Selective rotationally aligning indicating mechanism

A multi-function tool is connected to an inner string to selectively align a port or ports in the inner string with ports in the outer string at various locations. The tool is locked from functioning at some locations where a locating collet will not selectively engage with an unlocking profile. In this more the tool will pass through the location unhindered. If an unlock profile is engaged the tool is enabled to be unlocked so that manipulation allows a support mandrel to align with collets that have an external V-shaped profile. Setting down weight allows the supported V-shaped profile on the collets engage a similar profile on the outer tubular to rotate, if needed, and to find support on a V-shaped profile on the surrounding tubular for performance of the borehole operation. Thereafter the locating collet engages a locking profile to disable the tool again.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is a tool inner string that can be run through an outer string and in specific predetermined locations the tool can be unlocked to find set down support and tool rotational orientation with an outer string port. The tool can be locked to not find support in passing through other zones. Once unlocked to operate using an indexing device setting down weight allows rotation for needed alignment and a support location of the inner string to the outer string at multiple locations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the advances of downhole completion and well monitoring methods, rotationally aligning service strings are beginning to see a growing number of applications for their use. Current generation rotationally aligned equipment, in the form of well monitoring wet connects, are commonly positioned at the top of a lower completion to allow a monitor from the lower completion to be linked to surface equipment. However, these rotational aligned connections are limited to single point in the tool string. Additionally, downhole completion frac pack methods are limited to linear alignment only of a service string to an outer string in current generation completion systems. This introduces difficulties in ways to control erosive flow paths and implement optimal alignment of tool strings to ensure durability for the applicable frac tools. Multizone completions are equally limited in the inability to rotationally align a frac tool with each frac sleeve over the course of several zones. Additionally, deep water completions require the use of indicating tools to identify tool, port, or seal position and prevent unwanted tool movement caused by tubing stretch, rig heave, etc. A common indicator for tool position is a hard boundary encountered by the indicating tool through interaction with a unique profile on the ID of the outer string, which can allow for either setting down weight or pulling on the rental string while the indicating tool is in “Locate Mode.” Manipulation of the indicating tool with an associated profile can be used to cycle the indicating tool to the “Snap Thru Mode,” enabling the rental string to pass beyond the indicating profile. For multi-zone systems, this produces the need to indicate on and cycle through each profile of each subsequent zone, resulting in excess string manipulation when passing through or between zones. This invention provides an apparatus to selectively lock rotationally aligning indicating tools in the “Snap Thru Mode” while tripping both in and out of the lower completion, to allow movement through multiple zones without having to index the mechanism and to provide a positive no-go indication in the axial and rotational direction when each indication boundary is encountered in order to service multiple zones with rotationally aligning equipment.

A tool that selectively unlocks after landing collets in a profile and using a pickup force and spring return to advance a j-slot to selectively align locking dogs with an axial groove has been described in US 2016/0084027, and is fully incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth. In this tool the tool is functional for a downhole operation when the dogs rotate into alignment with an axial slot due to picking up against a spring return force while operating a j-slot. After the operation is completed the spring-loaded collets align with another profile and picking up against the spring force rotates a sleeve having the j-slot so that the locking dogs are again aligned axially with stops between the axial slots so that the inner string is locked against relative movement and can pass to the next zone of interest or out of the hole without needing to be cycled at other locations.

Selectively supported collet fingers made from axial slices into a tube and having an exterior profile on each finger to engage a similar profile in a surround tubular have been made by Baker Hughes, a GE company under the trademark Smart Collet® and the makeup and operation of such collets is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,382,319 and 6,464,006 and is fully incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.

The present invention combines the selective locking of a tool with spaced profiles in a surrounding tubular as described in US 2016/0084027 with a Smart Collet® with finger profiles on adjacent fingers defining a V-shaped protruding shape to engage a similarly shaped profile on the outer tubular. The V-shapes create relative rotation, if needed for alignment of ports between the inner string and the outer string, for example. Freeing the tool to operate after passing the first profile using a lower j-slot to align dogs with an axial slot allows a j-slot at the upper end of the tool to position a support mandrel with a similar V-shaped profile in alignment with the V-shaped profile on the Smart Collet® fingers so that as the inner string is set down the V-shaped pattern of the collet fingers is supported as rotation, if needed, occurs on setting down weight to land on a V-shaped support profile in the surrounding tubular. After performing the downhole operation such as a gravel pack or a fracturing operation, for example, the tool is picked up through another profile and locked again for transport to another unlock profile where the steps can be repeated or out of the borehole. Certain locations where the unlocking collets do not fit in the outer string profile allow the tool to be pulled past without actuation. Rotational orientation is enabled in a variety of locations as opposed to single location functionality of known wet connect devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A multi-function tool is connected to an inner string to selectively align a port or ports in the inner string with ports in the outer string at various locations. The tool is locked from functioning at some locations where a locating collet will not selectively engage with an unlocking profile. In this more the tool will pass through the location unhindered. If an unlock profile is engaged the tool is enabled to be unlocked so that manipulation allows a support mandrel to align with collets that have an external V-shaped profile. Setting down weight allows the supported V-shaped profile on the collets engage a similar profile on the outer tubular to rotate, if needed, and to find support on a V-shaped profile on the surrounding tubular for performance of the borehole operation. Thereafter the locating collet engages a locking profile to disable the tool again.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1a-1c, the tool10is connected at upper end12to an inner string that is not shown. An outer string14is fixedly mounted in a borehole that is also not shown. The outer string can have a series of spaced apart openings to the formation that are also not shown. Each such opening has an unlock profile16below a support profile18and a relock profile20above support profile18. It should be noted that relock profile20is shown inFIG. 5cas aligned with unlock profile16for drawing convenience but in reality relock profile20is axially uphole from unlock profile16and below the next uphole support profile schematically shown as18′. In essence the pattern going uphole is an unlock profile16followed by a support profile18followed by a relock profile20. In that manner if the tool10is releasably captured in an unlock profile16then it will operate to find support and rotational alignment off the next support profile18and then relock at relock profile20that follows immediately above the support profile18just exited. In this manner the tool10can bypass some support profiles, for example18′ if there is no engagement at a leading unlock profile before the support profile18′. One the other hand if there is releasable engagement with a given unlock profile such as16then the tool10can be actuated for support and rotational alignment with spaced ports that are not shown in the outer string14. Before even delving into the detailed operation of tool10some immediate advantages of the tool10can already be appreciated. Axial and rotational alignment of unshown ports on the inner string that supports tool10can be axially and rotationally aligned with selected unshown ports on the outer string14at different depths. Some locations can be simply skipped if the tool10fails to engage an unlock profile such as16. In the latter case the tool10remains locked as it passes a port location on an outer string, for example.

The initial step is to unlock the tool10at a desired location. Tool10has a mandrel22that extends from upper end12to bottom sub24. The outer assembly extends from spring74to spring30and includes all the intervening parts that surround the mandrel22which can be in multiple parts, as shown. Referring toFIGS. 1b-1c, a series of collets26overlay collet support28so that at a predetermined unlock profile16where engagement is contemplated as inFIG. 1cthe mandrel22will be lowered past unlock profile16and then picked up to allow the collets26to engage the unlock profile16. Spring30assists in snapping the collets26into the unlock profile16. Pin32moves with mandrel22in j-slot track34of j-slot sleeve36shown inFIG. 7. With collets26in unlock profile16and a pickup force applied to mandrel22, the spring30is compressed. The pin32moves from j-slot position36to position38as spring30is compressed. When collets26jump out of unlock profile16the spring30advances the pin32from position38to position40of the j-slot pattern34. The result of this is rotation of j-slot sleeve42. A circumferential array of dogs44also get rotated with sleeve42out of depressions46in mandrel22as shown inFIG. 12bwhere surfaces48and50prevent axial movement of mandrel22and into longitudinal slot52to allow axial movement of mandrel22. Later on after support and alignment for tool10is found at support profile18engagement of collets26in unlock profile20will continue the rotation of j-slot sleeve42to put the dogs44back into the next adjacent set of depressions46in the direction of j-slot sleeve42rotation. This will happen by the continuing relative movement between the pin32and the j-slot track34.

FIGS. 2a-2cshow the unlocked position just described before a pickup force is applied. Before discussing this movement, additional components of the tool need to be described. The above described mode of unlocking and locking was described in detail in US 2016/0084027, which is incorporated herein as if fully set forth.

A support collet sleeve54is shown inFIG. 2band in more detail inFIGS. 9 and 10. It has a series of fingers56extending part way between ends58and60. There is a profile member62on each finger56that extends to inside and outside each finger56as seen in section inFIG. 10. In essence the profile members62are two connected half spiral patterns to form a downhole oriented V-shape64and an uphole oriented V-shape66. The outer string14has a support profile18seen in more detail inFIG. 11. Support profile18has an uphole oriented V-shaped support surface68with which V-shape64will engage when mandrel22is set down. Other mating shapes that induce rotation to a predetermined alignment can be used such as U-shapes or other shapes. If V-shape64is initially misaligned with V-shape68then relative rotation will ensue between collet sleeve54and support profile18, which is held fixed to the outer string14. If there is perfect alignment of V-shaped profiles64and68there will only be relative axial movement between the collet sleeve54and the support profile18which is fixed as the mandrel22is set down.

The fingers56are flexible and the profile members62will snap into recess70that in part defines the support profile18. However, merely snapping into recess70by profile members62that make up the V-shape64will alone not be sufficient to support the tool10on profile68. The V-shape64will need internal support from V-shape72on mandrel22before landing on V-shape68in support profile18. InFIG. 2cthe V-shaped profiles64and72are axially offset. However inFIG. 3bthey have come into alignment. They way this happens is that the V-shape64makes contact with V-shape68and has enough outward force built into fingers56to hold the V-shape64against the V-shape68as weight is set down to compress spring74as an upper j-slot assembly76is operated to allow mandrel22to axially descend to align V-shape72with V-shape64as V-shape64is resting on V-shape68. At this point the tool10is fully supported on V-shape68using V-shape64internally supported by V-shape72on mandrel22. The tool10is now in theFIG. 4bposition. The ports that are not shown between the inner string and the outer string14are in alignment and a procedure such as gravel packing or fracturing, for example, can take place. When that procedure ends the mandrel22is lifted and spring74in conjunction with the upper j-slot76allow for an axial offset between supporting V-shape72and V-shape64on fingers56. This is illustrated inFIG. 5b.

What remains is the need to relock the tool after lifting the V-shape64out of recess70and leaving V-shape64without internal support so that fingers56can flex radially inwardly without engaging for support into any other support profiles, such as for example18′. Picking up the mandrel22will land the collets28in a relock profile such as20where the j-slot sleeve42will again be rotated in a manner previously described to put the locking dogs44into recess46and out of alignment with slot52thereby locking the collets26against relative movement with respect to mandrel22. Going uphole with tool10will leave the tool locked until the tool10comes out of the hole or until another unlock profile such as16is engaged and the process is repeated. The selective support function of the V-shape64functions similarly to a Smart Collet® as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,382,319 and 6,464,006 and is fully incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.

In essence tool10combines the ability to be locked and selectively unlocked at unlock profile locations and in between the tool simple snaps through any surrounding surface recesses without actuation. When unlocked the tool combines the capability of axial support to align openings axially between an inner and outer string as well as a rotational alignment capability to rotationally align ports in and inner and an outer string. Such axial and rotational alignment can occur more than once in a single trip in the borehole depending on how many unlock and relock profiles are distributed in the outer string.

While port alignment is a principal function of the tool10, other purposes of the tool that finds support in select locations and auto-rotates for rotational alignment are also envisioned for a variety of borehole treatment procedures and other tasks as outlined below.