Method and apparatus for determining position in a pipe

• US 6,759,968 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Marathon Oil Company (Marathon Oil Corporation)
• Inventors: Zierolf, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US10/032,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20020093431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 340/854.8, 340/825.72, 340/572.7, 340/572.1, 340/539.1, 166/254.2, 166/255.1, 166/250.01, 166/250.11, 731/520.3, 342/42
• US Class Current: 340/854.8
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/006 Accessories for drilling pipes, e.g. cleaners wear protectors E21B17/10; handling drilling pipes E21B19/00; thread protectors B65D59/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/092 by detecting magnetic anomalies
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/30 operating with electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining position in a pipe provides for the precise determination of location and associated characteristics of each pipe joint of a well, cross country pipeline or other fluid transmission line. The system includes a passive or active radio identification device at each joint in the pipe or casing string. The devices are preferably sealed within the resilient seal positioned between each pipe or casing joint. A pipeline tool includes a radio transmitter and receiver, with the transmitter transmitting on a frequency selected for resonating the identification devices. The resonant response of each device is detected by a receiver in the pipeline tool, with the response transmitted to the surface via the wireline to which the tool is connected. Alternatively, the tool may include storage information means until the tool can be recovered from the well or pipe. An information storage and retrieval system includes information on the location of each of the identification devices in the well or pipe, e.g., length or depth, pipe or casing diameter, previously logged geological characteristics and stratum at each identification device location, etc. The system may count each device as the tool passes through the pipe in order to determine the location of the tool at any point. Alternatively, each identification device may provide a distinct signal, with the tool transmitting the signal to the surface (or storing the signal for later retrieval) where the system correlates the signal with previously logged information for that specific location.

Claims

1. A method for identification in a fluid transmission line comprising:

moving a tool having a radio frequency receiver through a fluid transmission line in proximity to at least one radio frequency identification device installed within said fluid transmission line so as to receive a signal transmitted from each of said at least one radio frequency identification device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the precise location of said tool in said fluid transmission line based upon said signal.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

performing an operation using said tool upon receipt of said signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is an active device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is a passive device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid transmission line is constructed of joints of pipe and each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed between adjacent joints of said pipe.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid transmission line is a pipeline.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid transmission line is a subterranean well.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said fluid transmission line is casing which is positioned in said subterranean well.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said subterranean well is generally vertical.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said tool has a recording device, the method further comprising:

recording information by said recording device while moving said tool through the fluid transmission line.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

downloading said information from said recording device upon recovery of said tool.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of radio frequency identification devices are installed within said fluid transmission line.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of radio frequency identification devices transmits a unique signal.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said tool has a radio frequency transmitter.

16. A method of determining the location of at least one anomaly in a fluid transmission line comprising:

moving a tool having a radio frequency receiver through a fluid transmission line in proximity to at least one radio frequency identification device installed within said fluid transmission line so as to receive a signal transmitted from each of said at least one radio frequency receiver; and

recording information concerning anomalies in said fluid transmission line and said signal from each of said at least one radio frequency identification device by means of a data recording device so as to determine the precise location of at least one anomaly in said fluid transmission line.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

downloading said information from said data recording device upon recovery of said tool.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification devices transmits a unique signal.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is an active device.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is a passive device.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein said fluid transmission line is constructed of joints of pipe and each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed between adjacent joints of said pipe.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein said fluid transmission line has a generally horizontal orientation.

23. A method for performing an operation in a subterranean well comprising:

moving a tool having a radio frequency receiver through a subterranean well in proximity to at least one radio frequency identification device installed within said subterranean well so as to receive a signal transmitted from each of said at least one radio frequency identification device.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

determining the precise location of said tool in said subterranean well based upon said signal.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

performing an operation using said tool upon receipt of a predetermined one of said signal.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein said subterranean well is provided with casing and said step of moving comprises moving said tool through said casing.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said tool is a perforating gun, said method further comprising:

perforating said casing upon receipt of a predetermined one of said signal.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein said predetermined signal corresponds to a known depth of one of said at least one radio frequency identification devices.

29. The method of claim 23 said predetermined signal corresponds to a geologic formation.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of moving comprises:

moving a wireline to which said tool is secured through said well.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said wireline functions to provide electrical power and communication between said tool and the surface.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of moving comprises:

moving a slick line to which said tool is secured through said well.

33. The method of claim 23 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is an active device.

34. The method of claim 23 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is a passive device.

35. The method of claim 26 wherein said casing is constructed of joints of casing.

36. The method of claim 25 wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed between adjacent joints of said casing.

37. The method of claim 23 wherein said subterranean well is generally vertical.

38. The method of claim 23 wherein said tool has a recording device, the method further comprising:

recording information by said recording device while moving said tool through said subterranean well.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising:

downloading said information from said recording device upon recovery of said tool.

40. The method of claim 23 wherein a plurality of radio frequency identification devices are installed within said subterranean well.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein each of said plurality of radio frequency identification devices transmits a unique signal.