Sliding Sleeve Microchip Release for Downhole Data Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drilling microchips used to collect downhole data often run out of battery and clog internal components of the drill string, leading to inaccurate estimations of temperature, pressure, and wellbore trajectory during drilling operations.

Innovation Solution

A microchip system that includes a sliding sleeve with a ball landing seat, a microchip ring, and a hydraulic piston, where microchips are released downhole using a ball to gather data without clogging the drill string and can be charged while in use, allowing for real-time data collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If drilling microchips are pumped downhole using drilling mud, then real-time data collection is enabled, but the microchips run out of battery before reaching the observation section

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection accuracyVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The microchips are pre-charged with battery power before being pumped downhole, ensuring they have sufficient energy reserves to reach the observation section and complete their data collection mission. This preliminary energy provision resolves the contradiction between enabling real-time data collection and maintaining sufficient battery life throughout the journey.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If drilling microchips are pumped downhole using drilling mud, then real-time data collection is enabled, but the microchips clog internal components of the drill string

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection accuracyVSAvoidclogging of drill string components

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The microchips are extracted from the drilling mud flow path after deployment, allowing them to be pumped downhole initially for data collection but then removed from the internal drill string components. This prevents the microchips from clogging nozzles, rotor/stator interfaces, and other internal components while still enabling their primary function of real-time data collection during the drilling operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If microchips are released into the wellbore, then continuous data collection is enabled, but the drill string becomes clogged with internal components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection continuityVSAvoidclogging of drill string

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into separate functional components: the microchips are released into the wellbore for data collection, while the drill string components remain separate and are not exposed to the microchips. This segmentation allows continuous data collection by multiple microchips in the wellbore while preventing clogging of the drill string internal components, as the two systems operate in separate spatial zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 accurate and continuous data collection of temperature, pressure, and wellbore trajectory during drilling, reducing errors and extending the operational life of microchips by allowing them to be charged and deployed effectively downhole.

Implementation Method 1

The hydraulic piston is triggered by reception of a ball in the ball landing seat. The ball reduces a cross sectional area of a flow path when in the ball landing seat. The hydraulic piston releases the plurality of microchips through the exit groove and into the well to gather data.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

The ball reduces a cross sectional area of a flow path when in the ball landing seat. The hydraulic piston is triggered by reception of a ball in the ball landing seat.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure reduction through flow path constriction: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11536113B1Hollow design for controlled release of downhole sensors

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

A system includes a sliding sleeve, a ball landing seat, a plurality of microchips, a hydraulic piston, and a ball catcher. The sliding sleeve is made of a body with a plurality of holes and is installed within a tubular body having an exit groove. The ball landing seat is formed by the sliding sleeve. The plurality of microchips are housed in a microchip ring installed within the sliding sleeve. The hydraulic piston is installed within the microchip ring and is triggered by reception of a ball in the ball landing seat. The ball reduces a cross sectional area of a flow path when in the ball landing seat. The hydraulic piston releases the plurality of microchips through the exit groove and into the well to gather data. The ball catcher is configured to receive and hold the ball after the plurality of microchips are released into the well.