Inflation tool with real-time temperature and pressure probes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for setting an inflatable element comprising:
- lowering an assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool and a probe with one or more sensors down a wellbore, wherein the assembly is attached to a lowering member;
supplying power to the assembly through the conductive wires;
monitoring a signal generated by the probe to determine if one or more downhole parameters measured by the sensors are each within a corresponding predetermined range; and
activating the inflation tool to inflate the inflatable element in response to determining the one or more downhole parameters are each within the predetermined range.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a method, apparatus, and system for monitoring conditions in wellbore in real time prior to setting an inflatable element in the wellbore. The inflatable element is inflated with an inflation tool run on a cable with one or more electrically conductive wires (the cable is commonly referred to as a “wireline”). One or more sensors, internal or external to the inflation tool, are monitored before setting the inflatable element to verify well conditions are compatible with the inflatable element. The sensors may be internal or external to the inflation tool.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for setting an inflatable element comprising:
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lowering an assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool and a probe with one or more sensors down a wellbore, wherein the assembly is attached to a lowering member;
supplying power to the assembly through the conductive wires;
monitoring a signal generated by the probe to determine if one or more downhole parameters measured by the sensors are each within a corresponding predetermined range; and
activating the inflation tool to inflate the inflatable element in response to determining the one or more downhole parameters are each within the predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for setting an inflatable element comprising:
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lowering an assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool and one or more sensors down a wellbore, wherein the assembly is attached to a lowering member;
supplying power to the inflation tool through the conductive wires to monitor at least one of the sensors;
monitoring a signal generated by the assembly to determine if one or more downhole parameters measured by the sensors are each within a corresponding predetermined range; and
in response to determining the one or more downhole parameters are each within the predetermined range, inflating the inflatable element by removing power from the inflation tool and again supplying power to the inflation tool. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An inflation tool for inflating an inflatable element in a wellbore comprising:
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(a) one or more sensors for measuring a corresponding one or more parameters in the wellbore;
(b) one or more pumps for inflating the inflatable element; and
(c) control circuitry adapted to sequentially;
(i) communicate data gathered from the one or more sensors to a surface of the wellbore, and (ii) control the one or more pumps to inflate the inflatable element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for setting an inflatable element in a wellbore comprising:
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(a) lowering an assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool, and a density sensor down a wellbore;
(b) measuring a density of a formation proximate the wellbore with the density sensor;
(c) comparing the measured density to a determined density value; and
(d) setting the inflatable element at a desired location as determined by the results of the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for setting an inflatable element in a wellbore comprising:
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an assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool and a probe having one or more sensors to measure one or more downhole parameters, wherein the assembly is attached to a cable having one or more electrically conductive wires and the probe is adapted to generate a signal on the one or more conductive wires to communicate data from the one or more sensors to a surface of the wellbore; and
an interface at a surface of the wellbore comprising circuitry to receive the signal generated by the probe and instrumentation to display the one or more downhole parameters measured by the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. The system of claim 34, wherein the instrumentation comprises instrumentation for displaying a current draw of the assembly.
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35. A method for optimizing the operating of a fluid operated tool in a wellbore comprising:
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lowering the tool into the wellbore, the tool having one or more sensors for sensing one or more wellbore parameters; and
modifying the one or more wellbore parameters to optimize operation of the tool. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for determining whether or not to operate a fluid operated tool in a wellbore comprising:
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lowering the tool into the wellbore, the tool having one or more sensors for sensing one or more wellbore parameters;
evaluating the one or more wellbore parameters; and
determining whether or not to operate the tool based on the evaluated wellbore parameters. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification