WO2018142134A1 - A wellbore water level measurement system - Google Patents
A wellbore water level measurement system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2018142134A1 WO2018142134A1 PCT/GB2018/050287 GB2018050287W WO2018142134A1 WO 2018142134 A1 WO2018142134 A1 WO 2018142134A1 GB 2018050287 W GB2018050287 W GB 2018050287W WO 2018142134 A1 WO2018142134 A1 WO 2018142134A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- wellbore
- water
- nodes
- well
- repeater
- Prior art date
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 86
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 title claims description 14
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 31
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 25
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 12
- 239000003245 coal Substances 0.000 abstract description 10
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000003673 groundwater Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 13
- 230000002238 attenuated effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 2
- 208000010392 Bone Fractures Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010017076 Fracture Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000002565 Open Fractures Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012774 insulation material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000750 progressive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
- E21B47/04—Measuring depth or liquid level
- E21B47/047—Liquid level
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
- E21B47/12—Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
- E21B47/13—Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to a wellbore water level measurement system and a method of a measuring a level of water within a wellbore and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in extraction of coal seam gas.
- Coal seam gas (also known as CSG, coal-bed methane, CBM, coalbed gas, coal-mine methane or CMM) is a form of natural gas, predominantly methane, adsorbed into the solid matrix of the coal (macerals). Macerals of coal generally include pores as well as open fractures (or cleats), which can also contain free gas or water at a pressure substantially above atmospheric pressure.
- Water in fracture spaces in the coal may be pumped off by conventional means.
- a well may be drilled down to a coal seam, for example substantially vertically. Groundwater will naturally tend to fill the well thus drilled, and removal of the water (i.e. dewatering of the wellbore) will tend to lower the level of water within the well.
- a wellbore water level measurement system comprising: a master node; and a plurality of repeater nodes, each repeater node fixed at a respective location within a well bore; wherein: the master node and each repeater node are configured to communicate with one another wirelessly to form a wireless network; water present between two adjacent nodes attenuates wireless communication signals therebetween; and the master node is configured to determine a level of water in the wellbore from attenuation of wireless communication signals between adjacent nodes.
- wireless communications between all of the repeater nodes will be attenuated (e.g. at least some or all node pairs may not be able to communicate with one another, and/or signals between pairs of nodes may be of a lower strength than when no water is present in the wellbore), and the master node will thereby be able to determine that the wellbore is full of water.
- the level of water determined by the master node may be in relation to the repeater nodes. However, correct placement of the repeater nodes within the wellbore and/or calibration of the signal strength between nodes may allow the master node to determine a height of water within the wellbore relative to the surface, wellhead (at the top of the wellbore) and/or down-hole pump (at the bottom of the wellbore).
- the wellbore may be between 10m and 2km deep, in particular between 100m and 1.5km deep, more particularly between 200m to 1km deep.
- a drivehead or pumpjack may be provided at the wellhead and/or top of the wellbore for driving a down-hole pump at the bottom of the wellbore, for instance via rotation or reciprocation of a sucker rod, respectively.
- the master node may be configured to control the drivehead/pumpjack, or alternatively the drivehead/pumpjack may be manually controllable in response to an output of the master node, such that the water level within the wellbore may be adjusted.
- the down-hole pump may comprise a Progressive Cavity Pump
- the wellbore itself may be clad with cement and/or a casing.
- the casing may be metal.
- the sucker rod may be provided within tubing within the wellbore and/or casing. Alternatively, such tubing may be provided without a sucker rod. Water pumped out of the wellbore may be conveyed via the tubing.
- the tubing may be arranged in the wellbore to form an annulus between an outer surface of the tubing and an interior surface of the wellbore and/or casing.
- the repeater nodes may be attached to the tubing.
- a repeater node may be attached to a section of tubing before insertion into the wellbore.
- the or each repeater node may be attached to an outer surface of the tubing.
- the wireless network may be any suitable form of network, and may be in particular a mesh network.
- the network may be controlled by the master node.
- the wireless network may be a radio-frequency wireless network.
- the nodes may be configured to communicate at a frequency of between approximately 300kHz and 300GHz, in particular between 3MHz and 30GHz, more particularly between 30MHz and 20GHz, for instance between 300MHz and 10GHz.
- the system may be configured for communication signals between the nodes to propagate similar to those within a circular waveguide.
- the communication signals may operate in the transverse electric (TE) mode and/or transverse magnetic (TM) mode. Due to the size of the wellbore, and in particular the casing size, there may be a low frequency cut-off. Therefore, the nodes may be configured to communicate at a frequency of between approximately 1GHz and 10GHz.
- the tubing may be electrically isolated from the casing.
- the tubing may comprise metal.
- the system may be configured for communication signals between the nodes to propagate within the annulus.
- the system may be configured for communication signals between the nodes to propagate similar to those within a coaxial cable.
- the communication signals may operate in the transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode. Accordingly, there may be substantially no low frequency cut-off. Therefore, the nodes may be configured to communicate at a frequency of less than approximately 1GHz. Accordingly, when the metal tubing is electrically isolated from the metal casing, a lower communication frequency may be used, extending the range of node-to-node communication.
- TEM transverse electromagnetic
- the master node and the repeater nodes are configured to communicate over the network at a frequency of less than 1GHz when the metal tubing is electrically isolated from the metal casing; and/or the master node and the repeater nodes are configured to communicate over the network at a frequency of between 1GHz and 10GHz when the metal tubing is in electrical contact with the metal casing.
- the master node and repeater nodes may be configured to select between the two frequencies ranges of operation in response to isolation and/or contact of the metal tubing with the metal casing.
- the metal tubing may be electrically isolated from the metal casing using centralisers, for instance polymer based centralisers, or centralisers of any other electrically insulation material.
- centralisers for instance polymer based centralisers, or centralisers of any other electrically insulation material.
- the repeater nodes may be uniformly spaced within the wellbore; however, in alternative arrangements, the repeater nodes may be spaced at arbitrary known distances within the wellbore.
- the resolution of the system may be improved by decreasing the spacing between adjacent repeater nodes, for instance, by increasing the total number of repeater nodes.
- the spacing between adjacent nodes is such that water between the two nodes substantially inhibits communication between the two nodes
- a change in the water level within the wellbore actually changes the size of the network under consideration (i.e. the number of repeater nodes present in the wireless network)
- the master node may be configured to simply determine the water level within the wellbore by counting the number of repeater nodes present in the wireless network (or otherwise determining which repeater nodes are present in the wireless network). In this way, a substantially discrete (quantised) measurement system is provided.
- repeater nodes This allows the repeater nodes to be spaced at arbitrary unknown distances within the wellbore, and analysis of signal strength between the nodes when the presence of absence of water is known, allows a level of each node within the wellbore to be determined.
- a method of determining a level of water in a wellbore comprising: providing the system of any preceding claim in a wellbore; fixing each repeater node at a respective location within a well bore; forming a network between the master node and the repeater nodes by sending communication signals therebetween; providing water between two adjacent nodes in the wellbore and attenuating wireless communication signals therebetween; and determining a level of water in the wellbore from attenuation of wireless communication signals between adjacent nodes.
- Figure 1 is schematic view of a wellbore incorporating the present invention.
- Figure 2 is schematic view of a network of nodes as used in the present invention.
- first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.
- top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.
- a device A connected to a device B should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means.
- Connected may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. For instance, wireless connectivity is contemplated.
- Figure 1 is schematic view of a wellbore incorporating the present invention.
- a shaft extends from the surface 1 and is clad with a casing 3 using conventional methods.
- Tubing 5 is passed down the interior of the casing 3, again using conventional methods, forming an annulus 7 therebetween.
- centralizers are employed to space the tubing 5 from the casing 3; however, this is optional, and is not shown in the present figure for clarity.
- a sucker rod 9 may be provided within the tubing, coupling a down-hole pump 11 to a drivehead/pumpjack (not shown) at the wellhead.
- water may be pumped from the wellbore out through the centre of the tubing 5 and removed by the water take-off means 13 (e.g. a pipe).
- the water take-off means 13 e.g. a pipe.
- the water level 15 in the annulus may be controlled by adjusting the rate of pumping. Gas in the wellbore above the water level 15 may be drawn off via gas take-off 17.
- a plurality of network nodes 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 are coupled to the tubing 5, for instance prior to insertion of the tubing into the wellbore.
- the nodes 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 are shown at a variety of spacings but could also be equally spaced along the tubing.
- Upper nodes 19, 21, 23 are located above the water level 15 and are therefore able to communicate wirelessly with one another.
- Lower nodes 25, 27, 29 are located below the water level 15 and are therefore unable to communicate wirelessly with one another.
- the presence of only the three upper nodes 19, 21, 23 in the wireless network extending between them indicates to an up-hole user that the water level 15 in the wellbore must be somewhere between the lowermost upper node 23 and the uppermost lower node 25.
- the up-hole user is therefore free to determine that an increase in pumping rate may be made in order to lower the water level 15, thereby increasing the rate of gas extraction from the wellbore, without causing damage to the pump 11.
- Figure 2 is schematic view of a network of nodes as used in the present invention.
- a master node 31 is provided at the top of a wellbore (not shown).
- a first repeater node 33 is provided below the master node 31 in the wellbore.
- a second repeater node 35 is provided below the first repeater node 33, a third repeater node 37 is provided below the second repeater node 35, and a fourth repeater node 39 is provided below the third repeater node 37.
- a water level 41 is shown in between the first repeater node 33 and the second repeater node 35. As there is no water present between the master node 31 and the first repeater node 33, wireless communication signals 43 may pass between the master node 31 and the first repeater node 33. Thus the master node 31 and the first repeater node 33 form part of a wireless network, that the master node 31 may use to determine the water level 41.
- Some water is present between the first repeater node 33 and the second repeater node 35, such that wireless communication signals 45 therebetween are attenuated by the water.
- the amount of attenuation of these signals 45 may be used by the master node to infer the water level 41.
- wireless communication signals 47 directly between the master node 31 and the second repeater node 35 are attenuated by the water.
- the amount of attenuation of these signals 47 may also be used by the master node to infer the water level 41.
- Water is also present between the second repeater node 35 and the third repeater node 37, such that wireless communication signals 49 therebetween are attenuated by the water.
- the amount of attenuation of these signals 49 may be used by the master node to infer the water level 41.
- the spacing of the third repeater node 37 from the first repeater node 33 and the master node 31 is sufficiently great that no wireless communication signals are able to pass between the third repeater node 37 and either of the first repeater node 33 and the master node 31.
- fourth repeater node 39 does not form part of the wireless network formed by the mater node 31 and the first 33, second 35 and third 37 repeater nodes.
- the master node 31 is able to determine the water level 41 from attenuation of wireless communication signals 45, 47 from the second repeater node 35, attenuation of wireless communication signals 49 from the third repeater node 37, and attenuation of wireless communication signals 51 from the fourth repeater node 39.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Geophysics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
- Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (8)
a master node; and
a plurality of repeater nodes, each repeater node fixed at a respective location within a well bore;
wherein:
the master node and each repeater node are configured to communicate with one another wirelessly to form a wireless network;
water present between two adjacent nodes attenuates wireless communication signals therebetween; and
the master node is configured to determine a level of water in the wellbore from attenuation of wireless communication signals between adjacent nodes.
the wellbore is clad by a metal casing and metal tubing is provided therein;
the master node and the repeater nodes are configured to communicate over the network at a frequency of less than 1GHz when the metal tubing is electrically isolated from the metal casing; and
the master node and the repeater nodes are configured to communicate over the network at a frequency of between 1GHz and 10GHz when the metal tubing is in electrical contact with the metal casing.
providing the system of any preceding claim in a wellbore;
fixing each repeater node at a respective location within a well bore;
forming a network between the master node and the repeater nodes by sending communication signals therebetween;
providing water between two adjacent nodes in the wellbore and attenuating wireless communication signals therebetween; and
determining a level of water in the wellbore from attenuation of wireless communication signals between adjacent nodes.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2018214243A AU2018214243B2 (en) | 2017-01-31 | 2018-01-31 | A wellbore water level measurement system |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1701531.4A GB2559184B (en) | 2017-01-31 | 2017-01-31 | A wellbore water level measurement system |
GB1701531.4 | 2017-01-31 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2018142134A1 true WO2018142134A1 (en) | 2018-08-09 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2018/050287 WO2018142134A1 (en) | 2017-01-31 | 2018-01-31 | A wellbore water level measurement system |
Country Status (3)
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AU (1) | AU2018214243B2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2559184B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2018142134A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109098259A (en) * | 2018-09-27 | 2018-12-28 | 江苏省江都水利工程管理处 | A kind of water level logging system of simple to install easy to maintain |
CN112177597A (en) * | 2019-07-05 | 2021-01-05 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | Shaft liquid level monitoring device |
CN112484817A (en) * | 2020-10-27 | 2021-03-12 | 中国地质大学(武汉) | Monitoring method of automatic water level monitoring device of water collecting well |
Citations (4)
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US20050284663A1 (en) * | 2002-12-10 | 2005-12-29 | Hall David R | Assessing down-hole drilling conditions |
US7453265B2 (en) * | 2003-03-21 | 2008-11-18 | Norsk Hÿdro ASA | Device for monitoring of oil-water interface |
CN104196520A (en) * | 2014-08-19 | 2014-12-10 | 陕西延长石油(集团)有限责任公司研究院 | Remote continuous liquid level measurement and oil well intermittent pumping intelligent control system |
WO2015196278A1 (en) * | 2014-06-23 | 2015-12-30 | Evolution Engineering Inc. | Optimizing downhole data communication with at bit sensors and nodes |
Family Cites Families (2)
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US4831331A (en) * | 1987-04-10 | 1989-05-16 | Chevron Research Company | Method and apparatus for interface location determination |
US6614229B1 (en) * | 2000-03-27 | 2003-09-02 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | System and method for monitoring a reservoir and placing a borehole using a modified tubular |
-
2017
- 2017-01-31 GB GB1701531.4A patent/GB2559184B/en active Active
-
2018
- 2018-01-31 AU AU2018214243A patent/AU2018214243B2/en active Active
- 2018-01-31 WO PCT/GB2018/050287 patent/WO2018142134A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20050284663A1 (en) * | 2002-12-10 | 2005-12-29 | Hall David R | Assessing down-hole drilling conditions |
US7453265B2 (en) * | 2003-03-21 | 2008-11-18 | Norsk Hÿdro ASA | Device for monitoring of oil-water interface |
WO2015196278A1 (en) * | 2014-06-23 | 2015-12-30 | Evolution Engineering Inc. | Optimizing downhole data communication with at bit sensors and nodes |
CN104196520A (en) * | 2014-08-19 | 2014-12-10 | 陕西延长石油(集团)有限责任公司研究院 | Remote continuous liquid level measurement and oil well intermittent pumping intelligent control system |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109098259A (en) * | 2018-09-27 | 2018-12-28 | 江苏省江都水利工程管理处 | A kind of water level logging system of simple to install easy to maintain |
CN112177597A (en) * | 2019-07-05 | 2021-01-05 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | Shaft liquid level monitoring device |
CN112177597B (en) * | 2019-07-05 | 2024-05-24 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | Liquid level monitoring device for shaft |
CN112484817A (en) * | 2020-10-27 | 2021-03-12 | 中国地质大学(武汉) | Monitoring method of automatic water level monitoring device of water collecting well |
CN112484817B (en) * | 2020-10-27 | 2023-06-20 | 中国地质大学(武汉) | Monitoring method of automatic water level monitoring device of water collecting well |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2559184B (en) | 2021-09-08 |
AU2018214243B2 (en) | 2023-09-21 |
GB201701531D0 (en) | 2017-03-15 |
GB2559184A (en) | 2018-08-01 |
AU2018214243A1 (en) | 2019-09-19 |
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