System and method for detecting a position of a cutter blade for a casing cutter

Abstract

A casing cutting system including a tubular having a first end, a second end, an inner surface defining a passage extending between the first end and the second end, an outer surface, and a window extending through the inner surface and the outer surface. A deployment member is mounted in the passage. A plurality of cutter blades is arranged in the passage at the window. The plurality of cutter blades is pivotally mounted to the deployment member. A sensor is operatively coupled to the deployment member. The sensor is operable sense an amount of travel of each of the plurality of cutters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A casing cutting system comprising:
 a tubular including a first end, a second end, an inner surface defining a passage extending between the first end and the second end, an outer surface, and a window extending through the inner surface and the outer surface;   a deployment member mounted in the passage;   a plurality of cutter blades arranged in the passage at the window, the plurality of cutter blades being pivotally mounted to the deployment member; and   a sensor operatively coupled to the deployment member, the sensor being operable sense an amount of travel of each of the plurality of cutters.   
     
     
         2 . The casing cutting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the deployment member is shiftable along the passage to rotate the plurality of cutter blades, the sensor detecting a displacement of the deployment member to measure the amount of travel. 
     
     
         3 . The casing cutting system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a carrier element separated from the deployment member by an activation volume, the carrier element being fixedly mounted in the passage and including one or more openings fluidically connecting the activation volume with a source of fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The casing cutting system according to  claim 3 , wherein the sensor includes a first sensor element mounted to the deployment member and a second sensor element mounted to the carrier element. 
     
     
         5 . The casing cutting system according to  claim 4 , wherein the first sensor element comprises one of a magnet and a metallic element and the second sensor element comprises another of the magnet and the metallic element. 
     
     
         6 . The casing cutting system according to  claim 5 , wherein the first sensor element comprises the magnet and the second sensor element comprises the metallic element. 
     
     
         7 . The casing cutting system according to  claim 6 , wherein the magnet comprises a ring magnet embedded in the deployment member and a metallic rod extending from the carrier member through the ring magnet. 
     
     
         8 . A resource exploration and recovery system comprising:
 a surface system;   a subsurface system including a casing tubular; and   a tubular string extending from the first system into the casing tubular, the tubular string including a casing cutting system comprising:
 a tubular including a first end, a second end, an inner surface defining a passage extending between the first end and the second end, an outer surface, and a window extending through the inner surface and the outer surface; 
 a deployment member mounted in the passage; 
 a plurality of cutters arranged in the passage at the window, the plurality of cutter blades being pivotally mounted to the deployment member; and 
 a sensor operatively coupled to the deployment member, the sensor being operable sense an amount of travel of each of the plurality of cutters. 
   
     
     
         9 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 8 , wherein the deployment member is shiftable along the passage to rotate the plurality of cutter blades, the sensor detecting a displacement of the deployment member to measure the amount of travel. 
     
     
         10 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 8 , further comprising: a carrier element separated from the deployment member by an activation volume, the carrier element being fixedly mounted in the passage and including one or more openings fluidically connecting the activation volume with a source of fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 10 , wherein the sensor includes a first sensor element mounted to the deployment member and a second sensor element mounted to the carrier element. 
     
     
         12 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first sensor element comprises one of a magnet and a metallic element and the second sensor element comprises another of the magnet and the metallic element. 
     
     
         13 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first sensor element comprises the magnet and the second sensor element comprises the metallic element. 
     
     
         14 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 13 , wherein the magnet comprises a ring magnet embedded in the deployment member and a metallic rod extending from the carrier member through the ring magnet. 
     
     
         15 . A method of determining cutter blade position in a casing cutter system comprising:
 positioning the casing cutter system at a select location along a casing tubular;   providing an activation stimulus to a deployment member;   rotating a plurality of cutter blades outwardly into contact with the casing tubular; and   measuring an amount of rotation of the plurality of cutter blades.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: sending the amount of rotation to a surface system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein measuring the amount of rotation includes sensing an axial displacement of the deployment member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein sensing the amount of displacement includes detecting an amount of movement of a first sensor element relative to a second sensor element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein detecting the amount of movement includes sensing a change in induction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein sensing the change in induction includes sensing energy at a metallic element passing through a magnet mounted to the deployment member.