Use of high-power ultrasound for improved hole cleaning in drilling operations
AssigneesSaudi Arabian Oil Company, Rexonic Ultrasonics AG
InventorsMurtadha J. AlTammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili, Jesus Mierez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ultrasonic system for downhole cleaning of a wellbore includes: an ultrasonic generator that generates high-frequency electric power; a measurement device that monitors electrical parameters related to operation of the ultrasonic system; and an ultrasonic emitter including one or more transducers that break drill cuttings in the wellbore. The ultrasonic emitter is disposed on a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) and breaks the drill cuttings made by the BHA in drilling operations.
Claims9
An ultrasonic system for downhole cleaning of a wellbore, the ultrasonic system comprising:
- an ultrasonic generator that generates ultrasonic-frequency electric power;
- a measurement device that monitors impedance, power intensity, or frequency of the ultrasonic system;
- and
- an ultrasonic emitter comprising one or more transducers that break drill cuttings in the wellbore,
- wherein the ultrasonic emitter is disposed on a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) and breaks the drill cuttings made by the BHA in drilling operations,
- wherein the ultrasonic emitter is disposed on the BHA such that a first end of the ultrasonic emitter is attached to a first end of the BHA,
- wherein the ultrasonic emitter is disposed on the BHA such that the first end of the ultrasonic emitter is attached to an orienting device that is disposed between the ultrasonic emitter and a drill bit, and data sensors that measure conditions of the wellbore are disposed between the orienting device and the drill bit,
- wherein the orienting device controls orientation of drilling and BHA movement in the wellbore;
- and
- wherein the measurement device is configured to adjust the ultrasonic emitter based on the impedance, power intensity, or frequency.
A method for operating an ultrasonic system for downhole cleaning of a wellbore, the method comprising:
- disposing an ultrasonic emitter of the ultrasound system on a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) such that:
- a first end of the ultrasonic emitter is attached to a first end of the BHA;
- the first end of the ultrasonic emitter is attached to an orienting device that is disposed between the ultrasonic emitter and a drill bit;
- and
- data sensors that measure conditions of the wellbore are disposed between the orienting device and the drill bit,
- wherein the orienting device controls orientation of drilling and BHA movement in the wellbore;
- generating ultrasonic-frequency electric power via an ultrasonic generator of the ultrasonic system;
- monitoring impedance, power intensity, or frequency of the ultrasonic system via a measurement device;
- wherein the measurement device is configured to adjust the ultrasonic emitter based on the impedance, power intensity, or frequency;
- and
- breaking drill cuttings in the wellbore via the ultrasonic emitter of the ultrasonic system, wherein the ultrasonic emitter comprises one or more transducers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.