Drop & retrieve tool carrier

Abstract

A tool carrier has been designed to lower tools into the borehole that will be “heavier” than the displaced wellbore fluid on the drop configuration, but “lighter” than the wellbore fluid on the retrieve configuration. Thus, conveyance down the hole by gravity is how the carrier conveys tools into the hole. The tool may thus be conveyed without wireline and during periods of shut-in. Then at some event (i.e. pressure, temperature, time, depth, etc.), the carrier transforms to the retrieve configuration by ejecting enough mass that the carrier and any attached tools become “net lighter” than the displaced wellbore fluid, and so begin to float to surface. Once the surface is reached the tool carrier and tool may be retrieved.

1 . An apparatus for use in a wellbore comprising:
 a cylinder with compressed gas and dense fluid, a battery; and   one or more tools used to measure conditions in a wellbore,   wherein said apparatus descends until said dense fluid is ejected and the compressed gas is expanded, said apparatus ascending when said dense fluid is ejected.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tool is selected from a thermocouple, pressure meter, flow meter, thermometer, ohm meter, resistivity meter, video camera, pH meter, an agitator or vibrator, an acoustic tool, cutter, milling, used for sampling, measurement of fluid properties, verifying casing tubing or cement, measuring reservoir properties, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus measures total depth, pressure, temperature, resistivity, pH, ionic concentration, hydrocarbon content, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a weight or component that is released at the bottom of the descent. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is inserted into a wellbore during a shut in period. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is inserted into a wellbore during a well treatment selected from fracturing, washing, cementing, descaling, acid treatment, surfactant, tracer, and the like. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cylinder is expanded with a spring, solenoid, piston, motor, or other mechanical assistance. 
     
     
         8 . A method to measure conditions in a wellbore comprising:
 placing in a wellbore an apparatus comprising:
 a cylinder with compressed gas and dense fluid, 
 a battery; and 
 one or more tools used to measure conditions in a wellbore; 
   allowing the apparatus to descend in said wellbore;   ejecting said dense fluid and expanding said compressed gas;   allowing the apparatus to ascend in said wellbore;   retrieving said apparatus; and   obtaining the conditions measured in said wellbore.   
     
     
         9 . The method of claim  9 , wherein said tool is selected from a thermocouple, pressure meter, flow meter, thermometer, ohm meter, resistivity meter, video camera, pH meter, an agitator or vibrator, an acoustic tool, cutter, milling, used for sampling, measurement of fluid properties, verifying casing tubing or cement, measuring reservoir properties, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said apparatus measures total depth, pressure, temperature, resistivity, pH, ionic concentration, hydrocarbon content, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said apparatus comprises a weight or component that is released at the bottom of the descent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said apparatus is inserted into a wellbore during a shut in period. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said apparatus is inserted into a wellbore during a well treatment selected from fracturing, washing, cementing, descaling, acid treatment, surfactant, tracer, and the like. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said cylinder is expanded with a spring, solenoid, piston, motor, or other mechanical assistance. 
     
     
         15 . A method to manage a hydrocarbon reservoir comprising:
 placing in a wellbore an apparatus comprising:
 a cylinder with compressed gas and dense fluid, 
 a battery; and 
 one or more tools used to measure conditions in a wellbore; 
   allowing the apparatus to descend in said wellbore;   ejecting said dense fluid and expanding said compressed gas;   allowing the apparatus to ascend in said wellbore;   retrieving said apparatus;   obtaining the conditions measured in said wellbore; and   adjusting one or more parameters of a wellbore.   
     
     
         16 . The method of claim  17 , wherein said tool is selected from a thermocouple, pressure meter, flow meter, thermometer, ohm meter, resistivity meter, video camera, pH meter, an agitator or vibrator, an acoustic tool, cutter, milling, used for sampling, measurement of fluid properties, verifying casing tubing or cement, measuring reservoir properties, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of claim  17 , wherein said apparatus measures total depth, pressure, temperature, resistivity, pH, ionic concentration, hydrocarbon content, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said apparatus comprises a weight or component that is released at the bottom of the descent. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said apparatus is inserted into a wellbore during a shut in period. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said apparatus is inserted into a wellbore during a well treatment selected from fracturing, washing, cementing, descaling, acid treatment, surfactant, tracer, and the like. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said cylinder is expanded with a spring, solenoid, piston, motor, or other mechanical assistance.