Autonomous Perforating Drone Wellbore Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wellbore operations rely heavily on wireline cables for deploying and retrieving perforating guns, which are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and generate significant debris, and lack precise location and depth control without standardized structural elements.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous perforating drone with a perforating assembly section and a control module section that includes a ballistic channel and a donor charge, allowing for autonomous navigation and detonation of shaped charges within the wellbore, reducing the need for wireline cables and improving location and depth precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireline cables are used for deploying and retrieving perforating guns, then the guns can be deployed and retrieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the wireline cable from the system entirely, extracting the constraint that causes time loss. The perforating gun is designed as a standalone unit that can be deployed and retrieved without continuous cable connection, eliminating the time-consuming cable management operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static cable-connected operation to a dynamic free-flying drone operation. The drone can move autonomously through the wellbore, adjusting its position and orientation without being constrained by cable length or retrieval speed, significantly improving deployment efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If wireline cables are used for deploying perforating guns, then the guns can be positioned, but precise location and depth control is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The drone is equipped with navigation systems including GPS, inertial measurement units, and depth sensors that provide continuous feedback on its position and depth. This feedback loop enables precise location and depth control, allowing the system to accurately target specific wellbore locations without relying on cable length measurements.
3Productivity
If wireline cables are used for deploying perforating guns, then the guns can be deployed, but significant debris is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses disposable perforating cartridges that are loaded into the drone. After firing, the spent cartridges and minimal structural debris are left in the wellbore, replacing the significant cable debris and mechanical waste generated by traditional wireline operations. The drone itself can be retrieved or left behind with minimal environmental impact.
4Ease of operation
If wireline cables are used for deploying perforating guns, then the guns can be positioned, but labor-intensive operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The drone is equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities, including onboard computers, sensors, and control systems that enable it to navigate the wellbore independently. The system can locate target positions, adjust its orientation, and deploy perforating cartridges without continuous human intervention, dramatically reducing labor requirements despite the increased technological complexity of the drone itself.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The autonomous perforating drone enables faster, more precise, and cleaner wellbore operations by eliminating the need for wireline cables and minimizing debris, while providing accurate location and depth control of downhole tools.
Implementation Method 1
a donor charge housed within the control module and substantially aligned with the ballistic channel
Implementation Method 2
a first plurality of shaped charges received in a first plurality of shaped charge apertures
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, an autonomous perforating drone for downhole delivery of a wellbore tool, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. In an aspect, the wellbore tool may be a plurality of shaped charges that are arranged in a variety of configurations, including helically, in one or more single radial planes, or opposing around a perforating assembly section, and detonated in a top-to-bottom sequence when the autonomous perforating drone reaches a predetermined depth in the wellbore. In another aspect, the shaped charges may be received in shaped charge apertures within a body of a perforating assembly section, wherein the shaped charge apertures are respectively positioned adjacent to at least one of a receiver booster, detonator, and detonating cord for directly initiating the shaped charges.