Lower Completion Integrity Verification via Inductive Coupler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Verifying the integrity of lower completion components in wellbores, especially in long or horizontal wells, is challenging due to difficulties in routing power and control cables, which hinders the effective deployment of upper completions.
Innovation Solution
A system and methodology that uses a service tool with an inductive coupler interface to verify the functionality of lower completion components without requiring a separate power cable, employing inductive couplers for power and communication signal transmission and utilizing tools like MWD and electrical coiled tubing systems for high-speed communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate power cable is routed downhole to verify lower completion integrity, then the functionality verification capability is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power transmission and communication functions into the existing communication system infrastructure. The lower completion communication system uses the same communication line to both transmit data and provide power to functional components, eliminating the need for separate power cables. This merging of functions resolves the technical contradiction by maintaining verification capability while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is designed to perform multiple functions: data transmission, power delivery, and integrity verification. By making the communication line universal and multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for dedicated power cables while maintaining the ability to verify lower completion integrity, thus resolving the contradiction between verification capability and system complexity.
2Reliability
If traditional cable-based power transmission is used in long or horizontal wells, then power delivery is reliable, but the ease of operation and deployment difficulty worsen due to routing challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power delivery and communication into a single integrated system using the existing communication line. This eliminates the need to route separate power cables through challenging well configurations, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining reliable power delivery to lower completion components in long or horizontal wells.
3Measurement precision
If additional communication lines are installed for verification, then the measurement precision of functional components is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is designed as a universal platform that handles both data communication and power transmission functions. This multi-functionality allows precise verification of functional components through the existing communication infrastructure without adding separate measurement or communication lines, thus maintaining measurement precision while avoiding increased device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable verification of lower completion components' integrity, reducing the risk of component failure and simplifying the deployment process by eliminating the need for additional cables, particularly in complex well configurations like extended reach drilling (ERD) wells.
Implementation Method 1
A service tool system is removably deployed into the wellbore and comprises a service tool with an interface which interacts with the lower completion. The interface enables verification of the integrity, e.g. functionality, of various functional components of the lower completion without the use of an additional communication line, e.g. power cable, routed separately to the lower completion.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique facilitates verification of the integrity of a lower completion prior to deployment of a corresponding upper completion. A lower completion is initially deployed downhole into a wellbore and comprises a plurality of functional components, such as a sensor, a communication system, a flow control system, and/or other functional components. A service tool system is removably deployed into the wellbore and comprises a service tool with an interface which interacts with the lower completion. The interface enables verification of the integrity, e.g. functionality, of various functional components of the lower completion without the use of an additional communication line, e.g. power cable, routed separately to the lower completion.