System and method for engaging well equipment in a wellbore

Abstract

A technique is provided for moving a downhole equipment assembly into engagement or out of engagement with a lower completion positioned in a wellbore. An upper communication line extends past the downhole equipment assembly, and a lower communication line is located with the lower completion. During engagement, the downhole equipment assembly is connected with the lower completion and the communication lines are coupled via a wet mate system.

1 . A well system, comprising:
 a lower completion;   a downhole equipment assembly; and   a wet mate system coupled to the downhole equipment assembly to enable disconnection of the downhole equipment assembly from the lower completion assembly and reconnection of the downhole equipment assembly to the lower completion assembly, the wet mate system comprising:
 a lower portion having a lower communication line; 
 an upper portion having an upper communication line; 
 a latch mechanism to selectively engage and disengage the upper portion from the lower portion; and 
 a concentric union to enable connection of the lower and upper communication lines at a range of rotational orientations of the upper portion relative to the lower portion. 
   
   
   
       2 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the downhole equipment assembly comprises an electric submersible pumping system. 
   
   
       3 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the downhole equipment assembly comprises a packer. 
   
   
       4 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the downhole equipment assembly comprises a flow control valve. 
   
   
       5 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lower communication line and the upper communication line comprise hydraulic lines. 
   
   
       6 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lower communication line and the upper communication line comprise pneumatic lines. 
   
   
       7 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lower communication line and the upper communication line comprise electric lines. 
   
   
       8 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lower communication line and the upper communication line comprise optical lines. 
   
   
       9 . The well system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the wet mate system further comprises an upper protection sleeve positioned to cover the upper communication line when the upper completion is disengaged from the lower completion. 
   
   
       10 . The well system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the wet mate system further comprises a lower protection sleeve positioned to cover the lower communication line when the upper completion is disengaged from the lower completion. 
   
   
       11 . A method, comprising:
 providing an upper completion with a downhole equipment assembly;   engaging the upper completion with a lower completion via a wet mate system;   coupling an upper communication line and a lower communication line during engagement of the upper completion with the tower completion while the upper completion is at any of a plurality of rotational positions with respect to the lower completion.   
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising using a latch mechanism to secure the upper completion to the lower completion. 
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein providing comprises providing the upper completion with an electric submersible pumping system. 
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein providing comprises providing the upper completion with a packer. 
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein providing comprises providing the upper completion with a flow control valve. 
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising selectively shifting a power sleeve to interact with the latch mechanism to secure the upper completion in engagement with the lower completion. 
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising using at least one protection sleeve positioned to block flow with respect to at least one of the upper communication line and the lower communication line when the upper completion is disengaged from the lower completion. 
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising temporarily blocking flow through at least one of the upper communication line and the lower communication line with a frangible member. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising moving the upper completion and the lower completion downhole in a one-trip mode with the upper completion engaged with the lower completion. 
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising moving the upper completion and the lower completion downhole in a two-trip mode in which the lower completion is initially installed in a wellbore and the upper completion is subsequently engaged with the lower completion via the wet mate system. 
   
   
       21 . A well system, comprising:
 an electric submersible pumping system combined with an upper communication line routed past electric submersible pumping system;   a lower completion having a lower communication line; and   a wet mate system positioned to enable selective disconnection and connection of the electric submersible pumping system with the lower completion, the wet mate system comprising:
 a latch mechanism to enable selective mechanical engagement of the electric submersible pumping system with the lower completion; and 
 a union to enable connection of the upper communication line with the lower communication line at a plurality of rotational orientations of the electric submersible pumping system relative to the lower completion. 
   
   
   
       22 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising blocking the upper communication line prior to engagement with the lower communication line. 
   
   
       23 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising blocking the lower communication line prior to engagement with the upper communication line. 
   
   
       24 . The well system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the latch mechanism comprises threaded fingers that can be held in an engagement position or a disengagement position via movement of a shiftable power sleeve.