U.S. patent application number 14/547719 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-19 for fluid flow location identification positioning system, method of detecting flow in a tubular and method of treating a formation.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baker Hughes Incorporated. The applicant listed for this patent is William Aaron Burton, YingQing Xu. Invention is credited to William Aaron Burton, YingQing Xu.
Application Number | 20160138387 14/547719 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55961241 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160138387 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Xu; YingQing ; et
al. |
May 19, 2016 |
FLUID FLOW LOCATION IDENTIFICATION POSITIONING SYSTEM, METHOD OF
DETECTING FLOW IN A TUBULAR AND METHOD OF TREATING A FORMATION
Abstract
A fluid flow location identification positioning system
includes, at least one component that is attachable within a
tubular at any user selectable location within the tubular, and an
identifier in operable communication with the at least one
component configured to be eroded by fluid that flows therepast, at
least trace amounts of the identifier are releasable into fluid
that erodes the identifier
Inventors: |
Xu; YingQing; (Tomball,
TX) ; Burton; William Aaron; (Houston, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Xu; YingQing
Burton; William Aaron |
Tomball
Houston |
TX
TX |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Baker Hughes Incorporated
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
55961241 |
Appl. No.: |
14/547719 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/250.12 ;
166/179; 73/152.18 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/134 20130101;
E21B 33/12 20130101; E21B 47/11 20200501 |
International
Class: |
E21B 47/10 20060101
E21B047/10; E21B 33/12 20060101 E21B033/12 |
Claims
1. A fluid flow location identification positioning system,
comprising: at least one component being attachable within a
tubular at any user selectable location within the tubular; and an
identifier in operable communication with the at least one
component configured to be eroded by fluid that flows therepast, at
least trace amounts of the identifier being releasable into fluid
that erodes the identifier.
2. The fluid flow location identification positioning system of
claim 1, further comprising at least one second component being
attachable within the tubular at any user selectable location
within the tubular, and a second identifier in operable
communication with the at least one second component configured to
be eroded by fluid that flows therepast, trace amounts of the
second identifier being releasable into fluid that erodes the
second identifier.
3. The fluid flow location identification positioning system of
claim 2, wherein the identifier is different than the second
identifier.
4. The fluid flow location identification positioning system of
claim 1, wherein the identifier is detectable in fluid downstream
from the at least one component.
5. The fluid flow location identification positioning system of
claim 1, wherein concentrations of the identifier within fluid are
measurable.
6. The fluid flow location identification positioning system of
claim 5, wherein the measured concentrations are proportional to a
fluid flow rate of fluid past the at least one component.
7. The fluid flow location identification positioning system of
claim 5, wherein a fluid flow rate past the at least one component
is determinable by the measured concentrations of the
identifier.
8. The fluid flow location identification positioning system of
claim 7, wherein a second identifier attached at a second location
within the tubular allows determination of fluid flow rates
therepast.
9. The fluid flow location identification positioning system of
claim 1, wherein the at least one component is part of a frac plug
or bridge plug.
10. The fluid flow location identification positioning system of
claim 9, wherein the frac plug or bridge plug has a flow through
area configured to produce fluid therethrough.
11. The fluid flow location identification positioning system of
claim 1, wherein the identifier is retained in a groove, opening or
cavity in the at least one component.
12. The fluid flow location identification positioning system of
claim 1, wherein the identifier is incorporated into the at least
one component.
13. A method of detecting flow in a tubular, comprising:
positioning an identifier at any location within a tubular; flowing
fluid through the tubular past the identifier; eroding the
identifier; and detecting at least trace amounts of the identifier
in fluid downstream of the location.
14. The method of detecting flow in a tubular of claim 13, further
comprising concluding that fluid is flowing past the identifier by
detecting the at least trace amounts of the identifier in fluid
downstream of the location.
15. The method of detecting flow in a tubular of claim 13, further
comprising measuring concentration of the identifier in fluid.
16. The method of detecting flow in a tubular of claim 15, further
comprising determining a flow rate of fluid past the identifier at
the location based on the measured concentrations of the
identifier.
17. The method of detecting flow in a tubular of claim 13, further
comprising producing fluid through the tubular past the
identifier.
18. The method of detecting flow in a tubular of claim 13, further
comprising: positioning a second identifier at any second location
within the tubular; flowing fluid through the tubular past the
second identifier; eroding the second identifier; and detecting at
least trace amounts of the second identifier in fluid downstream of
the second location.
19. The method of detecting flow in a tubular of claim 18, further
comprising determining a flow rate of fluid past the identifier
separately from determining flow rate of fluid flow past the second
identifier.
20. The method of detecting flow in a tubular of claim 18, further
comprising positioning the identifier within a groove, opening or
cavity of a component of a frac plug or bridge plug.
21. A method of treating a formation, comprising: setting a frac
plug or bridge plug within a tubular; plugging the frac plug or
bridge plug with a plug; treating a formation upstream of the
plugged frac plug or bridge plug; removing the plug; producing
fluid through the frac plug or bridge plug; eroding an identifier
positioned at the frac plug or bridge plug with fluid flowing
therepast; and detecting at least trace amounts of the identifier
in fluid downstream of the frac plug or bridge plug.
22. The method of treating a formation or claim 21, further
comprising measuring concentrations of the identifier in fluid.
23. The method of treating a formation or claim 21, further
comprising determining fluid flow rates past the frac plug or
bridge plug with the measured concentrations.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Tubular systems often have multiple openings through which
fluid can flow and thereby commingle with fluid already flowing
within the tubular. Regardless of where such flow enters the
tubular it may be beneficial for an operator to know whether or not
fluid is flowing through a particular portion of the tubular.
Positioning flow measuring devices and the telemetry to communicate
readings from the flow measuring devices though effective may be
overly complex for some applications. Simple systems and methods
that allow one to determine such things are therefore of interest
to those who practice in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0002] Disclosed herein is a fluid flow location identification
positioning system. The system includes, at least one component
that is attachable within a tubular at any user selectable location
within the tubular, and an identifier in operable communication
with the at least one component configured to be eroded by fluid
that flows therepast, at least trace amounts of the identifier are
releasable into fluid that erodes the identifier.
[0003] Further disclosed herein is a method of detecting flow in a
tubular. The method includes, positioning an identifier at any
location within a tubular, flowing fluid through the tubular past
the identifier, eroding the identifier, and detecting at least
trace amounts of the identifier in fluid downstream of the
location.
[0004] Further disclosed herein is a method of treating a
formation. The method includes, setting a frac plug or bridge plug
within a tubular, plugging the frac plug or bridge plug with a
plug, treating a formation upstream of the plugged frac plug or
bridge plug, removing the plug, producing fluid through the frac
plug or bridge plug, eroding an identifier positioned at the frac
plug or bridge plug with fluid flowing therepast, and detecting at
least trace amounts of the identifier in fluid downstream of the
frac plug or bridge plug.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting
in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like
elements are numbered alike:
[0006] FIG. 1 depicts a partial side cross sectional schematic view
of a fluid flow location identification positioning system disclose
herein; and
[0007] FIG. 2 depicts a side cross sectional view of a frac plug or
bridge plug employable in the fluid flow location identification
positioning system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] 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.
[0009] Referring to FIG. 1 an embodiment of a fluid flow location
identification positioning system disclosed herein is illustrated
at 10. The system 10 includes, at least one component 14, 16, with
two being illustrated that are attachable within a tubular 22 at
any user selectable locations 18, 20 within the tubular 22. The
selected locations 18, 20 require no special preparation within the
tubular 22. The system 10 also includes at least one identifier 24,
28 with two being illustrated herein that are in operable
communication with the two components 14, 16. The identifiers 24,
28 are configured to be eroded by fluid flowing therepast, such
that at least trace amounts 34, 38 of the identifiers 24, 28 are
releasable into fluid that erodes the identifiers 24, 28. The at
least trace amounts 34, 38 are detectable in fluid downstream of
the identifiers 24, 28. This detection allows an operator to
determine whether any fluid is flowing past the identifiers 24, 28
and necessarily that fluid is flowing past the locations 18, 20 of
the identifiers 24, 28 within the tubular 22.
[0010] Concentrations of the identifiers 24, 28 within fluid can
also be measured to provide quantitative data. By configuring the
identifiers 24, 28 to be eroded at a rate that is proportional to
flow rate of fluid therepast, flow rates of fluid can be determined
by measuring the concentration of the identifiers 24, 28 within
fluid at a downstream location 42. By making the identifiers 24, 28
different from one another fluid flow rates 44, 48 past each of the
identifiers 24, 28 (and thus past the locations 18, 20) can
determined separately. If, for example, in the illustrated
embodiment with just the two identifiers 24, 28, concentrations of
the trace amounts 34, 38 measured at the downstream location 42
were identical then the fluid flow rates 44, 48 must be the same.
Or, stated another way, there must be no additional fluid flow
being introduced to the tubular 22 between the first location 18
and the second location 20.
[0011] If, in another scenario however, measurements taken at the
downstream location 42 reveal that the concentration of the first
identifier 24 is half the concentration of the second identifier 28
it can be determined that the fluid flow rate 44 is half of the
fluid flow rate 48. Then it is a simple matter to proportion the
total flow rate 50 at the downstream location 42 according to the
proportions flowing by each of the locations 18 and 20.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a plug such as a frac
plug or bridge plug, for example, employable within the fluid flow
location identification positioning system 10 is illustrated at 60.
The frac plug 60 is settable within the tubular 22, shown in this
embodiment as an open hole (although the tubular can be a casing or
liner as illustrated in FIG. 1), within a borehole 64 in an earth
formation 68 in a hydrocarbon recovery or carbon dioxide
sequestration application, for example. The frac plug 60 has slips
72 that can anchor the frac plug 60 to the tubular 22 in response
to radially expanding while being axially moved relative to a cone
76. A seal 80 is also radially expandable into sealing engagement
with the tubular 22 in response to being axially moved relative to
the cone 76 or relative to a second cone 84. An optional retainer
88 can hold the slips 72 engaged with the tubular 22 by preventing
axial movement of the slips 72 in the opposite direction than the
direction that caused the slips 72 to radially expand. It should be
appreciated that this frac plug 60 can be positioned anywhere along
the tubular 22 since no features are required within the tubular 22
for setting of the frac plug 60 within the tubular 22. The frac
plug also 60 includes a seat 92 that can be sealed by a plug 96 run
thereagainst. Once the plug 96 is seated pressure can build
upstream of the plug 96 to allow for treating, such as acidizing,
for example or fracturing of the formation 68.
[0013] The frac plug 60 provides a platform for positioning the
identifiers 24, 28 at the locations 18, 20 along the tubular 22.
The identifiers 24, 28 can be separate elements positionally
retained by the frac plug 60 as is shown in the illustrated
embodiment by a radially groove 98. Alternatively, the identifiers
24, 28 can be positioned in grooves, openings or cavities, for
example, in one or more of the slips 72, the cones 76, 84, the seal
80 or the retainer 88, or other component of the frac plug 60. For
example, the identifiers 24, 28 can also be positioned within other
functional parts such as set screws 100, shear screws and rings,
and locking rings (not shown), to name a few. In another embodiment
the identifier can be integrally incorporated into one or more of
the components 14, 16, 60, 72, 76, 80, 84 and 88 such that the one
or more components 14, 16, 60, 72, 76, 80, 84 and 88 including the
identifier incorporated therein are eroded simultaneously.
[0014] The embodiment of the frac plug 60 illustrated herein has a
smallest radial dimension 102 that is quite large in comparison to
a radial dimension 106 of walls 110 of the tubular 22. The ratio of
the smallest radial dimension 102 to the radial dimension 106 of
the walls 110 may be set to be within the range of about 70 to 80
percent. The large flow area through the frac plug 60 allows for
significant flow rates through the frac plug 60 while creating
little restriction. As such, hydrocarbon recovery applications, for
example, can leave the frac plug 60 in place within the tubular 22
while producing hydrocarbons therethrough. In fact, the frac plug
60 can remain within the tubular 22 for the life of the well
thereby negating any loss of production that might result during
any downtime of the well while the frac plug 60 is milled or
drilled out from within the tubular 22.
[0015] Regardless of where specifically the identifiers 24, 28 are
positioned, they can take one or more of several different forms.
The identifiers 24, 28 can be cloth, for example, and come in
various colors, or they can be elastomeric, clay, or even one or
more of constituent materials that are compressed or sintered
together. As long as the identifiers 24, 28 can be readily eroded
by fluid flowing relative thereto and then detected in the fluid
downstream, any material may suffice. Additionally, orienting the
identifiers 24, 28 relative to fluid flowing therepast to promote
erosion of the identifiers 24, 28 might facilitate the identifiers
24, 28 being eroded at a rate proportional to the flow rate of
fluid therepast.
[0016] 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.
* * * * *