Devices, systems, and methods for downhole event detection and depth determination

Abstract

Detector device (10) mounts to a drilling rig (12) to sense sound or vibration signalled from downhole. The device (10) has a transmitter (10,20) to transmit data and/or an alert relating to sensed sound and/or vibration associated with deployment and/or positioning of a tool downhole. The device (10) recognises that one or more predetermined events or a pattern of events or one or more particular sound and/or vibration signatures occur(s). Downhole device (36) has a transmitter (38) transmitting a signal indicating a sensed pressure, position or motion change downhole. Communication between the downhole device and the device at the surface to determine depth or distance e.g. time of flight of a signal emitted by one device and the return signal from the other device or from the send and received times of the signal between the two devices based on their respective timers.

Claims

1. A detector device arranged to be used in a surface drill rig and configured to detect at or near the surface at least one of sound and vibration associated with a downhole deployed tool arriving at a desired location downhole or deploying downhole based on a signature of the detected at least one of sound and vibration.

2. The detector device of claim 1, the device arranged and configured to detect at least one of location or deployment characteristic of a downhole tool deployed in relation to a drilling or downhole survey operation, the device including means for detecting at least one sound or at least one vibration associated with any one or more of: location, deployment, and engagement of the tool downhole.

3. The detector device of claim 1, including at least one attachment means or mounting means for removably attaching or mounting the device to a part of a drill rig, a drill string, a ‘stick up’ portion of a casing, or other installation, at the surface.

4. The detector device of claim 1, including a transmitter to transmit data and/or an alert relating to sensed sound and/or vibration associated with deployment and/or positioning of a tool downhole.

5. The detector device of claim 1, the detector device configured to determine a signature of the sound and/or vibration of landing.

6. The detector device of claim 1, the detector device being pre-programmed with one or more sound and/or vibration signatures to compare at least one sensed sound or vibration signal with stored said signatures to determine whether correct landing and/or positioning and/or engagement has occurred downhole.

7. The detector device of claim 1, wherein the detector device is incorporated into equipment at the surface, wherein the equipment at the surface includes one or more of an instrumented drillstring drive subsystem, an instrumented top drive, an instrumented chuck drive, an instrumented sub, a force-torque sub, a wireless sub, or other instrumented device within or attached to the drill string or drill string drive system for a drilling or exploration operation.

8. The detector device of claim 1, wherein the detector device is downhole and detects presence of, arrival of, position of or location of, or a combination of any two or more thereof, of a downhole device downhole.

9. The detector device of claim 8, wherein the detector device is incorporated with a survey instrument, a core orientation recording tool, a magnetic sensor, a resistivity sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a radiation sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

10. The detector device of claim 8, wherein the detector device autonomously or automatically transmits a signal to be received at the surface once the downhole tool is at or near a predetermined speed, position, location or state of operation.

11. A system including a detector device according to claim 1 and a downhole device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the downhole device includes transmission means to transmit at least one signal when the downhole device has landed or proximate to landing.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein triggering sending of the at least one signal is related to sensing of a parameter by a proximity sensor, Hall effect sensor, magnetic sensor, capacitance sensor, inductance sensor, an encoder, solenoid, an optical sensor, pressure sensor or any other position or physical parameter sensor.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one signal sent by the downhole device from downhole is transmitted through material of a drill string, inner tube and/or outer casing.

15. The system of claim 11, including two-way communication between the detector at the surface and the downhole device when downhole wherein at least one signal sent downhole from the detector device to the downhole device is used to trigger operation of the downhole device and/or to cease operation of the downhole device and/or to cause the downhole device to switch operational modes.

16. A method of confirming at a surface drill rig arrival or positioning downhole of a drilling operation or drilling survey operation related downhole device by detecting at least one of sound and vibration at or adjacent to the surface, the sound and/or vibration originating from arrival or positioning downhole of the downhole device, confirming arrival or positioning downhole based on a signature of the detected at least one of sound and vibration.

17. The method of claim 16, including confirming arrival or positioning of the downhole device downhole by sensing a change in any one or more of pressure downhole, velocity downhole, and sensing at least one of sound and vibration at the surface, the at least one of sound and vibration associated with arrival or positioning of a downhole device downhole.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the downhole device transmits the at least one signal on arrival downhole at a landing or arrival position, or when proximate a position or device, or when passing a sensor or signal triggering device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein signalling between the downhole device and the surface is two-way, and at least one device at the surface communicates to the downhole device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a signal from the surface is used to initiate or start-up or commence operation of the downhole device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the downhole device senses vibration and/or sound sent from the surface.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one signal sent from downhole is transmitted to or received by or received within the device at the surface being part of or connected to an instrumented drill-sub.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the downhole device communicates to the surface to indicate that the downhole device is in a particular mode of operation, or has sensed a certain parameter or value, or has not landed or arrived correctly, or has sensed a problem or correct operation of other equipment downhole.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein data relating to depth and/or position of the downhole device is provided to a display.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the downhole device includes at least one pressure sensor and/or at least one accelerometer to detect a respective pressure and/or change in velocity when the downhole device lands in position or is sufficiently slowed downhole or when passing or arriving at a downhole marker/position.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein data or at least one signal from the detector device relating to detection of sound or vibration of the downhole device arriving at or nearing a downhole position, and data or at least one signal from the downhole device, such as a pressure spike or change in velocity signal or a signature signal, is utilised to confirm that the downhole device has landed properly or is at a desired position or has engaged/latched into position downhole.

27. The method of claim 16, including confirming arrival or positioning of a downhole device downhole by sensing a change in pressure and/or velocity downhole, and sensing sound and/or vibration at the surface, the sound and/or vibration associated with arrival or positioning of a downhole device downhole.

28. A method of confirming arrival or positioning downhole of a drilling operation or drilling survey operation related downhole device by detecting sound and/or vibration at or adjacent to the surface, the sound and/or vibration originating from arrival or positioning downhole of the downhole device, wherein transmission/propagation speed of a transmitted signal through whatever medium the signal is transmitted through between the downhole device and the detector device at the surface is used to determine distance between the detector device at the surface and the downhole device can be determined and equated to the depth of the downhole device in the hole.

29. A method of confirming arrival or positioning downhole of a drilling operation or drilling survey operation related downhole device by detecting sound and/or vibration at or adjacent to the surface, the sound and/or vibration originating from arrival or positioning downhole of the downhole device, wherein the detector device at the surface sends a said signal to the downhole device, the downhole device receives said signal and returns a further signal to the detector device at the surface, the detector device determines the round trip time taken for the signal sent and the return signal to arrive at the device at the surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a device deployed in situ at a drilling operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 shows at least one further embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

(5) As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, a device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention can be provided at a drilling site.

(6) For example, the device 10 can be mounted onto part of a drilling rig 12, such as on a drilling tube or stick-up portion of the drilling operation. FIG. 1 shows two alternative positions for the device, one on the drill rods and one adjacent the drill rods. The drill rod mounted position is preferred, but it is to be appreciated that other positions can be acceptable.

(7) The device 10 can be releasably attached via attachment means, such as by a housing 10.1 including one or more magnets 10.2 for attaching the device to a metal portion of the drilling rig.

(8) The device, as shown by way of non-limiting example in FIG. 2, can include at least one sound sensor 10.4 or at least one vibration sensor 10.6, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

(9) The at least one sound sensor may include at least one microphone.

(10) The at least one vibration sensor may include at least one accelerometer, preferably multiple accelerometers, such as multi-axis accelerometers e.g. a tri-axial accelerometer.

(11) The device 10 may include on-board power supply, such as a battery 10.8.

(12) Alternatively or in addition, the device 10 may include on-board energy harvesting technology to power the device and/or to charge the battery.

(13) For example, the device may include a piezo-electric device 10.10 responsive to vibration from drilling to generate electricity to power the device and/or to charge the battery or a capacitive charge storage device.

(14) The device may include at least one on/off control 10.12 to initiate operation. The device may automatically switch off or go into a sleep mode after a period of time, or to conserve power e.g. when no sound or vibration, or no sound or vibration above a threshold level, is detected for a given period.

(15) The device 10 can include at least one indicator, such as at least one indicator light 10.14, 10.16.

(16) For example, an indicator light 10.14 can be provided to indicate that the device is operating (e.g. is monitoring for sound and/or vibration).

(17) A further indicator light 10.16 can be provided to indicate that detection of a downhole event of interest has been detected.

(18) The device 10 may include a transmitter 10.20 to transmit data and/or an alert relating to sensed sound and/or vibration associated with deployment and/or positioning of a tool downhole.

(19) The device 10 may provide an alert (such as a confirmation of successful landing/deployment of a tool downhole) to a remote receiver, such as a laptop, computer, mobile phone, tablet or other remote receiving device.

(20) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention deployed in use in relation to a drill rig 12 for use in a drilling operation.

(21) An inner tube 18 comprising several connected drill tubes extends into an outer casing 16 into the ground 14.

(22) A drill bit 22 is provided at a distal end 26 of the inner tube.

(23) A core barrel assembly or a probe 28 can be deployed, such as by wireline (not shown) into the borehole. The core barrel assembly or probe lands at and/or engages with a landing collar 20.

(24) The impact of landing and/or a pattern of sound or vibration events, or a combination thereof, can be detected by the device 10.

(25) In particular, the device 10 may include capability to determine a signature of the sound and/or vibration of landing.

(26) For example, the device may include capability to recognise that one or more predetermined events occur or a pattern of events occurs or one or more particular sound and/or vibration signatures occur(s), or a combination of any two or more thereof.

(27) The device may be pre-programmed with one or more sound and/or vibration signatures, and may compare at least one sensed sound or vibration signal with stored signatures to determine whether correct landing and/or positioning and/or engagement has occurred downhole.

(28) As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the assembly and/or probe 26 can include one or more latches 30 arranged and configured to engage with the inner tube.

(29) The backend assembly may include at least one locking device 32, such as a locking coupling to engage with a retrieval device, such as an overshot coupling on a wireline.

(30) Landing of the assembly and/or probe or other downhole tool (such as landing at a landing collar) and/or deployment of the latch(es) to engage the tool in position, can be detected by the device.

(31) A noise and/or vibration caused by landing and/or by engagement of one or more latches or deployment of one or more devices downhole can be detected by the device at the surface through sonic (sound) and/or vibration or a combination thereof.

(32) An expected pattern of noise and/or vibration, such as landing, followed by deployment/engagement of one or more latches, can be used to determine that a downhole tool has deployed correctly and is in position as required.

(33) An incorrect signature or pattern can be indicated by the device or transmitted by the device as a landing and/or deployment error, and the tool may be retrieved or landing/deployment reattempted.

(34) Correct landing/deployment and/or pattern can be indicated by the device as a visual signal, such as a steady green light, and/or by a notification sound.

(35) Incorrect landing/deployment can be indicated visually, such as by a red light, and/or by a different notification sound.

(36) When the device is awaiting a sound and/or vibration, such as during lowering of the tool downhole, the device may give a sound and/or visual indication, such as one or more flashing lights and/or intermittent sounds, such as a series of bleeps.

(37) It will be appreciated that vibration can be detected by the one or more accelerometers in the device. Sound can be detected by one or more microphones in the device.

(38) As shown by way of example in FIG. 3, a downhole device 36 may include a transmitter 38 to transmit at least one signal indicative of a sensed pressure and/or motion change downhole.

(39) For example, the downhole device may detect a change in pressure and/or a change in velocity on landing or nearing landing downhole.

(40) The at least one signal can be transmitted 40 through the material of the inner tube, drill string or outer casing.

(41) The at least one signal transmitted from downhole can be received by the detector device 10 or other equipment, such as a drill sub 42 at the surface.

(42) The detector device and the other equipment, such as the drill sub 42, may communicate 44.

(43) For example, data/signal associated with sound and/or vibration detected by the detector device at the surface relating to the downhole device landing or nearing landing or latching into position downhole can be associated with, compared with or displayed together with data/signals obtained from the downhole device associated with pressure and/or change in velocity when the downhole device lands or is near landing or latches into position, to confirm as a double check that the downhole device has arrived or is near arriving in position.

(44) FIG. 4 shows at least one further embodiment of the present invention.

(45) A device 11 at the surface may transmit a signal to or receive a signal from, or both, a downhole device 36. The downhole device 36 may transmit a signal to or receive a signal from the device 11 at the surface.

(46) The device at the surface may be or may incorporate the detector device 10 or may communicate with the detector device 10.

(47) In use, the downhole device may send a signal 43 to the device at the surface, for example, to indicate landing downhole, for use in determining depth, that a position has been reached, or to send data to the surface, or combinations of two or more thereof. The downhole device may include a timer, which timer may commence a count or record a time relating to the sending of the signal. The downhole device may send such a signal in response to a signal received from the device 11 at the surface.

(48) The device 11 at the surface may send a signal 41 to the downhole device 36, for example, to seek confirmation of landing, for use in determining depth, that a position has been reached, or to send data to the surface, or combinations of two or more thereof.

(49) The device at the surface may include a timer. Sending of the signal downhole may be associated with commencement of timing or noting of a time.

(50) The device at the surface and/or the downhole device may include a respective force actuator or signal actuator. The force actuator or signal actuator may initiate the signal by creating a vibration and/or sound. For example, a solenoid or piezo-electric device may vibrate to create a vibration signal transmitted through at least one medium, such as metal of the drill tubes/casing or fluid within the drill tubes or casing.

(51) One of the device at the surface or downhole device may use a time of flight of the signal emitted by that device and the return signal from the other of those devices to calculate, based on the time count of the timer of the signal originating device, the depth of the downhole device within the hole.

(52) Alternatively, a calculation of the depth may be determined from the send and received times of the signal between the two devices based on their respective timers.