System and method for remotely controlling logging equipment in drilled holes

• US 7,305,305 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Beeson, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr.; Donald E
• Application Number:
  US11/290,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20060143234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 702/6, 702/7, 702/9
• US Class Current: 702/6
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B

Abstract

A system and a method for remotely controlling logging equipment in drilled holes are provided. The method includes inputting a first command associated with either a logging tool or a hoist device coupled to the logging tool utilizing an input device operably coupled to a first computer. The first computer is located at a position remote from the logging tool. The method further includes transmitting a first communication signal having the first command from the first computer to a second computer. The method further includes controlling operation of either the logging tool or the hoist device based on the first command utilizing the second computer.

Claims

1. A method for remotely controlling logging equipment in a drilled hole, comprising:

specifying a first command associated with a hoist device coupled to a logging tool utilizing an input device operably coupled to a first computer, the first computer being located at a position remote from the logging tool;

transmitting a first communication signal having the first command from the first computer to a second computer; and

controlling operation of the hoist device based on the first command utilizing the second computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first command is further associated with the logging tool and wherein controlling further comprises controlling operation of the logging tool.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first command comprises at least one of an instruction to measure a geological parameter, an instruction to actuate a device in the logging tool, an instruction for moving the logging tool from a first position, an instruction for applying power to the logging tool or to the hoist device, an instruction for removing power from the logging tool or from the hoist device, and an instruction for modifying measurement parameters utilized by the logging tool.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first communication signal comprises a wireless communication signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting the first communication signal, comprises:

inducing a first communication device operably communicating with the first computer to transmit the wireless communication signal having the first command;

receiving the wireless communication signal at a second communication device; and

sending the first command from the second communication device to the second computer.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving at least one measured parameter from the logging tool by the second computer; and

transmitting a second communication signal having the at least one measured parameter to the first computer and displaying the measured parameter on a display device operably coupled to the first computer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second communication signal comprises a wireless communication signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting the second communication signal comprises:

inducing a second communication device operably communicating with the second computer to transmit the wireless communication signal having the measured parameter;

receiving the wireless communication signal at a first communication device operably communicating with the first computer; and

sending the measured parameter from the first communication device to the first computer.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the measured parameter comprises at least one of a resistivity value, a density value, a porosity value, a natural gamma radiation value, a borehole image, an acoustic travel time value, a nuclear magnetic resonance value, a pressure value, a well production value, and a residual hydrocarbon saturation value.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

specifying a second command to initiate a diagnostic test for determining whether at least one of the second computer and the logging tool have degraded operational performance, utilizing the input device operably coupled to the first computer;

transmitting a second communication signal having the second command from the first computer to the second computer; and

performing the diagnostic test for determining whether at least one of the second computer and the logging tool have degraded operational performance, utilizing the second computer, the diagnostic test generating either a desired operational performance message or a degraded operational performance message.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting a third communication signal having either the desired operational performance message or the degraded operational performance message from the second computer to the first computer.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising

specifying a third command to modify an operational parameter associated with at least one of the second computer and the logging tool to improve operation of at least one of the second computer and the logging tool, utilizing the input device operably coupled to the first computer;

transmitting a fourth communication signal having the third command from the first computer to the second computer; and

modifying operation of at least one of the second computer and the logging tool based on the third command having the operational parameter.

13. A system for remotely controlling logging equipment in a drilled hole, comprising:

a first computer configured to allow an operator to specify a first command associated with a hoist device coupled to a logging tool, the first computer being located at a position remote from the logging tool;

a first communication device operably communicating with the first computer configured to transmit a first communication signal having the first command;

a second communication device configured to receive the first communication signal; and

a second computer operably communicating with the second communication device, the second computer configured to control operation of the hoist device based on the first command.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first computer is further configured to allow the operator to specify the first command to be further associated with the logging tool and wherein the second computer is further configured to control operation of the logging tool.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first command comprises at least one of an instruction to measure a geological parameter, an instruction to actuate a device in the logging tool, an instruction for moving the logging tool from a first position, an instruction for applying power to the logging tool or to the hoist device, an instruction for removing power from the logging tool or from the hoist device, and an instruction for modifying measurement parameters utilized by the logging tool.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first communication signal comprises a wireless communication signal.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the first computer is further configured to induce the first communication device to transmit the wireless communication signal having the first command, the second communication device further configured to receive the wireless communication signal, the second communication device further configured to send the first command to the second computer.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the second computer is further configured to receive at least one measured parameter from the logging tool, the second computer further configured to transmit a second communication signal having the measured parameter to the first computer, the first computer further configured to display the measured parameter on a display device operably coupled to the first computer.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second communication signal comprises a wireless communication signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the second computer is further configured to induce the second communication device to transmit the wireless communication signal having the measured parameter, the first communication device further configured to receive the wireless communication signal, the first communication device further configured to send the measured parameter to the first computer.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the measured parameter comprises at least one of a resistivity value, a density value, a porosity value, a natural gamma radiation value, a borehole image, an acoustic travel time value, a nuclear magnetic resonance value, a pressure value, a well production value, and a residual hydrocarbon saturation value.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the first computer is further configured to allow an operator to specify a second command to initiate a diagnostic test for determining whether at least one of the second computer and the logging tool has degraded operational performance, the first computer further configured to transmit a second communication signal having the second command to the second computer, the second computer further configured to perform the diagnostic test for determining whether at least one of the second computer and the logging tool has degraded operational performance, the diagnostic test generating either a desired operational performance message or a degraded operational performance message.