Patent Abstract:
A multi-barrier system includes a first valve in fluid communication with a lower completion that is electrically actuatable and inductively coupled to an upper completion. Also included is a second valve in fluid communication with the lower completion, both the first valve and the second valve, positioned proximate an uphole extent of the lower completion, are closable in response to retrieving the upper completion and openable subsequent reengagement of an upper completion.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    In the downhole drilling and completion industry, there is often need to contain fluid within a formation during various operations. Conventionally, a mechanical barrier is put in the system that can be closed to contain the formation fluid when necessary. One example of a system known in the art will use a valve in operable communication with an Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) so that if/when the ESP is pulled from the downhole environment, formation fluids will be contained by the valve. While such systems are successfully used and have been for decades, in an age of increasing oversight and fail safe/failure tolerant requirements, additional systems will be well received by the art. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0002]    Disclosed herein is a multi-barrier system. The system includes a first valve in fluid communication with a lower completion that is electrically actuatable and inductively coupled to an upper completion. Also included is a second valve in fluid communication with the lower completion, both the first valve and the second valve are positioned proximate an uphole extent of the lower completion, and both the first valve and the second valve are closable in response to retrieving the upper completion and openable subsequent reengagement of an upper completion. 
         [0003]    Also disclosed is a method of closing multiple barriers upon retrieval of an upper completion and opening of the multiple barriers subsequent reengagement of an upper completion with a lower completion. The method includes inductively coupling an electric line of the upper completion with an electric line of the lower completion in functional communication with a first valve of the lower completion, retrieving the upper completion from the lower completion, electrically closing the first valve upon functional decoupling of the inductive coupling, mechanically closing a second valve upon disengagement of the upper completion from the lower completion, reengagement of an upper completion with the lower completion, inductively coupling an electric line of the reengaged upper completion with the electric line of the lower completion, and electrically opening the first valve with electrical signals or power transmitted through the inductive coupling. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a multi-barrier system disclosed herein; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the system of  FIG. 1  in partial withdrawal from the borehole; and 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a portion of an alternate multi-barrier system disclosed herein illustrating an alternate inductive coupler configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
         [0009]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a multi-barrier system  10  is illustrated. Illustrated is a portion of a lower completion  12 , a packer  14  and a portion of an upper completion  16 . One of ordinary skill in the art will be familiar with the lower completion  12  and the packer  14  and the concept of an upper completion  16  in operable communication therewith. In the illustrated embodiment an electric submersible pump (ESP)  18  is included in the upper completion  16 , which is a device well known to the art. Between the illustrated ESP  18  and the lower completion  12  however, one of ordinary skill in the art will be surprised to see a number of mechanical barriers  20 ,  22  (sometimes referred to herein as “valves”) that is greater than one. As illustrated in the figures hereof there are two but nothing in this disclosure should be construed as limiting the number of mechanical barriers to two. Rather more could also be added, if desired. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment the more downhole valve  20  is an electrically actuated valve such as an ORBIT™ valve available commercially from Baker Hughes Incorporated, Houston Tex. and the more uphole valve  22  is a mechanically actuated valve such as a HALO™ valve available from the same source. It will be appreciated that these particular valves are merely exemplary and may be substituted for by other valves without departing from the invention. 
         [0011]    Electrical lines  24  are provided to the valve  20  for electronic operation thereof. The electrical lines  24  run along both the upper completion  16  and the lower completion  12 . In the illustrated embodiment an inductive coupler  26  transports electrical communication that may include one or both of electrical signals and electrical power between a first portion  28 A and a second portion  28 B that are in operable communication with the electrical lines  24  along the upper completion  16  and the electrical lines  24  along the lower completion  12  respectively. The inductive coupler  26  allows for retrieval of the upper completion  16  apart from the lower completion  12 . Also included in this embodiment of the system  10  is a stroker  30  that may be a hydraulic stroker in some iterations. 
         [0012]    The components described function together to manage flow between the lower completion  12  and the upper completion  16 . This is accomplished in that the valve  20  is settable to an open or closed position (and may be variable in some iterations) based upon electrical communication in the electrical lines  24 . The valve  22  is opened or closed based upon mechanical input generated by movement of the upper completion  16 , or in the case of the illustration in  FIG. 1 , based upon mechanical movement caused by the stroker  30  that is powered by hydraulic fluid pressure. Of course, the stroker  30  could be electrically driven or otherwise in other embodiments. In any condition, the valve  22  is configured to close upon withdrawal of the upper completion  16 . In normal production, both of the valves  20  and  22  will remain open unless there is a reason to close them. Such a reason occurs, for example, when it is required to retrieve the upper completion  16  for some reason. One such reason is to replace the ESP  18 . Regardless of the reason for closure, employment of the system  10  in a completion string provides more than one mechanical barrier  20 ,  22  at an uphole extent of the lower completion  12 . The barriers when closed prevent fluid flow after the upper completion is retrieved. 
         [0013]    Attention is directed to the inductive coupler  26  and  FIG. 2 . During withdrawal of the upper completion  16 , the electrical lines  24  along the upper completion  16  are uncoupled from the electrical lines  24  along the lower completion  12  as the portion  28 A is separated from the portion  28 B. The valve  20 , if not already closed, is configured to close in response to this uncoupling of the electrical lines  24 . This will complete the separation of the upper completion  16  from the lower completion  12  and allow retrieval of the upper completion  16  to the surface. With more than one mechanical barrier  20 ,  22  in place at the uphole extent of the lower completion  12 , there is improved confidence that fluids will not escape from the lower completion  12 . 
         [0014]    In order to restore production, the same upper completion  16  or another similar upper completion  116  is run in the hole. Whether the same or a new upper completion  16 ,  116  is being run items similar to the ESP  18 , the electrical line  24  and the portion  28 A of the inductive coupler  26  are incorporated thereon. The newly installed upper completion  16 ,  116  can be fully engaged with the lower completion  12  to provide the full functionality of the original system  10 , including the ability to open and close each of the valves  20 ,  22  as desired. Moreover, it should be understood that the process of pulling out and stabbing in with the same or new upper completions  16 ,  116  can go on ad infinitum (or at least until practicality dictates otherwise). 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a multi-barrier system  110  having an inductive coupler  126  with portions  128 A and  128 B in electrical communication with the electrical lines  24  is illustrated. The inductive coupler  126  differs from the inductive coupler  26  in that the portions  128 A and  128 B are displaced from one another radially instead of axially. As such a gap dimension  130  between the two portions  128 A,  128 B is determined by relative dimensions of the portions  128 A,  128 B and is not altered by foreign material, such as contamination, positioned therebetween. Additionally, the inductive coupler  126  can tolerate a greater range of axial positions between the portions  128 A,  128 B than the inductive coupler  26  while still maintaining full operational functioning thereacross. 
         [0016]    The foregoing apparatus and method for its use allows for the retrieval and replacement of an upper completion without the need for a wet connection. 
         [0017]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4