Method for Synchronizing Downhole Tractor and Winch Deployment

Abstract

A method and system for synchronizing downhole tractor and surface winch deployment includes deploying a tractor and deploying wireline from a winch, obtaining readings of wireline tension, and adjusting the speed of the tractor to match the winch speed. If the tractor and winch speeds appear substantially matched, periodically adding and/or removing slack in the wireline while observing the wireline tension can confirm if the tractor and winch are still synchronized.

1 . A method for synchronizing downhole tractor and surface winch deployment comprising:
 inserting into a wellbore a tool string connected to a wireline, the tool string comprising a variable speed tractor;   deploying the tractor;   deploying the wireline from a winch;   dynamically monitoring a wireline tension as an indicator of synchronization of the tractor and winch;   implementing a counter to indicate an amount of slack in the wireline; and   adjusting the tractor speed in response to a disparity in tension to match the winch speed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: incrementally increasing the tractor speed in response to wireline tension that is unchanging, until an increase in wireline tension is observed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: incrementally decreasing the tractor speed in response to wireline tension that is increasing, until the wireline tension is observed to stabilize. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: deploying the tractor and wireline from a winch at the same time and same speed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: utilizing downhole wireline tension as an indicator of obtaining substantially matching tractor and winch speeds. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: periodically adding or removing slack in the wireline by adjusting the tractor speed while observing the wireline tension, to confirm whether the tractor and winch are synchronized. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the counter is zeroed when the wireline tension confirms that adding or removing slack indicates there is no slack in the wireline. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: tracking the difference in measured winch movement and calculated tractor movement to indicate when synchronization might be compromised. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: tracking the difference in measured winch movement and measured tractor movement to indicate when synchronization might be compromised. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: utilizing an information handling system to track winch movement and tractor movement. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: a controller in communication with the tractor and the wireline tension and configured to determine a disparity in tension indicative of non-synchronization of the tractor and winch. 
     
     
         12 . A system for synchronizing downhole tractor speed and surface winch deployment comprising:
 a winch for deploying a tool string on a wireline;   a variable speed tractor connected to the tool string for deploying the tool string into a wellbore;   a wireline tension sensor;   a controller in communication with the tractor and the wireline tension sensor and configured to dynamically monitor wireline tension as an indication of synchronization of the tractor and winch;   a counter that indicates whether there is a slack in the wireline; and   a means of adjusting the speed of the tractor to match the winch speed.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the wireline tension sensor is capable of obtaining downhole wireline tension readings. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the wireline tension sensor is capable of obtaining real-time downhole wireline tension readings 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the counter is zeroed when the wireline tension confirms that there is no slack in the wireline. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising: an information handling system capable of tracking the difference in measured winch movement and calculated tractor movement to indicate when synchronization might be compromised. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising: an information handling system capable of tracking the difference in measured winch movement and measured tractor movement to indicate when synchronization might be compromised. 
     
     
         18 . A method for synchronizing downhole tractor and surface winch deployment comprising:
 inserting into a wellbore a toolstring connected to a wireline, the tool string comprising a variable speed tractor;   deploying the tractor;   deploying wireline from a winch;   dynamically monitoring a downhole wireline tension as an indicator of synchronization of the tractor and winch;   tracking the difference in winch movement and tractor movement to indicate when synchronization might be compromised;   utilizing a controller in communication with the tractor and the wireline tension readings to adjust the tractor speed in response to indications when synchronization might be compromised;   utilizing a counter to determine whether is a slack in the wireline; and   periodically altering the tractor speed while observing the wireline tension, to confirm whether the tractor and winch are synchronized.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising: incrementally increasing the tractor speed in response to wireline tension that is unchanging, until an increase in wireline tension is observed. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising: incrementally decreasing the tractor speed in response to wireline tension that is increasing, until the wireline tension is observed to stabilize.