Apparatus and method for downhole well equipment and process management, identification, and actuation

• US 20010054969A1
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Thomeer, Hubertus V., Adnan, Sarmad
• Granted Patent: US 6,989,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/853.3
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/001 Self-propelling systems or apparatus, e.g. for moving tools within the horizontal portion of a borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/02 for locking the tools or the like in landing nipples or in recesses between adjacent sections of tubing E21B23/03 - E21B23/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 31/00 Fishing for or freeing objects in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0035 Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/119 Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/04 Measuring depth or liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/09 Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells , e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/26 Storing data down-hole, e.g. in a memory or on a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

A method for actuating or installing downhole equipment in a wellbore employs non-acoustic signals (e.g., radio frequency signals) to locate, inventory, install, or actuate one downhole structure in relation to another downhole structure. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a first downhole structure that comprises a non-acoustic (e.g., radio frequency) identification transmitter unit that stores an identification code and transmits a signal corresponding to the identification code; (b) providing a second downhole structure that comprises a non-acoustic receiver unit that can receive the signal transmitted by the non-acoustic identification transmitter unit, decode the signal to determine the identification code corresponding thereto, and compare the identification code to a preset target identification code; wherein one of the first downhole structure and the second downhole structure is secured at a given location in a subterranean wellbore, and the other is moveable in the wellbore; (c) placing the second downhole structure in close enough proximity to the first downhole structure so that the non-acoustic receiver unit can receive the signal transmitted by the non-acoustic identification transmitter unit; (d) comparing the identification code determined by the non-acoustic receiver unit to the target identification code; and (e) if the determined identification code matches the target identification code, actuating or installing one of the first downhole structure or second downhole structure in physical proximity to the other.

Claims

1. A method for actuating a perforating gun in a wellbore, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first downhole structure that comprises a non-acoustic identification transmitter unit that stores an identification code and transmits a non-acoustic signal corresponding to the identification code;

(b) providing a perforating gun having a non-acoustic receiver unit that can receive the signal transmitted by the identification transmitter unit, decode the signal to determine the identification code corresponding thereto, and compare the identification code to a preset target identification code;

(c) lowering the perforating gun in close enough proximity to the first downhole structure so that the non-acoustic receiver unit can receive the non-acoustic signal transmitted by the non-acoustic identification transmitter unit;

(d) comparing the identification code determined by the non-acoustic receiver unit to the target identification code; and

(e) if the determined identification code matches the target identification code, the perforating gun is fired.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the identification code is used to determine the depth of the perforating gun in the borehole.

3. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the perforating gun is lowered with a supporting structure.

4. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the perforating gun is lowered through free fall.

5. A method or orienting downhole equipment in a wellbore, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a downhole conduit having at least one inlet and a plurality of outlets, the downhole conduit further having a non-acoustic identification transmitter unit that stores an identification code and transmits a non-acoustic signal corresponding to the identification code;

(b) providing a downhole structure that comprises a non-acoustic receiver unit that can receive the signal transmitted by the identification transmitter unit, decode the signal to determine the identification code corresponding thereto, and compare the identification code to a preset target identification code;

the downhole structure moveable through the conduit;

(c) moving the downhole structure in close enough proximity to the non-acoustic receiver unit to receive the non-acoustic signal transmitted by the non-acoustic identification transmitter unit; and

(d) orienting the downhole structure through one of the plurality of outlets based on the determined identification code.

6. The method of

claim 5

, wherein the conduit is a Y-Block.

7. The method of

claim 6

, wherein the non-acoustic identification transmitter unit is located above the Y-Block to guide the downhole structure through one of the plurality of outlets.

8. The method of

claim 6

, further comprising a second non-acoustic identification transmitter unit located below the Y-Block to provide indication of correct entry into the outlets.

9. A method of providing telemetry from downhole to a surface operator, comprising:

(a) providing a transmitter unit in a downhole structure;

(b) providing a downhole tool having a non-acoustic receiver unit, data sensors, a microprocessor, and releasably storing a plurality of non-acoustic transmitter units;

(c) moving the downhole tool in close enough proximity to the downhole structure so that the non-acoustic receiver unit can receive the non-acoustic signal transmitted by the non-acoustic transmitter unit;

(d) writing data acquired from the data sensors to one of the plurality of non-acoustic transmitter units, the data written by the microprocessor;

(e) releasing the one of the plurality of non-acoustic transmitter units; and

(f) returning the one of the plurality of non-acoustic transmitter units to the surface.

10. The method of

claim 9

, wherein the data sensors provide temperature measurements.

11. The method of

claim 9

, wherein the data sensors provide pressure measurements.

12. The method of

claim 9

, wherein the data sensors provide time measurements.

13. The method of

claim 9

, wherein circulating fluids provide for the return to the surface of the one of the plurality of non-acoustic transmitter units.

14. A method of providing communication downhole from the surface of a well, comprising:

(a) providing a downhole structure having a non-acoustic receiver unit; and

(b) moving a non-acoustic transmitter unit into close enough proximity of the downhole structure for the non-acoustic receiver unit to receive a signal from the non-acoustic transmitter unit.

15. The method of

claim 14

, wherein the downhole structure further has a microprocessor provided for analyzing the signal provided by the transmitter unit.

16. The method of

claim 15

, wherein the microprocessor actuates or installs downhole equipment.

17. The method of

claim 14

, wherein the non-acoustic transmitter unit is moved by wellbore fluids.

18. The method of

claim 14

, wherein the non-acoustic transmitter unit is moved by attachment to a drop ball.

19. A method of receiving data from a downhole well from the surface of the well, comprising:

(a) providing non-acoustic transmitter units in the downhole well;

(b) moving at least one non-acoustic receiver units into close enough proximity to the non-acoustic transmitter units to receive data; and

(c) return the non-acoustic transmitter units to the surface.

20. The method of

claim 19

, wherein the at least one receiver unit is moved by well fluids.

21. The method of

claim 19

, wherein the at least one receiver unit is moved by a conveyance tool.

22. The method of

claim 19

, wherein the non-acoustic transmitter units are returned with well fluids.

23. The method of

claim 19

, wherein the non-acoustic transmitter units are returned by a conveyance tool.

24. A method for communicating between downhole tools and equipment in a wellbore, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first downhole structure having one or more non-acoustic transmitter units and one or more non-acoustic receiver units;

(b) providing a second downhole structure having one or more non-acoustic transmitter units and one or more non-acoustic receiver units;

(c) receiving a signal from the one or more non-acoustic transmitter units of the first downhole structure with the one or more non-acoustic receiver units of the second downhole structure; and

(c) receiving a signal from the one or more non-acoustic transmitter units of the second downhole structure with the one or more non-acoustic receiver units of the first downhole structure.

25. The method of

claim 24

, further comprising actuating or installing downhole equipment.

26. The method of

claim 24

, further comprising returning the signal to the surface of the wellbore.

27. The method of

claim 24

, further comprising storing the signal with one or more non-acoustic receiver units of the first and second downhole structure.