Autonomous Toolstring Restriction Navigation With Dynamic Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireline and slickline operations face inefficiencies and safety issues due to manual control of toolstring speed, leading to human error, inefficiencies, and increased costs, while previous automation systems fail to account for toolstring length and optimal gear changes, resulting in suboptimal navigation.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous restriction navigation system that utilizes toolstring length awareness, restriction prediction, and gear change awareness to ensure the toolstring enters and exits restrictions at appropriate speeds and gears, mimicking human operator behavior to avoid unnecessary stops and maintain efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated systems slow down the toolstring before restrictions, then safety is improved, but the system stops unnecessarily because it does not account for toolstring length
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by calculating and applying speed reductions at precisely calculated distances before the toolstring reaches restrictions. The controller determines the exact point to begin deceleration based on toolstring length and restriction location, ensuring the toolstring enters the restriction at the optimal speed without unnecessary early slowing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic speed adjustment by continuously monitoring toolstring position and automatically modifying conveyance speed in real-time. The controller dynamically changes speed profiles based on the toolstring's proximity to restrictions, transitioning smoothly between different speed levels without fixed predetermined stops.
2Reliability
If the toolstring speed is reduced to allow accurate monitoring and positioning, then safety is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains high speed during unrestricted sections and dynamically reduces speed only when approaching restrictions. This dynamic speed modulation allows the toolstring to travel efficiently at high speeds most of the time while automatically slowing down only when necessary for safety during restriction navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs preliminary speed reduction calculations and initiates deceleration at precisely calculated distances before restrictions. This ensures the toolstring enters restrictions at optimal speeds without unnecessary early slowing, maintaining high operational efficiency while ensuring safety.
3Measurement precision
If the winch stops to change gears between restriction speed and unrestricted speed, then speed control precision is improved, but operational time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous dynamic speed adjustment without discrete gear changes. The variable speed drive allows smooth transitions between different speed levels by dynamically modifying motor output, eliminating the need to stop the winch for gear changes while maintaining precise speed control throughout the operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical gear-changing mechanism with an electronic variable speed control system. Instead of physically changing gears through mechanical engagement, the controller electronically adjusts motor speed to achieve the desired velocity changes, eliminating stopping time while maintaining speed precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for autonomous restriction navigation comprising the steps of: 1) defining one or more restriction specifications in a digital execution program; 2) inputting the digital execution program into a core algorithm; 3) comparing a current depth of a toolstring against the one or more restriction specifications; 4) predicting a future action of the toolstring; 5) determining one or more appropriate gears based on the future action of the toolstring; and 6) comparing the one or more appropriate gears with another one or more appropriate gears to determine an output.