# US 12,110,752 B2 · System and method for navigating a downhole environment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,752 B2 - Document ID: US12110752B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/049,497 - Filed: 2022-10-25 - Published: 2024-04-25 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2022-10-25 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Jinjiang Xiao; Eiman Hassan Al Munif; Hattan M. Banjar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110752B2 ## CPC - E21B 23/14: for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells - E21B 17/20: Flexible or articulated drilling pipes {, e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables} - E21B 17/206: {with conductors, e.g. electrical, optical} - E21B 19/22: Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes {(lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003)} - E21B 23/001: {Self-propelling systems or apparatus, e.g. for moving tools within the horizontal portion of a borehole} - E21B 23/08: Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A system for navigating a downhole environment includes a tube body with a flexible material that is formed as a thin-walled tube and a pump that pumps pressured fluid through the tube body. The tube body has at least a section that extends along a horizontal section of a downhole environment by the flexible material pushing out under the pressured fluid. A method for navigating a downhole environment includes providing a tube body with a flexible material which is formed as a thin-walled tube, pumping a first pressure through the tube body to extend the tube body by the flexible material pushing out at a tip of the tube body, and controlling the flexible material to extend the tube body along a horizontal section of a downhole environment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for navigating a downhole environment comprising: a tube body with a flexible material that is formed as a thin-walled tube, wherein the tube body includes a coiled tubing configured to be coupled to the pump on a first tubing end of the coiled tubing, and the flexible material is initially compressed and encased inside the coiled tubing, and a pump that pumps pressured fluid through the tube body, wherein the tube body has at least one section that extends along a horizontal section of the downhole environment by the flexible material pushing out from the coiled tubing under the pressured fluid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal section of the downhole environment is an open-hole section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a container with a chamber, and a spool in the chamber, wherein the flexible material is disposed in the chamber, and a first tube end of the flexible material is coupled to the container via a flange which extends around a first opening of the chamber and a second tube end of the flexible material is wrapped around the spool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, further comprising: a rope which extends from the second tube end of the flexible material and wraps around the spool. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein a first tube end of the flexible material is coupled to the coiled tubing and a second tube end of the flexible material is closed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible material includes a burst disk which opens under a designated pressure from the pump. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible material is formed as a corrugated tube and folded inside itself multiple times along the coiled tubing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a fiber optical cable along the tube body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, further comprising a sensor embedded in the flexible material and connected to the fiber optical cable. ### Claim 10 A method for navigating a downhole environment comprising: providing a tube body with a flexible material which is formed as a thin-walled tube, wherein the tube body includes a coiled tubing configured to be coupled to a pump by a first tubing end of the coiled tubing, and the flexible material is initially compressed and encased inside the coiled tubing; pumping a first pressure through the tube body to extend the tube body by the flexible material pushing out from the coiled tubing at a tip; and controlling the flexible material to extend the tube body along a horizontal section of the downhole environment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the horizontal section of the downhole environment is an open-hole section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the flexible material is disposed in a chamber of a container, and a first tube end of the flexible material is coupled to the container via a flange which extends around a first opening of the chamber, and a second tube end of the flexible material is wrapped around a spool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein a rope extends from the second tube end of the flexible material and wraps around the spool. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein a first tube end of the flexible material is coupled to a second tubing end of the coiled tubing and a second tube end of the flexible material is closed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the flexible material is formed into a corrugated tube and folded inside itself multiple times along the coiled tubing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising collecting information via a fiber optical cable which runs along the tube body from a sensor which is embedded in the flexible material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising pumping a fluid with a second pressure higher than the first pressure through the tube body to open a burst disk at the flexible material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein at least one section of the tube body extends by the flexible material reversing out of the thin-walled tube along an open-hole horizontal section of the downhole environment.