Expandable Mesh Guide for Untethered Downhole Measurement Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional downhole measurement techniques require specialized equipment and crews, are costly, and often necessitate shutting down wells, while existing untethered solutions are not effective in preventing misdirection during retrieval and lack the capability to measure a wide range of physical, chemical, and structural properties.
Innovation Solution
An untethered measurement device guided by an expandable meshed component that transitions from a compressed to an expanded configuration within the Christmas tree valve, allowing it to be deployed and retrieved without specialized equipment, while preventing misdirection and enabling the measurement of various downhole properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tethered logging tools are used, then measurement capability is achieved, but deployment requires specialized equipment and crews, increasing cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based tethered system with an untethered measurement device that uses fluid dynamics and magnetic guidance. The device is carried by flowing fluid through the wellbore and guided by magnetic fields, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical deployment equipment and specialized crews while maintaining measurement reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic particles as an intermediary between the measurement device and the external magnetic field source. These particles enable remote actuation and guidance of the device through the wellbore without physical contact or tethering, simplifying deployment while maintaining control capability
2Reliability
If conventional tethered logging tools are used, then downhole measurements are obtained, but well shutdown is required, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous well operation during measurements by using an untethered device that travels with the flowing production fluid. The measurement device is injected into the flowing stream and carried through the wellbore without interrupting production, maintaining both measurement accuracy and well productivity simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement device utilizes the well's own production fluid as the transport medium, eliminating the need for separate deployment systems that would require well shutdown. The flowing fluid naturally carries the device through the wellbore, allowing measurements to be taken during normal production operations
3Ease of operation
If an untethered measurement device is deployed without guidance mechanism, then deployment simplicity is achieved, but misdirection during retrieval occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses magnetic particles as an intermediary to enable remote guidance of the untethered device. The magnetic particles respond to external magnetic fields, allowing the device to be guided along the correct path through the wellbore and retrieved accurately without complex mechanical guidance mechanisms, maintaining both simplicity and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the magnetic properties of the device by incorporating magnetic particles that can be actuated by external magnetic fields. This allows remote control of the device's position and orientation during retrieval, ensuring accurate recovery without adding mechanical complexity to the deployment system
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
Enables efficient, cost-effective measurement of downhole properties without shutting down wells, allowing a single technician to deploy and retrieve the device, and preventing misdirection during retrieval, thus reducing operational costs and increasing data accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
The expandable meshed component is in a compressed configuration. The expandable meshed component in the compressed configuration has a diameter less than an inner diameter of the swab conduit. The method includes the step of allowing the expandable meshed component to transition from the compressed configuration to an expanded configuration at a target height in the Christmas tree valve
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for retrieving an untethered measurement device used in a subterranean well ascending from a wellbore into a Christmas tree valve. A swab valve of the Christmas tree valve is opened. An expandable meshed component is deployed into the Christmas tree valve through a swab conduit. The expandable meshed component transitions from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration at a target height in the Christmas tree valve. A production wing valve of the Christmas tree valve is opened. The swab valve is closed. The untethered measurement device is retrieved from the Christmas tree valve through the swab conduit.