Apparatus, method and system for regulating annular fluid flow around a tool string

Abstract

A downhole tool velocity control apparatus includes a body having a portion with static circumferential diameter and a portion with a variable circumferential diameter. The portion with variable circumferential diameter has at least one velocity control member extendible radially beyond the portion with the static diameter. A method of varying the force applied by a fluid to a tool string includes traversing a tool string through a well bore using a pump fluid, the pump fluid applying a force on the tool string, monitoring a tool string characteristic, and actuating a downhole tool velocity control apparatus of the tool string to variably expand radially in response to a change in the tool string characteristic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole tool velocity control apparatus comprising:
 a body having
 a portion with static diameter and a portion with a variable diameter; and 
   the portion with variable diameter having at least one velocity control member extendible radially beyond the portion with the static diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the velocity control member is extendable and contractible by an actuatable member. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the actuatable member comprises one or more extendable and contractible arms. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a controller coupled with the velocity control member for controlling the degree of extension and contraction of the actuatable member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is electronic, pneumatic or hydraulic. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is an electronic piston, a pneumatic piston or a hydraulic piston, the piston coupled with the body and the actuatable member and configured to variably expand and contract the actuatable member. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the controller further comprises a processor. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the velocity control member encircles at least 180 degrees of the circumference of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an uphole end is couplable with a first component of a tool string and a downhole end is couplable with a second component of the tool string. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the velocity control member is configured to actuate in response to a change in line tension of a line or tubing coupled with a tool string. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the velocity control member is configured to actuate in response to a change in the velocity of the apparatus as it traverses a well bore. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the velocity control member is an expandable bladder. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the velocity control member is a plurality of plates. 
     
     
         14 . A tool placement conveyance system, the system comprising:
 a pump in fluid communication with a wellbore for pressurizing the wellbore; and   a tool string coupled with a conveyance line, the tool string disposed in the wellbore extending downhole from the surface uphole thereby forming an annulus between the tool string and a surface of the wellbore, the tool string having a portion with a static diameter and a portion having a velocity control tool incorporated into the tool string, the velocity control tool comprising
 a portion with a variable diameter, and 
 the portion with variable diameter having a velocity control member variably extendible and contractible radially beyond the portion of the tool string with the static diameter thereby decreasing the size of the annulus. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a conveyance line tension sensor coupled with a portion of the conveyance line near the tool string; and   a tool string speed sensor located in the tool string.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a controller communicatively coupled with the velocity control tool, the conveyance line sensor and the tool string speed sensor, wherein
 the controller located in the tool string and configured to control actuation of the velocity control tool in response to any one of a change in conveyance line tension sensed by the conveyance line tension sensor, and a change in conveyance line speed sensed by the tool string speed sensor.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a second conveyance line tension sensor and a conveyance line speed sensor, the second conveyance line tension sensor and the conveyance line speed sensor coupled with a portion of the conveyance line at the surface of the well bore. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a controller communicatively coupled with the velocity control tool, the conveyance line sensor, the tool string speed sensor, the second conveyance line tension sensor and the conveyance line speed sensor, wherein
 the controller is configured to control actuation of the velocity control tool in response to any one of a change in conveyance line tension sensed by the conveyance line tension sensor and the second conveyance line tension sensor, and a change in conveyance line speed sensed by the tool string speed sensor and the conveyance line speed sensor.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the conveyance line is any one of a wireline, a slickline, and a coiled tubing. 
     
     
         20 . A method of varying the force applied by a fluid to a tool string, the method comprising:
 traversing a tool string through a well bore using a pump fluid, the pump fluid applying a force on the tool string;   monitoring a tool string characteristic of the tool string; and   actuating a downhole tool velocity control apparatus of the tool string to variably expand radially in response to a change in the tool string characteristic.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the actuation of the downhole tool velocity control apparatus is controlled by a mechanical system coupled with the downhole tool velocity control apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the actuation of the downhole tool velocity control apparatus is controlled by a computing system coupled with the downhole tool velocity control apparatus and located in the tool string. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the tool string is coupled with a conveyance line, the conveyance line being any one of a wireline, a slickline, and a coiled tubing. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the tool string characteristic is a tension of the conveyance line. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the downhole tool velocity control apparatus is actuated to expand from a contracted configuration in response to a decrease in conveyance line tension relative to a predetermined conveyance line tension. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the downhole tool velocity control apparatus is actuated to contract from an expanded configuration in response to an increase in conveyance line tension relative to a predetermined conveyance line tension. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the tool string characteristic is a speed of the tool string as it traverses through the well bore. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the downhole tool velocity control apparatus is actuated to expand from a contracted configuration in response to a decrease in tool string speed relative to a predetermined tool string speed. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the downhole tool velocity control apparatus is actuated to contract from an expanded configuration in response to an increase in tool string speed relative to a predetermined tool string speed. 
     
     
         30 . A downhole tool annulus fluid flow restriction apparatus comprising:
 a body having   a portion with static diameter and a portion with a variable diameter; and   the portion with variable diameter having at least one annulus fluid flow restriction member expandable radially beyond the portion with the static diameter.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the annulus fluid flow restriction member encircles at least 180 degrees of the circumference of the body when expanded radially. 
     
     
         32 . A tool placement system, the system comprising:
 a pump in fluid communication with a wellbore for pressurizing the wellbore; and   a tool string coupled with a conveyance line, the tool string disposed in the wellbore extending downhole from the surface uphole thereby forming an annulus between the tool string and a surface of the wellbore, the tool string having a portion with a static diameter and a portion having an annulus fluid flow restriction tool incorporated into the tool string, the annulus fluid flow restriction tool comprising
 a portion with a variable diameter, and 
 the portion with variable diameter having a annulus fluid flow restriction member variably extendible and contractible radially beyond the portion of the tool string with the static diameter thereby decreasing the size of the annulus. 
   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a conveyance line tension sensor coupled with a portion of the conveyance line near the tool string; and   a tool string speed sensor located in the tool string.   
     
     
         34 . A method of varying the force applied by a fluid to a tool string, the method comprising:
 traversing a tool string through a well bore using a pump fluid, the pump fluid applying a force on the tool string;   monitoring a tool string characteristic of the tool string; and   actuating a downhole tool annulus fluid flow restriction apparatus of the tool string to variably expand radially in response to a change in the tool string characteristic.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein
 the tool string is coupled with a conveyance line, the conveyance line being any one of a wireline, a slickline, and a coiled tubing; and   the tool string characteristic is a tension of the conveyance line.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the tool string characteristic is a speed of the tool string as it traverses through the well bore.