Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~LTIZONE PRODUCTION MONITORING SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to systems for multiple completions where more than one
producing zone is traversed by a well bore and production can be obtained from
more than
S one production zone into a common string of tubing. More particularly, this
invention has
to do with a system for monitoring the quantity of production from independent
production
zones by independently measuring the differential pressure and the static
pressure in a
production zone on a real time basis while providing a full opening bore for
production and
remedial operations of lower zones.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore, there has been a problem with multiple completions in that
regulatory
agencies can require the operator to produce from only one single production
zone at a time
in a multiple zone well so that the production quantity for each zone can be
independently
ascertained. While this occurs, the other production zones cannot be produced
and are, in
fact, shut off. In multilateral completions (earth surface or underwater), it
is also common
to connect lateral pipes in a given production zone to a zone of production so
that multiple
zone productions are obtained and it is of vital interest to monitor the
production flow from
each zone.
The system heretofore principally utilized uses multiple packers in a well
casing
where the packers separate production zones. A string of production tubing
extends through
the well packers and a side pocket mandrel is located in a section of the
tubing string
between a pair of production packers. The side pocket mandrel is utilized in
the control of
fluid flow which enters the tubing string through the bottom of the side
pocket mandrel.
One method of control is simply to block the passage so that fluid flow is
stopped and fluid
is produced from a selected side pocket and the fluid flow is measured at the
earth's
surface. In any event, it is not possible to ascertain what fluid flow occurs
with any degree
of preciseness and production is typically limited to one zone at a time.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In the present invention, in a multiple completed well, spaced apart
production
packers are provided to isolate independent production zones from one another.
In each of
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the isolated production zones, a side pocket mandrel is provided with a full
opening bore,
i.e. a bore which does not restrict the passage of well tools. The side pocket
mandrel has
an lengthwise extending side by side elongated pockets (1) for receiving a
static pressure
measuring instrument or tool (static pressure pocket); (2) for providing an
elongated
pressure differential flow passageway (flow passageway pocket); and (3) for
receiving a
differential pressure measuring tool (differential pressure pocket). The
static pressure
measuring tool and the differential pressure measuring tool or instrument are
commonly
connected by a data coupling means to a single electrical conductor line which
is strapped
to the string of tubing and extends to the earth's surface for transmission of
control signals
and data between the earth's surface and the various side pocket tools. The
differential flow
passageway is connected for fluid communication with the static pressure
pocket and the
differential pressure pocket in the side pocket mandrel. Fluid flow in the
production zone
is channelled through the flow passageway to the full opening bore and the
fluid is
communicated to the static pressure measuring tool and to the differential
pressure tool.
The flow passageway is constructed and arranged to develop a differential
pressure which
is measured by the differential pressure measuring tool and which can be
stored in a
memory of the tool. At the same time, the static pressure of the production
fluid in the
production zone is measured by the static pressure measuring tool. Both the
differential
pressure measurements and the static pressure measurements can be recorded in
a memory
as a function of real time.
When a electrical polling signal is generated at the earth's surface to a
specific side
pocket mandrel, the static pressure and the differential pressure of the
production fluid are
read out at the surface as real time data by transmission to the earth's
surface on the
conductor cable.
A real time reference can also be generated in the well tools and initiated
when the
tools are installed for use with a memory. With retrievable tools, both the
static pressure
tool and the differential pressure tool can be independently retrieved at any
time and the
memories can then be read out independently at the earth's surface should the
conductor line
fail to function for one reason or another.
With the present system, the static pressure and differential pressure of
fluid flow
from each production zone is independently measured at the time of production
and
sequentially and repetitively read out at the earth's surface. From the
pressure
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measurements and flow equations, the production flow is determined. With the
equipment
arrangement, a full bore opening is also provided so that any remedial
operations or the like
" can be conducted on lower zones without requiring removal of any other
devices in full
opening bore.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a well bore traversing earth
formations where
multiple zones produce hydrocarbons into a common string of tubing and where
the static
and dynamic pressure of the production flow for each zone is measured and
communicated
to the earth's surface:
Fig. 2 is view in longitudinal cross-section illustrating the general
construction
configuration for a side pocket mandrel in which the present invention is
embodied;
Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section taken along line 3-3 of Fig.2 with editing
for clarity
of presentation;
Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section taken along line 4-4 of Fig.2 with editing
for clarity
of presentation;
Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section taken along line 5-5 of Fig.2 with editing
for clarity
of presentation;
Fig. 6 is a view in cross-section taken along line 6-6 of Fig.4 with editing
for clarity
of presentation to illustrate the flow passageway pocket;
Fig. 7 is a view in cross-section taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 4 with editing
for
clarity of presentation to illustrate the differential pressure pocket;
Fig. 8 is a view of a differential pressure well tool in relation to the
differential
pressure pocket shown in Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a view in cross-section taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 4 with editing
for
clarity of presentation to illustrate the static pressure pocket.
Fig. 10 is a view of a static pressure well tool in relation a static pressure
pocket
shown in Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a plan view of the three pockets taken along an arc 11-11 of Fig.3;
and
Fig. 12 is a schematic illustration of a kick over tool for use with the
present
invention;
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pESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to Fig. 1, a well bore 15 is illustrated as traversing earth
formations
which include production zones 16,17, and 18. While the illustration is
relative to earth
formations, it is the same principal with respect to underwater completions
where as
platform or the like serves as an earth surface and underwater production
zones are
connected by lateral pipes to independent production zones along a well pipe
or casing.
In an well bore as illustrated, there is typically a surface casing 20 and one
or more
well liners 21 (A-C) where the casing and liners are cemented in place by an
annulus of
cement 23. Perforations 16a,17a and 18a typically place the hydrocarbons in
the earth
formations in fluid communication with the bores 22(A-C) of the liner sections
21(A-C).
A string of tubing 25 extends from a well head 26 and extends through
production packers
26(A-D) which isolate the production zones between adjacent packers in the
liners.
Disposed in each of the production zones between spaced apart packers and
connected in
the string of tubing is a side pocket mandrel 27,28, and 29 where each side
pocket mandrel
has a full opening bore which provides an uninterrupted continuation of the
bore ~of the
tubing string. Fluid flow from the respective production zones enters the
liner sections and
passes through the lengthwise extending side pockets of the side pocket
mandrels. The side
pocket mandrels have flow passageways communicating the annulus in the casing
with the
tubing string. Also at the earth's surface is a controller-read out means 29
which is
connected by a single electrical conductor 24 to each of the downhole side
pocket mandrels.
The controller-read out means 29 provides a polling signal to each of the side
pocket
mandrels through data transmission techniques and reads out independent static
pressure and
differential pressure of fluid flow through a side pocket mandrel.
Refernng now to Fig.2, an overall construction configuration of the side
pocket
mandrel is as follows: the side pocket mandrel 30 as illustrated is
interconnected between
adjacent tubing pup joints or sections 31A and 31B of a string of tubing or
production
tubing so as to form a part of the string of tubing.
The side pocket mandrel 30 is generally an elongated cylindrically shaped
member
formed by four sections or parts comprising, from top to bottom, respectively,
an upper
takeout housing part 36, a body pipe part 38, a side pocket housing part 40,
and a lower
housing part 42. Each mandrel part 36, 38, 40 respectively have aligned full
opening bores
36A, 38A, and 40A, which are equal or larger than the bore of the production
tubing 25.
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The full opening bores extend through the length of mandrel 30 so that the
mandrel 30 has
an effective full opening bore. The effective full opening bore permits
wireline side pocket
well tools and other small diameter tools to pass through mandrel 30 to
locations below and
in the mandrel 30.
* 5 In the side pocket housing part 40, there are three side by side bores
40B, 40C, and
40D which are generally parallel to and laterally offset from the full opening
bore 40A (see
Fig. 3 and 4). A side pocket bore 40B as illustrated in Fig. 2 is sized to
receive a static
pressure tool.
Extending lengthwise through the housing part 40 and offset from the side
pocket
bores 40B,40C and 40D and the full opening bore 40A is a conduit or pipe 41A
which is
sized to pass an electrical conductor therethrough. As shown in Fig. 3 and 4,
a second,
blank conduit or pipe 41B located on the other side of pocket bore 40C can be
provided for
a guide pipe, if desired.
At the lower end of the side pocket bore 40B are fluid bypass ports which are
openings in a wall surface which place the bores 40A and 40B in fluid
communication so
that a static pressure well tool can be received in the static pressure pocket
40B. Also
disposed in the lower end of the pocket 40B is an inductive coupling probe
member 45. The
coupling member 45 is sealingly attached to the lower end of the pocket 40B.
The coupling
member 45 cooperates with a socket coupling member on a well tool for the
transmission
of data between a well tool and an electrical conductor 24 which passes
through in the
conduit 41A and out the upper end of the side pocket mandrel.
The electrical conductor 24 attached to the inductive coupling member 45 can
be
connected through a "Y" coupling so that the conductor 24 also extends
downwardly to
another well tool.
Again referring to FIG. 2, the upper body part 38 is a tubular member with an
internal bore and an enlarged lower bore at its lower end. The lower end of
the part 38 is
coupled to the housing part 40. When assembled, the bore 38B receives the
upper cut away
portion of the housing part 40.
The take out housing part 36 has a central portion with an enlarged bore which
receives a tubular deflector 36B. The tubular deflector 36B has guide means
36C which
guide a kickover tool for orientation relative to an offset pocket bore. The
upper end of the
part 36 has an offset internally threaded bore for threadedly receiving the
tubing sub 31A.
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The tubing sub 31A engages the deflector 36B which is locked in rotative
position by a
locking key. In the open space between downwardly facing shoulder on the part
36 and the
upper surface of the part 40, the tubular pipe member 41A extends
longitudinally between
the bore in the part 40 and a bore 41B in the part 36. The pipe member 41A
protects and
encloses the electrical conductor 24 with respect to the open space.
Referring now to Fig. 3, 4 and 5, in a typical casing section 22A, an open
annulus
65 between the casing section 22A and the exterior of a typical side pocket
mandrel 15
contains the flow of hydrocarbons from a production zone. A central flow
passageway
pocket 40C is in communication with the open annulus 65 by virtue of a lower
passageway
67 which opens to the bottom end of the side pocket mandrel (see Fig. 6 and
11).
Intermediate of the length of the pocket 40C is a Venturi bore 68 which opens
to an upper
passageway 69. Fluid flow from the annulus (and the production zone) is thus
directed
through the flow passageway pocket 40C to the full open bore of the tubing
string. As the
fluid flows through the Venturi bore, a pressure drop occurs and there is a
pressure
differential between the fluid in the passageway 67 upwardly of the Venturi
bore and the
fluid in the passageway 69 downwardly of the Venturi bore. Transverse
communication
passageways 70 and 71 are located above and below the Venturi bore and are in
fluid
communication with a differential pressure measuring tool 74 (see Fig. 8)
which develops
communication signal data as a function of the differential pressure of the
fluid flow in the
flow passageway pocket 40C.
In Fig. 11, a design is illustrated wherein the flow passageway pocket 40C
receives
a retrievable Venturi assembly 75 which can be removed from the side pocket
40C with a
removal and insertion tool 75 (Fig. 12) which will be discussed hereafter. In
any event. the
upstream and downstream pressure differential communication passageways 71,70
are
coupled for fluid communication to the differential pressure pocket bore 40D
which contain
a differential pressure measuring tool 74.
As illustrated in Fig. 7, the differential pressure pocket 40D is constructed
generally
as illustrated in Fig. 2 with an inductive coupling probe member 45 at its
lower end and is
constructed and arranged to releasably receive a differential pressure
measuring tool 74.
The tool 74 is sized and adapted to be retreivably located within the
differential pressure
pocket 40D. The differential pressure tool 74 has spaced apart ports 77 and 78
which are
located between spaced apart seals 79, 80, 81 so that when the tool is in the
pocket 40D,
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the port 77 of the tool 74 is communication with the communication passageway
71 and the
port 78 is in communication with the passageway 70. Thus, pressure of the
fluid abaove
and below the Venturi bore are supplied to the tool 74. In response to sensing
of the
pressures, the tool develops a data transmission code representative of the
differential
pressure sensed in the flow passageway pocket 40C. The tool 74 includes a
retrieving and
latching head assembly 82 which functions with a placement tool (see Fig. 12)
to be
disposed or removed from the side pocket 40D. When the tool 74 is in the
pocket 40D it
is latched in position and the data is developed in an electronic means within
the tool and
available for transmission to the electrical conductor 24 via the coupling
member 45. while
not necessary, the tool 74 can also include a memory section with a clock
means where the
data can be stored as a function of real time in the tool and read out
independently after
being retrieved.
As illustrated in Fig. 9, the static pressure pocket 40B is constructed
generally as
illustrated in Fig. 2 with an inductive coupling probe member 45 at it's lower
end and a
static pressure measuring tool 90 is sized and adapted to be retreivably
located within the
static pressure pocket 40B. The static pressure tool 90 has pressure sensing
ports 91 which
are located between spaced apart seals 92 and 93 so that when the tool 90 is
in the pocket
40B. the ports 91 of the tool are in communication with a communication
passageway 94
to the flow passageway pocket (see Fig.4). Thus, static pressure is supplied
to the tool 90
which develops a data transmission code representative of the static pressure
sensed in the
flow passageway 40C. The tool 90 includes a retrieving and latching head
assembly 94
which functions with a placement tool (see Fig. 12) to be disposed or removed
from the side
pocket 40B. When the tool 90 is in the static pressure pocket it is latched in
position and
the data is developed in an electronic means within the static pressure tool
and available for
transmission to the electrical conductor 24 via the coupling member 45. while
not
necessary, the tool can also include a memory section with a clock means where
the data
can be stored as a function of real time in the tool and read out
independently after being
' retrieved.
Referring now to Fig 12, a placement and retrieving tool 75 is illustrated and
includes an elongated housing 99 attached to a release housing 100. An
articulated linkage
mechanism 101 is connected to a pulling or retrieving tool 102 for disposition
or removal
of a tool or member from a side pocket bore.
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In operation, the production packers 26(A-D), the string of tubing 25, the
side pocket
mandrels 27,28,29, as desired and the electrical conductor 24 are installed so
that there is
an electrical communication conductor connection to all of the side pocket
mandrels and
to the controller-read out means 29 at the earth's surface or operating
platform.
In each of the side pocket mandrels utilizing the present invention there are
three
side pocket bores which are offset from a full opening bore where the full
opening bore is
in alignment with the full opening of the tubing string. The three side pocket
bores
respectively define: a fluid flow pocket 40C; a static pressure pocket 40B;
and a differential
pressure pocket 40D. The fluid flow pocket 40C opens to the bottom of a side
pocket
mandrel and is in direct communication with the full opening bore of a side
pocket mandrel
so that production flow is through the fluid flow passageway pocket to the
string of tubing.
Disposed within the fluid flow pocket 40C is a Venturi means 68 which develops
a
differential pressure of the fluid between upstream and downstream fluid flow.
The fluid
flow pocket 40C has a transverse passageway 94 coupling the static pressure in
the fluid
flow pocket 40C to the static pressure pocket 40B. Disposed in the static
pressure pocket
40B is a static pressure measuring tool 90 which is releasably latched in the
static pressure
bore and has an inductive coupling means cooperating with an inductive coupler
45 in the
static pressure pocket 40B. The static pressure measuring tool 90 develops a
data signal as
a function of static pressure.
The differential pressure measuring pocket 40D has separate passageways 70,71
to
the upstream and downstream pressure developed by the Venturi means 68. A
differential
pressure measuring tool 74 is retreivably disposed within the differential
pressure pocket
40D with seal means and senses the upstream and downstream pressure and
develops a data
signal as a function of the differential pressure in the fluid flow pocket
40C. The
differential pressure measuring tool 74 has and inductive coupling means
cooperating with
an inductive coupler 45 in the differential pressure pocket 40D. The various
tools can be
installed and removed as desired. While not illustrated, as it is
conventional, the various
side pockets can be mechanically coded with respect to the installation and
retrieving tool
so that the section of tool can be more precisely controlled.
At the platform or earth's surface, the controller read out means 29 sends a
data
polling signal to the respective static pressure tool and the differential
pressure tool in each
side pocket and sequentially and repetitively reads out the current
differential pressure and
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static pressure from each side pocket as the transmission occurs at the
platform or earth's
surface. From the differential pressure and the static pressure read out, the
fluid flow can
be calculated from standard flow equations. Thus, each the production zones
can be
simultaneously produced into the string of tubing and the production from each
production
zone is determinable. Hence, there is no need to shut down one or more
production zones
to determine the production flow from any given zone. At the same time the
full opening
bore permits operations at any time at any location without requiring removal
of any
obstructions in the string of tubing.
The differential pressure measuring toal, the static measuring tool, the
controller-
read out means, running and kick over tools are available from Panex
Corporation at Sugar
Land, Texas and/or are also disclosed in various prior patent applications and
patents.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be
made in
the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and
therefore the invention
is not limited by that which is disclosed in the drawings and specifications
but only as
IS indicated in the appended claims.
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