Reconfigurable Analog Circuits for Downhole Optimization Computing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current processing systems in wellbore environments face challenges with large volumes of data, limited bandwidth for data transmission, and limited processing power for compute-intensive tasks, leading to data loss and distortions.

Innovation Solution

The use of configurable analog circuits connected via programmable links, such as memristors and operational amplifiers, allows for on-the-fly reconfiguration to perform optimized computations, including solving differential equations, directly in the analog domain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional digital processing systems are used to process large volumes of wellbore data, then data transmission bandwidth requirements increase, but processing power and data loss limitations worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata volumeVSAvoiddata loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional digital processing systems with analog computing circuits that perform computations in the analog domain. This substitution eliminates the need for data transmission to surface systems, thereby preventing data loss associated with bandwidth limitations and compression artifacts. The analog circuits directly process sensor signals to solve differential equations and perform optimization without converting to digital format.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces analog computing circuits as intermediary processing elements between sensors and the final output. These circuits act as mediators that perform compute-intensive tasks locally in the wellbore environment, eliminating the need to transmit raw data to surface systems and thus preventing data loss during transmission and compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If data is compressed to reduce bandwidth requirements, then transmission efficiency improves, but data loss and distortions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoiddata distortions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces digital data transmission and compression systems with analog computing circuits that process data locally. This substitution eliminates the compression step entirely, as the analog circuits work directly with continuous sensor signals, thereby preventing the introduction of compression artifacts and distortions while efficiently utilizing available bandwidth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If compute-intensive tasks are performed downhole, then real-time processing capability improves, but processing power limitations worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time processing capabilityVSAvoidprocessing power

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces digital computing processors with analog computing circuits that perform computations using continuous physical signals. This substitution enables real-time processing of compute-intensive tasks such as solving differential equations and optimization problems directly in the wellbore environment, as analog circuits naturally operate in real-time without the discrete processing steps required by digital systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If more sensors are deployed to monitor wellbore conditions, then measurement accuracy improves, but data volume and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple sensor inputs into a unified analog computing circuit that processes all sensor signals simultaneously. This consolidation approach maintains high measurement accuracy by preserving data from multiple sensors while reducing processing complexity, as the analog circuit performs computations on all inputs in parallel rather than requiring separate digital processing for each sensor channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250179912A1Digitally reconfigurable analog computations for solving optimization problems

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for configuring links or switches that connect analog circuit elements. These analog circuit elements may be connected to a plurality of sensors that may sense different types of data. For example, these sensors may sense acoustic data, electromagnetic (EM) data, temperature, pressure, and possibly other metrics that may be located in a wellbore of an oil or gas well. These analog circuits may be configured as needed (e.g., on-the-fly) to perform optimized types of computations that may include the solving of differential equations. Examples of analog circuits that may be incorporated into a sensing system include yet are not limited to operational amplifier circuits or memcomputing devices, other components, or combinations thereof. Configured analog circuits may be coupled to digital electronics that perform other functions.