Determining the Order of Devices in a Downhole String

• US 20120170409A1
• Filed: 05/13/2010
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Golla, Christopher, Marsh, Laban
• Granted Patent: US 9,068,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/82
• 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: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

A string of subs includes a controller sub. The controller sub includes a first end, a second end, a controller, a first controller bus coupled to the controller, the first controller bus exiting at the first end of the controller sub, and a second controller bus coupled to the controller, the second controller bus being separate from the first controller bus, the second controller bus exiting at the second end of the controller sub. The string of subs also includes a first measuring sub and a second measuring sub. A process, running on a computer, discovers that the first measuring sub is connected to the first controller bus, discovers that the second measuring sub is connected to the first controller bus, determines that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub, and use the fact that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub in controlling the operation of the string of subs.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

assembling a string of subs, the string of subs comprising;

a controller sub, comprising;

a first end;

a second end;

a controller;

a first controller bus coupled to the controller, the first controller bus exiting at the first end of the controller sub; and

a second controller bus coupled to the controller, the second controller bus being separate from the first controller bus, the second controller bus exiting at the second end of the controller sub;

a first measuring sub; and

a second measuring sub;

discovering using the controller that the first measuring sub is connected to the first controller bus;

discovering using the controller that the second measuring sub is connected to the first controller bus;

determining using the controller that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub; and

using the fact that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub in controlling the operation of the string of subs.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

attaching the string of subs at an attachment to a subsurface exploration device selected from the group of subsurface exploration devices consisting of a drill string, a wired drillpipe, a coiled tubing, and a wireline;

determining which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment; and

using the determination of which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment to determine which of the first measuring sub and the second measuring sub is closer to the attachment.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment comprises:

rotating the string of subs in a known direction from a surface location;

detecting the direction of rotation of the controller sub; and

determining which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment from the direction of rotation of the string of subs and the direction of rotation of the controller sub.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein determining which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment comprises:

discovering using the controller that a device for communicating with surface equipment is attached to the first controller bus; and

, in response;

determining that the first end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining using the controller that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub comprises:

imposing a voltage on the first controller bus by the controller sub while leaving the first controller bus in an open loop configuration;

measuring a first voltage across the first controller bus at the first measuring sub;

measuring a second voltage across the first controller bus at the second measuring sub; and

determining that the first voltage is greater than the second voltage by directly comparing the first voltage to the second voltage and, in response, determining that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining using the controller that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub comprises:

sending a current down the first controller bus by the controller sub toward the first measuring sub and the second measuring sub;

measuring a first current flowing in the first controller bus at a first point where the first measuring sub connects to the first controller bus;

measuring a second current flowing in the first controller bus at a second point where the second measuring sub connects to the first controller bus;

determining that the first current is greater than the second current and, in response, determining that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining using the controller that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub comprises:

opening a switch in the first controller bus to disconnect devices that are further away from the controller sub than the first measuring sub from the first controller bus;

attempting and failing to contact the second measuring sub via the first controller bus; and

, in response;

determining that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining using the controller that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub comprises:

sending a signal from the controller sub down the first controller bus;

detecting the signal at the first measuring sub before the signal is detected at the second measuring sub; and

, in response;

determining that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first measuring sub comprises a weight-on-bit measuring device; and

the second measuring sub comprises a weight-on-bit measuring device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first measuring sub comprises a first reamer with a measuring device for measuring a weight on the first reamer;

the second measuring sub comprises a second reamer with a measuring device for measuring a weight on the second reamer;

and wherein using the fact that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub in controlling the operation of the string of subs comprises;

using the weight on the first reamer and the weight on the second reamer to make decisions regarding a drilling process.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a string of subs comprising;

a controller sub, comprising;

a first end;

a second end;

a controller;

a first controller bus coupled to the controller, the first controller bus exiting at the first end of the controller sub; and

a second controller bus coupled to the controller, the second controller bus being separate from the first controller bus, the second controller bus exiting at the second end of the controller sub;

a first measuring sub; and

a second measuring sub;

a process, running on a computer, to;

discover that the first measuring sub is connected to the first controller bus;

discover that the second measuring sub is connected to the first controller bus;

determine that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub; and

use the fact that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub in controlling the operation of the string of subs.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the computer is one of a group of computers consisting of a microprocessor in the controller, a microprocessor in the controller sub, a surface computer coupled to the controller, and a remote real time operating center coupled to the surface computer through a network.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a subsurface exploration device, selected from the group of subsurface exploration devices consisting of a drill string, a wired drillpipe, a coiled tubing, and a wireline, coupled to the string of subs at an attachment;

the process further comprising;

determining which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment; and

using the determination of which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment to determine which of the first measuring sub and the second measuring sub is closer to the attachment.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein, when determining which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment, the process:

rotates the string of subs in a known direction from a surface location;

detects the direction of rotation of the controller sub; and

determines which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment from the direction of rotation of the string of subs and the direction of rotation of the controller sub.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein, when determining which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment, the process:

discovers using the controller that a device for communicating with surface equipment is attached to the first controller bus; and

, in response;

determines that the first end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein, when determining using the controller that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub, the process:

imposes a voltage on the first controller bus by the controller sub while leaving the first controller bus in an open loop configuration;

measures a first voltage across the first controller bus at the first measuring sub;

measures a second voltage across the first controller bus at the second measuring sub; and

determines that the first voltage is greater than the second voltage by directly comparing the first voltage to the second voltage and, in response, determines that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein, when determining that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub, the process:

sends a current down the first controller bus by the controller sub toward the first measuring sub and the second measuring sub;

measures a first current flowing in the first controller bus at a first point where the first measuring sub connects to the first controller bus;

measures a second current flowing in the first controller bus at a second point where the second measuring sub connects to the first controller bus;

determines that the first current is greater than the second current and, in response, determines that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein, when determining that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub, the process:

opens a switch in the first controller bus to disconnect devices that are further away from the controller sub than the first measuring sub from the first controller bus;

attempts and fails to contact the second measuring sub via the first controller bus; and

, in response;

determines that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein, determining that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub, the process:

sends a signal from the controller sub down the first controller bus;

detects the signal at the first measuring sub before the signal is detected at the second measuring sub; and

, in response;

determines that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the first measuring sub comprises a weight-on-bit measuring device; and

the second measuring sub comprises a weight-on-bit measuring device.

21. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the first measuring sub comprises a first reamer with a measuring device for measuring a weight on the first reamer;

the second measuring sub comprises a second reamer with a measuring device for measuring a weight on the second reamer;

and wherein, when using the fact that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub in controlling the operation of the string of subs, the process;

uses the weight on the first reamer and the weight on the second reamer to make decisions regarding a drilling process.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a string of subs comprising;

a controller sub, comprising;

a first end;

a second end;

a controller;

a first controller bus coupled to the controller, the first controller bus exiting at the first end of the controller sub; and

a second controller bus coupled to the controller, the second controller bus being separate from the first controller bus, the second controller bus exiting at the second end of the controller sub;

a first reamer sub comprising a first weight-on-bit measuring device; and

a second reamer sub comprising a second weight-on-bit measuring device;

a process, running on the controller, to;

discover that the first reamer sub is connected to the first controller bus;

discover that the second reamer sub is connected to the first controller bus;

determine that the first reamer sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second reamer sub; and

use the fact that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub in controlling drilling operations using the string of subs.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, the process further comprising:

attaching the string of subs at an attachment to a subsurface exploration device selected from the group of subsurface exploration devices consisting of a drill string, a wired drillpipe, a coiled tubing, and a wireline;

determining which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment by;

rotating the string of subs in a known direction from a surface location;

detecting the direction of rotation of the controller sub; and

determining which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment from the direction of rotation of the string of subs and the direction of rotation of the controller sub.

24. A computer program, stored in a computer-readable tangible medium, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

discover that a first measuring sub, which is part of a string of subs including a controller sub and a second measuring sub, is connected to a first controller bus originating in the controller sub;

discover that the second measuring sub is connected to the first controller bus;

determine that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub; and

use the fact that the first measuring sub is physically closer to the controller sub than the second measuring sub in controlling the operation of the string of subs.

25. The computer program of claim 24, wherein the string of subs is attached at an attachment to a subsurface exploration device selected from the group of subsurface exploration devices consisting of a drill string, a wired drillpipe, a coiled tubing, and a wireline the program further comprising executable instructions that cause the computer to:

determine which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment by;

rotating the string of subs in a known direction from a surface location;

detecting the direction of rotation of the controller sub; and

determining which end of the controller sub is closer to the attachment from the direction of rotation of the string of subs and the direction of rotation of the controller sub.