TACTILE PRESSURE SENSING DEVICES AND METHODS FOR USING SAME

• US 20110214879A1
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: DiFoggio, Rocco
• Application Number:
  US13/039,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20110214879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/370
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/01 Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure

Abstract

A device and related method for conducting a wellbore operation controls a tool by using at least one pressure estimated at a contact between a reaction surface and a contact face associated with the tool. The device may include a contact face and a sensor associated with the contact face. The sensor may be configured to estimate a pressure applied to the contact face.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a wellbore operation in a borehole formed in an earthen formation, comprising:

controlling a tool in the borehole by using at least one pressure estimated at a contact between a reaction surface and a contact face associated with the tool.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising estimating the at least one pressure using a sensor positioned at the contact face.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the sensor estimates a pressure at a plurality of locations on the contact face.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling includes at least one of:

(i) adjusting a force applied to the contact face, and (ii) moving the contact face.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reaction surface is a borehole wall.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a pressure distribution map of the contact face using the estimated pressure, wherein the map includes a plurality of estimated pressures.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising drawing a fluid from the formation using a probe associated with the tool, wherein the contact face is formed on the probe.

8. An apparatus for conducting a wellbore operation, comprising:

a carrier conveyable into a well borehole;

a tool coupled to the carrier, the tool including a contact face; and

a sensor associated with the contact face, the sensor being configured to estimate a pressure applied at the contact face.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensor includes a plurality of sensing elements.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tool comprises a probe on which the contact face is formed, the probe including an inlet, wherein the sensing elements are distributed around the inlet.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the probe includes a sealing element surrounding the inlet, wherein the sensor is in pressure communication with the sealing element, and wherein an outer surface of the sealing element at least partially defines the contact face.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensor is positioned on the contact face.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a controller coupled to the sensor, the controller being programmed to control the tool in response to at least one signal generated by the sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of independently operable force application elements positioned on the contact face, and wherein the controller adjusts the force application elements in response to the sensor signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the sensor is formed in a layer coupled to the contact face.