U.S. patent application number 17/388607 was filed with the patent office on 2022-02-03 for well integrity smart joint.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Shailesh Dighe, Scott Ingram, Douglas Patterson, Marc Ramirez, Thorsten Regener. Invention is credited to Shailesh Dighe, Scott Ingram, Douglas Patterson, Marc Ramirez, Thorsten Regener.
Application Number | 20220034172 17/388607 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220034172 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Patterson; Douglas ; et
al. |
February 3, 2022 |
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.
Inventors: |
Patterson; Douglas;
(Magnolia, TX) ; Ingram; Scott; (Spring, TX)
; Dighe; Shailesh; (Katy, TX) ; Regener;
Thorsten; (Wienhausen, DE) ; Ramirez; Marc;
(Missouri City, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Patterson; Douglas
Ingram; Scott
Dighe; Shailesh
Regener; Thorsten
Ramirez; Marc |
Magnolia
Spring
Katy
Wienhausen
Missouri City |
TX
TX
TX
TX |
US
US
US
DE
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations
LLC
Houston
TX
|
Appl. No.: |
17/388607 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
63058912 |
Jul 30, 2020 |
|
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International
Class: |
E21B 17/08 20060101
E21B017/08; E21B 47/01 20060101 E21B047/01; E21B 47/005 20060101
E21B047/005; E21B 47/07 20060101 E21B047/07; E21B 47/18 20060101
E21B047/18 |
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.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] 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
[0002] 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
[0003] 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
[0004] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting
in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like
elements are numbered alike:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a side view of a well integrity joint as disclosed
herein;
[0006] FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. 1; and
[0007] FIG. 3 is a view of a wellbore system including the well
integrity joint disclosed herein.
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, 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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.
[0015] Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing
disclosure:
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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.
[0018] Embodiment 3: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein
the straight line does not intersect any of the at least two
supports.
[0019] Embodiment 4: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein
the at least two components of a sensory system are
transducers.
[0020] 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.
[0021] Embodiment 6: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein
the at least two components of a sensory system are active acoustic
components.
[0022] Embodiment 7: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein
the at least two components of a sensory system are ultrasonic
components.
[0023] Embodiment 8: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein
the at least two components of a sensory system are cement bond log
components.
[0024] Embodiment 9: The joint as in any prior embodiment wherein
the at least two components of a sensory system are passive
acoustic components.
[0025] 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.
[0026] 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.
[0027] 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.
[0028] Embodiment 13: The joint as in any prior embodiment further
including a temperature sensor disposed on or as a part of the
casing body.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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.
[0031] Embodiment 16: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein
the signal is continuous over time.
[0032] 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.
[0033] 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.
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.
* * * * *