Fluid logic tool for a subterranean well

Abstract

An operating tool uses programmed fluid logic provided by use of flow paths including pre-determined spaced ports and varying orifice sizes to provide discreet pressures and fluid flow rates upon pressure differential sensitive devices, such as a membrane or piston, in operative communication with an operative sleeve to manipulate one or more secondary tools, and/or to perform a service, such as, for example, acidzing or stimulation or injecting proppants within the well. The tool remains “immune” to internal well hydraulic or hydrostatic pressures, if desired, until the fluid logic is achieved. The fluid logic is adjustable for activation of tools sequentially by making changes in the port spacing and fluid relief profiles so that all tools can be actuated by a single geometry of fluid flow paths, or each tool can have its own unique fluid flow geometry so it becomes hydraulically coded.

1 ) An operating tool using programmed fluid logic applied through an operating fluid for use in a subterranean well and activatable by use of an operating conduit having first and second flow paths therein communicating with a source for said operating fluid to manipulate one or more secondary tools within said well, comprising:
 (1) an outer member carried into said well on a first tubular conduit including an outer cylindrical housing and an inner cylindrical housing, and defining a fluid chamber between said housings;   (2) an inner member positionable within said outer member and carried into said well on a second tubular conduit;   (3) an activation sleeve disposed within said outer member and selectively moveable therein in at least one direction to manipulate an auxiliary device within said well;   (4) a piston head in selective operative communication with said sleeve and defining first and second piston head surfaces;   (5) a plurality of orifice means, one of said orifice means being in communication with one of said piston head surfaces, and another of said orifice means in communication with the other of said piston head surfaces, each of said orifice means including at least one orifice profile defined on at lest one of said outer and inner members, said orifice means providing sufficient operating fluid flow and pressure at said piston head to manipulate said activating sleeve; and   (6) a plurality of fluid transmitting ports disposed through the inner cylindrical housing for transmitting the programmed fluid logic in the operating fluid at a pre-determined flow rate and pressure delivered by the operating conduit within one of the operating tool flow paths, through the orifice means into one of said ports and upon one of said piston head surfaces, to move said piston head and said activation sleeve in one direction and during said movement, to direct fluid in said chamber adjacent the second piston head surface out of said chamber through another of said fluid transmitting ports, thence into the second flow path of the operating conduit.   
     
     
         2 ) An operating tool using programmed fluid logic applied through an operating fluid for use in a subterranean well and activatable by use of an operating conduit having first and second flow paths therein communicating with a source for said operating fluid to manipulate a plurality of secondary tools within said well, comprising:
 (1) an outer member carried into said well on a first tubular conduit including an outer cylindrical housing and an inner cylindrical housing, and defining a fluid chamber between said housings;   (2) an inner member positionable within said outer member and carried into said well on a second tubular conduit;   (3) a plurality of activation sleeves disposed within said outer member, each said sleeve being independently and selectively moveable therein in at least one direction to manipulate an associated auxiliary device within said well;   (4) a piston head carried on each said sleeve and defining first and second piston head surfaces;   (5) a plurality of orifice means associated with each of said piston heads, one of each of said orifice means being in communication with one of each of said piston head surfaces, and another of said orifice means in communication with the other of each of said piston head surfaces, each of said orifice means including at least one orifice profile defined on at least one of said outer and inner members, said orifice means providing sufficient but varying operating fluid flows at pre-determined pressures at each of said piston heads to manipulate said associated activating sleeve; and   (6) a plurality of fluid transmitting ports disposed through the inner cylindrical housing for transmitting the programmed fluid logic in the operating fluid at specific flow rates and pressures delivered by the operating conduit within one of the operating tool flow paths, through the respective orifice means into one of said respective said ports and upon one of said piston head surfaces, to move the respective said piston head and said respective activation sleeve in one direction and during said movement, to direct fluid in said respective chamber adjacent a second piston head surface out of said chamber through another of said fluid transmitting ports, thence into the second flow path of the operating conduit.   
     
     
         3 ) An operating tool using programmed fluid logic applied through an operating fluid for use in a subterranean well and activatable by use of an operating conduit having first and second flow paths therein communicating with a source for said operating fluid to manipulate one or more secondary tools within said well, comprising:
 (1) an outer member carried into said well on a first tubular conduit including an outer cylindrical housing and an inner cylindrical housing, and defining a fluid chamber between said housings;   (2) an inner member positionable within said outer member and carried into said well on a second tubular conduit;   (3) an activation sleeve disposed within said outer member and selectively moveable therein in at least one direction to manipulate an auxiliary device within said well;   (4) pressure differential sensitive means in selective operative communication with said sleeve;   (5) a plurality of orifice means, each of said orifice means being in communication with said pressure differential sensitive means, each of said orifice means including at least one orifice profile defined on at lest one of said outer and inner members, said orifice means providing sufficient operating fluid flow and pressure at said pressure differential sensitive means to selectively manipulate said activating sleeve; and   (6) a plurality of fluid transmitting ports disposed through the inner cylindrical housing for transmitting the programmed fluid logic in the operating fluid at a flow rate and pressure within one of the operating tool flow paths, through the orifice means into one of said ports and upon said pressure differential sensitive means, to operatively communicate said pressure differential sensitive means with said activation sleeve to move said sleeve in one direction and during said movement, to direct fluid in said chamber adjacent said pressure differential sensitive means out of said chamber through another of said fluid transmitting ports, thence into the second flow path.   
     
     
         4 ) An operating tool using programmed fluid logic applied through an operating fluid for use in a subterranean well and activatable by use of said operating tool having first and second flow paths therein to manipulate a plurality of auxiliary devices within said well, comprising:
 (1) an outer member carried into said well on a first tubular conduit including an outer cylindrical housing and an inner cylindrical housing, and defining a fluid chamber between said housings;   (2) an inner member positionable within said outer member and carried into said well on a second tubular conduit;   (3) a plurality of activation sleeves disposed within said outer member, each said sleeve being independently and selectively moveable therein in at least one direction to manipulate an associated auxiliary device within said well;   (4) pressure differential sensitive means in selective separate operative communication with each said sleeve;   (5) a plurality of orifice means associated with each of said pressure differential sensitive means, each of said orifice means including at least one orifice profile defined on at lest one of said outer and inner members, said orifice means providing sufficient but varying operating fluid flow rates at pressures at each of said pressure differential sensitive means sufficient to move an associated activating sleeve in a direction to manipulate an associated auxiliary device in said well; and   (6) a plurality of fluid transmitting ports disposed through the inner cylindrical housing for transmitting the programmed fluid logic in the operating fluid at flow rates and pressures within one of the operating tool flow paths, through the respective orifice means into one of said respective said ports and upon one of said pressure differential sensitive means, during manipulation of the respective said pressure differential sensitive means and said respective activation sleeve in one direction and during said manipulation, to direct fluid in said respective chamber adjacent a second pressure differential sensitive means out of said chamber through another of said fluid transmitting ports, thence into the second flow path.   
     
     
         5 ) An operating tool using programmed fluid logic applied through an operating fluid for use in a subterranean well and activatable by use of an operating device having first and second flow paths therein communicating with a source for said operating fluid to perform a service operation within said well, comprising:
 (1) an outer member carried into said well on a first tubular conduit including an outer cylindrical housing and an inner cylindrical housing, and defining a fluid chamber between said housings;   (2) an inner member positionable within said outer member and carried into said well on a second conduit;   (3) activation means disposed within said outer member and selectively moveable therein in at least one direction to initiate said service operation within said well;   (4) pressure differential sensitive means in selective operative communication with said activation means;   (5) a plurality of orifice means, each of said orifice means being in communication with said pressure differential sensitive means, each of said orifice means including at least one orifice profile defined on at lest one of said outer and inner members, said orifice means providing sufficient operating fluid flow and pressure at said pressure differential sensitive means to selectively initiate said service operation; and   (6) a plurality of fluid transmitting ports disposed through the inner cylindrical housing for transmitting the programmed fluid logic in the operating fluid at a flow rate and pressure delivered within one of the operating tool flow paths, through the orifice means into one of said ports and upon said pressure differential sensitive means, to operatively communicate said pressure differential sensitive means with said activation means to move said means in one direction and during said movement, to direct fluid in said chamber adjacent said pressure differential sensitive means out of said chamber through another of said fluid transmitting ports, thence into the second flow path as the service operation is performed.   
     
     
         6 ) An operating tool using programmed fluid logic applied through an operating fluid for use in a subterranean well and activatable by use of an operating conduit having first and second flow paths therein communicating with a source for said operating fluid to perform a service operation within said well, comprising:
 (1) an outer member carried into said well on a first tubular conduit including an outer cylindrical housing and an inner cylindrical housing, and defining a fluid chamber between said housings;   (2) an inner member positionable within said outer member and carried into said well on a second tubular conduit;   (3) activation means disposed within said outer member and selectively moveable therein in at least one direction to initiate said service operation within said well;   (4) pressure differential sensitive means in selective operative communication with said activation means;   (5) a plurality of orifice means, each of said orifice means being in communication with said pressure differential sensitive means, each of said orifice means including at least one orifice profile defined on at lest one of said outer and inner members, said orifice means providing sufficient operating fluid flow and pressure at said pressure differential sensitive means to selectively initiate said service operation; and   (6) a plurality of fluid transmitting ports disposed through the inner cylindrical housing for transmitting the programmed fluid logic in the operating fluid at a flow rate and pressure delivered to the operating tool and within one of the operating tool flow paths, through the orifice means into one of said ports and upon said pressure differential sensitive means, to operatively communicate said pressure differential sensitive means with said activation means to manipulate said activation means to direct fluid in said chamber adjacent said pressure differential sensitive means out of said chamber through another of said fluid transmitting ports, thence into the well as the service operation is performed.   
     
     
         7 ) An operating tool using programmed fluid logic applied through an operating fluid for use in a subterranean well and activatable by use of an operating conduit having first and second flow paths therein communicating with a source of a second operating fluid to perform a service operation within said well, comprising:
 (1) an outer member carried into said well on a first tubular conduit including an outer cylindrical housing and an inner cylindrical housing, and defining a fluid chamber between said housings;   (2) an inner member positionable within said outer member and carried into said well on a second tubular conduit;   (3) activation means disposed within said outer member and selectively moveable therein in at least one direction to initiate said service operation using said second operating fluid within said well;   (4) pressure differential sensitive means in selective operative communication with said activation means;   (5) a plurality of orifice means, each of said orifice means being in communication with said pressure differential sensitive means, each of said orifice means including at least one orifice profile defined on at lest one of said outer and inner members, said orifice means providing sufficient operating fluid flow and pressure at said pressure differential sensitive means to selectively initiate said service operation; and   (6) a plurality of fluid transmitting ports disposed through the inner cylindrical housing for transmitting the programmed fluid logic in the operating fluid at a flow rate and pressure delivered to the operating tool and within one of the operating tool flow paths, through the orifice means into one of said ports and upon said pressure differential sensitive means, to operatively communicate said pressure differential sensitive means with said activation means to manipulate said activation means to direct said operating fluid in said chamber adjacent said pressure differential sensitive means out of said chamber through another of said fluid transmitting ports, thence to direct said second operating fluid through the well as the service operation is performed.   
     
     
         8 ) An operating tool using programmed fluid logic applied through an operating fluid for use in a subterranean well and activatable by use of an operating conduit having first and second flow paths therein communicating with a source for said operating fluid at the top of the well to perform a service operation within said well, comprising:
 (1) an outer member carried into said well on a first tubular conduit including an outer cylindrical housing and an inner cylindrical housing, and defining a fluid chamber between said housings;   (2) an inner member positionable within said outer member and carried into said well on a second tubular conduit;   (3) an activation sleeve disposed within said outer member and selectively moveable therein in at least one direction to initiate said service operation within said well;   (4) pressure differential sensitive means in selective operative communication with said activation sleeve;   (5) a plurality of orifice means, each of said orifice means being in communication with said pressure differential sensitive means, each of said orifice means including at least one orifice profile defined on at lest one of said outer and inner members, said orifice means providing sufficient and pre-determined operating fluid flow and pressure at said pressure differential sensitive means to selectively initiate said service operation; and   (6) a plurality of fluid transmitting ports disposed through the inner cylindrical housing for transmitting the programmed fluid logic in the operating fluid at a pre-determined flow rate and pressure delivered through the operating conduit to the operating tool and within one of the operating tool flow paths, through the orifice means into one of said ports and upon said pressure differential sensitive means, to operatively communicate said pressure differential sensitive means with said activation sleeve to manipulate said activation sleeve to direct operative fluid in said chamber adjacent said pressure differential sensitive means out of said chamber through another of said fluid transmitting ports, thence into the well as the service operation is performed.