Downhole tool position sensing system
First Claim
1. A downhole tool including:
- a mandrel;
an inner sleeve to surround at least a portion of the mandrel, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the inner sleeve;
an outer housing to surround at least a portion of the inner sleeve, the mandrel and inner sleeve being rotatable relative to the outer housing;
the outer circumference of the inner sleeve including more than one selected position organized into more than one set arranged in spaced-apart radial planes of the inner sleeve;
at least two of the selected positions including magnets;
a magnetic sensor corresponding to each set to sense at least one of the amplitude and polarity of the magnetic field for the selected positions and to transmit a signal indicative of the sensed magnetic field; and
an electronics system to process the sensor signal to determine a magnet reference position of the inner sleeve relative to the outer housing.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A downhole tool includes a mandrel, an inner sleeve, and an outer housing. The inner sleeve being rotatable relative to the outer housing and the mandrel being rotatable relative to the inner sleeve and the outer housings. The outer surface of the inner sleeve includes more than one selected position organized in at least one set. At least two of the selected positions include magnets. The downhole tool also includes at least one magnetic sensor to sense at least one of the amplitude and polarity of the magnetic field for the selected positions and to transmit a signal indicative of the sensed magnetic field. The downhole tool also includes an electronics system to process the sensor signal to determine a magnet reference position of the inner sleeve relative to the outer housing.
36 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A downhole tool including:
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a mandrel; an inner sleeve to surround at least a portion of the mandrel, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the inner sleeve; an outer housing to surround at least a portion of the inner sleeve, the mandrel and inner sleeve being rotatable relative to the outer housing; the outer circumference of the inner sleeve including more than one selected position organized into more than one set arranged in spaced-apart radial planes of the inner sleeve; at least two of the selected positions including magnets; a magnetic sensor corresponding to each set to sense at least one of the amplitude and polarity of the magnetic field for the selected positions and to transmit a signal indicative of the sensed magnetic field; and an electronics system to process the sensor signal to determine a magnet reference position of the inner sleeve relative to the outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of sensing the position of a downhole tool including:
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providing a mandrel; surrounding at least a portion of the mandrel with an inner sleeve, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the inner sleeve and the outer circumference of the inner sleeve including more than one selected position organized in more than one set arranged in spaced-apart radial planes of the inner sleeve; surrounding at least a portion of the inner sleeve with an outer housing, the mandrel and inner sleeve being rotatable relative to the outer housing; placing magnets in at least two of the selected positions; sensing at least one of the amplitude and polarity of the magnetic field for the selected positions with a magnetic sensor corresponding to each set; transmitting a signal indicative of the sensed magnetic field to an electronics system; and processing the sensor signal to determine a magnet reference position of the inner sleeve relative to the outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A drilling system including:
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a drill string; a drill bit associated with the drill string; and a downhole tool on the drill string including; a mandrel; an inner sleeve to surround at least a portion of the mandrel, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the inner sleeve; an outer housing to surround at least a portion of the inner sleeve, the mandrel and inner sleeve being rotatable relative to the outer housing; the outer circumference of the inner sleeve including more than one selected position organized into more than one set arranged in spaced-apart radial planes of the inner sleeve; at least two of the selected positions including magnets; a magnetic sensor corresponding to each set to sense at least one of the amplitude and polarity of the magnetic field for the selected positions and to transmit a signal indicative of the sensed magnetic field; and an electronics system to process the sensor signal to determine a magnet reference position of the inner sleeve relative to the outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification