Systems and methods for limiting winch overrun

Abstract

A retrieval system for a wireline drilling system having a winch, a wireline rope connected to the winch, and a core sampler connected to the wireline rope. The retrieval system includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder and a controller that, in response to receiving a wireless signal from the RFID transponder, automatically adjusts a speed at which the winch retrieves the core sampler.

1 . A retrieval system for retrieving a core sampler of a wireline drilling system from a drill string, the retrieval system comprising:
 a winch comprising a winch drum, the winch drum being configured for selective rotation about a rotation axis;   a wireline rope at least partially wound around the winch drum of the winch such that, upon rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis in a first direction, the wireline rope is further wound around the winch drum and retracted away from the drill string along a drilling axis;   a retrieval tool connected to a leading portion of the wireline rope, the retrieval tool being configured for operative coupling to the core sampler;   a radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder coupled to the wireline rope at a selected location along the drilling axis, the RFID transponder being configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the location of the RFID transponder; and   an RFID antenna and reader assembly configured to receive the wireless signal from the RFID transponder; and   a controller in operative communication with the RFID antenna and reader assembly and the winch, wherein, in response to receiving the wireless signal, the controller is configured to automatically adjust the speed of rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis in the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the retrieval system further comprises a housing enclosing at least a portion of the RFID transponder, the housing being connected to the wireline rope at the selected location. 
     
     
         3 . The retrieval system of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a clamp configured to permit operative coupling to the wireline rope at the selected location. 
     
     
         4 . The retrieval system of  claim 2 , wherein the retrieval device comprises an overshot connected to the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The retrieval system of  claim 2 , wherein the retrieval device comprises an overshot and an overshot adaptor, wherein the overshot adaptor is connected to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireline rope is at least partially wound around the winch drum of the winch such that, upon rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis in a second, opposed direction, the wireline rope is unwound from the winch drum and advanced into the drill string along the drilling axis. 
     
     
         7 . The retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to receiving the first wireless signal, the controller is configured to automatically reduce the speed of rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis in the first direction. 
     
     
         8 . The retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to receiving the first wireless signal, the controller is configured to stop rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis. 
     
     
         9 . The retrieval system of  claim 1 , wherein the selected location of the RFID transponder is spaced from the winch by a first distance along the drilling axis, wherein the selected location of the RFID transponder is spaced from the core sampler by a second distance along the drilling axis, and wherein the first distance is shorter than the second distance. 
     
     
         10 . The retrieval system of  claim 4 , wherein the RFID transponder is connected to the overshot. 
     
     
         11 . The retrieval system of  claim 5 , wherein the RFID transponder is connected to the overshot adaptor. 
     
     
         12 . A retrieval system for retrieving a core sampler of a wireline drilling system from a drill string, the retrieval system comprising:
 a winch comprising a winch drum, the winch drum being configured for selective rotation about a rotation axis;   a wireline rope at least partially wound around the winch drum of the winch such that, upon rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis in a first direction, the wireline rope is further wound around the winch drum and retracted away from the drill string along a drilling axis;   an overshot connected to a leading portion of the wireline rope;   an overshot adaptor connected to the overshot, the overshot adaptor being configured for operative coupling to the core sampler;   at least one radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder coupled to the wireline rope at a selected location along the drilling axis, each RFID transponder of the at least one RFID transponder being configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the location of the RFID transponder; and   an RFID antenna and reader assembly configured to receive the respective wireless signals from the at least one RFID transponder; and   a controller in operative communication with the RFID antenna and reader assembly and the winch, wherein, in response to receiving the respective wireless signals from the at least one RFID transponder, the controller is configured to automatically adjust the speed of rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis in the first direction.   
     
     
         13 . The retrieval system of  claim 12 , wherein, in response to receiving the respective wireless signals from the at least one RFID transponder, the controller is configured to automatically reduce the speed of rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis in the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The retrieval system of  claim 12 , wherein, in response to receiving the respective wireless signals from the at least one RFID transponder, the controller is configured to stop rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis. 
     
     
         15 . The retrieval system of  claim 12 , wherein the selected location of the at least one RFID transponder is spaced from the winch by a first distance along the drilling axis, wherein the selected location is spaced from the core sampler by a second distance along the drilling axis, and wherein the first distance is shorter than the second distance. 
     
     
         16 . The retrieval system of  claim 12 , wherein each RFID transponder of the at least one RFID transponder is connected to the overshot adaptor. 
     
     
         17 . The retrieval system of  claim 12 , wherein the overshot adaptor defines a plurality of passageways, and wherein each transponder of the at least one RFID transponder is positioned within a respective passageway of the overshot adaptor. 
     
     
         18 . A method for retrieving a core sampler of a wireline drilling system from a drill string, the method comprising:
 providing a wireline rope at least partially wound around a winch drum of a winch;   coupling a radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder to the wireline rope at a selected location along a drilling axis;   operatively coupling a retrieval tool to a leading end of the wireline rope;   selectively rotating the winch drum in a first direction about a rotation axis such that the wireline rope is unwound from the winch drum and the leading end of the wireline rope is advanced into the drill string along the drilling axis;   operatively coupling the retrieval tool to the core sampler;   selectively rotating the winch drum in an opposed, second direction about the rotation axis such that the wireline rope is wound onto the winch drum and the wireline rope is retracted from the drill string along the drilling axis;   through a controller in operative communication with the winch drum, receiving a wireless signal from the RFID transponder indicative of the location of the RFID transponder; and   through the controller, automatically adjusting the speed of rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis in the second direction.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of automatically adjusting the speed of rotation of the winch drum comprises automatically decreasing the speed of rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis in the second direction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of automatically adjusting the speed of rotation of the winch drum comprises stopping the rotation of the winch drum about the rotation axis.