Devices, systems, and methods for selectively engaging downhole tool for wellbore operations

Abstract

A device for wellbore operations is configured to self-determine its downhole location in a wellbore in real-time and to self-activate upon arrival at a preselected target location. In embodiments, the device is configured to self-determine its direction of travel and self-deactivates if the device determines that it is not travelling in the downhole direction. In embodiments, the device has a flowback valve that blocks fluid flow therethrough when the device is inactivated but permits fluid flow through the device to exit at the device's trailing end when the device is activated. In embodiments, at least a portion of the device is dissolvable in the presence of wellbore fluids. In embodiments, at least a portion of the device is coated with a protective coating to shield the device from treatment fluids. A downhole tool having a pass-through constriction configured to be overcome by the device is also disclosed.

1 . A method comprising:
 deploying a device into a wellbore, the device being in an inactivated position and the device being actuable to transition from the inactivated position to an activated position, wherein in the activated position, the device is configured to engage a downhole tool in the wellbore;
 determining, by the device, a direction of travel of the device; and 
   upon determining that the direction of travel is uphole, deactivating the device to prevent the device from transitioning into the activated position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the direction of travel comprises determining an acceleration of the device, and wherein the direction of travel is determined is based at least in part on the acceleration of the device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the direction of travel is uphole when the acceleration is negative for at least a predetermined timespan. 
     
     
         4 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for deployment through a passage defined by a wellbore string that is disposed within a wellbore, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a body, defining a body-defined passage configuration;   wherein:
 the body is co-operable with the wellbore string such that, while the body is disposed within the wellbore string, there is established, within the wellbore string, a downhole space, disposed downhole relative to the body, an annular passage, disposed between the body and the wellbore string, and an uphole space, disposed uphole relative to the body; 
 the apparatus is configurable in a flow control-effective configuration and a flow control-ineffective configuration, and transitioning from the flow control-effective configuration to the flow control-ineffective configuration is with effect that interference to flow, within the wellbore, via, sequentially, the annular passage and the body-defined passage configuration, from the downhole space to the uphole space, is at least reduced. 
   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 ;
 wherein:
 the interference to flow includes an occlusion of the body-defined passage configuration, and the transitioning includes a defeating of the occlusion. 
   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 ;
 wherein:
 the interference to flow includes interference to flow effected by a sealing interface, and the transitioning includes a defeating of the sealing interface. 
   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 ;
 wherein:
 the sealing interface is a sealing interface that effects sealing of flow communication, via the body-defined passage configuration, from the annular passage to the uphole space. 
   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 21 to 24 ;
 further comprising:
 a valve; 
   wherein:
 the transitioning includes an opening of the valve. 
   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 ;
 wherein:
 the opening of the valve includes a transitioning of the valve from a closed condition to an open condition. 
   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 ;
 wherein:
 the valve includes a closure configuration and a valve seat for receiving seating of the closure configuration such that the closure configuration is seated on the seat; and 
 the opening of the valve includes a displacement of the closure configuration relative to the valve seat. 
   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 ;
 wherein:
 the opening of the valve includes a transitioning of the valve from a closed condition to an open condition, wherein, in the closed condition, the closure configuration is seated on the valve seat, and in the open condition, the closure configuration is spaced apart from the valve seat. 
   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 ;
 wherein:
 the valve seat is defined by the body. 
   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 ;
 wherein:
 the closure configuration is an untethered plug. 
   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 ;
 wherein:
 the apparatus is co-operable with the wellbore string for seating on a wellbore string seat of the wellbore string for emplacement of the apparatus within the passage of the wellbore string, such that, while the apparatus is seated on the wellbore string seat, the downhole space, the annular passage, and the uphole space, are established. 
   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 ;
 wherein:
 the apparatus is co-operable with the wellbore string such that, while the apparatus is seated on the wellbore string seat, application of fluid pressure to the apparatus is with effect that a downhole operation is executed. 
   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 ;
 wherein:
 the downhole operation includes an opening of a wellbore string valve that is coupled to the wellbore string. 
   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 ;
 wherein:
 the apparatus is configurable in a seating-effective configuration and is also configurable in a seating-ineffective configuration; 
 the apparatus is co-operable with the wellbore string such that:
 the seating of the apparatus, on the wellbore string seat, is establishable while the apparatus is being deployed through the wellbore in the seating-effective configuration, only; and 
 while the apparatus is disposed in the seating-ineffective configuration, the apparatus is deployable through the wellbore such that the apparatus traverses the wellbore string seat. 
 
   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 ;
 further comprising:
 a seat engaging configuration; 
   wherein:
 the apparatus is co-operable with the wellbore such that transitioning of the apparatus from the seating-ineffective configuration to the seating-effective configuration is with effect that the seat engaging configuration becomes displaced laterally outwards relative to the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore. 
   
     
     
         36 . A set of a plurality of apparatuses, wherein each one of the plurality of apparatuses, independently, is an apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 ;
 wherein:
 the wellbore string includes a plurality of wellbore string seats that are longitudinally spaced apart, relative to one another, in series, each one of the wellbore string seats, independently, is configured for receiving seating of at least one of the apparatuses such that, for each one of the wellbore string seats, seating of a one of the apparatuses, on the wellbore string seat, is with effect that the downhole space, the annular passage, and the uphole space, are established; 
 at least one of the apparatuses is a pass-through apparatus such that the set of apparatuses includes at least one pass-through apparatus, and each one of the at least one pass-through apparatus, independently, is configurable in a seating-effective configuration and is also configurable in a seating-ineffective configuration, wherein, while the pass-through apparatus is disposed in the seating-effective configuration, only, the pass-through apparatus is configured for seating on a respective target wellbore string seat of the wellbore string seats such that, in response to the seating of the pass-through apparatus on its respective target wellbore string seat, the pass-through apparatus becomes emplaced within the passage of the wellbore string, and, while the pass-through apparatus is disposed in the seating-ineffective configuration, the pass-through apparatus is deployable through the wellbore such that the pass-through apparatus traverses the wellbore string seats disposed uphole relative to its respective target wellbore string seat. 
   
     
     
         37 . The set of apparatuses as claimed in  claim 36 ;
 wherein:
 each one of the apparatuses, independently, is co-operable with the wellbore string such that, for each one of the apparatuses, independently, while the seating of the apparatus on its respective target wellbore string seat is established, application of fluid pressure to the apparatus is with effect that a downhole operation is executed. 
   
     
     
         38 . An apparatus for deployment through a passage defined by a wellbore string that is disposed within a wellbore, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a body, defining a body-defined passage configuration; and   a valve including a closure configuration and a valve seat for receiving seating of the closure configuration such that the closure configuration is seated on the seat;   wherein:
 the body is co-operable with the wellbore string such that, while the body is disposed within the wellbore string, there is established a spatial configuration within the passage of the wellbore string, and the spatial configuration includes a downhole space, disposed downhole relative to the body, and an uphole space, disposed uphole relative to the body; 
 the apparatus is configurable in a flow control-effective configuration and a flow control-ineffective configuration, and transitioning from the flow control-effective configuration to the flow control-ineffective configuration includes a transitioning of the valve from a closed condition to an open condition, wherein, in the closed condition, the closure configuration is seated on the valve seat, and in the open condition, the closure configuration is spaced apart from the valve seat, wherein the transitioning of the valve from the closed condition to the open condition is with effect that interference to flow, via the body-defined passage configuration, from the downhole space to the uphole space, is at least reduced; 
   and
 the apparatus is configurable as a first apparatus that is co-operable with a second apparatus, identical to the first apparatus, such that, while: (i) the first apparatus is emplaced within the wellbore string such that the body, that is respective to the first apparatus, is seated within the wellbore string, and the closure configuration, that is respective to the first apparatus, is seated on the valve seat such that the valve is disposed in the closed condition, and (ii) the second apparatus is emplaced within the wellbore string such that the body, that is respective to the second apparatus, is seated within the wellbore string, downhole relative to the body that is respective to the first apparatus, and the closure configuration, that is respective to the second apparatus, is spaced-apart from the valve seat such that the valve, that is respective to the second apparatus, is disposed in the open condition:
 the closure configuration, that is respective to the second apparatus, co-operates with the first apparatus such that flow communication, between the body-defined passage configuration, that is respective to the first apparatus, and the downhole space, that is established while the body of the second apparatus is disposed within the wellbore string, is effective, only. 
 
   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 38 ;
 wherein:
 the interference to flow includes an occlusion, by the closure configuration, of the body-defined passage configuration, and the transitioning includes a defeating of the occlusion. 
   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 38 ;
 wherein:
 the interference to flow includes interference to flow effected by a sealing interface, established by the seating of the closure configuration on the valve seat, and which effects sealing of flow communication, via the body-defined passage configuration, from the annular passage to the uphole space. 
   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 38 ;
 wherein:
 the spatial configuration, established while the body is disposed within the wellbore string, further includes an annular passage, disposed between the body and the wellbore string; 
 the interference to flow, within the wellbore, is an interference to flow via, sequentially, the annular passage and the body-defined passage configuration, from the downhole space to the uphole space, is at least reduced, and is effected by a sealing interface, established by the seating of the closure configuration on the valve seat, and which effects sealing of flow communication, via the body-defined passage configuration, from the annular passage to the uphole space; and 
 the transitioning includes a defeating of the sealing interface. 
   
     
     
         42 . A pass-through tool for coupling to a downhole tubing string, the pass-through tool comprising:
 an outer housing having an upper end, a lower end, and an inner surface defining an inner axial bore extending between the upper end and the lower end, the inner surface having defined thereon a shoulder;   an actuable mechanism movably coupled to the inner surface, the actuable mechanism having a wall, the actuable mechanism being configured to transition from a first position to a second position, wherein the actuable mechanism is closer to the upper end in the first position than in the second position;   a pass-through constriction comprising:
 a plurality of retractable dogs, at least a portion of each retractable dog of the plurality of retractable dogs being radially movably received in the wall of the actuable mechanism, the plurality of retractable dogs being circumferentially spaced apart from one another in the wall; and 
 a C-ring positioned in between and circumferentially supported by the plurality of retractable dogs, the C-ring being expandable from a closed position to an open position and the C-ring being spring-biased to expand radially to the open position, wherein in the closed position and the open position, the C-ring has defined therethrough a restricted opening and an expanded opening, respectively, the expanded opening being larger than the restricted opening, 
 wherein when the actuable mechanism is in the first position, the plurality of retractable dogs are positioned above the shoulder and the C-ring is held in the closed position by the plurality of dogs, and when the actuable mechanism is in the second position, the plurality of retractable dogs are positioned below the shoulder and the C-ring is radially expanded into the open position. 
   
     
     
         43 . The pass-through tool of  claim 42  wherein the restricted opening is sized to allow a device to engage the C-ring and the expanded opening is sized to permit passage of the device through the C-ring. 
     
     
         44 . A downhole tubing string comprising a plurality of consecutively positioned pass-through tools of  claim 42 .