Intelligent setting ball for downhole

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of downhole intelligent setting ball technology, and discloses a downhole intelligent setting ball, which comprises a shell, a piston assembly which is slidably arranged in the shell, a hydraulic chamber which is formed between the piston assembly and the shell, a communication channel which is arranged in the piston assembly and is used for communicating with the inside of a tubing and the hydraulic chamber respectively, a setting assembly which is connected to the piston assembly, and an intelligent on-off control assembly which is arranged in the piston assembly and is used for turning on the communication channel when the shell reaches a predetermined position in a well, so that high-pressure medium in the tubing enters the hydraulic chamber and drives the piston assembly to slide, thereby driving the setting assembly to radially expand and block the inside passage of the tubing. The downhole intelligent setting ball is free from the restriction of a wired carrier on the flexibility of tool movement, and meanwhile, the problem of signal attenuation and measurement error caused by complex working conditions in a well during wired transmission is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of downhole tools for oil and gas extraction, specifically to an intelligent downhole setting ball. Background Technology

[0002] In oil and gas logging and completion operations, tools must be deployed from the wellhead and set at the target location downhole to support subsequent extraction and testing processes. Precise downhole positioning is a crucial prerequisite for reliable setting; currently, the industry primarily employs two technical solutions: wired positioning and wireless positioning.

[0003] Existing downhole positioning technologies suffer from a core deficiency: the inability to simultaneously achieve both positioning accuracy and environmental versatility. Wired positioning is affected by the complex working conditions inside the well, resulting in significant measurement errors. Furthermore, the constraints of the wired carrier limit the flexibility of tool movement. Wireless positioning, on the other hand, is either susceptible to interference from downhole environmental factors or requires customized structures for different wellbore specifications. Neither of these approaches can meet the setting and sealing requirements of various wellbore types. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problem of poor adaptability of existing downhole setting tools, and to propose a smart downhole setting ball.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention provides a downhole intelligent setting ball, comprising: case; A piston assembly is slidably disposed within the housing, and a hydraulic chamber is formed between the piston assembly and the housing; A connecting passage is provided in the piston assembly, and the connecting passage is used to communicate with the inside of the oil pipe and the hydraulic chamber respectively; A setting assembly, connected to the piston assembly; An intelligent on / off control component is disposed within the piston assembly. When the housing is detected to have reached a predetermined position downhole, the connecting passage is opened to allow high-pressure medium in the tubing to enter the hydraulic chamber and drive the piston assembly to slide, thereby causing the setting assembly to expand radially and block the internal passage of the tubing.

[0006] In one embodiment, the connecting channel includes an axially extending main channel, an inlet branch channel and an outlet branch channel communicating with the main channel, and a pressure transmission hole is provided in the wall of the housing. The inlet branch channel communicates the pressure transmission hole with the main channel, and the outlet branch channel communicates the main channel with the hydraulic chamber.

[0007] In one embodiment, the piston assembly includes a first piston portion, and the first piston portion is disposed within the main channel; The intelligent on / off control component includes a microcontroller, an inertial measurement unit sensor, and a sealing component. The microcontroller is embedded in the first piston section, the inertial measurement unit sensor is electrically connected to the microcontroller, and the sealing component is disposed in the main channel and electrically connected to the microcontroller.

[0008] In one embodiment, the sealing component includes a driving member and a sealing head. The driving member is connected to the main channel, and the sealing head is connected to the driving end of the driving member for opening and closing the main channel.

[0009] In one embodiment, the interior of the housing is a stepped hole, forming a first channel and a second channel that are interconnected. The inner diameter of the first channel is larger than the inner diameter of the second channel. The first piston portion is slidably fitted in the first channel, and the hydraulic chamber is formed between the end face of the first piston portion and the end wall of the first channel.

[0010] In one embodiment, the piston assembly further includes a second piston portion connected to the first piston portion. The second piston portion is slidably inserted into the second channel. A first sealing element is embedded in the inner wall of the second channel. The second piston portion is sealed with the first sealing element. A second sealing element is embedded in the outer periphery of the first piston portion and seals with the inner wall of the first channel.

[0011] In one embodiment, the piston assembly further includes a connecting portion that is threadedly connected to an end of the second piston portion, and the setting assembly is fitted onto the connecting portion.

[0012] In one embodiment, the setting assembly includes a slip and a rubber sleeve, the slip and the rubber sleeve being sleeved on the connecting portion, and the rubber sleeve being located between the slip and the housing.

[0013] In one embodiment, the connecting portion has a first inclined mating surface on the side facing the slip, and the slip has a second inclined mating surface on the side facing the connecting portion that fits and adapts to the first inclined mating surface, so as to convert the axial force into a radial force that drives the slip to expand radially when the connecting portion moves axially.

[0014] In one embodiment, a retaining ring is connected inside the first channel to limit the axial displacement of the first piston portion.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this application has the following beneficial technical effects: This invention employs a built-in intelligent control unit to achieve autonomous detection and triggering of the target position in the well, eliminating the need for external wired transmission links for signal transmission and control command issuance. This completely frees the tool from the constraints of wired carriers on its mobility and avoids signal attenuation and measurement errors caused by complex well conditions during wired transmission. Secondly, it utilizes the high-pressure medium commonly found in downhole operations as a power source, driving the internal actuator to complete the setting action through fluid pressure. The entire power transmission and execution process is unaffected by environmental factors such as downhole electromagnetic interference and sound wave attenuation, overcoming the problem of poor anti-interference capability of traditional wireless positioning technology. Furthermore, this solution adopts a standardized overall structural design, eliminating the need for customized supporting structures for different wellbore specifications. It can directly adapt to the setting operation requirements of various conventional wellbores, significantly improving the environmental versatility and operational adaptability of the technical solution. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall connection structure of the present invention; Figure 2 For the present invention Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the sealing head of the present invention and the main channel in another state.

[0017] In the figure: 1. Housing; 1a. First channel; 1b. Second channel; 1c. Pressure transmission hole; 2. Piston assembly; 21. First piston part; 22. Second piston part; 23. Connecting part; 231. First inclined mating surface; 3. Hydraulic chamber; 4. Connecting channel; 41. Main channel; 42. Inlet branch channel; 43. Outlet branch channel; 5. Intelligent on / off control component; 51. Microcontroller; 52. Inertial measurement unit sensor; 53. Sealing component; 531. Driving component; 532. Sealing head; 6. Sealing assembly; 61. Slip; 611. Second inclined mating surface; 62. Rubber sleeve; 7. Retaining ring; 8. First seal; 9. Second seal. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] This application provides a downhole intelligent setting ball, comprising: a housing 1; a piston assembly 2 slidably disposed within the housing 1, forming a hydraulic chamber 3 between the piston assembly 2 and the housing 1; a connecting channel 4 formed in the piston assembly 2, the connecting channel 4 being used to communicate with the inside of the tubing and the hydraulic chamber 3 respectively; a setting assembly 6 connected to the piston assembly 2; and an intelligent on / off control assembly 5 disposed within the piston assembly 2, used to open the connecting channel 4 when the housing 1 is detected to have reached a predetermined downhole position, so that high-pressure medium in the tubing enters the hydraulic chamber 3 and drives the piston assembly 2 to slide, thereby causing the setting assembly to expand radially and block the internal passage of the tubing.

[0020] Specifically, the housing 1 is made of high-strength, wear-resistant alloy steel, capable of withstanding the high temperature and pressure environment downhole, as well as harsh conditions such as fluid scouring, pipe wall friction, and impact from hard objects. Its outer surface is hardened to extend its service life. The piston assembly 2 has a coaxial cylindrical structure, maintaining a precise sliding fit with the inner wall of the housing 1. The hydraulic chamber 3 formed by the piston assembly 2 and the housing 1 is an independent sealed cavity used to contain the high-pressure medium in the tubing and convert the fluid pressure into the axial driving force of the piston assembly 2. The connecting channel 4 penetrates the interior of the piston assembly 2, with one end connected to the high-pressure medium inside the tubing through an opening on the housing 1, and the other end connected to the hydraulic chamber 3, serving as the only channel for the high-pressure medium to enter the hydraulic chamber 3. The setting assembly 6 adopts a composite structure combining elastic sealing material and rigid anchoring material, which can generate uniform radial deformation under axial compressive force. This allows the setting assembly 6 to move towards one side of the housing 1 under the displacement of the piston assembly 2, thereby compressing the entire setting assembly 6 and achieving sealing of the internal channel of the tubing and anchoring of the tool itself. The intelligent on / off control component 5 integrates a positioning module, a control module, and a drive module. The positioning module calculates the downhole position by detecting the tool's own movement. The control module receives the positioning information and compares it with a preset target position. The drive module executes the on / off action based on the comparison result. Before the setting ball is lowered into the well, target position parameters can be preset to the intelligent on / off control component 5 via serial communication from surface equipment, or operation commands can be written. After being lowered into the well, the intelligent on / off control component 5 operates automatically without external wired or wireless signal intervention. After setting is completed, subsequent fracturing, switching of the sliding sleeve, sampling, and other operations can be carried out based on the setting ball.

[0021] This embodiment integrates autonomous positioning, intelligent control, hydraulic drive, and setting / sealing functions into a single tool, eliminating the need for external wired carriers such as steel wires and cables for signal transmission and control. This completely eliminates the limitations imposed by wired carriers on the tool's mobility and avoids length measurement errors caused by carrier stretching, bending, and friction during wired transmission. Employing built-in autonomous positioning technology, it is unaffected by environmental factors such as downhole electromagnetic interference, magnetic signal attenuation, and casing material differences, thus solving the problem of poor anti-interference capability in traditional wireless positioning technology. The overall standardized modular structure design eliminates the need for customized components for different wellbore specifications, adapting to the setting / sealing requirements of various wellbores, including vertical, horizontal, and branch wells, significantly improving the tool's environmental versatility and operational adaptability.

[0022] In some embodiments of this application, the connecting channel 4 includes an axially extending main channel 41, an inlet branch channel 42 and an outlet branch channel 43 communicating with the main channel 41, and a pressure transmission hole 1c is provided on the wall of the housing 1. The inlet branch channel 42 connects the pressure transmission hole 1c with the main channel 41, and the outlet branch channel 43 connects the main channel 41 with the hydraulic chamber 3.

[0023] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the main channel 41 extends along the axial centerline of the piston assembly 2, serving as the core channel for high-pressure medium transmission. Its inner diameter is designed according to the flow characteristics of commonly used high-pressure media in downhole operations, ensuring that the high-pressure media can fill the hydraulic chamber 3 in a short time. One end of the inlet branch 42 is connected to the pressure transmission hole 1c on the wall of the housing 1. The pressure transmission hole 1c is a circular through-hole evenly distributed around the circumference of the housing 1, penetrating the side wall of the housing 1, allowing the high-pressure media inside the tubing to enter the inlet branch 42. The other end of the inlet branch 42 is connected to the middle of the main channel 41, introducing the high-pressure media into the main channel 41. One end of the outlet branch 43 is connected to the end of the main channel 41, and the other end is directly connected to the side wall of the hydraulic chamber 3, rapidly transporting the high-pressure media in the main channel 41 to the hydraulic chamber 3. Furthermore, a filter screen is installed at the inlet of the pressure transmission hole 1c, which can filter out mud and impurities in the well fluid, preventing impurities from entering the connecting channel 4 and causing blockage.

[0024] This embodiment achieves stable and rapid transmission of high-pressure medium from the inside of the oil pipe to the hydraulic chamber 3 by designing the connecting channel 4 as a diversion structure combining the main channel 41 and multiple branch channels. Figure 1 As shown, having at least two inlet branches 42 ensures a continuous supply of high-pressure medium, and can still work normally even if some inlet branches 42 are blocked by impurities; the outlet branch 43 is directly connected to the hydraulic chamber 3, which reduces energy loss during pressure transmission and improves the response speed and driving efficiency of the hydraulic drive.

[0025] In some embodiments of this application, the piston assembly 2 includes a first piston portion 21, and the first piston portion 21 is disposed in the main channel 41; the intelligent on / off control assembly 5 includes a microcontroller 51, an inertial measurement unit sensor 52, and a sealing component 53. The microcontroller 51 is embedded in the first piston portion 21, the inertial measurement unit sensor 52 is electrically connected to the microcontroller 51, and the sealing component 53 is disposed in the main channel 41 and is electrically connected to the microcontroller 51.

[0026] Specifically, the first piston section 21 is the core load-bearing part of the piston assembly 2. Its outer diameter maintains a precise fit tolerance with the inner diameter of the housing 1, allowing it to slide smoothly along the axial direction of the housing 1 without jamming. The main channel 41 is located at the internal center of the first piston section 21 and extends along the entire axial direction of the first piston section 21.

[0027] The microcontroller 51 is embedded in a pre-machined sealing mounting groove inside the first piston section 21. The mounting groove is filled with high-temperature resistant sealant, completely isolating the microcontroller 51 from the external environment and preventing downhole fluids and steam from entering and damaging circuit components. The inertial measurement unit sensor 52 uses a QMI8658A sensor to measure acceleration, and then an STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller program calculates the movement distance relative to the wellhead. The inertial measurement unit sensor 52 is welded to the core position of the microcontroller 51, and can detect the linear acceleration and angular velocity signals of the setting ball in the three orthogonal directions of XYZ in real time, and convert these analog signals into digital signals and transmit them to the microcontroller control unit on the microcontroller 51. The microcontroller control unit integrates the acceleration and angular velocity signals through a built-in dead reckoning algorithm to obtain the real-time movement distance and three-dimensional motion trajectory of the setting ball relative to the wellhead. The sealing component 53 is installed at the connection position between the inlet branch 42 and the outlet branch 43 in the main channel 41 to control the on / off state of the main channel 41.

[0028] The microcontroller 51 is also connected to an independent power supply module, which includes a sealed battery compartment and a high-temperature resistant lithium battery. This module is installed in an independent chamber inside the first piston section 21, providing power to the entire intelligent on / off control assembly 5. The power supply module has overcurrent, overvoltage, and undervoltage protection functions, ensuring stable power supply for extended periods downhole. When the position of the setting ball calculated by the microcontroller unit matches the preset target position, a drive signal is sent to the sealing component 53, causing it to open the main channel 41. High-pressure medium can then enter the hydraulic chamber 3 from the inlet branch 42 through the main channel 41 and the outlet branch 43.

[0029] In some embodiments of this application, the sealing member 53 includes a driving member 531 and a sealing head 532. The driving member 531 is connected to the main channel 41, and the sealing head 532 is connected to the driving end of the driving member 531 for opening and closing the main channel 41.

[0030] Specifically, the driving component 531 is a miniature electromagnetically driven solenoid valve, which is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the main channel 41 via a threaded connection. Its driving end can extend and retract along the axial direction of the main channel 41. The sealing head 532 is made of high-pressure resistant and wear-resistant fluororubber material, and is fixedly connected to the driving end of the driving component 531 via a metal connector. The outer diameter of the sealing head 532 is precisely matched with the inner diameter of the main channel 41, and its end face is machined with an annular sealing boss, which can form a reliable line seal with the inner wall of the main channel 41 in the sealing state.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, when the driving component 531 does not receive a driving signal, the driving end is in a retracted state, causing the sealing head 532 to press against the sealing step on the inner wall of the main channel 41, completely sealing the main channel 41 between the inlet branch 42 and the outlet branch 43, preventing the high-pressure medium from entering the hydraulic chamber 3. When the driving component 531 receives a pulse driving signal sent by the microcontroller 51, the driving end quickly extends, causing the sealing head 532 to leave the inlet branch 42, as shown. Figure 3 As shown, the main channel 41 is fully open, allowing the high-pressure medium to quickly fill the hydraulic chamber 3 under the action of the pressure difference. The direction of the high-pressure medium flow is as follows: Figure 3 The direction indicated by the middle arrow is shown.

[0032] In this embodiment, an electromagnetically driven sealing component 53 is used to control the opening and closing of the main channel 41. It has a fast response speed and high reliability. It can open the hydraulic channel within milliseconds after reaching the target position, so as to achieve precise triggering of the sealing action. In other embodiments, the driving component 531 can also be other linear driving components such as electric push rods to drive the entire sealing head 532.

[0033] In some embodiments of this application, the interior of the housing 1 is a stepped hole, forming a first channel 1a and a second channel 1b that are interconnected. The inner diameter of the first channel 1a is larger than the inner diameter of the second channel 1b. The first piston part 21 is slidably fitted in the first channel 1a, and the hydraulic chamber 3 is formed between the end face of the first piston part 21 and the end wall of the first channel 1a.

[0034] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, a closed hydraulic chamber 3 is formed between the end face of the first piston section 21 facing the second channel 1b and the annular end wall of the first channel 1a. When the high-pressure medium enters the hydraulic chamber 3 from the outlet branch 43, the pressure inside the chamber rises rapidly. Under the action of the pressure difference, the first piston section 21 is pushed to slide away from the end of the second channel 1b, thereby driving the entire piston assembly 2 to move axially synchronously. The stepped hole structure design allows the volume of the hydraulic chamber 3 to change linearly with the sliding of the first piston section 21. At the same time, the annular end wall can provide initial limiting and guiding for the sliding of the first piston section 21, ensuring the coaxiality of the piston assembly 2 during its movement.

[0035] This embodiment adopts a stepped hole type housing 1 structure, which is simple in structure, mature in processing technology, and low in manufacturing cost. The hydraulic chamber 3 is directly formed by the first piston part 21 and the end wall of the housing 1, without the need for additional sealing end caps and other components, reducing the number of parts and sealing links. In addition, the transition end wall of the stepped hole can play a stable guiding role for the first piston part 21, avoiding problems such as uneven wear and jamming of the piston assembly 2 during sliding, and improving the smoothness of tool operation.

[0036] In some embodiments of this application, the piston assembly 2 further includes a second piston portion 22 connected to the first piston portion 21. The second piston portion 22 is slidably inserted into the second channel 1b. The inner wall of the second channel 1b is provided with a first sealing member 8. The second piston portion 22 is sealed and fitted with the first sealing member 8. The outer periphery of the first piston portion 21 is provided with a second sealing member 9, which is sealed and fitted with the inner wall of the first channel 1a.

[0037] Specifically, the second piston section 22 and the first piston section 21 are coaxially forged as a single unit, ensuring their coaxiality and connection strength. The first seal 8 is an oil-resistant and high-temperature-resistant nitrile rubber O-ring, embedded in a pre-machined annular sealing groove on the inner wall of the second channel 1b, surrounding the outer periphery of the second piston section 22. It is used to seal the annular gap between the second piston section 22 and the inner wall of the second channel 1b, preventing high-pressure fluid in the well from entering the housing 1 through the second channel 1b and damaging electronic components. The second seal 9 also uses an O-ring, embedded in an annular sealing groove on the outer periphery of the first piston section 21, surrounding the outer periphery of the first piston section 21. It is used to seal the annular gap between the first piston section 21 and the inner wall of the first channel 1a, ensuring the sealing of the hydraulic chamber 3 and preventing high-pressure medium from leaking upwards from the hydraulic chamber 3, thus preventing pressure loss.

[0038] By setting seals on the two sliding mating surfaces of the piston assembly 2 and the housing 1 respectively, the double sealing of the hydraulic chamber 3 and the overall sealing of the inside of the housing 1 are achieved, which effectively prevents the leakage of high pressure medium from the inside and outside and ensures that sufficient driving pressure can be quickly established in the hydraulic chamber 3.

[0039] In some embodiments of this application, the piston assembly 2 further includes a connecting portion 23, which is threadedly connected to the end of the second piston portion 22, and the setting assembly 6 is fitted onto the connecting portion 23.

[0040] The connecting part 23 has a stepped columnar structure with external threads machined on its upper end. The second piston part 22 has a corresponding internal threaded hole machined on one side end face. The connecting part 23 is fixedly connected to the second piston part 22 through threaded engagement. The threaded connection is coated with high-temperature resistant thread sealant to prevent loosening and media leakage.

[0041] The setting assembly 6 is fitted on the outer periphery of the middle part of the connecting part 23. When the piston assembly 2 slides under the drive of the high pressure medium, the second piston part 22 drives the connecting part 23 to move upward synchronously. The connecting part 23 pushes the setting assembly 6 to deform, so that the setting assembly 6 and the housing 1 generate axial extrusion force, thereby causing the setting assembly 6 to expand radially.

[0042] In some embodiments of this application, the setting assembly 6 includes a slip 61 and a rubber sleeve 62, which are sleeved on the connecting portion 23, and the rubber sleeve 62 is located between the slip 61 and the housing 1.

[0043] The rubber sleeve 62 is made of oil-resistant, high-pressure-resistant, and aging-resistant hydrogenated nitrile rubber. It has a hollow cylindrical structure and is fitted around the outer periphery of the middle part of the connecting part 23. To ensure the deformation process of the rubber sleeve 62, a notch is provided in the middle of the sleeve 62. Deformation occurs through this notch during the radial expansion and sealing process. Figure 1 As shown, one end of the rubber sleeve 62 abuts against the end face of the housing 1, and the other end face abuts against the slip 61. The slip 61 is made of high-strength alloy steel, and its outer surface is machined with staggered hard alloy anti-slip teeth, which can embed into the inner wall of the oil pipe after radial expansion, providing a strong anchoring force.

[0044] When the connecting part 23 moves the setting assembly 6, the rubber sleeve 62 is first subjected to axial compression from the end face of the housing 1 and the end face of the slip 61, resulting in radial elastic deformation. Its outer surface is tightly attached to and pressed against the inner wall of the oil pipe, thus sealing the internal passage of the oil pipe. As the axial compression force continues to increase, the slip 61 is also subjected to axial compression and radial expansion. The anti-slip teeth on its outer surface gradually embed into the inner wall of the oil pipe, firmly anchoring the setting ball in the target position and preventing the setting ball from shifting during subsequent high-pressure operations.

[0045] In some embodiments of this application, the connecting portion 23 is provided with a first inclined mating surface 231 on the side facing the slip 61, and the slip 61 is provided with a second inclined mating surface 611 on the side facing the connecting portion 23, which fits and adapts to the first inclined mating surface 231, so as to convert the axial force into a radial force that drives the slip 61 to expand radially when the connecting portion 23 moves axially.

[0046] Specifically, the first inclined mating surface 231 is a conical surface on the connecting part 23, and the included angle between it and the connecting part 23 can be between 15° and 30°. The second inclined mating surface 611 is a conical surface on the inner surface of the latch 61, and its conical angle is exactly the same as that of the first inclined mating surface 231. Figure 1As shown, the two parts are tightly fitted in the initial state. When the connecting part 23 moves upward axially under the drive of the piston assembly 2, the first inclined mating surface 231 slides upward along the second inclined mating surface 611. Due to the inclination angle of the two mating surfaces, the axial movement of the connecting part 23 will generate a radially outward component force on the slip 61, pushing the slip 61 to expand radially outward evenly, so that the outer surface of the slip 61 gradually fits tightly against and embeds into the inner wall of the oil pipe. The surface of the inclined mating surface has been hardened by quenching, which improves the surface hardness and wear resistance, and prevents force transmission failure caused by wear of the mating surface during long-term use.

[0047] By setting a matching tapered inclined mating surface between the connecting part 23 and the slip 61, the axial force is efficiently converted into radial expansion force, which can convert the smaller hydraulic driving force into the larger radial expansion force of the slip 61, thus improving energy utilization.

[0048] In some embodiments of this application, a retaining ring 7 is connected inside the first channel 1a to limit the axial displacement of the first piston portion 21.

[0049] Specifically, the retaining ring 7 is a ring-shaped metal structure made of the same alloy steel as the housing 1. It is press-fitted into a pre-machined annular mounting groove on the inner wall of the first channel 1a via an interference fit. When the first piston 21 slides upward to its maximum stroke under the drive of the high-pressure medium, the end face of the first piston 21 will be in close contact with the end face of the retaining ring 7. The retaining ring 7 prevents the first piston 21 from sliding upward further, thereby limiting the maximum axial displacement of the entire piston assembly 2. By adjusting the installation position of the retaining ring 7 in the first channel 1a, the axial stroke of the piston assembly 2 can be precisely controlled, thereby controlling the radial expansion of the setting assembly 6 to adapt it to oil pipes of different inner diameters.

[0050] By setting a fixed retaining ring 7 in the first channel 1a, the maximum axial displacement of the piston assembly 2 can be precisely limited, avoiding excessive sliding of the piston assembly 2 that would cause excessive expansion of the setting assembly 6, preventing the rubber sleeve 62 from tearing due to excessive deformation or the slip 61 from breaking due to excessive expansion. At the same time, the fixed retaining ring 7 can provide rigid limit for the piston assembly 2, ensuring that the setting assembly 6 maintains a stable expansion state during subsequent high-pressure operations, and avoiding sealing failure or anchoring loosening caused by the retraction of the piston assembly 2.

[0051] Before being lowered into the well, the intelligent setting ball is pre-set with target position parameters via surface equipment. After being lowered into the well, the built-in inertial measurement unit sensor 52 detects the acceleration and angular velocity signals of the tool in the XYZ directions in real time. The microcontroller on the microcontroller 51 calculates the real-time position relative to the wellhead. When the predetermined position is reached, the microcontroller 51 drives the sealing component 53 to open the connecting channel 4. The high-pressure medium in the tubing enters the hydraulic chamber 3 through the pressure transmission hole 1c and the connecting channel 4, pushing the piston assembly 2 to slide axially. This, in turn, causes the rubber sleeve 62 of the setting assembly 6 to expand radially to seal the tubing channel, and the slips 61 to expand radially to anchor the tool, thus completing the setting operation.

[0052] The entire system completely eliminates the limitations of wired carriers on tool movement, avoids the length measurement errors of traditional wired positioning and the electromagnetic interference and poor versatility of wireless positioning, and has high positioning accuracy. It can be adapted to various wellbores such as vertical wells, horizontal wells, and branch wells. The integrated design simplifies the operation process and significantly improves the reliability and efficiency of setting and sealing operations.

[0053] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0054] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A smart downhole setting ball, characterized in that, include: Shell (1); The piston assembly (2) is slidably disposed within the housing (1), and a hydraulic chamber (3) is formed between the piston assembly (2) and the housing (1). A connecting channel (4) is provided in the piston assembly (2), and the connecting channel (4) is used to communicate with the inside of the oil pipe and the hydraulic chamber (3); The setting assembly (6) is connected to the piston assembly (2); The intelligent on / off control component (5) is installed inside the piston assembly (2) and is used to open the connecting channel (4) when the housing (1) is detected to have reached the predetermined position downhole, so that the high pressure medium in the tubing enters the hydraulic chamber (3) and drives the piston assembly (2) to slide, thereby driving the setting assembly to expand radially and block the internal channel of the tubing.

2. The intelligent downhole setting ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting channel (4) includes an axially extending main channel (41), an inlet branch channel (42) and an outlet branch channel (43) connected to the main channel channel (41). The wall of the housing (1) is provided with a pressure transmission hole (1c). The inlet branch channel (42) connects the pressure transmission hole (1c) to the main channel channel (41), and the outlet branch channel (43) connects the main channel channel (41) to the hydraulic chamber (3).

3. The intelligent downhole setting ball according to claim 2, characterized in that, The piston assembly (2) includes a first piston section (21), and the first piston section (21) is disposed in the main channel (41). The intelligent on / off control component (5) includes a microcontroller (51), an inertial measurement unit sensor (52), and a sealing component (53). The microcontroller (51) is embedded in the first piston part (21), the inertial measurement unit sensor (52) is electrically connected to the microcontroller (51), and the sealing component (53) is disposed in the main channel (41) and electrically connected to the microcontroller (51).

4. The intelligent downhole setting ball according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sealing component (53) includes a driving member (531) and a sealing head (532). The driving member (531) is connected to the main channel (41), and the sealing head (532) is connected to the driving end of the driving member (531) for opening and closing the main channel (41).

5. The intelligent downhole setting ball according to claim 3, characterized in that, The interior of the housing (1) is a stepped hole, forming a first channel (1a) and a second channel (1b) that are interconnected. The inner diameter of the first channel (1a) is larger than the inner diameter of the second channel (1b). The first piston part (21) is slidably fitted in the first channel (1a). The hydraulic chamber (3) is formed between the end face of the first piston part (21) and the end wall of the first channel (1a).

6. The intelligent downhole setting ball according to claim 5, characterized in that, The piston assembly (2) further includes a second piston part (22) connected to the first piston part (21). The second piston part (22) is slidably inserted into the second channel (1b). The inner wall of the second channel (1b) is provided with a first sealing element (8). The second piston part (22) is sealed with the first sealing element (8). The outer periphery of the first piston part (21) is provided with a second sealing element (9) which is sealed with the inner wall of the first channel (1a).

7. The intelligent downhole setting ball according to claim 6, characterized in that, The piston assembly (2) further includes a connecting part (23), which is threadedly connected to the end of the second piston part (22), and the seat seal assembly (6) is fitted onto the connecting part (23).

8. The intelligent downhole setting ball according to claim 7, characterized in that, The setting assembly (6) includes a slip (61) and a rubber sleeve (62), which are fitted onto the connecting part (23), and the rubber sleeve (62) is located between the slip (61) and the housing (1).

9. The intelligent downhole setting ball according to claim 8, characterized in that, The connecting part (23) has a first inclined mating surface (231) on the side facing the slip (61), and the slip (61) has a second inclined mating surface (611) on the side facing the connecting part (23) that fits and adapts to the first inclined mating surface (231), so that when the connecting part (23) moves axially, the axial force is converted into a radial force that drives the slip (61) to expand radially.

10. The intelligent downhole setting ball according to claim 5, characterized in that, A retaining ring (7) is connected inside the first channel (1a) to limit the axial displacement of the first piston part (21).

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