Bypass of damaged lines in subterranean wells

Abstract

Bypassing damaged lines in a well. A subterranean well system includes a circuit extending in the well to a well tool. A set of multiple redundant lines is provided at a location along the circuit. Each of the set of lines is capable of providing conductivity between portions of the circuit. A method of providing conductivity across a damaged portion of a circuit in a subterranean well includes the steps of: damaging at least one line of a set of redundant lines extending along a tubular string; and isolating the damaged at least one line from an undamaged portion of the circuit.

1 . A subterranean well system, comprising:
 a circuit extending in the well to a well tool; and   a first set of multiple redundant lines at a first location along the circuit, each of the first set of lines being capable of providing conductivity between first and second portions of the circuit.   
   
   
       2 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of lines extend longitudinally along a tubular string. 
   
   
       3 . The well system of  claim 2 , wherein an opening is formed through a sidewall of the tubular string at the first location, and at least one of the first set of lines is damaged due to formation of the opening. 
   
   
       4 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein a first control module interconnected between the first set of lines and the first circuit portion is operative to isolate a damaged one of the first set of lines from the first circuit portion. 
   
   
       5 . The well system of  claim 4 , wherein the first set of lines comprise hydraulic lines, and wherein the first control module comprises valves for isolating each of the first set of lines from the first circuit portion. 
   
   
       6 . The well system of  claim 4 , wherein the first set of lines comprise electrical lines, and wherein the first control module comprises switches for isolating each of the first set of lines from the first circuit portion. 
   
   
       7 . The well system of  claim 4 , wherein the first set of lines comprise optical lines, and wherein the first control module comprises optical switches for isolating each of the first set of lines from the first circuit portion. 
   
   
       8 . The well system of  claim 4 , wherein a second control module interconnected between the first set of lines and the second circuit portion is operative to isolate the damaged one of the first set of lines from the second circuit portion. 
   
   
       9 . The well system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second set of multiple redundant lines at a second location along the circuit, each of the second set of lines being capable of providing conductivity between second and third control modules, with the third control module being connected to the second circuit portion, and the second control module being connected between the first and second sets of lines. 
   
   
       10 . The well system of  claim 1 , wherein a first control module interconnected between the first set of lines and the first circuit portion is operative to isolate a damaged one of the first set of lines from the first circuit portion, a second control module interconnected between the first set of lines and the second circuit portion is operative to isolate the damaged one of the first set of lines from the second circuit portion, a third control module interconnected between the second circuit portion and a second set of lines is operative to isolate a damaged one of the second set of lines from the second circuit portion, and a fourth control module interconnected between the second set of lines and a third circuit portion is operative to isolate the damaged one of the second set of lines from the third circuit portion. 
   
   
       11 . A method of providing conductivity across a damaged portion of a circuit in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
 damaging at least one line of a set of redundant lines extending along a tubular string; and   isolating the damaged at least one line from an undamaged portion of the circuit.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of cutting an opening through a sidewall of the tubular string, wherein the damaging step occurs as a result of the cutting step. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the circuit extends from a remote location, across the opening and to a well tool. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the isolating step further comprises operating at least one electrical switch to thereby prevent electrical current flow between the damaged at least one line and at least a portion of the circuit. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the isolating step further comprises operating at least one optical switch to thereby prevent transmission of light between the damaged at least one line and at least a portion of the circuit. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the isolating step further comprises operating at least one valve to thereby prevent fluid flow between the damaged at least one line and at least a portion of the circuit. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of interconnecting a control module between the set of lines and a portion of the circuit, the control module including a processor programmed to detect the damaging of the at least one of the lines and in response to cause the isolating of the damaged at least one of the lines from the portion of the circuit. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the processor causes operation of at least one of an electrical switch, an optical switch and a valve to thereby isolate the damaged at least one of the lines from the portion of the circuit. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the isolating step is performed in response to the damaging step. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the isolating step is performed prior to the damaging step.