Wireline Cable Axial Wave Reflection Control and Sticking Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireline cable sticking to borehole walls causes operational issues, including loss of tools due to excessive adhering force, and current surface drive systems struggle to effectively control axial wave reflections and detect sticking in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that deploy a wireline tool with a cable, measuring physical parameters like tension and motion, and using an actuator on the surface to control cable velocity, reducing axial wave reflections and detecting sticking by inducing and measuring axial waves, while maintaining surface control over the tool's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If surface drive systems use traditional hydraulic pump control, then operator control over cable tension is achieved, but axial wave reflections cannot be effectively reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback control mechanism where axial wave measurements are continuously taken and used to adjust actuator output. The controller receives measurements from sensors monitoring cable tension and axial wave characteristics, then dynamically adjusts the actuator to counteract wave reflections, resolving the contradiction between operator control and reflection reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional hydraulic pump control with an actuator system that can be precisely controlled based on real-time measurements. This substitution enables dynamic adjustment of cable tension to reduce axial wave reflections while maintaining operator control through the control system interface.
2Reliability
If cable velocity is controlled to reduce axial wave reflections, then wave reflections are reduced, but real-time detection of sticking becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the detection functions into distinct measurement components: one set of sensors specifically measures axial wave characteristics for reflection reduction control, while another set monitors tension and motion parameters specifically for sticking detection. This segmentation allows both functions to operate independently and effectively simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system integrates multiple measurement and control functions into a single unified platform. The same actuator that reduces axial wave reflections can also induce axial waves for sticking detection, and the control system processes multiple measurement types to achieve both reflection reduction and sticking detection goals.
3Reliability
If axial oscillatory motion is induced to inhibit sticking, then sticking is prevented, but cable position control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies periodic axial oscillatory motion through the actuator to prevent cable sticking. This periodic action creates small vibrations in the cable that inhibit adhesion to the borehole wall, while the control system manages the oscillation parameters to maintain overall position control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts actuator operation to balance two functions: inducing axial oscillations for sticking prevention while maintaining cable position control. The system modulates the oscillation amplitude and frequency based on real-time measurements, allowing both functions to coexist without excessive complexity.
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
Significantly reduces axial wave reflections and allows for effective detection of sticking, preventing tool loss and operational disruptions by using feedforward and proportional control of cable velocity, and inducing axial oscillatory motion to inhibit sticking.
Implementation Method 1
actuating the cable to induce an axial wave propagating along the cable so as to inhibit sticking of the cable within the borehole
Implementation Method 2
making a measurement relating to a physical cable parameter, such as cable tension and/or cable motion
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for axial vibration control of wireline tools and cables during logging operations. In undesirable cases the axial vibrations may lead to or exasperate the stick-slip problems of the logging tool. Control systems and strategies to minimize vibrations and techniques for identifying and inhibiting the sticking of the cable. A system includes a surface actuator and a sensor. The actuator generates an axial wave on the wireline cable which travels down the cable. If there is sticking of the cable, a reflection can also occur at the location of sticking. This shift in the transmission of the wave on the wireline cable is used to identify the onset and/or presence of sticking.