[0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a downhole
tool in a well, and relates to a method of transmitting instructions to control a
downhole tool in a well and more specifically but not exclusively results in multiplexing
between the outputs of at least two downhole sensors, one of which is preferably an
RFID tag reader and another of which is preferably a downhole fluid pressure sensor.
[0002] International
PCT Publication No WO2009/050517 to Petrowell Limited of Aberdeen discloses use of a downhole Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) sensor responsive to Radio Frequency (RF) tags which are flowed past the RFID
sensor in fluid or pressure sensors responsive to pressure signals respectively, wherein
the system operates:-
- a) in RF mode (using the aforementioned RF tags) when there is circulation of fluid
in the well (particularly fluid being pumped downhole through the throughbore of a
tubing string); or
- b) a pressure pulsing mode wherein the pressure sensor detects pulses sent through
downhole fluid when the throughbore of the tubing string is closed.
[0003] It is desirable to increase the versatility of remote communication with a downhole
tool while conserving power.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] According to a first aspect there is provided a method of controlling a downhole
tool in a well with a downhole processing device according to claim 1.
[0006] According to a second aspect there is provided a downhole processing apparatus according
to claim 11.
[0007] Optionally, the first and second timing operations determine when the stored data
received from the RFID tag reader and downhole fluid pressure pulse sensor is checked.
[0008] Optionally, the downhole processing device is triggered to check the data storage
device when the first timing operation underflows or resets from zero to a pre-determined
value that the timing operation will then count down to zero from. Optionally, the
pre-determined value for the first timing operation is a relatively short predetermined
value (relative to the second timing operation).
[0009] Optionally, the downhole processing device is triggered to check the data storage
device when the second timing operation underflows or resets from zero to a pre-determined
value that the timing operation will then count down to zero from.
[0010] Optionally, the first and second pre-determined values are stored in a memory storage
device and are provided to the respective first and second timing operations upon
initiation of the downhole processing device.
[0011] Optionally, the first timing operation comprises a timed event including a repeating
countdown from the pre-determined time value to zero wherein said timed event is repeated
at least once.
[0012] Optionally, the second timing operation comprises a timed event including a repeating
countdown from the pre-determined time value to zero wherein said timed event is repeated
at least once.
[0013] Further optionally, the point at which said timed event resets from zero to the said
pre-determined time value comprises an underflow trigger which triggers the checking
of the stored data received from the respective RFID tag reader and downhole fluid
pressure pulse sensor.
[0014] Optionally, the downhole processing device stores data if instructed to do so during
predetermined time intervals determined by the first and second timing operations.
Yet further optionally, the downhole processing device is pre-programmed to recognise
flags represented by said stored data and/or trends within the stored data and is
adapted to act upon said flags or said trends to for example instruct a downhole tool
to actuate.
[0015] Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that they effectively enable
multiplexing between the outputs of an RFID tag reader and a downhole fluid pressure
pulse sensor.
[0016] Optionally, the first and second timing operations comprise selectively actuable
respective first and second interrupt service routines.
[0017] The various aspects of the present invention can be practiced alone or in combination
with one or more of the other aspects, as will be appreciated by those skilled in
the relevant arts. The various aspects of the invention can optionally be provided
in combination with one or more of the optional features of the other aspects of the
invention. Also, optional features described in relation to one embodiment can typically
be combined alone or together with other features in different embodiments of the
invention.
Brief Description of the drawings
[0018] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
Figures (Figs.), in which:-
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a horizontal well prior to initiation of production;
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a horizontal well in full production;
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of components that form part of a downhole apparatus
according to the first aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a flow diagram showing a general overview of some of the steps of operation
conducted by a Microprocessor Unit of the downhole apparatus of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a flow diagram showing the steps of operation conducted by the Microprocessor
Unit of the downhole device of Fig. 3 during Interrupt Service Routine (ISR) 1;
Fig. 6 is a flow diagram showing the steps of operation conducted by the Microprocessor
Unit of the downhole device of Fig. 3 during ISR 2; and
Fig. 7 is a flow diagram showing the steps of operation conducted by the Microprocessor
Unit of the downhole device of Fig. 3 during ISR 3.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0019] In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification
and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not
necessarily to scale. Certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in
scale or in somewhat schematic form, and some details of conventional elements may
not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The present invention is
susceptible to embodiments of different forms. There are shown in the drawings, and
herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments of the present invention
with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification
of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to
that illustrated and described herein. It is to be fully recognized that the different
teachings of the embodiments discussed below may be employed separately or in any
suitable combination to produce the desired results.
[0020] The following definitions will be followed in the specification. As used herein,
the term "wellbore" refers to a wellbore or borehole being provided or drilled in
a manner known to those skilled in the art. The wellbore may be 'open hole' or 'cased',
being lined with a tubular string. Reference to up or down will be made for purposes
of description with the terms "above", "up", "upward", "upper" or "upstream" meaning
away from the bottom of the wellbore along the longitudinal axis of a work string
and "below", "down", "downward", "lower" or "downstream" meaning toward the bottom
of the wellbore along the longitudinal axis of the work string. Similarly 'work string'
refers to any tubular arrangement for conveying fluids and/or tools from a surface
into a wellbore. In the present invention, production tubing is the preferred work
string.
[0021] The various aspects of the present invention can be practiced alone or in combination
with one or more of the other aspects, as will be appreciated by those skilled in
the relevant arts. The various aspects of the invention can optionally be provided
in combination with one or more of the optional features of the other aspects of the
invention.
[0022] Various embodiments and aspects of the invention will now be described in detail
with reference to the accompanying figures. Still other aspects, features, and advantages
of the present invention are readily apparent from the entire description thereof,
including the figures, which illustrates a number of exemplary embodiments and aspects
and implementations. The invention is also capable of other and different embodiments
and aspects, and its several details can be modified in various respects, all without
departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
[0023] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included
in the specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present
invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed
part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant
to the present invention.
[0024] Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in
nature, and not as restrictive. Furthermore, the terminology and phraseology used
herein is solely used for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting
in scope. Language such as "including", "comprising", "having", "containing" or "involving"
and variations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subject matter listed
thereafter, equivalents and additional subject matter not recited, and is not intended
to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. Likewise, the term "comprising"
is considered synonymous with the terms "including" or "containing" for applicable
legal purposes.
[0025] All numerical values in this disclosure are understood as being modified by "about".
All singular forms of elements, or any other components described herein including
(without limitations) components of the embodiments of downhole control device 44
in accordance with the present invention to be described in detail subsequently are
understood to include plural forms thereof and vice versa.
[0026] Figs. 1 and 2 show a well drilled into a formation 10. The well has a vertical portion
12, a horizontal portion 18, a heel 14 at the transition between the vertical portion
12 and the horizontal portion 18, and a toe 16 located at an end of the horizontal
portion 18. The well is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 having tubing 42 such as production
tubing 42 or work string 42 or wash pipe 42 inserted therein.
[0027] It should be noted that Figs. 1 and 2 are not to scale and that the horizontal portion
18 of the well may be many hundreds of metres or several kilometres long. However,
it should also be noted that embodiments of the present invention to be described
in detail subsequently are not limited to use only in horizontal wells but could be
used in vertical wells or inclined wells that pass through the production zone at
any angle.
[0028] Optionally, the production tubing 42 is formed from a plurality of individual pipe
lengths that are interconnected and sealed to form continuous hollow tubing. The production
tubing 42 can also incorporate other downhole devices and porting as appropriate.
It should also be noted that embodiments of the present invention to be described
in detail subsequently are not limited to use with production tubing 42 but could
instead be used during the well completion process and particularly could be used
when fracturing a well (also known as fracking or fracing/frac'ing) in which case
the production tubing 42 shown in Fig. 1 would be replaced by work string or wash
pipe 42 carrying one or more packers (not shown to isolate the section of the well
to be frac'ed.
[0029] In Fig.1 as shown, in the horizontal portion 18 of the well, the production tubing
42 incorporates several downhole processing apparatus in accordance with the first
aspect of the present invention in the form of downhole control devices 44 spaced
at various points along the production tubing 42. Each control device 44 is located
in close proximity to a respective port 26 which forms an aperture through the sidewall
of the production tubing 42 and which can be opened or closed by a respective downhole
tool 100 incorporating a moveable sleeve 100 as will be detailed subsequently but
it should be noted that the moveable sleeve 100 and associated port 26 could be replaced
by a different sort of downhole tool 100 (that may or may not be associated with a
port 26) that requires to be operated by an operator.
[0030] There are three ports 26 shown in Fig. 1 and 2 denoted consecutively 26a, 26b, 26c
from the heel 14 towards the toe 16 of the well and a respective downhole device 44a,
44b, 44c is associated with each port 26a, 26b, 26c. The control devices 44 are shown
incorporated in part of a sand screen 24 although it should be noted that the sand
screen 24 is not essential and may or may not be included in the tubing 42 around
the respective port 26, particularly if the wellbore is not prone to sand ingress.
[0031] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each control device 44 is connected to and is capable
of controlling a respective downhole tool 100 comprising a controllable and moveable
sleeve 100 which covers a respective port 26 and again each sleeve is consecutively
denoted 100a, 100b, 100c from the heel 14 to the toe 16 of the well. In general, the
sleeves 100a, 100b, 100c are selectively controllable (by the respective control device
44 as will be detailed subsequently) to move between the first configuration shown
in Fig.1 in which they are covering and thereby obturating the ports 26a, 26b and
26c respectively (thus preventing fluid flow through the ports 26a, 26b and 26c between
the throughbore 40 of the production tubing 42 and the annulus 43 of the wellbore),
and the second configuration shown in Fig.1 in which the sleeves 100a, 100b, 100c
have been moved away from and have therefore uncovered the ports 26a, 26b and 26c
respectively (thus permitting fluid communication and therefore fluid flow through
the ports 26a, 26b and 26c between the throughbore 40 of the production tubing 42
and the annulus 43 of the wellbore).
[0032] It should however be noted that other forms of downhole tool 100 (other than downhole
sleeves) could be controlled by embodiments of control device 44 in accordance with
the present invention. Additionally, any number (i.e. a plurality) of downhole tools
100 (which may be downhole sleeves or other forms of downhole tool 100) could be controlled
by the one control device 44 in accordance with the present invention.
[0033] At the toe 16 of the well, the production tubing 42 has a closed end and orifices
26d are provided adjacent the closed end. A sleeve 100d is provided to selectively
obturate the orifices 26d at the toe 16 of the well. In Fig. 1, the sleeve 100d is
shown as it will be positioned when the production tubing 42 is run in, with the orifices
26d in fluid communication with the annulus surrounding the production tubing 42.
However, it could be that all the orifices 26 are run into the wellbore in the closed
position.
[0034] An embodiment of a downhole control device 44 in accordance with the present invention
is shown in Fig. 3.
[0035] As shown in Fig. 3, at the heart of the downhole control device 44 is a Micro Controller
Unit (MCU) 202 which may be in the form of an integrated chip mounted on an integrated
circuit board. The MCU 202 is powered by a suitable power source which is optionally
a battery 66 which outputs a DC voltage which may be in the region of 22 volts (but
other voltages could be output) and which is supplied to the MCU 202 via suitable
power conditioning unit 204. The power conditioning unit 204 typically supplies the
specifically required voltage to the MCU 202 (typically 3.3 volts) and optionally
can also supply the specifically required voltage (typically 5 volts) for other components
that require power in the downhole device 44.
[0036] The MCU 202 optionally comprises a small form computer having a memory or data storage
facility (not separately shown), a microprocessor for processing data (not separately
shown), a clock that provides the ability for the MCU 202 to perform at least one
or more timing operation(s) (not separately shown) and data input/output connections
(205, 59, 211, 212).
[0037] As is further shown in schematic form in Fig. 3, each downhole device 44 comprises
an RFID reader 60 which in turn comprises an antenna 62. A preferred antenna 62 is
disclosed in
WO2009/050518 to Petrowell Limited of Aberdeen, UK. The antenna 62 itself is optionally cylindrical
and has a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and is arranged to be is accommodated
co-axially within the tubing 42. The inner surface of the antenna 62 may be flush
with an inner surface of the adjacent production tubing 42 so that there is no restriction
in the throughbore 40 in the region of the antenna 62. The antenna 62 optionally comprises
an inner liner and a coiled conductor in the form of a length of copper wire that
is concentrically wound around the inner liner in a helical coaxial manner. Insulating
material optionally separates the coiled conductor from the recessed portion (not
shown) of the sub in which the antenna is co-axially arranged within, in the radial
direction. The liner and insulating material are formed from a non-magnetic and non-conductive
material such as resin, fibreglass, rubber or the like. The antenna 62 is formed such
that the insulating material and coiled conductor are sealed from the outer environment
and the throughbore 40. The antenna 62 may be in the region of 1 metre or less in
length and more preferably is in the region of 40 cm in length. Accordingly, RFID
reader 60 comprising an RFID antenna 62 is optionally provided within the downhole
device 44 in a manner similar to the RFID reader disclosed in
WO2009/050518 to Petrowell Limited of Aberdeen, UK but the RFID reader 60 and associated RFID antenna
62 could be provided as part of a separate downhole tool or sub-tool. In any case,
the RFID reader 60 and associated RFID antenna 62 is connected to a power and data
input/output 59 of the MCU 202 via suitable wiring such that the MCU 202 can both
power the RFID reader 60 and/or supply data to the RFID reader 60 that as will be
described can be used to charge up and then transmit data to a passing RFID tag or
can read data from a passing RFID tag and transmit that data to the MCU 202 via the
data input 59.
[0038] A pressure transducer sensor 210 is connected to a data input 211 of the MCU 202
via suitable wiring with suitable signal conditioning 213 therebetween and, as will
be described in more detail subsequently, the pressure transducer is arranged in the
downhole device 44 such that it can sense the pressure of downhole fluid surrounding
the downhole device 44 and supply the associated data about the pressure reading it
takes to the MCU 202 either on an automatic basis or more preferably on a controlled
basis when requested by the MCU 202 to do so.
[0039] A controllable electrical power output 205 of the MCU 202 is connected to a motor
drive 206 via suitable wiring and which when operated will mechanically drive a pump
208 to pump hydraulic fluid to do the desired work (such as open a sleeve 100) assuming
that a spool valve 215 is aligned in the appropriate configuration as will now be
described.
[0040] A further controllable electrical power output 212 of the MCU 202 is connected to
a second motor drive 214 via suitable wiring and which (when operated by the MCU 202)
will mechanically drive a spool valve 215 which can be arranged to move or translate
between at least two positions or configurations. The spool valve has a first position
or configuration in which the hydraulic output of the pump 208 is not in fluid communication
with the sleeve 100 and therefore the hydraulic fluid is prevented from moving downhole
sleeve 100. Furthermore, the spool valve 215 has a second position or configuration
in which the hydraulic output of the pump 208 is in fluid communication with the sleeve
100 and therefore the hydraulic fluid output by the pump 208 (if the latter is actuated
by the MCU 202) is permitted to flow to the downhole tool 100 such that it does the
desired work (such as open the sleeve 100). The MCU 202 may additionally provide a
further timing operation (not shown) so that once either the RFID antenna 62 or the
pressure transducer 210 have read a signal that corresponds to an actuation command
for actuating e.g. the sleeve 100 (by means of the pump 208 and spool valve 215),
the actual step of actuation can be carried out at a predetermined time interval after
the signal/command is received.
[0041] A suitable sliding sleeve 100 and a suitable sub containing ports 26 are disclosed
in
WO2009/050518 to Petrowell Limited of Aberdeen, UK.
[0042] RFID tags (not shown) for use in conjunction with the antenna 62 described above
can be those produced by Texas Instruments such as a 32mm glass transponder with the
model number RI-TRP-WRZB-20 suitably modified for use downhole. The tags should be
hermetically sealed and capable of withstanding high temperatures and pressures. Glass
or ceramic tags are preferable and should be able to withstand pressure of 20 000
psi (138 MPa). Oil filled tags are also well suited to use downhole, as they have
a good collapse rating. The skilled person will realise however that other suitable
RFID tags can be used.
[0043] Prior to being run into the well, the tubing 42 is made up incorporating a plurality
of downhole devices 44. The devices 44 may be located spaced apart along the tubing
string 42 so that once run in, they will be positioned adjacent areas of the formation
10 that contain hydrocarbon reservoirs of interest. Once a borehole has been drilled
and the well is ready to be completed, the tubing 42 is run downhole into the position
shown in Fig. 2. As the tubing 42 is run downhole, the sleeves 100a, 100b, 100c of
each of the downhole devices 44 are in the closed position, in which the sleeve 100
substantially obturates the respective ports 26, except for orifices 26d positioned
at the end of the tubing 42. At the end of the tubing 42, the sleeve 100d is in the
second open configuration in which the orifices 26d are in fluid communication with
the annulus surrounding the tubing 42. However, the skilled person will realise that
other suitable running in configurations can be used.
[0044] In one embodiment of a method of controlling the wellbore in accordance with the
present invention, kill fluid is then pumped downhole into the well. The kill fluid
is optionally a high density mud that substantially restricts egress of reservoir
fluids out of the formation 10 and into the tubing 42 or the annulus surrounding the
tubing 42. The sleeves 100a, 100b, 100c remain in the first closed position in Fig.
2 with the ports substantially obturated while the kill fluid is pumped downhole.
Since the sleeves 100a, 100b, 100c obturate the respective ports 26a, 26b, 26c, there
is no access to the annulus from the throughbore 40 until the end open orifices 26d
are reached at the toe 14 of the well. As a result, an operator can be sure that kill
fluid pumped into the throughbore 40 of the tubing 42 reaches the toe 14 of the well
once the requisite volume of kill fluid has been pumped downhole. Therefore, complete
circulation of kill fluid can be achieved by pumping fluid directly down the tubing
42 since the kill fluid cannot escape through the ports 26a, 26b, 26c. However, the
skilled person will realise that other suitable methods of controlling the well can
be employed by the operator.
[0045] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention of the process steps that the
MCUs 202 of one, some or all of the downhole devices 44 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 follow
will now be described.
[0046] The power on stage of the MCU 202 is shown as START 300 in Fig. 4. The MCU 202 may
be powered on at stage START 300 at the surface of the well prior to the downhole
device 44 being run into the well 12 or it could be powered on by a separate timer
system switching the MCU 202 on after a particular time has lapsed or indeed could
be switched on by a suitable switching device for a downhole tool such as that disclosed
in
WO2009/109788 to Petrowell Limited of Aberdeen, UK. Once the MCU 202 has been powered on at stage
START 300, a first timing operation referred to as TIMER 1 is initiated at stage 302
and that loads a start value (for example 16 milliseconds) from a predetermined register
stored in suitable non-volatile memory (not shown separately) associated with the
MCU 202. That start value of for example 16 ms which is delivered to TIMER 1 at stage
302 could however be changed for instance by data that is transmitted from the switching
device that is disclosed in
WO2009/109788 to Petrowell Limited of Aberdeen, UK.
[0047] Thereafter, a second timing operation referred to as TIMER 2 is initiated at stage
304 and a start value, for example 10 seconds, is loaded into TIMER 2 from non-volatile
memory.
[0048] A third timing operation referred to as TIMER 3 is thereafter initiated at stage
306 and is provided with a load start value which could be for a longer period such
as many days, weeks or even months.
[0049] Optionally, each TIMER 1, 2 and 3 is associated with a separate task and, as will
be described subsequently in more detail, in this example those tasks are as follows:-
TIMER 1 = operation of an RFID reader 60;
TIMER 2 = operation of a pressure transducer 210; and
TIMER 3 = operation of a contingency action, such as instructing all associated downhole
tools 100 to open.
[0050] The separate results of initiating TIMER 1 (at stage 302), TIMER 2 (at stage 304)
and TIMER 3 (at stage 306) will be detailed subsequently.
[0051] The MCU 202 then enters an endless loop at return point or stage 312.
[0052] The first stage of the endless loop comprises a step "LOOK FOR USER INTERVENTION"
noted as 308 in Fig. 4. This stage 308 is particularly useful if the downhole device
44 starts (at START stage 300 in Fig. 4) with none of INTERRUPT SERVICE ROUTINES (ISR)
1, 2 or 3 enabled, as will be discussed in detail subsequently. If this is the case,
then the MCU 202 will look at the "LOOK FOR USER INTERVENTION" stage 308 for separate
specific instructions from the user or operator of the downhole device 44 and such
separate specific instructions can be transmitted by means of a separate data transmission
device such as the switching device for a downhole tool disclosed in
WO2009/109788 to Petrowell Limited.
[0053] However, if no instructions are received at stage 308 to the contrary, then the microprocessor
202 will move to stage 310 of "DO WORK" which entails the MCU 202 looking at its associated
memory buffer for valid flags. If valid flags are present in the associated memory
buffer then the MCU 202 will suspend looking for the interrupt created by the ISR
1, ISR 2 or ISR 3 (as will be detailed subsequently) and will do whatever the valid
flag instructions instruct (i.e. open downhole sleeve 100B for example).
[0054] Once the MCU 202 has completed the "DO WORK" stage 310, the MCU 202 returns to return/entry
point 312 and then starts the endless loop again by proceeding to step "LOOK FOR USER
INTERVENTION" 308.
[0055] As discussed above, the MCU 202 is provided with an INTERRUPT SERVICE ROUTINE (ISR)
for each of the timing operations TIMER 1 (302), TIMER 2 (304) or TIMER 3 (306). In
general, the interrupt service routines ISR 1 (350), ISR 2 (400) and ISR 3 (450) can
each store flags in the memory buffer associated with the MCU 202 and in doing so
can instruct the MCU 202 to do different work at stage DO WORK 310 depending upon
the instructions sent from the surface by the operator of the downhole device 44 (and
in the case of ISR 3 will instruct the MCU 202 to do the pre-determined contingency
action without needing a specific signal to be sent from the surface by the operator
of the downhole device 44).
[0056] Fig. 5 shows INTERRUPT SERVICE ROUTINE (ISR) 1 (350) and which is associated with
stage INITIATE TIMER 1 (302) of Fig. 4.
[0057] In this embodiment, stage INITIATE TIMER 1 (302) loads a start value of 16 milliseconds
into TIMER 1 and TIMER 1 counts down to zero seconds and when TIMER 1 reaches zero
seconds, it then resets back to its start value of 16 milliseconds and counts down
again to zero seconds and this countdown is repeated until the downhole device 44
is switched off or the battery 66 runs out of power.
[0058] ISR 1 (350) is arranged to observe when TIMER 1 (302) underflows and such an underflow
condition is when TIMER 1 (302) reaches zero and then resets back to 16 milliseconds.
[0059] At the point that TIMER 1 (302) underflows, the ISR 1 (350) starts and progresses
to stage 352 "TURN OFF CHARGE". Stage 352 turns off the charge that is applied to
the RFID antenna 62 (the antenna 62 having previously been charged).
[0060] The next stage is "LISTEN FOR TAG" 354 in which the RFID reader 60 monitors the output
of the RFID antenna 62 and observes whether or not an RFID tag (not shown) is present
within the RFID antenna 62, the RFID tag (not shown) having been dropped into the
fluid being pumped down the throughbore 40 of the production tubing 42 at the surface
of the well by the operator.
[0061] Stages 352 and 354 combined together take approximately 2 milliseconds and therefore
mean that the RFID antenna 62 is not supplied with power from the battery 66 for those
two milliseconds and therefore have the great advantage that that battery power 66
is saved for those two milliseconds. Considering that the RFID antenna 62 will be
switched on after stage 354 has completed (i.e. after two milliseconds has passed)
that means that there is an approximate 12.5% saving in the amount of power used by
the RFID antenna 62 (considering that the RFID antenna 62 will be switched on for
the remaining 14 milliseconds of the 16 millisecond cycle associated with TIMER 1
(302)).
[0062] After stage 354 has been completed, Interrupt Service routine ISR 1 then moves to
the next stage, "DECODE TAG" stage 356. If an RFID tag (not shown) was present within
the RFID antenna 62 and was detected by the RFID reader 60, the MCU 202 will store
a valid flag in its associated memory buffer along with the data transmitted by the
RFID tag and received by the RFID reader 60 at the "DECODE TAG" stage 356.
[0063] The interrupt service routine ISR 1 (350) then moves to the "RETURN TO MAIN PROCESS"
stage 358 (and hence in essence the MCU can be considered as having completed that
routine ISR 1 until TIMER 1 underflows again at which point ISR 1 (305) (assuming
it is enabled) will be commended again).
[0064] Accordingly, if a valid flag was placed into the memory buffer at stage 356 during
Interrupt service routine ISR 1 (350), the MCU 202 will note that during the "DO WORK"
stage 310.
[0065] Otherwise, ISR 1 (350) will run again and interrupt service routine ISR 1 (350) is
repeated on the next underflow of TIMER 1 (and that will repeat each time TIMER 1
underflows).
[0066] Importantly, ISR 1 (350) can be switched/enabled on or off by an enable or disable
routine 351 and the enable or disable routine 351 is also controlled by the MCU 202
and can be switched between enable or disable by instructions received from the surface
by the operator transmitting data containing those instructions. The significant advantages
that this feature provides will be discussed subsequently. Interrupt service routine
ISR 2 (400) is shown in Fig. 6 and is associated with and operated by TIMER 2 (304).
Upon power up of the downhole device at stage 300 in Fig. 4, TIMER 2 (304) is initially
loaded with a start value of for example 10 seconds and TIMER 2 counts down from 10
seconds to zero and upon underflow wraps back round to its loaded start value of 10
seconds and that countdown, underflow and reset process repeats continuously.
[0067] ISR 2 (400) monitors for when TIMER 2 underflows and at that point ISR 2 (400) moves
to its next stage of "TAKE PRESSURE READING" 402 and which takes a pressure reading
from the pressure transducer 210 where the pressure transducer 210 provides a reading
of the downhole fluid pressure at its location. That pressure reading is provided
to stage 404 "RUN MATH CALCULATION" at which point the MCU 202 compares the pressure
reading taken at stage 402 with at least the immediately previous pressure reading
and calculates the change in pressure (that is it calculates the difference in the
two pressure values) and also calculates if that change is positive or negative and
that information is stored in the MCU's 202 memory buffer.
[0068] ISR 2 (400) then moves to the next stage of "RETURN TO MAIN PROCESS" 406. The MCU
202 will therefore monitor and look for any valid flag that has been presented into
its memory buffer by the ISR 2 (400) and if so will do the work that is associated
with that valid flag and with the earlier stored pressure reading information, by
comparing it against stored instructions so that the MCU 202 can then determine if
an instruction has been sent and if so what that instruction means, during its "DO
WORK" stage 310.
[0069] Consequently, operation of the MCU 202 will result in a pressure reading being taken
and stored every 10 seconds and that will enable an operator at the surface to pressure
pulse the downhole fluid and in a matter of minutes will enable the operator to transmit
instructions to the MCU 202 because the MCU 202 has been previously provided with
a set of instructions to store within its non-volatile memory to for example open
sliding sleeve 100C if there is a particular series of pressure changes (for example,
a relatively high pressure followed by a relatively low pressure repeated 3 times)
within a particular time scale (for example 12 minutes).
[0070] Again, and importantly, the ISR 2 (400) can be enabled or disabled by switch 401
such that the ISR 2 (400) could for instance be disabled by an instruction sent from
the surface by the operator by means of pressure pulsing (in that it can be instructed
to switch itself off) or indeed such a signal could be transmitted from the surface
by the operator by another transmission means or mechanism, e.g. by RFID tag that
can be detected by ISR 1 (350) (assuming ISR 1 is enabled at that point in time by
its switch 351).
[0071] ISR 3 (450) is shown in Fig. 7 and is associated with and operated by TIMER 3 (306).
TIMER 3 (306) is initialised when the downhole device 44 is powered on START 300 and
is loaded with a start value which could be a much longer period of time such as days,
weeks or even months and ISR 3 (450) will again monitor the underflow of TIMER 3 and
once it detects that underflow it will move to stage 452 "DO CONTINGENCY ACTION" which
could be for example to open all downhole sleeves 100. Once stage 452 has been completed,
ISR 3 will move to stage 454 "RETURN TO MAIN PROCESS". Importantly, ISR 3 (450) can
again be enabled or disabled via switch 451 and therefore if the operator does not
wish to allow ISR 3 (450) to operate, the operator can send a signal from the surface
to the downhole device 44 to disable ISR 3 (450) via switch 451.
[0072] In practice, (assuming for example that the ISR 1 (350) is enabled via its switch
351 and that ISR 2 (400) is enabled via its switch 401) the MCU 202 will give the
appearance of looking for both pressure pulsing (via ISR 2 (400)) and also RFID tags
(via ISR 1 (350)) concurrently but in actual fact is multi-plexing between the two
different transmission mechanism because it is running ISR 1 (350) and ISR 2 (400)
in parallel but looks for the valid flags in its memory register in series.
[0073] Importantly, in practice, the ISR 1 (350) is likely to be switched off via its enable
or disable switch 351 for a significant amount of time that the downhole device 44
is in use because operating and powering the RFID antenna 62 uses approximately 10
times the amount of power that is used by the pressure pulse detection method operated
by ISR 2 (400). Accordingly, it is likely in practice that the operator will use ISR
2 (400) to send instructions via pressure pulsing to the MCU 202 to switch on ISR
1 (350) by switching on its enable or disable switch 351 (RFID tags being able to
contain a lot more data and also can transmit that data at a much higher data burst
rate than can be sent via the relatively slow data rate of the pressure pulse method).
[0074] Accordingly, in practice, the completion that is shown in Fig. 1 could be run in
with all the downhole tools 100 closed and with ISR 1 (350) switched off via its switch
351. The operator could then send pressure pulses with a particular code that is detected
by the pressure transducer 210 and decoded by the MCU 202 and that code could for
instance instruct the MCU 202 during its DO WORK stage 310 to switch on enable switch
351 immediately (or could instruct ISR 1 (350) to switch on in a number X of hours
time) and could also instruct ISR 1 (350) to remain switched on for a number Y of
hours thereafter and therefore look for RFID tags in that period of time when it is
switched on.
[0075] Consequently, the ability to switch between the two data transmission mechanism of
RFID Tags and pressure pulsing enables the operator to be able to choose the highest
data transfer rate but also allows the operator to conserve the valuable battery power.
[0076] The operator will likely keep the relatively low power pressure pulse transmission
method switched on all the time via its enable switch 401 in order to provide at least
one data transmission method at all times. For instance, if the operator is sending
pressure pulses to a lower most downhole device 44C with a 3 minute pressure pulse
and it does not open its associated downhole tool 100C for any reason, the operator
can take the decision to abandon that downhole tool 100C and instead instruct the
next highest downhole device 44B to open its associated downhole tool 100B with, for
example a 5 minute pressure pulse. Accordingly, by keeping ISR 2 (400) switched on
all the time via its enable switch 401, the operator will always have the contingency
of being able to send pressure pulses (assuming pressuring up the downhole fluid is
possible).
[0077] An RFID tag (not shown) is programmed at the surface by an operator to generate a
unique signal according to the present embodiment. Similarly, prior to being included
in the device 44 at the surface, each of the electronics packs coupled to the respective
antenna 62, is separately programmed to respond to a specific signal. The RFID tag
comprises a miniature electronic circuit having a transceiver chip arranged to receive
and store information and a small antenna within the hermetically sealed casing surrounding
the tag.
[0078] One or more pre-programmed RFID tag(s) is/are then weighted if required, and dropped
or flushed into the well with the kill fluid. Alternatively, the tag can be circulated
through the tubing 42 to reach the devices 44 with brine or diesel flushed downhole
after the kill fluid.
[0079] After travelling through the vertical portion 12 and throughbore 40 of the tubing
42, the selectively coded RFID tag reaches the downhole devices 44 that the operator
wishes to actuate. The tag passes through the throughbore 40 and the antenna 62 of
each device 44. During passage of the RFID tag (not shown) through the throughbore
40, the antenna 62 of the device 44 in question is of sufficient length to charge
and read data from the tag. The tag then transmits certain radio frequency signals,
enabling it to communicate with the antenna 62. This data is processed by the MCU
202 in the manner described in detail subsequently.
[0080] According to the present example, the RFID tag has been programmed at the surface
by the operator to transmit information instructing that a particular sliding sleeve
100a, 100b, 100c is to be opened.
[0081] Several tags programmed with the same operating instructions for individual devices
44 can be added to the well, so that at least one of the tags will reach the desired
antenna 62 enabling the operating instructions to be transmitted. Once the data is
transferred to the device 44, the other RFID tags encoded with similar data can be
ignored by the antenna 62.
[0082] In practice there are likely to be many more devices 44 spaced axially along the
tubing 42 than shown in the schematic on Figs. 1 or 2. Several devices 44 adjacent
a particular part of the formation 10 can be opened simultaneously. Certain devices
44 can remain in the closed configuration if data is gathered to suggest to an operator
that an adjacent formation 10 contains mainly gas or water. Alternatively, where the
downhole devices 44 are mounted on coiled tubing and run in as part of a frac'ing
operation, one or more selected downhole control devices 44 can be actuated depending
up on the required frac'ing operation.
[0083] According to an alternative embodiment, and particularly if a complicated downhole
tool 100 sequence of operations is required, all the ISR 2's (400) of each downhole
device 44 can be switched on via their respective enable switches by sending the appropriate
pressure pulse sequence and thereafter, in order to actuate a specific downhole tool
100, a tag programmed with a specific signal is sent downhole. Each antenna 62 is
either responsive to the signal of a specific tag or is responsive to all tags and
the decoding is done by the MCU 202 to determine if it is the downhole tool 100 associated
with that MCU 202 that is to be actuated. In this way tags can be used to selectively
target certain devices 44 by pre-programming the antennas 62 or the MCU's 202 and
corresponding tags. Thus, several different tags may be provided to target different
devices 44.
[0084] The tags may also be designed to carry data transmitted from antennas 62, enabling
them to be re-coded during passage through the tubing 42. In particular, useful data
such as temperature, pressure, flow rate and any other operating conditions of the
device can be transferred to the tag. The antenna 62 can emit a radio frequency signal
in response to the radio frequency signal it receives. This can re-code the tag with
information sent from the antenna 62.
[0085] Additionally, and as described above, signals can be sent from the surface to the
MCU 202 to operate the downhole devices 100 by sending pressure pulses through the
wellbore fluid (either in the throughbore 40 of the tubing 42 or through the fluid
located in the annulus 43, wherein such pressure pulses are sensed by the pressure
transducer 210 of each device 44. Additionally, or alternatively, the MCU 202 may
be pre-programmed to be responsive to any pressure above a threshold (in the most
simple form) or to be responsive to pressure pulses in the form of a pre-determined
pressure signature, in which case the MCU 202 is pre-programmed to identify rates
of change with a certain repetition rate of the pressure pulses to avoid spurious
actuation.
[0086] The method of the invention does not have to be used in conjunction with every single
specific downhole device 44 described herein. According to an alternative embodiment,
the production tubing 42 or coiled tubing 42 may be provided with one or more modified
devices 44 containing some other form of control mechanism such as a timer for operating
a downhole tool 100.
[0087] According to the above embodiment, the sleeves 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d are described
as moveable between a first closed and a second open configuration. However, the sleeves
may also be movable to a plurality of intermediate configurations in which the sleeve
100 partially obturates the ports 26 to controllably and selectively restrict or choke
but not completely stop the flow of fluid.
[0088] The embodiment described herein has the advantage that the MCU 202 is in practice
always receptive to either pressure pulse signals or RFID signals rather than the
prior art disadvantage of for example an RFID reader able to seek or read an RFID
signal only where there is circulation of fluid or only able to sense pressure pulse
signals only when the tubing is closed. Therefore in a situation where the tubing
42 becomes blocked and the capacity for flow of fluid therethrough is restricted,
the MCU 202 can still respond to pressure pulse signals as a result of the ability
of the MCU 202 to multiplex the respective signals.
[0089] Other methods of remote actuation of the devices can also be used in addition to
RFID tags and associated RFID Readers 60 and/or pressure pulses and associated pressure
transducers 210. For example, the devices 44 can be provided with suitable sensors
to respond to acoustic or electromagnetic signals. For example, other but different
remote control methods of communicating could be used in one or more modified downhole
control devices instead of RFID tags and sending pressure pulses down the completion
fluid located in the throughbore of the production tubing 42 such as an acoustic signalling
system such as the EDGE
(™
) system offered by Baker Oil Tools of Houston, Texas, USA or an electromagnetic wave
system such as the Cableless Telemetry System offered by Expro Group of Verwood, Dorset,
UK.
[0090] Modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the
invention. The ports can be obturated by means other than a sleeve. For example, if
the sleeve is part of a sandscreen sub, actuation of the mechanism for moving the
obturation member between first and second configurations can cause movement of an
annular plate rather then a sleeve to selectively obturate the ports. In addition,
for example, a downhole power generator can provide the power source in place of the
battery pack. A fuel-cell arrangement can also be used as a power source.
1. A method of controlling a downhole tool (100) in a well with a downhole processing
device (202), the method comprising the steps of:-
storing data received from an RFID tag reader (60) during a first timing operation
(302) in a data storage device, wherein the RFID tag reader (60) is adapted to read
data from and/or transmit data to a passing RFID tag;
checking the data storage device for any stored data received from the RFID tag reader
(60) at least once during or following the first timing operation (302), wherein the
RFID tag reader (60) further comprises an RFID antenna (62) adapted to read data from
the RFID tag that is moveable with respect to the RFID antenna (62); and
storing data received from a downhole fluid pressure pulse sensor (210) during a second
timing operation (304) in the data storage device, wherein the downhole fluid pressure
pulse sensor (210) is capable of at least receiving a signal sent via changes in pressure
of downhole fluid in communication with the downhole fluid pressure pulse sensor (210);
checking the data storage device for any stored data received from the downhole fluid
pressure pulse sensor (210) at least once during or following the second timing operation
(304);
wherein each of the first (302) and second (304) timing operations is based upon the
time provided by a clock of the downhole processing device (202); and wherein the
first (302) and second (304) timing operations comprise respective first and second
timers;
controlling the downhole tool (100) based upon instructions contained in the stored
data;
including providing respective switches (351, 401) operable to enable or disable the
RFID tag reader (60) and downhole fluid pressure pulse sensor (210) respectively;
programming the RFID tag at the surface, by the operator, with data to provide a signal
or instructions that can be received by the RFID tag reader (60), and moving the RFID
tag down the well from the surface into the vicinity of the RFID tag reader (60) to
provide said data to the data storage device such that the downhole processing device
(202) is instructed to operate or actuate the downhole tool;
changing the pressure of downhole fluid in the vicinity of the downhole fluid pressure
pulse sensor (210) by changing the pressure of fluid at the surface of the well to
send a signal to the downhole fluid pressure pulse sensor (210) via changes in pressure
of downhole fluid in communication with the downhole fluid pressure pulse sensor (210),
wherein the signal is received by the downhole fluid pressure pulse sensor (210) which
provides said data to the data storage device such that the downhole processing device
(202) is instructed to operate or actuate the downhole tool; and
when the respective switches (351, 401) are actuated for the RFID tag reader (60)
and the downhole fluid pressure pulse sensor (210), the downhole processing device
(202) operates the respective first (302) and second (304) timing operations in parallel
with each other but looks for valid data flag(s) in the data storage device in series.
2. A method of controlling a downhole tool in a well according to claim 1, wherein the
first (302) and second (304) timing operations determine when the stored data received
from the RFID tag reader (60) and downhole fluid pressure pulse sensor (210) is checked;
the method including storing the first and second pre-determined time values in a
memory storage device and providing said first and second pre-determined time values
to the respective first (302) and second (304) timing operations upon initiation of
the downhole processing device (202).
3. A method of controlling a downhole tool in a well according to any of claims 1-2,
including triggering the downhole processing device (202) to check the data storage
device when the first timing operation (302) underflows or resets from zero to a pre-determined
time value that the timing operation will then count down to zero from; and including
triggering the downhole processing device (202) to check the data storage device when
the second timing operation (304) underflows or resets from zero to a pre-determined
value that the timing operation will then count down to zero from.
4. A method of controlling a downhole tool in a well according to any of claims 1-3,
including providing a relatively short pre-determined value for the first timing operation
compared with a pre-determined value for the second timing operation.
5. A method of controlling a downhole tool in a well according to any of claims1-4, wherein
the first timing operation (302) comprises a timed event including a repeating countdown
from the pre-determined time value to zero wherein said timed event is repeated at
least once.
6. A method of controlling a downhole tool in a well according to any of claims 1-5,
wherein the second timing operation (304) comprises a timed event including a repeating
countdown from the pre-determined time value to zero wherein said timed event is repeated
at least once.
7. A method of controlling a downhole tool in a well according to claim 6 when dependent
upon claim 5, wherein the point at which said timed event resets from zero to the
said pre-determined time value comprises an underflow trigger which triggers the checking
of the stored data received from the respective RFID tag reader (60) and downhole
fluid pressure pulse sensor (210).
8. A method of controlling a downhole tool in a well according to any of claims 1-7,
including adapting the downhole processing device (202) to store data in the data
storage device if instructed to do so during predetermined time intervals determined
by the first (302) and second (304) timing operations.
9. A method of controlling a downhole tool in a well according to any of claims 1-8,
including pre-programming the downhole processing device (202) to recognise flags
represented by said stored data and/or trends within the stored data and adapting
the downhole processing device (202) to act upon said flags or said trends to control
a downhole tool (100).
10. A method of controlling a downhole tool in a well according to any of claims 1-9,
wherein the first (302) and second (304) timing operations comprise selectively actuable
respective first (350) and second (400) interrupt service routines.
11. A downhole processing apparatus (44) including a non-volatile memory storing the information
needed to execute the method of claims 1-10.
1. Ein Verfahren zum Steuern eines Bohrlochwerkzeugs (100) in einer Bohrung mit einer
Bohrlochverarbeitungsvorrichtung (202), wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte
beinhaltet:
Speichern von Daten, die während einer ersten Zeitsteuerungsoperation (302) von einem
RFID-Tag-Leser (60) empfangen werden, in einer Datenspeicherungsvorrichtung, wobei
der RFID-Tag-Leser (60) angepasst ist, Daten aus einem vorbeigehenden RFID-Tag zu
lesen und/oder Daten an ein vorbeigehendens RFID-Tag zu übertragen;
mindestens einmal während oder im Anschluss an die erste Zeitsteuerungsungsoperation
(302), Prüfen der Datenspeicherungsvorrichtung auf jegliche gespeicherten Daten, die
von dem RFID-Tag-Leser (60) empfangen wurden, wobei der RFID-Tag-Leser (60) ferner
eine RFID-Antenne (62) beinhaltet, die angepasst ist, Daten aus dem RFID-Tag zu lesen,
das in Bezug auf die RFID-Antenne (62) beweglich ist;
und
Speichern von Daten, die während einer zweiten Zeitsteuerungsoperation (304) von einem
Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensor (210) empfangen werden, in der Datenspeicherungsvorrichtung,
wobei der Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensor (210) mindestens dazu in der Lage
ist, ein Signal zu empfangen, das über Änderungen des Drucks von Bohrlochflüssigkeit
in Kommunikation mit dem Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensor (210) gesendet wird;
mindestens einmal während oder im Anschluss an die zweite Zeitsteuerungsoperation
(304), Prüfen der Datenspeicherungsvorrichtung auf jegliche gespeicherten Daten, die
von dem Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensor (210) empfangen wurden;
wobei jede der ersten (302) und der zweiten (304) Zeitsteuerungsoperation auf der
Zeit basiert, die durch eine Uhr der Bohrlochverarbeitungsvorrichtung (202) bereitgestellt
wird; und wobei die erste (302) und die zweite (304) Zeitsteuerungsoperation einen
ersten bzw. zweiten Zeitgeber beinhalten;
Steuern des Bohrlochwerkzeugs (100) basierend auf Anweisungen, die in den gespeicherten
Daten enthalten sind;
einschließlich Bereitstellen von entsprechenden Schaltern (351, 401), die betriebsbereit
sind, um den RFID-Tag-Leser (60) bzw. den Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensor (210)
ein- oder auszuschalten;
Programmieren des RFID-Tags an der Oberfläche durch den Betreiber mit Daten, um ein
Signal oder Anweisungen bereitzustellen, die von dem RFID-Tag-Leser (60) empfangen
werden können, und Bewegen des RFID-Tags von der Oberfläche aus die Bohrung herab
in die Nähe des RFID-Tag-Lesers (60), um die Daten der Datenspeicherungsvorrichtung
bereitzustellen, sodass die Bohrlochverarbeitungsvorrichtung (202) angewiesen wird,
das Bohrlochwerkzeug zu betreiben oder zu betätigen;
Ändern des Drucks der Bohrlochflüssigkeit in der Nähe des Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensors
(210) durch Ändern des Drucks von Flüssigkeit an der Oberfläche der Bohrung, um über
Änderungen des Drucks von Bohrlochflüssigkeit in Kommunikation mit dem Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensor
(210) ein Signal an den Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensor (210) zu senden, wobei
das Signal von dem Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensor (210) empfangen wird, der
die Daten der Datenspeicherungsvorrichtung bereitstellt, sodass die Bohrlochverarbeitungsvorrichtung
(202) angewiesen wird, das Bohrlochwerkzeug zu betreiben oder zu betätigen; und
wenn die entsprechenden Schalter (351, 401) für den RFID-Tag-Leser (60) und den Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensor
(210) betätigt werden, betreibt die Bohrlochverarbeitungsvorrichtung (202) die entsprechende
erste (302) und zweite (304) Zeitsteuerungsoperation parallel zueinander, aber sucht
nacheinander nach einem gültigen Datenmerker/gültigen Datenmerkern in der Datenspeicherungsvorrichtung.
2. Verfahren zum Steuern eines Bohrlochwerkzeugs in einer Bohrung gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei
die erste (302) und die zweite (304) Zeitsteuerungsoperation bestimmen, wann die gespeicherten
Daten, die von dem RFID-Tag-Leser (60) und dem Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensor
(210) empfangen wurden, geprüft werden; wobei das Verfahren das Speichern des ersten
und des zweiten vorbestimmten Zeitwertes in einer Speichervorrichtung und das Bereitstellen
des ersten und des zweiten vorbestimmten Zeitwerts für die entsprechende erste (302)
und zweite (304) Zeitsteuerungsoperation bei Ingangsetzung der Bohrlochverarbeitungsvorrichtung
(202) umfasst.
3. Verfahren zum Steuern eines Bohrlochwerkzeugs in einer Bohrung gemäß einem der Ansprüche
1-2, das das Auslösen der Bohrlochverarbeitungsvorrichtung (202) zum Prüfen der Datenspeicherungsvorrichtung
umfasst, wenn die erste Zeitsteuerungsoperation (302) unterläuft oder von null auf
einen vorbestimmten Zeitwert zurücksetzt, von dem die Zeitsteuerungsoperation dann
auf null herunterzählt; und das das Auslösen der Bohrlochverarbeitungsvorrichtung
(202) zum Prüfen der Datenspeicherungsvorrichtung umfasst, wenn die zweite Zeitsteuerungsoperation
(304) unterläuft oder von null auf einen vorbestimmten Wert zurücksetzt, von dem die
Zeitsteuerungsoperation dann auf null herunterzählt.
4. Verfahren zum Steuern eines Bohrlochwerkzeugs in einer Bohrung gemäß einem der Ansprüche
1-3, das das Bereitstellen eines relativ kurzen vorbestimmten Werts für die erste
Zeitsteuerungsoperation verglichen mit einem vorbestimmten Wert für die zweite Zeitsteuerungsoperation
umfasst.
5. Verfahren zum Steuern eines Bohrlochwerkzeugs in einer Bohrung gemäß einem der Ansprüche
1-4, wobei die erste Zeitsteuerungsoperation (302) ein zeitlich festgelegtes Ereignis
beinhaltet, das ein sich wiederholendes Herunterzählen von dem vorbestimmten Zeitwert
auf null umfasst, wobei das zeitlich festgelegte Ereignis mindestens einmal wiederholt
wird.
6. Verfahren zum Steuern eines Bohrlochwerkzeugs in einer Bohrung gemäß einem der Ansprüche
1-5, wobei die zweite Zeitsteuerungsoperation (304) ein zeitlich festgelegtes Ereignis
beinhaltet, das ein sich wiederholendes Herunterzählen von dem vorbestimmten Zeitwert
auf null umfasst, wobei das zeitlich festgelegte Ereignis mindestens einmal wiederholt
wird.
7. Verfahren zum Steuern eines Bohrlochwerkzeugs in einer Bohrung gemäß Anspruch 6, wenn
abhängig von Anspruch 5, wobei der Punkt, an dem das zeitlich festgelegte Ereignis
von null auf den vorbestimmten Wert zurücksetzt, einen Unterlaufauslöser beinhaltet,
der das Prüfen der gespeicherten Daten, die von dem entsprechenden RFID-Tag-Leser
(60) und dem entsprechenden Bohrlochflüssigkeitsdruckimpulssensor (210) empfangen
wurden, auslöst.
8. Verfahren zum Steuern eines Bohrlochwerkzeugs in einer Bohrung gemäß einem der Ansprüche
1-7, das das Anpassen der Bohrlochverarbeitungsvorrichtung (202) zum Speichern von
Daten in der Datenspeicherungsvorrichtung bei derartiger Anweisung während vorbestimmter
Zeitintervalle, die durch die erste (302) und die zweite (304) Zeitsteuerungsoperation
bestimmt werden, umfasst.
9. Verfahren zum Steuern eines Bohrlochwerkzeugs in einer Bohrung gemäß einem der Ansprüche
1-8, das das Vorprogrammieren der Bohrlochverarbeitungsvorrichtung (202) zum Erkennen
von Merkern, die durch die gespeicherten Daten und/oder Trends innerhalb der gespeicherten
Daten repräsentiert werden, und das Anpassen der Bohrlochverarbeitungsvorrichtung
(202), um zum Steuern eines Bohrlochwerkzeugs (100) nach den Merkern oder den Trends
zu handeln, umfasst.
10. Verfahren zum Steuern eines Bohrlochwerkzeugs in einer Bohrung gemäß einem der Ansprüche
1-9, wobei die erste (302) und die zweite (304) Zeitsteuerungsoperation ein selektiv
betätigbares entsprechendes erstes (350) und ein selektiv betätigbares entsprechendes
zweites (400) Unterbrechungs-Serviceprogramm beinhalten.
11. Ein Bohrlochverarbeitungsapparat (44), der einen nichtflüchtigen Speicher umfasst,
der die zum Durchführen des Verfahrens der Ansprüche 1-10 benötigten Informationen
speichert.
1. Un procédé de commande d'un outil de fond de trou (100) dans un puits avec un dispositif
de traitement de fond de trou (202), le procédé comprenant les étapes de :
stockage de données reçues en provenance d'un lecteur d'étiquette RFID (Radio Frequency
Identification, identification par radiofréquence) (60) durant une première opération
de temporisation (302) dans un dispositif de stockage de données, dans lequel le lecteur
d'étiquette RFID (60) est conçu pour lire des données en provenance d'une étiquette
RFID qui passe et/ou transmettre des données à celle-ci ;
vérification du dispositif de stockage de données à la recherche de n'importe quelles
données stockées reçues en provenance du lecteur d'étiquette RFID (60) au moins une
fois durant ou à la suite de la première opération de temporisation (302), dans lequel
le lecteur d'étiquette RFID (60) comprend en sus une antenne RFID (62) conçue pour
lire des données en provenance de l'étiquette RFID qui est déplaçable par rapport
à l'antenne RFID (62) ;
et
stockage de données reçues en provenance d'un capteur d'impulsions de pression de
fluide de fond de trou (210) durant une deuxième opération de temporisation (304)
dans le dispositif de stockage de données, dans lequel le capteur d'impulsions de
pression de fluide de fond de trou (210) est capable d'au moins recevoir un signal
envoyé par le biais de changements de pression de fluide de fond de trou en communication
avec le capteur d'impulsions de pression de fluide de fond de trou (210) ;
vérification du dispositif de stockage de données à la recherche de n'importe quelles
données stockées reçues en provenance du capteur d'impulsions de pression de fluide
de fond de trou (210) au moins une fois durant ou à la suite de la deuxième opération
de temporisation (304) ;
dans lequel chacune des première (302) et deuxième (304) opérations de temporisation
est basée sur le temps fourni par une horloge du dispositif de traitement de fond
de trou (202) ; et dans lequel les première (302) et deuxième (304) opérations de
temporisation comprennent des premier et deuxième temporisateurs respectifs ;
commande de l'outil de fond de trou (100) sur la base d'instructions contenues dans
les données stockées ;
incluant la fourniture de commutateurs respectifs (351, 401) servant à activer ou
désactiver le lecteur d'étiquette RFID (60) et le capteur d'impulsions de pression
de fluide de fond de trou (210) respectivement ;
programmation de l'étiquette RFID à la surface, par l'opérateur, avec des données
afin de fournir un signal ou des instructions qui peuvent être reçus par le lecteur
d'étiquette RFID (60), et déplacement de l'étiquette RFID en la descendant dans le
puits à partir de la surface jusque dans le voisinage du lecteur d'étiquette RFID
(60) afin de fournir lesdites données au dispositif de stockage de données de telle
sorte que le dispositif de traitement de fond de trou (202) a l'instruction d'actionner
ou de mettre en action l'outil de fond de trou ;
changement de la pression de fluide de fond de trou dans le voisinage du capteur d'impulsions
de pression de fluide de fond de trou (210) par changement de la pression de fluide
à la surface du puits afin d'envoyer un signal au capteur d'impulsions de pression
de fluide de fond de trou (210) par le biais de changements de pression de fluide
de fond de trou en communication avec le capteur d'impulsions de pression de fluide
de fond de trou (210), dans lequel le signal est reçu par le capteur d'impulsions
de pression de fluide de fond de trou (210) qui fournit lesdites données au dispositif
de stockage de données de telle sorte que le dispositif de traitement de fond de trou
(202) a l'instruction d'actionner ou de mettre en action l'outil de fond de trou ;
et
quand les commutateurs respectifs (351, 401) sont mis en action pour le lecteur d'étiquette
RFID (60) et le capteur d'impulsions de pression de fluide de fond de trou (210),
le dispositif de traitement de fond de trou (202) met en œuvre les première (302)
et deuxième (304) opérations de temporisation respectives en parallèle l'une avec
l'autre mais cherche un/des drapeau(x) de données valides dans le dispositif de stockage
de données en série.
2. Un procédé de commande d'un outil de fond de trou dans un puits selon la revendication
1, dans lequel les première (302) et deuxième (304) opérations de temporisation déterminent
quand les données stockées reçues en provenance du lecteur d'étiquette RFID (60) et
du capteur d'impulsions de pression de fluide de fond de trou (210) sont vérifiées
;
le procédé incluant le stockage des première et deuxième valeurs temporelles prédéterminées
dans un dispositif de stockage formant mémoire et la fourniture desdites première
et deuxième valeurs temporelles prédéterminées aux première (302) et deuxième (304)
opérations de temporisation respectives lors du lancement du dispositif de traitement
de fond de trou (202).
3. Un procédé de commande d'un outil de fond de trou dans un puits selon n'importe lesquelles
des revendications 1 à 2, incluant le déclenchement du dispositif de traitement de
fond de trou (202) afin de vérifier le dispositif de stockage de données quand la
première opération de temporisation (302) soupasse la capacité ou se réinitialise
à partir de zéro jusqu'à une valeur temporelle prédéterminée à partir de laquelle
l'opération de temporisation comptera alors de façon régressive jusqu'à zéro ; et
incluant le déclenchement du dispositif de traitement de fond de trou (202) afin de
vérifier le dispositif de stockage de données quand la deuxième opération de temporisation
(304) soupasse la capacité ou se réinitialise à partir de zéro jusqu'à une valeur
prédéterminée à partir de laquelle l'opération de temporisation comptera alors de
façon régressive jusqu'à zéro.
4. Un procédé de commande d'un outil de fond de trou dans un puits selon n'importe lesquelles
des revendications 1 à 3, incluant la fourniture d'une valeur prédéterminée relativement
courte pour la première opération de temporisation par comparaison avec une valeur
prédéterminée pour la deuxième opération de temporisation.
5. Un procédé de commande d'un outil de fond de trou dans un puits selon n'importe lesquelles
des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel la première opération de temporisation (302)
comprend un événement temporisé incluant un comptage régressif répétitif à partir
de la valeur temporelle prédéterminée jusqu'à zéro dans lequel ledit événement temporisé
est répété au moins une fois.
6. Un procédé de commande d'un outil de fond de trou dans un puits selon n'importe lesquelles
des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel la deuxième opération de temporisation (304)
comprend un événement temporisé incluant un comptage régressif répétitif à partir
de la valeur temporelle prédéterminée jusqu'à zéro dans lequel ledit événement temporisé
est répété au moins une fois.
7. Un procédé de commande d'un outil de fond de trou dans un puits selon la revendication
6 quand elle dépend de la revendication 5, dans lequel le moment auquel ledit événement
temporisé se réinitialise à partir de zéro jusqu'à ladite valeur temporelle prédéterminée
comprend un déclencheur de soupassement de capacité qui déclenche la vérification
des données stockées reçues en provenance du lecteur d'étiquette RFID (60) et du capteur
d'impulsions de pression de fluide de fond de trou (210) respectifs.
8. Un procédé de commande d'un outil de fond de trou dans un puits selon n'importe lesquelles
des revendications 1 à 7, incluant la conception du dispositif de traitement de fond
de trou (202) pour qu'il stocke des données dans le dispositif de stockage de données
s'il a l'instruction de le faire durant des intervalles temporels prédéterminés déterminés
par les première (302) et deuxième (304) opérations de temporisation.
9. Un procédé de commande d'un outil de fond de trou dans un puits selon n'importe lesquelles
des revendications 1 à 8, incluant la préprogrammation du dispositif de traitement
de fond de trou (202) afin de reconnaître des drapeaux représentés par lesdites données
stockées et/ou des tendances au sein des données stockées et la conception du dispositif
de traitement de fond de trou (202) pour qu'il agisse en réponse auxdits drapeaux
ou auxdites tendances afin de commander un outil de fond de trou (100).
10. Un procédé de commande d'un outil de fond de trou dans un puits selon n'importe lesquelles
des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel les première (302) et deuxième (304) opérations
de temporisation comprennent des premier (350) et deuxième (400) sous-programmes d'interruption
respectifs pouvant être mis en action de façon sélective.
11. Un appareil de traitement de fond de trou (44) incluant une mémoire non volatile stockant
les informations nécessaires pour exécuter le procédé des revendications 1 à 10.