EXPANSION AND SENSING TOOL

• US 20110247878A1
• Filed: 06/16/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Reamer Drilling Systems Ltd
• Original Assignee: Wajid Rasheed
• Inventors: Rasheed, Wajid
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/20 containing the group , wherein Cn means a carbon skeleton not containing a ring; Thio analogues thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/22 the nitrogen atom being directly attached to an aromatic ring system, e.g. anilides
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/26 containing the group; Thio analogues thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/10 with sulfur as the ring hetero atom
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/12 condensed with a carbocyclic ring
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/20 three- or four-membered rings
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/40 six-membered rings
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/78 1,3-Thiazoles; Hydrogenated 1,3-thiazoles
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/80 five-membered rings with one nitrogen atom and either one oxygen atom or one sulfur atom in positions 1,2
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/82 five-membered rings with three ring hetero atoms
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 47/12 containing a —O—CO—N< group, or a thio analogue thereof, neither directly attached to a ring nor the nitrogen atom being a member of a heterocyclic ring
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 47/16 the nitrogen atom being part of a heterocyclic ring
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 47/38 containing the group >N—CO—N< where at least one nitrogen atom is part of a heterocyclic ring; Thio analogues thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 57/14 containing aromatic radicals
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/54 Razor-blades B26B21/4006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/32 with expansible cutting tools
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/124 Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/013 Devices specially adapted for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/08 : Measuring diameters or related dimensions at the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/085 : using radiant means, e.g. acoustic, radioactive or electromagnetic
• 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: E21B 47/095 : by detecting an acoustic anomalies, e.g. using mud-pressure pulses
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 : Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/00 : Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/28 : Enlarging drilled holes, e.g. by counterboring

Abstract

An expansion and sensing tool (50) comprising a tool body, cutter blocks and sensors with means for attachment to a drilling support and rotation which permits simultaneous underreaming and measurement of the diameter of a wellbore (40) drilled by an oil and gas rig (10) and characterized by radially extendable cutter blocks (62) incorporating positional sensors (80) adapted to measure the position of the cutter block relative to the tool, and vibration sensor means (76) to measure vibration and underreaming dynamics wellbore dimension in real-time, all of which are inter-linked by a means of communication using receivers, sensors and microprocessors to deliver a desired wellbore depth by simultaneously comparing and correlating measured vibration data and optimizing underreaming parameters. The tool may be optionally configured with calliper or stabilizer means directly or indirectly connected to the underreamer.

Claims

1. A tool (50) comprising a tool body, cutter blocks and sensors with means for attachment to a drilling support and rotation so as to permit the simultaneous underreaming and measurement of the drilling dynamics of a wellbore (especially in oil and gas drilling) characterized by:

(i) at least one radially extendable cutter block (62) incorporating positional sensors adapted to measure the relative position of the cutter block to the tool, at least one sensor means (76) to measure vibration, all of which are inter-linked by a means of communication using receivers, sensors and microprocessors

(ii) a system that optimizes drilling dynamics (22) by simultaneously comparing and correlating vibration and underreaming parameters in real-time

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said system compares and correlates said parameters in memory

3. The tool of claim 1 whrein at least one of said sensor means measure stick/slip data (22) and said system optimizes drilling dynamics (22) by comparing and correlating stick/slip and underreaming parameters in real-time

4. The tool of claim 3 wherein said system compares and correlates said parameters in memory

5. A tool as claimed in claim 1 incorporating a microprocessor control means (68) adapted to receive drilling dynamics data from the sensor means (76) to detect vibration in real-time and to achieve a target level of drilling dynamics and a target wellbore depth.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 3 incorporating a microprocessor control means (68) adapted to receive drilling dynamics data from the sensor means (76) to detect stick/slip in real-time and to achieve a target level of drilling dynamics and a target wellbore depth.

7. A tool as claimed in claim 1 further comprising telemetry means (56) for communicating said sensor data (76), and other control signals between the tool and a surface decoder and user interface in real-time so as to optimize drilling performance.

8. A tool as claimed in claim 3 further comprising telemetry means (56) for communicating said sensor data (76), and other control signals between the tool and a surface decoder and user interface in real-time so as to optimize drilling performance.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cutter blocks are provided with high abrasion and impact resistant cutter inserts and where the stabilizer blocks are provided with smooth resistant surfaces and where the tool body is provided with a through passage for the flow of drilling fluid from the support (90) which exits the tool within a nozzle situated next to or within the cutters.

12. A method of operating an expansion tool to enlarge a borehole or tubular or like passage to a target dimension beyond a restriction, which comprises locating a tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in a borehole on a support below a restriction, extending the expansion element to an expansion diameter greater than the restriction, rotating the tool and moving it axially along the borehole on the support, measuring vibration or stick/slip by the sensor means, and using the processor acting in response to data received from the sensor means to optimize drilling so as to achieve a target wellbore depth and reduce common causes of errors or failures.

13. A method as claimed in the preceding claim wherein the surface interface controls the drill string during the underreaming operation.

9. An apparatus which is elongate and comprises more than one of said expansion and sensing elements housed in separate bodies and connected at longitudinally separated positions by means of a connection, a first said element being adapted to underream the wellbore and a second said element being adapted to stabilise the tool within the walls of the wellbore during expansion and third said element being adapted to measure drilling dynamics and a fourth said element providing calliper means directly or indirectly connected to the underreamer.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the cutter blocks are provided with high abrasion and impact resistant cutter inserts and where the stabilizer blocks are provided with smooth resistant surfaces and where the tool body is provided with a through passage for the flow of drilling fluid from the support (90) which exits the tool within a nozzle situated next to or within the cutters.