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US 6,378,627 B1Granted
Autonomous downhole oilfield tool
AssigneeIntelligent Inspection Corporation
InventorsPaulo S. Tubel, Jeffrey E. Johnson, Colin M. Angle, Thomas W. McIntyre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An autonomous downhole oilfield tool having its own mobility and decision making capability so that it may be deployed in a downhole environment to monitor and control said environment by modifying operations of other devices and maintaining downhole structures.
Claims40
An autonomous downhole oilfield tool comprising:
- a) a body adapted to be delivered into a wellbore from the surface and be resident in the wellbore;
- b) a source of electrical power operatively associated with the body;
- c) at least one sensor associated with the body monitoring at least one operating parameter of the tool relative to its environment;
- d) a microprocessor associated with the body receiving data from the sensor;
- e) memory associated with the microprocessor providing information for operating instructions to the body;
- f) transport mechanism controlled by the microprocessor and moving the body within the wellbore;
- and
- g) an end work device associated with the body performing a desired function downhole
- h) other equipment operatively associated with the well bore having communications capability;
- and
- i) communications equipment associated with said body for communicating with said other equipment.
8 more elements
A monitoring control and work system for use in a wellbore comprising:
- A) an autonomous tool for operating in the wellbore including:
- i) a body adapted to be delivered into a wellbore from the surface and be resident in the wellbore;
- ii) a source of electrical power operatively associated with the body;
- iii) at least one sensor associated with the body monitoring at least one operating parameter of the tool relative to its environment;
- iv) a microprocessor associated with the body receiving data from the sensor;
- v) a memory associated with the microprocessor providing information for operating instructions to the body;
- vi) a transport mechanism controlled by the microprocessor and moving the body within the wellbore;
- and
- f) an end work device associated with the body performing a desired function downhole;
- and
- B) a docking station mounted in the wellbore at a predetermined location, said docking station cooperating with said autonomous tool to provide electrical power and data to the tool.
8 more elements
A downhole monitoring and control system for zone in a production well, comprising:
- a) at least one fixed sensor in said zone;
- b) at least one data gathering tool movable within said zone, said tool including an information uploader and downloader for communicating with said at least one fixed sensor.
An autonomous downhole oilfield tool comprising;
- a) a body adapted to be delivered into a wellbore from the surface and be resident in the wellbore;
- b) a source of electrical power operatively associated with the body;
- c) at least one sensor associated with the body monitoring at least one operating parameter of the tool relative to its environment;
- d) a microprocessor associated with the body receiving data from the sensor;
- e) memory associated with the microprocessor providing information for operating instructions to the body;
- f) transport mechanism controlled by the microprocessor and moving the body within the wellbore;
- g) at end work device associated with the body performing a desired function downhole, said end work device comprising at least one carrier detachably securing and transporting downhole equipment from a first location in the wellbore to a second location.
4 more elements
An autonomous downhole oilfield tool comprising:
- a) a body adapted to be delivered into a wellbore from the surface and be resident in the wellbore;
- b) a source of electrical power operatively associated with the body;
- c) at least one sensor associated with the body monitoring at least one operating parameter of the tool relative to its environment;
- d) a microprocessor associated with the body receiving data from the sensor;
- e) memory associated with the microprocessor providing information for operating instructions to the body;
- f) transport mechanism controlled by the microprocessor and moving the body within the wellbore;
- and
- j) an end work device associated with the body performing a desired function downhole, said end work device comprising at least one sensor monitoring data in the wellbore, said sensor being selected from the group consisting of formation sensors, wellbore production fluid parameter sensors, and wellbore equipment sensors.
5 more elements
An autonomous downhole oilfield tool comprising:
- a) a body adapted to be delivered into wellbore from the surface and be resident in the wellbore;
- b) a source of electrical power operatively associated with the body;
- c) at least one sensor associated with the body monitoring at least one operating parameter of the tool relative to its environment;
- d) a microprocessor associated with the body receiving data from the sensor;
- e) a memory asociated with the microprocessor providing information for operating instructions to the body;
- f) transport mechanism controlled by the microprocessor and moving the body within the wellbore by utilizing magnetic propagation;
- and
- g) an end work device associated with the body performing a desired function.
5 more elements
An autonomous downhole oilfield tool comprising:
- a) a body adapted to be delivered into wellbore from the surface and be resident in the wellbore;
- b) a source of electrical power operatively associated with the body;
- c) at least one sensor associated with the body monitoring at least one operating parameter of the tool relative to its environment;
- d) a microprocessor associated with the body receiving data from the sensor;
- e) memory associated with the microprocessor providing information for operating instructions to the body;
- f) transport mechanism controlled by the microprocessor and moving within the wellbore by utilizing fluid propogation;
- and
- g) an end work device associated with the body performing a desired function downhole.
5 more elements
An autonomous downhole oilfield tool comprising:
- a) a body adapted to be delivered into a wellbore from the surface and be resident in the wellbore;
- b) a source of electrical power operatively associated with the body;
- c) at least one sensor associated with the body monitoring at least one operating parameter of the tool relative to its environment;
- d) a microprocessor associated with the body receiving data from the sensor;
- e) memory associated with the microprocessor providing information for operating instructions to the body;
- f) transport mechanism controlled by the microprocessor and moving the body within the wellbore;
- g) an end work device associated with the body performing a desired function downhole;
- and
- h) a self-destruct mechanism breaking the body into small parts.
6 more elements
An autonomous downhole oilfield tool comprising:
- a) a body adapted to be delivered into a wellbore from the surface and be resident in the wellbore;
- b) a source of electrical power operatively associated with the body;
- c) at least one sensor associated with the body monitoring at least one operating parameter of the tool relative to its environment;
- d) a microprocessor associated with the body receiving data from the sensor;
- e) memory associated with the microprocessor providing information for operating instructions to the body;
- f) transport mechanism controlled by the microprocessor and moving the body within the wellbore;
- and
- g) an end work device associated with the body performing a desired function downhole the end work device is selected from a group consisting of a cutting device, milling device, welding device, explosive device, testing device, device that is adapted to operate a preexisting device in the wellbore, formation evaluation device, charge coupled device, perforating device, workover device, chemical injection device, testing device including a device to measure temperature, pressure, fluid flow rate, device to test the chemical properties of downhole fluids, device to test the physical properties of the fluids, a data gathering device, a device adapted to move materials within the wellbore, and a device to operate a preexisting device in the wellbore.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.