Systems and methods for actuating downhole devices and enabling drilling workflows from the surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11078780-B2
Application number	US-201916720159-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2019
Priority date	Dec 19, 2019
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods for actuation of downhole devices are disclosed. The system includes a first cylindrical pipe having one or more first materials attached to an outer surface of the first cylindrical pipe, a second cylindrical pipe co-axial with the first cylindrical pipe and having a diameter greater than the first cylindrical pipe, the second cylindrical pipe comprising one or more second materials disposed on an inner surface of the second cylindrical pipe, wherein the first materials generate one or more signals when the first materials come in contact with the second materials, and a digital logic circuit configured to receive the one or more signals as input, and generate an output based on the input, the output configured for actuation of the downhole devices.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for actuation of downhole devices, the system comprising:
a first cylindrical pipe having one or more first materials attached to an outer surface of the first cylindrical pipe;
a second cylindrical pipe co-axial with the first cylindrical pipe and having a diameter greater than the first cylindrical pipe, the second cylindrical pipe comprising one or more second materials disposed on an inner surface of the second cylindrical pipe, wherein the one or more first materials generate one or more signals when the one or more first materials come in contact with the one or more second materials, wherein the one or more first materials and the one or more second materials are of opposite polarity, and comprise a material that causes static electricity; and
one or more downhole devices placed along a drill string inside a well for being activated, deactivated, or configured by the system for actuation of downhole devices.

2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a digital logic circuit configured to receive the one or more signals as input, and generate an output based on the input, the output configured for actuation of the one or more downhole devices placed along the drill string.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the digital logic circuit comprises a synchronous sequential circuit or an asynchronous sequential circuit.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first cylindrical pipe is disposed within a drill string assembly in a drilling rig.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first cylindrical pipe is disposed outside of a drill string assembly in a drilling rig.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second cylindrical pipe forms part of a drill pipe in a drill string assembly, and the one or more first materials come in contact with the one or more second materials when the drill pipe is rotated.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more second materials comprise a ball bearing.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the ball bearing is disposed in a latch slot.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the latch slot further comprises a cylindrical roller bearing that acts as a unique identifier.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more first materials comprise a coated segment having a predetermined pattern.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation of downhole devices comprises at least one of opening or closing valves, expanding or contracting casing scrapers, expanding or contracting contract reamers, expanding or contracting packers, and opening or closing of circulation subs.

12. The system according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a sleeve formed on an outer surface of the second cylindrical pipe, the sleeve configured to contain the one or more second materials.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more first materials and the one or more second materials are selected from the a group consisting of Copper, Aluminum, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyimide, Lead, Elastomer, Polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA), Nylon, and Polyester.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more first materials comprise a piezoelectric material or a magnetostrictive material.

15. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more support structures configured to support the first cylindrical pipe.

16. The system according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a plurality of ball bearings between a top surface of the first cylindrical pipe and a top support structure; and
a plurality of ball bearings between a bottom surface of the first cylindrical pipe and a bottom support structure.

17. A method for actuation of downhole devices, the method comprising:
providing a first cylindrical pipe having one or more first materials attached to an outer surface of the first cylindrical pipe;
providing a second cylindrical pipe co-axial with the first cylindrical pipe and having a diameter greater than the first cylindrical pipe, the second cylindrical pipe comprising one or more second materials disposed on an inner surface of the second cylindrical pipe, wherein the one or more first materials generate one or more signals when the one or more first materials come in contact with the one or more second materials, wherein the one or more first materials and the one or more second materials are of opposite polarity, and comprise a material that causes static electricity; and
placing one or more downhole devices along a drill string inside a well for being activated, deactivated, or configured by the one or more signals.

18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving, by a digital logic circuit, the one or more signals as input; and
generating an output based on the input, the output configured for actuation of the one or more downhole devices along the drill string.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the digital logic circuit comprises a synchronous sequential circuit or an asynchronous sequential circuit.

20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the first cylindrical pipe is disposed within a drill string assembly in a drilling rig.

21. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the first cylindrical pipe is disposed outside of a drill string assembly in a drilling rig.

22. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the second cylindrical pipe forms part of a drill pipe in a drill string assembly, and the one or more first materials corneas in contact with the one or more second materials when the drill pipe is rotated.

23. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the one or more second materials comprise a ball bearing.

24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the ball bearing is disposed in a latch slot.

25. The method according to claim 24 , wherein the latch slot further comprises a cylindrical roller bearing that acts as a unique identifier.

26. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the one or more first materials comprise a coated segment having a predetermined pattern.

27. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the actuation of downhole devices comprises at least one of opening or closing valves, expanding or contracting casing scrapers, expanding or contracting contract reamers, expanding or contracting packers, and opening or closing of circulation subs.

28. The method according to claim 27 , further comprising:
providing a sleeve on an outer surface of the second cylindrical pipe, the sleeve configured to contain the one or more second materials.

29. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the one or more first materials and the one or more second materials are selected from a group consisting of Copper, Aluminum, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyimide, Lead, Elastomer, Polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA), Nylon, and Polyester.

30. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the one or more first materials comprise a piezoelectric material or a magnetostrictive material.

31. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising providing one or more support structures configured to support the first cylindrical pipe.

32. The method according to claim 31 , further comprising:
providing a plurality of ball bearings betw

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Gooneratne Chinthaka Pasan
• Ramasamy Jothibasu
• Li Bodong
• Al-Badran Mohammad Saud
• Moellendick Timothy Eric

Classifications

• G08C25/04

  by recording transmitted signals · CPC title

• H02N2/18

  producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators (for measurement devices G01) · CPC title

• E21B33/1208

  characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B41/0085

  Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes · CPC title

• E21B33/122

  Multiple string packers · CPC title