Apparatus and method for propelling a data sensing apparatus into a subsurface formation

• US 6,467,387 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Longfield, Colin, Espinosa, Frank, Ciglenec, Reinhart
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buckley, Denise J.
• Application Number:
  US09/681,135
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 175/4.58, 175/4.59, 89/11.5, 102/326, 102/327, 102/328, 340/856.2
• US Class Current: 89/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/116 Gun or shaped-charge perforators
• 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 49/00 Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for deploying a data sensing apparatus into a subsurface geologic formation for intermittent or continuously gathering data from the subsurface formation and transmitting the data to a remote data receiver. In a preferred embodiment, a non-linear arrangement of a barrel and a burn chamber is used to provide a gun-like device for firing a bullet-shaped data sensing apparatus into a formation of interest. The data sensing apparatus, once disposed within the matrix of the formation of interest, monitors formation conditions and transmits the data for use in optimizing drilling and production activities.

Claims

1. An apparatus for deploying a data sensing apparatus into a subsurface geologic formation comprising:

a barrel adapted for receiving the data sensing apparatus;

a burn chamber adapted for receiving a propellant material;

a barrier disposed to provide selective fluid communication between the barrel and the burn chamber;

an igniter in communication with the burn chamber for igniting the propellant whereby pressure is created to activate the barrier and deploy the data sensing apparatus into the subsurface formation for communication therewith; and

a pressure relief valve for relieving pressure from within the burn chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a projectile disposed in the barrel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the projectile is a data sensing apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the barrier is a rupture disk that isolates the burn chamber from the barrel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the rupture disk is designed to rupture upon the propellant achieving a predetermined gas pressure in the burn chamber thereby providing fluid communication between the burn chamber and the barrel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the barrel has an outlet and a sacrificial seal secured over the outlet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the igniter is disposed at an opposite end of the burn chamber from the rupture disk.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is positioned in a tool having a mud channel extending through the tool.

9. A method of deploying a data sensing apparatus into a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising the steps of:

loading the data sensing apparatus into the barrel of a deployment apparatus;

loading a propellant into a burn chamber of the deployment apparatus, the burn chamber being in selective communication with the barrel;

lowering the deployment apparatus into the wellbore adjacent a subsurface formation of interest;

igniting the propellant within the burn chamber while fluidly isolating the burn chamber from the barrel; and

communicating the pressure of the ignited propellant within the burn chamber to the barrel when the pressure reaches a predetermined magnitude, whereby the data sensing apparatus is deployed from the barrel into the subsurface formation for communication therewith, the deployment apparatus including a pressure relief valve for relieving pressure developed within the burn chamber in case the pressure of the ignited propellant within the burn chamber is not communicated to the barrel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data sensing apparatus is a bullet-shaped projectile.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the burn chamber is fluidly isolated from the barrel by a barrier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the barrier is a rupture disk.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the rupture disk is designed to rupture upon the propellant achieving a predetermined gas pressure in the burn chamber thereby providing fluid communication between the burn chamber and the barrel.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the barrel has an outlet and a sacrificial seal secured over the outlet.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the data sensing apparatus pierces the sacrificial seal as it is forcibly deployed from the barrel.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein an igniter is disposed at an opposite end of the burn chamber from the rupture disk to ignite the propellant in the burn chamber.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the deployment apparatus is a wireline tool and is lowered into the wellbore via a wireline.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the deployment apparatus is lowered into the wellbore via a drill string.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the deployment apparatus is a drill collar.

20. An apparatus for deploying a data sensing apparatus into a subsurface formation, comprising:

a barrel adapted for receiving the data sensing apparatus;

a burn chamber adapted for receiving a propellant material and connected to the barrel at an interface;

a barrier positioned at the interface to provide selective fluid communication between the barrel and the burn chamber;

an igniter placed in communication with the burn chamber, whereby ignition of the propellant by the igniter causes gas expansion within the burn chamber which penetrates the barrier and deploys the data sensing apparatus from the barrel into the subterranean formation for communication therewith; and

a relief valve for relieving the pressure within the burn chamber should the gas expansion not produce sufficient pressure to penetrate the barrier.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the barrel has an open end for deploying the data sensing apparatus therethrough, and further comprising a sealing member positioned to seal the open end of the barrel to prevent the ingress of drilling fluid into the barrel when the apparatus is disposed in a drill string.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sealing member comprises a ceramic material, permitting the sealing member to shatter when the data sensing apparatus is deployed.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sealing member comprises a metallic material, permitting the sealing member to tear open when the data sensing apparatus is deployed.

24. An apparatus for deploying a data sensing apparatus into a subsurface geologic formation comprising:

a barrel adapted for receiving the data sensing apparatus, the barrel having an open end for deploying the data sensing apparatus therethrough;

a burn chamber adapted for receiving a propellant material;

a barrier disposed to provide selective fluid communication between the barrel and the burn chamber;

an igniter in communication with the burn chamber; and

a sealing member positioned to seal the open end of the barrel to prevent the ingress of drilling fluid into the barrel when the apparatus is disposed in a drill string, the sealing member comprising a ceramic material, permitting the scaling member to shatter when the data sensing apparatus is deployed.

25. An apparatus for deploying a data sensing apparatus into a subsurface formation, comprising:

a barrel adapted for receiving the data sensing apparatus, the barrel having an open end for deploying the data sensing apparatus therethrough;

a burn chamber adapted for receiving a propellant material and connected to the barrel at an interface;

a barrier positioned at the interface to provide selective fluid communication between the barrel and the burn chamber; and

an igniter placed in communication with the burn chamber, whereby ignition of the propellant by the igniter causes gas expansion within the burn chamber which penetrates the barrier and deploys the data sensing apparatus from the barrel into the subterranean formation for communication therewith; and

a scaling member positioned to seal the open end of the barrel to prevent the ingress of drilling fluid into the barrel when the apparatus is disposed in a drill string, the sealing member comprising a ceramic material, permitting the scaling member to shatter when the data sensing apparatus is deployed.