Dual magnetic sensor actuation assembly

• US 9,284,817 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Walton, Zachary W., Howell, Matthew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harcourt, Brad
• Application Number:
  US13/828,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20140262234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/102 with means for locking the closing element in open or closed position E21B34/105 and E21B34/108 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/103 with a shear pin
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/142 unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons

Abstract

A well tool comprising a housing comprising ports and defining a flow passage, an actuator, a dual magnetic sensor actuation assembly (DMSAA) in signal communication with the actuator and comprising a first magnetic sensor up-hole relative to a second magnetic sensor, and an electronic circuit comprising a counter, and wherein, the DMSAA detects a magnetic signal and determines the direction of movement of the magnetic device emitting the magnetic signal, and a sleeve slidable within the housing and transitional from a first position in which the sleeve prevents fluid communication via the ports to a second position in which the sleeve allows fluid communication via the ports, wherein, the sleeve transitions from the first to the second position upon recognition of a predetermined quantity of magnetic signals traveling in a particular direction.

Claims

1. A wellbore servicing system comprising:

a tubular string disposed within a wellbore; and

a first well tool incorporated with the tubular string and comprising;

a housing comprising one or more ports and generally defining a flow passage;

an actuator disposed within the housing;

a dual magnetic sensor actuation assembly (DMSAA) disposed within the housing and in signal communication with the actuator and comprising

a first magnetic sensor positioned up-hole relative to a second magnetic sensor; and

an electronic circuit comprising a counter; and

wherein, the DMSAA is configured to detect a magnetic signal and to determine the direction of movement of a magnetic device emitting the magnetic signal; and

a sleeve slidably positioned within the housing and transitional from a first position to a second position;

wherein, when the sleeve is in the first position, the sleeve is configured to prevent a route of fluid communication via the one or more ports of the housing and, when the sleeve is in the second position, the sleeve is configured to allow fluid communication via the one or more ports of the housing,

wherein, the sleeve is allowed to transition from the first position to the second position upon actuation of the actuator, and

wherein the actuator actuated upon recognition of a predetermined quantity of magnetic signals traveling in a particular flow direction.

2. The wellbore servicing system of claim 1, wherein the DMSAA is configured to determine the direction of movement of the magnetic device emitting the magnetic signal based upon a first signal received from the first magnetic sensor and a second signal received from the second sensor.

3. The wellbore servicing system of claim 2, wherein, upon receipt of the first signal prior to receipt of the second signal, the DMSAA determines that the movement of the magnetic device is downward, and wherein, upon receipt of the second signal prior to receipt of the first signal, the DMSAA determines that the movement of the magnetic device is upward.

4. The wellbore servicing system of claim 3, wherein the DMSAA is configured to increment the counter in response to a determination that the movement of the magnetic device is downward, and wherein the DMSAA is configured to decrement the counter in response to a determination that the movement of the magnetic device is downward.

5. The wellbore servicing system of claim 4, wherein the DMSAA sends an actuating signal upon the counter reaching the predetermined quantity.

6. The wellbore servicing system of claim 3, wherein the DMSAA is configured to enter an active mode, to enter a low-power consumption mode, or combinations thereof based upon the direction of movement of the magnetic device.

7. The wellbore servicing system of claim 6, wherein the DMSAA is configured to enter the active mode in response to a determination that the movement of the magnetic device is downward.

8. The wellbore servicing system of claim 6, wherein the DMSAA is configured to enter the low-power consumption mode in response to a determination that the movement of the magnetic device is upward.

9. The wellbore servicing system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic signal comprises a generic magnetic signal.

10. The wellbore servicing system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic signal comprises a predetermined magnetic signal.

11. The wellbore servicing system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined magnetic signal is particularly associated with one or more well tools including the first well tool.

12. The wellbore servicing system of claim 11, wherein the DMSAA is configured to recognize the predetermined magnetic signal.

13. A wellbore servicing tool comprising:

a housing comprising one or more ports and generally defining a flow passage;

a first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor disposed within the housing, wherein the first magnetic sensor is positioned up-hole of the second magnetic sensor;

an electronic circuit coupled to the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor; and

a memory coupled to the electronic circuit, wherein the memory comprises instructions that cause the electronic circuit to;

detect a magnetic device within the housing;

determine the flow direction of the magnetic device through the housing; and

adjust a counter in response to the detection of the magnetic device and the determination of the flow direction of the magnetic device through the housing.

14. The wellbore servicing tool of claim 13, wherein detecting one or more magnetic devices comprises the first magnetic sensor or the second magnetic sensor experiencing the one or more magnetic signals.

15. The wellbore servicing method of claim 13, wherein determining the flow direction of the magnetic device is based on the order of which the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor detect the magnetic device.

16. The wellbore servicing method of claim 15, wherein a magnetic device traveling in a first flow direction is detected by the first magnetic sensor followed by the second magnetic sensor and a magnetic device traveling in a second flow direction is detected by the second magnetic sensor followed by the first magnetic sensor.

17. A wellbore servicing method comprising:

positioning a tubular string comprising a well tool comprising a dual magnetic sensor actuation assembly (DMSAA) within a wellbore, wherein the well tool is configured to disallow a route of fluid communication between the exterior of the well tool and an axial flowbore of the well tool;

introducing one or more magnetic devices to the axial flowbore of the well tool, wherein each of the magnetic devices transmits a magnetic signal;

detecting the one or more magnetic devices;

determining the flow direction of the one or more magnetic devices;

adjusting a magnetic device counter in response to the detection and the flow direction of the magnetic devices;

actuating the well tool in recognition of a predetermined quantity of predetermined magnetic signals traveling in a particular flow direction, wherein the well tool is reconfigured to allow a route of fluid communication between the exterior of the well tool and the axial flowbore of the well tool.

18. The wellbore servicing method of claim 17, wherein the DMSAA comprises a first magnetic sensor positioned up-hole of a second magnetic sensor.

19. The wellbore servicing method of claim 17, wherein detecting one or more magnetic devices comprises the first magnetic sensor or the second magnetic sensor experiencing the one or more magnetic signal.

20. The wellbore servicing method of claim 19, wherein determining the flow direction of the magnetic device is based on the order of which the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor detect the magnetic device.

21. The wellbore servicing method of claim 20, wherein a magnetic device traveling in a first flow direction is detected by the first magnetic sensor followed by the second magnetic sensor and a magnetic device traveling in a second flow direction is detected by the second magnetic sensor followed by the first magnetic sensor.