Sensor Evaluation Module for Downhole Plausibility Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Downhole sensors in the energy industry face challenges in accurately identifying failed sensors due to harsh environmental conditions, making it difficult to determine plausible measurements without retrieving them, especially in environments with extreme temperatures, pressures, and vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a sensor evaluation module to receive data from multiple sensors, determine environmental conditions, and apply pre-selected rules to assess the plausibility of measurement values, automatically evaluating sensor readings to identify implausible data and trigger actions such as recalibration or data exclusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are deployed in harsh downhole environments to measure parameters, then measurement capability is improved, but sensor reliability deteriorates due to extreme temperatures, pressures, and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces contextual information from multiple different sensors as an intermediary to evaluate the plausibility of measurements from a target sensor. Instead of directly trusting or discarding sensor readings, the system uses environmental context (temperature, pressure, vibration data from other sensors) to mediate the evaluation process, determining whether measurements are plausible given the observed conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring environmental conditions through multiple sensors and using this information to validate or flag measurements from individual sensors. The evaluation module provides feedback about measurement plausibility, enabling real-time quality assessment without requiring sensor retrieval.
2Measurement precision
If sensor retrieval is performed to identify failed sensors, then measurement accuracy is improved, but operational time and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by evaluating sensor measurement plausibility in real-time using contextual information from multiple sensors before retrieval operations are necessary. The system proactively identifies implausible measurements through automated evaluation, allowing operators to continue operations without retrieving sensors unless absolutely necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor evaluation system performs self-service by automatically assessing measurement quality using data from multiple sensors within the same system. Instead of requiring external intervention (sensor retrieval and lab analysis), the system uses its own contextual sensor data to evaluate and flag implausible measurements autonomously.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to provide contextual information, then sensor evaluation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the sensor evaluation module to handle multiple sensor types and parameters through a unified framework. The same evaluation logic processes temperature, pressure, vibration, and other sensor data types, reducing the need for separate evaluation systems for each sensor type and managing complexity through standardized multi-functional processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of a method of performing aspects of a downhole operation includes receiving a measurement value from a first sensor configured to measure a parameter related to the downhole operation, receiving measurement data from a different sensor, the measurement data related to the downhole operation, and performing, by a sensor evaluation module, an evaluation of the first sensor. The evaluation includes determining a condition of the first sensor based on the measurement data from the different sensor, selecting a rule that prescribes a set of one or more measurement values of the parameter that are plausible if the condition is met, and determining whether the measurement value from the first sensor is plausible based on comparing the measurement value to the prescribed set of one or more measurement values.