AU779822B2

AU779822B2 - A wet connect/disconnect and reconnect apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: AU779822B2
Application number: AU14696/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lindley Baugh; David Cameron; Michael Carmody; Robert Coon; Russell Miller; Rustom Mody; Walter Myron; Robert Smith
Original assignee: Baker Hughes Inc
Current assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
Priority date: 1999-11-05
Filing date: 2000-11-06
Publication date: 2005-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-06
Also published as: WO2001033032A1; NO325395B1; NO20013320L; NO20013320D0; WO2001033032A9; GB2360881B; NO20074304L; CA2358288C; AU7140200A; GB0026910D0; NO20005558D0; CA2325164A1; GB2360881A; AU1469601A; NO335867B1; CA2358288A1; GB0114072D0

Description

1 A Wet Connect/Disconnect and Reconnect Apparatus and 2 Method 3 4 Background of the Invention Field of the Invention :6 The invention relates to a conductor connection 7 device for a downhole environment for downhole 8 electrical connections made up in a wet environment.

9 More particularly, the invention relates to downhole 1 0 sealed connectors which self-clean upon makeup to 11 avoid contamination in the connection.

12 13 Prior Art 14 Downhole power/signal wire .15 connection/disconnection has always been a problem 16 for the industry. More specifically, because the 17 downhole environment is extremely hostile to 18 electric connection (salt water, fresh water, acids, 19 etc.), it has traditionally been thought that a reliable "wet connection" could not be effected.

21 Prior art systems have attempted to create wet 22 connection that employ in the downhole environment 1 but have met with only limited reliability. The 2 prior art connectors are quite small and require an 3 unlikely degree of precision when the connection is 4 to be made, for example, 5000 feet below the surface. Therefore, although these connectors are 6 reasonably capable of providing a good electrical 7 connection of an uphole string to a downhole string 8 far below the surface. Such connections are 9 required for the plurality of tools incorporated which require power and instructions.

11 12 Summary of the Invention 13 The above-discussed and other drawbacks and 14 deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by the wet connector/disconnector 16 embodiments of the invention.

17 All of the embodiments of the invention avoid 18 the need to stab-in a small connector. The 19 stabbing-in of the tubing itself is all that is 20 necessary to make up the connection. This is a 21 substantial benefit to the art in view of the 22 growing use of 23 24 26 o 28 29 31 32 WO 01/33032 2 PCT/US00/30565 electrically activated downhole tools. The wet connect/disconnect ensures reliability of such systems due to an increase in the likelihood of connection and a reduction in the care needed to effect the connection.

Most of the embodiments disclosed herein employ an insulator that protects a conductor installed with the downhole equipment. The insulator may be rubber, plastic, metal, a grease, etc. with the joining principal being to maintain the conductor in a very clean condition. Additionally, some of the embodiments further include a hydraulic fluid wash to ensure the conductor does not become contaminated when the insulator is pierced or otherwise removed by the string/connector being stabbed in.

Generally, the conductor on the stab-in tool is also protected by one or more of the insulators noted above.

Other embodiments do not employ conductor insulators on the downhole string but rely upon a cleansing action of the uphole string upon stab-in to remove any debris or oxidation that may have accumulated on the downhole conductors.

With each of the embodiments disclosed herein, the process of stabbing in causes certain events to occur which lead to secure reliable connections.

In addition to the ability to wet connect, some of the embodiments herein allow for a wet disconnect and reconnect which is advantageous for situations requiring such activity. In one embodiment, a portion of the uphole string is left connected to the downhole string. This leaves the connection made during stabbing-in undisturbed. Rather a piece of the uphole section, which itself provides a new insulated conductor (or not insulated) for a subsequent stab-in procedure, is left behind. Thus, in the event that the uphole section of string needs to be pulled, a reconnection may be made at a later time in the same manner as the original conductor mating. In order to be able to leave a section downhole, a switch section must also be employed to break the connection with the upper string. The switch section must break the connection in a sealed environment to prevent a short circuit upon reconnecting the uphole string.

WO 01/33032 PCT/US00/30565 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES: FIGURE 1 is a schematic elevation view of the concept of the invention; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of a specific embodiment for circumscribed portion A of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of an alternate specific embodiment for circumscribed portion A; FIGURES 4A and 4B are a top and bottom portion of an alternate connection apparatus for the circumscribed portion A in FIGURE 1 in a non-connected position; FIGURES 5A and 5B are a top and bottom portion of the embodiment of FIGURE 4A and 4B in a connected position; FIGURES 6 A and 6B are disconnected and connected views, respectively of another alternate embodiment for the circumscribed section A in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 7 is another alternate embodiment for the circumscribed section A in FIGURE 1; FIGURES 8A and 8B are disconnected and connected views respectively of another alternate embodiment for the circumscribed section A in FIGURE 1; FIGURES 9A and 9B are an embodiment of the circumscribed area B in FIGURE 1; FIGURES 1 OA-C are various positions of an alternate embodiment of the circumscribed section B in FIGURE 1; FIGURES 11-13 are an elongated quarter-section view of the tool of this embodiment of the invention to illustrate the disassembled condition; FIGURES 14-17 are together an elongated quarter-section view of another connector tool of the invention; FIGURE 18 is a cross section view of the portion of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 11 taken along section line 15-15; and FIGURE 19 is a cross section view of the portion of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 12 taken along section line 16-16.

WO 01/33032 PCTIUS00O/30565 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGURE 1, a schematic illustration provides an understanding of the disclosure in its broadest sense without details on the specific mechanisms of operable models. It will be understood that many different embodiments are possible which are capable of being employed to effect the desired results aforesaid. Each of the FIGURES following FIGURE 1 illustrate small sections of FIGURE 1 to teach one of skill in the art a way of connecting or disconnecting the circumscribed areas A or B of FIGURE 1. It is also to be appreciated that in many instances in this specification reference is made to "electrical" or "electrically"; this terminology is for exemplary purposes only and it is intended that the reader understand that other conductors such as fiber optic conductors and light could also be employed.

The broad concept begins with the manufacture of a connection device capable of being installed in a wellbore in various ways and connected to various other devices. Figure 1 illustrates schematically, a connection device in a wellbore. In Figure 1, a lower (first) section of wellbore has been completed with (or from the stand point of manufacture is completable with) a tool string 12 having one or more electrically actuated or controlled tools which may have sensors, etc. This lower section 12 is for any number of reasons, which are known to those of skill in the art, isolated from an upper (second) section of tubing string 14. For this reason, providing an electrical connection between the upper section 14 and lower section 12 is needed.

As noted above, such connections have been difficult in the prior art because of the harsh downhole environment. This disclosure therefore, provides a system for such connection by excluding the downhole fluids from the section 12 conductors (or cleaning them) and ensuring that contaminants do not become introduced thereto during connection. Lower section 12 includes associated wires (or fibers) 16 (one or more) which are connected at the factory to conductor pads (connector) 18.

Conductor pads 18 are generally embedded in the tubing and will include a seal thereover to prevent contamination. Lower section 12 is run in the hole or otherwise disposed downhole in this condition and will remain in a sealed condition with respect to the pads 18 until an upper section 14 is run in the hole to make a connection with pads 18. Exactly how the pads are connected is discussed hereunder.

WO 01/33032 PCT/USOO/30565 It will be appreciated in the FIGURE 1 illustration that another distinct part is illustrated between lower section 12 and upper section 14. This is reconnect (third) section 20. Reconnect section 20 is optional to operability of the system with respect to the original connection. It should be appreciated from a review of FIGURE 1 that the features of lower section 12 are duplicated in reconnect section 20. Thus, it will be understood that upper section 14 might only contain features sufficient to mate with lower section 12 and avoid reconnect section 20. In a preferred embodiment, however, reconnect section 20 is included. Section 20 provides features that substitute for the second connector with respect to connection to the first connector.

The section allows for the original connection to remain intact if the upper section 14 is pulled for some reason. This prevents contamination of the conductor pads 18. By way of explanation, once the conductor pads 18 are freed from the insulation that protects them (in this type of embodiment) by the action of stabbing in the uphole section, they are left unprotected from the elements. With the upper section attached, no environmental fluid can contact the pads. If the upper section is pulled however, the conductors would be subject to attack by wellbore fluids. Reconnecting to these conductor pads would be unlikely to succeed. For this reason reconnect section 20 is employed. Continuing now with the discussion of section 20, the section includes a disconnect for the wires in the upper section 14 so that the termination of electrical continuity caused by the pulling of section 14 does not allow a "live" connection to contact downhole fluids. This is important to prevent damage to downhole electrical tools or destruction of the system upon reconnect. The disconnection area is schematically illustrated by circumscribed area B in FIGURE 1.

Reconnect section 20 is solely provided to create a stacked system capability.

More specifically, reconnect section 20 is connected at the factory to the upper section 14 with a shearable or otherwise releasable connection to upper section 14. In the event upper section 14 must be removed from the hole, it leaves in its wake, reconnect section 20 which includes new sealed connector pads 18' and wires 24 which connect to the original stab in connectors 26. A subsequent upper section may then be stabbed into the reconnect section with the same reliability as the original connection the concept of the reconnect section may be employed over and over again as many times WO 01/33032 6 PCT/US00/30565 as a disconnect and reconnect are necessary. The reconnect sections simply continue to stack up as strings are pulled and reconnected.

Turning now to specific mechanisms, circumscribed area A is discussed first and is directed to several embodiments for creating a clean electrical connection with reliability and high confidence. In these FIGURES, only the connection mechanism is illustrated. It is to be understood that the mechanism is part of section 14 or section as desired. Following the discussion of area A, circumscribed area B is discussed.

Area B is directed to embodiments for breaking the connection with the wires 22 of section 14 when that section is pulled.

Referring to FIGURE 2, a cover 30 illustrated herein as plastic, but which may be rubber or metallic, is positioned in a sealed relationship over conductor 18. Thus, while this portion of lower section 12 is exposed to wellbore fluid, the conductor 18 is protected. The connection mechanism which is shown in place after run in but before actuation, includes a bore 34, preferably filled with hydraulic fluid 30 (or similar). A wedge 38 is provided in the bore 34 which is driven like a piston preferably by pressure from a proximate or remote source into contact with electrical connector connected with wire 44 from the upper section. Electrical connector 40 includes a ramped surface 46 and a punch 48. Ramped surface 46 is complementary to wedge 38 and connector 40 is urged thereby toward seal material 42. Continued urging of connector 40 results in piercing of seal 42. Upon the piercing of seal 42, fluid 36 escapes from bore 34, flooding the area between seal 42 and seal 30. The flooding action displaces wellbore fluids and provides a clean dielectric embodiment in which the connection can be made. Continued urging of connector 40 causes the punch 48 to pierce seal 30 and come into electrical contact with conductor pad 18. It should be noted that fluid 36 may preferably be dielectric fluid or a dielectric grease. The grease is preferred due to its viscosity and therefore its tendency to remain around the connection.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, an alternate connection mechanism is illustrated.

This mechanism, it will be appreciated, is very similar to the embodiment of FIGURE 2 and merely adds seals 50 which are preferably chevron type seals. For clarity, the other parts of this embodiment, though slightly different in some respects are PCTIUSOO/30565 WO 01/33032 numbered identically to FIGURE 2. The FIGURE 3 embodiment provides additional, if redundant, assurance of the continued cleanliness of the connection area. Seals do not allow fluid to pass in either direction whereas seal 50' allows fluid to pass in only the "out" direction relative to the space defined by seals 50, 50'. Thus, the movement of the cleansing fluid 36, which in this embodiment is preferably hydraulic fluid, will sweep all remnants of well fluids out of the connection space and provide a clean connection area.

Referring to FIGURES 4A, 4B and 5A, 5B another alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Because of the relative complexity of the embodiment, it is illustrated in both a nonconnected and connected form, FIGURES 4A, 4B and respectively.

Referring first to FIGURES 4A and 4B, lower section 12 will provide a reference. This embodiment functions by sliding the upper section, or reconnect section if so equipped, relative to the lower section 12' against spring biased rings which cover the conductor pads. Lower section 12 of this embodiment includes spring 60 based upon land 62 which biases ring 64 to a position where it covers pad 18. Section 12' also includes preferably two o-rings 66, which seal against ring 64, and a wiper 68. Section 14', or 20' if so equipped, includes spring 70 which rests on spring stop 72 and biases ring 74 to a position covering conductor pad 76. Ring 74 is sealed over conductor pad 76 by o-rings 78 mounted in ring 74. Conductor pad 76 is preferably spring loaded by springs 80 so that it will be biased against conductor pad 18 when so positioned.

An astute reader, skilled in the art, will recognize that there is a volume 82 that likely is contaminated, and that this volume might be problematic to the connection even in view of wiper 68. To eliminate this possibility, the inventors hereof have provided an enclosed hydraulic fluid reservoir 84 which opens via a rupture disk 86 to volume 82. A piston 88 is provided which is operably connected to reservoir 84 and positioned such that the "sliding past" of this embodiment as discussed above causes piston 88 to move into reservoir 84 increasing pressure therein until rupture disk 86 fails and hydraulic fluid is expelled into volume 82. The hydraulic fluid will displace any wellbore fluids in the volume 82 and render the area clean.

1 2 3 In operation, piston 88 lands on ring 64 and expels 4 the hydraulic fluid as discussed. Once piston 88 is fully depressed into the bore of reservoir 84, 6 shoulder 90 begins to urge ring 64 downhole by over 7 coming the bias of spring 60. Next, ring 74 comes 8 into contact with shoulder 92 of section 12' and is 9 urged uphole by overcoming the spring 72 with downhole movement of the upper section or the 11 reconnect section as the case may be.

12 13 Conductor pad 76 is uncovered at the time it 14 reaches wiper 68 and is wiped clean to remove any oxidation that may have developed over time.

16 Continued downhole movement of the uphole section 17 aligns conductor pads 18 and 76 and the connection S18 is complete.

19 20 Figure 5A and 5B illustrate this embodiment in 21 the connected condition to promote understanding of 22 the invention.

23 24 Referring now to Figures 6A and 6B, yet another 25 alternative mechanism for the circumscribed area A 26 in Figure 1 is illustrated. The lower section of 27 the drawing is an alternative configuration of 28 section 12 and thus is identified as 12". The 29 conductive pads also differ in appearance and thus 30 are designated 18". The upper section 14" (it 31 should be understood that the upper section of the 32 Figure could also be the reconnect section) includes 1 a fluid-filled chamber 100 having an exhaust port 2 102 sealed by a one-way -valve 103 and a rupture disk 3 104. The chamber 100 is sealed at its other end by 4 seal 106. Several o-ring seals are also supplied and are identified by 108. Focusing on the portion 6 of upper section 14" that defines chamber 100, it 7 will be noted that two wipers 110 are provided. One 8 wiper would be effective but two is preferred for 9 redundancy and better cleaning. Contact pads 112 are provided in this area and are protected by fluid 11 114 in chamber 100.

12 13 In use, nose 116 of section 12" is urged into 14 seal 106 ultimately rupturing the seal. Since orings 108 will prevent fluid 114 from escaping 16 around nose 116, the fluid instead becomes 17 pressurized. As the pressure in chamber 100 18 increases, burst disk 104 ruptures and fluid 114 is 19 conveyed through the valve 103 to the tubing I.D.

20 Since valve 103 will not permit fluid to pass in the 21 other direction, the connection area in the chamber 22 100 will remain clean. Continued movement of nose 23 116 into chamber 100 brings pads 18" into wiping 24 contact with wipers 110 where the :26 27 28 29 o *31 32 WO 01/33032 PCTIUS00/30565 conductor pads 18" are cleaned of any oxides that have formed thereon. The pads 18" then align with pads 112 and the connection is made as illustrated in FIGURE 6B.

FIGURE 7 is another alternative embodiment relating to circumscribed area A is illustrated. In this embodiment the upper section provides a connector 120 which is composed of a low temperature melt metal (obviously, melting temperature must be above well temperature at projected depth). The metal connector 120 is positioned adjacent conductor pad 18 and includes a coil 122 proximate thereto, the proximity being sufficient to melt the connector 120. As in previous embodiments, seals 134, 132 are provided and a reservoir 128 includes fluid 130 actuated by a piston 126 to flush the contact area. In this embodiment a surface actuated current or a downhole actuated current melt the connector 120 which then flows into electrical contact with conductor pad 18.

In another alternate embodiment for circumscribed Section A, referring to FIGURES 8A and 8B lower section 12 includes two conductor pads 18. The upper section of the drawing which again can be the equivalent of section 14 or section 20 in FIGURE 1 depending upon whether a reconnect option after a pull-out is to be provided, provides a nose 130 with several seals 132 of preferably the chevron type.

Attached to nose 130 by a release mechanism, preferably a shear pin 134, is connector wedge 136 which houses a piercing conductor pad 138 in fluid 140 under seal 142.

Upon downward movement of the upper section of the drawing (14 or 20) a spring 144 is urged against a ring 146 to move the same downhole until it contacts landing 148 of counter wedge 150. Further downward movement causes counter wedge 150 to move downhole behind connector wedge 136 to cause conductor pads 138 to pierce cover 142 and come into contact with conductor pads 18 to complete the circuit.

As discussed above, in the event upper section 14 is removed from the hole, the connections must be broken to prevent a short circuit. This is, for illustrative purposes, at the area marked B on FIGURE 1. It is important to note that just stretching the connectors to break leaves them exposed to wellbore fluids and invites short circuit. Therefore the inventors hereof have provided the following two embodiments of disconnects. It is to be understood, however, that other mechanisms for providing such a disconnect are clearly within the scope of the invention.

1 2 3 Turning now to Figures 9A and 9B, the first 4 disconnect embodiment is illustrated in the connected position and the disconnected position.

6 The disconnect itself comprises a connector pad 162 7 disposed a top an insulator 160 in a recess 172 in 8 section 12. The recess 172 is sealed by cover 168 9 which may be of a plurality of distinct materials so long as they either deflect or allow a sealed 11 sliding of the pins 166 therethrough. In the case 12 of deflection, the pins 166 need not slide through 13 cover 168 (the non-sliding arrangement being 14 illustrated herein).

16 As one can readily ascertain from the drawings, 17 pins 166 provide a base for pads 164, the pins 18 extending to outside cover 168 and into connection 19 with plate 170. The disconnect is connected 20 together in the factory and appears as illustrated 21 in Figure 9A. When a disconnection is desired, 22 pulling the tool causes the disconnect to be in the 23 condition illustrated in Figure 9B wherein the 24 electrical connection is broken and the ends of the 25 downhole wires are protected within recess 172 and S: 26 cover 168. It will be apparent to one skill in the 27 art that if upper portion 174 of the drawings is to 28 be removed altogether the disconnect will have to 29 shear at a point above the cover 168.

30 Alternatively, the portion 174 could simply be a 31 ring which remains downhole.

32 11 1 Referring now to Figures 10A, 10B and 10C a 2 second disconnect embodiment is illustrated. The 3 disconnect is intended to work in much the same way 4 that the embodiment of Figures 9A 9B works and thus only the distinctions are discussed here. Contact 6 bar 180 is connected to an uphole piece of the pipe 7 and supports actuator pin 182 and contact pins 184.

8 Pin 182 includes a wedge 186 which is angled 9 sufficiently to actuate slide 190 through slide pitch 188. Actuation of slide 190 moves it (to the 11 right in the drawing) to align ports 192 with 12 contact receptacles 194 wherein contact pads 196 are 13 disposed and connected to wires 198. Once alignment 14 as described is complete, pins 184 may come into electrical contact with pads 196 (pads 196 are 16 insulated from the metallic tool by insulation 200).

17 18 The length of the pins 182 and 184 is important 19 to the operation of the invention. Upon disconnecting, it is required that the slide 190 be 21 closed (under bias of spring 204) prior to pins 184 22 pulling free from membrane 202. By so requiring, o*'o 23 the breach in the seal of membrane 202 due to the 24 pins 184 being extended therethrough is not able to 25 allow contamination into receptacles 194. Obviously 26 it is intended that slide 190 make sealing contact 27 with the surrounding area. This embodiment is made 28 up in the factory but is also useable in the field 29 because of the ability of pin 182 to actuate slide .30 190 in a time frame where the pins 184 will 31 protectively be in membrane 202.

32 1 In yet another embodiment of the invention 2 wherein conductors are aligned and connected.

3 Referring initially to Figures 11-13 a more 4 schematic view of the invention is illustrated. The view does not contain all of the parts of the 6 invention and thus is intended to convey the 7 locations and orientation of the connectors. Tool 8 210 breaks down to a top half (comprising Figures 11 9 and 12) and a bottom half comprising Figure 13.

When the halves are separated as illustrated in 11 Figures 11-13, lower seal adapters 212 (twelve of 12 them on the embodiment shown although more or fewer 13 could be employed) are visible on bottom half 14 (Figure 13) and the complementary upper seal adapters 214 (an equal number to the number of lower 16 seal adapters 212). Upper seal adapters 214 17 preferably include a pair of o-rings 270 to fluid 18 tightly seal the lower seal adapters. Upper seal 19 adapters 214 are connected to the uphole environment 20 via conduits 218 while at the other end of the 21 connection, lower seal adapters 12 are connected to 22 the downhole environment via conduit 20. The 23 conduits 218 and 220 preferably contain fiber optic 24 conductors. The mating ends of the conductors are 25 cleaned by preferably a hydraulic fluid which may be 26 applied in a number of ways including adaptations of 27 the embodiments preferably does not include threads 28 between the alignment profile and end connections.

29 30 Although the top and bottom portions of the 31 tool are run in the hole together (assembled at the 32 surface), an alignment profile 224/228 is provided 1 in the tool to align the top and bottom halves in 2 the event that they are separated. Therefore, 3 referring directly to Figures 12 and 13, a profile 4 224 is a raised area in a predetermined orientation on the anchor sub 226. The profile 224 mates with a 6 complimentary profile 228 in bottom half (figure 7 13). The orientation profiles ensure that the lower 8 seal adapters 212 will align and mate with upper 9 seal adapters 214 reliably.

11 Turning now to the internal components of this 12 embodiment of the invention, referring to Figures 13 14-19, and beginning at the uphole end of the tool, 14 a box thread 230 is provided to attach the tool to a work string (not shown). The box thread 230 is cut 16 in body 232 which extends downhole to threadly mate 17 with anchor sub 234 at thread 236. Body 232 S: 18 supports, near the uphole end thereof, disc spring 19 retainer cap 238 which is threaded to the O.D. of o. 20 body 232 at thread 240. Cap 238 is further 21 preferably anchored by cap screw 242. Cap 238 oo: 22 functions to retain preferably a plurality of disc 23 springs (belleville washers) 244. Springs 244 24 absorb longitudinal movement of upper and lower seal 25 adapters. Moreover, the washers keep the upper and S: 26 lower seal adapters positively shouldered 27 internally, which is important for pump down, 28 replaceable optic fiber installation and other 29 installations. Disc springs 244 are maintained in position at the downhole end by retainer sub 246.

31 Sub 246 is annular and is threaded to disc spring 32 adjustment sub 248 at thread 250.

1 2 Downhole of attachment sub 248 and radially 3 outwardly of body 232 is upper connector 252. Upper 4 connector 252 houses upper seal adapters 214 at the downhole end thereof and a line connector assembly 6 254 which preferably comprises a pair of ferrules 7 and a *jam nut (not individually shown). The 8 connector 252 is retained in position on body 232 by 9 shear screw 256 and shoulder screw 258. These latter screws are best viewed in Figure 18. A 11 plurality of bores 260 are provided in upper 12 connector 252 to receive conduit 218 in each bore 13 utilized. Lower connector 262 (Figures 15 and 19) 14 is disposed downhole of upper connector 252 and houses lower seal adapter 212, bore 264 for conduit 16 220 and a control line connector which comprises a 17 pair of ferrules and a jam nut (not individually 18 shown). It should be noted that Figure 15 provides 19 a cross section view of the tool which shows the 20 upper and lower seal adapters that were explained 21 previously herein. It should also be noted that 22 upper seal adapter 214 includes two sets of o-rings 23 268 and 270. Rings 268 seal upper seal adapter 214 24 to upper connector 252 while rings 270 seal lower seal adapter 212 into the upper seal adapter 214 26 when it is engaged. Lower adapter 212 may be for 27 conventional conductors or fiber optic conductors.

28 Figure 19 illustrates three of four (212a) in 29 conventional form and one (212b) in fiber optic o '30 form.

S" 31 13b 1 Bridging Figures 15 and 16 is sleeve 272 which 2 covers the components of the snap in/snap out 3 feature of the invention (components discussed 4 hereunder). Sleeve 272 is connected to seal housing 274 which includes locking dogs 276. Seal housing 6 is also threaded at 278 for a body lock ring 280.

7 The lock ring 280 is rotationally arrested by roll 8 pin 236. Seal housing 274 is sealed to anchor sub 9 234 by seal stack 281.

11 Radially outwardly of seal housing 274 (Figures 12 16 and 17) are housing 282 and control line sub 284.

13 Housing 282 includes several seals 286, several 14 screws 288 and a dog receiving profile 290.

16 Radially inwardly of sleeve 272 (Figure 16) is 17 the snap in/snap out assemnbly mentioned above. The 18 assembly includes, beginning from the uphole end, a 19 shear ring retainer 292 which is connected to the 20 anchor sub 234 by shear ring 294. Shear ring 21 retainer 292 is also connected to support ring 298 22 through set screws 296 and thread 300. Support ring 23 298 supports set down sleeve 302 and is in contact 24 with body lock ring 306. Body lock ring 306 is 25 connected to body lock ring 304 conventionally and 26 including a set screw 308 to arrest rotational 27 movement. Body lock ring housing 306 is also 28 threadedly connected to set down sleeve 302 by 29 thread 310. Body lock ring housing 306 cannot move 30 up or downhole because of shear screw 312 which 31 engages anchor sub 234. Body lock ring housing 306 32 is connected to latch 314 by parting ring 316 which 1 is a ring having holding profiles 318 to retain the 2 body lock ring housing 306 to latch until a 3 predetermined tensile load is placed thereon which 4 breaks the parting ring 316.

6 In operation and after running in the hole, a 7 pressure line 243 (Figure 16) pressurizes a piston 8 area 319 sealed by seals 286. Upon reaching a 9 predetermined pressure, shear screw 288 shears and allows housing 282 to move downhole thus locating 11 recess over locking dogs 276 allowing them to move 12 radially outwardly to disengage from anchor sub 234.

13 Once anchor sub 234 is disengaged from the dogs 276 14 it will be free to move. Body lock ring 280 is provided to prevent housing 282 from moving back 16 uphole and reseating the dogs 276. After initial 17 settling then, the housing portion of the tool is 18 permanently moved and the dogs 276 are permanently 19 disengaged from anchor sub 234. Following this 20 disengagement, the tool upper portion (Figures 11 21 and 12) and lower portion (Figure 13) are separable 22 using the snap in/snap out assembly in order to 23 develop a proper space-out for the particular well, 24 the tool may be snapped in/snapped out as many times as necessary until sufficient weight is committed 26 and the anchor sub 234 supports the latch 314. In 27 this 28 *29 31 31 32 WO 01/33032 PCT/US00/30565 latter condition the snap out feature is disabled.

Once the space out is appropriate, set down weight which exceeds the shear strength of shear ring 294 and shear screw 312 is applied. After shearing, anchor sub 234 moves downhole through lock ring 304 and is retained in this position until retrieval is necessary or desired.

In order to retrieve the tool, a tensile load is placed on the anchor sub which transmits to the body lock ring 304, the parting ring 316 and the latch 314. When a predetermined tensile load is exceeded, the parting ring fails and the anchor sub 34 moves uphole. This unsupports latch 314 allowing the latch to deflect into recess 320 and the snap out sub is operational. Continued tensile load will disengage the upper portion of the tool from the lower portion for retrieval. The process as described can then be repeated with a new or rebuilt upper portion.

While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.

What is claimed is:

Claims

CLAIM 1. A conductor connection device for a downhole environment comprising: a first section cormectable to implements intended to be located farther downhole than said first section when said device is installed in a wellbore; at least one first conductor associated with said first section; a first connector in operable communication with said at least one first conductor, said first connector being maintained in a clean condition or being cleanable by operation of the connection device; a second section connectable to implements intended to be located farther uphole than said second section when said device is installed in a wellbore; at least one second conductor associated with said second section; a second connector in operable communication with said at least one second conductor, said second connector being maintained in a clean condition or being cleanable by operation of the connection device, said second connector being connectable to said first connector by operation of said connection device.
CLAIM 2. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connection device further comprises: a third section connectable to said second section prior to being run downhole to substitute for functions of the second section related to the second connector and releasable from said second section after connection with said first section; at least one third conductor associated with said third section; a third connector in operable communication with said at least one third conductor, said third conductor also being in operable communication with said at least one second conductor, said third conductor being maintained in a clean condition or cleanable by operation of said connection device; said third connector being connectable to said first connector by operation of said connection device; a forth connector in operable communication with said at least one third conductor, said forth connector being maintained in a clean condition or being cleanable by operation of a subsequently run connection device.
CLAIM 3. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first connector and said second connector each comprise: at least one pad; at least one fluid impermeable covering on each said at least one pad.
CLAIM 4. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said connection device further includes at least one interconnector providing interconnection between said first connector pad and said second connector pad.
CLAIM 5. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said interconnector is a conductive piercing member which pierces said at least one fluid impermeable covering on each said at least one pad upon operation of said connection device.
CLAIM 6. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connection device is configured to provide a dielectric material to a vicinity of interconnection between said first connector and said second connector.
CLAIM 7. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said covering is rubber.
CLAIM 8. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said covering is metal.
CLAIM 9. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said dielectric material is oil.
CLAIM 10. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said dielectric material is grease.
CLAIM 1 1. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first connector and said second connector are exposed to environmental conditions and are wiped clean during operation of the connection device.
CLAIM 12. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said device is configured to provide a dielectric material to an interconnection vicinity of said connection device.
CLAIM 13. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said dielectric material is oil.
CLAIM 14. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said dielectric material is grease.
CLAIM 15. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said dielectric material is dispensed from a reservoir in said device.
CLAIM 16. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first connector and said second connector are wiped clean by each other.
CLAIM 17. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first connector and said second connector are wiped clean by a wiper.
CLAIM 18. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said reservoir includes a check valve.
CLAIM 19. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first connector is a pad and said second connector includes a meltable conductive element.
CLAIM 20. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said element is meltable by a coil.
CLAIM 21. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 20 wherein said coil is powered from within said device.
CLAIM 22. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 20 wherein said coil is powered from external to said device.
CLAIM 23. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device is configured to provide a dielectric material to an area of interconnection of said first connector and said second connector.
CLAIM 24. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said dielectric material is oil.
CLAIM 25. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said dielectric material is grease.
CLAIM 26. A conductor connection device for a downhole environment comprising: a first section connectable to implements intended to be located farther downhole than said first section when said device is installed in a wellbore; at least one first conductor associated with said first section; a first connector in operable communication with said at least one first conductor, said first connectors being maintained in a clean condition or being cleanable by operation of the connection device; a second section connectable to implements intended to be located farther uphole than any said second section when said second section is installed in a wellbore; at least one second conductor associated with said second section; a third section operably connected to said second section ; at least one third conductor associated with said third section, said at least one third conductor being operably connected to said at least one second conductor; a third connector in operable communication with said at least one third conductor, said third connector being maintained in a clean condition or being cleanable by operation of the connection device, said third connector being connectable to said first connector by operating said connection device, said third section being separable from said second section after said connection device is operated; a forth connector in operable communication with said at least one third conductor, said forth connector being maintained in a clean condition or being cleanable by operation of a subsequent connection device.
CLAIM 27. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 26 wherein said third section further comprises a conductor break to prevent conductive contact of said at least one first conductor through said at least one third conductor with wellbore fluids upon separation of said third section from said second section.
CLAIM 28. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 27 wherein said conductor break comprises at least two contacts maintained in a clean environment, said contacts being separable upon separation of said second section.
CLAIM 29. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 28 wherein said clean environment is maintained by a deflectable cover to which one of said at least two contacts is connected, said deflectable cover being deflected to maintain connection of said at least two contacts while said third section is attached to said second section.
CLAIM 30. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 27 wherein said conductor break comprises: at least one contact pin; and at least one contact receptacle.
CLAIM 31. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 30 wherein said break further comprises a slide which seals said at least one receptacle when said at least one pin is not engaged in said at least one receptacle.
CLAIM 32. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 31 wherein said break further includes an actuator pin to actuate said slide.
CLAIM 33. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 26 wherein said first connector and said third connector each comprise: at least one pad; at least one fluid impermeable covering on each said at least one pad.
CLAIM 34. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 33 wherein said connection device further includes at least one interconnector providing interconnection between said first connector pad and said third connector pad.
CLAIM 35. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 34 wherein said interconnector is a conductive piercing member which pierces said at least one fluid impermeable covering on each said at least one pad upon operation of said connection device.
CLAIM 36. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 26 wherein said connection device is configured to provide a dielectric material to a vicinity of interconnection between said first connector and said third connector.
CLAIM 37. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 35 wherein said covering is rubber.
CLAIM 38. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 35 wherein said covering is metal.
CLAIM 39. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 36 wherein said dielectric material is oil.
CLAIM 40. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 36 wherein said dielectric material is grease.
CLAIM 41. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 26 wherein said first connector and said third connector are exposed to environmental conditions and are wiped clean during operation of the connection device.
CLAIM 42. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 41 wherein said device is configured to provide a dielectric material to an interconnection vicinity of said connection device.
CLAIM 43. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 42 wherein said dielectric material is oil.
CLAIM 44. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 42 wherein said dielectric material is grease.
CLAIM 45. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 42 wherein said dielectric material is dispensed from a reservoir in said device.
CLAIM 46. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 41 wherein said first connector and said third connector are wiped clean by each other.
CLAIM 47. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 41 wherein said first connector and said third connector are wiped clean by a wiper.
CLAIM 48. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 45 wherein said reservoir includes a check valve.
CLAIM 49. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 26 wherein said first connector is a pad and said third connector includes a meltable conductive element.
CLAIM 50. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 49 wherein said element is meltable by a coil.
CLAIM 51. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 50 wherein said coil is powered from within said device.
CLAIM 52. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 50 wherein said coil is powered from external to said device
CLAIM 53. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 26 wherein said device is configured to provide a dielectric material to an area of interconnection of said first connector and said third connector.
CLAIM 54. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 53 wherein said dielectric material is oil.
CLAIM 55. A conductor connection device as claimed in claim 53 wherein said dielectric material is grease.
CLAIM 56. A downhole connection device comprising: at least two connectors on an uphole end of a connection interface; at least two complementary connectors on a downhole end of said connection interface; and a self orienting profile within said connection device.
CLAIM 57. A downhole conductor connection device comprising: a downhole portion including a lower conductor leading farther downhole and an orientation profile; an uphole portion having a conductor leading farther uphole and a complementary orientation profile; at least one lower seal adapter connected to said lower conductor; and at least one upper seal adapter connected to said upper conductor, said lower seal adapter being receivable in said upper seal adapter to connect said lower conductor to said upper conductor.
CLAIM 58. A downhole conductor connection device as claimed in claim 57 wherein said connection device further includes a snap in/snap out thread.
CLAIM 59. A downhole conductor connection device as claimed in claim 57 wherein said device further comprises a dog support system to lock said device in a selected position.
CLAIM 60. A downhole conductor connection device as claimed in claim 59 wherein said dog support system is collapsible upon pressuring a control line to shift a housing.
CLAIM 61. A method for downhole conductor connection comprising: running a downhole and an uphole connector portion in a sealed engaged condition; opening said sealed engaged connector; orientating said uphole connector with said downhole connector; and reengaging at least one conductor.
CLAIM 62. A method for creating a conductive connection in a downhole environment comprising: installing a first section connectable to implements located farther downhole from an intended location of said first section, said first section having at least one conductor associated therewith and a connector operably connected to said at least one conductor, said conductor being maintained in a clean condition or being cleanable upon engagement of said first section with a second section; installing said second section connectable to implements located further uphole than an intended location of said second section, said second section having at least one conductor associated therewith and a connector operably connected to said at least one conductor, said conductor being maintained in a clean condition or being cleanable upon engagement of said first section with said second section, engaging said first section with said second section.
CLAIM 63. A method for creating a conductive connection as claimed in claim 62 wherein said engaging includes forming a conductive connection between said first section and said second section.
CLAIM 64. A method for creating a conductive connection as claimed in claim 62 wherein said engaging causes self orientation of said first section and said second section.
CLAIM 65. A method for creating a conductive connection in a downhole environment while providing for disconnection and reconnection comprising: installing a first section connectable to implements located farther downhole than an intended location of said first section, said first section having at least one conductor associated therewith and a connector operably connected to said at least one conductor; installing a second section connectable to implements located farther uphole than an intended location of said second section, said second section having at least one conductor associated therewith, said second section further including a third section having at least one conductor associated therewith and a third connector operably connected at one end to said at least one conductor and a fourth connector operably connected at the other end of said at least one connector; and engaging said third section and said first section
CLAIM 66. A method for creating a conductive connection as claimed in claim 65 further including: disconnecting said second section from said third section; and installing a separate second section and engaging said third section in position as connected to said first section.
CLAIM 67. A method for creating a conductive connection as claimed in claim 62 wherein said engaging includes flushing with a dielectric fluid, a connection area of interconnection between said first connector and said second connector.
CLAIM 68. A method for creating a conductive connection as claimed in claim 65 wherein said engaging includes flushing with a dielectric fluid, a connection area of interconnection between said first connector and said third connector.