US 12,421,849 B2
Apparatus and method for signalling between downhole and uphole locations
Simon Christopher Ash, Newark (GB); and Robert Ludeks, Loughborough (GB)
Assigned to REEVES WIRELINE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED, Loughborough (GB)
Appl. No. 18/002,657
Filed by REEVES WIRELINE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED, Loughborough (GB)
PCT Filed May 25, 2021, PCT No. PCT/GB2021/051268
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 20, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/018395, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 27, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2011209 (GB), filed on Jul. 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0235665 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 47/24 (2012.01)
CPC E21B 47/24 (2020.05) 52 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Apparatus for signalling between downhole and uphole locations in a borehole comprising:
a downhole tool having:
a hollow interior;
a fluid inlet;
a fluid outlet that is connectable to the fluid inlet to define a first fluid flow path via the hollow interior; and
a moveable valve member that is capable of selectively opening and constricting or closing the first fluid flow path, wherein the moveable valve member is moveable within the hollow interior between a valve open position in which the first fluid flow path is open and a valve closed position in which the first fluid flow path is constricted or closed;
pipe within which at least part of the downhole tool is moveably located, the downhole tool being peripherally sealed to an interior of the pipe in a manner preventing fluid flow in the pipe via part of an exterior of the downhole tool;
the downhole tool being constrained to lie at least partially within the pipe; and
the pipe including an openable valve uphole of the downhole tool and permitting flow of fluid from the interior of the pipe via at least one second fluid flow path interconnecting the interior of the pipe and an outside, wherein the openable valve is normally closed;
wherein when the moveable valve member constricts or closes the first fluid flow path fluid pressure in the pipe increases to generate a signal in the pipe and cause opening of the openable valve and venting of pressurised fluid from within the pipe to the outside via the at least one second fluid flow path;
wherein the at least one second fluid flow path is or includes one or more apertures that perforate a wall of the pipe.