Granted Patent B1

US 12,631,081 · App. 19/055,453 · Granted May 19, 2026

Inventors: David Steele (Carrollton, TX); Matthew Bradley Stokes (Carrollton, TX); Stacey Blaine Donovan (Carrollton, TX)

Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

E21B23/14E21B41/0035E21B47/135G02B6/52

Abstract

Claims (121)

1 . A downhole system, comprising:

a plurality of conduits configured to interconnect, via at least one stab-in connection, to form at least one fiber channel extending along a wellbore portion of a wellbore;

at least one fiber optic line configured to extend through at least a channel portion of the at least one fiber channel from a surface position to a downhole position;

a plug secured to a leading end of the at least one fiber optic line,

wherein the plug is configured to move along the at least one fiber channel in response to fluid pressure in the at least one fiber channel to drive the leading end of the at least one fiber optic line along the at least one fiber channel from the surface position to at least the downhole position; and

a diverter assembly disposed between a first fiber channel, a second fiber channel, and a third fiber channel of the at least one fiber channel,

wherein the diverter assembly is configured to selectively connect the first fiber channel to the second fiber channel in a first state and connect the first fiber channel to the third fiber channel in a second state.

2 . The downhole system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stab-in connection includes;

a stab-in connector formed at a first end of a first conduit of the plurality of conduits; and

a stab-in receptacle formed at a second end of a second conduit of the plurality of conduits,

wherein the stab-in receptacle is configured to receive the stab-in connector to secure the first conduit to the second conduit.

3 . The downhole system of claim 2 ,

wherein the stab-in connector includes a seal assembly disposed about a tubular body portion of the stab-in connector,

wherein the seal assembly includes at least one seal configured to interface with an inner surface of the stab-in receptacle to seal the stab-in connector against the stab-in receptacle.

4 . The downhole system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one downhole completion assembly, wherein the at least one downhole completion assembly includes:

an upper production tubular;

a junction assembly;

a lower main bore completion assembly;

a lower lateral completion assembly; or

a combination thereof.

5 . The downhole system of claim 4 ,

wherein the at least one downhole completion assembly includes at least one slot formed in a radially outer surface of the at least one downhole completion assembly,

wherein the at least one slot extends at least partially between an upper end of the at least one downhole completion assembly and a lower end of the at least one downhole completion assembly, and

wherein the at least one slot is configured to receive at least one conduit of the plurality of conduits.

6 . The downhole system of claim 4 ,

wherein the at least one downhole completion assembly includes a body portion, and

wherein at least one conduit of the plurality of conduits extends through the body portion at least partially between an upper end of the at least one downhole completion assembly and a lower end of the at least one downhole completion assembly.

7 . The downhole system of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one fiber channel includes;

an upper fiber channel extending uphole from a wellbore junction;

a lower main fiber channel extending downhole from the wellbore junction into a main bore; and

a lower lateral fiber channel extending downhole from the wellbore junction into a lateral bore,

wherein the at least one fiber optic line includes:

a first fiber optic line; and

a second fiber optic line,

wherein the first fiber optic line extends through the upper fiber channel and into the lower main fiber channel, and

wherein the second fiber optic line extends through the upper fiber channel and into the lower lateral fiber channel.

8 . The downhole system of claim 1 ,

wherein the second fiber channel is disposed within a body portion of a downhole completion assembly, and

wherein the third fiber channel is disposed in an annulus of the wellbore.

9 . The downhole system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fiber optic line includes a first fiber optic line extending from the surface position to an upper completion zone and a second fiber optic line extending from the surface position to a lower completion zone.

10 . The downhole system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conduits includes:

a first group of conduits configured to form the first fiber channel for housing a first fiber optic line; and

a second group of conduits configured to form the second fiber channel for housing a second fiber optic line,

wherein the first fiber channel is configured to extend from the surface position into a lower main bore portion of the wellbore, and

wherein the second fiber channel is configured to extend from the surface position into a lower lateral bore portion of the wellbore.

11 . The downhole system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fiber optic line includes optical fiber sensors for distributed fiber optic sensing.

12 . The downhole system of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one fiber optic line is configured to connect to at least one downhole device,

wherein the at least one downhole device includes a control valve, a pressure transducer, a temperature sensor, or a combination thereof,

wherein the at least one downhole device is disposed along a respective conduit of the plurality of conduits, and

wherein the at least one fiber optic line is configured to transmit signals to carry information between the at least one downhole device and the surface position.

13 . The downhole system of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one fiber channel includes an ejection opening formed at a downhole end of the at least one fiber channel,

wherein the at least one fiber optic line is configured to eject from the at least one fiber channel via the ejection opening, and

wherein the ejection opening includes a sealing assembly configured to prevent downhole fluid from entering the at least one fiber channel via the ejection opening.

14 . The downhole system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fiber optic line includes a degradable material.

15 . The downhole system of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one fiber channel includes an insertion portion, a bend portion, and a return portion, and

wherein the return portion extends from the bend portion toward the surface position such that the at least one fiber optic line is configured to eject at the surface position via the return portion.

16 . A downhole system, comprising:

a plurality of conduits configured to interconnect, via stab-in connections, to form a plurality of fiber channels extending along respective portions of a wellbore,

wherein the plurality of fiber channels includes at least an upper fiber channel extending uphole from a wellbore junction, a lower main fiber channel extending downhole from the wellbore junction into a main bore, and a lower lateral fiber channel extending downhole from the wellbore junction into a lateral bore;

a first fiber optic line configured to extend through the upper fiber channel and into the lower main fiber channel to a first downhole position;

a second fiber optic line configured to extend through the upper fiber channel and into the lower lateral fiber channel to a second downhole position;

a plurality of plugs having at least a first plug and a second plug,

wherein the first plug is secured to a first leading end of the first fiber optic line,

wherein the second plug is secured to a second leading end of the second fiber optic line, and

wherein each plug of the plurality of plugs is configured to move along a respective fiber channel in response to fluid pressure in the respective fiber channel to drive a corresponding fiber optic line along the respective fiber channel; and

a diverter assembly disposed at a junction between the upper fiber channel, the lower main fiber channel, and the lower lateral fiber channel,

wherein the diverter assembly is configured to selectively direct the first plug and the first fiber optic line to move from the upper fiber channel into the lower main fiber channel in a first state and direct the second plug and the second fiber optic line to move from the upper fiber channel into the lower lateral fiber channel in a second state.

17 . The downhole system of claim 16 , wherein the diverter assembly is formed within a body portion of a junction assembly disposed at least partially within the junction.

18 . The downhole system of claim 16 ,

wherein the diverter assembly includes a shuttle valve having a shifting block configured to actuate between a first shuttle valve position in the first state and a second shuttle valve position in the second state, and

wherein the shifting block is actuated via:

a channel pressure applied through the upper fiber channel,

a line pressure applied through a hydraulic line connected to the shuttle valve,

an electric motor, or

a combination thereof.

19 . The downhole system of claim 16 ,

wherein the diverter assembly includes a plug deflector,

wherein the upper fiber channel, the lower main fiber channel, and the lower lateral fiber channel are connected at a fiber channel junction,

wherein the upper fiber channel is axially aligned with the lower main fiber channel,

wherein the lower lateral fiber channel is angularly offset from the lower main fiber channel,

wherein the plug deflector is disposed at least partially within the fiber channel junction in the second state, and

wherein the plug deflector includes a ramped surface to deflect the second plug and the second fiber optic line to move from the upper fiber channel into the lower lateral fiber channel.

20 . The downhole system of claim 19 ,

wherein the plug deflector includes a fastening feature configured to hold the plug deflector in the second state,

wherein the fastening feature is configured to release in response to a threshold pressure applied uphole the plug deflector,

wherein the plug deflector is configured to move in a downhole direction along the lower main fiber channel to transition the diverter assembly from the second state to the first state in response to the release of the fastening feature, and

wherein the first plug and the first fiber optic line are configured to move from the upper fiber channel into the lower main fiber channel in the first state.

21 . A downhole system, comprising:

a plurality of conduits configured to interconnect, via stab-in connections, to form a plurality of fiber channels extending along respective portions of a wellbore,

wherein the plurality of fiber channels includes at least an upper fiber channel extending uphole from a wellbore junction, a lower main fiber channel extending downhole from the wellbore junction into a main bore, and a lower lateral fiber channel extending downhole from the wellbore junction into a lateral bore;

a first fiber optic line configured to extend through the upper fiber channel and into the lower main fiber channel to a first downhole position;

a second fiber optic line configured to extend through the upper fiber channel and into the lower lateral fiber channel to a second downhole position;

a plurality of plugs having at least a first plug and a second plug,

wherein the first plug is secured to a first leading end of the first fiber optic line,

wherein the second plug is secured to a second leading end of the second fiber optic line, and

wherein each plug of the plurality of plugs is configured to move along a respective fiber channel in response to fluid pressure in the respective fiber channel to drive a corresponding fiber optic line along the respective fiber channel; and

a diverter assembly disposed at a junction between the upper fiber channel, the lower main fiber channel, and the lower lateral fiber channel,

wherein the diverter assembly is formed within a junction assembly disposed at least partially within the junction, and

wherein the diverter assembly includes a shuttle valve configured to selectively direct the first plug and the first fiber optic line to move from the upper fiber channel into the lower main fiber channel in a first shuttle valve position and direct the second plug and the second fiber optic line to move from the upper fiber channel into the lower lateral fiber channel in a second shuttle valve position.

22 . The downhole system of claim 21 , wherein the shuttle valve includes:

a housing portion;

a valve cavity formed within the housing portion;

an upper bore extending from an upper connection end of the housing portion to the valve cavity,

wherein the upper connection end is configured to connect with the upper fiber channel;

a first lower bore extending from the valve cavity to a first lower connection end of the housing portion,

wherein the first lower connection end is configured to connect with the lower main fiber channel;

a second lower bore extending from the valve cavity to a second lower connection end of the housing portion,

wherein the second lower connection end is configured to connect with the lower lateral fiber channel; and

a shifting block disposed within the valve cavity,

wherein the shifting block includes a first channel configured to connect the upper bore with the first lower bore in the first shuttle valve position, and

wherein the shifting block includes a second channel configured to connect the upper bore with the second lower bore in the second shuttle valve position.

23 . The downhole system of claim 22 ,

wherein the first plug is configured to guide the first fiber optic line through an angled portion of the first channel within the shifting block of the shuttle valve, and

wherein a geometry of the first plug prevents the first fiber optic line from entering a transition channel during deployment into the lower main fiber channel.

24 . The downhole system of claim 23 , wherein the first plug is configured both to seal against an inner surface of a corresponding fiber channel to enable pressure-driven movement and to guide the corresponding fiber optic line through the angled portion of the first channel within the shifting block, thereby directing the corresponding fiber optic line into the lower main fiber channel while avoiding the transition channel.

25 . The downhole system of claim 21 , wherein the lower lateral fiber channel comprises a bend portion.

26 . The downhole system of claim 22 , wherein the upper fiber channel further comprises a return portion.

Assignments (1)

References Cited (113)