Contraction joint system

A technique that prevents the tangling of communication lines routed along a contraction joint. The technique enables deployment of a well completion having a contraction joint with a plurality of communication lines routed along the contraction joint. A communication line organizer is positioned along the contraction joint to prevent tangling of the plurality of communication lines while enabling sufficient movement of the communication lines to accommodate expansion and contraction of the contraction joint.

BACKGROUND

In many well related operations, contraction joints are used with well completions to compensate for contraction and extension of the completion strings. The contraction and extension, however, increases the difficulty of routing communication lines along the completion string. Sometimes, a single communication line is wrapped around the contraction joint in a manner that allows it to contract or extend when the contraction joint is contracted or extended. The ability to freely contract and extend as the contraction joint moves helps maintain the integrity of the communication line.

Wrapping the communication line around the contraction joint is less helpful when using more than one communication line. The multiple communication lines become tangled with each other during operation of the contraction joint. Once tangled, the communication lines can become bound against portions of the contraction joint and fail to contract and extend uniformly. The communication lines are then susceptible to deformation and stretching beyond their material limits which causes catastrophic failure of the completion system.

SUMMARY

In general, the present invention facilitates the use of a well completion in combination with a plurality of communication lines. The invention provides a system and method to prevent the tangling of communication lines routed along a contraction joint of the well completion. Specifically, a communication line organizer, positioned us along the contraction joint, prevents tangling and binding of the plurality of communication lines while enabling sufficient movement of the communication lines to accommodate expansion and contraction of the contraction joint.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.

The present invention generally relates to a system and methodology that facilitates the use of a contraction joint in a well completion application. A communication line organizer enables the use of multiple communication lines for conducting signals downhole and/or uphole without tangling, deforming or otherwise impairing the operation of the communication lines. The communication line organizer can be used with two or more communication lines of the same or different types. For example, hydraulic communication lines, electrical communication lines (data and/or power), optical communication lines, and/or other types of communication lines can be routed in a variety of combinations along the contraction joint for signal communication with the completion string or with other downhole components. The communication line organizer allows the contraction joint to contract and expand without causing the communication lines to tangle or bind. The communication line organizer also can be used to provide a bearing effect between the communication lines and a mandrel of the contraction joint to facilitate smooth movement of the communication lines along the outer mandrel surface during operation.

Referring generally toFIG. 1, a well system20is illustrated according to one embodiment of the present invention. Well system20comprises a completion string22having a contraction joint24. The completion string22and contraction joint24are deployed in a wellbore26that is drilled or otherwise formed in a geological formation28. The completion string22is deployed downhole by an appropriate deployment system30that may be a tubing string formed of, for example, coil tubing or jointed tubing. Contraction joint24generally is positioned between deployment system30and the operational well equipment32of completion string22.

As illustrated, deployment system30extends downwardly along wellbore26from a wellhead34positioned at a surface36, such as a seabed floor or the surface of the earth. The wellbore26is defined by a wellbore wall38that may be an open wellbore wall or a wellbore casing40. Following initiation of a completion string related operation, the contraction joint24is free to move in a contracting or expanding direction to compensate for relative lineal movement between deployment system30and the well equipment32of completion string22. As described in greater detail below, contraction joint24is designed to enable the routing of a plurality of communication lines downhole in a manner that does not tangle or detrimentally stress the communication lines during contraction and/or expansion of the contraction joint24.

Referring generally toFIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of contraction joint24is illustrated. In this embodiment, contraction joint24comprises a housing42slidably engaged with a mandrel44to enable contraction and expansion of contraction joint24. In this example, mandrel44slides within housing42along an internal passage46formed linearly through housing42so as to allow telescopic motion of mandrel44with respect to housing42. While completion string22is run into wellbore26, the mandrel44may initially be fixed to housing42by an engagement member48. In the embodiment illustrated, engagement member comprises a shear member50, such as a shear pin. Upon engagement of the completions downhole, e.g. engagement of well equipment32with a corresponding in-hole completion, shear member50transfers the force used for the completion engagement and is sheared during the process.

A plurality of communication lines52is used to conduct various signals downhole and/or uphole. The communication lines52can be used to conduct signals from, for example, a surface location to well equipment32of completion string22or to other components located downhole. In some applications, the communication lines52can be used in transferring signals upwardly from devices located in wellbore26to a surface location or to other locations. The communication lines may comprise hydraulic communication lines, electrical communication lines, optical communication lines, or other types of communication lines used in transferring signals. Additionally, the type and number of communication lines can vary from one well application to another. For example, three communication lines are illustrated, but other applications may utilize additional lines in many combinations as determined by the parameters of the operation.

To prevent communication lines52from becoming tangled or bound against mandrel44, a line organizer54is utilized to manage the communication lines while enabling sufficient movement of the communication lines to accommodate the relative movement of mandrel44and housing42. In the embodiment illustrated, line organizer54comprises a plurality of line organizer members56arranged along the contraction joint24. For example, the individual line organizer members56may be positioned along mandrel44, e.g. attached to mandrel44along an exterior surface of the mandrel. In the embodiment ofFIG. 2, the line organizer members56are sequentially oriented along mandrel44to enable the generally spiral wrapping of the communication lines52around mandrel44.

However, the communication lines52can be routed and oriented in a variety of ways. In the embodiment illustrated, for example, the communication lines52extend into an upper mounting end58of mandrel44via a plurality of fittings60. Upper mounting end58is used to couple contraction joint24with deployment system30. The communication lines52extend downwardly from fittings60and are attached, separated, and supported by line organizer members56before being routed into housing42via line fittings62. In other embodiments, however, communication lines52can be routed along other paths, including paths that run internally or externally of upper mounting end58and housing42.

Additionally, a shroud63can be installed around the communication lines52. In the embodiment illustrated, shroud63is installed outside communication lines52and line organizer54at the region where the communication lines extend along, e.g. are wrapped around, mandrel44. The shroud63protects communication lines52from damage during operations. Also, shroud63is spaced from mandrel44a sufficient distance to serve as an envelope within which the communication lines52can move smoothly during contraction and expansion of contraction joint24. The shroud63is illustrated as attached to housing42, however it can be connected to other components or comprise other configurations while protecting the communication lines and ensuring smooth operation of the contraction joint.

Another embodiment of contraction joint24is illustrated inFIG. 3. The embodiment ofFIG. 3is similar to that described with reference toFIG. 2, but the contraction joint is re-settable. In other words, the housing42and mandrel44can be temporarily fixed or set at more than one position. By way of example, housing42and mandrel44may be temporarily fixed to one another by shear member50, e.g. a shear pin, at a first position. The housing42and mandrel44also can be temporarily fixed to one another by a secondary shear member64, e.g. a shear pin, at a second position. In this example, secondary shear member64engages a lock ring66mounted along the outer surface of mandrel44. Another locking ring68, such as a C-ring, is held in position along an interior of housing42by, for example, a shoulder70or other holding member.

The contraction joint24and well equipment32are moved downhole with housing42and mandrel44locked at the first position via shear member50. Subsequently, the mandrel44can be pulled upwardly within housing42to shear the shear member50. The mandrel44is moved upwardly until lock ring66engages corresponding lock ring68to temporarily fix mandrel44with respect to housing42at the second position. During a subsequent operation, the mandrel can be pushed downwardly to shear the secondary shear member64. At this stage, the contraction joint24is free to contract and expand intermediate deployment system30and well equipment32. In this embodiment, the contraction joint24again may comprise shroud63installed outside of communication lines52and line organizer54for guiding and protecting the communication lines52and line organizer54. Shroud63may be mounted to either housing42or mandrel44. Alternatively, shroud63may be formed as a telescoping shroud mounted to both housing42and mandrel44.

The line organizer54can be formed with various numbers of line organizer members56positioned at various locations along mandrel44and/or housing42. The arrangement of line organizer members56is selected to accommodate the number of communication lines, the type of communication lines, the routing path for the communication lines, and the general design/application of the contraction joint24. One example of line organizer member56is illustrated inFIG. 4. In this embodiment, the line organizer member56comprises an organizer plate72that may be mounted to mandrel44or to other features of contraction joint24. The organizer plate72comprises one or more plate members positioned inside and/or outside of the multiple communication lines52. For example, organizer plate72may comprise a backing plate74, positioned between mandrel44and communication lines52, and a plurality of protrusions76extending from backing plate74. The protrusions76are positioned to separate the communication lines52and to support the individual communication lines, i.e. provide a bearing surface for the individual communication lines. This allows the communication lines52to move along the surface of mandrel44smoothly without risk of binding or entanglement. The protrusion76, or other bearing surfaces described herein, can be made from a material, e.g. non-metallic material/plastic material, selected to facilitate movement of the communication lines52along the surface of the mandrel.

Another embodiment of line organizer member56is illustrated inFIG. 5. In this embodiment, each line organizer member56comprises a retainer plate78having a plurality of openings80through which individual communication lines52extend. The retainer plate78is thus able to separate and support the individual communication lines while allowing movement of the communication lines52along the surface of mandrel44, thereby protecting the communication lines against binding or entanglement. Alternatively, an organizer wire82can be used to separate and support individual communication lines, as illustrated inFIG. 6. The organizer wire82comprises a plurality of loop or ring sections84sized to fit around each communication line and thus support each individual line.

In other embodiments, each line organizer member56may be formed to hold the communication lines52in a group, as in the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 7-10. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7, for example, three communication lines52are held together in a triangular configuration by an outer wrap86or other similar member. The outer wrap86is positioned around the communication lines to securely hold the position of the communication lines and thus avoid entanglement of the communication lines during expansion and contraction of contraction joint24.

The line organizer members56also may be formed as tubular members designed to hold the communication lines in a desired cross-sectional configuration to avoid entanglement while allowing sufficient movement of the communication lines to facilitate expansion and contraction of contraction joint24. In the embodiment ofFIG. 8, for example, the line organizer member56comprises an organizer frame88having a circular configuration sized to retain the desired number of communication lines at specific positions within an interior90of circular organizer frame88. For example, if three communication lines are used, frame88may be sized to hold the communication lines in the illustrated, triangular orientation when viewed in cross-section.

Tubular organizer members also can be formed in other shapes, such as the rectangular shape illustrated inFIG. 9. In this embodiment, organizer frame88is rectangular and sized to retain a plurality of communication lines52in a linear arrangement within interior90. The interior90may have a generally oval shape designed to secure the outlying communication lines as well as those therebetween when the communication lines52are viewed in cross-section. Another example is illustrated inFIG. 10in which the organizer frame88has a generally square shape sized to secure the orientation of, for example, four communication lines52. The size and shape of organizer frame88can be adjusted according to the type and number of communication lines.

The design of contraction joint24and the overall completion string22can be selected according to the desired well operation and well environment. Additionally, the type and number of communication lines also can change depending on the specific application for which they are used in conducting signals downhole and/or uphole. The line organizers also can have differing numbers of line organizer members and line organizer member configurations to properly secure the communication line orientation while enabling the free contraction and expansion of the contraction joint.

Accordingly, although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this invention. Such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims.