US 11,732,576 B2
System, apparatus and method for detecting wireline tools
Bradley Robert Martin, Red Deer (CA); and Aaron Mitchell Carlson, Lake Country (CA)
Assigned to Intelligent Wellhead Systems Inc., Calgary (CA)
Appl. No. 16/480,118
Filed by Intelligent Wellhead Systems Inc., Sturgeon County (CA)
PCT Filed Apr. 18, 2018, PCT No. PCT/CA2018/050466
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 23, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/191820, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 25, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/486,719, filed on Apr. 18, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0003045 A1, Jan. 2, 2020
Int. Cl. G01B 7/02 (2006.01); E21B 47/092 (2012.01); G01B 7/12 (2006.01); E21B 19/00 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 47/092 (2020.05) [G01B 7/02 (2013.01); G01B 7/12 (2013.01); E21B 19/008 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for detecting a line-attached tool that is moving through a well, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a body that defines a central passageway for receiving the line-attached tool therethrough;
(b) at least one magnetic-field generator that is configured to generate a magnetic field that extends at least partially across the central passageway;
(c) at least one magnetic-field sensor that is configured for detecting a change in one or more properties of the magnetic field that are caused by the line-attached tool approaching, moving through or moving away from the magnetic field,
wherein the at least one magnetic-field sensor is housed within the body and the body is connectible to the well below a lubricator of the well and,
wherein the line-attached tool is attached to a wireline or a slickline; and
(d) a processor that is configured to indicate a change in the one or more detected properties of the magnetic field,
wherein the processor is configured to determine the location of the line-attached tool within or near to the magnetic field and wherein the processor is also configured to determine a position and a dimension of the line-attached tool, wherein the position includes a center coordinate, and wherein the determined dimension is a diameter, and wherein the processor is further configured to send a visual representation of the determined dimensions for viewing on an operator's screen.