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Permanent downhole deployment of optical sensors

Abstract

The present invention involves methods and apparatus for permanent downhole deployment of optical sensors. Specifically, optical sensors may be permanently deployed within a wellbore using a casing string. In one aspect, one or more optical sensors are disposed on, in, or within the casing string. The optical sensors may be attached to an outer surface of the casing string or to an inner surface of the casing string, as well as embedded within a wall of the casing string. The optical sensors are capable of measuring wellbore parameters during wellbore operations, including completion, production, and intervention operations.

Classifications

G09F3/20 Casings, frames or enclosures for labels for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels

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CA2634650A1

Canada

Other languages
French
Inventor
F.X. Bostick, Iii
David G. Hosie
Michael Brian Grayson
R.K. Bansal
Current Assignee
Weatherford Lamb Inc

Worldwide applications
2004 CA CA CA

Application CA002634650A events
2011-11-01
Application granted
Anticipated expiration
Expired - Fee Related

Claims (38)
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1. A method of measuring while drilling into a formation, comprising:
locating a casing string within a wellbore, the casing string having at least one sensor attached thereto;
drilling into the formation using a tubular body;
measuring at least one formation parameter using the at least one sensor while drilling into the formation; and geosteering the tubular body using the measurements obtained while drilling.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising predicting pore pressure within the formation using the measurements obtained while drilling.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising troubleshooting using the measurements obtained while drilling.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising maximizing production from the formation using the measurements obtained while drilling.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one optical sensor.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one optical sensor comprises at least one optical seismic sensor.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising imaging ahead of the tubular body while drilling using a seismic source.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the seismic source is a microseismic source for microseismic imaging ahead of the tubular body.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the seismic source is external.
10. A method of acoustic monitoring while drilling into a formation, comprising:
locating a casing string within a wellbore, the casing string having at least one optical sensor attached thereto;
drilling into the formation using a tubular body having an earth removal member operatively attached to its lower end; and performing acoustic monitoring while drilling into the formation.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein performing acoustic monitoring while drilling into the formation comprises monitoring the vibration of the tubular body while drilling into the formation using the tubular body.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tubular body is a drill string.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the tubular body is a casing string.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein performing acoustic monitoring while drilling into the formation comprises monitoring the vibration of the earth removal member while drilling into the formation.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein performing acoustic monitoring while drilling into the formation comprises performing acoustic monitoring of drilling fluid used while drilling into the formation.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting at least one parameter of the drilling fluid based on acoustic monitoring of the drilling fluid.
17. The method of claim 10, further comprising adjusting at least one parameter based on the acoustic monitoring while drilling into the formation.
18. A method of permanently monitoring wellbore or formation parameters, comprising:
providing a casing string having at least one optical sensor attached thereto;
locating the casing string within a wellbore; and measuring one or more wellbore or formation parameters with the at least one optical sensor while drilling.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein locating the casing string within the wellbore comprises:
lowering the casing string into the wellbore; and setting the casing string within the wellbore with a bonding material.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting the measured wellbore or formation parameters to a signal interface for processing into readable information via one or more optical fibers.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more wellbore or formation parameters comprises flow rate of fluid flowing through the casing string, component fractions of the fluid, pressure, temperature, seismic measurements, acoustic measurements, or combinations thereof.
22. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting wellbore conditions based on the one or more wellbore or formation parameters while drilling.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein adjusting wellbore conditions comprises adjusting a flow rate of a drilling fluid while drilling.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein adjusting wellbore conditions comprises adjusting a composition of a drilling fluid while drilling.
25. The method of claim 18, further comprising altering a trajectory of the wellbore while drilling using the one or more wellbore or formation parameters.
26. The method of claim 18, wherein measuring one or more wellbore or formation parameters with the at least one optical sensor is accomplished during hydrocarbon production operations.
27. A method for determining a flow rate or one or more volumetric fractions of individual phases of a fluid flowing through a casing string, comprising:
locating a casing string having one or more optical sensors attached thereto within a wellbore;
measuring one or more parameters of the fluid flowing through the casing string with the one or more optical sensors; and using the one or more parameters to determine the flow rate of the fluid or one or more volumetric fractions of the fluid.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more parameters comprises at least one of density, velocity, speed of sound, pressure, differential pressure, or temperature of the fluid.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more optical sensors comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, temperature sensor, differential pressure sensor, velocity sensor, or speed of sound sensor.
30. The method of claim 27, wherein the optical sensors are attached to the outer surface of the casing string.
31 31. The method of claim 27, wherein the fluid is drilling fluid.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein measuring parameters of the fluid with the one or more optical sensors comprises:
introducing a tubular body having an earth removal member operatively attached to its lower end into the casing string; and measuring one or more fluid parameters using the one or more optical sensors while drilling with the tubular body.
33. The method of claim 31, further comprising adjusting the flow rate or composition of the drilling fluid based on the determined flow rate of the fluid or one or more volumetric fractions of the drilling fluid.
34. The method of claim 31, further comprising altering a trajectory of the wellbore while drilling with the tubular body based on the determined flow rate of the drilling fluid or one or more volumetric fractions of the drilling fluid.
35. The method of claim 27, further comprising setting the casing string within the wellbore using a bonding material prior to measuring one or more parameters of the fluid flowing through the casing string with the one or more optical sensors
36. An apparatus for measuring fluid flow through a casing string, comprising:

a casing string permanently located within a wellbore;
one or more optical sensors attached to the casing string for measuring parameters of a fluid flowing through the casing string; and control circuitry and signal processing adapted to determine a composition of the fluid or flow rate of the fluid based on one or more signals received from the one or more optical sensors.
37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the one or more optical sensors are attached to an outer surface of the casing string.
38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein a plurality of optical sensors are attached to the casing string.