System and Method for Autonomous Tools

Abstract

Autonomous tools for use in tubular members associated with managing hydrocarbons. The autonomous tools are at least partially fabricated from a dissolvable material, which is configured to dissolve in the fluid within the tubular member. The autonomous tool includes one or more components that determine the location of the autonomous tool within the tubular member and actuate the actuatable tool component once a predetermined or selected location has been reached within the tubular member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An autonomous tool for performing a tubular operation, comprising:
 an actuatable tool component configured to perform a tubular operation;   a location component configured to determine a location of the autonomous tool within a tubular member; and   an on-board controller configured to send an actuation signal to the actuatable tool component when a predetermined location has been reached within the tubular member;   wherein:
 the actuatable tool component, the location component, and the on-board controller are arranged to be deployed together in the tubular member as a single autonomous tool; 
 the actuatable tool component is configured to autonomously perform the tubular operation in response to the actuation signal; and 
 at least a portion of the actuatable tool component, the location component, and the on-board controller are fabricated from a dissolvable material configured to dissolve when subjected to tubular conditions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The autonomous tool of  claim 1 , wherein the location component is further configured to determine the location of the autonomous tool based on identifying casing collars within the tubular member, wherein the location component is configured to compare a depth signature formed by the spacing of the casing collars along the tubular member, with a predetermined signature generated prior to deployment of the autonomous tool into the tubular member. 
     
     
         3 . The autonomous tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the location component is further configured to determine the location of the autonomous tool based on identifying radio frequency identification tags within the tubular member, wherein the location component is configured to compare a signature formed by the identified radio frequency identification tags within the tubular member, with a predetermined signature generated prior to deployment of the autonomous tool into the tubular member. 
     
     
         4 . The autonomous tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the location component is further configured to determine the location of the autonomous tool based on pressure measurements within the tubular member, wherein the location component is configured to compare a signature formed by the measured pressures within the tubular member, with a predetermined signature generated prior to deployment of the autonomous tool into the tubular member. 
     
     
         5 . The autonomous tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the autonomous tool further comprises a second location component to determine a second location of the autonomous tool within the tubular member, wherein the second location component utilizes a different location detection technology from the location component. 
     
     
         6 . The autonomous tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the autonomous tool self-destructs in response to one of the actuation of the actuatable tool component, the determination of elapsing of a selected period of time by the on-board controller, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The autonomous tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuatable tool component is a perforating gun component that is substantially fabricated from a dissolvable material. 
     
     
         8 . The autonomous tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuatable tool component is a ball sealer component that is substantially fabricated from a dissolvable material. 
     
     
         9 . The autonomous tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the remaining portion of the autonomous tool is fabricated from a friable material or a millable material. 
     
     
         10 . The autonomous tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the autonomous tool further comprises a second actuatable tool component configured to perform a second tubular operation, wherein:
 the on-board controller is further configured to send a second actuation signal to the second actuatable tool component when the predetermined location has been reached within the tubular member;   the actuatable tool component, the second actuatable tool component, the location component, and the on-board controller are arranged to be deployed together in the tubular member as a single autonomous tool; and   the second actuatable tool component is configured to autonomously perform the second tubular operation in response to the second actuation signal.   
     
     
         11 . The autonomous tool of  claim 10 , wherein the on-board controller manages the sequence of tubular operations. 
     
     
         12 . The autonomous tool according to  claim 10 , wherein the actuatable tool component is a first perforating gun component and the second actuatable tool component is a second perforating gun component. 
     
     
         13 . The autonomous tool according to  claim 10 , wherein the actuatable tool component is a first perforating gun component and the second actuatable tool component is a bridge plug component. 
     
     
         14 . The autonomous tool according to  claim 10 , wherein the actuatable tool component is a first perforating gun component and the second actuatable tool component is a shockwave component. 
     
     
         15 . A method for performing one or more tubular operations, comprising:
 deploying an autonomous tool into a tubular member, wherein at least a portion of the autonomous tool is fabricated from a dissolvable material and the autonomous tool is configured to autonomously perform the one or more tubular operations;   autonomously performing the one or more tubular operations with the autonomous tool;   dissolving the at least a portion of the autonomous tool that is fabricated from the dissolvable material; and   managing hydrocarbons from the tubular member.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the autonomous tool comprises:
 an actuatable tool component configured to perform a first tubular operation of the one or more tubular operations;   a location component configured to determine a location of the autonomous tool within the tubular member; and   an on-board controller configured to send an actuation signal to the actuatable tool component when a predetermined location has been reached within the tubular member;   wherein:
 the actuatable tool component, the location component, and the on-board controller are arranged to be deployed together in the tubular member as a single autonomous tool; and 
 the actuatable tool component is configured to autonomously perform the tubular operation in response to the actuation signal. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising determining the location of the autonomous tool based on identified casing collars disposed along the tubular member. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising determining the location of the autonomous tool based on identified radio frequency identification tags within the tubular member. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising determining the location of the autonomous tool based on pressure measurements within the tubular member. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the determining the location of the autonomous tool further comprises determining the location of the autonomous tool based on two or more location detection technologies. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising managing a sequence of the one or more tubular operations with the on-board controller. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the autonomous tool further comprises a second actuatable tool component and further comprising performing a second tubular operation with the second actuatable tool component. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the autonomously performing the one or more tubular operations with the autonomous tool further comprises performing a first perforating operation with a first perforating gun component of the autonomous tool; and performing a second perforating operation with a second perforating gun component of the autonomous tool. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the autonomously performing the one or more tubular operations with the autonomous tool further comprises performing a perforating operation with a perforating gun component of the autonomous tool; and performing a bridging operation with a bridge plug component of the autonomous tool. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising self-destructing the autonomous tool in response to one of the actuation of the actuatable tool component, the determination of elapsing of a selected period of time by the on-board controller, and any combination thereof.