U.S. patent application number 16/216297 was filed with the patent office on 2020-06-11 for downhole trigger tool.
The applicant listed for this patent is Schlumberger Technology Corporation. Invention is credited to Fabio Cecconi, Vincent Chatelet.
Application Number | 20200182012 16/216297 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 70972545 |
Filed Date | 2020-06-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200182012 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cecconi; Fabio ; et
al. |
June 11, 2020 |
Downhole Trigger Tool
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for triggering a downhole tool. The tool
string may have an electrical power source and a trigger tool that
may be configured for receiving electrical power from the
electrical power source and outputting different forms of
electrical power each being different from the form of electrical
power received from the electrical power source. Each form of
electrical power output by the trigger tool may initiate operation
of a corresponding one of different electro-mechanical tools
connectable within the downhole tool string. A trigger command is
transmitted from the surface equipment to the trigger tool to cause
the trigger tool to output electrical power having a form
corresponding to the electro-mechanical tool connected within the
tool string to thereby initiate operation of such
electro-mechanical tool.
Inventors: |
Cecconi; Fabio;
(Roissy-en-France, FR) ; Chatelet; Vincent;
(Roissy-en-France, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Schlumberger Technology Corporation |
Sugar Land |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
70972545 |
Appl. No.: |
16/216297 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 34/066 20130101;
E21B 47/017 20200501; E21B 43/1185 20130101; E21B 41/0085 20130101;
E21B 47/26 20200501; E21B 47/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 34/06 20060101
E21B034/06; E21B 41/00 20060101 E21B041/00; E21B 47/12 20060101
E21B047/12 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: positioning a tool string at a target depth
within a wellbore via a cable connected with surface equipment
disposed at a wellsite surface beneath which the wellbore extends,
wherein the tool string comprises: an electrical power source; and
a trigger tool configured for: receiving electrical power from the
electrical power source; and outputting different forms of
electrical power each being different from the form of electrical
power received from the electrical power source, wherein each form
of electrical power output by the trigger tool is operable to
initiate operation of a corresponding one of a plurality of
different electro-mechanical tools connectable within the downhole
tool string; and transmitting a trigger command from the surface
equipment to the trigger tool via the cable to cause the trigger
tool to output electrical power having a form corresponding to one
of the different electro-mechanical tools connected within the tool
string to thereby initiate operation of the electro-mechanical tool
connected within the tool string.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein: one of a plurality of different
crossovers is connected within the tool string to connect the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string with the
trigger tool; the different crossovers each comprise a
corresponding hardware coding corresponding to one of the different
electro-mechanical tools connectable within the tool string; and
the method further comprises determining whether the hardware
coding of the crossover connected within the tool string
corresponds to the electro-mechanical tool connected within the
tool string.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising: if the hardware coding
of the crossover connected within the tool string is determined to
correspond to the electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool
string, configuring the surface equipment to permit the
transmission of the trigger command to the trigger tool; and if the
hardware coding of the crossover connected within the tool string
is determined not to correspond to the electro-mechanical tool
connected within the tool string, configuring the surface equipment
to prevent the transmission of the trigger command to the trigger
tool.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string was
triggered in response to the trigger command transmission.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising acquiring real-time,
downhole data and transmitting the data to the surface equipment
via the cable, wherein determining whether the electro-mechanical
tool connected within the tool string was triggered utilizes the
data.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein acquiring the data is via
operation of the electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool
string.
7. The method of claim 4 further comprising: if the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string was
determined to be triggered, removing the tool string from the
wellbore; and if the electro-mechanical tool connected within the
tool string was determined to not be triggered, repeating the
trigger command transmission up to a predetermined number of
times.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the electro-mechanical tool
connected within the tool string is a first electro-mechanical
tool, wherein the form of the electrical power output by the
trigger tool is a first form of electrical power output by the
trigger tool, and wherein the method further comprises:
disconnecting the first electro-mechanical tool from the tool
string; connecting within the tool string a second one of the
plurality of different electro-mechanical tools connectable within
the downhole tool string; and transmitting a trigger command from
the surface equipment to the trigger tool via the cable to cause
the trigger tool to output electrical power having a second form
corresponding to the second one of the electro-mechanical tools
connected within the tool string to thereby initiate operation of
the second electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool
string, wherein the first and second electro-mechanical tools are
different, and wherein the first and second forms of electrical
power are different.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the form of the electrical power
is defined by one or more of electrical voltage, electrical
current, and duration of time the electrical power is applied.
10. An apparatus comprising: a trigger tool connectable within a
tool string and deployable within a wellbore, wherein the trigger
tool comprises a plurality of electrical power converter sets each
comprising one or more power converters, wherein each electrical
power converter set is electrically connectable with an electrical
power source, and wherein each electrical power converter set is
operable to: receive electrical power from the electrical power
source; and output a corresponding electrical power operable to
initiate operation of a corresponding one of a plurality of
different electro-mechanical tools connectable within the downhole
tool string, wherein the electrical power output by each electrical
power converter set has a form that is different from the form of
the electrical power received by such electrical power converter
set from the electrical power source, and wherein the form of
electrical power output by each electrical power converter set is
different from the form of electrical power output by another of
the electrical power converter sets; wherein the trigger tool is
operable to initiate operation of one of the different
electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole tool string
by outputting electrical power by one of the electrical power
converter sets corresponding to the electro-mechanical tool
connected within the downhole tool string, and wherein each of the
different electro-mechanical tools is connectable within the tool
string one at a time.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the trigger tool is
communicatively connected with a surface controller located at a
wellsite surface from which the wellbore extends via a telemetry
device of the tool string, and wherein the trigger tool is operable
to initiate operation of one of the different electro-mechanical
tools connected within the downhole tool string based on a control
command received from the surface controller via the telemetry
device.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein, based on the control command
from the surface controller, the trigger tool is operable to cause
one of the electrical power converter sets corresponding to one of
the different electro-mechanical tools connected within the
downhole tool string to output electrical power to such
electro-mechanical tool and thereby initiate operation of such
electro-mechanical tool.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the different
electro-mechanical tools comprise one or more of a fluid sampling
tool, a dump bailer, a plug setting tool, a plug, a tubular cutter
tool, and a perforating tool.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the electrical power source
is or comprises an electrical battery disposed within the tool
string.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the form of electrical power
is defined by at least one of electrical voltage, electrical
current, and duration of time the electrical power is applied.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tool string comprises: a
telemetry device operable to communicatively connect the trigger
tool with a surface controller located at a wellsite surface from
which the wellbore extends; one of the different electro-mechanical
tools; one of a plurality of different crossovers each operable to
mechanically and electrically couple together the trigger tool and
a corresponding one of the different electro-mechanical tools,
wherein the one crossover mechanically and electrically couples
together the trigger tool and the one electro-mechanical tool; and
the electrical power source.
17. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a crossover
mechanically and electrically coupling together the trigger tool
and one of the different electro-mechanical tools connected within
the downhole tool string, wherein the crossover comprises an
electrical conductor extending between opposing electrical couplers
of the crossover, wherein the electrical conductor electrically
connects the electro-mechanical tool connected within the downhole
tool string with a corresponding one of the electrical power
converter sets, and wherein the electrical conductor is configured
to not electrically connect the electro-mechanical tool connected
within the downhole tool string with another of the electrical
power converter sets.
18. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprises a capacitor
operable to store the electrical power output by a corresponding
one of the electrical power converter sets, and wherein the trigger
tool is operable to initiate operation of one of the different
electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole tool string
by causing the capacitor to discharge the stored electrical power
to such electro-mechanical tool connected within the downhole tool
string.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a crossover
mechanically and electrically coupling together the trigger tool
and one of the different electro-mechanical tools connected within
the downhole tool string, wherein the crossover comprises the
capacitor.
20. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the trigger tool comprises: a
control module comprising: a controller; and an electrical coupler;
and one or more power conversion modules each comprising: the
electrical power converter sets; and an electrical coupler
configured to interface with the electrical coupler of the control
module to electrically connect together the controller and the
electrical power converter sets.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] Wells are generally drilled into land surface or ocean bed
to recover deposits of oil, gas, and other natural resources that
are trapped in subterranean geological formations in the Earth's
crust. A wellbore may be drilled along a trajectory to reach one or
more subterranean formations containing such natural resources.
[0002] Various well deployment lines (e.g., cables, slicklines,
wirelines, multilines, etc.) may be utilized to convey downhole
tools within the wellbore to reach the oil and gas deposits and to
perform various formation and fluid measurements and sampling.
Information about the subterranean formations and the natural
resources they contain may be utilized to predict economic value,
production capacity, and production lifetime of the subterranean
formation. Deployment lines may also convey downhole tools for
performing well treatment and/or well intervention operations
within the wellbore, such as to increase well production.
Deployment lines have the ability to pass through completion or
other downhole tubulars and to deploy a wide array of downhole
tools and technologies, such as may be utilized for opening and
closing valves, placing packings or other elements, and perforating
walls of the downhole tubulars. Deployment lines may also transmit
electrical energy and information between a wellsite surface and
the downhole tools. A typical downhole deployment system includes a
deployment line, a reel for storing the line, an apparatus (e.g., a
winch) for conveying the line into and out of the wellbore, and
surface well control apparatus at a wellhead. A wireline deployment
line has the ability to convey downhole power directly from the
surface, but a slickline deployment line, while more compact and
easier to deploy, does not have the ability to convey power from
the surface.
[0003] As wellbores are drilled deeper and become more complex,
downhole tools become increasingly specialized in operations they
perform. Electro-mechanical downhole tools, such as sampling and
well intervention tools, each consume electrical power having a
unique or different combination of voltage, current, and/or time of
duration operable to drive or otherwise energize its specific
internal components. Each such electro-mechanical tool may be
powered from the surface via a wireline cable or utilize a unique
electrical power source (e.g., a battery or ultra-capacitor) that
is included in the tool string when the tool string is conveyed via
a slickline cable. Such arrangement increases the quantity of
electrical power sources that have to be transported to a wellsite
and mandates that a different electrical power source be included
within a tool string each time a different electro-mechanical tool
is deployed downhole.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts that are further described below in the detailed
description. This summary is not intended to identify indispensable
features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use
as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0005] The present disclosure introduces a method including
positioning a tool string at a target depth within a wellbore via a
cable connected with surface equipment disposed at a wellsite
surface beneath which the wellbore extends. The tool string
includes an electrical power source, as well as a trigger tool that
receives electrical power from the electrical power source and
outputs different forms of electrical power each being different
from the form of electrical power received from the electrical
power source. Each form of electrical power output by the trigger
tool is operable to initiate operation of a corresponding one of
different electro-mechanical tools connectable within the downhole
tool string. The method also includes transmitting a trigger
command from the surface equipment to the trigger tool via the
cable to cause the trigger tool to output electrical power having a
form corresponding to one of the different electro-mechanical tools
connected within the tool string to thereby initiate operation of
the electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string.
[0006] The present disclosure also introduces an apparatus
including a trigger tool connectable within a tool string and
deployable within a wellbore. The trigger tool includes electrical
power converter sets each comprising one or more power converters.
Each electrical power converter set is electrically connectable
with an electrical power source. Each electrical power converter
set is operable to receive electrical power from the electrical
power source and output a corresponding electrical power operable
to initiate operation of a corresponding one of different
electro-mechanical tools connectable within the downhole tool
string. The electrical power output by each electrical power
converter set has a form that is different from the form of the
electrical power received by such electrical power converter set
from the electrical power source. The form of electrical power
output by each electrical power converter set is different from the
form of electrical power output by another of the electrical power
converter sets. The trigger tool is operable to initiate operation
of one of the different electro-mechanical tools connected within
the downhole tool string by outputting electrical power by one of
the electrical power converter sets corresponding to the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the downhole tool string.
Each of the different electro-mechanical tools is connectable
within the tool string one at a time.
[0007] These and additional aspects of the present disclosure are
set forth in the description that follows, and/or may be learned by
a person having ordinary skill in the art by reading the material
herein and/or practicing the principles described herein. At least
some aspects of the present disclosure may be achieved via means
recited in the attached claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present disclosure is understood from the following
detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is
emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the
industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the
dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or
reduced for clarity of discussion.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an
example implementation of apparatus according to one or more
aspects of the present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an
example implementation of apparatus according to one or more
aspects of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an
example implementation of apparatus according to one or more
aspects of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an
example implementation of apparatus according to one or more
aspects of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an
example implementation of apparatus according to one or more
aspects of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an
example implementation of apparatus according to one or more
aspects of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a flow-chart diagram of at least a portion of an
example implementation of a method according to one or more aspects
of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] It is to be understood that the following disclosure
provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing
different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of
components and arrangements are described below to simplify the
present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are
not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure
may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various
examples. This repetition is for simplicity and clarity, and does
not in itself dictate a relationship between the various
embodiments and/or configurations discussed. Moreover, the
formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the
description that follows may include embodiments in which the first
and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also
include embodiments in which additional features may be formed
interposing the first and second features, such that the first and
second features may not be in direct contact.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an
example implementation of a wellsite system 100 according to one or
more aspects of the present disclosure. The wellsite system 100
represents an example environment in which one or more aspects of
the present disclosure may be implemented. It is also noted that
although the wellsite system 100 is depicted as an onshore
implementation, it is understood that the aspects described below
are also generally applicable to offshore implementations. The
wellsite system 100 is depicted in relation to a wellbore 102
(i.e., a cavity) formed by rotary and/or directional drilling and
extending from a wellsite surface 104 into a subterranean formation
106. The wellsite system 100 may be utilized to facilitate recovery
of oil, gas, and/or other materials that are trapped in the
subterranean formation 106 via the wellbore 102.
[0018] The wellbore 102 may be a cased-hole implementation
comprising an outer tubular pipe, referred to as casing 108,
secured by cement 109. However, one or more aspects of the present
disclosure are also applicable to and/or readily adaptable for
utilizing in open-hole implementations lacking the casing 108 and
cement 109. The wellbore 102 may also contain one or more inner
tubular pipes, such as production tubing (not shown) having a
smaller diameter and mounted within the casing 108. The production
tubing may be wedged inside the casing 108 by packings.
[0019] The wellsite system 100 includes surface equipment 130
located at the wellsite surface 104 and a downhole intervention and
sensor assembly, referred to as a tool string 110, suspended within
the casing 108 via a line 120 operably coupled with one or more
pieces of the surface equipment 130. The wellbore 102 may be capped
by a plurality (e.g., a stack) of fluid control valves, spools, and
fittings 140 (e.g., a Christmas tree) collectively operable to
control the flow of formation fluids from the wellbore 102. The
fluid control devices 140 may be mounted on top of a wellhead 132,
which may include a plurality of selective access valves operable
to close selected tubulars or pipes, such as the production tubing
and/or casing 108, extending within the wellbore 102.
[0020] The tool string 110 may be deployed into or retrieved from
the wellbore 102 through a sealing and alignment assembly 134
mounted on the fluid control devices 140 and operable to seal the
line 120 during deployment, conveyance, intervention, and other
wellsite operations. The sealing and alignment assembly 134 may
comprise a lock chamber 136 (e.g., a lubricator, an airlock, a
riser) mounted on the fluid control devices 140, a stuffing box 138
operable to seal around the line 120 at top of the lock chamber
136, and return pulleys 142 operable to guide the line 120 between
the stuffing box 138 and the surface equipment 130 connected with
the line 120. The stuffing box 138 may be operable to seal around
an outer surface of the line 120, for example via annular packings
applied around the surface of the line 120 and/or by injecting a
fluid between the outer surface of the line 120 and an inner wall
of the stuffing box 138.
[0021] The surface equipment 130 further comprises a winch
conveyance system 150 (i.e., a winch unit) operably connected with
the line 120. The winch conveyance system 150 may be operable to
selectively wind and unwind the line 120 to apply an adjustable
tensile force to the tool string 110 to selectively convey the tool
string 110 along the wellbore 102. The winch conveyance system 150
may comprise a line reel or drum 152 configured to store thereon a
wound length of the line 120. The drum 152 may be rotatably
connected with a stationary base or frame 154 of the winch
conveyance system 150, such that the drum 152 may be rotated to
wind and unwind the line 120. The winch conveyance system 150 may
include a line tension sensor (e.g., a load cell) (not shown) to
facilitate determination of weight of the tool string and/or a
rotary sensor (e.g., an encoder) (not shown) in association with
the drum 152 to facilitate determination of depth of the tool
string 110 within the wellbore 102. The drum 152 may be selectively
rotated by an electrical or hydraulic motor (not shown).
[0022] The line 120 may be or comprise a wire, a cable, a wireline,
a slickline, a multiline, an e-line, and/or other conveyance means.
The line 120 may comprise one or more metal support wires or cables
configured to support the weight of the downhole tool string 110.
The line 120 may also comprise one or more insulated electrical
and/or optical conductors operable to transmit electrical energy
(i.e., electrical power) and electrical and/or optical signals
(e.g., information, data), such as may permit transmission of
electrical energy, data, and/or control signals between the tool
string 110 and one or more of the surface equipment 130.
[0023] The wellsite system 100 may also comprise a control center
160 from which various portions of the wellsite system 100 may be
monitored and controlled by a human wellsite operator. The control
center 160 may be located at the wellsite surface 104 or on a
structure located at the wellsite surface 104, however, the control
center 160 may instead be located remotely from the wellsite 104.
The control center 160 may contain or comprise a surface controller
162 (e.g., a processing device, a computer) operable to monitor
operations of one or more portions of the wellsite system 100
and/or to provide control of one or more portions of the wellsite
system 100, including the winch conveyance system 150 and tool
string 110. The surface controller 162 may include input devices
for receiving commands from the wellsite operator and output
devices for displaying information to the wellsite operator. The
surface controller 162 may store executable programs and/or
instructions, including for implementing one or more aspects of
methods, processes, and operations described herein. The surface
controller 162 may be communicatively connected with various
equipment of the wellsite system 100 described herein, such as may
permit the surface controller 162 to receive signals from and
transmit signals to such equipment to perform various wellsite
operations described herein. The surface controller 162 may be
communicatively and/or electrically connected with the tool string
110 via the line 120 and a conductor 122 connected with the line
120 via a rotatable joint or coupling 124 (e.g., a collector)
carried by the drum 152. However, the tool string 110 may also or
instead be communicatively connected with the surface controller
162 by other means, such as capacitive or inductive coupling.
[0024] The tool string 110 may comprise a plurality of downhole
tools 111-117 mechanically, electrically, and/or communicatively
coupled together via corresponding mechanical, electrical, and/or
optical couplings and corresponding electrical and/or optical
conductors extending through one or more of the tools 111-117. Such
electrical and/or optical couplings and conductors may permit one
or more of the tools 111-117 to be communicatively connected with
the surface controller 162 via the electrical and/or optical
conductors of the line 120 and conductor 122. For example, the line
120 and conductor 122 may conduct electrical energy, data, and/or
control signals between the surface controller 162 and one or more
of the tools 111-117. The downhole tools 111-117 may each be or
comprise at least a portion of one or more downhole apparatus,
subs, modules, and/or other tools operable in slickline, wireline,
completion, production, and/or other implementations.
[0025] In an example implementation of the tool string 110, the
downhole tool 111 may be or comprise a cable head operable to
mechanically and communicatively connect the line 120 with the tool
string 110. The downhole tool 112 may be a control tool comprising
a downhole controller operable to receive and/or store control
signals from the surface controller 162 for controlling one or more
tools 111-117 of the tool string 110. The control tool may be
further operable to store and/or communicate with the surface
controller 162 signals or information generated by one or more
sensors or instruments of the tools 111-117. The control tool may
include a downhole transmitter/receiver (i.e., a telemetry device),
such as may be operable to receive electrical and/or optical
control signals transmitted from the surface controller 162 via the
line 120 and conductor 122, and to transmit tool status, sensor
signals, and other information to the surface controller 162 via
the line 120 and conductor 122.
[0026] The downhole tool 113 may be or comprise a wellbore
positioning tool. For example, the wellbore positioning tool may
comprise inclination sensors and/or other orientation sensors, such
as one or more accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopic sensors
(e.g., micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS)), and/or other
sensors for utilization in determining the orientation of the tool
string 110 relative to the wellbore 102. The wellbore positioning
tool may further comprise a depth correlation tool, such as a
casing collar locator (CCL) for detecting ends of casing collars by
sensing a magnetic irregularity caused by the relatively high mass
of an end of a collar of the casing 108. The correlation tool may
also or instead be or comprise a gamma ray (GR) tool that may be
utilized for depth correlation. The CCL and/or GR tools may
transmit signals in real-time to the surface controller 162 via the
line 120 and conductor 122. The CCL and/or GR signals may be
utilized to determine the position of the tool string 110 or
portions thereof, such as with respect to known casing collar
numbers and/or positions within the wellbore 102. Therefore, the
CCL and/or GR tools may be utilized to detect and/or log the
location of the tool string 110 within the wellbore 102, such as
during deployment within the wellbore 102 or other downhole
operations. The downhole tool 114 may be or comprise a power
source, such as an electrical energy storage (e.g., a battery, an
ultra-capacitor) operable to store electrical energy and provide
electrical energy for operation of one or more of the downhole
tools 111-117.
[0027] The downhole tools 115 may be or comprise logging or other
measuring tools for measuring downhole properties and/or detecting
downhole physical parameters, such as temperature, pressure, flow
rate, and depth, among other examples. The downhole tools 115 may
be or comprise one or more of an acoustic tool, a density tool, an
electromagnetic (EM) tool, a formation evaluation or logging tool,
a magnetic resonance tool, a neutron tool, a nuclear tool, a
photoelectric factor tool, a porosity tool, a reservoir
characterization tool, a resistivity tool, a seismic tool, a
surveying tool, and a tension measuring tool, among other
examples.
[0028] The tool string 110 may further comprise one of a plurality
of different electro-mechanical downhole tools 117, each operable
to perform a corresponding mechanical process, operation, work, or
another action caused by electrical power received from the
electrical energy storage 114, an integrated electrical energy
storage, or from the surface equipment 130 via the line 120. The
downhole tools 117 may each be or comprise, for example, an
actuator, a dump bailer, a fluid sampling tool, a plug, a plug
setting tool, a tubular cutter tool, a perforating tool, a release
tool, and/or a valve shifting tool. Each of the electro-mechanical
downhole tools 117 can be connected within the tool string 110 and
deployed downhole one at a time.
[0029] The tool string 110 may further comprise a downhole trigger
tool 116 operable to initiate operation of one of the different
electro-mechanical tools 117 that is connected within the tool
string 110. The downhole trigger tool 116 may be operable to
receive electrical power from the electrical power storage 114,
convert the received electrical power to a different form (e.g., a
different voltage, current, and/or duration of time), and output
the converted electrical power to the electro-mechanical tool 117
connected within the tool string 110 to initiate operation of such
electro-mechanical tool 117.
[0030] Although the tool string 110 is described as comprising the
downhole tools 111-117, it is to be understood that the tool string
110 may comprise different types and/or different quantity of
downhole tools than as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the tools
111-117 may be included in the tool string 110 in a different order
than as shown in FIG. 1. Also, one or more of the tools 111-117 may
be included in the tool string 110 as separate and distinct units.
However, it is to be understood that one or more of the tools
111-117 may also or instead be combined or integrated into a single
unit.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an
example implementation of a tool string 200 according to one or
more aspects of the present disclosure. The tool string 200
comprises one or more features of the tool string 110 described
above and shown in FIG. 1, including where indicated by like
reference numerals, except as described below. The following
description refers to FIGS. 1 and 2, collectively.
[0032] The tool string 200 may be conveyed within a wellbore and
communicatively connected with surface equipment via a line 120.
The tool string 200 may comprise a cable head 111 mechanically and
communicatively connecting the tool string 200 with the line 120.
The tool string 200 may further comprise a control and/or telemetry
tool 112, which may comprise, for example, a digital measurement
cartridge (DMC) operable to provide telemetry interface between the
surface equipment and the tool string 200. The tool string 200 may
further comprise a wellbore positioning tool 113 and an electrical
energy storage 114 (e.g., a battery) operable store electrical
energy and provide electrical energy for operation of one or more
of the downhole tools of the tool string 200. The tool string 200
may further comprise one or more logging or other measuring tools
115, such as for measuring downhole properties and/or detecting
downhole physical parameters.
[0033] The tool string 200 may further comprise one of a plurality
of different electro-mechanical downhole tools 202, 204, 206, 208,
210, each operable to perform a corresponding mechanical process,
operation, work, or another action caused by the electrical power
received from the electrical energy storage 114. The downhole tools
202, 204, 206, 208, 210 may each be or comprise, for example, an
actuator, a dump bailer, a fluid sampling tool, a plug, a plug
setting tool, a tubular cutter tool, a perforating tool, a release
tool, and/or a valve shifting tool.
[0034] The tool string 200 may further comprise a downhole trigger
tool 212 operable to initiate operation of one of the different
electro-mechanical tools 202, 204, 206, 208, 210 that is connected
within the tool string 200. The trigger tool 212 may comprise a
power conversion module 220 comprising a plurality of electrical
power converters 216, each operable to receive electrical power
from the electrical power storage 114, convert the received
electrical power to a different form (e.g., different voltage,
current, and/or pulse time), and output the converted electrical
power to the electro-mechanical tool 202, 204, 206, 208, 210
connected within the tool string 200 to initiate operation of such
electro-mechanical tool 202, 204, 206, 208, 210. The trigger tool
212 may further comprise a control module 218 comprising a
controller 214 operable to receive control commands from the
surface controller, such as to control operation of the electrical
power converters 216.
[0035] The various tools and/or portions of the tool string 200 may
be mechanically and electrically (e.g., communicatively) coupled
together to form the tool string 200 via corresponding mechanical
couplers (e.g., interfaces, connectors, subs), electrical couplers
(e.g., interfaces, connectors), and electrical conductors extending
through corresponding portions of the tool string and electrical
couplers. For example, each of the downhole tools 111-115, 202,
204, 206, 208, 210, 212 may be mechanically coupled with an
adjacent one of such downhole tools via one or more of pin and box
couplings, threaded connectors, and fasteners (none shown), among
other examples. Furthermore, each of the downhole tools 111-115,
202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212 may be electrically coupled with an
adjacent one of such downhole tools via one or more plugs,
terminals, conduit boxes, and pin and socket connectors, among
other examples.
[0036] An electrical conductor 232 may be connected with an
electrical conductor of the line 120 (at the cable head 111) and
the controller 214, such as may facilitate communication between
the controller 214 and the surface controller. A plurality of
electrical conductors 234 may extend between the controller 214 and
each of the electrical power converters 216, such as may facilitate
monitoring and control of the electrical power converters 216 by
the controller 214. An electrical conductor 236 may extend between
the electrical energy storage 114 and each of the electrical power
converters 216, thereby supplying electrical power to each of the
electrical power converters 216. Electrical power may be output
from each of the electrical power converters 216 via a
corresponding electrical conductor 237, permitting electrical power
from each of the electrical power converters 216 to be transmitted
to a corresponding one of the electro-mechanical tools 202, 204,
206, 208, 210 connected within the tool string 200.
[0037] The downhole tools 112, 113, 114, 115, 212 may be
electrically connected together via corresponding (i.e., mating)
multi-conductor pin and socket connectors 240 (e.g., triaxial
connectors), each electrically connecting corresponding portions of
the electrical conductors 232, 236 extending through the downhole
tools 112, 113, 114, 115. The control module 218 and the power
conversion module 220 may be electrically connected together via
corresponding multi-pin and socket connectors 242 electrically
connecting corresponding portions of the electrical conductors 234,
236 extending between the control module 218 and the power
conversion module 220. The electrical conductors 236 extending from
the electrical power converters 216 may terminate with a
multi-conductor connector 244 (e.g., a multi-socket connector).
[0038] Each electro-mechanical tool 202, 204, 206, 208, 210 may be
mechanically and electrically coupled within the tool string 200
via a corresponding crossover 222, 224, 226, 228, 230. Each
crossover 222, 224, 226, 228, 230 may be configured to mechanically
and electrically couple a corresponding electro-mechanical tool
202, 204, 206, 208, 210 directly with the power conversion module
220 of the trigger tool 212. Each crossover 222, 224, 226, 228, 230
may comprise opposing electrical connectors 246, 248. The
electrical connector 246 may be or comprise a multi-conductor
connector (e.g., a multi-pin connector) operable to electrically
connect (i.e., mate) with the multi-conductor connector 244 of the
trigger tool 212. The electrical connectors 248 may be or comprise
single-conductor connectors (e.g., single-pin and socket
connectors) operable to electrically connect each crossover 222,
224, 226, 228, 230 with a corresponding electro-mechanical tool
202, 204, 206, 208, 210. One or more conductors 238 may extend
between the opposing electrical connectors 246, 248 of each
crossover 222, 224, 226, 228, 230. The conductor 238 of each
different crossover 222, 224, 226, 228, 230 may be electrically
connected with a different conductor (e.g., pin or socket) of the
electrical connector 246, such as may facilitate transfer of
electrical power from a different one of the electrical power
converters 216 to a corresponding electro-mechanical tool 202, 204,
206, 208, 210 when connected within the tool string 200 via a
corresponding crossover 222, 224, 226, 228, 230. Accordingly, each
electrical conductor 238 electrically connects the
electro-mechanical tool 202, 204, 206, 208, 210 connected within
the downhole tool string 200 with a corresponding one of the power
converters 216, but does not electrically connect the
electro-mechanical tool 202, 204, 206, 208, 210 connected within
the downhole tool string 200 with another of the power converters
216. Each of the electrical connectors 248 may be electrically
connected with a different electro-mechanical device 252, 254, 246,
258, 260 (e.g., an electrical motor, a solenoid valve, a thermal
generator, etc.) of a corresponding electro-mechanical tool 202,
204, 206, 208, 210 via an electrical conductor 239.
[0039] The trigger tool 212 may further comprise a communication
line 235 (i.e., an electrical conductor) extending between the
controller 214 and the connector 244, and one or more of the
crossovers 230 may comprise a communication line 247 extending
between the connectors 246, 248. Accordingly, when the trigger tool
212 is coupled with the crossover 230, the communication lines 235,
247 may be connected via the connectors 244, 246 to communicatively
connect the controller 214 with the electro-mechanical tool 210
thereby facilitating bidirectional communication between the
electro-mechanical tool 210 and the trigger tool 212 and between
the electro-mechanical tool 210 and the surface controller.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an
example implementation of a trigger tool 302 coupled with a
crossover 304 according to one or more aspects of the present
disclosure. The trigger tool 302 and the crossover 304, each
comprise one or more features of the trigger tools 116, 212 and
crossovers 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, respectively, described above
and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The following description refers to
FIGS. 1-3, collectively.
[0041] The trigger tool 302 may be operable to initiate operation
of one of a plurality of different electro-mechanical tools that is
connected within a tool string. The trigger tool 302 may comprise a
power conversion module 306 comprising a plurality of electrical
power converters 312 (EPCs) each operable to receive electrical
power from an electrical power source, convert the received
electrical power to a different form (e.g., different voltage,
current, and/or pulse time), and output the converted electrical
power to an electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool
string to initiate operation of such electro-mechanical tool. Each
electrical power converter 312 may be electrically connected with
the electrical power source, such as the electrical energy storage
114 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, via an electrical conductor 314
extending between the electrical power source and each electrical
power converter 312. An electrical conductor 315 may extend from
each of the electrical power converters 312 into the crossover 304,
such as may permit each of the electrical power converters 312 to
be electrically connected with and, thus, provide electrical power
to a corresponding one of the electro-mechanical tools when
connected within the tool string. Each electrical power converter
312 may be installed or otherwise disposed within a corresponding
electrical slot 316 of an electronics board 318. Each electrical
power converter 312 may be configured to output electrical power
operable to initiate operation of a corresponding one of the
electro-mechanical tools connectable within the downhole tool
string, such as the electro-mechanical tools 117, 202, 204, 206,
208 210 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the trigger tool 302 may be
operable to initiate operation of one of the different
electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole tool string
by outputting electrical power by one of the electrical power
converters 312 corresponding to the electro-mechanical tool
connected within the downhole tool string. After activation, the
electro-mechanical tool may operate on its own through a
mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and/or chemical sequence.
[0042] Each electro-mechanical tool may be initiated, activated, or
otherwise operated by applying a different electrical pulse having
a different sequence of voltage and/or current over a different
time duration by a corresponding one of the electrical power
converters 312. The electrical power output by each of the
electrical power converters 312 may comprise a single electrical
pulse output over a predetermined time duration or a plurality of
electrical pulses output at each predetermined time interval over a
predetermined time duration. The electrical power output by one or
more of the electrical power converters 312 may output a positive
or negative voltage if one of the different electro-mechanical
tools connected within the downhole tool string does not comprise
its own (e.g., integral) electrical power source, but receives
electrical power from a common source, such as the electrical power
storage 114.
[0043] Two, three, or more of the electrical power converter 312
may be selectively connectable or connected in series forming an
electrical power converter set collectively operable to receive
electrical power from the electrical power source, convert the
received electrical power to a different form (e.g., different
voltage, current, and/or pulse time), and output the converted
electrical power to an electro-mechanical tool connected within the
tool string to initiate operation of such electro-mechanical tool.
However, an electrical power converter set may comprise a single
electrical power converter 312. Two or more of the electrical power
converters 312 may be selectively electrically connected via
corresponding electrical conductors 313 and/or other electrical
conductors (not shown) to form an electrical power converter set.
Each electrical power converter set may be operable to output
electrical power having a form that is different from the form of
electrical power output by each individual electrical power
converter 312. Furthermore, each power converter 312 may be a part
of or form a different electrical power converter set. A power
converter 312 may also be part of two or more sets of power
converters. Accordingly, connecting two or more of the electrical
power converters 312 facilitates output of a plurality of different
forms of electrical power exceeding the quantity of electrical
power converter 312 included within the power conversion module
306.
[0044] Each electrical power converter 312 may be a direct current
to direct current (DC-DC) electrical power converter operable to
change DC voltage and/or current to a different DC voltage and/or
current. One or more of the electrical power converters 312 may
also or instead be an alternating current to direct current (AC-DC)
electrical power converter operable to change AC voltage and/or
current to a predetermined DC voltage and/or current. One or more
of the electrical power converters 312 may also or instead be a
DC-AC electrical power converter operable to change DC voltage
and/or current to a predetermined AC voltage and/or current. One or
more of the electrical power converters 312 may also or instead be
an AC-AC electrical power converter operable to change AC voltage
and/or current to a different AC voltage and/or current. For
example, if the electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool
string is or comprises a single-phase reservoir sampling tool
having an electrically driven pump, a corresponding one of the
electrical power converters 312 may output electrical power having
a voltage of 3.9 volts, a current of 0.2 amps, and a pulse length
of five seconds to drive an electric motor of the pump. If the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string is or
comprises a sampling tool having an electrically driven pump, a
corresponding one of the electrical power converters 312 may output
electrical power having a voltage of -14 volts, a current of 0.1
amps, and a pulse length of four to six seconds to drive an
electric motor of the pump. If the electro-mechanical tool
connected within the tool string is or comprises a dump bailer
having an electrically controller fluid valve, a corresponding one
of the electrical power converters 312 may output electrical power
having a voltage of 100 volts, a current of 0.2 amps, and a pulse
length of one second to power an electric coil of the valve. If the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string is or
comprises a tubular cutter tool having a perforating charge, a
corresponding one of the electrical power converters 312 may output
electrical power having a voltage of 50 volts, a current of one
amp, and a pulse length of 30 seconds to power a thermal generator
to detonate the perforating charge.
[0045] When an electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool
string mandates or otherwise utilizes electrical power that is, for
example, greater during a smaller duration of time or otherwise
different from what the electrical power source can provide, one or
more capacitors may be utilized to store an electrical charge,
which when released via a switch, can operate such
electro-mechanical tool. Accordingly, the trigger tool 302 or a
crossover 304 corresponding to such electro-mechanical tool may
comprise a capacitor bank 340 configured to store an electrical
charge for operating a corresponding electro-mechanical tool. The
capacitor bank 340 may be electrically connected with a
corresponding electrical power converter 312, which may charge the
capacitor bank 340 when operated to output a predetermined
electrical power. The electrical charge stored in the capacitor
bank 340 may be selectively released via an electrical switch 342
and transmitted to a corresponding electro-mechanical tool via an
electrical conductor 343 extending through the crossover 304.
Although the electrical conductor 343 is shown connected with the
switch 342, such configuration is associated with a crossover 304
utilized with a corresponding electro-mechanical tool. Other
crossovers utilized with other electro-mechanical tools may each
include a different one of the electrical conductors 315 extending
through the crossover 304 (as indicated by phantom lines 345) to
facilitate transmission of electrical power between a different one
of the electrical power converters 312 and a corresponding
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string.
[0046] The switch 342 may be located within the power conversion
module 306 or within the crossover 304. Although the trigger tool
302 and the crossover 304 are shown comprising a single capacitor
bank 340 electrically connected with a corresponding one of the
electrical power converters 312 and a single switch 342, the
trigger tool 302 and/or the crossover 304 may collectively comprise
additional one or more capacitor banks and switches electrically
connected with one of the other electrical power converters 312,
such as when other electro-mechanical tools mandate or otherwise
utilize electrical power that is different from what the electrical
power source can provide. An example electro-mechanical tool that
mandates or otherwise utilizes electrical power that is different
from what the electrical power source can provide may be a downhole
plug powered by a thermite chemical reaction heater. Accordingly, a
corresponding one of the electrical power converters 312 may output
electrical power having a voltage of 200 volts, a current of five
milliamps, and a pulse length of ten seconds to charge the
capacitor bank 340, which may then be discharged at appreciably
higher current rates (e.g., up to about 200 amps) by the switch 342
to activate an ignitor to initiate the thermite chemical reaction
heater. However, pulses of other voltages, currents, and lengths
are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0047] When a new electro-mechanical tool utilizing a different
electrical power for operation is intended to be utilized downhole,
the power conversion module 306 may be modified to accommodate a
new electrical power converter operable to output the electrical
power utilized by the new electro-mechanical tool. For example, the
electronics board 318 of the power conversion module 306 may be
provided with additional (excess) one or more electrical slots 317
that are not initially occupied by corresponding electrical power
converters 312. One of such empty electrical slots 317 may receive
the new electrical power converter and, thus, facilitate use of the
new electro-mechanical tool. If empty slots 317 are not available,
then a new empty slot 317 may be installed on the electronics board
318 or otherwise within the power conversion module 306 and a new
electrical power converter may be installed therein. Alternatively,
a new electrical power converter may be installed by removing
(e.g., uninstalling, pulling out) one of the existing electrical
power converters 312 from its electrical slot 316 and installing
the new electrical power converter in its place.
[0048] When a new electro-mechanical tool utilizing a different
electrical power for operation is intended to be utilized downhole,
the power conversion module 306 may also or instead be replaced
with a different power conversion module comprising one or more
different electrical power converters 312 operable to output
electrical power utilized by the new electro-mechanical tool. Each
of the different electrical power converters 312 (or different
electrical power converters sets) of the different power conversion
module may permit the control module 308 to control a different new
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string via a
corresponding crossover 304.
[0049] The trigger tool 302 may further comprise a control module
308 comprising a control system 320 (i.e., controller) operable to
receive control commands from a surface controller, such as the
surface controller 162 shown in FIG. 1, and control operation of
the electrical power converters 312 to initiate operation of the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string. The
control system 320 may comprise a processor 322 comprising one or
more processors operable to receive electrical signals or
information, process such information based on computer program
code, and output control signals or information to control one or
more portions of the trigger tool 302 and, thus, the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string. The
control system 320 may further comprise a command drivers module
324 communicatively connected with the processor 322 and with each
of the electrical power converters 312 via a plurality of
corresponding electrical conductors 326. The command drivers module
324 may store drivers (e.g., as firmware) for operating each of the
electrical power converters 312 and, thereby, may be operable to
translate or otherwise facilitate transmission of control commands
from the processor 322 to each of the electrical power converters
312. The processor 322 may be communicatively connected with each
of the electrical power converters 312 via a plurality of
corresponding electrical conductors 332, thereby permitting the
processor 322 to monitor operations (e.g., output voltage, current,
etc.) of each electrical power converter 312.
[0050] The control system 320 may further comprise a communication
interface 328 communicatively connected with the processor 322 and
with a control and/or telemetry tool, such as the tool 112 shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, via an electrical conductor 330. The communication
interface 328 may be operable to translate or otherwise facilitate
communications between the control and/or telemetry tool and the
processor 322, thereby facilitating control of the electrical power
converters 312 from the surface controller. The electrical switch
342 may be electrically connected with the command drivers module
324 via a corresponding one of the electrical conductors 326,
permitting the electrical switch 342 to be operated automatically
by the processor 322 or manually from the wellsite surface when a
predetermined charge is stored in the capacitor bank 340. For
example, a human wellsite operator may operate the trigger tool 302
from the wellsite surface to select and operate one of the
electrical power converters 312 based on which of the
electro-mechanical tools are connected within the tool string. The
control system 320 may also comprise a memory storage device 334
communicatively connected with the processor 322 and operable to
store (i.e., record) signals and information processed by the
processor 322.
[0051] One or more components 322, 324, 328, 334 of the control
system 320 and portions of the conductors 314, 326, 330, 332 may be
installed on or otherwise supported by an electronics board 336.
The control module 308 may be compatible with a range of voltage
inputs, such as ranging between about three and 100 volts. The
control module 308 may embed several communication protocol
capabilities (e.g., CAN bus, RS485, etc.), such as may facilitate
communication with new or different applications. For example, the
trigger tool 302 may be configured to operate an electro-mechanical
tool comprising its own electrical power source (e.g., battery),
whereby such trigger tool 302 may be utilized to active the
electro-mechanical tool and receive status and other information
from the electro-mechanical tool via the embedded communication
protocol capabilities. In such implementations, the power
conversion module 306 may be omitted and the control module 308 of
the trigger tool 302 may comprise one or more communication lines
(e.g., conductors 326, 332) connected directly with one of the
connectors 372, 382 to facilitate activation of the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string when a
trigger command is received from the surface.
[0052] The trigger tool 302 may be mechanically and electrically
coupled with one of the electro-mechanical tools connectable within
the tool string via a crossover 304 corresponding to such
electro-mechanical tool. The trigger tool 302 and/or the crossover
304 may comprise safety features that can prevent the trigger tool
302 from activating an electro-mechanical tool (e.g., tubular
cutter, perforating tool, etc.) while the tool string is at the
wellsite surface or otherwise not deployed within the wellbore. A
safety device 346 may be installed in a crossover dedicated to a
particular electro-mechanical tool. The safety device 346 may be
communicatively connected with the processor 322 and/or the command
drivers module 324 via corresponding one or more electrical
conductors 344, such as may permit the processor 322 and/or the
command drivers module 324 to prevent activation of the
electro-mechanical tool base on the information from the safety
device 346. Alternatively, the safety device 346 may be or
comprise, for example, a pressure safety switch, a temperature
safety switch, and/or other means activated as a function of the
conditions in the wellbore independently from the processor 322.
The switches may be in the OFF position when exposed to a pressure
or temperature below predetermined pressure or temperature
set-points. The switches may turn ON when exposed to a pressure or
temperature exceeding the predetermined pressure or temperature
set-points, such as when the tool string is deployed downhole.
[0053] Hardware coding may be implemented within the trigger tool
302 and/or the crossover 304 as safety features to verify that
matching crossover 304 and electro-mechanical tool are coupled with
the trigger tool within the tool string. The hardware coding may be
utilized to verify that a control command transmitted from the
wellsite surface operates an electrical power converter 312
corresponding to the electro-mechanical tool connected within the
tool string. The control module 308 may be operable to read or
detect the hardware coding via corresponding electrical conductors
348 and transmit information indicative of the hardware coding to
the surface controller. At the surface, programming may permit the
surface controller to transmit control commands for operating a
power converter 312 corresponding to the crossover 304 and, thus,
the electro-mechanical tool coupled with the crossover and prevent
downhole transmission of control commands for operating other power
converters 312 and electro-mechanical tools.
[0054] Hardware coding may comprise electrically connecting and/or
isolating each of the conductors 348 in a different predetermined
manner (i.e., combination) when each crossover 304 is mechanically
and electrically coupled with the trigger tool 302. As shown in
FIG. 3, an example hardware coding combination may include shorting
350 two of the electrical conductors 348 and grounding 352 one of
the conductors 348 by the crossover 304 when the crossover 304 is
coupled with the trigger tool 302. Another example hardware coding
combination (not shown) may include shorting 350 different two of
the electrical conductors 348 and grounding 352 a different one of
the conductors 348 by the crossover 304 when the crossover 304 is
coupled with the trigger tool 302. Another example hardware coding
combination (not shown) may include grounding 352 each of the
conductors 348 by the crossover 304 when the crossover 304 is
coupled with the trigger tool 302. A k quantity of hardware coding
conductors (bits) may facilitate 2.sup.k quantity of different
hardware coding combinations. Each different hardware coding
combination may be implemented in or otherwise associated with a
different crossover 304 and a corresponding electro-mechanical tool
connectable within the downhole tool string. The control system 320
and/or the surface controller may be operable to identify the
corresponding one of the different electro-mechanical tools based
on the hardware coding (i.e., combination of the grounded and
shorted conductors 348), permit operation of one of the electrical
power converters 312 corresponding to the identified one of the
different electro-mechanical tools, and prevent operation of
another of the electrical power converters 312 that do not
correspond to the identified one of the different
electro-mechanical tools. The crossover 304 may also or instead
comprise a memory device (e.g., a memory chip) (not shown)
containing information indicative of the type of electro-mechanical
tool corresponding to the crossover 304 or otherwise that can be
connected to the crossover 304. The control system 320 of the
trigger tool 302 may be communicatively connected to the memory
device when the crossover 304 is connected with the trigger tool
302, such as may permit the control system 320 (e.g., the processor
320) to read the information from the memory device to verify if
the crossover 304 matches the electro-mechanical tool connected
with the crossover 304. The electro-mechanical tool may instead (or
also) be operable to transmit an identifier to the control system
320 and/or the surface controller to facilitate identification
and/or verification of the type of electro-mechanical tool
connected within the tool string. The identifier may be transmitted
to the control system 320 and/or the surface controller via a
communication line (e.g., conductors 235, 326, 330, 332) connected
with the electro-mechanical tool.
[0055] Real time data may be transmitted to the surface controller
to monitor the job execution. Some data, such as voltage, current,
and time duration of electrical power applied to the
electro-mechanical tool may be measured by the control system 320
and transmitted to the wellsite surface, permitting the wellsite
operator to monitor qualitative and quantitative parameters of the
power conversion module 306. Other information (e.g., downhole
measurements) generated by other tools and/or sensors of the tool
string may be utilized as a positive indicator that the
electro-mechanical tool was successfully triggered. For example,
weight, shock, acceleration, pressure, and/or temperature
measurements may be utilized as an indicator that the
electro-mechanical tool was successfully triggered. For example, if
a weight sensor indicates that the weight of the tool string has
increased by one pound and/or a position sensor indicates that 0.5
liters of fluid was captured by a sampling tool after a triggering
signal (i.e., control signal) was sent, such measurement(s) may be
indicative that the sampling tool was successfully operated by the
triggering signal.
[0056] The power conversion module 306 and the control module 308
may each comprise a separate and distinct device communicatively
connectable together via corresponding electrical couplers or
connectors 360, 362, respectively. The connectors 360, 362 may each
be or comprise one of corresponding (i.e., mating) multi-pin and
socket connectors, each comprising a plurality of pins and sockets
(conductors) to electrically connect opposing portions of the
electrical conductors 314, 326, 332, 344, 348 extending between the
control module 308 and the power conversion module 306. Each
connector 360, 362 may be disposed on or carried by a corresponding
electronics board 318, 336 of the power conversion module 306 and
the control module 308, respectively. The tripping tool 302 may
comprise a single housing 364 containing both the power conversion
module 306 and the control module 308. Accordingly, when a
different power conversion module comprising different electrical
power converters for operating different electro-mechanical tools
is intended to be utilized, the power conversion module 306 (or the
electronics board 318) may be disconnected from the control module
308 (or the electronics board 336) by disconnecting the electrical
connectors 360, 362 and removed from the housing 364. The different
power conversion module may then be inserted into the housing 364
and electrically connected with the control module 308.
[0057] The tripping tool 302 may further comprise opposing upper
and lower mechanical connectors 366, 368 (e.g., interfaces,
couplers, subs) and opposing upper and lower electrical connectors
370, 372 for mechanically and electrically connecting the tripping
tool 302 within the tool string. The crossover 304 may further
comprise a housing 374 and opposing upper and lower mechanical
connectors 376, 378 (e.g., interfaces, couplers, subs) and opposing
upper and lower electrical connectors 380, 382 for mechanically and
electrically connecting the crossover 304 within the tool
string.
[0058] The upper mechanical connector 366 may be operable to
mechanically couple the trigger tool 302 with a corresponding
mechanical connector (not shown) of an upper portion of the tool
string and the lower mechanical connector 368 may be operable to
mechanically couple the trigger tool 302 with the corresponding
upper mechanical connector 376 of the crossover 304. The upper
electrical connector 370 may be operable to electrically connect
the trigger tool 302 with a corresponding electrical connector (not
shown) of the upper portion of the tool string and the lower
electrical connector 372 may be operable to electrically connect
the trigger tool 302 with the corresponding upper electrical
connector 380 of the crossover 304. The electrical conductors 315
extending from the electrical power converters 312 may terminate at
the electrical connector 372. The upper and lower mechanical
connectors 366, 368, 376, 378 may each be or comprise one or more
of pin and box couplings, threaded connectors, and fasteners, among
other examples. The upper electrical connector 370 may be or
comprise a multi-conductor pin and socket connector (e.g., a
triaxial connector) comprising a plurality of electrical conductors
for electrically connecting opposing portions of the electrical
conductors 314, 330 and/or a ground conductor 384 extending between
the trigger tool 302 and the upper portion of the tool string. The
electrical connectors 372, 380 may each be or comprise one of a
corresponding (i.e., mating) multi-pin and socket connectors, each
comprising a plurality of pins and sockets (conductors) for
electrically connecting opposing portions of the electrical
conductors 315, 343, 344, 348 extending between the trigger tool
302 and the crossover 304. The lower electrical connector 382 may
be or comprise a single-conductor pin or socket connector (e.g., a
coaxial connector) or a multi-conductor pin and socket connector
(e.g., a triaxial connector) for electrically connecting opposing
portions of one of the electrical conductors 343, 345 extending
between the crossover 304 and the electro-mechanical tool connected
within the tool string.
[0059] Although the trigger tools 212, 302 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
respectively, are each described as comprising a plurality of
electrical power converters 216, 312, each operable to output
electrical power having a set, fixed, or otherwise predetermined
form, it is to be understood that a trigger tool according to one
or more aspects of the present disclosure may also or instead
comprise one or more adjustable electrical power converters, each
operable to output electrical power having variable or otherwise
different forms. For example, each adjustable electrical power
converter may be operable to output electrical power having
different voltages, different current, and/or different durations
of time the electrical power is output, wherein each different form
of electrical power may be operable to trigger or otherwise operate
a different one of the electrical-mechanical tools 202, 204, 206,
208, 210 connectable within the tool string. Operation (electrical
power output) of an adjustable electrical power converter may be
controlled (e.g., adjusted, changed) by the downhole controller
214, 320, and/or by a wellsite operator at the wellsite surface via
the surface controller 162, to cause the adjustable electrical
power converter to output an electrical power having a form
configured to operate (or otherwise corresponding to) the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string.
Accordingly, each adjustable electrical power converter may be
utilized to trigger or otherwise operate two or more of the
electro-mechanical tools connectable within the tool string.
[0060] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of at least a portion of a
capacitor system 400 for storing and selectively releasing
electrical power for operating a corresponding electro-mechanical
tool connected within a tool string. The capacitor system 400 may
comprise one or more features of the trigger tool 302 and crossover
304, described above and shown in FIG. 3. The following description
refers to FIGS. 3 and 4, collectively.
[0061] When an electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool
string mandates or otherwise utilizes electrical power that is, for
example, greater or otherwise different from what the electrical
power source can provide, a plurality of capacitors 402 may be
utilized to store electrical power, which when released via a
switch 404, can operate such electro-mechanical tool. The
capacitors 402 may be arranged in a capacitor bank 406, with the
positive pole electrically connected with a corresponding
electrical power converter 408 of a power converter module, which
may charge the capacitor bank 406 when operated to output
electrical power, and the negative pole connected with ground 410.
An electrical diode 412 may be electrically connected between the
electrical power converter 408 and the capacitor bank 406, such as
may prevent discharge of the capacitor bank 406 into or via the
electrical power converter 408. In order to equalize the voltage of
each capacitor 402, resistors 413 may be added in parrallel between
each parallel capacitor branch. Additionally, each resistor 413 may
slowly discharge the capacitors 402 in case the energy release in
not commanded. The electrical charge (i.e., voltage) stored in the
capacitor bank 340 may be monitored by the control system 320
and/or by a wellsite operator at the wellsite surface via an
electrical conductor 414 connected with the control system 320.
When the capacitor bank 406 holds the intended electrical charge,
the electrical charge may be selectively released by operating the
electrical switch 404 by the control system 320 and/or by the
wellsite operator at the wellsite surface via an electrical
conductor 316 connected with the control system 320. The released
electrical power may be transmitted to a corresponding
electro-mechanical tool 418 via an electrical conductor 420
extending through a corresponding crossover.
[0062] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an
example implementation of a tool string 500 according to one or
more aspects of the present disclosure. The tool string 500
comprises one or more features of the tool string 200 described
above and shown in FIG. 2, including where indicated by like
reference numerals, except as described below. The following
description refers to FIGS. 2 and 5, collectively.
[0063] Certain electro-mechanical tools 502, 504, 506, 508, 510
connectable within the tool string 500 may each be coupled with or
comprise a corresponding source of electrical power. For example
each electro-mechanical tool 502, 504, 506, 508, 510 may be
mechanically and electrically coupled with a corresponding
electrical power module 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, each containing an
electrical power storage device 522, 524, 526, 528, 530 (e.g., a
battery) configured to activate or otherwise operate a
corresponding electro-mechanical device 252, 254, 246, 258, 260
(e.g., electrical motor, solenoid valve, thermal generator, etc.)
of a corresponding electro-mechanical tool 502, 504, 506, 508, 510
when connected within the tool string 500. Accordingly, a trigger
tool 540 coupled within the tool string 500 may be operable to
control transfer of electrical power from an electrical power
storage device 522, 524, 526, 528, 530 to a corresponding
electro-mechanical device 252, 254, 246, 258, 260 via a low power
electrical signal (e.g., pulse) to activate or otherwise operate
the corresponding electro-mechanical device 252, 254, 246, 258,
260.
[0064] The trigger tool 540 may comprise a control module 542,
having one or more features of the control modules 218, 308 shown
in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, but may not include a power
conversion module, such as the power conversion modules 220, 306
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. A controller 544, having one
or more features of the controllers 214, 320 shown in FIGS. 2 and
3, respectively, may be electrically connected with an electrical
connector 546, having one or more features of the electrical
connectors 242, 372 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. The tool
string 500 may also not include a crossover. Accordingly, each
electrical power module 512, 514, 516, 518, 520 and
electro-mechanical tool 502, 504, 506, 508, 510 may be mechanically
and electrically coupled with the trigger tool 540 of the tool
string 500 via corresponding mechanical connectors (not shown) and
corresponding electrical connectors 546, 548. After an electrical
power module 512, 514, 516, 518, 520 and a corresponding
electro-mechanical tool 502, 504, 506, 508, 510 are mechanically
and electrically coupled with the trigger tool 540 and the tool
string 500 is deployed to an intended position within a wellbore, a
low power electrical control signal, such as ranging between zero
and 20 volts, may be transmitted from the controller 544 to the
electrical power module 512, 514, 516, 518, 520 to cause the
electrical power storage device 522, 524, 526, 528, 530 to transmit
its electrical power to the electro-mechanical tool 502, 504, 506,
508, 510. The control signal may be initiated automatically by the
controller 544 or a surface controller, or the control signal may
be initiated manually by a wellsite operator at the wellsite
surface. Although the electrical power modules 512, 514, 516, 518,
520 and electro-mechanical tools 502, 504, 506, 508, 510 are shown
as separate and distinct devices, it is to be understood that each
electrical power module 512, 514, 516, 518, 520 and corresponding
electro-mechanical tool 502, 504, 506, 508, 510 may be integrated
into a single device or unit.
[0065] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an
example implementation of a processing system 600 (or device)
according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The
processing system 600 may be or form at least a portion of one or
more controllers and/or other electronic devices shown in one or
more of the FIGS. 1-5. Accordingly, the following description
refers to FIGS. 1-6, collectively.
[0066] The processing system 600 may be or comprise, for example,
one or more processors, controllers, special-purpose computing
devices, PCs (e.g., desktop, laptop, and/or tablet computers),
personal digital assistants, smartphones, IPCs, PLCs, servers,
internet appliances, and/or other types of computing devices. The
processing system 600 may be or form at least a portion of the
controllers 162, 214, 320, 544. The processing system 600 may be or
form at least a portion of the electrical power converters 216,
312, 408. Although it is possible that the entirety of the
processing system 600 is implemented within one device, it is also
contemplated that one or more components or functions of the
processing system 600 may be implemented across multiple devices,
some or an entirety of which may be at the wellsite and/or remote
from the wellsite.
[0067] The processing system 600 may comprise a processor 612, such
as a general-purpose programmable processor. The processor 612 may
comprise a local memory 614, and may execute machine-readable and
executable program code instructions 632 (i.e., computer program
code) present in the local memory 614 and/or another memory device.
The processor 612 may execute, among other things, the program code
instructions 632 and/or other instructions and/or programs to
implement the example methods and/or operations described herein.
For example, the program code instructions 632, when executed by
the processor 612 of the processing system 600, may cause the
processor 612 to receive and process (e.g., compare) sensor data
(e.g., sensor measurements) and output information indicative of
accuracy the sensor data and, thus, the corresponding sensors
according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The
program code instructions 632, when executed by the processor 612
of the processing system 600, may also or instead cause one or more
portions or pieces of equipment of a wellsite system to perform the
example methods and/or operations described herein. The processor
612 may be, comprise, or be implemented by one or more processors
of various types suitable to the local application environment, and
may include one or more of general-purpose computers,
special-purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal
processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs),
application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and processors
based on a multi-core processor architecture, as non-limiting
examples. Examples of the processor 612 include one or more INTEL
microprocessors, microcontrollers from the ARM and/or PICO families
of microcontrollers, embedded soft/hard processors in one or more
FPGAs.
[0068] The processor 612 may be in communication with a main memory
616, such as may include a volatile memory 618 and a non-volatile
memory 620, perhaps via a bus 622 and/or other communication means.
The volatile memory 618 may be, comprise, or be implemented by
random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM),
synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), dynamic random
access memory (DRAM), RAIVIBUS dynamic random access memory
(RDRAM), and/or other types of random access memory devices. The
non-volatile memory 620 may be, comprise, or be implemented by
read-only memory, flash memory, and/or other types of memory
devices. One or more memory controllers (not shown) may control
access to the volatile memory 618 and/or non-volatile memory
620.
[0069] The processing system 600 may also comprise an interface
circuit 624, which is in communication with the processor 612, such
as via the bus 622. The interface circuit 624 may be, comprise, or
be implemented by various types of standard interfaces, such as an
Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB), a third
generation input/output (3GIO) interface, a wireless interface, a
cellular interface, and/or a satellite interface, among others. The
interface circuit 624 may comprise a graphics driver card. The
interface circuit 624 may comprise a communication device, such as
a modem or network interface card to facilitate exchange of data
with external computing devices via a network (e.g., Ethernet
connection, digital subscriber line (DSL), telephone line, coaxial
cable, cellular telephone system, satellite, etc.).
[0070] The processing system 600 may be in communication with
various sensors, video cameras, actuators, processing devices,
equipment controllers, and other devices of the wellsite system via
the interface circuit 624. The interface circuit 624 can facilitate
communications between the processing system 600 and one or more
devices by utilizing one or more communication protocols, such as
an Ethernet-based network protocol (such as ProfiNET, OPC, OPC/UA,
Modbus TCP/IP, EtherCAT, UDP multicast, Siemens S7 communication,
or the like), a proprietary communication protocol, and/or another
communication protocol.
[0071] One or more input devices 626 may also be connected to the
interface circuit 624. The input devices 626 may permit human
wellsite operators to enter the program code instructions 632,
which may be or comprise control commands, operational parameters,
and/or operational set-points. The program code instructions 632
may further comprise modeling or predictive routines, equations,
algorithms, processes, applications, and/or other programs operable
to perform example methods and/or operations described herein. The
input devices 626 may be, comprise, or be implemented by a
keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a
trackball, an isopoint, and/or a voice recognition system, among
other examples. One or more output devices 628 may also be
connected to the interface circuit 624. The output devices 628 may
permit for visualization or other sensory perception of various
data, such as sensor data, status data, and/or other example data.
The output devices 628 may be, comprise, or be implemented by video
output devices (e.g., an LCD, an LED display, a CRT display, a
touchscreen, etc.), printers, and/or speakers, among other
examples. The one or more input devices 626 and the one or more
output devices 628 connected to the interface circuit 624 may, at
least in part, facilitate the HMIs described herein.
[0072] The processing system 600 may comprise a mass storage device
630 for storing data and program code instructions 632. The mass
storage device 630 may be connected to the processor 612, such as
via the bus 622. The mass storage device 630 may be or comprise a
tangible, non-transitory storage medium, such as a floppy disk
drive, a hard disk drive, a compact disk (CD) drive, and/or digital
versatile disk (DVD) drive, among other examples. The processing
system 600 may be communicatively connected with an external
storage medium 634 via the interface circuit 624. The external
storage medium 634 may be or comprise a removable storage medium
(e.g., a CD or DVD), such as may be operable to store data and
program code instructions 632.
[0073] As described above, the program code instructions 632 may be
stored in the mass storage device 630, the main memory 616, the
local memory 614, and/or the removable storage medium 634. Thus,
the processing system 600 may be implemented in accordance with
hardware (perhaps implemented in one or more chips including an
integrated circuit, such as an ASIC), or may be implemented as
software or firmware for execution by the processor 612. In the
case of firmware or software, the implementation may be provided as
a computer program product including a non-transitory,
computer-readable medium or storage structure embodying computer
program code instructions 632 (i.e., software or firmware) thereon
for execution by the processor 612. The program code instructions
632 may include program instructions or computer program code that,
when executed by the processor 612, may perform and/or cause
performance of example methods, processes, and/or operations
described herein.
[0074] FIG. 7 is a flow-chart diagram of at least a portion of an
example implementation of a process or method (700) according to
one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The method (700) may
be performed utilizing or otherwise in conjunction with at least a
portion of one or more implementations of one or more instances of
the apparatus shown in one or more of FIGS. 1-6, and/or otherwise
within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the method
(700) may be performed and/or caused, at least partially, by a
processing system (e.g., processing system 600 shown in FIG. 6)
executing program code instructions according to one or more
aspects of the present disclosure. The method (700) may also or
instead be performed and/or caused, at least partially, by a human
wellsite operator utilizing one or more instances of the apparatus
shown in one or more of FIGS. 1-6, and/or otherwise within the
scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the following description of
the method (700) also refers to apparatus shown in one or more of
FIGS. 1-6. However, the method (700) may also be performed in
conjunction with implementations of apparatus other than those
depicted in FIGS. 1-6 that are also within the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0075] The method (700) may comprise starting (705) or initiating
execution of a downhole job, which may include assembling (710) a
tool string or assembly 110 at a wellsite surface 104 from which a
wellbore 102 extends. The tool assembly 110 may be ran in hole
(RIH) (715) to a target depth. Status of a trigger tool 116 (TT)
may then be acquired (720), such as by determining power status
(e.g., voltage) of an electrical power source 114 and/or by
determining status of an electro-mechanical tool 117 connected
within the tool string 110.
[0076] A hardware coding combination 350, 352 may then be acquired
(725) from a crossover 304 connecting the electro-mechanical tool
117 via a control module 218 and communicated to the wellsite
surface 104. The hardware coding combination 350, 352 may then be
determined (730) at the wellsite surface 104. If the hardware
coding combination 350, 352 is not as expected, such as when the
crossover 304 does not match the electro-mechanical tool 117
coupled thereto, a surface controller 162 or other surface
equipment may be configured (735) to disable the surface controller
162 from permitting a wellsite operator to transmit a trigger
command to the trigger tool 116. The tool assembly 110 may then be
pulled out of hole (POOH) (740), reconfigured or otherwise changed
(745), and again ran in hole (715) to the target depth. However, if
the hardware coding combination 350, 352 is as expected, thereby
confirming that the crossover 304 matches the electro-mechanical
tool 117 coupled thereto, the surface controller 162 or other
equipment may be configured (750) to permit the wellsite operator
to transmit a trigger command to the trigger tool 116.
[0077] Thereafter, the wellsite operator may cause the surface
controller 162 or other equipment to transmit (755) the trigger
command to the trigger tool 116 via the line 120 to cause the
trigger tool 116 to output electrical power having a form
corresponding to one of the different electro-mechanical tools 117
connected within the tool string 110 to thereby initiate operation
(757) of the electro-mechanical tool 117 connected within the tool
string 110. Real time data indicative of various downhole
parameters and conditions that was generated by various downhole
tools 111-117 and/or sensors 346 may then be acquired and
transmitted (760) to the surface controller 162 or other surface
equipment. Successful triggering of the electro-mechanical tool 117
may then be determined (765) at the wellsite surface 104. If the
triggering (755) of the electro-mechanical tool 117 was successful,
then the tool assembly 110 may be pulled out of hole (780).
However, if the triggering (755) of the electro-mechanical tool 117
was not successful, then the trigger command may be retransmitted
(775) N quantity of times or until the triggering (755) is
successful. If the triggering (755) of the electro-mechanical tool
117 was not successful after N triggering attempts (770), then the
tool assembly 110 may be pulled out of hole (780). After the tool
assembly 110 is pulled out of hole (780), the tool assembly 110 may
be disassembled (785) at the wellsite surface 104 to end (790) the
execution of the downhole job.
[0078] In view of the entirety of the present disclosure, including
the figures and the claims, a person having ordinary skill in the
art will readily recognize that the present disclosure introduces a
method comprising positioning a tool string at a target depth
within a wellbore via a cable connected with surface equipment
disposed at a wellsite surface beneath which the wellbore extends,
wherein the tool string comprises an electrical power source and a
trigger tool configured for: receiving electrical power from the
electrical power source; and outputting different forms of
electrical power each being different from the form of electrical
power received from the electrical power source, wherein each form
of electrical power output by the trigger tool is operable to
initiate operation of a corresponding one of a plurality of
different electro-mechanical tools connectable within the downhole
tool string. The method also comprises transmitting a trigger
command from the surface equipment to the trigger tool via the
cable to cause the trigger tool to output electrical power having a
form corresponding to one of the different electro-mechanical tools
connected within the tool string to thereby initiate operation of
the electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string.
[0079] One of a plurality of different crossovers may be connected
within the tool string to connect the electro-mechanical tool
connected within the tool string with the trigger tool, the
different crossovers may each comprise a corresponding hardware
coding corresponding to one of the different electro-mechanical
tools connectable within the tool string, and the method may
comprise determining whether the hardware coding of the crossover
connected within the tool string corresponds to the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string. The
method may comprise: if the hardware coding of the crossover
connected within the tool string is determined to correspond to the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string,
configuring the surface equipment to permit the transmission of the
trigger command to the trigger tool; and if the hardware coding of
the crossover connected within the tool string is determined not to
correspond to the electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool
string, configuring the surface equipment to prevent the
transmission of the trigger command to the trigger tool.
[0080] The method may comprise determining whether the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string was
triggered in response to the trigger command transmission. The
method may comprise acquiring real-time, downhole data and
transmitting the data to the surface equipment via the cable.
Determining whether the electro-mechanical tool connected within
the tool string was triggered may utilize the data. Acquiring the
data may be via operation of the electro-mechanical tool connected
within the tool string. The method may comprise: if the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string was
determined to be triggered, removing the tool string from the
wellbore; and if the electro-mechanical tool connected within the
tool string was determined to not be triggered, repeating the
trigger command transmission up to a predetermined number of
times.
[0081] The electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool string
may be a first electro-mechanical tool, the form of the electrical
power output by the trigger tool may be a first form of electrical
power output by the trigger tool, and the method may comprise:
disconnecting the first electro-mechanical tool from the tool
string; connecting within the tool string a second one of the
plurality of different electro-mechanical tools connectable within
the downhole tool string; and transmitting a trigger command from
the surface equipment to the trigger tool via the cable to cause
the trigger tool to output electrical power having a second form
corresponding to the second one of the electro-mechanical tools
connected within the tool string to thereby initiate operation of
the second electro-mechanical tool connected within the tool
string, wherein the first and second electro-mechanical tools are
different, and wherein the first and second forms of electrical
power are different.
[0082] The form of the electrical power may be defined by one or
more of electrical voltage, electrical current, and duration of
time the electrical power is applied.
[0083] The present disclosure also introduces an apparatus
comprising a trigger tool connectable within a tool string and
deployable within a wellbore, wherein the trigger tool comprises a
plurality of electrical power converter sets each comprising one or
more power converters, wherein each electrical power converter set
is electrically connectable with an electrical power source, and
wherein each electrical power converter set is operable to: receive
electrical power from the electrical power source; and output a
corresponding electrical power operable to initiate operation of a
corresponding one of a plurality of different electro-mechanical
tools connectable within the downhole tool string, wherein the
electrical power output by each electrical power converter set has
a form that is different from the form of the electrical power
received by such electrical power converter set from the electrical
power source, and wherein the form of electrical power output by
each electrical power converter set is different from the form of
electrical power output by another of the electrical power
converter sets. The trigger tool is operable to initiate operation
of one of the different electro-mechanical tools connected within
the downhole tool string by outputting electrical power by one of
the electrical power converter sets corresponding to the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the downhole tool string,
and wherein each of the different electro-mechanical tools is
connectable within the tool string one at a time.
[0084] The trigger tool may be communicatively connected with a
surface controller located at a wellsite surface from which the
wellbore extends via a telemetry device of the tool string, and the
trigger tool may be operable to initiate operation of one of the
different electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole
tool string based on a control command received from the surface
controller via the telemetry device. Based on the control command
from the surface controller, the trigger tool may be operable to
cause one of the electrical power converter sets corresponding to
one of the different electro-mechanical tools connected within the
downhole tool string to output electrical power to such
electro-mechanical tool and thereby initiate operation of such
electro-mechanical tool.
[0085] The different electro-mechanical tools may comprise one or
more of a fluid sampling tool, a dump bailer, a plug setting tool,
a plug, a tubular cutter tool, and a perforating tool.
[0086] The electrical power source may be or comprise an electrical
battery disposed within the tool string.
[0087] The form of electrical power may be defined by at least one
of electrical voltage, electrical current, and duration of time the
electrical power is applied.
[0088] The electrical power output by the electrical power
converter sets may comprise: a single electrical pulse; and/or a
plurality of electrical pulses.
[0089] The tool string may comprise: a logging tool; a depth
correlation tool; a telemetry device operable to communicatively
connect the trigger tool, the logging tool, and the depth
correlation tool with a surface controller located at a wellsite
surface from which the wellbore extends; one of the different
electro-mechanical tools; one of a plurality of different
crossovers each operable to mechanically and electrically couple
together the trigger tool and a corresponding one of the different
electro-mechanical tools, wherein the one crossover mechanically
and electrically couples together the trigger tool and the one
electro-mechanical tool; and the electrical power source.
[0090] The apparatus may comprise a crossover mechanically and
electrically coupling together the trigger tool and one of the
different electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole
tool string, the crossover may comprise an electrical conductor
extending between opposing electrical couplers of the crossover,
the electrical conductor may electrically connect the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the downhole tool string
with a corresponding one of the electrical power converter sets,
and the electrical conductor may be configured to not electrically
connect the electro-mechanical tool connected within the downhole
tool string with another of the electrical power converter
sets.
[0091] The apparatus may comprise a capacitor operable to store the
electrical power output by a corresponding one of the electrical
power converter sets, and the trigger tool may be operable to
initiate operation of one of the different electro-mechanical tools
connected within the downhole tool string by causing the capacitor
to discharge the stored electrical power to such electro-mechanical
tool connected within the downhole tool string. The apparatus may
comprise a crossover mechanically and electrically coupling
together the trigger tool and one of the different
electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole tool string.
The crossover may comprise the capacitor. One of the trigger tool
and crossover may comprise an electrical switch selectively
operable to electrically connect together the capacitor and the
corresponding one of the different electro-mechanical tools when
connected within the downhole tool string.
[0092] The apparatus may comprise a crossover operable to
mechanically and electrically couple together the trigger tool and
one of the different electro-mechanical tools, wherein: the
crossover comprises a plurality of conductors each electrically
connectable with the trigger tool when the crossover is
mechanically and electrically coupled with the trigger tool; at
least one of the conductors is connected to an electrical ground;
at least two of the conductors are shorted; and a combination of
the grounded and shorted conductors corresponds to one of the
different electro-mechanical tools connectable within the downhole
tool string. The trigger tool may be operable to: identify the
corresponding one of the different electro-mechanical tools based
on the combination of the grounded and shorted conductors; permit
operation of one of the electrical power converter sets
corresponding to the identified one of the different
electro-mechanical tools; and prevent operation of another of the
electrical power converter sets that do not correspond to the
identified one of the different electro-mechanical tools.
[0093] The trigger tool may comprise: a control module comprising a
controller and an electrical coupler; and one or more power
conversion modules each comprising the electrical power converter
sets and an electrical coupler configured to interface with the
electrical coupler of the control module to electrically connect
together the controller and the electrical power converter sets.
The apparatus may comprise a crossover operable to mechanically and
electrically couple together the trigger tool and one of the
different electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole
tool string, the trigger tool may comprise a housing containing the
control module and the power conversion module, and the housing may
be configured to mechanically couple with the crossover. The power
conversion module may be configured to receive an additional
electrical power converter set operable to output a corresponding
electrical power operable to initiate operation of an additional
different electro-mechanical tool connectable within the downhole
tool string. At least one of the electrical power converter sets
may be interchangeable with a different electrical power converter
set operable to output a corresponding electrical power operable to
initiate operation of an additional different electro-mechanical
tool connectable within the downhole tool string.
[0094] The present disclosure also introduces a method comprising
positioning a tool string at a target depth within a wellbore via a
cable connected with surface equipment disposed at a wellsite
surface beneath which the wellbore extends, wherein the tool string
comprises: one of a plurality of different electro-mechanical
tools; a trigger tool configured for initiating operation of each
of the different electro-mechanical tools; and one of a plurality
of different crossovers connecting the trigger tool with the one
electro-mechanical tool. The method also comprises determining
whether hardware coding associated with the one electro-mechanical
tool is correct and transmitting a trigger command from the surface
equipment to the trigger tool via the cable.
[0095] The method may comprise: if the hardware coding is
determined to be correct, configuring the surface equipment to
permit the trigger command transmission; and if the hardware coding
is determined to be incorrect, configuring the surface equipment to
prevent the trigger command transmission. The method may comprise,
if the hardware coding is determined to be incorrect, iterating the
following until the hardware coding is determined to be correct:
removing the tool string from the wellbore; replacing the one
electro-mechanical tool in the tool string within another one of
the electro-mechanical tools or replacing the one crossover in the
tool string within another one of the crossovers; and repositioning
the tool string to the target depth.
[0096] The method may comprise determining whether the one
electro-mechanical tool was triggered in response to the trigger
command transmission. The method may comprise acquiring real-time,
downhole data and transmitting the data to the surface equipment
via the cable. Determining whether the one electro-mechanical tool
was triggered may utilize the data. Acquiring the data may be via
operation of the one electro-mechanical tool. The tool string may
comprise an additional tool, and acquiring the data may be via
operation of the additional tool. The method may comprise: if the
one electro-mechanical tool was determined to be triggered,
removing the tool string from the wellbore; and if the one
electro-mechanical tool was determined to not be triggered,
repeating the trigger command transmission up to a predetermined
number of times.
[0097] The present disclosure also introduces an apparatus
comprising a trigger tool connectable within a tool string and
deployable within a wellbore, wherein the trigger tool comprises a
plurality of electrical power converters each electrically
connected with an electrical power source, wherein each electrical
power converter is operable to: receive electrical power from the
electrical power source; and output a corresponding electrical
power operable to initiate operation of a corresponding one of a
plurality of different electro-mechanical tools connectable within
the downhole tool string. The trigger tool is operable to initiate
operation of one of the different electro-mechanical tools
connected within the downhole tool string by outputting electrical
power by one of the electrical power converters corresponding to
the electro-mechanical tool connected within the downhole tool
string. Each of the different electro-mechanical tools is
connectable within the tool string one at a time.
[0098] The different electro-mechanical tools may comprise one or
more of a fluid sampling tool, a dump bailer, a plug setting tool,
a plug, a tubular cutter tool, and a perforating tool.
[0099] The electrical power source may be or comprise an electrical
battery disposed within the tool string.
[0100] The apparatus may comprise a crossover mechanically and
electrically coupling together the trigger tool and one of the
different electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole
tool string, the crossover may comprise an electrical conductor
extending between opposing electrical couplers of the crossover,
the electrical conductor may electrically connect the
electro-mechanical tool connected within the downhole tool string
with a corresponding one of the power converters, and the
electrical conductor may be configured to not electrically connect
the electro-mechanical tool connected within the downhole tool
string with another of the power converters.
[0101] The apparatus may comprise a crossover mechanically and
electrically coupling together the trigger tool and one of the
different electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole
tool string, the crossover may comprise a capacitor operable to
store the electrical power output by a corresponding one of the
electrical power converters, and the trigger tool may be operable
to initiate operation of a corresponding one of the different
electro-mechanical tools when connected within the downhole tool
string by causing the capacitor to discharge the stored electrical
power to such electro-mechanical tool when connected within the
downhole tool string. One of the trigger tool and crossover may
comprise an electrical switch selectively operable to electrically
connect together the capacitor and the corresponding one of the
different electro-mechanical tools when connected within the
downhole tool string.
[0102] The apparatus may comprise a crossover operable to
mechanically and electrically couple together the trigger tool and
one of the different electro-mechanical tools, wherein: the
crossover comprises a plurality of conductors each electrically
connectable with the trigger tool when the crossover is
mechanically and electrically coupled with the trigger tool; at
least one of the conductors is connected to an electrical ground;
at least two of the conductors are shorted; and a combination of
the grounded and shorted conductors corresponds to one of the
different electro-mechanical tools connectable within the downhole
tool string. The trigger tool may be operable to: identify the
corresponding one of the different electro-mechanical tools based
on the combination of the grounded and shorted conductors; permit
operation of one of the electrical power converters corresponding
to the identified one of the different electro-mechanical tools;
and prevent operation of another of the electrical power converters
that do not correspond to the identified one of the different
electro-mechanical tools.
[0103] The trigger tool may comprise: a control module comprising a
controller and an electrical coupler; and a power conversion module
comprising the electrical power converters and an electrical
coupler configured to interface with the electrical coupler of the
control module to electrically connect together the controller and
the electrical power converters. One of the electrical couplers may
comprise an electrical pin connector, and the other of the
electrical couplers may comprise an electrical socket connector.
The apparatus may comprise a crossover operable to mechanically and
electrically couple together the trigger tool and one of the
different electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole
tool string, the trigger tool may comprise a housing containing the
control module and the power conversion module, and the housing may
be configured to mechanically couple with the crossover. The power
conversion module may be configured to receive an additional
electrical power converter operable to output a corresponding
electrical power operable to initiate operation of an additional
different electro-mechanical tool connectable within the downhole
tool string. At least one of the electrical power converters may be
interchangeable with a different electrical power converter
operable to output a corresponding electrical power operable to
initiate operation of an additional different electro-mechanical
tool connectable within the downhole tool string.
[0104] The electrical power output by each of the electrical power
converters may comprise at least one of: a different voltage; a
different current; and a different duration.
[0105] The electrical power output by each of the electrical power
converters may comprise a different voltage, a different current,
and a different duration.
[0106] The electrical power output by the electrical power
converters may comprise: a single electrical pulse; and/or a
plurality of electrical pulses.
[0107] If one of the different electro-mechanical tools connected
within the downhole tool string comprises the electrical power
source, the electrical power output by the electrical power
converter may have a positive voltage in the range of 0-20
volts.
[0108] If one of the different electro-mechanical tools connected
within the downhole tool string does not comprise the electrical
power source, the electrical power output by the electrical power
converter may have a positive or negative voltage greater than 20
volts.
[0109] The trigger tool may be communicatively connected with a
surface controller located at a wellsite surface from which the
wellbore extends via a telemetry device of the tool string, and the
trigger tool may be operable to initiate operation of one of the
different electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole
tool string based on a control command received from the surface
controller via the telemetry device. Based on the control command
from the surface controller, the trigger tool may be operable to
cause one of the power converters corresponding to one of the
different electro-mechanical tools connected within the downhole
tool string to output electrical power to such electro-mechanical
tool and thereby initiate operation of such electro-mechanical
tool.
[0110] The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so
that a person having ordinary skill in the art may better
understand the aspects of the present disclosure. A person having
ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that they may readily
use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying
other processes and structures for carrying out the same functions
and/or achieving the same benefits of the implementations
introduced herein. A person having ordinary skill in the art should
also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from
the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may
make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
[0111] The Abstract at the end of this disclosure is provided to
permit the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical
disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not
be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the
claims.
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