Soluble Data Logger for Bridge Plug Pressure Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing bridge plug and staged pressure perforation process in hydraulic fracturing lacks effective monitoring and data collection capabilities, making it difficult to evaluate the plugging effect of the bridge plug and the downhole environment status.

Innovation Solution

A data logger with a soluble housing and microchip capsule, equipped with pressure and temperature transducers, is deployed in the wellbore to monitor and store data, allowing evaluation of the bridge plug's plugging effect and downhole environment, and is retrievable after the housing dissolves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a traditional data logger is deployed in the wellbore, then data monitoring capability is improved, but retrieval difficulty increases due to the harsh downhole environment and depth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata monitoring capabilityVSAvoidretrieval difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The data logger is segmented into two functional parts: a permanent microchip capsule containing the transducer and memory, and a temporary soluble housing. The housing protects the microchip during deployment and monitoring, then dissolves automatically to free the capsule for retrieval, separating the monitoring function from the retrieval function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The soluble housing acts as an intermediary between the microchip capsule and the harsh downhole environment. It provides temporary protection during deployment and monitoring, then eliminates itself through dissolution to facilitate capsule retrieval, mediating between the need for protection and the need for easy retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the data logger housing is made durable and protective, then device reliability is improved, but retrieval ease deteriorates due to the housing remaining intact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice reliabilityVSAvoidretrieval ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing material's key parameter - its solubility - is utilized to change its state over time. The housing maintains its protective integrity during the monitoring phase, then undergoes a parameter change through dissolution in the fracturing fluid, transforming from a protective barrier to a dissolved state that allows capsule retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The soluble housing is designed as a temporary, disposable protective structure. It serves its protective function during the critical monitoring period, then is intentionally consumed through dissolution, eliminating the need for complex retrieval mechanisms while ensuring the valuable microchip capsule can be recovered.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If the data logger is designed to sink in working fluid, then deployment to bridge plug position is improved, but retrieval difficulty increases after bridge plug dissolution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment easeVSAvoidretrieval difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The data logger's buoyancy characteristics are made dynamic rather than static. Initially, the housing provides negative buoyancy to sink the device to the bridge plug position. After the bridge plug dissolves and the housing dissolves, the microchip capsule's positive buoyancy takes over, automatically reversing the sinking motion and bringing the capsule back to the surface for retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 real-time monitoring and post-analysis of temperature and pressure changes at the bridge plug, facilitating better evaluation of the plugging effect and downhole conditions, with the data logger being easily retrieved once the housing dissolves.

Implementation Method 1

the housing is made of a soluble material, so that the housing effectively wraps the microchip capsule in a solid state for a certain period of time, allowing the microchip capsule to monitor the surrounding environment stably and effectively within that time, and then the housing is slowly dissolved in the working fluid to make the microchip capsule float in the working fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

the microchip capsule is in a floating state in the working fluid... the housing is slowly dissolved in the working fluid to make the microchip capsule float in the working fluid, making it easier to retrieve the floating microchip capsule

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

The high gravity of the housing causes the combined data logger to sink in the working fluid, making it easy for the data logger to descend to the bridge plug in the wellbore to monitor the environment at the bridge plug

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS12631108B2Data logger and data acquisition hydraulic fracturing process

Publication Date: 2026.05.19 ZHEJIANG TENSING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

A data logger and a data acquisition hydraulic fracturing process. In a state in which a bridge plug is fixed in a wellbore, both ends of the bridge plug are monitored and data is stored by the data logger, then the data logger is retrieved to analyze the data to evaluate plugging effect of the bridge plug and downhole environment status.