US 11,697,990 B2
Methods and systems to detect an untethered device at a wellhead
Huseyin Rahmi Seren, Houston, TX (US); and Max Deffenbaugh, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Jan. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/568,485.
Application 17/568,485 is a continuation of application No. 16/907,064, filed on Jun. 19, 2020, granted, now 11,242,743.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/864,959, filed on Jun. 21, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0127953 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 47/095 (2012.01); E21B 34/14 (2006.01); E21B 31/03 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 47/095 (2020.05) [E21B 34/14 (2013.01); E21B 31/03 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
8. A method for determining a location of an untethered device in a wellhead of a subterranean well, the method comprising:
determining, by a microprocessor in the untethered device, a presence of the untethered device inside or close to the wellhead in response to data received by a sensor in the untethered device;
activating, by the microprocessor, a transducer in the untethered device to produce an acoustic signal;
receiving, with a microphone array of a receiver unit, the acoustic signal from the transducer, the microphone array comprising a plurality of microphones placed outside the surface of the wellhead at specific locations;
processing the acoustic signal with a microprocessor of the receiver unit to generate a signal for delivery to a wireless transmitter, the signal identifying a microphone in the microphone array that is closest to the untethered device; and
transmitting the signal with the wireless transmitter to a remote wireless receiver to notify a user of the presence of the untethered device in the wellhead.