Force Monitoring Tractor
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsKeith R. Nelson, Gohar Saeed, Franz Aguirre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A downhole tractor assembly that is configured for open-hole applications. The assembly includes a force monitoring mechanism to help monitor and control forces imparted through a drive mechanism of the tractor in real time. As such, damage to open-hole formations due to excessive tractoring forces may be minimized along with mechanical damage to the tractor. Furthermore, the drive mechanism of the tractor may include multiple sondes and bowsprings with gripping saddles specially configured for contacting the well wall across a large area in a non-point and line manner so as to avoid digging into and damaging the well wall during tractoring.
Claims16
A downhole tractor for positioning in an open hole well, the tractor comprising:
- an elongated body;
- a driving mechanism coupled to said elongated body and configured for deploying relative thereto for interfacing a wall of the well;
- and a force monitoring mechanism coupled to said driving mechanism for monitoring force thereon during the interfacing.
A downhole tractor for positioning in an open hole well, the tractor comprising:
- a bowspring with a gripping saddle for interfacing a wall of the well;
- an expandable arm coupled to said bowspring and deployable from an elongated body of the tractor to effectuate the interfacing;
- and a force monitoring mechanism coupled to said bowspring to monitor a force thereon during the interfacing.
A method of tractoring in an open hole well, the method comprising:
- positioning the tractor in the well;
- interfacing a wall of the well with a driving mechanism of the tractor for the tractoring;
- and monitoring a force on the driving mechanism during said interfacing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.