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EP-4735737-A1 - REMOTE DETECTION TECHNOLOGY BASED APPARATUS AND METHODOLOGY FOR MINIATURIZED SENSOR RECOVERY

EP4735737A1EP 4735737 A1EP4735737 A1EP 4735737A1EP-4735737-A1

Abstract

A system includes a drilling microchip (200), a mud return line (210), a microchip detector, and a computer system. The drilling microchip (200) has an identifier 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 (210) line is hydraulically connected to the annulus (208) of the well (202) and a shale shaker (212). The microchip detector is connected to the shale shaker (212) and has a detection range. The microchip detector is configured to interact with the identifier to indicate a presence of the drilling microchip (200) in the detection range. The computer system is electronically connected to the microchip detector. The microchip detector is configured to send a signal to the computer system upon indication of the presence of the drilling microchip (200).

Inventors

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

Assignees

  • Saudi Arabian Oil Company

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240621

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 an identifier 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 microchip detector (500) connected to the shale shaker (212) and having a detection range (512), wherein the microchip detector (500) is configured to interact with the identifier to indicate a presence of the drilling microchip (200) in the detection range (512); and a computer system (602) electronically connected to the microchip detector (500), wherein the microchip detector (500) 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 microchip detector (500) comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver configured to generate electrical signals.
  3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the identifier comprises a RFID chip (312) having a circuit (316) and an antenna (318).
  4. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the antenna (318) is configured to convert the electrical signals to electromagnetic radio-frequency energy.
  5. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the RFID chip (312) is configured to use the electromagnetic radio-frequency energy to activate the RFID chip (312) to send a signal indicating the presence of the drilling microchip (200) to the RFID transceiver.
  6. 6. The system of claim 3, wherein the RFID chip (312) comprises a battery (320).
  7. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the RFID chip (312) is configured to use energy from the battery (320) to send a signal indicating the presence of the drilling microchip (200) to the RFID transceiver.
  8. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the microchip detector (500) comprises an electronic antenna configured to emit and receive electromagnetic waves.
  9. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the identifier comprises an electronic tag (400) configured to act as a transmitter of electromagnetic waves.
  10. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic antenna is configured to receive electromagnetic waves from the electronic tag (400) to indicate the presence of the drilling microchip (200).
  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 an identifier, into the drill string (108) and up the annulus (208) of the well using the drilling fluid (504); measuring and storing data about the well (202) using the drilling microchip (200); pumping the drilling microchip (200) 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 of a microchip detector (500) by having an interaction between the microchip detector (500) and the identifier, wherein the microchip detector (500) is connected to the shale shaker (212); and sending a signal from the microchip detector (500) to a computer system (602) upon indication of the presence of the drilling microchip (200).
  12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the microchip detector (500) comprises a RFID transceiver configured to generate electrical signals.
  13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifier comprises a RFID chip (312) having a circuit (316) and an antenna (318).
  14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein indicating the presence of the drilling microchip (200) in the detection range of the microchip detector (500) comprises converting the electrical signals to electromagnetic radio-frequency energy.
  15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein indicating the presence of the drilling microchip (200) in the detection range of the microchip detector (500) comprises using the electromagnetic radiofrequency energy to activate the RFID chip (312) to send a signal indicating the presence of the drilling microchip (200) to the RFID transceiver.
  16. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the RFID chip (312) comprises a battery (320).
  17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein indicating the presence of the drilling microchip (200) in the detection range of the microchip detector (500) comprises using energy from the battery (320) to send a signal indicating the presence of the drilling microchip (200) to the RFID transceiver.
  18. 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the microchip detector (500) comprises an electronic antenna configured to emit and receive electromagnetic waves.
  19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the identifier comprises an electronic tag (400) configured to act as a transmitter of electromagnetic waves.
  20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein indicating the presence of the drilling microchip (200) in the detection range of the microchip detector (500) comprises receiving, at the electronic antenna, electromagnetic waves from the electronic tag (400).

Description

REMOTE DETECTION TECHNOLOGY BASED APPARATUS AND METHODOLOGY FOR MINIATURIZED SENSOR RECOVERY 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 for a well having a drill string, an annulus, and a drilling fluid. The system includes a drilling microchip, a mud return line, a microchip detector, and a computer system. The drilling microchip has an identifier 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 microchip detector is connected to the shale shaker and has a detection range. The microchip detector is configured to interact with the identifier to indicate a presence of the drilling microchip in the detection range. The computer system is electronically connected to the microchip detector. The microchip detector 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 an identifier, 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 microchip detector by having an interaction between the microchip detector and the identifier, wherein the microchip detector is connected to the shale shaker, and sending a signal from the microchip detector 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] FIGs 3 and 4 show the drilling microchip in accordance with one or more embodiments. [0010] FIGs 5a and 5b show a drilling microchip recovery system in accordance with one or more embodiments. [0011] FIG. 6 shows a computer system in accordance with one or more embodiments. [0012] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart in accordance with one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0013] 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. [0014] Throughout the application, ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) may be used as an adjective for an e