Patent Description:
Oilfield wellbores are drilled by rotating a drill bit conveyed into the wellbore by a drill string. The drill string includes a drill pipe (tubing) that has at its bottom end a drilling assembly (also referred to as the "bottomhole assembly" or "BHA") that carries the drill bit for drilling the wellbore. A suitable drilling fluid (commonly referred to as the "mud") is supplied or pumped under pressure from a source at the surface down the tubing. Conventionally, the drilling fluid flows via a central flow bore along the tubing. Thus, the various components and assemblies that may be conveyed by the drill string are preferably housed in the annular body surrounding one or more flow bores. These flow bores may be centrally located or off-center. Traditional housing arrangements include cover sleeves, hatch covers, probe based, and mega frame packaging. For logging existing wellbores, wireline instruments are lowered into the wellbore by means of a wire. Wireline instruments carry equipment by similar technologies as referred to above. <CIT> discloses protection of electronic devices used with perforating guns. <CIT> discloses a look ahead advance formation evaluation tool.

The present disclosure provides packaging arrangements that do not have the drawbacks of traditional packaging arrangements.

In aspects, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for use in a borehole according to claim <NUM>.

In aspects, the present disclosure also provides a method for using a tool adapted for a borehole according to claim <NUM>.

Examples of certain features of the disclosure have been summarized (albeit 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. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.

For detailed understanding of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing:.

The present disclosure provides arrangements and related methods for packaging "functional elements. " As used herein, a "functional element" is a physical body or assembly that is designed to execute one or more pre-determined functions either at the surface or downhole. The executed function may be done autonomously or in response to a command signal. Also, the functional device may be dynamic and move between a non-activated state and an activated state, or vice versa. This is contrasted with static devices such as bolts, hatches, and other inert structures. The teachings of the present disclosure may be used with any tool or section of a tool conveyed by a conveyance device into a wellbore / borehole. The conveyance device may be a rigid carrier such as jointed pipe including wired pipe, or a non-rigid carrier such as coiled tubing, wireline, slick-line, e-line, etc. Merely for convenience, a drill string will be used as an exemplary conveyance device in the discussion below.

Referring initially to <FIG>, there is schematically illustrated an elevation view of a system <NUM> for the construction, logging, completion or work-over of a wellbore <NUM>. The system <NUM> includes a drill string <NUM> and a bottomhole assembly (BHA) <NUM>. In one embodiment, the drill string <NUM> may be made up of a section of rigid tubulars (e.g., jointed tubular). The drill string <NUM> may be rotated by a top drive <NUM> or other suitable rotary power device. In one non-limiting embodiment, the BHA <NUM> includes a drill bit <NUM>, a steering unit <NUM>, a drilling motor <NUM>, a sensor sub <NUM>, a bidirectional communication and power module (BCPM) <NUM>, and a formation evaluation (FE) sub <NUM>. In other configurations, the BHA <NUM> may include active stabilizers, under-reamers, tractors, thrusters, downhole blow-out preventers, etc. During drilling, a drilling fluid flows down a flow bore of the drill string <NUM> and flows up an annulus formed between the drill string <NUM> and a wall defining the wellbore <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown a section <NUM> of the drill string <NUM> (<FIG>), which may be a drill pipe or any of the components making up the BHA <NUM> (<FIG>) or any other section of the drill string <NUM>. The section <NUM> has a body <NUM> with a load bearing section <NUM> and a flow bore <NUM>, which may be centrally positioned or off-center. The section <NUM> has a rotational axis <NUM>, which is one of the three major axes or principal axes of the tool. The rotational axis <NUM> may be the axis about which the section <NUM> rotates. If the section <NUM> does not rotate, then the rotational axis <NUM> may be an axis that bisects the section <NUM>. In some embodiments, the rotational axis <NUM> may be aligned with the flow of fluid along the flow bore <NUM>. The tool section <NUM> has an outer surface <NUM> that is defined by a diameter. That is, the outer surface <NUM> extends axially a specified distance along a non-varying diameter. In some embodiments, the outer surface <NUM> may be considered a circumferential surface. As shown, the rotational axis <NUM> is parallel with the outer surface <NUM>.

The teachings of the present disclosure provide enable the packaging of a functional element directly to the load bearing section <NUM> of a bottomhole assembly or other well tool. These packaging methods can provide greater flexibility in size, accessibility, and maintainability while keeping internal flow bore(s) <NUM> free. For example, the cross-sectional flow area of the flow bore <NUM> does not have to be reduced and flow does not have to be diverted from the central axis of the section <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a channel <NUM> may be formed in the load bearing section <NUM> for receiving one or more objects. By load carrying region <NUM>, it is meant the physical mass that bears and transfers compression, tension, bending and/or torsional loadings across the section <NUM>. The channel <NUM> may have an opening <NUM> that is accessible from outside of the section <NUM>. That is, the opening <NUM> is at least partially formed to penetrate the outer surface <NUM> of the section <NUM>. It should be noted that the end faces of the section <NUM> are not accessible as they connect to adjacent tools and are effectively inside the tool string or bottomhole assembly. In one non-limiting embodiment the channel <NUM> may have circular cross-sectional profile. In one non-limiting embodiment at least a portion of the length of the channel <NUM> is enclosed or covered by the outer surface <NUM>. In still other embodiments, a majority of the length of the channel <NUM> is enclosed or covered by the outer surface <NUM>.

The channels according to the present disclosure may have various orientations, which are illustrated in <FIG>using channels <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. For ease of explanation, the section <NUM> may be considered as having two non-parallel planes, such as a horizontal plane <NUM> and a vertical plane <NUM>, both of which are parallel with the rotational axis <NUM>.

The channel <NUM> is inclined and is directed to the center of the section <NUM>. As used herein, "inclined" means that the channel <NUM> has a longitudinal axis <NUM> that has a non-zero slope relative to the horizontal plane <NUM> but not orthogonal to the rotational axis <NUM>. That is, the incline is greater than zero and less than ninety degrees. The channel <NUM> may also be described as inclined and extending radially inward from the outer surface <NUM>; i.e., that is the channel <NUM> extends at an angle greater than zero and less than ninety degrees from the outer surface <NUM>. In embodiments, at least a part of the channel <NUM> that is inclined is at the axial location of the opening <NUM> in the body <NUM>. That is, the inclination begins or terminates at the opening <NUM>.

The channel <NUM> may be offset from the vertical plane <NUM> and extend radially downward in a straight line from the opening <NUM>. Like the channel <NUM>, the longitudinal axis <NUM> (<FIG>) of the channel <NUM> has a component that is non-parallel with the horizontal plane <NUM> (<FIG>). This component is parallel with the vertical plane <NUM>.

The channel <NUM> may be offset from the vertical plane <NUM> and extend radially downward in a straight line from the opening 122a. Different from the channels <NUM>, <NUM>, the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the channel <NUM> has a component non-parallel with the horizontal plane <NUM> and a component non-parallel with the vertical plane <NUM>. Another difference is that channel <NUM>, <NUM> are "blind" holes. The channel <NUM> is different in that it extends all the way through the section <NUM> and can have a second opening 122b on the outer surface <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Also, one or more passages (not shown) may communicate with the channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. These passages (not shown) may be used to convey wiring, hardware, fluid lines, etc. to the equipment in the channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that the channels according to the present disclosure are susceptible to numerous variations. The channels can have non-circular cross sectional profile (not shown). A channel <NUM> may extend from an opening <NUM> formed at an inner surface <NUM>. An opening may also be formed at an end face <NUM> of a section <NUM>. Further, the channels according to the present disclosure can be non-linear. For example, a channel <NUM> may be curved to increase the available length for packaging a functional element. Still other channel geometries may use a slight deviation from a straight line to bring a functional element into intimate contact with the tool body to generate a pre-stress on the functional element. In accordance with the invention, the channel and the functional element may have longitudinal axes that are not parallel along the whole length of the functional element when the functional element is in the channel. Thus, the functional element is in contact with the body, and the contact generates a pre-stress on the functional element. Also, the channel may include composite geometries such as one or more linear segments and one or more non-linear segments (e.g., curved segments). These segments themselves may have different geometries (e.g., different slopes or curvatures). In still other embodiments, the channels according to the present disclosure may be contoured. For instances, the channels according to the present disclosure may have different channel diameters in different sections, which form a stepped diameter channel or may have other contours such as grooves, recesses, cavities or the like.

In some embodiments, a functional element may be operatively connected to a conduit <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The conduit <NUM> can transfer to the functional element at least one of: (i) energy, (ii) a signal, (iii) a fluid, (iv) and formation material. The conduit <NUM> may include a media that transmits signals between the functional element <NUM> and a separate component (not shown). The signal may be data signals or energy. For instance, the signal carrier may be a cable, wire, fiber, or other solid media that conveys electromagnetic signals, optical signals, or acoustic signals. The signal carrier may also be a conduit such as tubing or a channel that conveys fluid based pressure signals. These signals may be used to convey data. Also, the signal carrier may transmit energy in the form of electrical energy or pressurized fluid. The term "operatively connected" means that the functional element is energized via the connection and/or the functional element receives / transmits signals encoded with data via the connection.

In other embodiments, the functional element can be self-contained. By self-contained, it is meant that the functional element can perform one or more functions without an operative connection, as described above, that supplies power and / or data. That is, the functional element autonomously performs one or more functions downhole by using an on-board power supply and controls.

Without being bound to any particular manufacturing method, non-linear or curved channels can be manufactured using drilling (standard), EDM (standard), ECM, metal forming, casting or additive manufacturing technologies. Channels (cavities) can also be created using more than one component; e.g., mandrel and sleeve having both ½ of the channel, split longitudinally, can form a channel when both pieces are assembled.

Referring now to <FIG>, there is shown a valve actuation assembly <NUM> that may be used to control the flow of a borehole. The valve actuation assembly <NUM> has a body with a load bearing section <NUM> defined by an outer surface <NUM>. Channels, as discussed above, may be formed in the body <NUM> to house a functional element which by way of non-limiting example may be an electro-hydraulic actuator <NUM>. For visualization purposes the electro-hydraulic actuator is shown before installation into the receiving channel. By non limiting example, the electro-hydraulic actuator can be configured to make electrical connection (for power and communication) while being slid into the receiving channel. In other embodiments the electrical connection is made from hatch ports <NUM> after assembly of the electro-hydraulic actuator.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown a section of any downhole tool, but for simplicity will be referred to the valve actuation assembly <NUM> shown in <FIG>. A channel <NUM> is formed in the body <NUM> to house a functional element, such as the electro-hydraulic actuator <NUM>. The channel <NUM> has an opening <NUM> formed at the outer surface <NUM> and extends into the body <NUM>. As described previously, the channel <NUM> has an orientation that causes it to be non-parallel with the rotational axis of the valve actuation assembly <NUM>. It should be noted that the actuator <NUM> is fixed in the body <NUM> in such a manner that fluid may flow across the body <NUM> via a centrally positioned flow bore <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that channels according to the present disclosure may be used to package various types of functional elements. Functional elements can include tooling, instruments, and other kinds of mechanical, electro-mechanical, electric, electronic, hydraulic, or pneumatic equipment. Merely by way of example, such equipment may include signal-responsive actuators, electronics, sensors, batteries, energy emitting source (e.g., acoustic sources and radiation sources), hydraulic pumps, hydraulic actuators, electro-mechanical actuators, valves, vessels such as sample tanks to store formation material, including core barrels, or fluid reservoirs, antennas, fluid sampling tools, communication devices, steering ribs, active stabilizers, etc. A functional element may be powered electrically, hydraulically, or mechanically (e.g., using electricity, pressurized fluid, compressed springs, etc.) and controllable (e.g., responsive to control signals, and / or programmed).

Moreover, while a valve actuation assembly has been shown, it should be appreciated that a functional element may be used with any type of downhole tool, including, but not limited to, all types of reamers, anchoring tools, open-hole packers, casing packers, bridge plugs, string valves, bypass valves, (rotary) steering tools, tank carriers, pressure testing tools, sampling tools, coring tools, MWD sensor (seismic, resistivity, acoustic, gamma, NMR, etc.), pressure measurement devices, etc..

It should be appreciated that the packaging arrangements using channels according to the present disclosure provide numerous advantages over the conventional packaging arrangements. First, a functional element packaged in an above-described channel is accessible without disassembling a downhole tool. Thus, for instance, a functional element may be inserted into the downhole tool after the downhole tool is assembled via the opening of the channel on the outer surface of the downhole tool. Also, when the downhole tool is retrieved from the borehole, personnel can easily access the functional element without disturbing the joints, connections, or other portions of the downhole tool. That is, the downhole tool may be retrieved via the channel open and / or tools or instruments may be inserted through the channel opening to work on the functional element. Therefore, service activities such as maintenance, repair, refurbishment, and change-outs can be accomplished relatively quickly because no time-consuming disassembly of the downhole tool is required. Also, as noted previously, the functional elements are packaged in a manner that does not obstruct the flow of drilling fluid through the central flow bore (e.g., flow bore <NUM> of <FIG>) of the drill string <NUM> (<FIG>).

Claim 1:
An apparatus for use in a borehole, comprising a conveyance device (<NUM>), the apparatus comprising:
a tool conveyed by the conveyance device (<NUM>), the tool having a body (<NUM>) with a load bearing section (<NUM>), an outer surface (<NUM>) defined by a diameter, a rotational axis, and a channel (<NUM>) in the body (<NUM>) extending from an opening at the outer surface (<NUM>), wherein at least a part of the channel (<NUM>) is inclined relative to the rotational axis of the body (<NUM>) at the axial location of the opening in the body (<NUM>);
at least one functional element (<NUM>) disposed in the channel (<NUM>), the channel (<NUM>) and the functional element (<NUM>) each having a longitudinal axis; and
a conduit (<NUM>) operatively connected to the at least one functional element (<NUM>) transferring at least one of: (i) energy, (ii) a signal, (iii) a fluid, and (iv) formation material; characterized in that
the longitudinal axes of the channel (<NUM>) and the functional element (<NUM>) are not parallel along the whole length of the functional element (<NUM>) when the functional element (<NUM>) is in the channel (<NUM>), the functional element (<NUM>) is in contact with the body (<NUM>), and the contact generates a pre-stress on the functional element (<NUM>), wherein the functional element (<NUM>) is accessible without disassembling the downhole tool.