Conveyance Modeling for Stuck Tool Dislodging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drilling operations in deeper and harsher environments often result in tools and equipment becoming stuck in wellbores, necessitating effective methods to dislodge them without causing damage.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a jarring tool and a sensor tool, connected within a tool string, uses adjustable tension and impact forces to dislodge stuck equipment, with the jarring tool detecting electrical characteristics to determine and apply appropriate impact forces via a latching mechanism and spring stacks, and the sensor tool monitoring impacts and environmental conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If higher impact forces are applied to dislodge stuck equipment, then the effectiveness of dislodging increases, but the risk of damage to the equipment and wellbore increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedislodging effectivenessVSAvoiddamage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the impact force magnitude based on real-time sensor feedback and conveyance model predictions. The impactor can operate at multiple power levels, selecting the appropriate force based on the conveyed tool string's characteristics and the stuck equipment's resistance, thereby maximizing dislodging effectiveness while minimizing damage risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates sensors that monitor impact forces, tool string tension, and other parameters during conveyance and jarring operations. This feedback is processed by the conveyance analysis engine to update the conveyance model and adjust subsequent impact forces, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to actual conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If a conveyance model is used to predict tool string behavior and optimize impact forces, then the precision of impact force application improves, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact force precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyance model acts as an intermediary computational layer between the physical tool string and the impactor control system. It processes sensor data, predicts tool string behavior, and generates optimized impact force recommendations, thereby enabling precise force application without requiring direct complex control mechanisms in the physical hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical force adjustment mechanisms with a computational approach. Instead of using multiple mechanical devices to physically adjust impact force, the system uses the conveyance model to calculate optimal forces and controls the impactor accordingly, substituting mechanical complexity with computational processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If real-time sensor data is used to adjust impact strategies, then the adaptability to different stuck conditions improves, but the time required for data processing and decision-making increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact strategy adaptabilityVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyance model is pre-configured with physical parameters, material properties, and operational constraints before deployment. This preliminary setup allows the model to rapidly process real-time sensor data during operations without requiring complex calculations, thereby enabling quick adaptability to different stuck conditions while minimizing data processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Effectively dislodges stuck equipment by applying controlled impact forces, reducing the risk of damage and improving the efficiency of well operations by using real-time data from the sensor tool to adjust impact strategies.

Implementation Method 1

a first spring stack and a second spring stack positioned between the upper housing and the lower housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the jarring tool detecting electrical characteristics to determine and apply appropriate impact forces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical characteristic detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11727167B2Conveyance modeling

Publication Date: 2023.08.15 WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A conveyance model for predicting an output in response to an input, wherein: the input comprises one or more of a wireline input, a toolstring input, a well input, and/or a conveyance input; and the output comprises one or more of a surface weight versus depth output, a cable head tension versus depth output, and a jarring effect output.