Abstract:
A system for communicating with downhole components is provided comprising at least one RFID device configured with an identification code. The system further includes a device conduit extending next to the downhole components and a device propulsion system configured to translate the RFID devices next to the downhole components to facilitate an exchange of information between the downhole component and the RFID device. The device conduit may include a check valve or a turn-around sub depending upon the application. In some cases, the exchange of information may trigger actuation of one or more of the downhole components. A method is also provide comprising providing a device conduit near downhole components, propelling an RFID device near to the downhole components via the device conduit and a device propulsion system, and exchanging information between the RFID device and the downhole components.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to radio frequency identification well delivery systems and methods. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    The following descriptions and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion in this section. 
         [0005]    Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has been used outside of the oilfield industry for a number of years to provide one-way and two-way communication and identification. However, the technology is gaining increased acceptance within the oilfield industry, primarily in surface oilfield applications such as inventory control (e.g., equipment identification) and to an extent in downhole applications to communicate with tools placed downhole. In current applications, RFID technology is deployed using one of the following approaches:
       Placing a downhole RFID module in the drill string, tubing, or casing, to identify downhole locations and subsequently conveying a reader to perform an operation at a specific location when the correct ID code is identified.   Pre-programming a downhole tool that will actuate when an RFID chip is dropped inside the tubing, drill string, or casing.       
 
         [0008]    The existing approach typically pumps or drops the RFID chips or tags down the tubular. However, this is only possible during specific times and situations. When the well is shut-in, dead, highly deviated or horizontal, an RFID device cannot be dropped down. This is also true for a flowing well (i.e., for a flowing well, dropping an RFID is also not possible or practically feasible). In addition, dropping an RFID device only provides one-way travel down the main bore of a substantially vertical well while pumping an RFID device downhole requires an intervention and interruption of production flow. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In accordance with one embodiment of a system for communicating with downhole components, the system may comprise one or more RFID devices configured with an identification code (ID code). The system may further include a device conduit extending proximate to the downhole components and a device propulsion system. The device propulsion system may translate the one or more RFID devices proximate to the downhole component to facilitate an exchange of information between the downhole component and the RFID device. 
         [0010]    In accordance with one embodiment of a method for communicating with downhole components, the method may comprise providing a device conduit proximate to the downhole components and propelling an RFID device proximate to the downhole components via the device conduit and a device propulsion system. In addition, the method may further comprise exchanging information between the RFID device and the downhole components. 
         [0011]    Other or alternative features will become apparent from the following description, from the drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Certain embodiments of the invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only the various implementations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope of various technologies described herein. The drawings are as follows: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a downhole well communication system for a vertical well according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a downhole well communication system for a suspended or shut-in well according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic views of alternative embodiments of components of a downhole well communication system according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a downhole well communication system for a deviated or horizontal multi-zone well according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an illustrative method for downhole well communication according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    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. In the specification and appended claims: the terms “connect”, “connection”, “connected”, “in connection with”, “connecting”, “couple”, “coupled”, “coupled with”, and “coupling” are used to mean “in direct connection with” or “in connection with via another element.” As used herein, the terms “up” and “down”, “upper” and “lower”, “upwardly” and downwardly”, “upstream” and “downstream”; “above” and “below”; and other like terms indicating relative positions above or below a given point or element are used in this description to more clearly describe some embodiments of the invention. 
         [0019]    Referring generally to  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a well system  10  may comprise a well bore  20  extending from the surface of the earth  40  to a formation  50  containing desirable production fluids, such as hydrocarbons, among other fluids. Although the well system  10  is shown as a terrestrial surface well, embodiments of the communication system may also be used in sub-sea applications. Portions of the well bore  20  may be lined with casing  25 , although the use of casing  25  is not required. The well system  10  may be completed to facilitate production of the desirable fluids to the surface  40  of the well. The completion may comprise production tubing  30  or tubulars and various downhole components  33   a ,  33   b , and  33   c , as well as other completion components. 
         [0020]    The downhole components  33   a ,  33   b , and  33   c , may comprise a variety of valves, sensors, location devices and other components used in a well system  10 . For example, the downhole component  33   a  may comprise a formation isolation valve (FIV) used to suspend or shut-in a well (i.e., closing off or preventing communication between the surface  40  and formation  50  via the production tubing  30 ). Downhole component  33   b  may represent an inflow control device (ICD) used to facilitate or control flow between the formation  50  and the interior bore of the production tubing  30  via screens, perforations  27 , or an openhole section. Downhole component  33   c  may represent a sensor configured to measure a well parameter such as flow rate, temperature, pressure, conductivity, water cut, phase composition, or valve actuation position, among other parameters not specifically identified. 
         [0021]    The annulus surrounding the production tubing  30  may sealed with a packer  35 , such as a casing packer, swell packer, etc., so that the entire well bore  20  is sealed when the downhole component  33   a  is shut or closed (in cases in which downhole component  33   a  is an FIV). Packer  35  may comprise one or more pass-throughs for a corresponding number of conduits, such as device conduit  120   a  and  120   b . In some embodiments, the device conduits  120   a ,  120   b  may comprise hydraulic control lines in order to take advantage of standard packer  35  pass-through configurations. Although only device conduits  120   a ,  120   b  are shown, additional conduits such as hydraulic control lines for valve actuation or fiber optics may also be present, among others. 
         [0022]    Device conduits  120   a  and  120   b  may be coupled to the outside of the completion (in this case shown as production tubing  30 ) so as to not interfere with the operation of the downhole components  33   a - 33   c  that are configured to close off the interior of production tubing  30 . In some embodiments, device conduits  120   a  and  120   b  may be run inside of production tubing  30  to facilitate control and communication with various downhole components  33   a - 33   c  in a flowing well, for example. In still other embodiments, device conduits  120   a  and  120   b  may be composed of various sections or multiple links and lines. In some cases the links may be created inside of the production tubing  30  walls or extend to the interior bore of the completion. 
         [0023]    As shown in this illustrative example, device conduits  120   a  and  120   b  may be coupled together via a turnaround sub  130 . The turnaround sub  130  facilitates a continuous loop of device conduits so that an RFID device  90  may be placed into the system at the surface  40  of the well, flow past the various downhole components  33   a - 33   c , and be returned to the surface  40  of the well. For example, this type of system may be used in cases in which an RFID device  90  exchanges information comprising data from a sensor (such as may be represented by downhole component  33   c ). The RFID device  90  may comprise a data storage area to store data measured by the sensor  33   c . At the surface  40 , the RFID device  90  may be read by an RFID reader  110  and the data extracted or copied for future use related to well operation or analysis. 
         [0024]    The RFID device  90  may be placed in a device propulsion system  100  located at the surface  40  of the well system  10 . The device propulsion system  100  may be coupled to the device conduits  120   a  and  120   b . In some cases, the device propulsion system  100  may be a pump, configured to circulate fluid through the device conduits  120   a  and  120   b . The RFID device  90  may be configured in the shape of a pill for example, sized small enough to translate within the device conduits  120   a ,  120   b  and turnaround sub  130 , but large enough to allow for the buildup of a pressure differential between the upstream and downstream ends of the RFID device  90 . In some embodiments, the RFID device  90  may comprise a seal (not shown) in order to readily facilitate the creation of the pressure differential. The pressure differential may provide the motive force for moving the RFID device  90  through the device conduits  120   a ,  120   b  and turnaround sub  130 . 
         [0025]    The communication system of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  allows for an RFID device  90  to travel in two directions as the RFID device  90  interacts with downhole components  33   a - 33   c . As RFID devices  90  travel via the device conduits  120   a ,  120   b , the downhole components  33   a - 33   c  may be configured to actuate based upon detection of a specific or unique identification code (ID code) stored in a particular RFID device  90 . In some cases, a stored command may also be present in an RFID device  90 , such as FIV open, or ICD to 40% flow through, among others, so that actuation of a particular downhole component  33   a - 33   c  may be achieved without requiring a separate or dedicated communication line to that downhole component. Therefore, exchanging information between an RFID device  90  and a downhole component  33   a - 33   c  may occur in one direction (i.e., from an RFID device to a downhole component, or from a downhole component to an RFID device) or in two directions (i.e., between an RFID device and a downhole component). 
         [0026]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , this drawing illustrates another embodiment of a communication system configured according to aspects of the present invention. In this drawing, well system  200  may represent a shut-in or closed well. For example, downhole component  33   a  may represent an FIV while downhole component  33   b  may represent an ICD or other completion component. This well system  200  differs from the previous well system  10  in that only one device conduit  120  extends along the completion (represented by production tubing  30 ). Device conduit  120  may be coupled with a one-way valve  230  such as a check valve, located at some position downhole. In this example, an RFID device  90  may be placed within a device propulsion system  100  and travel via a device conduit  120  downhole past downhole components  33   a  and  33   b . As the RFID device  90  passes these downhole components, the downhole components  33   a  and  33   b  may be configure to recognize the ID code of the RFID device  90  or other command information and perform some operation, such as opening, closing, etc. 
         [0027]    The one-way valve  230  may be configured to allow the RFID device  90  to pass through the valve and exit into the annulus surrounding the production tubing  30 . As a result, an operation may be able to control and communicate (in this example, primarily in one direction) with a downhole component located below a shut-in point, without having to compromise the sealing integrity of a shut-in device, such as may be the case if downhole component  33   a  is an FIV. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3A  shows a schematic illustration of a representative but non-limiting check valve that may be used for one-way valve  230 . As shown in this illustrative example, the one-way valve  230  may exit into an annulus surrounding production tubing  30  via a valve exit  235 . In some cases, the valve exit  235  may be replaced with a conduit  320  so that the one-way valve  230  exits into the interior bore of the production tubing  30  via a valve exit  325  (see  FIG. 3B ). Although the one-way valve  230  and conduit  320  are shown as separate components, many different configurations of valves and housings may be used. For example, one method may be to integrate the conduit  320  and valve exit  325  into the housing of the one-way valve  230  or to use other devices and components that facilitate the one-way translation of an RFID device  90  by a device propulsion system  100 . 
         [0029]    Referring generally to  FIG. 4 , another illustrative embodiment of a communication system of the present invention may be used in multi-zone and/or horizontal or deviated wells. Multi-zone well system  300  is shown as having a wellbore  20  that extends to more than one formation or more than one zone in a single formation (two formations, each with a corresponding zone are shown in this example). Wellbore  20  extends to formations  52  and  54 . The annulus located around production tubing  30  is segmented by open-hole packers  335   b - 335   c  so that each of the formations  52  and  54  may be independently controlled. Of course, in other situations, cased hole horizontal wells may be separated into various zones using cased hole packers for example. Device conduits  120   a , and  120   b  may extend along the completion so that they pass proximate to downhole components  333   a - 333   c  and  337   b - 337   c . Downhole component  333   a  may be represented by an FIV while downhole components  333   b - 333   c  may each be represented by ICDs, among other types of downhole components. Downhole components  337   b - 337   c  may be represented as sensors. As shown in the drawing, device conduits  120   a  and  120   b  may be coupled together by turnaround sub  130 . 
         [0030]    Within the zone defined by open-hole packers  335   b  and  335   c  and interacting with formation  52 , an RFID device  90  may be coded with a specific command for downhole component  333   b . Alternatively, downhole component  333   b  may be configured to recognize a particular ID code to actuate during an exchange of information, such as opening or closing or an intermediate step between opened and closed. Further, downhole component  337   b  may exchange data representing the amount of water cut entering into the production tubing  30  from formation  52 . If the percentage of water becomes too high, another RFID device  90  may be used to close or change the choke setting of the downhole component  333   b  so that production can continue from formation  54  with less water contamination or without water contamination from formation  52 . In this way, the overall life of well system  300  may be extended. 
         [0031]    As with previous examples, the RFID devices  90  may be propelled through the device conduits  120   a  and  120   b  via a device propulsion system  100  and read at the surface by an RFID device reader  110 . If the percentage of water from both formations  52  and  54  rise above a predetermined amount, downhole component  333   a  may be closed, shutting in the entire well system  300  or the choke setting may be changed to reduce the water cut. The production tubing  30  may be sealed with casing packer  35  to prevent any fluid flow through the annulus. However, even with the well shut in, RFID devices  90  may be circulated through the device conduits  120   a  and  120   b  to operate downhole components  333   b  and  333   c  and/or interrogate and retrieve information from sensors  337   b  and  337   c.    
         [0032]    Turning generally to  FIG. 5 , a method for establishing a communication system for a well  500  may be shown by the exemplary flowchart in the drawing. One step of the method may be providing a device conduit proximate to downhole components  510 . This may occur when the completion is run or after the well is producing (such as via wireline or coil tubing). The device conduit may comprise a single conduit (for one way translation of an RFID device) or a dual conduit (for two way translation of an RFID device). In some cases, a single conduit may provide two way translation of an RFID device if the distal end of the single device conduit is coupled to a storage area or reservoir so that the propulsion system may push and then pull an RFID device back and forth pass a downhole component. 
         [0033]    Another step of the method may be propelling an RFID device proximate to the downhole components via the device conduit and a device propulsion system  520 . In some cases, the device propulsion system  520  may be a pump configured to pump fluid through the device conduit. In other cases, the pump may be configured to pump fluid into the device conduit and out from the device conduit. 
         [0034]    An additional step of the method may be exchanging information between the RFID device and the downhole components  530 . As with the device propulsion system, the exchange of information may be one way, two way, or a combination of both (e.g., one way with some components and two way with others). For example, the downhole components may be configured to read an ID code from every RFID device but only send sensor data to RFID devices equipped to store the information. A single RFID device may control a single downhole component or may control multiple downhole components. 
         [0035]    Elements of the embodiments have been introduced with either the articles “a” or “an.” The articles are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the elements listed. The term “or” when used with a list of at least two elements is intended to mean any element or combination of elements and should not be considered as an exhaustive list. 
         [0036]    While the invention has been disclosed with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications and variations there from. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.