Granted Patent B2

US 12,421,806 · App. 18/441,836 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Inventors: Thomas Burky (Alvarado, TX); Gerald Graves Craddock, Jr. (Alvarado, TX)

Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

E21B17/023E21B23/00E21B47/12

Abstract

Claims (58)

1. A system, comprising:

an automatic cable head disposed in a borehole, comprising:

a strain gauge configured to measure a tension associated with a cable attached to the automatic cable head;

a release mechanism configured to connect to a tool; and

a controller, configured to:

receive load data from the strain gauge; and

make a determination that the load data has been greater than a load threshold for a duration exceeding a duration threshold; and

initiate release of the release mechanism in response to the determination.

2. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the release mechanism comprises:

a lock; and

a claw,

wherein initiating release of the release mechanism comprises:

initiating release of the lock.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein initiating release of the lock causes the claw to open.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the lock is an explosive bolt.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the lock is a magnetic lock.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the claw is configured to connect to a fish neck of the tool.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the fish neck comprises a narrow section and a frustum.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power supply.

9. A method for releasing a tool, comprising:

receiving, by a controller in an automatic cable head, first load data from a strain gauge in the automatic cable head;

making a first determination that the first load data is greater than a load threshold;

receiving second load data from the strain gauge;

making a second determination that the second load data is greater than the load threshold;

making a third determination that a duration between the first load data and the second load data is greater than a duration threshold; and

initiating release of a lock in response to the third determination.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein initiating release of the lock causes the tool to separate from the automatic cable head.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the lock is one selected from the group consisting of:

an explosive bolt; and

a magnetic lock.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the load threshold is less than a working load for a cable, and wherein the automatic cable head is attached to the cable.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the load threshold is greater than a working load for a cable, and wherein the automatic cable head is attached to the cable.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the automatic cable head comprises:

a power supply.

15. A method for pumping a tool into a borehole, comprising:

pumping the tool into the borehole using a pump configured to pump a fluid at a flow rate, wherein the tool is attached to a cable via an automatic cable head;

receiving first load data from the automatic cable head;

making a first determination that the first load data exceeds an upper load threshold;

controlling the pump to reduce the flow rate based on the first determination;

receiving second load data from the automatic cable head;

making a second determination that the second load data is below a lower load threshold; and

controlling the pump to increase the flow rate based on the second determination.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving third load data from the automatic cable head; and

making a third determination that the third load data does not exceed the upper load threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:

increasing a tension on the cable while pumping the tool downhole;

causing the tension to increase beyond a load threshold; and

causing the automatic cable head to separate from the tool.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:

making a fourth determination that the third load data is not below the lower load threshold.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:

maintain the flow rate based on the third determination and the fourth determination.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the automatic cable head comprises:

a controller; and

a power supply.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (17)