Apparatus to clear control line in well

Abstract

A control line clearing apparatus has a separation sleeve that positions into a downhole element adjacent the element's control port to which a blocked control line connects. The sleeve separates fluid communication from the control port with the annulus between the sleeve and the downhole element, while still allowing effluents in the well tubing to pass through the interior of the sleeve. A feed line is then lowered into the sleeve, and an automatic coupling on the end of the feed line couples to a coupling member inside the sleeve. Once connected, solvent fed through the feed line communicates with the downhole elements control port via a cross-port in the sleeve. In this way, the solvent can act against the other side of the control line blockage.

1 . A control line clearing apparatus, comprising:
 a body deployable into a downhole element adjacent a control port, the body having an internal passage therethrough and having a port, the port having a first end communicating with the internal passage and a second end communicating outside the body;   a first connector disposed in the internal passage of the body and communicating with the first end of the port; and   a second connector connectable to a feed line and deployable into the internal passage of the body, the second connector coupleable with the first connector, whereby the feed line is communicable with the control port.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises means for sealably engaging an internal bore of the downhole element on both sides of the control port. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises means for mechanically seating in an internal bore of the downhole element. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a sleeve having an internal portion of its sidewall disposed in its internal passage to which the first connector connects. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second connector comprises a plurality of blades disposed about the outside of the second connector and locating the second connector within the internal passage of the body. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second connector comprises a female end of an automatic connector. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first connector comprises a male end of the automatic connector. 
   
   
       8 . A control line clearing apparatus, comprising:
 a sleeve deployable into a downhole element adjacent a control port, the sleeve having an internal passage therethrough and having a port, the port having a first end communicating with the internal passage and a second end communicating outside the sleeve;   a first end of an automatic connector disposed in the internal passage of the sleeve and communicating with the first end of the port; and   a second end of an automatic connector connectable to a feed line and deployable into the internal passage of the sleeve, the second end coupleable with the first end, whereby the feed line is communicable with the control port.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve comprises first and second chevrons disposed on the outside of the sleeve and sealably engaging an internal bore of the downhole element on both sides of the control port. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve comprises a contour disposed on the outside of the sleeve and seating in a profile of an internal bore in the downhole element. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve comprises locking dogs movable relative to the outside of the sleeve and seating in a profile of an internal bore in the downhole element. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve comprises a seat extending from the sidewall of its internal passage to which the first end of the automatic connector connects. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second end of the automatic connector comprises a plurality of blades disposed about its outside and locating the second end within the internal passage of the sleeve. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second end comprises a female end of an automatic connector. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first end comprises a male end of the automatic connector. 
   
   
       16 . A downhole apparatus, comprising:
 a nipple deployable downhole, the nipple having a first internal passage therethrough and having a control port communicating the control line with the first internal passage;   a sleeve deployable into the first internal passage adjacent the control port, the sleeve having a second internal passage therethrough and having a port, the port having a first end communicating with the second internal passage and a second end communicating outside the sleeve; and   a first automatic connector end disposed in the second internal passage of the sleeve and communicating with the first end of the port, the first automatic connector end connectable to a feed line deployable into the second internal passage of the sleeve, whereby the feed line is communicable with the control port.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve comprises first and second chevrons disposed on the outside of the sleeve and sealably engaging the first internal passage of the nipple on both sides of the control port. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve comprises a contour disposed on the outside of the sleeve and seating in a profile of the first internal passage in the nipple. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve comprises locking dogs movable relative to the outside of the sleeve and seating in a profile of the first internal passage in the nipple. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve comprises a seat extending from the sidewall of its internal passage to which the first automatic connector end connects. 
   
   
       21 . A control line clearing method, comprising:
 deploying a sleeve into a first internal passage of a downhole element;   sealably separating fluid communication between a control port on the downhole element to which a control line is connected and the annulus between the sleeve and the first internal passage;   establishing fluid communication between a feed line disposed in a second internal passage of the sleeve and the control port of the downhole element; and   applying first fluid from the feed line to the control port of the downhole element.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein deploying the sleeve comprises seating a contour disposed on the outside of the sleeve in a lock profile in the first internal passage of the downhole element. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein deploying the sleeve comprises seating a movable dog disposed on the outside of the sleeve in a lock profile in the first internal passage of the downhole element. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein sealably separating fluid communication between the control port and the annulus comprises engaging chevrons disposed on the outside of the sleeve against the first internal passage on both sides of the control port. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein establishing fluid communication between the feed line and the control port comprises:
 deploying a first connector on a distal end of the feed line into the second internal passage;   mating the first connector to a second connector disposed in the second internal passage, the second connector communicating with the outside of the sleeve adjacent the control port.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising alternatingly applying the first fluid via the feed line and second fluid via the control line.