Swellable Packer Guides Untethered Downhole Measurement Device

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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 limited in their ability to measure a wide range of physical, chemical, and structural properties without getting trapped in wellbore annuli.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus utilizing a swellable packer secured on a production conduit that transitions from a non-swollen to a swollen configuration upon contact with a fluidic component, allowing an untethered measurement device to take measurements and ascend by changing buoyancy, avoiding trapping in the annulus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional tethered logging tools are used, then measurements can be obtained, but specialized equipment and crews are required, increasing cost and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownhole property measurementsVSAvoidspecialized equipment and crew requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the measurement function from the complex tethered logging system by deploying free-falling measurement devices that operate independently without requiring cable suspension or specialized deployment equipment. The measurement devices are released into the wellbore and retrieve data autonomously, separating the measurement capability from the complex deployment infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable free-falling measurement devices that are deployed into the wellbore, perform measurements, and are subsequently discarded or retrieved. These single-use devices eliminate the need for expensive, complex tethered systems while providing sufficient measurement capabilities for the application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If conventional tethered logging tools are used, then measurements can be obtained, but the well must be shut down, reducing productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownhole property measurementsVSAvoidwell operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement function is extracted from the well operation by deploying free-falling devices that can measure downhole properties without requiring the well to be shut in. The devices fall through the flowing wellbore environment and collect data autonomously, allowing continuous production during measurement operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the untethered device ascends in the annulus, then retrieval is possible, but the device may get trapped, reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice retrievalVSAvoiddevice trapping risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The swellable packer serves as an intermediary mechanism between the annulus and the production conduit. When the packer contacts the wellbore formation and swells, it creates a physical barrier that guides the ascending untethered device into the production conduit, preventing the device from becoming trapped in the annulus while facilitating reliable retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The packer's physical state is changed from a compact non-swollen configuration during deployment to an expanded swollen configuration upon contacting the formation. This parameter change in the packer's volume and shape enables it to effectively guide the ascending device into the conduit without trapping it in the annulus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 the need for specialized crews or equipment shutdowns, allowing the untethered device to ascend and descend safely, thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional methods.

Implementation Method 1

contacting the swellable packer with a fluidic component at a target depth such that the swellable packer swells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the untethered measurement device changes at least one of: the buoyancy and the drag and ascends in the subterranean well

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS11767729B2Swellable packer for guiding an untethered device in a subterranean well

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

A method for guiding an untethered measurement device used in a subterranean well ascending from a space provided by a casing and a terminus of a production conduit. The method includes the step of securing a swellable packer radially on an exterior surface of the production conduit at or proximate to the terminus of the production conduit. The swellable packer is in a non-swollen configuration. The method includes the step of deploying the production conduit into the subterranean well to a target depth. The method includes the step of contacting the swellable packer with a fluidic component at the target depth such that the swellable packer transitions to a swollen configuration.