US-12624636-B2 - Apparatus and method for contacting an open hole surface

Abstract

An apparatus and method for contacting an open hole surface are provided. The apparatus includes an expandable portion surrounded by a contact portion configured to contact an open hole surface. The method includes expanding an expandable portion surrounded by a contact portion to create contact between the contact portion and an open hole surface.

Inventors

• Samuel Keith Taylor

Assignees

• EXPRO NORTH SEA LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20201028

Priority Date

20191028

Claims (6)

1. 1 . An apparatus for contacting an open hole surface within a subterranean extending well, the apparatus comprising: an inflatable bladder; and an electrically conductive sleeve; wherein the electrically conductive sleeve is disposed radially outside of the inflatable bladder and circumferentially surrounds the inflatable bladder; wherein the apparatus is configured to be disposed in a rest state with the inflatable bladder disposed at a first diameter or in an expanded state with the inflatable bladder disposed at a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter; wherein in the expanded state the apparatus is configured to create electrical contact between the electrically conductive sleeve and the open hole surface of the subterranean extending well for electrical conduction of electrical signals to and from the open hole surface of the subterranean extending well.
2. 2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive sleeve comprises a braided steel mesh sleeve.
3. 3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive sleeve comprises a mesh.
4. 4 . A method for contacting an open hole surface within a subterranean extending well, the method comprising: providing an apparatus comprising an inflatable bladder and an electrically conductive sleeve, wherein the electrically conductive sleeve is disposed radially outside of the inflatable bladder and circumferentially surrounds the inflatable bladder, and wherein the apparatus is configured to be disposed in a rest state with the inflatable bladder disposed at a first diameter or in an expanded state with the inflatable bladder disposed at a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter; disposing the apparatus in the rest state within a subterranean extending well at a position contiguous with an open hole surface of the subterranean extending well creating electrical contact between the electrically conductive sleeve of the apparatus and the open hole surface by expanding the apparatus from the rest state to the expanded state; and transmitting electrical signals to the open hole surface through the electrically conductive sleeve, or receiving electrical signals from the open hole surface through the electrically conductive sleeve, or both.
5. 5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of expanding the apparatus from the rest state to the expanded state includes pumping a fluid into the inflatable bladder.
6. 6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the fluid is a production fluid.

Description

This application claims priority to PCT Patent Appln. No. PCT/EP2020/080228 filed Oct. 28, 2020, which claims priority GB Patent Appln. No. 1915617.3 filed Oct. 28, 2019, which are herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field Some described examples generally relate to open hole environments, and in particular, to apparatus and methods for contacting an open hole surface. 2. Background Information Either when a well is drilled/completed, or at some point later in the life cycle of a well, sections of the well infrastructure may be uncased or without liner. That is to say that that the well infrastructure may comprise regions that are “open hole”. Such open hole regions may exist in a pilot hole, sidetrack, or otherwise at the bottom of a well structure without a liner (e.g. an open hole or barefoot completion). Open hole sections may exist in onshore and offshore wells. It will be appreciated that the surface or ground region associated with an onshore well may relate to the surface from which the well structure extends into ground and then down to the formation. For an offshore well, the surface or ground region may relate to the mudline, or the like, from which well structure extends down to the formation below. In addition, a particular type of well is an appraisal (or exploration) well which may be drilled as part of an appraisal process to determine the extent and reserves at a particular field. Appraisal wells may be present at onshore and offshore locations. Appraisal wells may comprise a section having a metallic well structure, such as a conductor or casing, and an open hole section having no metallic well structure. Once the appraisal process is complete, appraisal wells are typically abandoned. The abandonment process may include pumping a first plug, which may comprise cement, into the open hole section and positioning a second plug, which may also comprise cement in the metallic well structure section. Further, at the end of the lifecycle of a well, or at the end of an appraisal process, or the like, steps may be taken to permanently abandon a well that may introduce open hole regions. Abandonment procedures may include: isolating any freshwater zones associated with the well; isolating from the well any future production zones; preventing leaks to/from the well; and, in addition to removing wellheads, etc., also cutting and removing all well structure such as casing strings, etc., to a particular level below the surface. Communication methods in the oil in gas industry may utilize e-lines, slicklines, fibre optic cabling, electromagnetic technology, acoustic technology and pressure wave technology. However, one or more of these technologies may be problematic to implement in the described open hole regions. This background serves only to set a scene to allow a person skilled in the art to better appreciate the following description. Therefore, none of the above discussion should necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that that discussion is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge. One or more aspects/embodiments of the invention may or may not address one or more of the background issues. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In some examples, an apparatus for contacting an open hole surface is provided. The apparatus provides for robust and effective contact to an open hole surface. In some examples, the apparatus comprises an expandable portion surrounded by a contact portion configured to contact an open hole surface. An open hole surface, in contrast with a cased or tubed surface, of a formation is not generally smooth. An open hole surface may have bumps, cracks, fractures, gaps, holes and other such generally uneven and/or not smooth surfaces. These uneven surfaces have a reduced surfaced area that may be contact by a flat or even contact portion. Accordingly, the expandable portion is configured to expand to force the contact portion to contact the open hole surface. Expansion of the expandable portion forces the contact portion to at least partially fill the bumps, cracks, fractures, gaps, holes and other generally uneven and/or not smooth surfaces of the open hole surface. Expansion of the expandable portion generally increases the surface area of the open hole portion that the contact portion is contacting. As will be described, this reduces resistance to ground and improves signal transmission and reception. While the contact portion may contact the open hole surface prior to expansion of the expandable portion, expansion of the expandable portion increases the surface area of the open hole surface that is contacted by the contact portion. In some examples, the contact portion is configured to maximize contact with the open hole surface. Once the expandable portion has expanded the contact portion maximizes contact with the open hole surface. As previously stated, the contact portion may contact the open hole surface prior to expansion