Downhole Tool Deployment Measurement Method and Apparatus

Abstract

In one aspect, an apparatus for conveying a tool while drilling a wellbore is provided. The apparatus includes a line coupled to the tool, a conveying assembly coupled to the line, the conveying assembly located at a surface and configured to release the line to convey the tool into the drill string and a sub including a passage for the line to pass therethrough. The apparatus also includes a measuring device configured to determine a position of the tool within the drill string by determining a length of the line that is conveyed along with the tool into the drill string.

1 . An apparatus for conveying downhole a tool while drilling a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
 a line coupled to the tool;   a conveying assembly coupled to the line, the conveying assembly located at a surface and configured to release the line to convey the tool into a drill string;   a sub comprising a passage for the line to pass therethrough; and   a measuring device configured to determine a position of the tool within the drill string by determining a length of the line that is conveyed along with the tool into the drill string.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conveying assembly uses gravity to convey the tool to a first location in the drill string and pumps a drilling fluid to convey the tool from the first location to a second location. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second location is proximate a top portion of a bottom hole assembly positioned at a first end of a drill string in the wellbore. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the sub is positioned at a second end of the drill string. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring device is configured to determine a speed of the tool as it is conveyed into the wellbore. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conveying assembly is configured to convey the tool to a bottomhole assembly that acquires measurements-while-drilling data or logging-while-drilling data. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is configured to acquire formation evaluation data while a bottomhole assembly is downhole of the tool, and wherein the tool does not communicate with the surface after it is placed in the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sub is proximate the surface. 
     
     
         9 . A method for conveying a tool into a drill string, the method comprising:
 forming the wellbore with a bottomhole assembly coupled to an end of the drill string;   conveying the tool into the drill string, the tool being coupled to one end of a line coupled to an assembly at a surface, wherein conveying comprises allowing the tool to free fall to a first location in the drill string;   pumping the tool from the first location to a second location in the drill string; and   determining a position of the tool within the drill string by measuring a length of the line that is conveyed along with the tool into the drill string.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein pumping the tool comprises pumping the tool from the first location to the second location wherein the second location is proximate a top of the bottomhole assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein allowing the tool to free fall to the first location in the drill string comprises allowing the tool to free fall to a location where a friction overcomes a gravitational force on the tool, thereby causing the tool to stop at the first location. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein pumping comprises pumping fluid to overcome the friction to the second location. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein conveying the tool into the drill string comprises passing the line through a passage in a sub at the surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining the position of the tool comprises determining the position and velocity of the tool between the surface and the second location. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein conveying the tool into the drill string comprises conveying the tool while a bottomhole assembly is downhole of the tool. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for conveying a tool while drilling a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
 a line coupled to the tool;   a conveying assembly coupled to the line, the conveying assembly located at a surface and configured to release the line to convey the tool into a drill string to a selected location proximate a bottomhole assembly;   a sub at the surface comprising a passage for the line to pass therethrough; and   a measuring device configured to determine a position of the tool between the surface and the selected location within the drill string by determining a length of the line that is conveyed along with the tool into the drill string, wherein the tool does not communicate with the surface when the tool is in the wellbore.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the conveying assembly uses gravity to convey the tool to a first location in the drill string and comprises a source to pump drilling fluid to convey the tool from the first location to the selected location. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the measuring device is configured to determine a speed of the tool as it is conveyed into the wellbore. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the bottomhole assembly is configured to acquire measurements-while-drilling data or logging-while-drilling data. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the tool is configured to acquire formation evaluation data while the bottomhole assembly is downhole of the tool.