Inflation tool with real-time temperature and pressure probes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for setting an inflatable element in a wellbore, comprising:
- lowering an assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool and a probe with one or more sensors into the wellbore, wherein the assembly is attached to a cable having one or more conductive wires;
supplying power to the assembly through the one or more conductive wires;
monitoring a signal generated by the probe on the conductive wires to determine if one or more downhole parameters measured by the sensors are each within a corresponding predetermined range for setting the inflatable element, the signal being superimposed on a voltage signal supplied to the probe through the conductive wires; and
activating the inflation tool to inflate the inflatable element in response to determining that the one or downhole parameters are each within the predetermined range.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a method, apparatus, and system for monitoring conditions in wellbore in real time prior to setting an inflatable element in the wellbore. The inflatable element is inflated with an inflation tool run on a cable with one or more electrically conductive wires (the cable is commonly referred to as a “wireline”). One or more sensors, internal or external to the inflation tool, are monitored before setting the inflatable element to verify well conditions are compatible with the inflatable element. The sensors may be internal or external to the inflation tool.
58 Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A method for setting an inflatable element in a wellbore, comprising:
-
lowering an assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool and a probe with one or more sensors into the wellbore, wherein the assembly is attached to a cable having one or more conductive wires;
supplying power to the assembly through the one or more conductive wires;
monitoring a signal generated by the probe on the conductive wires to determine if one or more downhole parameters measured by the sensors are each within a corresponding predetermined range for setting the inflatable element, the signal being superimposed on a voltage signal supplied to the probe through the conductive wires; and
activating the inflation tool to inflate the inflatable element in response to determining that the one or downhole parameters are each within the predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method for setting an inflatable element comprising:
-
lowering an assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool comprising a first pump, and one or more sensors down a wellbore, wherein the assembly is attached to a lowering member;
supplying power to the one or more sensors through conductive wires;
monitoring a signal generated by the one or more sensors to determine if one or more downhole parameters measured by the sensors are each within a corresponding predetermined range; and
in response to determining that the one or more downhole parameters are each within the predetermined range, inflating the inflatable element by removing power from the one or more sensors and supplying power to the first pump. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An inflation tool for inflating an inflatable element in a wellbore comprising:
-
(a) one or more sensors for measuring a corresponding one or more parameters in the wellbore;
(b) one or more pumps for inflating the inflatable element; and
(c) control circuitry adapted to sequentially switch between;
(i) communicating data gathered from the one or more sensors to a surface of the wellbore, wherein the signal generated by the inflation tool is either an electrical AC signal superimposed on a DC voltage signal supplied to the inflation tool on one or more conductive wires, or the control circuitry communicates data gathered from the one or more sensors to a surface of the wellbore by sending data packets over the one or more conductive wires, and (ii) controlling the one or more pumps to inflate the inflatable element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for setting an inflatable element in a wellbore comprising:
-
(a) lowering an assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool, and a density sensor down a wellbore;
(b) measuring a density of a formation proximate the wellbore with the density sensor;
(c) comparing the measured density at depths along the wellbore to a determined density value; and
(d) setting the inflatable element at a desired location within the wellbore, the desired location determined by the results of the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A system for setting an inflatable element in a wellbore comprising
an assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool and a probe having one or more sensors to measure one or more downhole parameters, wherein the assembly is attached to a cable having one or more electrically conductive wires and the probe is adapted to generate a signal on the one or more conductive wires to communicate data from the one or more sensors to a surface of the wellbore; - and
an interface at a surface of the wellbore comprising circuitry to receive the signal generated by the probe and instrumentation to display the one or more downhole parameters measured by the sensors; and
wherein a frequency of the signal generated by the probe is proportional to at least one of the downhole parameters measured by the sensors, and the interface circuitry comprises circuitry to measure a frequency of the signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
- and
-
29. A method for setting an inflatable element comprising:
-
lowering an assembly into a wellbore on a wireline, the assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool and one or more sensors down a wellbore;
monitoring a signal generated by the assembly to determine if one or more downhole parameters measured by the sensors are each within a corresponding predetermined range;
in response to determining the one or more downhole parameters are each within the predetermined range, inflating the inflatable element;
modifying conditions in the wellbore in response to determining that one or more of the downhole parameters are not within the predetermined range; and
monitoring a signal generated on the one or more conductive wires by the inflation tool to detect a change in wellbore conditions. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A system for setting an inflatable element in a wellbore comprising:
-
an assembly comprising the inflatable element, an inflation tool and a probe having one or more sensors to measure one or more downhole parameters, wherein the assembly is attached to a cable having one or more electrically conductive wires and the probe is adapted to generate a signal on the one or more conductive wires to communicate data from the one or more sensors; and
an interface comprising circuitry to receive the signal generated by the probe and instrumentation to display the one or more downhole parameters measured by the sensors; and
wherein a frequency of the signal generated by the probe is proportional to at least one of the downhole parameters measured by the sensors and the interface circuitry comprises circuitry to measure a frequency of the signal. - View Dependent Claims (37)
-
Specification