Downhole apparatus

• US 9,885,218 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Total E&P Danmark AS (Totalenergies Se)
• Original Assignee: Maersk Olie og Gas A/S (Totalenergies Se)
• Inventors: Heijnen, Wilhelmus Hubertus Paulus Maria, Peters, Robert Bouke
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US13/505,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20120313790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,659 Days
• Field of Search: 3408533, 3408544, 3408554, 3408562, 166382, 166212, 1662415
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/001 Self-propelling systems or apparatus, e.g. for moving tools within the horizontal portion of a borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/14 for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/18 Anchoring or feeding in the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency

Abstract

An apparatus (100) for operation in a tubular channel (199), the apparatus comprising a first part and a second part connected to the first part, wherein the second part comprises a first electronic device adapted to generate a data signal and a first communications device for wirelessly transmitting the generated data signal via a wireless communications channel, wherein the first part comprises a second communications device for wirelessly receiving the transmitted data signal via said radio-frequency communications channel.

Claims

1. A downhole apparatus configured to move through a well in rock for operation in a in a drilled bore, the downhole apparatus being configured to be installed temporarily or permanently in the drilled bore, the apparatus comprising:

a first part; and

a second part connected to the first part,

wherein the second part comprises a first electronic device configured to generate a data signal and a first communications device for wirelessly transmitting the generated data signal via a wireless short-range radio-frequency communications channel,

wherein the first part comprises a second communications device for wirelessly receiving the transmitted data signal via said wireless short-range radio-frequency communications channel,

wherein the first and second communications devices in use are configured to communicate with each other via the short-range radio-frequency communications channel,

wherein the wireless communications channel operates in a 2.4 GHz radio communication spectrum,

wherein the first part comprises a reservoir comprising a fluid and sealed from a pressure chamber comprising a fluid and a piston dividing the pressure chamber into a first and a second piston pressure chamber fluidly coupled via a pump;

wherein the second part is attached to the first part via a hollow tubular member extending from the reservoir through the pressure chamber; and

wherein the hollow tubular member is attached to the piston such that translation of the piston via a pressure difference between the first and a second piston pressure chamber established by the pump results in translation of the hollow tubular member and the second part.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data signal is a sensor signal, and wherein the first electronic device is a sensor for generating the sensor signal indicative of a measured property.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first part further comprises a second electronic device configured to process the received data signal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second electronic device is a control unit for generating a control signal for controlling a controllable function of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the controllable function includes a relative movement of the second part relative to the first part.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the controllable function is a controllable function of the second part, wherein the second communications device is further configured to wirelessly transmit the control signal, wherein the first communications device is further configured to receive the transmitted control signal, and wherein the second part comprises a control unit for controlling the controllable function of the second part.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second parts include respective metallic housings and wherein the first and second communications devices are arranged inside the respective metallic housings.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second communications devices are configured to communicate with each other via a direct radio-frequency communications link or a communications link only including one or more relay communications devices comprised in the apparatus.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second communications devices are configured to communicate with each other via a radio-frequency communications channel using a protocol according to the IEEE 802.11 or IEEE 802.15 standard.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second part is movably connected to the first part.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a tractor configured to move along the tubular channel.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first part comprises a reservoir comprising a fluid and sealed from a pressure chamber comprising a fluid and a piston dividing the pressure chamber into a first and a second piston pressure chamber fluidly coupled via a pump;

wherein the second part is attached to the first part via a hollow tubular member extending from the reservoir through the pressure chamber;

wherein the hollow tubular member is attached to the piston such that translation of the piston via a pressure difference between the first and a second piston pressure chamber established by the pump results in translation of the hollow tubular member and the second part;

wherein a first gripping means is attached to the first part and a second gripping means is attached to the second part and the two gripping means are fluidly connected via the pump;

wherein a first of the two gripping means comprises a fluid;

wherein the pump is configured to inflate a second of the gripping means by pumping the fluid from the first of the two gripping means to the second of the two gripping means; and

wherein the gripping means comprises a flexible member contained in a woven member, wherein the flexible member provides fluid-tightness and the woven member provides the shape of the gripping means.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein inflation of the second gripping means attached to the second part is performable by pumping the fluid from the first gripping means via the reservoir and the hollow tubular member to the second gripping means.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising two gripping means fluidly connected via a pump;

wherein a first of the two gripping means comprises a fluid;

wherein the first gripping means are attached to the first part, and the second gripping means are attached to the second part;

wherein the pump is configured to inflate a second one of the gripping means by pumping the fluid from the first of the two gripping means to the second of the two gripping means; and

wherein the gripping means comprises a flexible member contained in a woven member, wherein the flexible member provides fluid-tightness and the woven member provides the shape of the gripping means.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first part comprises a reservoir comprising a fluid and sealed from a pressure chamber comprising a fluid and a piston dividing the pressure chamber into a first and a second piston pressure chamber fluidly coupled via a pump;

wherein the second part is attached to the first part via a hollow tubular member extending from the reservoir through the pressure chamber; and

wherein the hollow tubular member is attached to the piston such that translation of the piston via a pressure difference between the first and a second piston pressure chamber established by the pump results in translation of the hollow tubular member and the second part.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein inflation of the second gripping means attached to the second part is performed by pumping the fluid from the first gripping means via the reservoir and the hollow tubular member to the second gripping means.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus further comprises a pressure relief valve fluidly coupled to the pump to determine a maximal pressure pumped into the gripping means.

18. The Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising, a first gripping means attached to the first part and a second gripping part attached to the second part and wherein the two gripping means are fluidly coupled via the pump;

wherein a first of the two gripping means comprises a fluid;

wherein the pump is configured to inflate a second of the gripping means by pumping the fluid from the first of the two gripping means to the second of the two gripping means; and

wherein the gripping means comprises a flexible member contained in a woven member, wherein the flexible member provides fluid-tightness and the woven member provides the shape of the gripping means.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein inflation of the second gripping means attached to the second part is performed by pumping the fluid from the first gripping means via the reservoir and the hollow tubular member to the second gripping means.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus further comprises a pressure relief valve fluidly coupled to the pump to determine a maximal pressure pumped into the gripping means.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one sensor communicatively coupled via the wireless communications channel to a control unit contained in the first part, and wherein the control unit is configured to generate a control signal for controlling the pump based on data from the at least one sensor.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the apparatus further comprises an acoustic modem communicatively coupled to the control unit such that the control unit is configured to transmit date received from the at least on sensor to a receiver at the entrance of the tubular channel.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one directional means comprising a lever attached at one end to an outer side of the apparatus and activated by an actuator attached at one end to the outer side of the apparatus and the other end to the lever.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a three-way valve, buoyancy means, pressure means, a vent line, at least one sensor and computation means;

wherein the three-way valve is configured to control the fluid flow between the pressure means and the buoyancy means and between the buoyancy means and the vent line;

wherein the computation means is communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to generate a control signal based on data received from the at least one sensor; and

wherein the pressure means is fluidly coupled to the buoyancy means via the three-way valve such that a fluid may flow from the pressure means to the buoyancy means or from the buoyancy means to the surroundings of the device via the vent line; and

wherein the computation means is communicatively coupled to the three-way valve and controls said three-way valve via the control signal;

wherein the computation means is communicatively coupled to at least one of the three-way valve and the at least one sensor via the wireless communications channel.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the buoyancy means are contained in a first part of the apparatus;

the pressure means are contained in a second part of the apparatus;

another buoyancy means are contained in a third part of the apparatus; and

wherein the first part and the third part connected via said second part and wherein the second part comprises of two hollow pieces joined via a ball joint.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein a first of the two hollow pieces comprises a spring and a bar, and wherein one end of the bar is connected to the ball joint and another end of the bar is connected to the spring, which spring is configured to keep the two hollow pieces of the second part in a straight line.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of flexible arms having one end connected to the circumference of the device and another end extending radially out from the apparatus at a radius larger than the radius of the apparatus and a maximal outer diameter determined by a texture stretched between the flexible arms.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the apparatus is configured to contract the other end of the plurality of flexible arms to a radius of approximately the radius of the apparatus when receiving a control signal from the computation means.

29. The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a plurality of nozzles fluidly coupled to the pressure means such that a pressure fluid from the pressure means may be ejected via at least one of the plurality of nozzles.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the computation means is configured to control the fluid coupling between the pressure means and the plurality of nozzles via the control signal.

31. The apparatus according to anyone of claim 24, further comprising communication means communicatively coupled to an external communication unit such as to transmit data from the at least one sensor to the external communication unit.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the communication means are further configured to receive the control signal from the external communication unit such as to control the device from the external communication unit.

33. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises inflatable and deflatable gripping means.

34. A method performed in a hydrocarbon well comprising:

providing a downhole apparatus, the downhole apparatus being configured to move through a well in rock for operation in a in a drilled bore, the downhole apparatus being configured to be installed temporarily or permanently in the drilled bore, the downhole apparatus comprising;

a first part; and

a second part connected to the first part,

wherein the second part comprises a first electronic device configured to generate a data signal and a first communications device for wirelessly transmitting the generated data signal via a wireless short-range radio-frequency communications channel,

wherein the first part comprises a second communications device for wirelessly receiving the transmitted data signal via said wireless short-range radio-frequency communications channel, and

wherein the first and second communications devices in use are configured to communicate with each other via the short-range radio-frequency communications channel,

wherein the wireless communications channel operates in a 2.4 GHz radio communication spectrum,

wherein the first part comprises a reservoir comprising a fluid and sealed from a pressure chamber comprising a fluid and a piston dividing the pressure chamber into a first and a second piston pressure chamber fluidly coupled via a pump;

wherein the second part is attached to the first part via a hollow tubular member extending from the reservoir through the pressure chamber; and

wherein the hollow tubular member is attached to the piston such that translation of the piston via a pressure difference between the first and a second piston pressure chamber established by the pump results in translation of the hollow tubular member and the second part;

lowering the apparatus into the borehole; and

communicating signals between the first part and the second part.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the borehole comprises petroleum oil hydrocarbons in fluid form.