Magnetostrictive Apparatus and Method for Determining Position of a Tool in a Wellbore

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for controlling a downhole operation is disclosed. A tool is operated to perform the downhole operation at a selected downhole location using a first value of an operation parameter of the tool. A magnetostrictive position sensor is used to determine a relative position along a section of a wellbore related to the operation being performed using the first value of the operation parameter. The determined relative position is compared to a selected threshold. The operation parameter is altered to a second value based on the comparison of the relative position to the selected threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:
 a moveable tool; and   a sensor associated with the tool, wherein the sensor includes:
 a transducer; 
 at least one reflection element spaced from the transducer, wherein the transducer transmits at least one signal to the at least one reflection element and receives the at least one signal reflected from the at least one reflection element; and 
 a pulser configured to determine a position of the tool utilizing the reflected at least one signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer is coupled to the tool. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflection element is coupled to the tool. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer is a magnetostrictive device that transmits at least one acoustic signal to the at least one reflection element. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor further includes a rod associated with the sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one reflection element is selected from a group comprising: at least one end of the rod, a fixed pin coupled to the rod and a fixed position, and a sliding pin coupled to the rod and the tool. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an operation in the wellbore includes at least one of: operation of a flow control device; operation of a hydraulic motor; operation of a sleeve; and operation of a linear actuator. 
     
     
         8 . A method of determining a position in a wellbore, the method comprising:
 placing a moving tool in the wellbore;   providing a sensor associated with the tool, wherein the sensor includes a transducer and at least one reflection element;   transmitting at least one signal to the at least one reflection element via the transducer;   receiving the at least one signal from the at least one reflection element via the transducer; and   determining a position of the tool utilizing the reflected at least one signal.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising coupling the transducer to the tool. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising coupling the at least one reflection element to the tool. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the transducer is a magnetostrictive device and the at least one signal is at least one acoustic signal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising associating a rod with the sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one reflection element is selected from a group comprising: at least one end of the rod, a fixed pin coupled to the rod and a fixed position, and a sliding pin coupled to the rod and the tool. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein an operation in the wellbore includes at least one of: operation of a flow control device; operation of a hydraulic motor; operation of a sleeve; and operation of a linear actuator. 
     
     
         15 . A system for controlling a downhole operation, comprising:
 a moveable tool configured to perform the operation according to an operation parameter of the tool;   a sensor associated with the tool, wherein the sensor includes:
 a transducer; 
 at least one reflection element spaced from the transducer, wherein the transducer transmits at least one signal to the at least one reflection element and receives the at least one signal reflected from the at least one reflection element; and 
 a pulser configured to determine a position of the tool utilizing the reflected at least one signal; and 
   a controller configured to:
 compare the position to a selected threshold; and 
 alter the operation parameter based on the comparison of the position to the selected threshold. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the transducer is coupled to the tool. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one reflection element is coupled to the tool. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the transducer is a magnetostrictive device that transmits at least one acoustic signal to the at least one reflection element. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor further includes a rod associated with the sensor and wherein the at least one reflection element is selected from a group comprising: at least one end of the rod, a fixed pin coupled to the rod and a fixed position, and a sliding pin coupled to the rod and the tool. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the operation includes at least one of: operation of a flow control device; operation of a hydraulic motor; operation of a sleeve; and operation of a linear actuator. 
     
     
         21 . A system for use in a wellbore, comprising:
 a moveable tool; and   an acoustic sensor coupled to the tool configured to determine the position of the tool in the wellbore.