Monitoring performance of downhole equipment

• US 6,310,559 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Robertson, Gerald W., Juchereau, Bernard G., Veneruso, Anthony F., Hiron, Stephane, Laborde, Guy Vachon
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/195,011
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 340/853.2, 340/853.3, 166/372, 166/53, 166/64, 166/263, 166/370, 700/282, 370/242, 370/244, 702/184, 702/6, 702/9
• US Class Current: 340/853.2
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08

Abstract

A method for use with equipment located downhole in a subterranean well includes providing a model describing behavior of the equipment and measuring a state of the equipment downhole. An indication is received of the state at a surface of the well, and the model is modified based on the indication. The system includes a communication link, a circuit and a machine. The communication link is adapted to furnish an indication of a state of the equipment to the surface of the well. The circuit is located downhole and is adapted to detect the state and produce the indication. The machine is adapted to provide a model describing behavior of the equipment and modify the model based on the indication.

Claims

1. A method for use with equipment located downhole in a subterranean well, comprising:

providing a model describing behavior of the equipment;

measuring a state of the equipment downhole;

receiving an indication of the state at a surface of the well; and

modifying the model based on the indication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the model to observe a performance of the equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically indicating potential failure of the equipment based on a performance projected by the model.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically taking corrective action based on a performance projected by the model.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the act of using comprises:

executing a circuit simulation program.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the act of using comprises:

monitoring a plot of a characteristic of the equipment over time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the characteristic comprises a voltage.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the characteristic comprises a current.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the state comprises a sampled voltage.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the state comprises a sampled current.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the state comprises a sampled peak value.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the state comprises a sampled average value.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a stimuli from downhole near the equipment to produce the indication at the surface.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the equipment comprises an actuator.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the equipment comprises a sensor.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the equipment comprises a controller.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the equipment comprises a telemetry system.

18. A system comprising:

equipment located downhole in a subterranean well;

a communication link adapted to furnish an indication of a state of the equipment to a surface of the well;

a circuit located downhole and adapted to detect the state and produce the indication; and

a machine adapted to;

provide a model describing behavior of the equipment; and

modify the model based on the indication.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the machine is adapted to modify the model based on data input by a user, the data indicating the state.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the machine is adapted to automatically modify the model based on the indication furnished by the communication link.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the machine comprises a computer system.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the machine is located near the surface of the well.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the equipment comprises an actuator.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the equipment comprises a sensor.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the equipment comprises a controller.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the equipment comprises a telemetry system.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the machine is further adapted to display a performance of the equipment based on the model.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the machine is further adapted to display a plot of a characteristic of the equipment based on the model.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the machine is further adapted to take corrective action based on a performance of the equipment projected by the model.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein the circuit comprises a peak detector.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the circuit comprises an averaging circuit.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein the circuit comprises a sample and hold circuit.