Systems and methods for maneuvering downhole tools in a subsea well

Abstract

A method for maneuvering a downhole tool in a well system includes: displacing a tool through a riser; detecting electromagnetic radiation from a source in real time using a detector coupled to the tool; and altering the velocity of the tool in response to detecting the electromagnetic radiation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for maneuvering a downhole tool in a well system comprising:
 displacing at a first velocity a tool through a riser;   detecting electromagnetic radiation from a source in real time using a detector coupled to the tool; and   altering the velocity of the tool from the first velocity to a second velocity in response to detecting the electromagnetic radiation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises gamma rays. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the source comprises radioactive material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises radio waves. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the source comprises a radio-frequency identification tag. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises long wave magnetic signals. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the source comprises an acoustic source 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second velocity is of a lesser magnitude than the first velocity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising physically engaging the tool with a component of the well system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising forming a closeable chamber by actuating a ram of a blowout preventer of the well system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein altering the velocity of the tool from a first velocity to a second velocity comprises altering the velocity of the tool at a vertical distance from a spool of the well system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein physically engaging the tool with the component of the well system comprises physically engaging the blowout preventer tool against the component of the well system at the second velocity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein altering the velocity of the tool between the first velocity and the second velocity comprises decelerating the tool at a substantially constant rate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein altering the velocity of the tool between the first velocity and the second velocity comprises:
 decelerating the tool at a substantially constant rate;   reducing the rate of deceleration of the tool;   accelerating the tool at a substantially constant rate; and   reducing the rate of acceleration of the tool.   
     
     
         15 . A method for maneuvering a downhole tool in a well system comprising:
 displacing a tool through a riser at a first velocity;   physically engaging the tool with a component of the well system;   detecting in real time a compressive strain of a tubular coupled to the tool using a strain gauge; and   altering the velocity of the tool from the first velocity to a second velocity in response to detecting the compressive strain.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein altering the velocity of the tool comprises reducing the velocity of the tool from the first velocity to zero relative to the component of the well system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the component of the well system comprises a wellhead spool. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising transmitting the detected compressive strain to a computer of the well system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein physically engaging the tool with a component of the well system comprises forming a seal within a tubular member of the well system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein altering the velocity of the tool comprises reducing the detected compressive strain of the tubular coupled to the tool. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising actuating a ram of a blowout preventer of the well system to form a closeable chamber within the tubular member. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the strain gauge is disposed on the surface of a node coupled to the tool. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein detecting a compressive strain of a tubular coupled to the tool comprises deforming the strain gauge. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising calculating a stress of the tubular coupled to the tool using the detected compressive strain.