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EP-4735736-A1 - MAGNETIC FIELD-BASED IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR MINIATURIZED DOWNHOLE SENSOR

EP4735736A1EP 4735736 A1EP4735736 A1EP 4735736A1EP-4735736-A1

Abstract

A system includes a drilling microchip (200), a mud return line (210), a magnetic sensor, and a computer system. The drilling microchip (200) has a magnet and is configured to be pumped into the drill string (108) and up the annulus (208) using the drilling fluid (108) to obtain data about the well (202). The mud return line (210) is hydraulically connected to the annulus (208) of the well (202) and a shale shaker (212). The magnetic sensor is connected to the shale shaker (212) and has a detection range. The magnetic sensor is configured to interact with the magnet to indicate a presence of the drilling microchip (200) in the detection range. The computer system is electronically connected to the microchip detector. The magnetic sensor is configured to send a signal to the computer system upon indication of the presence of the drilling microchip (200).

Inventors

  • ALABDULKARIM, Abdullah
  • ALKHALDI, Yara, H.
  • ALGHAMDI, Faisal
  • ALBAHESH, Fawaz, M.
  • LI, BODONG

Assignees

  • Saudi Arabian Oil Company

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240618

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A system for a well (202) having a drill string (108), an annulus (208), and a drilling fluid (504), the system comprising: a drilling microchip (200) having a magnet (312) and configured to be pumped into the drill string (108) and up the annulus (208) using the drilling fluid (504) to obtain data about the well (202); a mud return line (210) hydraulically connected to the annulus (208) of the well and a shale shaker (212); a magnetic sensor (400) connected to the shale shaker (212) and having a detection range (512), wherein the magnetic sensor (400) is configured to interact with the magnet (312) to indicate a presence of the drilling microchip (200) in the detection range (512); and a computer system (602) electronically connected to the magnetic sensor (400), wherein the magnetic sensor (400) is configured to send a signal to the computer system (602) upon indication of the presence of the drilling microchip (200).
  2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) is mounted on a bracket (402) connected to the shale shaker (212).
  3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) comprises a single strip sensor mounted to the bracket (402).
  4. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) comprises a plurality of individual sensors mounted to the bracket (402).
  5. 5. The system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) comprises a digital switching magnetic sensor.
  6. 6. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) comprises an analog magnetic sensor.
  7. 7. The system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) comprises a passive magnetic sensor.
  8. 8. The system of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the magnet (312) comprises an AlNiCo magnet.
  9. 9. The system of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the magnet (312) comprises a Neodymium magnet.
  10. 10. The system of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the magnet (312) comprises a SmCo magnet.
  11. 11. A method for a well (202) having a drill string (108), an annulus (208), and a drilling fluid (504), the method comprising: pumping a drilling microchip (200), having a magnet (312), into the drill string (108) and up the annulus (208) of the well (202) using the drilling fluid (504); measuring and storing data about the well (202) using the drilling microchip (504); pumping the drilling microchip (504) out of the well (202) to a shale shaker (212) using a mud return line (210); indicating a presence of the drilling microchip (200) in a detection range (512) of a magnetic sensor (400) by having an interaction between the magnetic sensor (400) and the magnet (312), wherein the magnetic sensor (400) is connected to the shale shaker (212); and sending a signal from the magnetic sensor (400) to a computer system (602) upon indication of the presence of the drilling microchip (200).
  12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) is mounted on a bracket (402) connected to the shale shaker (212).
  13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) comprises a single strip sensor mounted to the bracket (402).
  14. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) comprises a plurality of individual sensors mounted to the bracket (402).
  15. 15. The method of any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) comprises a digital switching magnetic sensor.
  16. 16. The method of any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) comprises an analog magnetic sensor.
  17. 17. The method of any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the magnetic sensor (400) comprises a passive magnetic sensor.
  18. 18. The method of any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the magnet (312) comprises an AlNiCo magnet.
  19. 19. The method of any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the magnet (312) comprises a Neodymium magnet.
  20. 20. The method of any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein the magnet (312) comprises a SmCo magnet.

Description

MAGNETIC FIELD-BASED IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR MINIATURIZED DOWNHOLE SENSOR BACKGROUND [0001] Hydrocarbons are located in porous rock formations beneath the surface of the Earth. Wells are drilled into these formations to access and produce the hydrocarbons. Wells are drilled using a drill string having a drill bit. The drill string breaks away rock and drilling fluid removes the rock from the reservoir. Wells are supported by casing strings cemented in place in the wellbore. In order to safely and effectively drill and case a well, downhole data acquisition is required. Downhole data is acquired in a myriad of ways, however, current methods of obtaining downhole data are deficient. For example, current methods are used to estimate the data, are performed after a section of the well has been drilled, or only measure near-bit depth data. SUMMARY [0002] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. [0003] This disclosure presents, in accordance with one or more embodiments methods and systems fora well having a drill string, an annulus, and a drilling fluid. The system includes a drilling microchip, a mud return line, a magnetic sensor, and a computer system. The drilling microchip has a magnet and is configured to be pumped into the drill string and up the annulus using the drilling fluid to obtain data about the well. The mud return line is hydraulically connected to the annulus of the well and a shale shaker. The magnetic sensor is connected to the shale shaker and has a detection range. The magnetic sensor is configured to interact with the magnet to indicate a presence of the drilling microchip in the detection range. The computer system is electronically connected to the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor is configured to send a signal to the computer system upon indication of the presence of the drilling microchip. [0004] The method includes pumping a drilling microchip, having a magnet, into the drill string and up the annulus of the well using the drilling fluid, measuring and storing data about the well using the drilling microchip, and pumping the drilling microchip out of the well to a shale shaker using a mud return line. The method further includes indicating a presence of the drilling microchip in a detection range of a magnetic sensor by having an interaction between the magnetic sensor and the magnet, wherein the magnetic sensor is connected to the shale shaker, and sending a signal from the magnetic sensor to a computer system upon indication of the presence of the drilling microchip. [0005] Other aspects and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0006] Specific embodiments of the disclosed technology will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the various figures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some of these elements may be arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn are not necessarily intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawing. [0007] FIG. 1 shows an example well site in accordance with one or more embodiments. [0008] FIG. 2 shows the wellsite using a drilling microchip sensor system to measure and store downhole data of a well in accordance with one or more embodiments. [0009] FIG. 3 shows the drilling microchip in accordance with one or more embodiments. [0010] FIGs 4 and 5 show a magnetic sensor installed on a shale shaker in accordance with one or more embodiments. [0011] FIGs 6a - 6b show a drilling microchip recovery system in accordance with one or more embodiments. [0012] FIG. 7 shows a computer system in accordance with one or more embodiments. [0013] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart in accordance with one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] In the following detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description. [0015] Throughout the application, ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, thi