Magnetic tool position determination in a wellbore

{
  "publication_number": "US9797238B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Magnetic tool position determination in a wellbore",
  "abstract": "A magnetic system for determining an operating position of a downhole tool. The system includes an array of magnets operable to produce a magnetic field that is operably associated with a stationary component of the downhole tool. A moveable component of the downhole tool has at least first and second positions relative to the stationary component. In the first position, the moveable component has a first degree of interference with the magnetic field. In the second position, the moveable component has a second degree of interference with the magnetic field. A magnetic field detector is operable to be run into the wellbore and moved relative to the downhole tool such that the position of the moveable component relative to the stationary component is determined by detection of a magnetic signature produced by the moveable component and the array of magnets.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A magnetic system for determining an operating position of a downhole tool positioned in a wellbore, the system comprising: an array of magnets operably associated with a stationary component of the downhole tool, the array of magnets including a digital address identifying array of magnets and a position determining array of magnets each operable to produce a magnetic field; a moveable component of the downhole tool having at least first and second positions relative to the stationary component of the downhole tool; and a magnetic field detector operable to be run into the wellbore and moved relative to the downhole tool; wherein, in the first position, the moveable component has a first degree of interference with the magnetic field of the position determining array of magnets; wherein, in the second position, the moveable component has a second degree of interference with the magnetic field of the position determining array of magnets; wherein the magnetic field of the digital address identifying array of magnets is significantly unchanged by the position of the moveable component; and wherein, the position of the moveable component relative to the stationary component is determined by detection of a magnetic signature produced by the moveable component and the array of magnets with the magnetic field detector, thereby determining the operating position of the downhole tool.",
    "2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the moveable component moves axially relative to the stationary component.",
    "3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the moveable component moves circumferentially relative to the stationary component.",
    "4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the array of magnets further comprises an axially distributed array of magnets.",
    "5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the array of magnets further comprises a circumferentially distributed array of magnets.",
    "6. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the array of magnets further comprises an axially and circumferentially distributed array of magnets.",
    "7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the digital address identifying array further comprises a circumferentially distributed array of magnets having a single axial layer and wherein the position determining array of magnets further comprises an axially distributed array of magnets.",
    "8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the moveable component further comprises a plurality of positions relative to the stationary component between the first and second positions and wherein a different degree of interference with the magnetic field is produced in each of the plurality of positions.",
    "9. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the magnetic field detector further comprises at least two magnetic field detector elements each operable to detect the magnetic signature produced by the moveable component and the array of magnets.",
    "10. A magnetic method for determining an operating position of a downhole tool positioned in a wellbore, the method comprising: providing the downhole tool in the wellbore, the downhole tool including a stationary component having an array of magnets operably associated therewith and a moveable component having at least first and second positions relative to the stationary component; producing a magnetic field with the array of magnets; generating a first degree of interference with the magnetic field when the moveable component is in the first position relative to the stationary component; generating a second degree of interference with the magnetic field when the moveable component is in the second position relative to the stationary component; running a magnetic field detector into the wellbore; moving the magnetic field detector through at least a portion of the downhole tool; detecting a magnetic signature produced by the moveable component and the array of magnets with the magnetic field detector; determining a position of the moveable component relative to the stationary component based upon the magnetic signature; and identifying a digital address of the downhole tool based on a portion of the magnetic signature that is significantly unchanged by the position of the moveable component.",
    "11. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising axially shifting the movable component relative to the stationary component.",
    "12. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising rotatably shifting the movable component relative to the stationary component.",
    "13. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein producing the magnetic field with the array of magnets further comprises producing the magnetic field with an axially distributed array of magnets.",
    "14. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein producing the magnetic field with the array of magnets further comprises producing the magnetic field with a circumferentially distributed array of magnets.",
    "15. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein producing the magnetic field with the array of magnets further comprises producing the magnetic field with an axially and circumferentially distributed array of magnets.",
    "16. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the portion of the magnetic signature that is significantly unchanged by the position of the moveable component is generated by a circumferentially distributed array of magnets having a single axial layer and wherein determining the position of the moveable component relative to the stationary component based upon the magnetic signature further comprises detecting a portion of the magnetic signature generated by an axially distributed array of magnets.",
    "17. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprises generating a plurality of degrees of interference with the magnetic field when the moveable component is moved to a plurality of positions relative to the stationary component.",
    "18. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein detecting the magnetic signature produced by the moveable component and the array of magnets with the magnetic field detector further comprises detecting the magnetic signature with at least two magnetic field detector elements."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present application is a U.S. National Stage patent application of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2013/078498, filed on Dec. 31, 2013, the benefit of which is claimed and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.\n\nThis disclosure relates, in general, to equipment utilized in conjunction with operations performed in relation to subterranean wells and, in particular, to magnetic systems and methods for determining the operating position of a tool in a wellbore.\n\nAfter drilling each section of a subterranean wellbore that traverses one or more hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formations, individual lengths of metal tubulars are typically secured together to form a casing string that is positioned within the wellbore. This casing string provides wellbore stability to counteract the geomechanics of the formation such as compaction forces, seismic forces and tectonic forces, thereby preventing the collapse of the wellbore wall. Conventionally, the casing string is cemented within the wellbore. To produce fluids into the casing string, hydraulic openings or perforations must be made through the casing string and a distance into the formation. Following the perforation process, a production tubing string may be installed within the casing string such that fluid from the producing intervals may be transported to the surface therein.\n\nVarious downhole tools, such as tools for fluid flow control, sand control and pressure containment, may also be positioned in the wellbore.",
  "cpc": [
    "E21B 47/024",
    "E21B 47/0905",
    "E21B 47/092",
    "G01V 3/081",
    "G01V 3/38"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E21B 47/09",
    "G01V 3/08",
    "G01V 3/38",
    "E21B 47/024"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Halliburton Energy Services Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Thomas J. FROSELL",
    "Michael L. Fripp",
    "Zachary R. MURPHREE"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-12-31",
  "publication_date": "2017-10-24",
  "grant_date": "2017-10-24",
  "priority_date": "2013-12-31",
  "application_number": "US-201314647058-A",
  "family_id": "53493825",
  "cited_by_count": 28,
  "citations": [
    "US20080294344A1",
    "US20120205154A1",
    "US20160145999A1"
  ]
}