Active Downhole Orienting Tool for Wellbore Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional downhole orienting tools require multiple trips into the wellbore to accurately orient fracturing equipment, which is inefficient and can lead to equipment damage due to improper orientation, especially in horizontal or deviated wellbores.

Innovation Solution

An actively rotatable downhole orienting tool with a sensor module and motor that rotates to detect obstacles and orient the wellbore isolation device and subsequent tools in real-time, allowing for single-trip orientation and avoidance of critical areas within the wellbore.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional passive orienting tools are used, then equipment can be placed in the wellbore, but multiple trips are required to achieve proper orientation and equipment may contact obstacles causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment protection from damageVSAvoidnumber of trips into wellbore

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The orienting tool performs preliminary orientation detection and positioning actions during the first trip into the wellbore. The tool actively orients itself to identify the correct circumferential position before fracturing equipment is deployed, eliminating the need for subsequent trips to adjust orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The orienting tool is self-contained with its own sensor, motor, and control systems, allowing it to autonomously detect obstacles and orient itself without requiring external intervention or multiple trips. The tool serves its own orientation function independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If traditional orienting methods are used, then equipment can be deployed, but orientation precision is insufficient to avoid obstacles in horizontal or deviated wellbores

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation accuracyVSAvoidorienting tool system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical orienting methods with an active sensor-based system. A sensor detects obstacles or reference points, and a motor automatically adjusts the tool's orientation based on sensor feedback, achieving precise orientation without complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The orienting tool incorporates a sensor that continuously monitors the wellbore environment and provides feedback to the control system. The sensor detects obstacles or reference points, and the control system adjusts the motor to achieve the desired orientation, creating a closed-loop feedback system for precise positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10533402B2Active orientation of a reference wellbore isolation device

Publication Date: 2020.01.14 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Methods including introducing a downhole orienting tool into a wellbore comprising: a mandrel having a top end and a bottom end, and rotatable about a longitudinal central axis, a sensor module comprising a motor and a sensor, the sensor module disposed on the mandrel and configured to selectively interfere with the movement of the mandrel along the central axis and actively rotate the mandrel by orienting the sensor to a reference point, and a wellbore isolation device comprising an orientation key directionally aligned with the sensor, the wellbore isolation device removably coupled to the bottom end of the mandrel and configured to rotate about the central axis with the mandrel; actively rotating the mandrel and the wellbore isolation device until the sensor is oriented to the reference point, such that the orientation key is also oriented to the reference point; and setting the wellbore isolation device in the wellbore.