Wireline Cased-Hole Standoff Reduces Drag in Curved Wellbores
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Solution Overview
Problem
During wireline logging operations in oil wells, wireline cables experience high drag and high tension in curved wellbores, leading to damage of the wellbore and wear of the wireline, which can prevent logging tools from reaching their target destination.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wireline cased-hole standoff (WCSO) device, comprising cable insert halves, WCSO body halves, outer shells, and fasteners, which are coupled onto the wireline cable to reduce drag and tension by minimizing contact with the wellbore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireline cable is used in curved wellbores, then logging operations can be performed, but high drag and tension cause wellbore damage and wireline wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cable stabilizer as an intermediary device between the wireline cable and the wellbore wall. This stabilizer with its engagement members contacts the wellbore wall to provide support and reduce friction, thereby decreasing drag and tension on the cable while enabling logging operations in curved wellbores without causing damage or excessive wear
Solution Approach 2:
The cable stabilizer is pre-installed on the wireline cable before deployment into the wellbore. The engagement members are positioned in advance to contact the wellbore wall at critical curvature points, providing proactive support that prevents high drag and tension conditions before they occur during logging operations
2Strength
If wireline cable experiences high drag and tension, then structural integrity may be maintained, but logging tools cannot reach target destination
Solution Approach 1:
The cable stabilizer acts as a mediator that reduces friction between the cable and wellbore wall through its engagement members. By providing mechanical support at curvature points, it decreases the drag force and tension on the cable, enabling logging tools to reach their target destination while maintaining cable structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement members of the cable stabilizer provide a counteracting force against the drag and tension forces. By contacting the wellbore wall and providing reactive support forces, the stabilizer counterbalances the harmful forces that would otherwise prevent logging tools from reaching the target destination
3Reliability
If higher grade cables are used to mitigate wear, then wireline wear is reduced, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable stabilizer serves as a protective intermediary that reduces wear on the wireline cable by providing support and reducing friction through its engagement members. This allows the use of standard-grade cables instead of higher-grade wear-resistant cables, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing operational costs
Solution Approach 2:
The cable stabilizer provides beforehand cushioning by reducing drag and tension forces before they can cause significant wear to the wireline cable. The engagement members contact the wellbore wall in advance to prevent high-stress conditions, thereby protecting the cable and extending its service life without requiring higher-grade materials
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wireline cased-hole standoff (WCSO) for installation on a wireline cable of a wellbore logging tool. In embodiments, WCSO may be capable of significantly reducing wireline cable drag in a cased-hole section of a well or wellbore as well as reduce logging tensions and improve force transmission from wellbore surface to logging tool cable head during wireline logging operations. In one embodiment, WCSO comprises two cable insert halves, two opposing WCSO body halves (an upper body and a lower body), and two outer shells (an upper low-friction shell and a lower low-friction shell). Such components may be fastened together onto the wireline cable using screws, bolts, dowel pins, spigots, or any combinations thereof.