Subsurface Pipe Dimension and Position Indicating Device

Abstract

A sensing system provides real time information as to the location of a stand in a tubular string at a predetermined elevation such as where the rams are located. This allows a determination of whether the upsets are aligned with the ramps or whether the stand is aligned with the rams in a manner that the rams will close on the tubular between the end upsets. The surrounding pipe has circumferentially spaced transmitters and receivers to allow a determination of the outer dimension of the pipe and to transmit such information to the surface by conductors or other means. The position of a tubular in an open hole can also be determined by sending a signal from the tubular to the open hole and back to the tubular. Different signal regimes are contemplated as well as power supply options.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The field of the invention is measuring systems that sense the outer dimension of a component of a tubular string or the shape of a tool or other string component at a specific location in a borehole and more particularly devices that provide such information in real time without reducing the drift dimension of the supporting pipe for the sensing and transmission equipment.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In certain situations it is helpful to know the position of the string in the hole at a specific elevation and more particularly where the upsets are positioned. In the case of a blowout preventer set of rams it is advantageous to close the rams on a tubular string component between the upset ends rather than on the upset portions. In the past approximations were made based on footage run into the hole however there were many uncertainties as to the pipe position with respect to the placements of the upsets with regard to the plane in which the rams were...

Images