Testing downhole tools in a simulated environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10156498-B2
Application number	US-201514982849-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2015
Priority date	Dec 29, 2015
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods may include sending, to a downhole tool emulator, at least one input signal that represents one or more conditions in a simulated well system. The downhole tool emulator may include one or more electronic components to be placed in a downhole tool. The at least one input signal may be generated based at least partially on a reservoir model of the simulated well system. The method may include receiving at least one output signal that represents a response of the downhole tool emulator to the one or more conditions. The method may also include sending, to the downhole tool emulator, at least one command that represents an operation of the downhole tool emulator. The at least one command may represent a change in the operation of the downhole tool emulator based at least partially on the one or more conditions and the response.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a downhole tool emulator comprising one or more downhole tool electronic components to be placed in a downhole tool;
a simulated surface system comprising one or more surface system electronic components to be placed in a surface system; and
a computer system comprising one or more memory devices and one or more processors, wherein the one or more memory devices stores instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
simulating real-world operating conditions of the downhole tool; and
simulating real-world control of the downhole tool based at least partially on one or more signals received from the downhole tool emulator.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more memory devices stores instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
sending, to the downhole tool emulator, at least one input signal that represents one or more conditions in a simulated well system, wherein the at least one input signal is generated based at least partially on a reservoir model of the simulated well system;
receiving, from the downhole tool emulator, at least one output signal that represents a response of the downhole tool emulator to the one or more conditions; and
sending, to the downhole tool emulator from simulated surface system, at least one command that represents an operation of the downhole tool emulator, wherein the at least one command represents a change in the operation of the downhole tool emulator based at least partially on the one or more conditions and the response.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more memory devices stores instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
generating the at least one input signal based at least partially on the reservoir model of the simulated well system.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more memory devices stores instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
determining one or more new conditions in the simulated well system based at least partially on the change in the operation of the downhole tool emulator and the reservoir model; and
sending, to the downhole tool emulator, at least one new input signal that represents the one or more new conditions in the simulated well system.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more memory devices stores instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
determining one or more new conditions in the simulated well system based at least partially on the at least one output signal that represents a response of the downhole tool emulator to the one or more conditions and the reservoir model; and
sending, to the downhole tool emulator, at least one new input signal that represents the one or more new conditions in the simulated well system.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more memory devices stores instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
collecting data that is representative of an operation of the downhole tool emulator, wherein the data comprises the one or more conditions, the response, and the at least one command; and
analyzing the data to determine proper operations of the one or more downhole tool electronic components.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more conditions comprise a fault condition in at least one of the one or more downhole tool electronic components, and wherein analyzing the data comprises determining whether the at least one of the one or more downhole tool electronic components responded properly to the fault condition.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein analyzing the data comprises comparing the at least one command to at least one expected command that represents proper operation of the downhole tool emulator.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool emulator converts the at least one input signal to one or more electrical signals that are compatible with the one or more electronic components to be placed in the downhole tool.

10. A system, comprising:
an emulated downhole tool comprising:
one or more downhole tool electronic components to be placed in a downhole tool, and
a downhole tool emulator configured to communicate with the one or more downhole tool electronic components to be placed in the downhole tool and emulate one or more real-world operating conditions of the downhole tool;

a simulated surface system comprising:
one or more surface system electronic components to be placed in a surface system, and
a surface emulator configured to communicate with the one or more surface system electronic components to be placed in a surface system and emulate real-world control of the downhole tool based at least partially on one or more signals received from the emulated downhole tool; and

a computer system comprising one or more memory devices and one or more processors, wherein the one or more memory devices stores instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
sending, to the emulated downhole tool, at least one input signal that represents one or more conditions in a simulated well system, wherein the at least one input signal is generated by a reservoir model of the well system;
receiving, from the emulated downhole tool via the simulated surface system, at least one output signal that represents a response of the emulated downhole tool to the one or more conditions; and
sending, to the emulated downhole tool via the simulated surface system, at least one command that represents an operation of the emulated downhole tool, wherein the at least one command represents a change in the operation of the emulated downhole tool based at least partially on the one or more conditions and the response.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more memory devices stores instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
generating the at least one input signal based at least partially on the reservoir model of the simulated well system.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more memory devices stores instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
determining one or more new conditions in the simulated well system based at least partially on the change in the operation of the emulated downhole tool and the reservoir model; and
sending, to the emulated downhole tool, at least one new input signal that represents the one or more new conditions in the simulated well system.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more memory devices stores instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
determining one or more new conditions in the simulated well system based at least partially on the at least one output signal that represents a response of the emulated downhole tool to the one or more conditions and the reservoir model; and
sending, to the emulated downhole tool, at least one new input signal that represents the one or more new conditions in the simulated well system.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more memory devices stores instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the method further comprising:
collecting data that is representative of an operation of the emulated downhole tool, wherein the data comprises the one or more conditions, the response, and the at least one command; and
analyzing th

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Jeanson Eric

Classifications

• G06F30/20

  Design optimisation, verification or simulation (optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30) · CPC title

• G01M99/008 Primary

  by doing functionality tests · CPC title

• G01V99/005

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F17/5009

  Physics · mapped topic

• E21B47/00

  Survey of boreholes or wells (monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08) · CPC title