Untethered Sensing Pill for Well Fluid Isolation and Data Acquisition

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for methods and apparatus to provide an untethered object with sensing and measuring capabilities inside a tubing string containing well fluid, which can act as an isolation device under pressure differential, effectively managing fluid isolation and data acquisition across multiple stages of well stimulation.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an untethered sensing object with a spherical or pill shape, equipped with dissolvable materials, pressure-resistant external shells, and multiple sensing devices that can withstand hydrostatic and pressure differential pressures, allowing for simultaneous measurement and isolation within the tubing string, and featuring communication capabilities for data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an untethered object is used for fluid isolation, then ease of operation and deployment are improved, but the ability to withstand pressure differential and maintain reliable isolation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedeploymentVSAvoidisolation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The untethered object is divided into multiple modular components including an external shell, internal frame, sensing devices, and dissolvable material sections. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for both ease of deployment and pressure resistance, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and isolation reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The untethered object employs composite construction combining pressure-resistant external shells made of robust materials with dissolvable internal materials. This composite approach enables the outer structure to withstand pressure differentials while internal components provide sensing and controlled degradation capabilities, simultaneously achieving reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Measurement precision

If multiple sensing devices are integrated into the untethered object, then measurement precision and data acquisition capability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure and fluid characteristic measurementsVSAvoidstructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The untethered object is designed as a multi-functional integrated platform where a single device performs multiple functions: fluid isolation, pressure differential withstanding, multi-parameter sensing (pressure, temperature, fluid characteristics), and data transmission. This universality improves measurement precision without proportionally increasing complexity, as all functions are coordinated within one unified structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple sensing devices are merged into a single integrated untethered object rather than being deployed as separate tools. The sensing devices are combined with the isolation structure and communication systems, creating a consolidated unit that achieves precise multi-parameter measurements while reducing overall system complexity compared to multiple separate devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of repair

If dissolvable materials are used in the untethered object, then ease of repair and environmental compatibility are improved, but duration of action and structural integrity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedegradation and retrievalVSAvoidisolation duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The untethered object incorporates dynamic material properties where portions of the structure are designed to dissolve at controlled rates. The dissolvable materials provide temporal flexibility, allowing the object to maintain structural integrity and isolation capability for the required duration, then naturally degrade for easy retrieval or environmental compatibility, effectively balancing duration of action with ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The design anticipates the end of service life by incorporating dissolvable materials that will naturally degrade after completing their isolation function. This beforehand cushioning approach ensures that after the required isolation duration is achieved, the object can be easily removed or will environmentally compatible degradation, eliminating the need for complex retrieval operations or causing environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

This solution enables efficient fluid isolation and data acquisition across multiple stages, providing precise pressure and fluid characteristic measurements while allowing for temporary or permanent isolation, and facilitating the retrieval and reuse of the sensing object.

Implementation Method 1

equipped with dissolvable materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

pressure-resistant external shells, and multiple sensing devices that can withstand hydrostatic and pressure differential pressures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure resistance: Stress Relaxation

Data Source

PatentUS11454091B2Sensing and recording module within an untethered object acting as a pressure differential isolation of well fluid

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 JACOB GREGOIRE MAX

AI summary

An untethered sensing object able to sense and record well fluid and wellbore parameters. The untethered sensing object is adapted to perform, in addition, a well fluid isolation with a plugging element previously placed inside the wellbore.