Methods and systems to detect an untethered device at a wellhead
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsHuseyin Rahmi SEREN, Max DEFFENBAUGH
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Abstract
Provided here are methods and system to detect an untethered device in a wellhead. The untethered device includes a housing, a transducer, and one or more sensors configured to measure data along the subterranean well. The transducer emits acoustic signals that are received by microphones on the surface of the wellhead. Based on these acoustic signals, the location of the untethered device is determined and appropriate valves may be opened or closed by an operator.
Claims22
A system for detection of an untethered device in a wellhead, the system comprising:
- the untethered device containing a microprocessor, a transducer, a housing, and a sensor configured to measure data along a subterranean well, the microprocessor operable to control the transducer;
- a microphone operable to receive acoustic signals from the transducer;
- and
- a receiver electronic circuit operable to process the acoustic signals received by the microphone and determine a location of the untethered device within the wellhead.
A method for determining a location of an untethered device in a wellhead, the method comprising:
- determining, by a microprocessor in the untethered device, a presence of the untethered device inside or close to the wellhead in response to data received by a sensor in the untethered device;
- activating, by the microprocessor, a transducer in the untethered device to produce an acoustic signal;
- receving, by a microphone on a surface of the wellhead, the acoustic signal from the transducer;
- amplifying and modulating the acoustic signal received by the microphone to produce an audible signal;
- and
- recovering the untethered device from the wellhead by manipulation of a valve controlling a flow of a fluid in the wellhead.
A method for determining a location of an untethered device in a wellhead, the method comprising:
- determining, by a microprocessor in the untethered device, a presence of the untethered device inside or close to the wellhead in response to data received by a sensor in the untethered device;
- activating, by the microprocessor, a transducer in the untethered device to produce an acoustic signal;
- receving, by a microphone on a surface of the wellhead, the acoustic signal from the transducer;
- transforming the acoustic signals received by the microphone to produce a visual signal;
- and
- recovering the untethered device from the wellhead by manipulation of a valve controlling a flow of a fluid in the wellhead.
A method for detection of the presence of an untethered device in a wellhead, the method comprising:
- determining, by a microprocessor in the untethered device, a presence of the untethered device inside or close to the wellhead in response to data received by a sensor in the untethered device;
- activating, by the microprocessor, a transducer in the untethered device to produce an acoustic signal;
- receving, by a microphone of a receiver unit on a surface of the wellhead, the acoustic signal from the transducer;
- processing the acoustic signal by a microprocessor of the receiver unit to determine if the untethered tool is present in the wellhead;
- and
- sending a wireless signal to a user to notify the presence of the device in the wellhead.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.