U.S. patent application number 16/488833 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-27 for sensor configuration.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Shailesh Shashank Dighe, Douglas Patterson, Thorsten Regener.
Application Number | 20200063547 16/488833 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63523140 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200063547 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dighe; Shailesh Shashank ;
et al. |
February 27, 2020 |
SENSOR CONFIGURATION
Abstract
A sensor configuration including a centralizer having a rib, a
hollow defined within the rib, and a sensor positioned within the
hollow. A borehole system including a borehole, a tubular string
disposed within the borehole, a centralizer having a rib, and the
rib defining a hollow, disposed upon the tubular string, a sensor
within the hollow. A method for acquiring data in a borehole
including running a sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment
on a tubular string into a borehole, cementing the tubular string
in the borehole, and sensing with the sensor configuration, a
parameter in the borehole.
Inventors: |
Dighe; Shailesh Shashank;
(Katy, TX) ; Patterson; Douglas; (Spring, TX)
; Regener; Thorsten; (Wienhausen, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED |
HOUSTON |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Baker Hughes, a GE company,
LLC
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
63523140 |
Appl. No.: |
16/488833 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
March 17, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2017/022896 |
371 Date: |
August 26, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 17/1078 20130101;
E21B 47/005 20200501; E21B 47/07 20200501; E21B 47/06 20130101;
E21B 47/01 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 47/00 20060101
E21B047/00; E21B 47/06 20060101 E21B047/06; E21B 17/10 20060101
E21B017/10 |
Claims
1. A sensor configuration comprising a centralizer having a rib; a
hollow defined within the rib; and a sensor positioned within the
hollow.
2. The sensor configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
centralizer is a solid body centralizer.
3. The sensor configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
sensor is entirely contained within the hollow.
4. The sensor configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
sensor is sealed within the hollow.
5. The sensor configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
sensor is a cement integrity sensor.
6. The sensor configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
sensor is a temperature sensor.
7. The sensor configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
sensoris a pressure sensor.
8. The sensor configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rib
is more than one rib, at least more than one of the more than one
ribs containing sensors.
9. The sensor configuration as claimed in claim 8 wherein the
sensors are selected from the same type of sensor or different
sensors for the more than one of the more than one rib.
10. The sensor configuration as claimed in claim 2 wherein the
centralizer comprises a metallic material.
11. The sensor configuration as claimed in claim 2 wherein the
centralizer comprises a polymeric material.
12. A borehole system comprising: a borehole; a tubular string
disposed within the borehole; a centralizer having a rib, and the
rib defining a hollow, disposed upon the tubular string; a sensor
within the hollow.
13. A method for acquiring data in a borehole comprising: running a
sensor configuration as claimed in claim 1 on a tubular string into
a borehole; cementing the tubular string in the borehole; and
sensing with the sensor configuration, a parameter in the
borehole.
14. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the sensing is over
time.
15. The method as claimed in claim 11 further including running
another tool whose primary function is not sensor interrogation
with an interrogator thereon.
16. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the tookis a drilling
assembly.
17. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the tool is a
completion string.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] In the resource exploration and recovery industry,
information about conditions in the downhole environment is often
helpful. One particular example of information is to know what the
condition of the cement integrity is. are means to determine such
information available in the art, that include running a wireline
into a borehole after a cementing job is completed and sensing
parameters related to the integrity of that cement. The results of
the method are generally good but this method does require an
additional wireline run. Rig time is ever-increasingly expensive
and at the time of writing of this disclosure is running upwards of
a million dollars a day. While it is possible to forego the
information, it is preferable to have more rather than less
information about the downhole conditions in order to avoid
downtime, inefficiencies, etc. Accordingly the art would welcome
alternative configurations that provide information about the
downhole environment but also reduce rig time.
SUMMARY
[0002] A sensor configuration including a centralizer having a rib,
a hollow defined within the rib, and a sensor positioned within the
hollow.
[0003] A borehole system including a borehole, a tubular string
disposed within the borehole, a centralizer having a rib, and the
rib defining a hollow, disposed upon the tubular string, a sensor
within the hollow.
[0004] A method for acquiring data in a borehole including running
a sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment on a tubular
string into a borehole, cementing the tubular string in the
borehole, and sensing with the sensor configuration, a parameter in
the borehole.
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 is a schematic illustration of a borehole with a
tubular member therein and a solid body centralizer as described
herein;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the centralizer
illustrated in FIG. 1; and
[0008] FIG. 3 is an illustration similar to FIG. 1 but including
another string in the borehole.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] 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.
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, a sensor configuration 10 is
illustrated in situ. The Figure includes borehole 12 within which
is also disposed a tubular string 14, the sensor configuration
being disposed about the string. The sensor configuration 10
comprises a centralizer 16 with a sensor 18 (while the term sensor
may mean just a sensor itself, it is broadly intended herein to
also include associated electronics and/or a power source) disposed
therein (one or more sensors in one or more centralizer ribs) as
discussed in more detail below. Centralizers 16 are commonly
employed to maintain a tubular string at or near a center axis of a
borehole 12 in which the tubular string 14 is disposed. Centralizer
types known in the art include solid body centralizers (having an
inside diameter surface that will fit over a tubular and a body of
material that includes ribs, the material being essentially a solid
mass or foamed mass or machined on a tubular like a stabilizer on a
bottom hole assembly). Centralizers may be constructed of most
materials having sufficient crush resistance to function as a
centralizer in a downhole environment. Determination of suitability
of a particular material for the task at hand is well within the
level of skill of one of ordinary skill in the art. Metal material
and polymeric material are two examples of materials
employable.
[0011] Referring to FIG. 2, a cross section view of a sensor
configuration 10 as disclosed herein is illustrated. The sensor
configuration 10, as noted above, comprises a centralizer 16 and a
sensor 18 disposed therein. The centralizer 16 is of a solid body
type if viewed from an exterior thereof, with ribs 20 (helical or
axially straight or of any other configuration) extending radially
outwardly of a body 22. One or more of the ribs 20 defines a hollow
24 therein sufficient in size to accommodate the sensor 18 (and/or
electronics, and/or power source). It should be appreciated that
particular dimensions of the hollow 24 may be different in various
iterations of the sensor configuration depending upon the
particular size and type of sensor selected for use. One particular
sensor contemplated for use in this configuration is a
piezoelectric transducer utilized in a commercial tool known as a
segmented bond tool (SBT) available from Baker Hughes Incorporated
Houston Tex. from the SBT is positioned within the hollow 24. The
sensor 18 may be configured to operate on battery power (disposed
in the hollow with the sensor), inductive power from another tool
run in the well later, power generated downhole, etc. electronics
required to control the sensor and the power supply (both
collectively under the penumbra of numeral 18) may be located in
the hollow 24 as well.
[0012] The sensor configuration 10 is to be disposed on the tubular
14 in the same manner as prior art solid body centralizers are used
specifically, the centralizer 16 is disposed on the tubular 14 and
secured in place. In an alternate embodiment, the centralizer 16
may be located in between two segments of tubular 14 similar to a
stabilizer in a drill string. Securement may be by welding,
threading, or any other securement method know to the art for
securement of centralizers or stabilizers. Important to note is
that the centralizer presents no impediment to the inside diameter
flow area of the tubular 14. Rib 20 containing sensor 18 is located
in the annular space outside of the tubular 14. Sensors for cement
integrity checks of the past were run in the ID of the tubing
string 14, thereby necessarily being an impediment to flow but also
requiring the separate run of wireline that the disclosure herein
avoids. The sensors 18, being contained with the hollow 24 and in
some embodiments being sealed within the hollow 24, also have no
impact on flow area within the tubular 14. Of the possible types of
sensors that may be employed in the hollow(s) 24, some include
cement integrity sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors,
etc. or combinations including at least one of the foregoing. Also,
since generally more than one rib will be a part of a centralizer,
it is contemplated to dispose one or more different sensors in
different ribs. Stated alternately, in an embodiment where there
are four ribs and wherein each of those four ribs is possessed of a
hollow, there could be four sensors of the same type, three of the
same and one different, a different sensor in each rib, some ribs
without sensors, etc. It is also contemplated to but more than one
type of sensor in a single hollow in iterations hereof.
[0013] In connection with embodiments that include a cement
integrity sensor, in addition to the SBT sensor noted above, other
sensors such as Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs), wedge
transducers, pulse-echo transducers, pitch-catch configuration or
combinations including at least one of the foregoing are
contemplated. It is to be appreciated that the location of the
cement integrity sensor in the ribs 20 is advantageous in itself
for SBT type sensors. Specifically, the sensors being positioned
outside of the tubular 14 brings them closer to the cement that the
sensor is to examine and avoids the need for a sensory signal to
pass through the tubular string 14 itself as would be the case in
prior art systems.
[0014] Regardless of type of sensor used, the sensor configuration
is a permanent part of the tubular string 14 and hence allows for
sensory readings over time with related storage of that sensory
information to the extent of an on board memory in the sensor 18.
The information stored can be sent to surface via a communications
conduit put in place with the tubular string 14, or can be
downloaded to an after run tool 26 such as a drilling assembly, a
completion string, etc., that includes an interrogator 28 (see FIG.
3). And while one of the benefits of the sensor configuration
hereof is to avoid the need for a dedicated run to obtain sensory
information such as with a wireline run of a sensor, it is possible
to run a dedicated interrogation tool to receive the data stored in
the sensor 18.
[0015] The embodiments contemplated herein may be manufactured by
traditional manufacturing methods or by additive manufacturing
methods.
[0016] A method for acquiring data from a borehole is also
contemplated including disposing a centralizer defining a hollow in
a rib and a sensor in the hollow in a tubing string; collecting
data with the sensor. The data may be collected over time since the
sensor is permanently mounted on the tubular string in the
borehole. The sensor may communicate the data or store the data for
future delivery to an interrogator. The interrogator may be run on
a tool having a primary function other than as an interrogator such
as a drilling assembly, a completion string, wireline, slick-line,
etc. The data may be of any kind, including data for the parameters
set forth hereinabove.
[0017] Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing
disclosure:
Embodiment 1
[0018] A sensor configuration including a centralizer having a rib,
a hollow defined within the rib, and a sensor positioned within the
hollow.
Embodiment 2
[0019] The sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment wherein
the centralizer is a solid body centralizer.
Embodiment 3
[0020] The sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment wherein
the sensor is entirely contained within the hollow.
Embodiment 4
[0021] The sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment wherein
the sensor is sealed within the hollow.
Embodiment 5
[0022] The sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment wherein
the sensor is a cement integrity sensor.
Embodiment 6
[0023] The sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment wherein
the sensor is a temperature sensor.
Embodiment 7
[0024] The sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment wherein
the sensor is a pressure sensor.
Embodiment 8
[0025] The sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment wherein
the rib is more than one rib, at least more than one of the more
than one ribs containing sensors.
Embodiment 9
[0026] The sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment wherein
the sensors are selected from the same type of sensor or different
sensors for the more than one of the more than one rib.
Embodiment 10
[0027] The sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment wherein
the centralizer comprises a metallic material.
Embodiment 11
[0028] The sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment wherein
the centralizer comprises a polymeric material.
Embodiment 12
[0029] A borehole system including a borehole, a tubular string
disposed within the borehole, a centralizer having a rib, and the
rib defining a hollow, disposed upon the tubular string, a sensor
within the hollow.
Embodiment 13
[0030] A method for acquiring data in a borehole including running
a sensor configuration as in any prior embodiment on a tubular
string into a borehole, cementing the tubular string in the
borehole, and sensing with the sensor configuration, a parameter in
the borehole.
Embodiment 14
[0031] The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the sensing is
over time.
Embodiment 15
[0032] The method as in any prior embodiment further including
running another tool whose primary function is not sensor
interrogation with an interrogator thereon.
Embodiment 16
[0033] The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the tool is a
drilling assembly.
Embodiment 17
[0034] The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the tool is a
completion string.
[0035] 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 further 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 modifier "about" used in
connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has
the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree
of error associated with measurement of the particular
quantity).
[0036] The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a
variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one
or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident
in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such
as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of
liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof.
Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to,
fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion
agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers,
demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well
operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing,
stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam
injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
[0037] 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.
* * * * *