Interchangeable Smart Completion Hardware Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
The market penetration of intelligent well completions is low due to high costs, reliability issues, complexity, and limited design options, with current systems being proprietary and incompatible between companies, restricting technology development and access to data from downhole sensors and actuators.
Innovation Solution
An architecture that enables accessible and interchangeable retrievable hardware for subterranean well completions, allowing remote access to data and reducing barriers for third-party vendors to develop and integrate components, with a connection system, telemetry system, and remote access interface for secure data access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If intelligent completion systems use proprietary closed architecture with single supplier, then system reliability is maintained through dedicated support, but market penetration is limited due to high costs and restricted design options
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the intelligent completion architecture into separate functional modules: a standardized communication infrastructure and interchangeable downhole tools. Each tool contains its own processor and communication interface, allowing independent development and testing while maintaining system-wide compatibility through standardized protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal communication standard that enables multiple vendors to develop tools that can all interface with the same well control system. The standardized telemetry and communication protocols allow different proprietary tools from different companies to work together within a single well completion system.
2Reliability
If intelligent completion hardware is permanently installed downhole, then long term reliability is achieved, but development time and costs increase due to life-of-well reliability requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic replacement of downhole tools during the well's operational life. Tools can be retrieved and replaced without permanent installation commitments, allowing the system to adapt to new technologies and requirements while maintaining reliability through proven tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the reliability parameter requirement from 'life-of-well' for each individual tool to 'life-of-well' for the system as a whole, while individual tools can have shorter operational cycles. This allows accelerated development and testing of individual tool components while maintaining overall system reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If communication system operates entirely within operator's firewall with closed architecture, then data security is maintained, but access for third parties and new technology development is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces standardized communication interfaces and protocols as intermediaries between the secure operator network and third-party tools. These standardized interfaces allow controlled data exchange while maintaining security boundaries, enabling third-party access without compromising the operator's internal communication security.
4Ease of manufacture
If each service company develops proprietary completion equipment, then company-specific optimization is achieved, but compatibility between companies is lost and technology development slows
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments proprietary tool development from the communication infrastructure. Each company can optimize their proprietary tools independently while adhering to standardized communication protocols, allowing parallel development without integration conflicts and accelerating overall technology advancement.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for subterranean well developments includes a downhole assembly having well completion components for permanent installation within the subterranean well and interchangeable retrievable hardware. A connection system adapts the retrievable hardware to the well completion components, the connection system operable to provide a connection between the well completion components and the retrievable hardware. A telemetry system is in communication with the retrievable hardware and operable to access data from the downhole assembly. A remote access interface is in communication with the retrievable hardware.