Wellbore Cleaning Tool Imaging for No-Reentry Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning tools lack a cost-effective method to assess the effectiveness of wellbore cleaning operations without requiring borehole reentry.

Innovation Solution

A method involving digital imaging and machine learning algorithms is used to evaluate the wear and damage of cutting elements before and after a cleaning operation, estimating cleaning effectiveness based on geometry, color, and texture changes in the cutting elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If post cleaning inspection operations are employed to determine cleaning effectiveness, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectiveness assessmentVSAvoidtime for inspection operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures images of cutting elements before the cleaning operation, establishing a baseline condition. This preliminary documentation allows for post-comparison without requiring additional borehole entry, as the before-images are already stored for reference during effectiveness assessment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates digital image copies of the cutting elements both before and after cleaning operations. These optical copies can be analyzed, stored, and compared without requiring physical retrieval of the tools from the borehole, eliminating the need for time-consuming reentry while maintaining accurate measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If post cleaning inspection operations are employed to determine cleaning effectiveness, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectiveness assessmentVSAvoidcost of inspection operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical process of physically retrieving and inspecting cleaning tools from the borehole with an optical imaging and digital image analysis system. This substitution eliminates the need for costly reentry operations while providing equivalent or superior measurement precision through digital comparison of cutting element conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If conventional cleaning tools are used without effectiveness assessment, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information occurs regarding cleaning performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning tool systemVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness data

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures images of cutting elements after the cleaning operation and compares them with pre-operation images to determine wear and damage. This feedback mechanism provides quantitative information about cleaning effectiveness, allowing operators to assess performance and make informed decisions about tool replacement or maintenance without adding significant complexity to the basic cleaning function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces digital imaging and image analysis as an intermediary between the cleaning operation and the assessment of its effectiveness. Rather than requiring direct physical inspection of the cutting elements, the intermediary process of capturing and analyzing images provides objective data about wear and performance, preserving information that would otherwise be lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250292382A1Wellbore cleaning tool evaluation

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A method for estimating an effectiveness of a wellbore cleaning operation includes acquiring digital images of selected cutting elements on a borehole cleaning tool before and after a downhole cleaning operation; comparing the digital images acquired after the downhole cleaning operation with the digital images acquired before the downhole cleaning operation to determine a wear or damage to the selected cutting elements caused by the downhole cleaning operation; and estimating an effectiveness of the cleaning operation from the determined wear or damage to the selected cutting elements.