Patent Application
20200182020
This section is intended to provide information relevant to understanding the various technologies described herein. As the section's title implies, this is a discussion of related art that should in no way imply that it is prior art. Generally, related art may or may not be considered prior art. It should therefore be understood that any statement in this section should be read in this light, and not as any admission of prior art.
Typically, modern wellbore products are hydraulically driven by mud pressure across a seal, and mechanical elements are held in a retracted state by shear pins that need a ball to be dropped and land in a seat to allow pressure build-up that exceeds the shear pin rating. Such mechanical elements utilize a return spring to drive the mechanical elements to their initial position once circulating pressure is below a spring bias. In some cases, more complex devices have hydraulic pistons that drive the mechanical elements outward with only a ramp and a spring bias that returns them to their initial state once the hydraulic pressure is bled off.
Described herein are various implementations of a downhole device. The downhole device may include a body having a cavity and a mechanical element disposed within the cavity. The mechanical element may have a base with a left-extending member and a right-extending member that holds the mechanical element in position within an interior space of the cavity. The downhole device may include an inflatable bladder disposed within the cavity between an interior sidewall of the cavity and the base of the mechanical element. The inflatable bladder may have an opening on one end for receiving hydraulic fluid, and the inflatable bladder may be activated and deactivated to selectively displace the mechanical element in and out of the cavity.
Described herein are various implementations of a downhole device. The downhole device may include a body having an inclined member with a lower end and an upper end. The downhole device may include an object disposed to adjacently overlie the inclined member between the lower end and the upper end of the body. The downhole device may include an inflatable bladder disposed between a sidewall at the lower end of the body and the object. The inflatable bladder has an opening on one end for receiving hydraulic fluid, and the inflatable bladder is activated and deactivated to selectively displace the object toward and away from the upper end, respectively.
Described herein are various implementations of a downhole device. The downhole device may include a body having a cavity and a recess formed in a floor of the cavity. The downhole device may include an object disposed within the cavity and coupled to a sidewall of the body via a hinge. The downhole device may include an inflatable bladder disposed within the recess between the floor of the cavity and the object. The inflatable bladder has an opening on one end for receiving hydraulic fluid, and the inflatable bladder is activated and deactivated to selectively pivot the object.
The above referenced summary section is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description section. Additional concepts and various other implementations are also described in the detailed description. The summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to limit the number of inventions described herein. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.
Implementations of various techniques are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only various implementations described herein and are not meant to limit embodiments of various techniques described herein.
Various implementations described herein are directed to an actuation bladder controlled downhole device. For instance, the various schemes and techniques described herein are related to a device that may be actuated by hydraulic inflation of a bladder (or bladders) to thereby displace a mechanical element (or elements or some other object) in a given plane (or planes or direction) such that the bladder (or bladders) changes form, fit or function of the device from one operating state to another.
The various schemes and techniques described herein use a deflection mechanism, namely the actuation bladders and/or parts thereof to drive the displacement of mechanical elements (and/or objects) in downhole devices (or tools) that perform activation-on-demand functionality such as, e.g., reamers, under-reamers, hole openers, adjustable gauge stabilizers, cuttings bed agitators, roller reamers, wireline anchors, etc.
Various implementations of actuation bladder controlled downhole devices will now be described in greater detail herein with reference to
As shown in
In some instances, as shown in
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In reference to
In some instances, the inflatable bladder 102 may have a locking mechanism 134 that is disposed adjacent to the opening 124 that locks the hydraulic fluid 126 within the inflatable bladder 102 when the inflatable bladder 102 is activated 104A. In addition, the locking mechanism 134 releases the hydraulic fluid 126 from the inflatable bladder 102 when the inflatable bladder 102 is deactivated 104B.
In some instances, the body 110 has an aperture 140 that allows the hydraulic fluid 126 to bi-directionally flow into and out from the opening 124 of the inflatable bladder 102. The object 114 has an upper-protruding member 142 configured to move into and out of an opening 144 (or hole) formed adjacent to the cavity 112; i.e., the opening 144 may refer to a hole through which the upper-protruding member 142 comes in and out. The inflatable bladder 102 is activated 104A by inflating the inflatable bladder 102 with the hydraulic fluid 126 so as to push the upper-protruding member 142 out of the cavity 112. In addition, the inflatable bladder 102 may be deactivated 104B by releasing the hydraulic fluid 126 from the inflatable bladder 102 so as to allow the upper-protruding member 142 into the cavity 112.
In various implementations, the object 114 may refer to an object or some other element that may include at least one member of a hole opening device, an anchor, a stabilizer, a reamer, an under reamer, or other downhole mechanical or electro-mechanical device.
As shown in
In some instances, as shown in
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In reference to
In some instances, the inflatable bladder 202 has a locking mechanism 234 that is disposed adjacent to the opening 224 that locks the hydraulic fluid 226 within the inflatable bladder 202 when the inflatable bladder 202 is activated 204A. In addition, the locking mechanism 234 releases the hydraulic fluid 226 from the inflatable bladder 202 when the inflatable bladder 202 is deactivated 204B.
In some instances, the body 210 has an aperture 240 that allows the hydraulic fluid 226 to bi-directionally flow into and out from the opening 224 of the inflatable bladder 202. In some instances, the inflatable bladder 202 may be activated 204A by inflating the inflatable bladder 202 with the hydraulic fluid 226 so as to push the object 214 along the inclined member 212 toward the upper end of the body 210. Also, the inflatable bladder 202 may be deactivated 204B by releasing the hydraulic fluid 226 from the inflatable bladder 202 so as to allow the object 214 to slide toward the lower end of the body 210.
In various implementations, the object 214 may refer to a mechanical element or some other element that may include at least one member of a hole opening device, an anchor, a stabilizer, a reamer, an under reamer, or other downhole mechanical or electro-mechanical device.
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In some instances, as shown in
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In reference to
In some instances, the inflatable bladder 302 has a locking mechanism 334 that is disposed adjacent to the opening 324 that locks the hydraulic fluid 326 within the inflatable bladder 302 when the inflatable bladder 302 is activated 304A. In addition, the locking mechanism 334 releases the hydraulic fluid 326 from the inflatable bladder 302 when the inflatable bladder 302 is deactivated 304B.
In some instances, the body 310 has an aperture 340 that allows the hydraulic fluid 326 to bi-directionally flow into and out from the opening 324 of the inflatable bladder 302. In some instances, the inflatable bladder 302 may be activated 304A by inflating the inflatable bladder 302 with the hydraulic fluid 226 so as to push the object 214 away from the floor 318 of the cavity 312. Also, the inflatable bladder 302 may be deactivated 304B by releasing the hydraulic fluid 326 from the inflatable bladder 302 so as to allow the object 314 to move toward the floor 318 of the cavity 312.
In various implementations, the object 314 may refer to a mechanical element or some other element that may include at least one member of a hole opening device, an anchor, a stabilizer, a reamer, an under reamer, or other mechanical or electro-mechanical device.
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In some implementations, the inflatable bladder 102 may be referred to as a first inflatable bladder, and the downhole device 400 may include a second inflatable bladder 402 disposed within the cavity 112 between another interior sidewall 422 of the cavity 112 and the base 116 of the object 114. Also, the second inflatable bladder 402 has an opening 424 on one end for receiving the hydraulic fluid 126. As such, the second inflatable bladder 402 is activated 404A and deactivated 404B to selectively displace the object 114 in opposing radial directions 106A, 106B. In some instances, the second inflatable bladder 402 may be activated 404A and deactivated 404B in an alternating manner to the first inflatable bladder 102. For instance, when the first inflatable bladder 102 is activated, then the second inflatable bladder 402 is deactivated at the same time, and when the first inflatable bladder 102 is deactivated, then the second inflatable bladder 402 is activated at the same time. Therefore, in this instance, the bladders 102, 402 may operate in unison to move the object 114 radially.
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In some implementations, the inflatable bladder 202 may be referred to as a first inflatable bladder, and the downhole device 500 may include a second inflatable bladder 502 that is disposed within a recess member 418 of the body 210 between the inclined member 212 of the body 210 and the object 214. The second inflatable bladder 502 has the opening 524 on one end for receiving the hydraulic fluid 226. The second inflatable bladder 502 may be activated 504A and deactivated 504B to selectively displace the object 214 in opposing angular directions 206A, 206B, such as, e.g., by sliding along the inclined member 212 of the body 210. In some instances, the second inflatable bladder 502 may be activated 504A and deactivated 504B in an alternating manner to the first inflatable bladder 102. For instance, when the first inflatable bladder 202 is activated, then the second inflatable bladder 502 is deactivated at the same time, and when the first inflatable bladder 202 is deactivated, then the second inflatable bladder 502 is activated at the same time. Therefore, in this instance, the bladders 202, 502 may operate in unison to move the object 214 angularly along the inclined member 212, e.g., by sliding upward and downward along the inclined member 212.
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In some implementations, the inflatable bladder 302 may be referred to as a first inflatable bladder, and the downhole device 600 may include a second inflatable bladder 602 that is disposed within another recess 652 of the body 310 between the floor 318 of the cavity 312 and an armature 652 of the object 314. In some instances, the armature 652 may be contoured in an L-shape and coupled to a lower portion (or bottom portion) of the object 314. In this instance, the second inflatable bladder 602 may be disposed between the floor 318 of the cavity 312 and the armature 652. Also, the second inflatable bladder 602 has the opening 624 on one end for receiving the hydraulic fluid 326. Further, the second inflatable bladder 602 may be activated 604A and deactivated 604B to selectively pivot the object 314 in opposing rotational directions 306A, 306B with respect to the hinge 320. The second inflatable bladder 602 may be activated 604A and deactivated 604B at the same time as the first inflatable bladder 302. For instance, when the first inflatable bladder 302 is activated, then the second inflatable bladder 602 is also activated at the same time so as to push the armature 652 and assist with rotating the object 314 about the hinge 320. Also, when the first inflatable bladder 302 is deactivated, then the second inflatable bladder 602 is deactivated at the same time to allow the object 314 to return to its resting position.
The various schemes and techniques described herein provide for actuation of one or more bladder(s) that radially displace a mechanical element (pad/blade/roller/other) from a deactivated state to an activated state and vice versa. The deactivated state may refer to the mechanical element being enclosed within a stabilized body of a downhole device (or tool), and the activated state may refer to the mechanical elements protruding (or extending) beyond the stabilized body to a predetermined distance that may be under-gauge to (in-gauge to or over-gauge to) the drilled hole size. In some instances, when an element is deployed, and it extends to the drilled hole size, it is said to be in-gauge. When the element is deployed, and it extends to less than the drilled hole size, it is said to be under-gauge. When the element is deployed, and it extends to more than the drilled hole size, it is said to be over-gauge. Depending on application of the downhole device (or tool), this may passively or actively act as a point of stabilization, a fulcrum point, a relocation of a contact point within a 3-point geometry system or an actively cut formation thereby enlarging the hole beyond the drilled hole size.
It can be envisioned that while activation of one or more bladder(s) takes place to initially displace the component(s), a mechanism is needed to return the component(s) to its initial state. This could be achieved by attaching the component to a bladder such that, when the bladder deflates, it retracts the component to its initial state. This could also be achieved by using a spring biased return system such that, when the bladder initially expands, a return spring is compressed and such that, when the bladder deflates, the component is driven back to its initial state by expansion of the spring. Alternatively, the component is actively driven out by expansion of a primary ‘deployment’ bladder that deflates a secondary ‘retraction’ bladder. When commanded, the ‘retraction’ bladder may inflate to actively displace the component in the opposite direction to the ‘deployment’ bladder, which may retract the component at a rate similar to deflation of the ‘deployment’ bladder. Fundamentally, as one bladder is commanded to inflate, the other bladder would be commanded to deflate at a similar rate.
The number of components would be at least one, and the number of bladders would also be at least one. Also, each component may be linked to its own unique primary and/or secondary bladder system, and each component may be attached to a yoke type mechanism with a singular primary and/or secondary bladder. It can be envisioned that there may be a primary and/or secondary bladder system with a fully redundant backup bladder system should the initial bladder system fail.
The hydraulic control system may have at least one set of control electronics and at least one hydraulic pump that is switchable between the aforementioned primary set of bladders and possibly the secondary set of bladders by way of a switchable valve or equivalent or by reversal of flow path. There may be one hydraulic pump per primary bladder and also possibly one hydraulic pump per secondary bladder. There may be one hydraulic pump per primary set of bladders and one hydraulic pump per secondary set of bladders assuming either hydraulic linkage between the individual sets of bladders or a singular hydraulic circuit driving a yoke that connects the components. Lastly, the control system may be any feasible combination of the latter described proposals.
In accordance with the various implementations described herein,
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As shown, a non-magnetic drilling collar 752 may be inserted between the drill collar 732, and the drill bit and may carry the mud pulser. Alternatively, the mud pulser may be carried in a section of drill pipe above the drill collars. For some operations, such as horizontal drilling, a hydraulic drilling motor 754 may also be inserted in the drill string between the drill collars and the bit. Such a motor, if present, utilizes fluid pressure from the flowing mud to rotate the drill bit 734. The pulser tool 756 may include an elongated cylindrical housing 758 made up of a plurality of individual threadedly connected tubular sections. When in use, the tool is disposed inside the lower portion of the drill string 728 and is surrounded by flowing drilling mud.
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While shown as a cut-away diagram 800, the drilling tool 810 and various components thereof (e.g., drill bit structure 826, bearings 816a, 816b, bridge bearings 828a, 828b, housing 814, shaft 812) are generally cylindrical. Also, each set of rotating bearings 816a, 816b, 828a, 828b generally form an annular cylinder having an interior surface which rotates with respect to an outer surface. For instance, the main bearings 816a, 816b have an interior surface in contact with a sleeve (not shown) encasing the rotating shaft 812 or a portion thereof and positioned between the bearings 816a, 816b, and an exterior surface in contact with the inner surface of the housing 814. Similarly, the sets of bridge bearings 828a, 828b may have an interior surface in contact with the sleeve (not shown) and an exterior surface in contact with the bridge structure 830. As such, the bearings 816a, 816b, 828a, 828b allow coupling of the rotating shaft 812 to non-rotating portions of the tool, such as, e.g., the housing and steering mechanism.
It should be understood that even though method 900 may indicate a particular order of operation execution, in some cases, various certain portions of the operations may be executed in a different order, and on different systems. In other cases, additional operations and/or steps may be added to and/or omitted from method 900. Method 900 may be implemented in hardware and/or software. If implemented in hardware, method 900 may be implemented with various circuit components, such as described herein in reference to
As described and shown in reference to
From a control standpoint, the electronic controls may be configured to drive activation and/or deactivation based on the following. For instance, timer control may be used to drive activation after a certain period of time and deactivates after another certain period of time. In some instances, pressure switch control may be used to drive activation or alternatively will only allow activation after a certain differentiation pressure or a certain hydrostatic pressure is attained. Alternatively, the pressure switch control may be used to drive activation or alternatively will only allow activation after a certain bore pressure is attained that could be set to a hydrostatic threshold or circulating threshold. In some other instances, the electronics could be controlled through sequenced rotary speed, or the electronics could be controlled through sequenced bore pressure. In still other instances, the electronics could be controlled through a sequenced bore pressure that triggers a command to be emitted from a drilling tool through direct communication or alternatively via a short hop system.
It should be intended that the subject matter of the claims not be limited to the implementations and illustrations provided herein, but include modified forms of those implementations including portions of implementations and combinations of elements of different implementations in accordance with the claims. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions should be made to achieve developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort may be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having benefit of this disclosure.
Reference has been made in detail to various implementations, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and figures. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure provided herein. However, the disclosure provided herein may be practiced without these specific details. In some other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure details of the embodiments.
It should also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element. The first element and the second element are both elements, respectively, but they are not to be considered the same element.
The terminology used in the description of the disclosure provided herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations and is not intended to limit the disclosure provided herein. As used in the description of the disclosure provided herein and appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify a presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context. The terms “up” and “down”; “upper” and “lower”; “upwardly” and “downwardly”; “below” and “above”; and other similar terms indicating relative positions above or below a given point or element may be used in connection with some implementations of various technologies described herein.
While the foregoing is directed to implementations of various techniques described herein, other and further implementations may be devised in accordance with the disclosure herein, which may be determined by the claims that follow.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
