IP Library Granted Patent US 9,650,851
Granted Patent B2
US 9,650,851 · App. 13/916,657 · Granted May 16, 2017

Autonomous untethered well object

Inventors: John R. Whitsitt (Houston, TX); John A. Booker (Missouri City, TX); Thomas Daniel MacDougall (Sugar Land, TX); Gary L. Rytlewski (League City, TX)
Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
E21B23/00E21B34/14E21B47/0905E21B43/14E21B2034/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,650,851
App. No.
13/916,657
Granted
May 16, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A technique includes deploying an untethered object though a passageway of a string in a well; and sensing a property of an environment of the string, an electromagnetic coupling or a pressure as the object is being communicated through the passageway. The technique includes selectively autonomously operating the untethered object in response to the sensing.

Claims (13)

1. A method comprising:

deploying an untethered object through a passageway of a string in a well;

sensing a pressure in the passageway as the object is being communicated through the passageway, wherein sensing a pressure comprises sensing a differential pressure between an uphole end of the untethered object and a downhole end of the untethered object;

determining a position of the object based at least in part on the sensing of the pressure; and

selectively autonomously operating the untethered object in response to the determined position.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively autonomously operating the untethered object comprises transitioning the object from a first state to a second state.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein transitioning the object comprises transitioning the object from a radially contracted state to a radially expanded state in response to the sensing.

4. A method comprising:

communicating an untethered object though a passageway of a string in a well;

sensing a pressure as the object is being communicated through the passageway, wherein sensing a pressure comprises sensing a differential pressure between an uphole end of the untethered object and a downhole end of the untethered object; and

selectively radially expanding the untethered object in response to the sensing.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising detecting at least one valve of the string based on the sensing, wherein selectively radially expanding the untethered object further comprises selectively radially expanding the untethered object in response to the detecting.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein sensing the pressure comprises sensing a differential pressure across the object.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2013
From: WHITSITT, JOHN R.; BOOKER, JOHN A.; MACDOUGALL, THOMAS DANIEL; RYTLEWSKI, GARY L.
To: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030900/0079 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61660964 · Jun 18, 2012
Provisional Application 61713743 · Oct 15, 2012
Related Publication 20140076542A1 · Mar 20, 2014