Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for terminating communication on a communication line between a carrier and at least one node located at a subsurface location. The apparatus may include a control member configured to initiate termination of communication in response to a controlled signal. The apparatus may also include a communication linkage configured to terminate the communication in a manner that cannot be remotely restored in response to the control member. The apparatus may also include a power source to maintain power to the communication linkage termination operation. The apparatus may be configured to use energy from the communication line to cause the communication linkage to terminate communication. The apparatus may be configured to use a communication linkage that is at least partially consumable. The method includes the use of the apparatus.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure generally relates to controlling signal communication between a carrier and at least one node positioned at a subsurface location. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Often, electronic and hydraulic devices may be situated in inaccessible locations. This inaccessibility may be problematic when it is desirable to isolate one or more of these devices from a larger system. For example, during hydrocarbon exploration and recovery operations, it is common for electronic and hydraulic devices to be operating in a borehole in an earth formation. These devices or nodes may be in communication with other devices and surface operations. Many nodes may be operating in parallel, such that a failure of one device may generate a failure in the whole system. During operations, it may become desirable for communication with one or more devices to be terminated while the device(s) are at their subsurface location. The termination of communication may be used to clear a whole system failure generated by one or more of the nodes. The present disclosure addresses terminating communication with one or more of such nodes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In aspects, the present disclosure is related to methods and apparatuses for controlling communication between a carrier and at least one node at a subsurface location. 
     One embodiment according to the present disclosure may include a method of controlling communication along a carrier, comprising: positioning a communication linkage and at least one node at a subsurface location, the at least one node communicating with the carrier via the communication linkage; and terminating communication between the carrier and the at least one node using a controlled signal, wherein the at least one node destroys at least a part of the communication linkage upon receiving the controlled signal. 
     Another embodiment according to the present disclosure may includes an apparatus for controlling communication, comprising: a carrier; and at least one node configured to be positioned at a subsurface location, the at least one node including a communication linkage for communicating with the carrier, the at least one node being configured to terminate communication with the carrier by destroying at least a part of the communication linkage upon receiving a controlled signal. 
     Examples of the more important features of the disclosure have been summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the contributions they represent to the art may be appreciated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a detailed understanding of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic of a subsurface node deployed in an onshore borehole according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic of another subsurface node deployed in an offshore borehole according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the subsurface node according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the subsurface node according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the subsurface node according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure relates to controlling communication between a carrier and at least one node positioned at an inaccessible location, such as a subsurface location. As used herein, the term “subsurface” refers to below the surface of land and/or a body of water, e.g., underwater or subterranean locations. In the discussion below, reference is made to hydrocarbon producing wells. It should be understood that the teachings of the present disclosure may be applied to numerous situations outside of the oil and gas industry. For example, the teachings of the present disclosure may be applied to devices or subsurface structures associated with geothermal wells, water producing wells, pipelines, tunnels, mineral mining bores, etc. 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a wellbore or borehole  20  is shown a production well using devices or nodes  60  in communication with a communication line  42  in a carrier  26 . The carrier  26  may communicate data and/or power within the borehole  20 . The carrier  26  may be rigid or non-rigid. For example, the carrier may be non-rigid carrier such as a tubing encapsulated cable. The carrier may also be a rigid carrier such a “wired” drill pipe. The carrier  26  may be configured to convey signals between the surface and the nodes  60  positioned downhole (e.g. a tubing encapsulated cable). Herein, signals may include, but are not limited, to signals for conveying information and/or energy. Illustrative, but not exhaustive, signals include electromagnetic signals, acoustical signals, pressure pulses, optical signals, etc. Herein, information may include raw data and processed data. The borehole  20  may include multiple production zones  24   a - d . Packers  52 , which may be retrievable packers, may be used to provide zonal isolation for each of the production zones  24   a - d.    
     Each zone  24   a - d  may include one or more nodes  60 . Herein, a node may be any device that transmits signals to and/or receives signals from the carrier  26 . The nodes  60  may include, but are not limited to, one or more of: intelligent well completion equipment, environmental sensors (e.g., pressure, temperature, flow rates, etc.), injectors, flow control devices such as valves, chokes, seals, etc. that are configured to adjust, vary and control flow from the formation into the tubing, electrical/hydraulic actuators, communication devices (e.g., transmitters, receivers, pulsers, etc.), and downhole power generators. Thus, a node may transmit generated information, receive information (e.g., instructions), receive energy, and/or transmit generated energy via the carrier  26 . The node  60  may be configured to be positioned at an inaccessible location. An inaccessible location may be a location where intervention to repair or restore communication is not possible or cost prohibitive. A location may be inaccessible due to remoteness, hazardous conditions, dimensional restrictions, etc. Inaccessible locations may include subsurface locations (subsea, subterranean, etc.). While  FIG. 1  shows the nodes  60  as well completion equipment, the present disclosure is not limited to equipment used in a completion process. 
     In some embodiments, one or more of the nodes  60  may include a node terminator  64  configured to terminate at least one aspect of the signal communication between the node  60  and the carrier  26 . For example, the uni-directional or bidirectional transmission of signals between a node  60  and the carrier  26  may be terminated by activating a node terminator  64 , which may be part of the node  60 . Herein, the term “terminate” is used to describe impairing or obstructing the flow of signals to a degree that signals flowing along the carrier  26  do not influence operation of the node  60  and/or the operation or functional status of the node  60  does not influence the flow of signals along the carrier  26 . Thus, in embodiments where the carrier  26 , the nodes  60 , and other devices constitute a system, the activation of node terminator  64  may operationally isolate one or more nodes  60  from the rest of the system. In some embodiments, a node terminator  64  may be configured to terminate or trigger termination of communication for more than one node  60 . After the node terminator  64  is activated, the node  60  may be isolated from some or all signals from the carrier  26 . 
     In embodiments, a controlled signal may be used to activate the node terminator  64 . Herein, a controlled signal is a signal initiated by surface and/or downhole intelligence (e.g., a suitably programmed microprocessor or human operator). Thus, the controlled signal is a deliberately transmitted signal, as opposed to an errant signal, that is intended to cause a specific response from the node  60 . The controlled signal may be generated at the surface, subsurface, in the borehole, or at the node itself. The controlled signal may be produced by a controller (not shown) that may be located at one of: (i) a surface location, (ii) a subsurface location, and (iii) the node  60 . 
     The node terminator  64  may render the node  60  operationally non-responsive to signals conveyed along the carrier  26  after communication has been terminated such that communication may not be restored by sending a second controlled signal. Moreover, the termination may be such that the node  60  may only reacquire signal transmission capability by in situ repair or by retrieval from the inaccessible location for repair. 
       FIG. 2  shows an offshore embodiment according to the present disclosure. A drill rig  210  may be supported by a platform  220 . A riser  230  may include a carrier  26 , which may extend below the sea bed  240  into a borehole  20  in the earth formation  250 . Nodes  60  may be positioned along the riser  230  and/or within the borehole  20 . As discussed above, the nodes  60  may be in signal communication with the carrier  26 , at least in part, through a node terminator  64 . 
     Aspects of the node terminator  64  are illustrated in  FIG. 3 , which shows a circuit diagram of one embodiment of a node terminator  64  that terminates signal flow with the carrier  26  upon receiving a controlled signal. The node terminator  64  may include a communication linkage  310  that either directly or indirectly enables signal communication between the node  60  and the carrier  26 . The communication linkage  310  may be installed in line with the communication line  320  between the carrier  26  and the node  60 . The communication line  320  may be configured to carry signals, e.g., electrical, hydraulic, etc. The node  60  may include a control member  330  configured to initiate an energy flow to the communication linkage  310 . The control member  330  may positioned between the communication line  320  and a ground  350 , such as cable or carrier armor. Herein, “control member” is used to generically describe a switching device used to control energy from either an energy source or the carrier. The control member  330  may be configured to have at least two states, which may include an open circuit and a closed circuit between the communication line  320  and ground  350 . The control member  330  may also be configured to change states in response to a controlled signal on signal line  340 . In some embodiments, the control member  330  may be configured to change state permanently (such as a latching relay) regardless of power supplied to the control member in response to the controlled signal. In other embodiments, the control member  330  may require an energy source to maintain its state. Suitable control members may include latching relays, field effect transistors, and other switchable devices known to those of skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, the node terminator  64  terminates signal communication between the node  60  and the carrier  26  by destroying the communication linkage  310 . Herein, “destroyed” means that some aspect of the communication linkage  310 , e.g., a conductive material, is converted or transformed into a state that prevents the communication linkage  310  from enabling signal communication, at least to the same effectiveness as prior to being converted/transformed. That is, for example, the communication linkage  310  may be converted/transformed from a signal conveying state to a non-signal conveying state. For example, the material making up a portion of the communication linkage  310  may be disintegrated such that the material no longer conveys electrical signals. One non-limiting suitable element is a “consumable” element. Herein, an element that is “consumed” generally means an element that undergoes a non-reversible, one-time conversion or transformation from one state to another (e.g., substantially conductive to substantially non-conductive). Consumable elements suitable for the communication linkage  310  may include, at least in part, fuses, fusable links, rupture disks, and other elements that are transformed to a desired state by application of mechanical energy (e.g., pressure), electrical energy, thermal energy, etc. Communication linkages that do not have a consumable component include devices that are returned to a functional position (e.g., signal conveying condition) by an external operation (e.g., a latching relay or a latching valve). Illustrative external operations include retrieval from the subsurface location or a well intervention using tools conveyed into the well for in situ operations. 
     In operation, signals may flow across communication linkage  310  until a controlled signal is received by control member  330  on line  340 . Upon receipt of the controlled signal, the control member  330  may close, resulting in a short circuit between the communication line  320  and ground  350 . In some embodiments, the control member  330  may be supplied with energy through part or all of the disconnection operation. When the short circuit is formed, sufficient energy from the communication line  320  will flow to communication linkage  310  resulting in the consumption of at least part of communication linkage  310  and terminating communication. The consumption of at least part of communication linkage  310  may directly or indirectly terminate the flow of signals between the node  64  and the carrier  26 . 
     It should be appreciated that the power parameters (e.g., voltage or pressure) associated with the communication line  320  did not have to be adjusted or set in order to isolate the node  60  from the carrier  26 . That is, the termination of communication does not necessarily depend on a voltage or pressure change or value of communication line  320 . Thus, the node  60  may be isolated in an operation that is independent of the operation of the carrier  26 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a circuit diagram of another embodiment of node terminator  64  that uses an energy source  420  and dual control members  330 ,  430 . In this embodiment, the control member  330  indirectly initiates an energy flow to destroy at least part of the communication linkage  310  by using the control member  430 . Here, control member  330  receives a controlled signal on signal line  340  and is in electrical communication with the second control member  430  and an energy source  420 . Second control member  430  may be positioned between communication line  320  and ground  350 . The second control member  430  may be configured to have at least two states, which may include an open circuit and a closed circuit between the communication line  320  and ground  350 . In some embodiments, a resistor  410  may be coupled between control member  330  and second control member  430  to dissipate energy from energy source  420  to ground  350 . Energy source  420  may be a stored energy source that does not receive energy from communication line  320 . Energy source  420  may be any energy storage device, including, but not limited to, one of: (i) a battery, (ii) a reservoir, (iii) a capacitor, and (iv) an inductor. 
     In operation, signals may flow across communication linkage  310  until the node  60  receives a controlled signal. The controlled signal may be received by control member  330  on signal line  340 . Upon receipt of the controlled signal, the control member  330  may close, resulting in a short circuit between the energy source  420  and the second control member  430 . The energy from energy source  420  may then activate second control member  430  causing a short circuit between communication line  320  and ground  350 . In some embodiments, the control members  330 ,  430  may be supplied with energy through part or all of the disconnection operation. When the short circuit is formed, sufficient energy from the communication line  320  will flow to communication linkage  310  resulting in the consumption of at least part of communication linkage  310  and terminating communication. The consumption of at least part of communication linkage  310  may be a direct or an indirect cause of the termination of communication. 
       FIG. 5  shows a circuit diagram of another embodiment of node terminator  64  according to the present disclosure using a second consumable element. The control member  330  may be in electrical communication with an element  510  and an energy source  520 . Element  510  may include, at least in part, a consumable element in element  510  of the same type or different from the consumable element in communication linkage  310 . Energy source  520  may be configured to store and release sufficient energy to consume at least part of element  510 . The element  510  may be in electrical communication with control member  330  and ground  350 . Second control member  430  in electrical communication with communication line  320  and ground  350 . The second control member  430  may be configured to have at least two states, which may include an open circuit and a closed circuit between the communication line  320  and ground  350 . In some embodiments, second control member  430  may be powered by energy source  520 . In some embodiments, a one way flow element  530  (e.g. diode, check valve) and a resistive element  540  may be coupled and positioned between the communication line  320  and element  510 . 
     In operation, signals may flow across communication linkage  310  until a controlled signal is received by control member  330  on signal line  340 . Upon receipt of the controlled signal, the control member  330  may close, resulting in a short circuit between the energy source  520  and the second control member  430  and between the energy source  520  and the element  510 . Sufficient energy from energy source  520  may then flow to the element  510  resulting in the consumption of at least part of element  510  and forming an open circuit. With an open circuit formed, second control member  430  may no longer be held to ground  350  through element  510  and may be energized by energy source  520  and/or by the communication line  320 . Second control element  430  may activate and cause a short circuit between communication line  320  and ground  350 . The short circuit may result in sufficient energy to flow from communication line  320  to communication linkage  310  to consume at least part of communication linkage  310 . The consumption of at least part of communication linkage  310  may be a direct or an indirect cause of the termination of communication. In some embodiments, the control members  330 ,  430  may be supplied with energy through part or all of the disconnection operation. 
     While the foregoing disclosure is directed to the one mode embodiments of the disclosure, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all variations be embraced by the foregoing disclosure.