IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,784,095
Granted Patent B2
US 9,784,095 · App. 14/414,159 · Granted Oct 10, 2017

Position indicator through acoustics

Inventors: Ralph Harvey Echols, III (Rockwall, TX); William Mark Richards (Flower Mound, TX); Joshua Max Hornsby (Keller, TX); Gregory William Garrison (Dallas, TX); James Ho (Carrollton, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
E21B47/091E21B23/02E21B47/09E21B47/14E21B47/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,784,095
App. No.
14/414,159
Granted
Oct 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Assemblies and methods of use are disclosed for determining a position of a body within a tubing section. A signal generator coupled to the body is operable to generate a pressure wave in response to detecting a detectable portion of the tubing section when the body is moved relative to the tubing section.

Claims (29)

1. An assembly comprising:

a body movable relative to a tubing section;

a sealed fluid chamber including a first side and a second side separated by a restrictive pathway; and

a signal generator coupled to the body and operable for detecting a detectable portion of the tubing section in response to relative movement between the body and the tubing section and further operable for generating a pressure wave in response to detection of the detectable portion, the signal generator comprising:

a projection operable for engaging a profile of the detectable portion; and

a striking part that is axially displaceable from a first position to a second position to force fluid through the restrictive pathway in response to the projection engaging the profile.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the

striking part is operable for generating the pressure wave by physically striking a struck part in response to engagement of the profile by the projection.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein: the projection is located on the striking part and the striking part is a collet.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein:

the projection is an external projection and the collet additionally includes an internal projection;

the restrictive pathway is at least partially defined by the internal projection;

the internal projection is shaped such that the restrictive pathway has a first fluid resistance when the collet is in a first position and a second fluid resistance when the collet is displaced to a middle position between the first position and the second position, the second fluid resistance being substantially less than the first fluid resistance.

5. A method of determining a position of a body at least partially disposed within a tubing section, the method comprising:

disposing a body within a tubing section, the body and tubing section each having coordinating ones of a detectable portion and a signal generator, the signal generator including a projection operable for engaging a profile of the detectable portion and a striking part that is axially displaceable from a first position to a second position to force fluid through a restrictive pathway that separates a fluid chamber into a first side and a second side in response to the projection engaging the profile, the signal generator operable for detecting the detectable portion in response to relative movement between the body and the tubing section and further operable for generating a pressure wave in response to detection of the detectable portion; and

maneuvering the body in relation to the tubing section to cause the signal generator to force fluid through the restrictive pathway and generate a pressure wave.

6. The method of claim 5 , additional comprising:

receiving the pressure wave by a processor; and

updating a display with information regarding the position of the body in relation to the tubing section.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the processor is disposed within a wellbore and the receiving includes registering the pressure wave by an impact sensor, additionally comprising;

generating an electrical signal corresponding to the pressure wave; and

transmitting the electrical signal through an electrical conductor disposed within the wellbore to a second processor located external the wellbore.

8. The method of claim 6 , additionally comprising;

obtaining a tubing section measurement; and

comparing a first timing of the tubing section measurement with a second timing of the pressure wave to confirm that the pressure wave was generated by the signal generator.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the receiving the pressure wave additionally includes receiving a plurality of additional pressure waves by the processor, the plurality of additional pressure waves being generated by the signal generator or one or more additional signal generators;

the pressure wave and the plurality of additional pressure waves together make a pattern of pressure waves including identifying information; and

the updating is based on the identifying information.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2015
From: ECHOLS, RALPH HARVEY, III; RICHARDS, WILLIAM MARK; HORNSBY, JOSHUA MAX; GARRISON, GREGORY WILLIAM; HO, JAMES
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034680/0453 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160273349A1 · Sep 22, 2016