Ultrasonic Wellbore Tool Positioning Beyond Cable Stretch Errors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for identifying the location of a wellbore tool within a wellbore suffer from limited accuracy due to cable stretching and wheel slippage, leading to inaccurate deployment of tools in the wellbore.

Innovation Solution

The use of acoustic waves, specifically ultrasonic waves, to measure the travel time of reflections from wellbore features, allowing for precise tracking and control of the wellbore tool's movement and deployment to a target location by analyzing arrival times and signatures of these reflections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If cable stretching and wheel slippage are used for location measurement, then the deployment method is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment simplicityVSAvoidlocation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical measurement methods (cable stretching and wheel slippage) with acoustic wave-based measurement. An acoustic transceiver emits acoustic waves that reflect off wellbore features, and the travel time of these waves is used to calculate the tool's location, eliminating the inaccuracies inherent in mechanical measurement systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary medium for measurement. Instead of directly measuring cable stretch or wheel rotation, the system uses acoustic wave travel time through the wellbore environment as an intermediate parameter to indirectly and more accurately determine tool location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If acoustic wave travel time measurement is used, then the location accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The acoustic transceiver performs multiple functions: it emits acoustic waves, receives reflected waves, processes the signal to identify wellbore features, and calculates tool location. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate measurement systems while achieving high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the wellbore environment itself (its acoustic properties and features) as part of the measurement system. The wellbore features act as natural reflectors that provide measurement references, eliminating the need for external infrastructure or complex calibration systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If conventional deployment methods are used, then the deployment process is fast, but the deployment precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoiddeployment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously measures tool location using acoustic wave travel time and provides feedback to the deployment control system. This real-time feedback enables precise control of tool deployment speed and position, allowing the tool to reach the target location accurately while maintaining efficient deployment rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 deployment of wellbore tools to within a threshold distance of the target location, improving the precision of wellbore operations by compensating for cable stretch and wheel slippage issues.

Implementation Method 1

sensing reflections of the transmitted acoustic waves

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic wave reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

transmitting acoustic waves as the acoustic device is deployed in a wellbore

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic wave propagation: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS20260002437A1Profile identification for downhole positioning using non-contacting ultrasonic waves

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Described herein are systems and techniques for improving deployment accuracies of wellbore tools. Systems and techniques of the present disclosure may transmit acoustic waves and sense reflections of those acoustic waves as a tool is deployed in a wellbore. Data associated with the sensed acoustic waves may be analyzed to identify features of the wellbore that correspond to specific locations of the wellbore. The location and/or velocity of the tool may be monitored when the tool is deployed. Deployment of the tool may be controlled until the tool reaches a target wellbore location. Once the tool is located at the target wellbore location, data from the tool or commands sent via the tool may be used to control one or more pieces of wellbore equipment such that the wellbore can be managed according to wellbore management requirements.