Downhole intervention and completion drone and methods of use

Abstract

In one example, an apparatus includes a body, a propulsion system configured to move the body in a forward direction and in a reverse direction, and a reusable sealing and isolation element connected to the body and configured to be deployed so as to selectively seal and isolate sections or stages in a wellbore when the apparatus is disposed in the wellbore. The reusable sealing element may be selectively employed to isolate, and de-isolate, a portion of the wellbore, such as in connection with a perforation process for example.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a body;   a propulsion system configured to move the body in a forward direction and in a reverse direction; and   a reusable sealing and isolation element connected to the body and configured to be deployed so as to selectively seal and isolate sections or stages in a wellbore when the apparatus is disposed in the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises an autonomous drone. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system comprises:
 a power source;   one or more extendible/retractable propulsion systems, wherein one of the propulsion systems comprises a motor and one or more wheels disposed on an outer portion of the body; and   a gear box that connects the motor to the wheels.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the power source comprises one or more rechargeable batteries configured to be wirelessly charged downhole. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the power source comprises rechargeable batteries. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is self-propelled. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body is articulated. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more hardware processors and non-transitory storage media carrying instructions that are executable by the one or more hardware processors to cause the seal to expand and retract according to a specified schedule. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reusable sealing and isolation element comprises a seal configured to assume an expanded state and a retracted state, and when the seal is in the expanded state in the wellbore, the seal isolates sections within the wellbore such that fluid in the wellbore cannot pass by the apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein no portion of the reusable sealing and isolation element remains permanently in the wellbore. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is operable to autonomously deploy the reusable sealing and isolation element. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 temporarily sealing and isolating a portion of a wellbore with a reusable sealing and isolation element; and   unsealing or de-isolating the portion of the wellbore by temporarily changing a configuration of the reusable sealing and isolation element.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the method is performed autonomously by a drone. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising moving the entire reusable sealing and isolation element to another location in the wellbore, and isolating the wellbore at another location with the reusable sealing and isolation element. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein temporarily sealing and isolating a portion of the wellbore with the reusable sealing and isolation element, comprises temporarily changing the configuration of the reusable sealing and isolation element relative to a configuration of the reusable sealing and isolation element when the wellbore is sealed and isolated with the reusable sealing and isolation element. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein after the wellbore is de-isolated, no post-remediation of the reusable sealing and isolation element is required at the site where the reusable sealing and isolation element had been positioned. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the well intervention drone comprises a perforating module operable to perforate the wellbore. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the well intervention drone autonomously mitigates sand and debris screen outs. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising wirelessly charging a battery of the drone while the drone is in a wellbore. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 deploying a drone to a downhole location; and   using the drone to collect data uphole and/or downhole of a sealing and isolation element while the sealing and isolation element is engaged with the drone and/or disengaged from the drone.   
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , where data collection is performed pre-frac, during frac, and/or post-frac. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , where the data collected comprises data about a wellbore environment, wellbore conditions, and/or, wellbore activity. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the data is collected autonomously by the drone. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the data is collected while the drone is unconnected to the surface or equipment on the surface. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein data collection is performed autonomously by the drone, and the data collection begins when the drone is at its deepest location in a well, and data collection continues at least part of a time during which the drone propels away from the deepest location.