Kickover Tools and Methods of Operating the Same in Hydrocarbon Wells

Abstract

Kickover tools and methods of operating the same. The kickover tools are configured to engage a downhole component within a completion structure of a hydrocarbon well. The kickover tools include a tool body and a kickover arm that extends between a first arm end and a second arm end. The kickover tools also include an end effector that is operatively attached to the second arm end and configured to interface with the downhole component. The kickover tools further include an actuation mechanism that mechanically couples the first arm end to the tool body and is configured to selectively transition the kickover arm between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. The kickover tools also include a data transmission interface and an attachment point. The kickover tools further include an imaging device configured to collect an image indicative of an environment proximal the kickover tool.

1 . A kickover tool configured to engage a downhole component within a completion structure of a hydrocarbon well, the kickover tool comprising:
 a tool body;   a kickover arm that extends between a first arm end and a second arm end;   an end effector configured to interface with the downhole component, wherein the end effector is operatively attached to the second arm end;   an actuation mechanism that mechanically couples the first arm end of the kickover arm to the tool body and is configured to selectively transition the kickover arm between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration;   a data transmission interface;   an attachment point configured to operatively interconnect the kickover tool with an umbilical; and   an imaging device configured to collect a collected image indicative of an environment proximal the kickover tool, to generate an image signal indicative of the collected image, and to provide the image signal to the data transmission interface.   
     
     
         2 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the image signal includes information indicative of a spatial relationship between at least one of:
 (i) the kickover tool and the completion structure;   (ii) the end effector and the completion structure; and   (iii) the end effector and the downhole component.   
     
     
         3 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the image signal includes information indicative of at least one of:
 (i) a visual representation of the kickover tool;   (ii) a visual representation of the tool body;   (iii) a visual representation of the kickover arm;   (iv) a visual representation of the completion structure; and   (v) a visual representation of the downhole component.   
     
     
         4 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device includes at least one of:
 (i) an optical imaging device configured to collect visible light;   (ii) an electromagnetic imaging device configured to collect electromagnetic radiation;   (iii) an infrared imaging device configured to collect infrared radiation; and   (iv) an acoustic imaging device configured to detect acoustic vibrations.   
     
     
         5 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device includes an active imaging device configured to provide a probe signal to the environment proximal the kickover tool such that the probe signal reflects from at least one structure within the environment proximal to the kickover tool to generate a reflected signal, wherein the imaging device further is configured to receive the reflected signal and to generate the image signal based, at least in part, on the reflected signal. 
     
     
         6 . The kickover tool of  claim 5 , wherein the probe signal includes at least one of electromagnetic radiation and acoustic vibration. 
     
     
         7 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device includes a passive imaging device configured to generate the image signal responsive to receipt of at least one of:
 (i) ambient vibrations within the environment proximal the kickover tool; and   (ii) ambient electromagnetic radiation within the environment proximal the kickover tool.   
     
     
         8 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the kickover tool further includes a tension sensor configured to generate a tension signal indicative of a tensile force between the attachment point and the umbilical and to provide the tension signal to the data transmission interface. 
     
     
         9 . The kickover tool of  claim 8 , wherein the tension sensor includes a strain sensor configured to detect mechanical strain within at least a portion of at least one of the kickover tool, the attachment point, and the umbilical. 
     
     
         10 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the kickover tool further includes a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a pressure acting upon the pressure sensor and to provide the pressure signal to the data transmission interface. 
     
     
         11 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the kickover tool further includes a depth sensor configured to generate a depth signal indicative of a depth of the kickover tool within the hydrocarbon well and to provide the depth signal to the data transmission interface. 
     
     
         12 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the kickover tool further includes an orientation-determining structure configured to generate an orientation signal and to provide the orientation signal to the data transmission interface, wherein the orientation signal is indicative of at least one of:
 (i) a relative orientation between the tool body and the kickover arm;   (ii) a relative orientation between the end effector and the kickover arm;   (iii) a relative orientation between the end effector and the tool body;   (iv) a relative orientation between the kickover arm and the downhole component;   (v) a relative orientation between the end effector and the downhole component;   (vi) a body-arm angle defined between a body longitudinal axis of the tool body and an arm longitudinal axis of the kickover arm; and   (vii) an arm-end effector angle defined between the arm longitudinal axis and an end effector longitudinal axis of the end effector.   
     
     
         13 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the kickover tool further includes a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature in the environment proximal the kickover tool and to provide the temperature signal to the data transmission interface. 
     
     
         14 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the kickover tool further includes an acceleration sensor configured to generate an acceleration signal indicative of an acceleration of the kickover tool and to provide the acceleration signal to the data transmission interface. 
     
     
         15 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the kickover tool further includes a velocity sensor configured to generate a velocity signal indicative of a velocity of the kickover tool and to provide the velocity signal to the data transmission interface. 
     
     
         16 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the kickover tool further includes a communication structure configured to facilitate communication with the downhole component when the kickover tool is proximal the downhole component within the hydrocarbon well. 
     
     
         17 . The kickover tool of  claim 16 , wherein the communication structure includes an inductive communication structure. 
     
     
         18 . The kickover tool of  claim 1 , wherein the kickover tool further includes an analysis structure programmed to receive the image signal from the imaging device, to modify the image signal to generate a modified image signal, and to provide the modified image signal to the data transmission interface. 
     
     
         19 . A hydrocarbon well, comprising:
 a wellbore extending between a surface region and a subsurface region;   the kickover tool of  claim 1  positioned within the wellbore;   the umbilical operatively attached to the attachment point and extending from the kickover tool to the surface region;   a downhole tubular extending within the wellbore;   the completion structure operatively attached to the downhole tubular; and   the downhole component positioned within the completion structure.   
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a kickover tool, the method comprising:
 positioning the kickover tool within a completion structure of a hydrocarbon well;   collecting, with the kickover tool, a collected image indicative of an environment within the hydrocarbon well and proximal the kickover tool;   displaying, for an operator of the kickover tool, a displayed image that is based upon the collected image and is indicative of the environment within the hydrocarbon well and proximal the kickover tool; and   at least one of:   (i) interfacing the kickover tool with a downhole component of the completion structure while the kickover tool is positioned within the completion structure, wherein the interfacing is based, at least in part, on the displaying; and   (ii) installing the downhole component within the completion structure, wherein the installing is based, at least in part, on the displaying.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the positioning includes conveying the kickover tool along a length of a wellbore of the hydrocarbon well, and further wherein the method further includes detecting, with the kickover tool and during the conveying, at least one of:
 (i) a pressure within the wellbore;   (ii) a temperature within the wellbore;   (iii) a velocity of the kickover tool;   (iv) an acceleration of the kickover tool; and   (v) a depth of the kickover tool.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method further includes detecting an orientation of the kickover tool with an orientation-determining structure of the kickover tool, and further wherein the interfacing is based, at least in part, on the detected orientation. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method further includes detecting, with the kickover tool, a tension within a region of the kickover tool. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method further includes displaying, for the operator of the kickover tool, the tension within the region of the kickover tool.