US 11,898,436 B2
Method and apparatus for downhole charging, initiation, and release of drilling micro sensing systems (microchips)
Abrar Alshaikh, Saihat (SA); Bodong Li, Dhahran (SA); Jianhui Xu, Dhahran (SA); and Guodong Zhan, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/644,302.
Prior Publication US 2023/0184092 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 47/01 (2012.01); E21B 34/14 (2006.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 47/01 (2013.01) [E21B 34/142 (2020.05); E21B 41/0085 (2013.01); E21B 2200/06 (2020.05); E21B 2200/08 (2020.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for a well comprising:
a sliding sleeve installed within a tubular body having an exit groove;
a ball landing seat formed by the sliding sleeve;
a plurality of microchips housed in a microchip ring installed within the sliding sleeve;
a hydraulic piston installed within the microchip ring, triggered by reception of a ball in the ball landing seat, the ball reducing a cross sectional area of a flow path, wherein the hydraulic piston releases the plurality of microchips through the exit groove and into the well to gather data; and
a ball catcher configured to receive and hold the ball after the plurality of microchips are released into the well, wherein the ball catcher and the ball are made of a dissolvable material.