Intelligent Well Control System for Three or More Zones

Abstract

An intelligent well system can service three or more zones that have gravel packed screens. A modular system features a screen and a surface controlled production valve on an internal blank pipe that internally straddles the screen. A gravel exit valve is disposed above the blank pipe and the blank pipe can optionally have a fluid loss control valve. A gravel pack / fracturing assembly can engage each module and close the fluid loss valve and gravel outlet valve on the way out of a module. Optionally the fluid loss valve can be eliminated if the gravel packing and fracturing string has the ability to power the production valve. The modules can be connected by wet connects as can the production string to make the intelligent well system functional from the surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The field of this invention is intelligent well control from the surface without intervention and more specifically in the context of sand control completions in multiple zones and more specifically targeting three or more zones.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Intelligent well control generally involves a way to control and monitor well conditions from the surface without having to intervene in the wellbore. Many applications of such systems have been employed and one is illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows an open hole 10 with packers 12, 14 and 16 isolating zones 18, 20 and 22 respectively with a valve 24, 26 and 28 respectively in each zone. A production packer 30 is disposed in liner 32 with production tubing 34 extending to the surface. Liner 32 is hung to well casing (not shown) at hanger 36. A valve 38 gives access to a fourth zone 40 between packers 30 and 16. Lines 42 which can be hydraulic or electric or fiber optic extend from the surface throu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]An intelligent well system can service three or more zones that have gravel packed screens. A modular system features a screen and a surface controlled production valve on an internal blank pipe that internally straddles the screen. A gravel exit valve is disposed above the blank pipe and the blank pipe can optionally have a fluid loss control valve. A gravel pack / fracturing assembly can engage each module and close the fluid loss valve and gravel outlet valve on the way out of a module. Optionally the fluid loss valve can be eliminated if the gravel packing and fracturing string has the ability to power the production valve. The modules can be connected by wet connects as can the production string to make the intelligent well system functional from the surface.

Problems solved by technology

While the above layout has worked in the past for two zones, the problem occurs if more than two zones are involved and it is made that much more difficult to have the available space if the completion assembly 44 has a smaller diameter.

The problem is a lack of space for nesting enough shrouds that are concentrically disposed.

Another problem is the space-out of multiple seal assemblies with multiple concentric strings while landing the completion.

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