U.S. patent application number 13/545542 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-16 for landing indicator for logging tools.
This patent application is currently assigned to BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED. The applicant listed for this patent is John G. Evans, Steven R. Radford. Invention is credited to John G. Evans, Steven R. Radford.
Application Number | 20140014329 13/545542 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49912950 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140014329 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Radford; Steven R. ; et
al. |
January 16, 2014 |
LANDING INDICATOR FOR LOGGING TOOLS
Abstract
An apparatus for evaluating an earth formation intersected by a
wellbore may include a logging tool conveyed into the wellbore
through a drilling tubular, a landing indicator associated with the
logging tool, and a sensor operatively associated with the logging
tool. In use, the landing indicator generates a pressure pulse in
the drilling tubular after contacting a travel restrictor
positioned in the drilling tubular. After the logging tool is
positioned at the target depth, the sensor makes at least one
measurement while the logging tool is in the drilling tubular and
provides an output indicative of a selected subsurface
parameter.
Inventors: |
Radford; Steven R.; (The
Woodlands, TX) ; Evans; John G.; (The Woodlands,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Radford; Steven R.
Evans; John G. |
The Woodlands
The Woodlands |
TX
TX |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
HOUSTON
TX
|
Family ID: |
49912950 |
Appl. No.: |
13/545542 |
Filed: |
July 10, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/250.01 ;
166/113 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 23/10 20130101;
E21B 47/095 20200501; E21B 47/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/250.01 ;
166/113 |
International
Class: |
E21B 47/00 20060101
E21B047/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising: a tool
configured to be conveyed into the wellbore through a drilling
tubular; a landing indicator associated with the tool, the landing
indicator being configured to generate a pressure pulse in the
drilling tubular after contacting a travel restrictor positioned
along the drilling tubular; and a sensor associated with the tool
and configured to estimate at least one selected subsurface
parameter while the tool is in the drilling tubular.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the landing indicator includes
a flow dam that selectively restricts fluid flow along a bore of
the drilling tubular.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flow dam is a pliant
member configured to collapse from a radially expanded state when
subjected to a specified fluid flow.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flow dam is configured to
generate a pressure pulse in the bore of the drilling tubular.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: a mandrel on which
the flow dam is disposed; and a sleeve configured to slide between
an first position and a second position on the mandrel, wherein the
sleeve at least partially covers the flow dam in the first
position.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the flow dam expands to the
radially expanded state after the sleeve slides to the second
position.
7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flow dam is configured to
invert.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the landing indicator is
connected to the tool to form a drop tool.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least
one of: (i) a gamma ray detector, and (ii) a neutron detector.
10. A method of using a tool in a wellbore, comprising: estimating
at least one subsurface parameter using a sensor associated with
the tool after receiving at a surface location a pressure pulse
generated by a landing indicator associated with the tool, wherein
the landing indicator generates the pressure pulse in response to
contact with a travel restrictor in a drilling tubular.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising pumping a drilling
fluid into the bore of the drilling tubular, wherein the landing
indicator includes a flow dam that is responsive to the flow of the
drilling fluid.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the flow dam responds to the
flowing fluid by expanding to a radially expanded state, wherein
the radial expansion causes a pressure increase in the flowing
fluid.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising pumping the drilling
fluid at a flow parameter selected to collapse the flow dam from
the radially expanded state, wherein the collapse causes a pressure
decrease in the flowing fluid.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting at a
surface location the pressure increase and the pressure
decrease.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the landing indicator includes
a mandrel on which the flow dam is disposed; and a sleeve
configured to slide between a first position and a second position
on the mandrel, wherein the sleeve at least partially covers the
flow dam in the first position, and further comprising moving the
sleeve from the first position to the second position after the
landing indicator contacts the travel restrictor.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising circulating fluid in
the drilling tubular while the landing indicator contacts the
travel restrictor.
17. The method of claim 10, further comprising: tripping the tool
out of the wellbore while estimating the at least one subsurface
parameter.
18. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, the apparatus comprising: a
tool configured to be conveyed into the wellbore; a landing
indicator associated with the tool, the landing indicator being
configured to generate a pressure pulse in a fluid column in the
wellbore after contacting a travel restrictor positioned in the
wellbore.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0003] This disclosure relates generally to logging a well during
tripping of a drill string.
[0004] 2. Background of the Art
[0005] Oil or gas wells are often logged to determine one or more
geological, petrophysical, geophysical, and well production
properties ("parameters of interest") using electronic measuring
instruments conveyed along a wellbore. Tools adapted to perform
such surveys are sometimes referred to as logging tools. These
tools may use electrical, acoustical, nuclear and/or magnetic
energy to investigate a formation traversed by the wellbore. Well
logging can be performed at various stages of well construction. In
some aspects, the present disclosure relates to logging tools that
may be used while a drill string is tripped out of the
wellbore.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] In aspects, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for
use in a wellbore. The apparatus may include a tool conveyed into
the wellbore through a drilling tubular, a landing indicator
associated with the tool that generates a pressure pulse in the
drilling tubular after contacting a travel restrictor positioned in
the drilling tubular, and a sensor associated with the tool that
estimates at least one selected subsurface parameter while the tool
is in the drilling tubular.
[0007] In aspects, the present disclosure provides a method of
using a tool in a wellbore. The method may include estimating at
least one subsurface parameter using a sensor associated with a
tool after receiving a pressure pulse generated by a landing
indicator associated with the tool, wherein the landing indicator
generates the pressure pulse in response to contact with a travel
restrictor in the drilling tubular.
[0008] In aspects, the present disclosure further provides an
apparatus for use in a wellbore. The tool may be configured to be
conveyed into the wellbore and have a landing indicator that
generates a pressure pulse in a fluid column in the wellbore after
contacting a travel restrictor positioned in the wellbore.
[0009] Examples of certain features of the disclosure have been
summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the
contributions they represent to the art may be appreciated. There
are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be
described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims
appended hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] For a detailed understanding of the present disclosure,
reference should be made to the following detailed description of
the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals,
wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a drilling system made in accordance with
one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a logging while tripping
device made in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a landing indicator made in accordance
with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0014] FIGS. 4 & 5 illustrate successive stages of activation
of the FIG. 3 embodiment of a landing indicator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0015] Aspects of the present disclosure provide a landing
indicator that signal when a logging tool has landed at a target
location in a wellbore. In some arrangements, the landing indicator
is attached to a logging tool and is actuated by contact with a
feature that obstructs axial travel along a bore of a drill string.
The travel restricting feature may be disposed at a selected
location along the bore of a drill string; e.g., at a bottom end of
a drill string. In response to contact with the travel restricting
feature, the landing indicator generates a discernable
short-duration pressure spike in a fluid column inside the drill
string. This pressure spike indicates to personnel that the logging
tool has landed at the target location.
[0016] Landing indicators in accordance with the present disclosure
may be used to accurately position a logging tool at a target
location inside an umbilical associated with a drilling system
adapted to form a wellbore. Referring now to FIG. 1, there is
schematically illustrated one such drilling system 10 for forming a
wellbore 12 in an earthen formation 13. While a land-based rig is
shown, these concepts and the methods are equally applicable to
offshore drilling systems. Also, the wellbore 12 may include
vertical sections, deviated sections, and horizontal sections, as
well as branch wellbores. The drilling system 10 may use a
bottomhole assembly (BHA) 14 conveyed by an umbilical such as a
drill string 16 suspended from a rig 18. The drill string 16 may
include a drill bit 20 at a distal end. The drill string 16 may be
include any known drilling tubular adapted for use in a wellbore,
e.g., jointed drill pipe, coiled tubing, casing, liner, etc.
[0017] For a variety of reasons, the drill string 16 may be
"tripped" out of a wellbore. As used herein, the term "trip" or
"tripping" refers to movement of the drill string 16 along the
wellbore 12; e.g., "tripping out" refers to extraction of the drill
string 16 from a wellbore 12. For instance, the drilling may be
completed or drill string equipment may need repair/replacement.
During these situations, an accurately positioned logging tool 50,
shown in hidden lines, may be used to acquire information relating
to the wellbore 12 and/or formation 13 while the drill string 16 is
tripped out of the wellbore 12.
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates the exemplary components of a logging
tool 50 that may be used to log a well while the drill string 16 is
tripped out of the wellbore 12. The logging tool 50 is shown
positioned inside a portion of the drill string 16 and at the
target location. In the embodiment shown, the logging tool 50
includes a power section 52, a controller 54 for operating the
logging tool 50, and a sensor section 56 for logging the well.
These components may be inside one unitary structure, within
separate interconnected modules, or otherwise associated with the
logging tool 50. The power section 52 may include resident
electrical power sources such as batteries to energize the
components of the logging tool 50. The controller 54 may include
information processing devices such as processors programmed with
instructions and memory modules for storing information acquired
during the logging activity.
[0019] The sensor section 56 includes instruments for estimating
parameters of interest relating to one or more selected subsurface
features such as the formation 13 and/or the wellbore 12. In some
embodiments of the present disclosure, the logging tool 50 resides
inside of the drill string 16. Thus, the sensor section 56 may
include instruments that can measure wellbore or formation
properties through a wall of a wellbore tubular such as the drill
string 16 or casing (not shown), including but limited to pulsed
neutron logging tools, neutron porosity tools using chemical
neutron sources, cased hole resistivity tools, or acoustic tools.
However, it should be appreciated that the teachings of the present
disclosure are not limited to any specific types of instruments.
Thus, the sensor section 56 may include resistivity tools, nuclear
magnetic resonance (NMR) tools, and other well logging tools that
provide information relating to a geological parameter, a
geophysical parameter, a petrophysical parameter, and/or a
lithological parameter. The sensor section 56 may include sensors
that output signals representative of a sensed parameter and
sources (e.g., pulsed neutrons) that emit an energy wave into the
formation 13. Other illustrative instruments used in the sensor
section 56 may estimate dielectric constant, the presence or
absence of hydrocarbons, acoustic porosity, bed boundary, formation
density, nuclear porosity and certain rock characteristics,
permeability, capillary pressure, and relative permeability. The
tools may also estimate wellbore parameters such as inclination,
azimuth, wellbore diameter, rugosity, etc. These parameters
collectively will be referred to as "subsurface" parameters.
[0020] As is known, the information obtained by the sensor section
56 should be correlated with depth along the wellbore 12 in order
to properly characterize the formation. Therefore, it is desirable
to position the logging tool 50 at a reference depth in the
wellbore 12 to enable an accurate correlation between the obtained
information and well depth. Thus, the logging tool 50 includes a
landing indicator 60 that signals to the surface that logging tool
50 has reached the reference depth, or target depth, in the
wellbore 12. In some embodiments, the target depth may be a
location proximate to the drill bit 20 (FIG. 1) or BHA 14 (FIG. 1).
In general, the target depth may be any known location along the
drill string 16.
[0021] In one embodiment, the landing indicator 60 is configured to
generate a unique and discernable pressure pulse after the logging
tool 50 reaches the target depth. As will be described below, the
landing indicator 60 interferingly contacts a travel restrictor 26
that has been fixed at a desired location in the drill string 16. A
travel restrictor 26 may be any device that projects radially
inwardly into the drill string bore 24 and presents one or more
surfaces that block passage of all or a portion of the logging tool
50. For example, the travel restrictor 26 may be a baffle plate
that is interconnected between two jointed tubulars. When actuated
by contact with the travel restrictor 26, the landing indicator 60
temporarily restricts flow and thereby generates a pressure pulse
in a fluid column in the drill string bore 24. Pressure
transducers, or other pressure detectors, in communication with the
fluid column in the drill string bore 24 may be used to detect this
pressure pulse.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the landing
indicator 60 may include a sliding sleeve 62 that is mounted on a
mandrel 64 in a telescopic fashion. The mandrel 64 has an upper
section 66 and a lower section 68. Initially, the sliding sleeve 62
is disposed around the upper section 66 and fixed to the mandrel 64
using frangible elements such as shear screws 70. The annular space
72 between the sliding sleeve 62 and the upper section 66 is sized
to receive a flow dam 74. The upper section 66 may include a
collared end 76 that secure the mandrel 64 to a connector 78. The
connector 78 may be an intermediate sub or other linking device
that couples the landing indicator 60 to the logging tool 50. Of
course, the landing indicator 60 may be associated with the logging
tool 50 using other structural arrangements as well. The lower
section 68 includes an engagement head 80 that has a diameter
greater than an inner diameter of the travel restrictor 26.
[0023] The sliding sleeve 62 may be configured to selectively
release the flow dam 74 after the landing indicator 60 reaches the
target depth. In one embodiment, the sliding sleeve 62 may be a
tubular member having one or more swab cups 82 affixed to an outer
radial surface. The swab cups 82 may be flexible ring shaped
members that restrict flow in one direction along an annulus 36
formed between the logging tool 50 and the wall of the drill string
16 (FIG. 2). The pressure differential associated with this flow
restriction generates an axial force that is applied to the sliding
sleeve 62. When the logging tool 50 is "pumped down" in the
wellbore, the swab cups 82 use this axial force to propel the
landing indicator 60 through the drill string 16. After the mandrel
64 of the landing indicator 60 seats on a travel restrictor 26, the
swab cups 82 use this axial force to shear the shear screws 70 and
slide the sliding sleeve 62 toward the lower section 68.
Optionally, a temporary locking element 71 such as a safety pin may
be used to prevent relative movement between the sliding sleeve 62
and the mandrel 64 during lifting and handling at the surface. The
locking element 71 is removed before the logging tool 50 is tripped
into the wellbore 12.
[0024] When the sliding sleeve 62 encloses the flow dam 74, the
device 54 is in the pre-activated state. When the sliding sleeve 64
slides over the lower section 68 and uncovers the flow dam 74, the
landing indicator 60 is in the activated state.
[0025] When the landing indicator 60 is in the activated state, the
flow dam 74 generates a pressure pulse in the fluid column in the
drill string bore 24. In one arrangement, the flow dam 74 may be a
pliable umbrella-like element that, when closed, nests within the
annular space 72. When activated by a specified pressure or flow
rate, the flow dam 74 first unfolds to block or occlude an annular
flow space 36 (FIG. 2) between the logging tool 50 and an inner
wall of the drill string 24 (FIG. 2). The flow dam 74 may be
constructed to maintain structural integrity and resist flow up to
a specified value (or collapse value). A fluid pressure or flow
rate in excess of the collapse value causes the flow dam 74 to
collapse. In one embodiment, the flow dam 74 collapses by
inverting, i.e., turning inside out. It should be understood that
the flow dam 74 may also collapse by shearing, fragmenting,
tearing, or breaking in a manner that reduces the resistance to
fluid flow. This reduced resistance causes the pressure in the
fluid column to drop. The radial expansion and radial collapse of
the flow dam 74 causes a pressure pulse in the drill string bore 24
that travels to the surface. In some embodiments, the flow dam 74
may be formed of a polymer (e.g., rubber) or other similar material
that is sufficiently flexible and can deform (e.g., bend or fold)
when subjected to fluid pressure. In some embodiments, the flow dam
74 may be constructed in an umbrella-like fashion having a
polymeric webbing that is reinforced by rods.
[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, in one illustrative
operation, the logging tool 50 is inserted into the bore 24 of the
drill string 16 after drilling has stopped. A variety of methods
may be used to convey and position the logging tool 50 at the
target depth. In some embodiments, the tool 50 may free fall
through the drill string bore 24 under the effect of primarily
gravity. In other embodiments, the logging tool 50 may be propelled
using hydraulic pressure. For instance, pumps 34 at the surface may
pump drilling fluid into the bore 24 to propel the logging tool 50.
In still other embodiments, a combination of gravity and hydraulic
pressure may be used to move the logging tool 50 to the target
depth.
[0027] Once at the target depth, the logging tool 50 will pass
through the various discrete stages of activation as shown in FIGS.
3-5. In FIG. 3, the logging tool 50 shown at the target depth and
having just made contact with the travel restrictor 26. Because the
travel restrictor 26 prevents downward axial movement of the
mandrel head 80, the axial loadings induce a shearing stress at the
shear screws 70. These axial loadings may be generated by the
weight of the logging tool 50 and/or pressurized drilling fluid
circulating in the drill string bore 24. At a predetermined value,
the shear screws 70 break and release the sliding sleeve 62 from
the mandrel 64.
[0028] In FIG. 4, the sliding sleeve 62 is shown shifted to the
activated position. As noted previously, gravity alone may be used
to shift the sliding sleeve 66. In that instance, the mud pumps 34
(FIG. 1) may be operated to pump fluid into the drill string bore
24. If the logging tool 50 had been "pumped down," then drilling
fluid is already flowing in the drill string bore 24. Once the flow
dam 74 is exposed to the flowing fluid, the flow dam 74 unfolds and
substantially blocks the annular passage 36 of the drill string
bore 24. By substantially, it is meant that enough fluid flow is
blocked to cause a pressure spike (increase) that can be detected
the surface. Thus, personnel monitoring the fluid pressure in the
drill string bore 24 will detect an increase in pressure. This
pressure reading provides a preliminary indication to personnel
that the logging tool 50 may have reached the target depth.
[0029] A definitive indication that the logging tool 50 has landed
at the target depth may be obtained when the logging tool 50 is in
the state shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the flow dam 74 has inverted
due to the fluid flow in the drill string bore 24 (FIG. 2)
exceeding the collapse value of the flow dam 74. The webbing of the
flow dam 74 is radially compressed such that flow along the annulus
36 is no longer substantially restricted. That is, the flow dam 74
has reduced in cross-sectional size sufficient to cause a pressure
drop that can be detected at the surface. Moreover, this pressure
drop is of sufficient magnitude as to be uniquely attributed to the
collapse of the flow dam 74. The flow dam 74 is shown covering the
swab cups 82. However, the swabs 82 can remain exposed in some
situations. It should be noted that the contact of the mandrel head
80 with the travel restrictor 26 does not substantially block fluid
flow along the drill string bore 24. That is, the travel restrictor
26 may have slots, channels, or other flow passages that allow
fluids to flow between the travel restrictor 26 and the mandrel
head 80. Thus, fluid circulation may remain substantially the same
in the period before and the period after the activation of the
landing indicator 60. During activation, the fluid circulation is
affected by the pressure pulse as described above.
[0030] The combination of a pressure increase due to activation of
the flow dam 74 as shown in FIG. 4 and the subsequent pressure drop
due to the collapse of the flow dam 74 as shown in FIG. 5 generate
a pressure signal that indicates to personnel that the logging tool
50 has landed at the target depth. A variety of flow regimes may be
used to expand and collapse the flow dam 74. For instance, the mud
pump 34 (FIG. 1) may initiate fluid flow in the drill string bore
24 with a sufficient flow rate/pressure to expand and collapse the
flow dam 74. In another regime, the pump 34 may initiate fluid flow
with sufficient flow rate/pressure to only expand the flow dam 74.
Once a pressure increase is detected, the mud pump 34 (FIG. 1) may
be adjusted to increase the flow rate/pressure to collapse the flow
dam 74.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 1, the drill string 16 may now be
tripped out of the wellbore 12. As the logging tool 50 travels
uphole, onboard sensors and related equipment log the well using
instruments discussed previously, e.g., gamma ray tools, pulsed
neutron tools, etc. As noted previously, the logging tool 50 may be
positioned inside the drill string 16. Therefore, the instruments
in the sensor section 56 are configured to use techniques that are
not impaired by an intervening barrier such as a metal tubular
wall. Also, in these embodiments, the logging tool 50 is an
"autonomous" tool in that the logging tool 50 is energized and
operated using on-board devices and components. After being
recovered at the surface, the memory modules of the logging tool 50
are accessed to retrieve the logging information. It should be
appreciated that the information obtained by the logging tool 50
can be accurately correlated with the depth along the wellbore 12
because the target depth, which is the depth at which logging
started, had been affirmatively established using the landing
indicator 60.
[0032] It should be understood that the logging tool 50 is
susceptible to various modifications and variations. For instance,
the travel restrictor 26 may allow axial passage of the mandrel 64
but block passage of the sliding sleeve 62. In that arrangement,
the impact of the sliding sleeve 62 against the travel restrictor
26 shears the shear screws 70 and allows the mandrel 64 and flow
dam 74 to continue to slide downward. The exposed flow dam 74 then
inflates and inverts as previously described. As described
previously, one or several methods may be used to shift the sliding
sleeve 62. For vertical or deviated wells, gravity may be used to
generate an impact force that shifts the sliding sleeve 62. In
horizontal wells, the swab cups 82 may be configured to provide
enough restriction to provide a significant axial force on the
sliding sleeve 62 to break shear screws 70 and slide to uncover the
flow dam 74, which inflates and then inverts to generate the
pressure signal. In another version,
[0033] In the arrangements described above, the logging tool 50 is
constructed to function as a "drop tool" (e.g., a `go devil`). A
"drop tool" is a device that is not tethered to a non-rigid carrier
such as a wireline or slickline. However, the logging tool 50 may
be constructed as a hybrid "drop tool" in that a non-rigid carrier
may be used to guide or control the logging tool 50 until the
target depth is reached. The logging tool 50 may include a quick
disconnect device that allows the non-rigid carrier to be
disconnected and retrieved to the surface before the logging tool
50 is activated. A non-rigid carrier may be a wireline (power and
data), an e-line (power only), or a slickline (no power or data).
The logging tool 50 may also include other devices such as a shock
sub (not shown) to absorb the impact of a hard landing such as when
the logging tool 50 is dropped into the wellbore 12.
[0034] While the present teachings been discussed in the context of
a logging while tripping a tool out of the wellbore, it should be
understood that embodiments of the present disclosure may be
advantageously applied to other wellbore tools. Such tools may be
drilling tools used to form a wellbore, logging tools used to
investigate a formation and/or wellbore, or well completion tools.
The landing indicators according to the present disclosure may be
used to efficiently position one or more of such tools in a
wellbore by appropriately positioning the travel restrictor in the
wellbore. Moreover, while the present disclosure discusses a
hydrocarbon producing well, the present teachings may also be used
with other types of wells (e.g., geothermal wells, water wells,
etc.) While the foregoing disclosure is directed to the one mode
embodiments of the disclosure, various modifications will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all
variations within the scope of the appended claims be embraced by
the foregoing disclosure.
* * * * *