Apparatus and method for downhole well equipment and process management, identification, and operation
First Claim
1. A method for operating a downhole tool, the method comprising:
- moving an instrument through a wellbore, the instrument comprising a first non-acoustic transponder coupled thereto, the first non-acoustic transponder adapted to detect identification codes;
comparing an identification code detected from at least one second non-acoustic transponder by the first non-acoustic transponder to a reference code, the at least one second non-acoustic transponder attached to an emplaced structure in the wellbore, the comparing performed when the instrument moves proximate to the at least one second non-acoustic transponder;
determining an azimuthal orientation of the downhole tool based on the identification code; and
operating the downhole tool if the identification code matches the reference code.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for operating a downhole tool. The method includes moving an instrument through a wellbore, and the instrument includes a first non-acoustic transponder that is adapted to detect identification codes. An identification code detected from at least one second non-acoustic transponder is compared to a reference code. The at least one second non-acoustic transponder is attached to an emplaced structure in the wellbore, and the comparison is performed when the instrument moves by the at least one second non-acoustic transponder. The downhole tool is then operated if the identification code matches the reference code.
A downhole tool operation system including at least one first non-acoustic transponder emplaced in a wellbore and adapted to communicate an identification code. At least one second non-acoustic transponder is adapted to move through the wellbore, and the at least one second non-acoustic transponder is adapted to detect an identification code when moving by the at least one first non-acoustic transponder. A processor is coupled to the at least one second non-acoustic transponder and is adapted to compare the identification code to a reference code and operate the downhole tool if the identification code matches the reference code.
146 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for operating a downhole tool, the method comprising:
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moving an instrument through a wellbore, the instrument comprising a first non-acoustic transponder coupled thereto, the first non-acoustic transponder adapted to detect identification codes; comparing an identification code detected from at least one second non-acoustic transponder by the first non-acoustic transponder to a reference code, the at least one second non-acoustic transponder attached to an emplaced structure in the wellbore, the comparing performed when the instrument moves proximate to the at least one second non-acoustic transponder; determining an azimuthal orientation of the downhole tool based on the identification code; and operating the downhole tool if the identification code matches the reference code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating a downhole tool, the method comprising:
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moving an instrument through a wellbore, the instrument comprising a first non-acoustic transponder coupled thereto, the first non-acoustic transponder adapted to detect identification codes; comparing an identification code detected from at least one second non-acoustic transponder by the first non-acoustic transponder to a reference code, the at least one second non-acoustic transponder attached to an emplaced structure in the wellbore, the comparing performed when the instrument moves proximate to the at least one second non-acoustic transponder; operating the downhole tool if the identification code matches the reference code; displacing a movable member coupled to the emplaced structure between a first and second position so as to expose one of the at least one second non-acoustic transponders and a third non-acoustic transponder, the displacing covering the other of the second and third non-acoustic transponders; detecting an identification code communicated by the exposed one of the second non-acoustic transponder and the third non-acoustic transponder to the first non-acoustic transponder; and determining from the detected identification code if the movable member is in the first or second position.
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13. A method for operating a downhole tool, the method comprising:
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moving an instrument through a wellbore, the instrument comprising a first non-acoustic transponder coupled thereto, the first non-acoustic transponder adapted to detect identification codes; comparing an identification code detected from at least one second non-acoustic transponder by the first non-acoustic transponder to a reference code, the at least one second non-acoustic transponder attached to an emplaced structure in the wellbore, the comparing performed when the instrument moves proximate to the at least one second non-acoustic transponder; operating the downhole tool if the identification code matches the reference code; displacing a movable member coupled to the instrument between a first and second position so as to expose one of the first non-acoustic transponder and a third non-acoustic transponder, the displacing covering the other of the first and third non-acoustic transponders; detecting an identification code communicated by the exposed one of the first non-acoustic transponder and the third non-acoustic transponder to the at least one second non-acoustic transponder; and determining from the detected identification code if the movable member is in the first or second position.
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14. A method of operating a perforating gun in a wellbore, the method comprising:
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moving a perforating gun through a wellbore, the perforating gun comprising a first non-acoustic transponder coupled thereto, the first non-acoustic transponder adapted to detect an identification code; comparing an identification code detected from at least one second non-acoustic transponder by the first transponder to a reference code, the at least one second non-acoustic transponder attached to an emplaced structure in the wellbore, the comparing performed when the first non-acoustic transponder is proximate the at least one second non-acoustic transponder; and firing the perforating gun if the identification code matches the reference codes, wherein the identification code corresponds to an azimuthal orientation of the at least one second non-acoustic transponder in the wellbore. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A downhole tool operation system comprising:
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at least one first non-acoustic transponder emplaced in a wellbore and adapted to communicate an identification code; at least one second non-acoustic transponder adapted to move through the wellbore, the at least one second non-acoustic transponder adapted to detect an identification code when proximate the at least one first non-acoustic transponder; and a processor operatively coupled to the at least one second non-acoustic transponder and adapted to compare the identification code to a reference code and operate the downhole tool if the identification code matches the reference code, wherein the identification code corresponds to an azimuthal orientation of the at least one first non-acoustic transponder in the wellbore. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification