Assembling Functional Modules to Form a Well Tool

Abstract

To assemble a well tool, an inventory of plural different types of functional modules is maintained at an assembly location. An order for a well tool having a specified first application is received. In response to the order, a first combination of the plural types of functional modules from the inventory is assembled to form the well tool.

1 . A method of assembling a well tool, comprising:
 maintaining, at an assembly location, an inventory of plural different types of functional modules;   receiving an order for a well tool having a specified first application; and   assembling, at the assembly location and in response to the order, a first combination of the plural types of functional modules from the inventory to form the well tool.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , farther comprising delivering the well tool from the assembly location to a remote location. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 prior to delivering the well tool to the remote location, performing testing of the well tool at the assembly location after assembly.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein testing the well tool at the assembly location is performed using test equipment typically not available at the remote location. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein testing the well tool at the assembly location follows a test procedure typically not followed at the remote location. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a second order for another well tool having a specified second application;   assembling, at the assembly location and in response to the second order, a second, different combination of the plural types of functional modules from the inventory to form the another well tool.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first combination forms a base configuration, and wherein assembling the second combination comprises adding at least one additional functional module to the base configuration. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a third order for a third well tool having a specified third application;   assembling, at the assembly location and in response to the third order, a third, different combination of the plural types of functional modules from the inventory to form the third well tool,   wherein the third combination comprises the base configuration and at least one other functional module different from the additional functional module of the second combination.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the order comprises receiving the order at an order processing system. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the order and assembling the well tool are performed using a build-to-order approach in which orders for different well tools are fulfilled by providing a base configuration and adding the plural types of functional modules as options to the base configuration to provide the different well tools. 
   
   
       11 . A method comprising:
 providing a base configuration of functional modules, wherein the base configuration provides a first function in a wellbore; and   selectively adding different functional modules to the base configuration depending on different corresponding applications to form different corresponding well tools.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving orders specifying the different corresponding applications; and   assembling, at an assembly location, the different corresponding well tools in response to the orders.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising testing, at the assembly location, assembled well tools prior to delivering the well tools to respective one or more remote locations. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing the base configuration comprises providing the base configuration having a flow control valve and a packer, and wherein selectively adding different functional modules to the base configuration comprises adding one or more of a control module, a sensor module, a perforating gun, a screen assembly, a fracturing tool, and an anchor. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein adding the control module comprises adding one of a hydraulic control module and an electro-hydraulic control module. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising maintaining an inventory of the functional modules at an assembly location, wherein selectively adding different functional modules to the base configuration is performed at the assembly location prior to deployment of the well tools to one or more remote locations. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus comprising:
 a modular completion equipment having a base configuration to perform at least a function in the well, wherein the base configuration has plural functional modules, the plural functional modules including at least one of a flow control value and a packer,   wherein the base configuration has at least one attachment mechanism to enable addition of at least one other functional module to the base configuration.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the modular completion equipment is configurable to plural different configurations by adding different combinations of functional modules, wherein the plural different configurations correspond to different well tools.