Thermal regulating well completion devices and methods

Abstract

A well completion includes a downhole steam generator (DSG) having a water inlet and a discharge to convey a hot effluent away from the DSG, a stinger having an inner mandrel forming a stinger bore in communication with the discharge and an outer mandrel carrying a seal element, and a passage located between the inner mandrel and the outer mandrel to circulate a cooling fluid from an inlet port to an outlet port. The outlet port may be in communication with the water inlet of the DSG or the stinger bore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal regulating device, comprising:
 a downhole steam generator;   a supply line to the downhole steam generator configured to deliver fluid to the downhole steam generator from which the downhole steam generator is configured to generate a hot effluent;   a temperature-sensitive completion component in the well; and   a heat sink configured to insulate the temperature-sensitive completion component from thermal energy in the hot effluent.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal regulating device of  claim 1  wherein the heat sink includes the fluid from the supply line before reaching the downhole steam generator. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal regulating device of  claim 1  wherein the temperature-sensitive completion component is in thermal contact with a formation in a well. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal regulating device of  claim 1  wherein the supply line is configured to discharge at least a portion of the fluid out of the supply line and into thermal contact with the temperature-sensitive completion component. 
     
     
         5 . A thermal regulating completion device, the device comprising:
 an inner mandrel having a bore;   an outer mandrel surrounding the inner mandrel and carrying a seal element; and   a passage located between the inner mandrel and the inner mandrel and the outer mandrel to circulate a cooling fluid from an inlet port to an outlet port.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are located at an upper end the device. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the inlet port is located at an upper end of the device and the outlet port is in communication with the bore. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , comprising an insulation located between the inner mandrel and the outer mandrel. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , comprising an insulation located between the inner mandrel and the outer mandrel; and
 the inlet port and the outlet port are located at an upper end the device.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 5 , comprising an insulation located between the inner mandrel and the outer mandrel; and
 the inlet port is located at an upper end of the device and the outlet port is in communication with the bore.   
     
     
         11 . A completion, comprising:
 a downhole steam generator (DSG) having a water inlet and a discharge to convey a hot effluent away from the DSG;   a stinger having an inner mandrel forming a stinger bore in communication with the discharge and an outer mandrel carrying a seal element; and   a passage located between the inner mandrel and the outer mandrel to circulate a cooling fluid from an inlet port to an outlet port.   
     
     
         12 . The completion of  claim 11 , wherein the outlet port is in communication with the stinger bore. 
     
     
         13 . The completion of  claim 11 , wherein the outlet port is in communication with the water inlet of the DSG. 
     
     
         14 . The completion of  claim 11 , wherein the stinger includes an insulation located between the inner mandrel and the outer mandrel. 
     
     
         15 . The completion of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the stinger is landed in a packer set in a wellbore;   the inlet port is located at an upper end of the stinger above the packer; and   the outlet port is located at an upper end of the stinger above the packer.   
     
     
         16 . The completion of  claim 15 , wherein the outlet port is in communication with the water inlet of the DSG. 
     
     
         17 . The completion of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the stinger is landed in a packer set in a wellbore;   the inlet port is located at an upper end of the stinger above the packer; and   the outlet port is in communication with the stinger bore.   
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 generating a hot effluent at a downhole steam generator (DSG) incorporated in an upper completion that is deployed in a wellbore;   discharging the hot effluent through a bore of a stinger landed in a packer, the stinger carrying a seal element; and   circulating a water through a passage from an inlet port to an outlet port, the passage located proximate to the stinger seal.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the outlet port is in communication with one of the stinger bore and a water inlet to the DSG. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the passage is located between an inner mandrel forming the stinger bore and an outer mandrel carrying the seal element. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the circulating the water includes communicating the water from the wellbore through the inlet port into the passage; and   the outlet port is in communication with one of the stinger bore and a water inlet to the DSG.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the circulating the water includes communicating the water through a supply tubing to the inlet port into the passage; and   the outlet port is in communication with one of the stinger bore and a water inlet to the DSG.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the stinger comprises:
 an inner mandrel forming the stinger bore;   an outer mandrel carrying the seal element; and   an insulation located between the inner mandrel and the mandrel.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the passage is located between an inner mandrel forming the stinger bore and an outer mandrel carrying the seal element;   the outlet port is in communication with one of the stinger bore and a water inlet to the DSG; and   the circulating the water includes communicating the water to the inlet port through one selected from the wellbore and a supply tubing.