IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,175,523
Granted Patent B2
US 9,175,523 · App. 13/243,438 · Granted Nov 3, 2015

Aligning inductive couplers in a well

Inventors: Dinesh Patel (Sugar Land, TX); Donald W. Ross (Houston, TX); Anthony Frank Veneruso (Sugar Land, TX); Fabien Cens (Igny, FR); John R. Lovell (Houston, TX); Ian Stuart Mackay (Perth, AU)
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
E21B17/028E21B43/08E21B43/14E21B47/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,175,523
App. No.
13/243,438
Granted
Nov 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus that is usable with a well includes a first equipment section that includes a first inductive coupler and a second equipment section that includes a second inductive coupler. The second equipment section is adapted to be run downhole into the well after the first equipment section is run downhole into the well to engage the first equipment section. A mechanism of the apparatus indicates when the first inductive coupler is substantially aligned with the second inductive coupler.

Claims (39)

1. An apparatus usable with a well, comprising:

a first completion equipment section comprising a first inductive coupler;

a second completion equipment section comprising a second inductive coupler and being adapted to be run downhole into the well after the first completion equipment section is run downhole into the well to engage the first completion equipment section; and

a mechanism to indicate when the first inductive coupler is substantially aligned with the second inductive coupler, wherein the mechanism comprises a snap latch or a no go shoulder, and wherein in addition to indicating the substantial alignment of the first and second inductive coupler sections, the mechanism further limits relative movement between the first and second completion equipment sections,

wherein one of the first and second completion equipment sections comprises:

a telescoping joint to prevent relative movement between the first and second completion equipment sections comprising first and second inductive couplers after the second completion equipment section engages the first completion equipment section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second inductive couplers have approximately the same axial length.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is adapted to provide a mechanical feedback at the surface of the well indicating whether the first and second inductive couplers are substantially aligned.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises an electrical device to generate an electrical signal indicative of whether the first and second inductive couplers are substantially aligned.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the electrical device comprises a Hall effect sensor, a switch or a radio frequency identification tag.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the electrical device is adapted to transition from an inactivated state to an activated state in response to the first and second inductive couplers becoming substantially aligned and in the activated state, cause the generation of a stimulus that is detectable at the surface of the well.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the electrical device is coupled to one of the first and second inductive couplers to provide a signal indicative of an impedance of said of the first and second inductive couplers to indicate when the first inductive coupler is substantially aligned with the second inductive coupler.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the well comprises a subsea well.

9. An apparatus usable with a well, comprising:

a first completion equipment section comprising a first inductive coupler;

a second completion equipment section comprising a second inductive coupler and being adapted to be run downhole into the well after the first completion equipment section is run downhole into the well to engage the first completion equipment section; and

a mechanism to indicate when the first inductive coupler is substantially aligned with the second inductive coupler, wherein the mechanism comprises a snap latch or a no go shoulder, and wherein in addition to indicating the substantial alignment of the first and second inductive coupler sections, the mechanism further limits relative movement between the first and second completion equipment sections,

wherein the mechanism is adapted to provide a mechanical feedback at the surface of the well indicating whether the first and second inductive couplers are substantially aligned, and

wherein the first completion equipment section comprises a device to provide other mechanical feedback at the surface of the well when the device engages a feature of the well, the apparatus further comprising:

a contraction joint to allow an operator at the surface of the well to discriminate between the mechanical feedback provided by the mechanism and the other mechanical feedback.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the device comprises a tubing hanger.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

a connector to lock the contraction joint in place until the mechanism provides the mechanical feedback at the surface of the well indicating that the first and second inductive couplers are substantially aligned.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the connector comprises a collet.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the connector comprises a shear pin.

14. A method usable with a well, comprising:

after a first completion equipment section is installed in the well, running a second completion equipment section downhole to engage the first completion equipment section; and

providing a mechanism comprising a snap latch or a no go shoulder, wherein the mechanism limits relative movement between the first and second completion equipment sections, and wherein the mechanism provides feedback indicative of whether a first inductive coupler of the first completion equipment is substantially aligned with a second inductive coupler of the second completion equipment section; and

providing a telescoping joint to limit relative movement between the first and second inductive couplers after the second completion equipment section engages the first completion equipment section.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving the feedback at the surface of the well.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first and second inductive couplers have approximately the same axial length.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the act of providing the feedback comprises providing a mechanical stimulus at the surface of the well to indicate whether the first inductive coupler is substantially aligned with the second inductive coupler.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the act of providing the feedback comprises generating an electrical signal indicative of whether the first inductive coupler is substantially aligned with the second inductive coupler.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the act of providing the feedback comprises activating an electrical device in response to the first inductive coupler becoming aligned with the second inductive coupler.

20. A method usable with a well, comprising:

after a first completion equipment section is installed in the well, running a second completion equipment section downhole to engage the first completion equipment section; and

providing a mechanism comprising a snap latch or a no go shoulder, wherein the mechanism limits relative movement between the first and second completion equipment sections, and wherein the mechanism provides feedback indicative of whether a first inductive coupler of the first completion equipment is substantially aligned with a second inductive coupler of the second completion equipment section,

wherein the act of providing the feedback comprises providing an indication of an impedance of one of the first and second inductive couplers.

Continuity (6)
Continuation 12199246 · Aug 27, 2008
Continuation In Part 11688089 · Mar 19, 2007
Provisional Application 60787592 · Mar 30, 2006
Provisional Application 60745469 · Apr 24, 2006
Provisional Application 60747986 · May 23, 2006
Related Publication 20120013482A1 · Jan 19, 2012