Method and system for pipe conveyed logging

• US 10,443,325 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Zheng, Shunfeng, Parmeshwar, Vishwanathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Giovanna C
• Application Number:
  US15/694,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20190071939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/025 Side entry subs
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/206 with conductors, e.g. electrical, optical
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/008 Winding units, specially adapted for drilling operations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/08 Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables E21B19/22 takes precedence; automatic feed E21B44/02; Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/22 Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/14 for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling

Abstract

Method and system for pipe conveyed logging (PCL) operations in which the drillpipe conveys a logging tool. The method and system coordinate operation of a wireline winch and drilling rig control systems to synchronize their operation, and/or the method and system attenuate the pull force applied to an upper end of the cable and transmit the attenuated force toward a lower end of the cable to reduce the risks of premature cable release and cable damage.

Claims

1. A pipe conveyed logging (PCL) system, comprising:

a logging tool conjugated with a lower end of a drillstring;

a cable side entry sub located above the logging tool;

a cable connected to the logging tool and passing inside the drillstring from the logging tool, through the cable side entry sub, and outside the drillstring above the cable side entry sub to a winch;

a weakpoint release formed in the cable at a point between the logging tool and the cable side entry sub to release the cable from the logging tool upon application of a predetermined release force to the cable at the weakpoint; and

an integrated control framework comprising a rig control system to translate the drillstring in a wellbore, a wireline winch control system to translate the cable in the wellbore, and a controller to automatically synchronize the translation of the drillstring and the cable in the wellbore,

further comprising a drive to rotate the drillstring in the well to selectively wind and unwind the cable at least partially around the drillstring above a cable clamping assembly.

2. The PCL system of claim 1, wherein the rig control system automatically controls rotation of the drillstring according to an angle input parameter for a winding corresponding to a desired degree of the attenuation.

3. The PCL system of claim 2, further comprising a cable clamping assembly securing the cable to the drillstring below a winding adjacent to the cable side entry sub and comprising a release set to activate at a predetermined activation force on the cable.

4. The PCL system of claim 3, wherein the wireline winch control system has functionality to limit a pull force applied to the cable so that the pull force transmitted the cable clamping assembly does not exceed the predetermined activation force to activate the cable clamping assembly release.

5. The PCL system of claim 4, wherein the integrated control framework comprises an indicator of an allowable maximum of the pull force that can be applied to the cable without an attenuated pull force at the cable clamping assembly exceeding the predetermined activation force to activate the cable clamping assembly release.

6. A pipe conveyed logging (PCL) system, comprising:

a logging tool conjugated with a lower end of a drillstring;

a cable side entry sub located above the logging tool;

a cable connected to the logging tool and passing inside the drillstring from the logging tool, through the cable side entry sub, and outside the drillstring above the cable side entry sub to a winch;

a weakpoint release formed in the cable at a point between the logging tool and the cable side entry sub to release the cable from the logging tool upon application of a predetermined release force to the cable at the weakpoint; and

an integrated control framework comprising a rig control system to translate the drillstring in a wellbore, a wireline winch control system to translate the cable in the wellbore, and a controller to automatically synchronize the translation of the drillstring and the cable in the wellbore,

wherein the integrated control framework comprises an indicator of a pull force at surface needed to break the weakpoint to release the cable from the logging tool as a result of any winding.

7. A pipe conveyed logging (PCL) method, comprising:

(a) conjugating a logging tool to a lower end of a drillstring;

(b) passing a cable from a wireline winch through a cable side entry sub spaced above the logging tool;

(c) passing the cable inside the drillstring below the cable side entry sub;

(d) connecting the cable to the logging tool;

(e) placing a weakpoint in the cable between the cable side entry sub and the logging tool;

(f) passing the cable into the wellbore outside the drillstring above the cable side entry sub;

(g) at least partially winding the cable around the drillstring above the cable side entry sub;

(h) translating the drillstring and the cable in the wellbore.

8. The PCL method of claim 7, further comprising unwinding the cable from around the drillstring to before activating the process to release break the weakpoint.