Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring wellbore conditions

Abstract

A method includes releasing a flow device into a wellbore to travel towards a target device that is positioned in the wellbore and that is actuated by the flow device, monitoring for communications transmitted by the flow device. The method further includes identifying a condition of the wellbore from the communications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a wellbore environment, the method comprising:
 releasing a flow device into a wellbore to travel towards a target device that is positioned in the wellbore and that is actuated by the flow device;   monitoring for communications transmitted by the flow device; and   identifying at least one condition of the wellbore from the communications.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one condition comprises a level of obstruction of the wellbore derived from a location of the flow device indicated by the communications. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communications comprise characteristics of the wellbore sensed by the flow device while traveling towards the target device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 monitoring for subsequent communications transmitted by the flow device indicative of the flow device having arrived at the target device; and   upon detecting the subsequent communications, actuating the target device with the flow device by seating the flow device against a landing coupled to the target device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the flow device comprises a drop ball, wherein the target device comprises a valve, and wherein the landing comprises a valve seat. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the flow device comprises a drop ball, wherein the target device comprises a downhole tool, and wherein seating the drop ball against the landing allows an application of hydraulic pressure to the downhole tool. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 prior to releasing the flow device into the wellbore, releasing at least one other flow device into the wellbore; and   monitoring for communications transmitted by the at least one other flow device while traveling towards the target device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 prior to releasing the flow device into the wellbore, releasing at least one other flow device into the wellbore, wherein the communications from the flow device comprise communications from the at least one other flow device that are relayed by the flow device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring for the communications transmitted by the flow device comprises monitoring for communications transmitted by each of a plurality of components of the flow device separated from each other upon the flow device reaching the target device. 
     
     
         10 . A flow device for deployment in a wellbore environment, the flow device comprising:
 a shell encasing a plurality of components; and   the plurality of components comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of the wellbore environment; 
 a processing system configured to generate communications based on the characteristic; and 
 an interface system configured to transmit the communications. 
   
     
     
         11 . The flow device of  claim 10 , wherein the interface system is configured to relay communications received from at least one other flow device. 
     
     
         12 . A system for monitoring a wellbore environment, the system comprising:
 a device release assembly configured to release a flow device into a wellbore to travel towards a target device that is positioned in the wellbore and that is actuatable by the flow device; and   a wellbore communication system configured to monitor for communications transmitted by the flow device and identify at least one condition of the wellbore from the communications.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one condition of the wellbore comprises a level of obstruction of the wellbore. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , the system further comprising:
 the flow device, wherein the flow device is configured to sense characteristics of the wellbore, generate the communications based on the characteristics, and transmit the communications while traveling towards the target device.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , the system further comprising:
 the target device comprising a landing, wherein the target device is actuated with the flow device by seating the flow device against the landing on the target device.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the flow device comprises a drop ball, wherein the target device comprises a valve, and wherein the landing comprises a valve seat. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the flow device comprises a drop ball, wherein the target device comprises a downhole tool, and wherein seating the drop ball against the landing allows an application of hydraulic pressure to the downhole tool. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the wellbore communication system is configured to monitor for subsequent communications transmitted by the flow device indicative of the flow device having arrived at the target device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the device release assembly is further configured to, prior to release of the flow device into the wellbore, release at least one other flow device into the wellbore; and   the wellbore communication system is further configured to monitor for communications transmitted by the at least one other flow device while traveling towards the target device.   
     
     
         20 . A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause a processing system to perform a method comprising:
 monitoring for communications transmitted by a flow device released into a wellbore to travel towards a target device that is positioned in the wellbore and that is actuated by the flow device; and   processing the communications to identify at least one condition of the wellbore.   
     
     
         21 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one condition of the wellbore comprises a level of obstruction in the wellbore.