Method for Synchronizing Downhole Tractor and Winch Deployment
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorWesley Neil Ludwig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for synchronizing downhole tractor and surface winch deployment includes deploying a tractor and deploying wireline from a winch, obtaining readings of wireline tension, and adjusting the speed of the tractor to match the winch speed. If the tractor and winch speeds appear substantially matched, periodically adding and/or removing slack in the wireline while observing the wireline tension can confirm if the tractor and winch are still synchronized.
Claims20
A method for synchronizing downhole tractor and surface winch deployment comprising:
- inserting into a wellbore a tool string connected to a wireline, the tool string comprising a variable speed tractor;
- deploying the tractor;
- deploying the wireline from a winch;
- dynamically monitoring a wireline tension as an indicator of synchronization of the tractor and winch;
- implementing a counter to indicate an amount of slack in the wireline;
- and
- adjusting the tractor speed in response to a disparity in tension to match the winch speed.
A system for synchronizing downhole tractor speed and surface winch deployment comprising:
- a winch for deploying a tool string on a wireline;
- a variable speed tractor connected to the tool string for deploying the tool string into a wellbore;
- a wireline tension sensor;
- a controller in communication with the tractor and the wireline tension sensor and configured to dynamically monitor wireline tension as an indication of synchronization of the tractor and winch;
- a counter that indicates whether there is a slack in the wireline;
- and
- a means of adjusting the speed of the tractor to match the winch speed.
A method for synchronizing downhole tractor and surface winch deployment comprising:
- inserting into a wellbore a toolstring connected to a wireline, the tool string comprising a variable speed tractor;
- deploying the tractor;
- deploying wireline from a winch;
- dynamically monitoring a downhole wireline tension as an indicator of synchronization of the tractor and winch;
- tracking the difference in winch movement and tractor movement to indicate when synchronization might be compromised;
- utilizing a controller in communication with the tractor and the wireline tension readings to adjust the tractor speed in response to indications when synchronization might be compromised;
- utilizing a counter to determine whether is a slack in the wireline;
- and
- periodically altering the tractor speed while observing the wireline tension, to confirm whether the tractor and winch are synchronized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.