US 12,110,785 B2
System and method for monitoring motion of downhole tool components of a drilling system
Daniel E. Burgess, Portland, CT (US); and Allen Kopfstein, Pittsfield, MA (US)
Assigned to APS Technology, LLC, Wallingford, CT (US)
Filed by APS Technology, LLC, Wallingford, CT (US)
Filed on Nov. 20, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/689,700.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/769,853, filed on Nov. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0157932 A1, May 21, 2020
Int. Cl. E21B 47/07 (2012.01); E21B 7/00 (2006.01); E21B 44/00 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 47/07 (2020.05) [E21B 7/00 (2013.01); E21B 44/00 (2013.01)] 45 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tool assembly configured to be carried by a drill string that is configured to define a borehole in an earthen formation during a drilling operation, the tool assembly comprising:
a first member;
a second member that is moveable relative to the first member during the drilling operation;
a sensor module coupled to the first member, the sensor module including at least one proximity sensor spaced from the second member so that the second member is within a detectable range of the at least one proximity sensor, wherein the at least one proximity sensor is configured to detect information indicative of movement of the second member relative to the first member; and
a downhole computer processor carried by either the first member or the second member, the downhole computer processor in electronic communication with the at least one proximity sensor, the downhole computer processor configured to, in response to the information indicative of the movement of the second member relative to the first member, determine a position of the second member relative to the first member;
wherein the downhole computer processor is configured to compensate measured distance between the at least one proximity sensor and the second member based on radial offset, a measured pressure, and a measured temperature proximate to the sensor module to provide a compensated distance between the at least one proximity sensor and the second member, thereby improving accuracy of the determined position of the second member relative to the first member.