Method of utilizing flowable devices in wellbores
First Claim
1. A method of utilizing discrete devices in a wellbore wherein a working fluid provides a fluid flow path for moving said discrete devices from a first location of introduction of said devices into the flow path to a second location of interest, said method comprising:
- (a) selecting at least one flowable discrete device constituting a data carrier that is adapted to be moved in the weilbore at least in part by the working fluid;
(b) introducing the at least one flowable discrete device into the fluid flow path at the first location to cause the working fluid to move the at least one flowable device to the second location of interest; and
(c) providing a data exchange device in the fluid flow path for effecting two-way data exchange with the at least one flowable discrete device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to flowable devices and methods of utilizing such flowable devices in wellbores to provide communicate between surface and downhole instruments, among downhole devices, establish a communication network in the wellbore, act as sensors, and act as power transfer devices. The flowable devices are adapted to move with a fluid flowing in the wellbore. The flowable device may be memory device or a device that can provide a measure of a parameter of interest or act as a power transfer device. The flowable devices are introduced into the flow of a fluid flowing in the wellbore. The fluid moves the device in the wellbore. If the device is a data exchange device, it may be channeled in a manner that enables a device in the wellbore to interact with the memory device, which may include retrieving information from the flowable device and/or recording information on the flowable device. The sensor in a flowable device can take a variety of measurement(s) in the wellbore. The flowable devices return to the surface with the returning fluid.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method of utilizing discrete devices in a wellbore wherein a working fluid provides a fluid flow path for moving said discrete devices from a first location of introduction of said devices into the flow path to a second location of interest, said method comprising:
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(a) selecting at least one flowable discrete device constituting a data carrier that is adapted to be moved in the weilbore at least in part by the working fluid;
(b) introducing the at least one flowable discrete device into the fluid flow path at the first location to cause the working fluid to move the at least one flowable device to the second location of interest; and
(c) providing a data exchange device in the fluid flow path for effecting two-way data exchange with the at least one flowable discrete device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
(iv) vibration resistant;
(v) impact resistant;
(vi) resistant to electromagnetic radiation;
(vii) resistant to electrical noise; and
(viii) resistant to nuclear fields.
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9. The method of claim 1, wherein said introducing the at least one flowable device into the working fluid further comprises delivering the at least one flowable device to the working fluid by one of (i) an isolated flow path;
- (ii) a chemical injection line;
(iii) a tubing in a wellbore;
(iv) a hydraulic line reaching the second location of interest and returning to the surface;
(v) through a drill string carrying chilling fluid;
(vi) through an annulus between a drill string and the wellbore;
(vii) through a tubing disposed outside a drill string; and
(viii) in a container that is adapted to release said at least one flowable device in the wellbore.
- (ii) a chemical injection line;
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10. The method of claim 1 further comprising recovering said at least one flowable device.
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11. The method of claim 1, wherein said introducing the at least one flowable device includes introducing a plurality of flowable devices each such flowable device adapted to perform at least one task.
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12. The method of claim 11, wherein said introducing of a plurality of flowable devices comprises one of (i) timed release;
- (ii) time independent release;
(iii) on demand release; and
(iv) event initiated release.
- (ii) time independent release;
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13. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a unique address (identification) to the at least one-flowable device.
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14. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing the data communication to exchange data with the at least one flowable device and to transmit a signal confirming said data exchange.
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15. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting said at least one flowable device comprises selecting the at least one flowable device that includes a sensor that is one of (i) mechanical (ii) electrical;
- (iii) chemical;
(iv) nuclear; and
(v) biological.
- (iii) chemical;
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16. The method of claim 1 further comprising implanting a plurality of spaced apart flowable devices in said wellbore during drilling of said wellbore.
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17. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting at least one flowable device comprises selecting a device that comprises:
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(i) a sensor for providing a measurement representative of a parameter of interest;
(ii) a memory for storing data relating at least in part to the parameter of interest;
(iii) a source of power for supplying power to a component of said flowable device; and
(iv) a controller for determining data to be carried by said memory.
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18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising providing a transmitter for the at least one flowable device for effecting data exchange with the flowable device.
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19. The method of claim 18, wherein effecting the data exchange comprises communicating with said at least one flowable device by a method selected from a group consisting of:
- A. electromagnetic radiation;
B. optical signals; and
C. acoustic signals.
- A. electromagnetic radiation;
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20. The method of claim 1 wherein further comprising using the data exchange device for communicating with a device in at least one other wellbore.
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21. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one other wellbore is a lateral wellbore from said wellbore.
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22. The method of claim 20 further comprising operating a device in said at least one other wellbore in response to the received communication.
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23. A wellbore system utilizing at least one flowable device in a wellbore constituting a data carrier that is adapted to be moved by a fluid flowing in the wellbore comprising:
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(a) a forward fluid flow path associated with the wellbore for moving the at least one flowable device from a first location of introduction of the at least one flowable device into the forward fluid path to a second location of interest;
(b) a data exchange device at the second location of interest for effecting two-way data exchange with the at least one flowable device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of utilizing flowable devices in a wellbore wherein a working fluid provides a fluid flow path for moving said flowable devices from a first location of introduction of said devices into the flow path to a second location of interest, said method comprising:
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(a) selecting at least one flowable device constituting a data carrier that is adapted to be moved in the wellbore at least in part by the working fluid, said at least one flowable device having a unique address (identification) identifying said flowable device and independent of a position of said at least one flowable device in the wellbore;
(b) introducing the at least one flowable device into the fluid flow path at the first location to cause the working fluid to move the at least one flowable device to the second location of interest; and
(c) providing a data exchange device in the fluid flow path for effecting data exchange with the at least one flowable device. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A wellbore system utilizing at least one flowable device having a unique address (identification) in a wellbore constituting a data carrier that is adapted to be moved by a fluid flowing in the wellbore comprising:
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(a) a forward fluid flow path associated with the wellbore for moving the at least one flowable device from a first location of introduction of the at least one flowable device into the forward fluid path to a second location of interest;
(b) a data exchange device at the second location of interest for effecting data exchange with the at least one flowable device that is one of (i) retrieving information carried by the at least one flowable device;
or (ii) inducing selected information on the at least one flowable devicewherein said address of the flowable device is unique to the device and is independent of its position in the wellbore. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for utilizing flowable devices in a wellbore, the method comprising:
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(a) providing at least one flowable device into a drilling tubular in the wellbore;
(b) providing a data exchange device at a downhole location for providing data exchange with the at least one flowable device; and
(c) using a drilling fluid in the drilling tubular for flowing said at least one flowable device to a downhole location and performing a function selected from (i) providing information to a downhole controller, and, (ii) retrieving information from a downhole device. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification