U.S. patent application number 12/681881 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-30 for nano-robots system and methods for well logging and borehole measurements.
This patent application is currently assigned to Halliburton Offshore Service, Inc. Invention is credited to Singh Pratyush, Bhat Sumit.
Application Number | 20100242585 12/681881 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40549703 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100242585 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pratyush; Singh ; et
al. |
September 30, 2010 |
NANO-ROBOTS SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR WELL LOGGING AND BOREHOLE
MEASUREMENTS
Abstract
This invention relates to a nano-robots system and methods for
well logging and borewell measurements. In one embodiment, a
nano-robot includes a propulsion system for providing thrust in
drilling mud, with extendable fins to help steer nano-robot in the
drilling mud. The fins are also extendable to a further position
then when used for steering, so that the nano-robot may embed
itself into a formation to measure its properties, such as porosity
and permeability. In an embodiment, a nano-robot includes
electrodes to generate a voltage from the ions in the drilling mud,
and a transceiver and antenna to provide communication with other
nano-robots, and with a transponder on a drilling string so that
measured data may be transmitted to surface receivers for data
storage and analysis. Other embodiments are described and
claimed.
Inventors: |
Pratyush; Singh; (Bihar,
IN) ; Sumit; Bhat; (Jammu, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHWEGMAN, LUNDBERG & WOESSNER, P.A.
P.O. BOX 2938
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Assignee: |
Halliburton Offshore Service,
Inc
Mumbai
IN
|
Family ID: |
40549703 |
Appl. No.: |
12/681881 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
May 28, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IN2008/000335 |
371 Date: |
April 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
73/152.04 ;
901/1; 901/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 21/00 20130101;
E21B 47/01 20130101; E21B 47/12 20130101; G01V 11/002 20130101;
G01V 1/40 20130101; E21B 49/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
73/152.04 ;
901/1; 901/46 |
International
Class: |
E21B 47/12 20060101
E21B047/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 8, 2007 |
IN |
1999/MUM/2007 |
Claims
1. Nano-robots for well logging and borehole measurement
comprising: a propulsion system to provide thrust in a viscous
fluid; and a set of fins, extendable to a first position to steer
nano-robots in the viscous fluid, and extendable to a second
position to hold the apparatus into a formation.
2. Nano-robots according to claim 1, further comprising at least
one sensor to measure formation properties, properties associated
with a fracture, and pressure and temperature of the viscous
fluid.
3. Nano-robots according to claim 1, wherein the viscous fluid is
drilling mud.
4. Nano-robots according to claim 1, further comprising electrodes
to generate a voltage when immersed in the viscous fluid.
5. Nano-robots according to claim 1, further comprising: a
transceiver; and an antenna coupled to the said transceiver.
6. Nano-robots according to claim 1 further comprising a first
plate and a second plate, wherein a thrust is generated as a result
of any one of a potential difference, a temperature difference, and
a pressure difference between the first plate and the second
plate.
7. Nano-robots according to claim 1, further comprising a plate
having a first side and a second side, wherein a thrust is
generated as a result of any one of a potential difference, a
temperature difference, and a pressure difference between the first
side of the plate and the second side of the plate.
8. A nano-robots system comprising: drilling mud; a mud pump to
pump the drilling mud; a mud flow system coupled to the mud pump to
receive the drilling mud; a nano-robot; and an injector coupled to
the mud flow system to inject said nano-robot into the drilling
mud.
9. A system according to claim 8, further comprising: a borehole to
receive the drilling mud, the borehole having directional
parameters; and said nano-robot comprising at least one sensor to
measure the directional parameters.
10. A system according to claim 8, further comprising: a formation
having formation properties; and said nano-robot comprising at
least one sensor to measure the formation properties.
11. A system according to claim 10, the formation properties
including porosity and permeability.
12. A system according to claim 8, further comprising: a fracture
having fracture properties; and said nano-robot comprising at least
one sensor to measure the formation properties.
13. A system according to claim 12, the fracture properties
including permeability and conductivity damage due to residue.
14. A system according to claim 8, further comprising: a drill
string including a drill collar; and a transponder coupled to the
drill string to provide communication with the robot.
15. A system according to claim 8, further comprising: a well
casing; and a transponder coupled to the well casing to provide
communication with the robot.
16. A system according to claim 8, further comprising: a borehole;
and a formation adjacent to the borehole; said nano-robot
comprising: a propulsion system to provide thrust in the drilling
mud; and a set of fins, extendable to a first position to steer the
apparatus in the drilling mud, and extendable to a second position
to hold the apparatus into the formation.
17. A system according to claim 16, further comprising: a drill
string including a collar inside the borehole; and a transponder
coupled to the drill string; said nano-the robot further
comprising: an antenna; and a transceiver coupled to the antenna to
communicate with the transponder.
18. A system according to claim 16, the robot further comprising:
at least one sensor to measure properties of the formation.
19. A system according to claim 18, the properties of the formation
including porosity and permeability.
20. A method for well logging and borehole measurements comprising:
injecting a nano-robot into drilling mud; directing said nano-robot
into a borehole; sensing formation properties with said nano-robot;
and communicating with said nano-robot to receive data on the
formation properties.
21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising: sensing
borehole directional parameters with said nano-robot.
22. A method according to claim 20, further comprising: retrieving
said nano-robot from the drilling mud.
23. A method according to claim 20, further comprising: commanding
said nano-robot to extend fins so as to invade a formation.
24. A method for well logging and borehole measurements comprising:
injecting a nano-robot into a proppant or a fracture fluid;
generating a fracture; sensing fracture properties with said
nano-robot; and communicating with said robot to receive data on
the fracture properties.
25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising of
commanding said nano-robot to extend fins so as to invade the
fracture.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to nano-robots system and methods for
well logging and borehole measurements which are useful in reducing
associated operating costs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] LWD (Logging While Drilling) and MWD (Measurement While
Drilling) are well-established techniques in the energy services
industry for providing various logging and measurement parameters
for oil and gas wells. For example, borehole direction parameters,
such as inclination and azimuth direction, are of importance,
particularly in geo-steering and non-vertical drilling
applications. Formation properties such as porosity, permeability,
resistivity, hydrocarbon content, to name just a few, are measured
to help determine whether the well might be productive. Measuring
properties of fractures, where the fractures are created to
increase oil flow, is also of utility in determining productivity
of a well.
[0003] Tools for LWD and MWD have been developed over decades of
research and development. Many of the tools for LWD and MWD are
quite sophisticated and expensive to operate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The invention is now illustrated with the accompanying
drawings which are intended to illustrate the construction of an
embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited to the construction of the embodiment
herein described and/or illustrated by the drawings. The principles
and features of the present invention may be employed in numerous
embodiments without departing from the scope of the present
invention. Such equivalent and variant embodiments incorporating
modifications, changes, adaptations, are intended to be within the
scope of the present invention.
[0005] In the accompanying Figures:
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a nano-robot according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a well site with a nano-robot injector
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates a nano-robot injector according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates a method according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] This invention teaches the use of nano-robots in the areas
of well logging and measurement, which may be of utility in
reducing operating costs associated with well logging and
measurement.
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a robotic-type device with applications
in oil and gas well technology. Such an embodiment may be referred
to as a nano-robot. Although the prefix nano is usually used to
denote one billionth of some unit, the term nano-robot is not meant
to imply that embodiments are limited to a size not greater than
one billionth of some typical unit, such as a meter. Rather, the
prefix nano in nano-robot is used merely to denote that some
embodiments may be relatively small.
[0012] As an example of their relative size, a nano-robot, or a
number of nano-robots, may be injected into drilling mud or
completion fluid (or other viscous fluid) to provide data, such as
well temperature, directional parameters of a drill, and other
petrophysical parameters. For such applications, an embodiment
nano-robot may be designed small enough to circulate through the
drilling mud to collect such data, which may be stored or
transmitted. As another example, an embodiment nano-robot may be
designed small enough so as to invade a formation or fracture to
provide data of interest. Such possible applications are described
in more detail later.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, within outer-shield 102 are functional
units (components): controller 104; sensors 105 and 106; fins 108
and 110; motors 112, 114, 116, and 118; transceiver 120; antenna
122, electrodes 124 and 125; and power regulator circuit 126.
[0014] FIG. 1 implies that outer-shield 102 may be spherical in
shape for some embodiments. As is well known, a sphere has the
largest volume to surface area ratio. However, other embodiments
may have an outer-shell having a geometric shape other than a
sphere. For some embodiments, outer-shield 102 may comprise one or
more alloys of carbon. For example, a passive diamond material may
be of utility due to its high surface energy and strong
hydrophobicity, as well as chemical inertness. A passive diamond
has a cage-like structure created from bonding nano-carbon
particles to give a much higher strength than diamond.
[0015] Controller 104 provides control and communication to some or
all of the various components in a nano-robot. Controller 104 may
also include memory to store or buffer data received or sent to
some or all of the various components. Controller 104 may be
programmable, running under software or firmware instructions.
Electrodes 124 and 125 comprise planar metal strips or plates used
to generate electrical power from ions in the surrounding mud or
fluid. For some embodiments, electrodes 124 and 125 may be
conformal with outer-shield 102. There may be a number of such
electrodes placed about outer-shield 102, but for simplicity only
electrodes 124 and 125 are illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0016] For some embodiments, electrical power used to generate
thrust may be provided by characteristics other than a potential
difference due to the ions. For example, a temperature difference,
or a pressure difference, between two plates may be utilized. In
some embodiments, a single plate (which may have a nonconductive
interior) having two sides (faces) may be used, so that the
generated electrical power for the thrust may generated as a result
of a potential difference, a temperature difference, or a pressure
difference between the first side of the plate and the second side
of the plate.
[0017] Power regulator circuit 126 provides voltage regulation, and
includes components, such as for example capacitors, for storing
charge. Such stored charge may be generated when electrodes 124 and
125 are subject to an ionic imbalance, such as when the nano-robot
embodiment is in a salt dome. The stored charge may be depleted
when the nano-robot embodiment is not in a zone that has an ionic
imbalance, or when extra power is needed for quick steering or
propulsion. In addition to power generated from electrodes 124 and
125, a battery, fuel cell, or other power generating device may be
employed. Some embodiments may not employ electrodes. (For ease of
illustration, connections between power regulator 126 and other
components are not explicitly shown so as not to clutter the
illustration.)
[0018] Motors 112, 114, 116, and 118 provide thrust, either
separately or in combination, to propel the nano-robot. For some
embodiments, a motor may comprise a propeller. For other
embodiments, a motor may pump out fluid to provide thrust, or a
motor may comprise a flexible membrane to push against the mud.
Outer-shield 102 is dashed about these motors to indicate that
there may be an opening at the motor positions, or that
outer-shield 102 may be removable at these positions to allow
propellers to extend from the motors. The embodiment of FIG. 1
explicitly shows four motors, but a different number of motors may
be employed in other embodiments. Some embodiments may utilize mud
circulation to move.
[0019] Sequencing the thrusting action of motors 112, 114, 116, and
118 may provide some directional thrusts to steer the nano-robot.
For example, synchronizing the thrusts of motors 116 and 118, but
keeping motors 112 and 114 off, will help steer the nano-robot to
the right (with respect to the illustration of FIG. 1). Fins 108
and 110 may also aid in steering. Fins 108 and 110 may slide out of
their respective holders, 128 and 130. For some embodiments, some
or all of fins 108 and 110 may extend outside of outer-shield 102
up to a fraction, e.g., 25% for some embodiments, of their length
when used for steering. For example, to help steer downward, motors
114 and 116 may thrust synchronously with fins 108 and 110 extended
to 25% of their length, but where motors 112 and 118 are off. For
simplicity, only two fins are explicitly illustrated in FIG. 1, but
in practice, more fins may be included in an embodiment.
[0020] The fins may also provide additional functions. For example,
fins 108 and 110 may extend outside of outer-shield 102 to a
fraction of their length, greater than for the case when used for
steering, when the nano-robot is to invade a formation. Extending
the fins when invading a formation may help prevent the nano-robot
from re-entering the borehole. For some embodiments, the fins may
extend up to 75% of their length when a nano-robot is to embed
itself in a formation. Other embodiments may make use of a
different fractional amount of fin extension. For such an
application, the fins may help in embedding the nano-robot into
small porous channels for the formation.
[0021] Sensors 105 and 106 are deployed to collect measurements,
such as borehole temperature, directional parameters, borehole
pressure, formation properties, thickness of hydrocarbon zone, and
mud environment, to name a few examples. When the nano-robots enter
the formation, other types of petrophysical parameters may be
measured, such as effective porosity and permeability, and
oil-water contact, to name just a couple of examples. For
simplicity, only two sensors are shown, but in practice, the number
of sensors may be other than two in number. Also, some or all of
the sensors may be deployed on the outside of outer-shield 102, but
for ease of illustration, sensors 105 and 106 are shown inside the
nano-robot adjacent to outer-shield 102.
[0022] Also, a nano-robot may be used to enter a fracture. In
hydraulic fracturing, additional passageways in an oil reservoir
are created to facilitate the flow of oil to a producing well. For
example, reservoir having oil-containing rocks with restricted pore
volume an connectivity that impede the flow of oil, are sometime
fractured by injecting a fluid containing sand or other proppant
under pressure to create fractures in the rock through which the
oil may more easily flow. For such applications, an embodiment may
include injecting nano-robots with the proppants so that they may
be pumped into the fracture. The nano-robots may sense and transmit
data associated with the fracture; such as for example fracture
conductivity, how much residue is left in the fracture,
permeability, and other petrophysical parameters. In such
applications, for some embodiments the nano-robots may not be
retrieved, but simply left in the fracture. The number of
nano-robots to be injected may be determined by an algorithm, which
may depend upon the fracture length and height, and the proppant
volume to be pumped.
[0023] Transceiver 120 comprises a transmitter and receiver coupled
to antenna 122 so that the nano-robot may communicate with other
nano-robots, as well as other communication devices, such as a
transponder (transceiver) on a drill bit assembly. Antenna 122 may
be a patch antenna, and may be conformal with outer-shield 102.
Other embodiments may employ different antenna designs other than a
patch.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates, in simplified form, a system including
nano-robots, nano-robots injector, well and accompanying
infrastructure according to an embodiment. A well is shown with
surface casing 202 and intermediate casing 204, where the arrows
indicate mud flow direction. Starting from mud pump 206, mud flows
through stand pipe 208, mud flow line 210, swivel 212, Kelly 214,
and through drill pipe 216, out of bit 218 into the well, and then
upward through annulus 220 to retrieval 222. Retrieval 222
retrieves the nano-robots. For some embodiments, during retrieval,
the nano-robots are expected to flow back to the surface by
assistance of the drilling mud. At the mud surface, retrieval 222
may comprise a chamber placed before the shale shaker to assist in
retrieving. Some embodiments may not employ retrieval 222, for
example, if nano-robots were relatively inexpensive they may be
considered waste product along with other debris. The mud flow then
continues to shaker and mud pit 224, whereupon it is provided to
mud pump 206, and the mud flow process repeats.
[0025] For the embodiment of FIG. 2, injector 226 is located after
mud pump 206 with respect to the mud flow. Its function is to
inject nano-robots into the mud flow. For some embodiments, it is
attached at a convenient position before the goose neck on the mud
flow line. Injector 226 is coupled by way of a non-returning valve,
which allows one way injection of nano-robots into the mud flow (or
fracturing fluid flow if hydraulic fracturing is in progress), and
mitigates the return of mud flow (or fracturing fluid flow) into
injector 226.
[0026] For some embodiments, transponder 228 on drill collar 230 is
used to receive information from nano-robots, and to relay such
information to receivers at the drilling site. Transponder 228 may
also receive information from surface transmitters, and relay such
information to the nano-robots. For some embodiments, transponder
228 may communicate to the surface wirelessly using a lower
frequency, and a higher power, than that available to nano-robots.
In this way, communication from devices on the surface to the
nano-robots deep within a wellbore is facilitated. For some
embodiments, communication between transponder 228 and the surface
may be by way of an electrical cable, or fiber optic, to name a
couple of examples. For the case of hydraulic fracturing, for some
embodiments a transponder may be placed on the bottom of casing
202, in the vicinity of the formation, and may be cemented in
place.
[0027] By providing communication between the nano-robots in a
borehole and surface devices, control information may be provided
to the nano-robots, such as for example the type of measurements
that should be made. Also, data provided by the nano-robots may be
stored in surface computers in field service vehicle 232. FIG. 2
illustrates an application of nano-robots to vertical well
drilling. However, nano-robots have application to other types of
well drilling, such as for example non-vertical drilling involving
coiled tubing.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates an injector according to an embodiment.
Operation of injector 226 is controlled by microprocessor 302. To
simplify the drawing, communication paths between microprocessor
302 and the various components in injector 226 are not explicitly
indicated. Bus 304 provides communication to interface device 306
to allow communication with external devices. Interface device 306
may be a wireless device, or an interconnect, for example.
[0029] Robot holding cartridge 308 holds nano-robots in suspension
of a suitable fluid so that they may be ready for loading.
Cartridge releasing and holding 309 is a device used to facilitate
the release and reloading of robot holding cartridge 308 into
injector 226, and is operated by microprocessor 302. Gate
controller 310, under control of microprocessor 302, operates gate
312 to allow nano-robots held in robot holding cartridge 308 to
enter robot acceleration device 314. Robot acceleration device
accelerates nano-robots to a velocity equal to (or sufficiently
close to) the velocity of the mud flow. This helps prevent abrupt
acceleration of the nano-robots.
[0030] When robot acceleration device 314 brings the nano-robots to
a sufficiently high velocity, gate controller 316 causes gate 318
to open so that the nano-robots may exit robot acceleration device
314 and enter mud flowline connector 320. Gate controller 322
causes gate 324 to open so that the nano-robots may eject injector
226.
[0031] FIG. 3 is merely one example of an embodiment injector. For
other embodiments, acceleration of the nano-robots may not be
performed, for example if the nano-robots are designed to withstand
a sudden acceleration from rest to the velocity of the mud flow (or
fracturing fluid flow).
[0032] FIG. 4 summarizes very briefly a process cycle for using
nano-robots, as discussed above. Nano-robots are injected (block
402) into the mud flow, whereupon communication and control (block
404) is provided between nano-robots themselves, and between
nano-robots and surface computers. This communication may include
providing commands to the nano-robots, whereby some or all of the
nano-robots may be commanded to invade formations, fractures, or
propel themselves to the surface for retrieval. Also, data sent by
nano-robots to the surface may be stored on surface computers, as
discussed previously. Nano-robots are retrieved (block 406) from
the mud flow, whereupon they are available for re-use.
[0033] Although the subject matter has been described in language
specific to structural features and methodological acts, it is to
be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended
claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts
described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described
above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
Accordingly, various modifications may be made to the described
embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as
claimed below.
* * * * *