Upconverting Particle Tracers for Degradable Downhole Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current degradable downhole articles face challenges in monitoring their performance due to the instability of tracers at high temperatures and interference from background noise in downhole fluids, making it difficult to assess their degradation and operational effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A tracer-embedded degradable article is developed, comprising a degradable metallic carrier and an upconverting particle tracer that is stable at high temperatures and can be uniformly distributed throughout the article, allowing for reliable monitoring of degradation by releasing the tracer into wellbore fluids and analyzing its optical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tracers are used in degradable downhole articles, then the articles can be manufactured, but the tracers become unstable at high temperatures and are interfered with by background noise, making performance monitoring difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the tracer by using upconverting particles that operate at different temperature and optical wavelength parameters than conventional tracers. These particles convert low-energy infrared light to high-energy visible light, enabling detection in the 400-650nm range where downhole fluids have minimal background interference, thus resolving the measurement precision issue while maintaining tracer stability at high temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional tracer mechanisms with upconverting particle technology that uses optical energy conversion instead of chemical or physical markers. This substitution enables the tracer to maintain stability in harsh downhole conditions while providing detectable signals through optical properties rather than relying on chemical composition that degrades at high temperatures.
2Loss of information
If tracers are embedded in degradable articles for monitoring, then performance can be tracked, but the tracer signals are masked by background noise from downhole fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts the detection parameter from conventional tracer wavelengths to the 400-650nm visible light range where downhole fluids exhibit minimal background fluorescence or absorption. The upconverting particles emit light in this clean spectral window, allowing performance data to be retrieved without being masked by background noise from the surrounding fluids.
Solution Approach 2:
The upconverting particles act as an intermediary that converts infrared excitation light to visible emission light. This intermediary conversion process enables the tracer signal to be transmitted through the downhole environment at wavelengths where background interference is minimal, effectively using the optical properties of the particles to overcome the harmful background noise.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If degradable articles are designed to disappear after use, then environmental impact is reduced, but it becomes difficult to monitor their performance during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates upconverting particle tracers into the degradable article during manufacturing, before the article is deployed. This preliminary embedding ensures that the monitoring capability is built-in from the start, allowing performance data to be collected throughout the article's operational life without requiring additional instrumentation or modification after deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic monitoring systems with passive optical tracers that require no power source or active components. The upconverting particles provide continuous performance information through their optical properties, enabling monitoring of degradable articles that will eventually disappear, without requiring any active systems that would complicate the degradable design.
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
The solution provides a reliable method for monitoring the degradation and performance of degradable articles, enabling better management of downhole operations and automation by distinguishing the tracer signals from background noise, with sensitivity up to part-per-billion detection and compatibility with various downhole fluids and temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
the tracer comprises an upconverting particle that has a host material, and a dopant
Data Source
AI summary
A tracer-embedded degradable article includes: a degradable metallic carrier; and a tracer disposed in the degradable metallic carrier, wherein the tracer includes an upconverting particle that has a host material, and a dopant. The article is manufactured by forming a mixture containing the metallic carrier and the tracer; and molding or casting the mixture. The degradation of the article is monitored by disposing the article downhole; degrading the article; releasing the tracer from the article to a wellbore fluid; and analyzing the wellbore fluid to determine an amount of the tracer in the wellbore fluid.