APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A RETRIEVABLE SEMI-PERMANENT MONITORING SYSTEM
An apparatus for retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system includes a casing for a well; a transmission system installed on the outside of the casing or in a wall of the casing; and a sensor array. The sensor array is adapted to couple with the transmission system, and where a wall of the casing is disposed between the sensor array and the transmission system.
1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein generally relate to an apparatus and method for a retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system.
2. Discussion of the Background
Fracture monitoring and reservoir production monitoring may require installing permanent sensor systems, including seismic sensors, in a production well when the distance between wells is too high to monitor the production well from adjacent wells. Pressure, flow and other physical parameters of the production well may also need to be monitored. A permanent sensor system may be installed outside the casing in the well, or cable deployed arrays or memory gauges may be used within the casing.
Tools 104 may be attached to casing 102 using clamps 106 before casing 102 is installed into the well. Sensors 104 may extend to the bottom of casing 102. The space between the outside of casing 102 and a borehole wall 101 may be filled with concrete 103. The tools 104 and cables 105 may be fixed in the well by the concrete 103. Both sensors 104 and cables 105 may be made of any suitable materials to allow them to continue functioning after being encased in concrete 103.
The deployment of a permanent sensor system, such as the sensors 104 and cables 105 depicted in
Because cable deployed arrays, for example, as depicted in
Thus, there is a need for an apparatus and method that overcomes the above noted problems and allows quick intervention for replacing a failed sensor.
SUMMARYIn various embodiments, an apparatus and method for a retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system are presented. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is an apparatus for retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system that includes a casing for a well; a transmission system installed on the outside of the casing or in a wall of the casing; and a sensor array. The sensor array is adapted to couple with the transmission system, and where a wall of the casing is disposed between the sensor array and the transmission system.
According to another embodiment, there is an apparatus for a transmission system for a retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system that includes a transmission cable and a telemetry unit adapted to transmit and receive data using the transmission cable, and having a transmission coupling system adapted to transmit and receive the data through a wall of a casing.
According to still another embodiment, there is an apparatus for a sensor array for a retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system that includes at least one tool adapted to monitor at least one characteristic of a well or earth surrounding a well and a transmission coupling device adapted to transmit data to and receive data from the at least one tool. The transmission coupling device includes a transmission coupling system adapted to transmit and receive the data through a wall of a casing.
According to yet another embodiment, there is a method for a retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system that includes a step of deploying a sensor array into a casing, a step of coupling the sensor array to a transmission system disposed outside the casing, a step of monitoring with the sensor array a characteristic of the environment and a step of transmitting a measurement of the characteristic from the sensor array inside the casing to the transmission system outside the casing.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments and, together with the description, explain these embodiments. In the drawings:
The following description of the exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. In various embodiments as illustrated in
Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
When casing 304 with the attached telemetry unit 302 is installed in the well inside of the borehole wall 305, the transmission system may run from a location in the well, for example, where a first sensor would be placed, to the surface. Concrete 306 may be used to fill in the space between the casing 304 and the borehole wall 305, fixing the telemetry unit 302 in place. The transmission system may thus be permanently installed on the outside of casing 304. Both the telemetry unit 302 and the transmission cable 303 may be made of any suitable materials to allow them to continue functioning if encased in the concrete 306.
The transmission cable 303 may connect the telemetry unit 302 to the computer 301 on the surface through, for example, a surface well head outlet similar to the surface well head outlets used for permanent sensor systems. Power from the surface may be delivered to the telemetry unit 302 through the transmission cable 303. The telemetry unit 302 may include a transmission coupling system 309 which may be, for example, magnetic, acoustic, electro-magnetic, RF based or any other suitable coupling system. The telemetry unit 302 may transmit data received through the transmission coupling system 309 to the computer 301 on the surface through the transmission cable 303. The part of the wall of casing 304 that is located next to the telemetry unit 302 may be modified to facilitate the transmission of data as later discussed with regard to
The tools 408, the cable 409, and the transmission coupling device 407 may form a sensor array, such as, for example, a seismic array or other measurement system. The tools 408 in the sensor array may be of the same sensor type, or may be any suitable mixture of sensor types based on the intended application of the sensor array. For example, wells may contain a mixture of oil, water, and gas, and it may be useful to determine if and where the oil-water interface is within the well. Thus, sensor array may have a tool 408 with an oil-water contact device or a gravity meter to detect an oil-water interface.
Cable 409 may carry power, data, or both between the tools 408, or may only be used to connect and support the tools 408 and may not be used for either data or power transmission. For example, the tools 408 may be self-powered, and may communicate with each other and the transmission coupling device 407 wirelessly. The transmission coupling device 407 may be located at any suitable location along the cable 409 in the sensor array to allow for coupling with the telemetry unit 402 and proper positioning of the tools 408. For example, if the telemetry unit 402 is at the bottom of the casing 404, and no tools 408 are to be deployed below the bottom of the casing 404, the transmission coupling device 407 may be at the end of the cable 409, below the tools 408.
Alternatively, the tools 408 and the telemetry unit 407 may be connected to form a sensor array without the cable 409. For example, the tools 408 may be attached to each other and the telemetry unit 407 directly using any suitable connection hardware.
A cable reel 412, a wireline 411, and an attachment device 410 may form a deployment tool used to deploy the sensor array, with the tools 408, into the well through casing 404. The attachment device 410 may be any suitable device for attaching the sensor array to the wireline 411, manipulating the sensor array, and releasing the sensor array, such as, for example, a claw, a hook, a clamp, a magnetic gripper, or a latch system. The sensor array may be attached to the attachment device 410 at the end of the wireline 411. For example, the attachment device 410 may attach to the transmission coupling device 407 of the sensor array, or to specialized attachment hardware on the transmission coupling device 407, or attached above the transmission coupling device 407 on the cable 409, or in any other suitable location in the sensor array. The cable reel 412 may let out the wireline 411, resulting in the attachment device 410 lowering into casing 404 with the sensor array.
The sensor array may be deployed to any suitable depth within the well so that the telemetry unit 402 and the transmission coupling device 407 are aligned, allowing them to couple, and the tools 408 are in a suitable position to gather data for their intended application. In one application, a shoulder (not shown) is attached to an interior of the casing and attachment device 410 is designed to not be able to pass past the shoulder. In this way, alignment between telemetry unit 402 and transmission coupling device 407 is achieved. Alternatively, the depth at which the telemetry unit 402 is located may be known, and the deployment tool may lower the sensor array into the well until the transmission coupling device 407 has reached this known depth. When the sensor array has arrived at the desired location within the well, the attachment tool 410 may release the sensor array and the cable reel 412 may reel the wireline 411 and attachment tool 410 back to the surface. No cable, such as the cable 203 as depicted in
The deployment tool may also be used to retrieve the sensor array. The cable reel 412 may let out the wireline 411 to lower the attachment device 410 to the sensor array within the well. The attachment device 410 may attach to the sensor array, and the cable reel 412 may reel the wireline 411 back in, bringing the attachment device 410 and the sensor array back to the surface. Any anchoring used to hold the sensor array in place may be released after the attachment device 410 attaches to the sensor array and before the cable 412 reels the wireline back in, to allow the sensor array to be moved.
Because the sensor array may be deployable and retrievable separately from the transmission system, sensor arrays with too long of a delivery time for a project may be deployed after the completion of the well and installation of casing 404. Long, complex and expensive sensor arrays may be deployed into the well only when their use is required, which may reduce capital immobilization, as the deployment tool may be used to retrieve such sensor arrays when they are no longer needed in a particular well so that the sensor arrays may be used elsewhere.
The deployment tool may also be used to retrieve the sensor array to perform repairs, replacements, and upgrades on the tools 408 in the sensor array. For example, if one of the tools 408 in the sensor array malfunctions, the deployment tool may be used to retrieve the sensor array to allow for the repair or replacement of the malfunctioning tool 408, and the re-deployment of the sensor array with a repaired or replaced tool 408.
The sensor array may be retrieved from the well so that new tools 408 may be added to the sensor array in addition to or in place of the tools 408 already in the sensor array, before re-deployment of the sensor array. The sensor array may also be retrieved to allow a different sensor array with, for example, different or improved tools 408 from the tools 408 on the retrieved sensor array, to be deployed. Any tool 408 of any sensor type may be used with the transmission system including telemetry unit 402 and a transmission cable 403 installed outside casing 404. The new sensor array may include tools 408 of different sensor types from the retrieved sensor array, but may still use the same transmission system. Deployment and retrieval of sensor arrays may occur during well live time.
Tools 508 may begin monitoring conditions both within and outside casing 504 and gathering sensor data. For example, a tool 508 with pressure sensor may detect pressure, while a tool 508 with a geophone may gather particle motion data. Data from the tools 508, for example, the sensor data or status data, may be transmitted to the transmission coupling device 507, for example, using the cable 509.
The transmission coupling device 507 may transmit the data from the tools 508 to the telemetry unit 502 using the transmission coupling systems 511 and 512. The telemetry unit 502 may send data received from the transmission coupling device 507 to the surface through transmission cable 503, which may be connected to any suitable device, such as the computer 501. The computer 501 on the surface may thus receive the data from the sensor array through the transmission system.
The transmission system may also allow the computer 501 to send data to the sensor array. For example, the computer 501 may send commands to the tools 508 in the sensor array to start or stop monitoring, change monitoring parameters, perform self-diagnostics, or perform any other suitable action. The data from the computer 501 may be sent to the telemetry unit 502 using the transmission cable 503 and then to the transmission coupling device 507 through the transmission coupling systems. The transmission coupling device 507 may relay the data from the computer 501 to the tools 508.
Power may also be transmitted to the sensor array though the transmission system. For example, power may be transmitted from a power source on the surface through the transmission cable 503 to the telemetry unit 502. The transmission coupling systems 511 and 512 may allow the telemetry unit 502 to transmit power to the transmission coupling device 507 using, for example, electro-magnetic induction or RF induction. The telemetry unit 502 may then distribute power to the tools 508, for example, using the cable 509. The sensor array may also be powered by, for example, any number of batteries in any of the tools 508 and the transmission coupling device 507, or by any suitable manner of generating electricity in a down-hole environment. Each of the tools 508 and the transmission coupling device 507 may have their own power source, or power may be distributed among them, for example, using the cable 509.
The sensor array may also be held in position within casing 604 using, for example, magnets in the sensor array. Magnets may be placed in, or attached to, the tools 608, or attached elsewhere on the sensor array, and may be used to attach the sensor array to casing 604 magnetically. The magnets may be, for example, electro-magnets, which may be controllable from the computer 601.
The transmission coupling device 707 may be aligned with telemetry unit 702 near the bottom (or any other position) of casing 704 during deployment. A tool 708 may be attached below the transmission coupling device 707 by cable 710, so that the tool 708 may be within the borehole wall 705 but outside casing 704 when the sensor array is deployed, while the transmission coupling device 707 is still within casing 704. Concrete 706 may continue past casing 704, and may or may not be in between the tool 708 and the borehole wall 705. In this way, the tool 708 may monitor the well below the lower end of casing 704 while still using the transmission system to communicate with devices on the surface, such as the computer 701. The tool 708 may also receive power from the surface with the rest of the sensor array.
For example, if the transmission coupling systems 1005 and 1006 are magnetic, a material with a high magnetic permeability, such as ferrite, may be used. The modified section 1004 in the wall of casing 1003 between the telemetry unit 1001 and the transmission coupling device 1002 may include ferrite, as depicted in
The ferrite modified section 1004 may have a higher magnetic permeability than the rest of casing 1003, which may facilitate the functioning of magnetic transmission coupling systems 1005 and 1006. This may allow for more effective functioning of the telemetry unit 1001 and the transmission coupling device 1002. For example, higher data transmission rates may be achieved when the telemetry unit 1001 and the transmission coupling device 1002 are separated by the ferrite modified section 1004 instead of the material of the rest of casing 1003, which may be, for example, steel.
If the transmission coupling systems 1005 and 1006 are acoustic, a different material may be used in the modified section 1004. For example, a material with lower acoustic impedance than the material used in the rest of casing 1003, such as, for example, aluminum, may be used in the modified section 1004. Other materials may be used in the modified section 1004 depending on the type of transmission coupling systems 1005 and 1006 used by the telemetry unit 1001 and the transmission coupling device 1002.
In block 1102, space between a borehole wall and the casing may be filled in. For example, as depicted in
In block 1103, a sensor array may be deployed inside the casing. For example, as depicted in
In block 1104, the sensor array and transmission system may be used for monitoring the casing, well, and the earth around the well. For example, as depicted in
In block 1105, if the sensor array needs removal, flow proceeds to block 1106. Otherwise, flow proceeds back to block 1104, where monitoring may continue. The sensor array may be removed from the casing when, for example, a tool or transmission coupling system is malfunctioning and in need of repair or replacement; different, new or upgraded tools, sensors in the tools, or transmission coupling systems are going to be deployed; activities within the well require removal of the sensor array, or the well no longer needs monitoring.
In block 1106, the sensor array may be removed from the casing. If the sensor array needs to be removed, the deployment tool, for example, as depicted in
In block 1107, if further monitoring is needed, flow proceeds back to block 1103, where a sensor array may be deployed within the casing. Otherwise, flow proceeds to block 1108. Further monitoring may be needed after the sensor array has been retrieved, for example, when the sensor array was retrieved for repair or replacement of components or to be replaced with a new sensor array, when removal of the sensor array was temporary to allow for activities within the well, when environmental conditions within or around the well require further monitoring, or in any other situation where monitoring of the well may need to resume. The sensor array deployed after going back to block 1103 may be a different sensor array than the sensor array retrieved in block 1106, or may be the same sensor array, which may or may not have been modified.
In block 1108, the transmission system may be left in place. Because the transmission system may be encased in concrete, the transmission system may be permanent, and may stay in place even after the well no longer appears to need monitoring by the sensor array. The transmission system may be used again should the well end up requiring monitoring in the future.
The disclosed exemplary embodiments provide an apparatus and method for a retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system. It should be understood that this description is not intended to limit the invention. On the contrary, the exemplary embodiments are intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which are included in the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Further, in the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the claimed invention. However, one skilled in the art would understand that various embodiments may be practiced without such specific details.
Although the features and elements of the present exemplary embodiments are described in the embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features and elements of the embodiments or in various combinations with or without other features and elements disclosed herein.
This written description uses examples of the subject matter disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the same, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus for retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system comprising:
- a casing for a well;
- a transmission system installed on the outside of the casing or in a wall of the casing; and
- a sensor array,
- wherein the sensor array is adapted to couple with the transmission system, and where a wall of the casing is disposed between the sensor array and the transmission system.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmission system comprises a telemetry unit and a transmission cable.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensor array comprises at least one tool and a transmission coupling device.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmission system is fixed in place by concrete disposed between the casing and a borehole wall.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one tool comprises a sensor, and wherein the sensor is one of a hydrophone, a geophone, an electromagnetic sensor, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a resistivity sensor, a flow meter, a gravity meter, and an oil-water contact device.
6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:
- the telemetry unit comprises a first transmission coupling system; and
- the transmission coupling device comprises a second transmission coupling system, and wherein the first transmission coupling system and the second transmission coupling system are adapted to couple the telemetry unit and the transmission coupling device.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first transmission coupling system and the second transmission coupling system are one of magnetic, acoustic, electro-magnetic induction based, and RF based.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising, a computing device, wherein the computing device is connected to the telemetry unit by the transmission cable.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the telemetry unit is adapted to receive data from and transmit data to the transmission coupling device through the first and second transmission coupling systems and the computing device through the transmission cable.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the telemetry unit is adapted to receive power through the transmission cable and to transmit power to the transmission coupling device through the first and second transmission coupling systems.
11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the casing comprises a modified section disposed between the telemetry unit and the transmission coupling device, and wherein the type of the modified section is based on the type of the first and second transmission coupling systems.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a deployment tool adapted to deploy the sensor array into the casing and retrieve the sensor array from the casing.
13. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one tool of the tool array is disposed outside of the casing when the sensor array is deployed within the casing.
14. An apparatus for a transmission system for a retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system comprising:
- a transmission cable; and
- a telemetry unit adapted to transmit and receive data using the transmission cable, and comprising a transmission coupling system adapted to transmit and receive the data through a wall of a casing.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising at least one clamp adapted to attach the telemetry unit to the casing, and at least one clamp adapted to attach the transmission cable to the casing.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the telemetry unit is further adapted to receive power through the transmission cable and the transmission coupling system is further adapted to transmit power.
17. An apparatus for a sensor array for a retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system comprising:
- at least one tool adapted to monitor at least one characteristic of a well or earth surrounding a well; and
- a transmission coupling device adapted to transmit data to and receive data from the at least one tool and comprising a transmission coupling system adapted to transmit and receive the data through a wall of a casing.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the transmission coupling system is further adapted to receive power, and the transmission coupling device is further adapted to transmit power to the at least one tool.
19. A method for a retrievable semi-permanent monitoring system comprising:
- deploying a sensor array into a casing;
- coupling the sensor array to a transmission system disposed outside the casing;
- monitoring with the sensor array a characteristic of the environment; and
- transmitting a measurement of the characteristic from the sensor array inside the casing to the transmission system outside the casing.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
- before deploying the sensor array, attaching the transmission system outside the casing;
- installing the casing in a well; and
- filling space between the casing and a borehole wall of the well with concrete.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 18, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 24, 2016
Inventor: Jean-Eric NEGRE (Verrieres le Buisso)
Application Number: 14/490,305