Selective Magnetic Positioning Tool

{
  "publication_number": "US2016208580A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Selective Magnetic Positioning Tool",
  "abstract": "An actuation device comprises a housing, and a plurality of permanent magnets disposed about the housing. The plurality of permanent magnets is configured to selectively transition between a first position and a second position. The plurality of permanent magnets is configured to provide a stronger magnetic field strength outside the housing than inside the housing in the first position, and wherein the plurality of permanent magnets is configured to provide a stronger magnetic field strength inside the housing than outside the housing in the second.",
  "claims": [
    "1. Claims (22)",
    "2. What is claimed is: An actuation device, comprising:",
    "4. a housing; and",
    "5. a plurality of permanent magnets disposed about the housing, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets is configured to selectively transition between a first position and a second position, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets is configured to provide a stronger magnetic field strength outside the housing than inside the housing in the first position, and wherein the plurality of permanent magnets is configured to provide a stronger magnetic field strength inside the housing than outside the housing in the second position. The actuation device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are configured in a Halbach Array. The actuation device of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member coupled to the plurality of magnets, wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the plurality of permanent magnets towards the first position. The actuation device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of permanent magnets are configured to rotate to selectively transition between the first position and the second position. The actuation device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of permanent magnets are configured to axially translate to selectively transition between the first position and the second position.",
    "6. The actuation device of claim 1, further comprising at least one motor and a plurality of gear mechanisms linked to the plurality of permanent magnets, wherein the at least one motor is coupled to the plurality of gear mechanisms, and wherein the at least one motor is configured to rotate the plurality of permanent magnets using the plurality of gear mechanisms.",
    "7. The actuation device of claim 1, further comprising:",
    "12. a driving member configured to axially translate in response to an applied force; and",
    "13. a gear mechanism coupled to one or more of the plurality of permanent magnets, wherein the gear mechanism is configured to rotate the one or more of the plurality of permanent magnets in response to an axial translation of the driving member. The actuation device of claim 7, wherein the applied force comprises a pressure force, a mechanical force, an electro-mechanical force, or any combination thereof. A magnetic positioning tool system, comprising:",
    "16. a magnetic positioning tool disposed within an outer mandrel, wherein the magnetic positioning tool comprises:",
    "17. a housing; and",
    "18. a plurality of magnets disposed about the housing, wherein the plurality of magnets are configured to selectively transition between a first position and a second position; and",
    "19. an actuable component operably associated with the outer mandrel, wherein the magnetic positioning tool is configured to actuate the actuable component based on transitioning the plurality of magnets from the first position to the second position. The magnetic positioning tool system of claim 9, wherein the actuable component comprises a sliding sleeve disposed about the outer mandrel, wherein the sliding sleeve is configured to magnetically couple to the plurality of magnets when the plurality of magnets are in the second position. The magnetic positioning tool system of claim 10, wherein the sliding sleeve is configured not to couple with the plurality of magnets when the plurality of magnets are in the first position. The magnetic positioning tool system of claim 9, wherein the actuable component comprises a locking mechanism engaging the outer mandrel and a sliding sleeve. The magnetic positioning tool system of claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to retain the sliding sleeve in position, and wherein the locking mechanism is configured to release the sliding sleeve for axial movement in response to the plurality of magnets transitioning to the second position. The magnetic positioning tool system of claim 9, further comprising:",
    "25. a magnetic sensor, wherein the magnetic sensor is configured to detect the position of the plurality of magnets and generate a signal in response to the plurality of magnets being in the second position; and",
    "26. a controller, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the actuable component based on the signal. The magnetic positioning tool system of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to open a valve, close a valve, activate a hydrostatic chamber to shift a sleeve open, activate a hydrostatic chamber to shift a sleeve closed, set a hydraulic packer, or release a compaction joint in response to the signal. The magnetic positioning tool system of claim 14, wherein the magnetic sensor is configured to indicate at least of the direction the magnetic positioning tool system is traveling, the time the magnetic tool system passes one or more permanent magnets, or the number of permanent magnets the magnetic positioning tool system passes. The magnetic positioning tool system of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the actuatable component when the controller receives the signal from the magnetic sensor or after a time delay after the controller receives the signal from the magnetic sensor. A method of magnetically actuating a downhole component, the method comprising:",
    "31. positioning a magnetic positioning tool adjacent an actuable component within a wellbore, wherein the magnetic positioning tool comprises a plurality of magnets arranged in a first position;",
    "32. transitioning the plurality of magnets from the first position to a second position;",
    "33. magnetically coupling the plurality of magnets with the actuable components; and",
    "34. actuating the actuable component within the wellbore in response to the magnetic coupling. The method of claim 18, further comprising:",
    "36. detecting that the plurality of magnets are in the second position using a magnetic sensor;",
    "37. generating a signal based on the detecting, wherein actuating the actuable component is based on the generating of the signal. The method of claim 18, wherein transitioning the plurality of magnets from the first position to the second position comprises at least one of rotating one or more of the plurality of magnets or axially translating one or more of the plurality of magnets. The method of claim 18, wherein actuating the actuable component comprises axially translating a sleeve within the wellbore based on the magnetic coupling. The method of claim 18, wherein actuating the actuable component comprises releasing a locking mechanism based on the magnetic coupling, and allowing a downhole component to translate in response to releasing the locking mechanism."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Hydrocarbon wells (for production of hydrocarbons such as oil and gas) typically have a wellbore drilled into a formation in the ground containing the hydrocarbons. Such formations typically have one or more production zones that may be accessed to extract the formation fluids (for example, hydrocarbons) into the wellbore. This is typically accomplished in the producing section as an open hole or uncased completion but it can also be completed by placing a casing along the wellbore and perforating the casing in a position adjacent to a production zone. Often these production zones may be separated/isolated from each other using packers inserted into the wellbore. Fluid in the production zone is then drawn into a completion string (typically comprising tubing for pumping in to and out of the well and one or more downhole tools) in the wellbore that runs to the surface. One or more of the downhole tools in the completion string may have multiple positions. For example, if the downhole tool is a flow control device having a valve, the downhole tool might have an open position and a closed position. Other examples of a downhole tool might include a packer, safety valve, sliding sleeve, adjustable choke, pump, and/or perforating apparatus. During production of the well, it may be desirable to modify the function and/or position of such a downhole tool (e.g. moving a valve from a closed position to an open position or vice versa). It may, however, be quite challenging to interact with downhole tools in a wellbore tubular string.",
  "cpc": [
    "E21B 34/066",
    "E21B 2200/06",
    "E21B 33/12",
    "E21B 34/06",
    "E21B 41/00",
    "E21B 47/00",
    "E21B 47/092"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E21B 33/12",
    "E21B 34/06",
    "E21B 41/00",
    "E21B 47/00",
    "E21B 34/14",
    "E21B 47/09",
    "H01F 5/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Halliburton Energy Services Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Christopher R Delzell",
    "William Mark Richards"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-07-31",
  "publication_date": "2016-07-21",
  "priority_date": "2013-07-31",
  "application_number": "US-201314367141-A",
  "family_id": "52432227",
  "cited_by_count": 30,
  "citations": [
    "US6076873A",
    "US8009001B1",
    "US9366134B2"
  ]
}