Dynamically automated adjustable downhole conveyance technique for an interventional application

Abstract

A method for conveying an interventional tool downhole in a substantially self-piloting fashion. The method includes moving the tool in the well while using a communicative conveyance line coupled to a winch at the oilfield surface. Thus, real-time readings regarding downhole tool speed, line tension, etc. may be analyzed at surface and utilized to adjust the moving of the tool in an ongoing feedback loop. As a result, the adjustments are made based on true circumstances downhole as opposed to surface-based readings which may otherwise be less accurate. Therefore, efficiency of the operations may be maximized, operator time freed and the likelihood of catastrophic line based failures reduced.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of conveying an interventional tool into a well from an oilfield surface, the method comprising:
 positioning a communicative conveyance line from a surface drive system at an oilfield surface within the well with the tool coupled thereto;   placing the tool and the surface drive system in communication with a control assembly;   moving the tool in the well with the control assembly in communication with the tool and the surface drive system;   acquiring readings relative at least one of the well and the tool from within the well;   analyzing the readings with the control assembly in real-time; and   automatically adjusting one of operation of the surface drive system, moving of the tool in the well, and operation of the tool in the well based on the analysis of the readings.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 re-acquiring real-time readings relative one of the well, the conveyance line and the tool from within the well; 
 analyzing the re-acquired readings at the surface control assembly; and 
 automatically re-adjusting one of operation of the surface drive system and moving of the tool in the well based on the analysis of the re-acquired readings. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the readings from within the well are readings related to one of line speed, line tension, tool speed, tool depth, and tool location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising performing an interventional application in the well with the tool. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising acquiring readings relative at least one of the surface drive system and the conveyance line. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising initiating a withdrawal of the tool from the well with a reel of the surface drive system, said automatically adjusting one of operation of the surface drive system and movement of the tool, and further comprising one of slowing down and stopping of the reel in response to an acquired reading of line tension in the well exceeding a pre-determined level. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said adjusting one of operation of the surface drive system and moving the tool substantially aligns a speed of a reel of the surface drive system with a speed of the moving tool in the well. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said moving the tool in the well comprises moving the tool in a downhole or uphole direction according to a pre-programmed protocol, the analyzed acquired readings from within the well indicating one of lower line tension and lower tool speed as compared to the protocol, and automatically adjusting of the movement comprising one of increasing downhole tool speed and reducing a rate of deployment of the line into the well. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said moving of the tool in the well comprises one of moving the tool in the downhole direction by one of gravity, force at the surface, tractoring and pumping down fluid into the well. 
     
     
         10 . A method of self-piloting an interventional tool through a well adjacent an oilfield surface, the method comprising:
 positioning the tool in the well with a conveyance line coupled thereto running from a winch at the surface;   operating the winch at surface;   moving the tool in the well;   acquiring real-time readings at a control assembly from within the well through the line during at least one of operating the winch and moving the tool; and   automatically adjusting operation of the winch and moving the tool based on analysis of the readings by the control assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said operating the winch contributes to moving the tool. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein moving the tool is aided by one of a tractor and a pumping down of fluid into the well. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein acquiring real-time readings and analysis thereof comprises acquiring and analyzing the readings with an acquisition unit of the control assembly and wherein operating the winch is directed by a control unit of the surface control assembly obtaining instruction from the acquisition unit for said automatically adjusting. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the readings from within the well are readings related to one of line speed, line tension, tool speed, tool depth, and tool location. 
     
     
         15 . A system for dynamically and automatically adjusting an interventional conveyance application in a well based on readings from within the well during the application, the system comprising:
 a control assembly;   a surface drive system communicatively coupled to the control assembly;   a tool for performing an interventional application in the well;   a communicative conveyance line coupled to the tool and the surface drive system; and   a sensor of the tool or the line for obtaining the readings.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said sensor is selected from a group consisting of a tension sensor, a shock sensing accelerometer, a casing collar locator, a gamma ray sensor, a deviation sensor, a velocity sensor, a pressure sensor, a borehole caliper sensor, and a compression sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said communicative conveyance line is selected from a group consisting of slickline, wireline, coiled tubing and drill pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said communicative conveyance line is a fiber optic line. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor provided by fiber optics of the line. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the sensor comprises an electrical resonating diaphragm coupled to said line.