Daniel Viassolo Awarded US Patent for Cable System Control Using Fluid Flow for Applying Locomotive Force

HOUSTON, Aug. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Daniel Viassolo, Principal Scientist in the oil and gas services industry, recently was awarded Patent number 9,976,367 for cable system control using fluid flow for applying locomotive force.

Hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, are commonly obtained from subterranean formations located onshore or offshore. The development of subterranean operations and the processes involved in removing hydrocarbons from a formation are complex. Typically, subterranean operations involve a number of different steps such as drilling a wellbore at a desired well site, treating the wellbore to optimize production of hydrocarbons, and performing the necessary steps to produce and process the hydrocarbons from the formation.

When performing subterranean operations, it is often desirable to use various downhole tools, such as tools for monitoring the characteristics of the formation being developed as well as the status of drilling fluids and equipment (such as casing, drill bit, etc.), and tools for carrying out various operations such as maintenance on downhole equipment. Such downhole tools are often connected to a cable, such as a wireline or slickline, and lowered into the well. These are typically called wireline or slickline operations.

Positioning of a tool in a well may, in some circumstances, be achieved by gravity alone by simply unreeling a desired amount of cable such that the cable extends, lowering the tool to a target location within the well. While such a control system could work adequately in some wells, gravity alone may not overcome the frictional forces on a tool in narrow or deviated wells. Moreover, gravity will provide little help in positioning a tool in substantially horizontal sections of a well.

The independent control of cable tension and tool position in a well can be achieved by regulating the reel angle and the flow rate of a fluid pumped over the tool. Despite physical interdependency of tool position and cable tension, the tool can be controlled such that its position changes while cable tension remains constant, or similarly when tool position remains constant while cable tension changes. In addition, actual hardware sensors can be avoided by means of a software observer designed to estimate downhole tool position, cable tension, and other values of interest.

"I want to thank the other contributors to this patent for their creativity and hard work" says Daniel Viassolo, "I also want acknowledge the United States Patent and Trademark Office for recognizing and protecting our invention."

About Daniel Viassolo

Over the last 19 years, Daniel Viassolo has made impactful contributions to the fields of Industrial Asset Health Management and Controls, covering diverse applications domains ? oil and gas, renewables, jet engines ? and co-authoring 21 US granted patents, 30+ publications, and one book. Daniel Viassolo obtained his PhD from Purdue University in 2000. Dr. Viassolo is also active in his local Houston, Texas community, supporting various causes and institutions with his philanthropy and as a volunteer.

SOURCE Daniel Viassolo