All purpose pumpdown instrument

Abstract

An apparatus for flowing a tool string along a wellbore tubular may include a flow restrictor having a diametrically expanded position and a diametrically retracted position. The flow restrictor may include at least one sealing element that sealingly engages the wellbore tubular when in the diametrically expanded position. The apparatus also includes an actuator configured to move the at least one sealing element to at least a position intermediate of the open and the closed position. The actuator may be responsive to a control signal that is generated locally or transmitted from a remote location.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for flowing a tool string along a wellbore tubular, comprising:
 a flow restrictor having a diametrically expanded position and a diametrically retracted position, wherein the flow restrictor includes:
 at least one sealing element that sealingly engages the wellbore tubular when in the diametrically expanded position; and 
 an actuator configured to move the at least one sealing element to at least a position intermediate of the open and the closed position, the actuator being responsive to a control signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sealing element expands from the intermediate position to the diametrically expanded position in response to an applied hydraulic force. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-rigid conveyance member connected to the actuator, wherein the non-rigid conveyance is configured to convey the control signal to the actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sealing element is rotatably connected to a support, and further comprising a spring member connected to the at least one sealing element and urging the at least one sealing element to the diametrically retracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a rod and the at least one sealing element includes a profile having a ramp portion and a notch, wherein sliding engagement between the rod and the ramp portion moves the ate least one sealing element to the intermediate position, and wherein engagement between the rod and the notch supports the at least one sealing element in the intermediate position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sealing element includes a plurality of sealing elements circumferentially arrayed around a support, the plurality of sealing elements configured to form a substantially annular seal with the wellbore tubular when in the diametrically expanded position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a tool section connected to the flow restrictor, the tool section configured to perform at least one selected wellbore operation. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a sensor section connected to the flow restrictor, the sensor section configured to estimate at least one parameter associated with at least one of: (i) the flow restrictor, (ii) the tool section, (iii) the wellbore tubular, (iv) a position of the flow restrictor, (v) a wellbore, and (vi) a formation. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the tool section includes at least a bore isolation device, a setting tool for actuating the bore isolation device, and at least one perforating gun. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the further comprising a sensor section connected to the flow restrictor, the sensor section configured to estimate at least one parameter associated with a perforation formed by firing the at least one perforating gun. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is responsive to a signal transmitted from one of: (i) a surface location, and (ii) an event detector configured to detect a pre-determined event in the wellbore. 
     
     
         12 . A method for flowing a tool string along a wellbore tubular, comprising:
 disposing a flow tool having a flow restrictor into the wellbore tubular, wherein the flow restrictor has a diametrically expanded position and a diametrically retracted position;   using a control signal to move the flow restrictor to at least a position intermediate between the diametrically expanded position and the diametrically retracted position;   pumping fluid into the wellbore tubular;   propelling the flow restrictor and the tool string through the wellbore by sealingly engaging a surface of the wellbore tubular with the flow restrictor in the diametrically expanded position;   terminating the pumping once a target depth has been reached by the tool string; and   using a control signal to move the flow restrictor to the diametrically retracted position.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising expanding the flow restrictor to engage an inner surface of the wellbore tubular using a pressure applied by the fluid flowing in the wellbore tubular. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising connecting a non-rigid conveyance device to the flow tool, and using the non-rigid conveyance device to transmit the control signal to the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising estimating a volume of fluid to be used during the pumping, and controlling a tension on a non-rigid conveyance device connected to the flow restrictor based at least on the estimated volume of fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: perforating a selected interval in the wellbore before retrieving the tool. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: logging the perforated selected interval before retrieving the tool. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the control signal is transmitted from a surface location. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising retrieving the flow restrictor and the tool string from the wellbore tubular.