluid ports and a downhole open position opening the one or more fluid ports, the sliding sleeve comprising a longitudinal bore;

wherein the sliding sleeve comprises a sleeve-profile formed at least by a first and a second sleeve-grooves and a sleeve-ridge therebetween, the first and second sleeve-grooves and the sleeve-ridge longitudinally distributed on an inner surface of the sliding sleeve about the longitudinal bore thereof; and

wherein the longitudinal lengths S g1 , S g2 and S r of the first and second sleeve-grooves and the sleeve-ridge, respectively, are determined by:

S r =δL a +nL b , S r >0,

S g1 =m 1 L b +(1−δ) L a ,

S g2 =m 2 L b ,

m 1 +m 2 =K,

where L a , L b and δ are predetermined parameters with L a >0, L b >0 and 1≥δ≥0, n is an integer with n≥0, K is a positive integer with K>2, m 1 and m 2 are integers with m 1 ≥1, and m 2 >1, δ>0 when n=0, and n>0 when δ=0;

wherein the longitudinal length L s of the sleeve-profile is at least:

L s =L a +( n+K ) L b ;

wherein for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves, at least one of the n, K, and m 1 thereof is different; and

wherein a downhole-most portion of said second sleeve-groove S g2 is comprised of a radially-inwardly protruding portion of a stop-ring member independently formed from said sliding sleeve and forming a stop shoulder, wherein said stop-ring member is coupled to a downhole portion of said sliding sleeve;

wherein L a =L b ; and

wherein the sliding valves are arranged in the tubular string according to:

(a) for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves, at least one of the n, K, and m 1 thereof is different;

(b) the sliding valves with smaller (n+K) are uphole to those with larger (n+K);

(c) for sliding valves with a same (n+K), those with larger n are uphole to those with smaller n; and

(d) sliding valves with a same n and a same K, but with different mi are arranged in any order.

32. A downhole system comprising:

a tubular string comprising a sliding-sleeve system having a collet for mating one of a plurality of interrelated sliding valves; and

a plurality of collets according to any one of claims 15 to 24 ;

wherein each of the sliding valves comprises:

a valve body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and one or more fluid ports on an uphole portion of the sidewall thereof; and

a sliding sleeve received in the longitudinal bore of the valve body and movable between an uphole closed position closing the one or more fluid ports and a downhole open position opening the one or more fluid ports, the sliding sleeve comprising a longitudinal bore;

wherein the sliding sleeve comprises a sleeve-profile formed at least by a first and a second sleeve-grooves and a sleeve-ridge therebetween, the first and second sleeve-grooves and the sleeve-ridge longitudinally distributed on an inner surface of the sliding sleeve about the longitudinal bore thereof; and

wherein the longitudinal lengths S g1 , S g2 and S r of the first and second sleeve-grooves and the sleeve-ridge, respectively, are determined by:

S r =δL a +nL b ,S r >0,

S g1 =m 1 L b +(1−δ) L a ,

S g2 =m 2 L b ,

m 1 +m 2 =K,

where L a , L b and δ are predetermined parameters with L a >0, L b >0 and 1≥δ≥0, n is an integer with n≥0, K is a positive integer with K>2, m 1 and m 2 are integers with m 1 ≥1, and m 2 >1, δ>0 when n=0, and n>0 when δ=0;

wherein the longitudinal length L s of the sleeve-profile is at least:

L s =L a +( n+K ) L b ;

wherein for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves, at least one of the n, K, and m 1 thereof is different; and

wherein a downhole-most portion of said second sleeve-groove S g2 is comprised of a radially-inwardly protruding portion of a stop-ring member independently formed from said sliding sleeve and forming a stop shoulder, wherein said stop-ring member is coupled to a downhole portion of said sliding sleeve;

wherein L a =L b ; and

wherein the collet of said sliding-sleeve system comprises:

a resiliently flexible collet-profile formed by at least a first uphole and a second downhole collet-ridges and a collet-groove therebetween, a downhole side of said second downhole collet ridge abutting said collet groove forming a radially-outwardly protruding stop shoulder,

where the first uphole collet ridge is shorter than the first sleeve-groove S g1 of the mating one of the plurality of interrelated sliding valves by an amount t 1 L b , where L b ≥t 1 L b ≥0 is a design parameter comprising a tolerance and is expressed as a fraction of length L b , and the second downhole collet ridge is shorter than the second sleeve-groove S g2 of the mating one of the plurality of interrelated sliding valves by an amount t 2 L b , where L b ≥t 2 L b >0 is a second design parameter comprising another tolerance and is expressed as another fraction of length L b ;

wherein t 1 =t 2 =1; and

wherein the sliding valves are arranged in the tubular string according to:

(a) for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves, at least one of the n, K, and m 1 thereof is different;

(b) for any two of the plurality of the sliding valves with a same n and a same K, the difference between the m 1 thereof is greater than 1;

(c) the sliding valves with smaller (n+K) are uphole to those with larger (n+K);

(d) for sliding valves with a same (n+K), those with larger n are uphole to those with smaller n; and

(e) sliding valves with a same n and a same K but with different m 1 are arranged in any order.