Downhole wireline tension measurement
AssigneeGE Oil & Gas Logging Services, Inc.
InventorsJohn Edward SMAARDYK, John Paul JONES, Robert WALLER, Peter FONTENOT, Christopher BROWN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A downhole string and method of operating where tension in the downhole string is monitored real time so that the tension in the downhole string does not exceed its yield strength. Included with the string is a tension sub for monitoring the tension that includes a sensor in the housing of the tension sub. The sensor can be a strain gauge and can be placed proximate an upper end of the downhole string so that tension in a wireline attached to the string can also be monitored. The portion of the housing having the sensor is narrowed for enhancing sensitivity of monitoring.
Claims17
A tension sub for use in a downhole string comprising:
- a housing;
- a box end on an end of the housing that is coupled to a wireline;
- a pin end on an end of the housing that is distal from the box end and that is coupled to a downhole tool;
- and
- a sensor coupled with the housing that is responsive to tension in the housing, so that when the downhole string is deployed downhole and the wireline is put into tension, the tension is transmitted to the housing and sensed by the sensor.
A tension sub for use in a downhole string comprising:
- a housing having a box end that couples with a conveyance means for conveying the downhole string in a wellbore and a pin end that couples with a downhole tool;
- and
- a sensor engaged with the housing and that selectively communicates a signal to the surface that corresponds to a tension in the housing that is sensed by the sensor.
A method of downhole operations comprising:
- providing a tension sub having a housing, a box end, a pin end opposite the box end, and a sensor coupled with the housing;
- coupling the box end with a wireline and coupling the pin end to a downhole tool to define a downhole string;
- deploying the downhole string in a wellbore;
- and
- monitoring tension in the housing with the sensor and estimating tension in the wireline based on the tension monitored in the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.