U.S. patent application number 14/708781 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-17 for borehole shut-in system with pressure interrogation for non-penetrated borehole barriers.
This patent application is currently assigned to BAKER HUGHES INCOPORATED. The applicant listed for this patent is Michael H. Johnson, Bennett M. Richard. Invention is credited to Michael H. Johnson, Bennett M. Richard.
Application Number | 20150361757 14/708781 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54835733 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150361757 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richard; Bennett M. ; et
al. |
December 17, 2015 |
BOREHOLE SHUT-IN SYSTEM WITH PRESSURE INTERROGATION FOR
NON-PENETRATED BOREHOLE BARRIERS
Abstract
A borehole shut-in system with pressure interrogation for
non-penetrated borehole barriers includes a first non-penetrated
borehole barrier; a second non-penetrated borehole barrier in
spaced relationship with the first non-penetrated borehole barrier.
One or more sensors disposed downhole of one or more of the first
and second borehole barriers; and a conductor disposed between the
first and second borehole barriers and laminated into mandrels of
the first and second barriers. The conductor in operable
communication with the one or more sensors, the conductor
configured to interrogate each of the one or more sensors and
communicate data therefrom to a connector. A method of shutting in
a borehole.
Inventors: |
Richard; Bennett M.;
(Kingwood, TX) ; Johnson; Michael H.; (Katy,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Richard; Bennett M.
Johnson; Michael H. |
Kingwood
Katy |
TX
TX |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
BAKER HUGHES INCOPORATED
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
54835733 |
Appl. No.: |
14/708781 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62013222 |
Jun 17, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/250.01 ;
166/66 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/124 20130101;
E21B 33/134 20130101; E21B 47/10 20130101; E21B 47/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 33/124 20060101
E21B033/124; E21B 47/06 20060101 E21B047/06 |
Claims
1. A borehole shut-in system with pressure interrogation for
non-penetrated borehole barriers comprising: a first non-penetrated
borehole barrier; a second non-penetrated borehole barrier in
spaced relationship with the first non-penetrated borehole barrier;
one or more sensors disposed downhole of one or more of the first
and second borehole barriers; and a conductor disposed between the
first and second borehole barriers and laminated into mandrels of
the first and second barriers, the conductor in operable
communication with the one or more sensors, the conductor
configured to interrogate each of the one or more sensors and
communicate data therefrom to a connector.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more sensors are
pressure sensors.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductor is a
copper wire.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors
are positioned downhole of each barrier.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductor is
alongside a mandrel between the first and second borehole
barriers.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductor is
laminated to a mandrel between the first and second borehole
barriers.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the first and
second borehole barriers is a composite bridge plug.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more sensors are
positioned uphole of a cement plug and between the cement plug and
the first borehole barrier.
9. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein one or more sensors are
positioned between the first borehole barrier and the second
borehole barrier.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a connector
operably attached to the conductor.
11. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a wet
connect in operable communication with the conductor between the
first and second borehole barriers.
12. A method of shutting in a borehole comprising: setting a first
non-penetrated barrier at a selected location within the borehole;
setting a second non-penetrated barrier at a second selected
location within the borehole spaced from the first non-penetrated
barrier; positioning one or more sensors downhole of one or more of
the first and second barriers; and monitoring a parameter with one
or more of the one or more sensors.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising
communicating the monitored parameter from the one or more sensors
through a conductor laminated through the mandrels of one or more
of the first and second barriers.
14. The method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising
downloading data regarding the monitored parameter.
15. The method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising recording
data from the one or more sensors on a data sub.
16. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the setting of the
first barrier and the second barrier occurs simultaneously.
17. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the downloading data
includes connecting a wireline to a connector that is in turn
connected to the one or more sensors.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing
date from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/013,222 filed
Jun. 17, 2014 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the hydrocarbon exploration and recovery industry, there
can be a need to remove borehole equipment such as a tree or blow
out preventer, etc. In such instances it is often required to
install non-penetrated barriers in series per local regulations.
Generally the barriers are placed in the vicinity of an uphole
extent of a lower completion. It is important that the barriers be
non-penetrated since penetrations represent potential leak paths
through the barriers. Barriers must also be tested to ensure
pressure integrity, which both assures control and complies with
regulations. The issue comes from the fact that without
penetrations, information about the borehole beyond the barrier has
historically not been available. For a first barrier, this is
problematic relative to a cement plug generally employed before the
bridge plugs and for a second barrier it is because of the first
barrier.
[0003] More specifically, before the first barrier is deployed in
place, a cement plug is usually installed downhole of where the
first barrier is to be placed. This means that when the first
barrier is pressure tested by pressuring up on the borehole and
watching for leakdown, it is not clear whether the seal is created
by the barrier or by the cement plug. This is problematic as it is
important to know if the barriers themselves are functioning
properly. Another difficulty presents itself when a second barrier
is added to the first. Pressuring up on the borehole after setting
of the second barrier only provides information about the pair of
barriers and the cement plug while it does not provide information
to the operator about which among them is holding the pressure
applied. It could be the second barrier if it is working correctly
but it could just as easily be the first barrier or the cement plug
that is holding the pressure. In such condition, it is possible
that only one of the barriers is actually functioning or that
neither barrier is functioning and that the cement plug is holding
the pressure. There is in the art however no way to verify what is
holding pressure. While applying pressure is the presently accepted
method, the art is always receptive to better configurations and
methodologies that provide more accurate and/or reliable
information about the downhole environment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0004] A borehole shut-in system with pressure interrogation for
non-penetrated borehole barriers includes a first non-penetrated
borehole barrier; a second non-penetrated borehole barrier in
spaced relationship with the first non-penetrated borehole barrier;
one or more sensors disposed downhole of one or more of the first
and second borehole barriers; and a conductor disposed between the
first and second borehole barriers and laminated into mandrels of
the first and second barriers, the conductor in operable
communication with the one or more sensors, the conductor
configured to interrogate each of the one or more sensors and
communicate data therefrom to a connector.
[0005] A method of shutting in a borehole includes setting a first
non-penetrated barrier at a selected location within the borehole;
setting a second non-penetrated barrier at a second selected
location within the borehole spaced from the first non-penetrated
barrier; positioning one or more sensors downhole of one or more of
the first and second barriers; and monitoring a parameter with one
or more of the one or more sensors.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The FIGURE is a schematic representation of a portion of a
borehole system where two barriers and a cement plug are
positioned.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0007] Referring to the FIGURE, a schematic illustration of a
portion of a borehole system 10 is presented. A cement plug 12 is
shown downhole of two barriers 14 and 16. These may be any suitable
non-penetrated barriers and in one embodiment comprise one or more
composite bridge plugs. Each barrier 14 and 16 is required to be a
non-penetrated type barrier due to regulations in many
jurisdictions before removal of borehole equipment such as a tree
or a blowout preventer, for example. Although other barriers may be
used as noted, those illustrated are bridge plugs commercially
available from Baker Hughes Incorporated, Houston Tex.
[0008] A mandrel 18 is disposed between the two barriers thereby
spacing them from one another by a selected distance. The distance
is determined for the specific application, may be any distance
that is convenient for a particular borehole system, and therefore
disclosure of a range of distance is not germane to the present
disclosure. The mandrel is associated with a conductor 20, such as,
for example, a copper wire. The conductor 20 may be laminated into
mandrel 18 as it extends between the two barriers in an embodiment
or it may simply be run alongside the mandrel 18 as no leak path is
created in this location.
[0009] The Conductor 20 must also pass through each barrier's
mandrel, and must do so without the formation of a leak path. This
is accomplished by laminating the conductor 20 into the composite
along with the glass and the epoxy with which the composite is
formed during construction of the bridge plugs or other types of
barriers. Because of the incorporation in the laminate there can be
no leak path created by the conductor through the barriers 14 and
16.
[0010] The conductor 20 is communicatively connected to sensors 22
and 24, which in one embodiment are pressure sensors. The sensors
as illustrated are each downhole of a barrier or at least in
operable communication with the target property as it exists in a
volume defined at least in part by the relevant barrier. More
specifically, sensor 22 is located downhole of barrier 14 and
between barrier 14 and the cement plug 12; and sensor 24 is
positioned downhole of barrier 16, between barrier 14 and barrier
16. The positions of the sensors allow for monitoring of properties
to which the sensors are sensitive between structures that are
intended to prevent migration of such properties. For example, if
pressure is the property, each of the barriers 14 and 16 and the
cement plug 12 itself are intended to prevent pressure
communication across those barriers and the plug. Accordingly, if
the barriers/plug are functioning appropriately there should be no
change in pressure at the sensors. Each sensor is connected to the
conductor 20, which in turn is connected to a connector 26.
Connector 26 may be configured to support a data sub that is
configured to record data from the sensors and download
periodically to wireline or the like or the connector may be
configured to connect to a permanent data line extending to a
remote location, such as the surface. It is to be understood that
any signal conveying configuration is acceptable and contemplated
for connector 26 including electrical, optical, inductive, etc.
With the system as disclosed herein, an operator can be
appropriately, reliably and timely informed as to any changes in
the barrier system. Further, the information can be trended over
time thereby providing advance warning of any developing leak.
[0011] Regarding installation of the system, the barriers 14 and 16
can be configured and set as individual units, or as a single unit
with two bridge plugs (or other barriers) thereon. From an
illustration standpoint, the differing embodiments will look the
same. If the units are run separately, there will be a wet
connector positioned between the two barriers most likely at the
uphole end of the barrier 14 and the downhole end of mandrel 18 but
other locations are possible and contemplated. Wet connects are
known to the art and easily understood by one of ordinary skill in
the art. If the barriers are run separately, the first barrier 14
will normally be pressure tested before the second barrier 16 is
deployed (set or run) If the barriers are run together as a single
unit, a wet connector will not be needed as the conductor 20 will
be connected at surface before running In such a system, it may be
that the two barriers will be set simultaneously or may be that
they are set seriatim, as desired. If set seriatim with barrier 14
set first, there remains the possibility to pressure test barrier
14 independently, if desired. It is noted however that in systems
using the sensors 22 and 24 as taught herein, specific pressure
testing is not necessary because monitoring of change in pressure
after setting will provide sufficient information.
[0012] Also disclosed is a method of shutting in a wellbore using
the system described above the method including: setting a barrier
14 and a barrier 16, positioning sensors in communication with
volumes downhole of respective barriers and monitoring a parameter
such as pressure with the sensors. The method further includes
downloading information from the sensors to a remote location by
periodic download or continuous communication.
[0013] 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. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not
denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second,
etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore,
the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of
quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the
referenced item.
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