WELL INTEGRITY SMART JOINT

Abstract

A well integrity joint including a body, and at least two components of a sensory system, disposed on the joint such that the at least components of a sensory system are connectible by a straight line that does not intersect the body.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/058,912 filed Jul. 30, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

In the resource recovery and fluid sequestration industries, well integrity over the long term is a significant concern. In order to provide greater confidence in long term well integrity. The cement outside a casing of the well is interrogated with acoustic and/or other transducers run in to a desired location. The art has produced several devices that help to bridge any acoustic impediment between the transducer and the casing to improve overall response. With these the art has produced reasonably accurate snapshots related to well integrity. Despite successes in this area, the art would be very receptive to further improvements where both accuracy and timeliness can be enhanced.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of a well integrity joint including a body, and at least two components of a sensory system, disposed on the joint such that the at least components of a sensory system are connectible by a straight line that does not intersect the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a well integrity joint as disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view of a wellbore system including the well integrity joint disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring to FIG. 1, a well integrity joint 10 is illustrated in side view. The joint 10 includes a body 12 that is intended to be deployed in a wellbore and cemented in place to become a casing of the wellbore. The joint 10 includes at least two components 14 of a sensory system. Components 14 may be active or passive components. For example, two transducers, or a reflector and a transducer might be employed. The components may be active or passive acoustic devices and in embodiments include cement bond log components, ultrasonic components, etc. In any event, the components are disposed about a periphery of the body 12. Advantage is achieved by ensuring the components 14 are “line of sight” to one another, or alternatively stated, they are connectible by a straight line 15 that does not intersect the body, the angular displacement between the components 14 must take into account the radius of the body 12. The closer the components 14 are to the body 12, the closer they must be to one another in order to ensure that the “line of sight is maintained. The longer the components 14 are however, measured in a direction radial to a longitudinal axis of the body 12 the further the components 14 may be from one another while still maintaining the line of sight. Stated alternatively, the further (measured radially) that a component is from the body, the greater the angularity (azimuthally) between the components can be without the straight line intersecting the body 12. To this end, employing supports 16 to mount the components 14 even further radially from the body 12, will increase the angle that may be approached without violating the overriding principle that the straight line must not intersect the body 12. Also, the increasing distance from the casing facilitates interrogation of a greater volume of the cement in the annulus (sometimes the B annulus). With appropriate radial displacement of the components 14 from the body 12 (by being long in themselves or by being mounted to supports 16, the angularity between components that are circumferentially disposed about the body 12 may be from greater than 0 degrees to less than 180 degrees while maintaining the straight line between the two components 14 not intersecting the body 12. The greater the radial displacement from body 12 the greater the angle within the range stated. This is a mathematical limit, but practicality may dictate a smaller angle range since actual borehole annulus radial dimension is limited.

It is to be understood that not only circumferential displacement of components 14 is contemplated but axial displacement as well as a combination of circumferential and axial (e.g. helically arranged, for example) are also contemplated. In each case, the maintenance of a line of sight between two components that are to be a part of a signal communication whether that be one-way (pitch-catch) or reflective (pulse echo) is important. These placements may also be combined among various pairs of components 14. Further, more than one type of component may be disposed in a particular location on body 12 or on supports 16 to provide additional confirmation of signal indication of well integrity. For example, a transducer that is used for a pitch and catch operation may be disposed upon a certain support 16 and a reflector may also be disposed on that particular support 16. The reflector may operate in a pulse echo operation with another transducer on another support while the transducer on the same support communicates with a different transducer on yet another support 16. Further, Spectral Radial CBL (cement bond log) sensors 18 may also be employed on the support 16 as well or separately as illustrated in FIG. 1. In fact, as many sensors or transceivers as are desired may be disposed at a support providing there is sufficient room to install them.

Each of the configurations and permutations introduced above facilitates direct inquiry of cement outside of the well casing. This has never been possible in the art. By ensuring the components 14 has a direct line of sight without interfering portions of the body or of any support, better, more consistent and reliable information regarding integrity of the cement may be obtained. The system accordingly uses actual cement properties rather than theoretical laboratory-based cement properties enabling better analysis of the actual strength, possible channeling, and other properties of the cement being monitored. This is true whether the well integrity joints are used intermittently or continuously in real time. In the event that the well integrity joints 10 are used to continuously monitor a well system, proactive actions are facilitated to address integrity issues while they are easy to address rather than as in the prior art, more reactively addressing issues, in which case they are often much more onerous to handle. It is also contemplated in connection with the monitoring using this system that Scanite metamaterial may be added to the cement as it is being mixed rendering the joint 10 and methods disclosed herein even more sensitive.

In an embodiment of the joint 10, and as illustrated, supports 16 are also fins of stabilizer subs 20. They need not be a part of the stabilizer subs 20 but as shown the combination of utilities this configuration for efficiency. In this embodiment, CBL sensors 18 are disposed about the body 12 separately from the supports 16.

Communicating the information collected in the joint 10 may be by short hop communications, through casing acoustic communication, dedicated signal carriers in the cemented annulus, radio signal communication, etc.

Referring to FIG. 3, a wellbore system 30 employing the well integrity joint (up to many of them) is illustrated. The system 30 includes a borehole 32 in a subsurface formation 34. A casing 36 is disposed in the borehole 30 and cemented in place with cement 38. The casing 36 includes at least one well integrity joint 10 therein.

Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1: A well integrity joint including a body, and at least two components of a sensory system, disposed on the joint such that the at least components of a sensory system are connectible by a straight line that does not intersect the body.

Embodiment 2: The joint as in any prior embodiment further including at least two supports on or as a part of the pipe joint, the at least two supports extending radially outwardly of the body, one of the at least two components of a sensory system being disposed on one of the at least two supports.

Embodiment 3: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein the straight line does not intersect any of the at least two supports.

Embodiment 4: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are transducers.

Embodiment 5: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are a transducer and a reflector.

Embodiment 6: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are active acoustic components.

Embodiment 7: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are ultrasonic components.

Embodiment 8: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are cement bond log components.

Embodiment 9: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are passive acoustic components.

Embodiment 10: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are arranged about a circumference of the body.

Embodiment 11: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are arranged along a length of the body.

Embodiment 12: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are arranged angularly relative to one another wherein the angular range is from greater than zero degrees apart to less than 180 degrees apart.

Embodiment 13: The joint as in any prior embodiment further including a temperature sensor disposed on or as a part of the casing body.

Embodiment 14: A method for monitoring well cement including propagating a signal between the at least two components of a sensory system as in any prior embodiment.

Embodiment 15: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the signal is propagated through cement disposed between the at least two components of a sensory system.

Embodiment 16: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the signal is continuous over time.

Embodiment 17: A method for operating a wellbore system including disposing one or more well integrity joints as in any prior embodiment in a borehole, and monitoring integrity of the borehole over time using the one or more well integrity joints.

Embodiment 18: A wellbore system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, and a casing string in the borehole, the casing string including a well integrity joint as in any prior embodiment.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.

Claims

1. A well integrity joint comprising:

a body; and

at least two components of a sensory system, disposed on the joint such that the at least components of a sensory system are connectible by a straight line that does not intersect the body.

2. The joint as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

at least two supports on or as a part of the pipe joint, the at least two supports extending radially outwardly of the body, one of the at least two components of a sensory system being disposed on one of the at least two supports.

3. The joint as claimed in claim 2 wherein the straight line does not intersect any of the at least two supports.

4. The joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are transducers.

5. The joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are a transducer and a reflector.

6. The joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are active acoustic components.

7. The joint as claimed in claim 6 wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are ultrasonic components.

8. The joint as claimed in claim 6 wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are cement bond log components.

9. The joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are passive acoustic components.

10. The joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are arranged about a circumference of the body.

11. The joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are arranged along a length of the body.

12. The joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are arranged angularly relative to one another wherein the angular range is from greater than zero degrees apart to less than 180 degrees apart.

13. The joint as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a temperature sensor disposed on or as a part of the casing body.

14. A method for monitoring well cement comprising;

propagating a signal between the at least two components of a sensory system as claimed in claim 1.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the signal is propagated through cement disposed between the at least two components of a sensory system.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the signal is continuous over time.

17. A method for operating a wellbore system comprising:

disposing one or more well integrity joints as claimed in claim 1 in a borehole; and

monitoring integrity of the borehole over time using the one or more well integrity joints.

18. A wellbore system comprising:

a borehole in a subsurface formation; and

a casing string in the borehole, the casing string including a well integrity joint as claimed in claim 1.