Downhole Depth Determination Device Using Casing Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of downhole tools within well casings is time-consuming and costly due to challenges such as tools hanging up, wire line tangling, or becoming disassociated, requiring continuous monitoring and frequent retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A depth determination device with a hermetically sealed electronics compartment, including a processor and electronic location sensing system that interacts with the well casing to determine its location and communicate operational commands to attached tools, allowing for precise depth control and efficient deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of wire line or tubing is used to track tool depth, then deployment accuracy can be maintained, but deployment time and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical monitoring system (continuous monitoring of wire line or tubing) with an electronic location sensing system that uses magnetic or inductive sensors to detect position relative to casing features. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous manual monitoring while maintaining depth measurement accuracy, thereby reducing deployment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The depth determination device autonomously determines its own location within the casing using the electronic location sensing system without requiring external monitoring or intervention. The device self-navigates and self-locates, eliminating the need for continuous human monitoring of wire line or tubing, thus reducing both time and operational complexity.
2Device complexity
If traditional deployment methods are used without electronic sensing, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases due to tools hanging up or wire line tangling
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic location sensing system provides continuous feedback on the device's position and status within the casing. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection of potential issues such as hanging up or tangling, allowing for immediate corrective action and improving overall deployment reliability while managing system complexity through automated monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical monitoring and manual intervention systems with a simplified electronic sensing system. This substitution reduces the number of mechanical components that could fail or tangle, thereby improving reliability while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through electronic rather than mechanical solutions.
3Measurement precision
If frequent retrieval and redeployment of tools is performed, then deployment accuracy can be maintained, but loss of time and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The depth determination device autonomously monitors its own position and deployment status, eliminating the need for frequent manual retrieval and redeployment operations. The self-monitoring capability ensures accurate depth placement while significantly improving deployment efficiency by reducing the frequency of intervention and repositioning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic location sensing system provides continuous position feedback that enables precise depth placement without requiring frequent retrieval operations. This feedback mechanism allows operators to maintain accurate deployment parameters while improving productivity by reducing the number of times tools need to be retrieved and redeployed.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for use in deployment of downhole tools is disclosed. Preferably, the apparatus includes at least an in-ground well casing, a housing providing a hermetically sealed electronics compartment, a tool attachment portion, and a first flow through core. The housing is preferably configured for sliding communication with the well casing. The hermetically sealed electronics compartment secures a processor and a location sensing system, which communicates with the processor while interacting exclusively with features of the well casing to determine the location of the housing within the well casing. A preferred embodiment further includes a well plug affixed to the tool attachment portion, the well plug includes a second flow through core capped with a core plug with a core plug release mechanism, which upon activation provides separation between the second flow through core and the core plug, allowing material to flow through said first and second flow through cores.