Method and apparatus for determining position in a pipe

• US 20040239521A1
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marathon Oil Company (Marathon Oil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Marathon Oil Company (Marathon Oil Corporation)
• Inventors: Zierolf, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US10/887,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239521A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/854.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/006 Accessories for drilling pipes, e.g. cleaners wear protectors E21B17/10; handling drilling pipes E21B19/00; thread protectors B65D59/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/09 Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells , e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/30 operating with electromagnetic waves

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining position in a pipe provides for the precise determination of location and associated characteristics of each pipe joint of a well, cross country pipeline or other fluid transmission line. The system includes a passive or active radio identification device at each joint in the pipe or casing string. The devices are preferably sealed within the resilient seal positioned between each pipe or casing joint. A pipeline tool includes a radio transmitter and receiver, with the transmitter transmitting on a frequency selected for resonating the identification devices. The resonant response of each device is detected by a receiver in the pipeline tool, with the response transmitted to the surface via the wireline to which the tool is connected. Alternatively, the tool may include storage information means until the tool can be recovered from the well or pipe. An information storage and retrieval system includes information on the location of each of the identification devices in the well or pipe, e.g., length or depth, pipe or casing diameter, previously logged geological characteristics and stratum at each identification device location, etc. The system may count each device as the tool passes through the pipe in order to determine the location of the tool at any point. Alternatively, each identification device may provide a distinct signal, with the tool transmitting the signal to the surface (or storing the signal for later retrieval) where the system correlates the signal with previously logged information for that specific location.

Claims

19. A pipeline comprising:

a pipe; and

at least one radio frequency identification device installed in said pipe.

1. A well comprising:

a pipe; and

at least one radio frequency identification device installed in said pipe.

2. The well of claim 1 wherein said pipe is casing.

3. The well of claim 2 wherein said casing is secured in a well bore by cement.

4. The well of claim 2 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed at an intermediate point in said casing.

5. The well of claim 2 wherein said casing has a plurality of sections with adjoining sections defining a joint therebetween.

6. The well of claim 5 wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed in one of said plurality of joints.

7. The well of claim 5 further comprising:

a seal positioned in said joint.

8. The well of claim 5 wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification devices is installed at an intermediate point along one of said plurality of sections.

9. The well of claim 2 wherein a plurality of radio frequency identification devices are installed in said casing.

10. The well of claim 9 wherein said casing has a plurality of joints.

11. The well of claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of radio frequency identification devices is installed in a different joint of said plurality of joints.

12. The well of claim 1 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is an active radio frequency identification device.

13. The well of claim 1 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is a passive radio frequency identification device.

14. The well of claim 1 wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is configured to provide a distinct response.

15. The well of claim 1 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.

16. The well of claim 15 wherein said antenna is a configured as a loop.

17. The well of claim 8 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is secured in said casing by means of a sleeve.

18. The well of claim 17 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.

20. The pipeline of claim 19 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed at an intermediate point in said pipe.

21. The pipeline of claim 19 wherein said pipe has a plurality of sections with adjoining sections defining a joint therebetween.

22. The pipeline of claim 21 wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed in one of said plurality of joints.

23. The pipeline of claim 21 further comprising:

a seal positioned in said joint.

24. The pipeline of claim 21 wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification devices is installed at an intermediate point along one of said plurality of sections.

25. The pipeline of claim 19 wherein a plurality of radio frequency identification devices are installed in said pipe.

26. The pipeline of claim 25 wherein said pipe has a plurality of joints.

27. The pipeline of claim 26 wherein each of said plurality of radio frequency identification devices is installed in a different joint of said plurality of joints.

28. The pipeline of claim 19 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is an active radio frequency identification device.

29. The pipeline of claim 19 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is a passive radio frequency identification device.

30. The pipeline of claim 19 wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is configured to provide a distinct response.

31. The pipeline of claim 19 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.

32. The pipeline of claim 31 wherein said antenna is a configured as a loop.

33. The pipeline of claim 20 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is secured in said pipe by means of a sleeve.

34. The pipeline of claim 33 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.

43. The method of claim 35 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is an active radio frequency identification device.

44. The method of claim 34 wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is configured to provide a distinct response.

45. The method of claim 34 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein said antenna is a configured as a loop.

35. A method of assembling casing for use in a well comprising:

installing at least one radio frequency identification device in casing.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed at an intermediate point in said casing.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said casing has a plurality of sections with adjoining sections defining a joint therebetween.

38. The mentod of claim 37 wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed in one of said plurality of joints.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification devices is installed at an intermediate point along one of said plurality of sections.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein a plurality of radio frequency identification devices are installed in said casing.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said casing has a plurality of joints.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein each of said plurality of radio frequency identification devices is installed in a different joint of said plurality of joints.

47. The method of claim 36 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is secured in said pipe by means of a sleeve.

48. The well of claim 47 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.

43-1. The method of claim 34 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is a passive radio frequency identification device.