Activation mode control of oilfield tools

Abstract

Switching a downhole tool between a first operation mode, a second operation mode, and a third operation mode, operation modes may include a sleep mode in which the downhole tool consumes less energy, a twilight mode in which the downhole tool consumes more energy than in sleep mode and/or may perform limited functions, and an awake mode in which the downhole tool consumes more energy than in the sleep mode or in the twilight mode and may perform additional tool functions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a downhole tool, comprising:
 generating a first signal;   detecting the first signal using at least one sensor;   switching the downhole tool to a first operating mode in response to detecting the first signal;   generating a second signal;   detecting the second signal using the at least one sensor; and   switching the downhole tool to a second operating mode in response to detecting the second signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first operating mode comprises an awake mode, wherein the downhole tool has an increased energy consumption in the awake mode than in the second operating mode. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second operating mode comprises a sleep mode, wherein the downhole tool consumes less energy in the sleep mode than in the first operating mode. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the downhole tool further comprises an actuator, wherein the actuator is disabled during sleep mode. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a third signal;   detecting the third signal using the at least one sensor;   switching the downhole tool to a third operating mode in response to detecting the third signal;   wherein the first operating mode comprises a twilight mode; wherein the downhole tool in the twilight mode consumes energy at a lower rate than in the second operating mode and consumes energy at a higher rate than in the third operating mode.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the downhole tool must switch from first operating mode to second operating mode, before switching from second operating mode to third operating mode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein switching the downhole tool to the third operating mode in response to detecting the third signal, further comprises switching from twilight mode to the third operating mode. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first signal comprises a change of a temperature, pressure, flow rate, acoustic, magnetic field, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the first signal comprises detecting a change in electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the first signal comprises detecting a change in temperature field. 
     
     
         11 . A system for operating a downhole tool, comprising:
 a downhole tool, comprising   a sensor configured to detect at the signal;   a controller connected to the sensor and an actuator; and   an actuator; wherein the actuator is configured to perform a first tool action in response to the sensor detecting the signal;   an energy source connected to at least one of the controller, the actuator, and the sensor; and   at least one source for creating the signal.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal comprises a predetermined change in electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal comprises a predetermined change in temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator is configured to perform a second tool action in response to the sensor detecting a second signal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first tool action comprises switching the downhole tool to a first operating mode, and wherein the second tool action comprises switching the downhole tool to a second operating mode. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first operating mode comprises a sleep mode in which the downhole tool consumes less power than in the second operating mode. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the second operating mode comprises an awake mode in which the downhole tool consumes more power than in the first operating mode. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is capable of detecting a change in temperature, pressure, fluid flow rate, acoustics, electromagnetic field, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A method for operating a downhole tool, comprising:
 generating a first signal   detecting the first signal using at least one sensor;   switching the downhole tool to a twilight operating mode in response to detecting the first signal;   generating a second signal;   detecting the second signal using the at least one sensor; and   switching the downhole tool to an awake operating mode in response to detecting the second signal;   generating a third signal;   detecting the third signal using the at least one sensor;   switching the downhole tool to a sleep operating mode in response to detecting the third signal;   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the downhole tool performs an active tool function in active mode, and wherein the downhole tool performs a twilight tool function in twilight mode.