Non-intrusive pressure measurement device for subsea well casing annuli

• US 20010027865A1
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Published: 10/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FMC Technologies Incorporated (TechnipFMC, plc)
• Original Assignee: FMC Technologies Incorporated (TechnipFMC, plc)
• Inventors: Wester, Randy J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,513,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/250.01
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/001 for underwater installation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure

Abstract

A well data monitoring system which enables annulus pressure and other well parameters to be monitored in the outer annuli of the well casing program without adding any pressure containing penetrations to the well system. This non-intrusive approach to monitoring pressure and other well parameters in the annuli preserves the pressure integrity of the well and maximizes the safety of the well. In the preferred embodiment an intelligent sensor interrogation system which can be located externally or internally of the pressure containing housing of the wellhead is capable of interrogating and receiving data signals from intelligent well data sensors which are exposed to well parameters within the various annuli of the well and wellhead program.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring fluid pressure with a plurality of annuli of well and wellhead apparatus, comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of fluid pressure sensors within the outer pressure containing section of a wellhead each being located for sensing fluid pressure within a specific annulus;

(b) locating a pressure sensor interrogation system for receiving pressure responsive signals of said fluid pressure sensors externally of said outer pressure containing section of the wellhead;

(c) selectively interrogating said fluid pressure sensors causing selected fluid pressure sensors to generate a signal representative of the fluid pressure within a selected annulus at the time of interrogation;

(d) receiving the fluid pressure representative signal by said pressure sensor interrogation system; and

(e) presenting the fluid pressure representative signal for inspection.

2. The method of

claim 1

, comprising:

transmitting said sensor interrogation signals and said pressure responsive sensor signals through wellhead wall structure.

3. The method of

claim 1

, comprising:

(a) locating said pressure sensor interrogation system externally of the outer pressure containing section of the wellhead; and

(b) receiving annulus pressure representative signals of said fluid pressure sensors transmitted through the outer pressure containing section of the wellhead.

4. The method of

claim 1

, comprising:

(a) locating said pressure sensor interrogation system within the outer pressure containing section of the wellhead and externally of the annulus being monitored; and

(b) receiving annulus pressure representative signals of said fluid pressure sensors transmitted through wellhead structure defining the annulus being monitored.

5. A method for monitoring fluid pressure within a plurality of annuli of well and wellhead apparatus, comprising:

(a) providing an annuli pressure monitoring system that is subject to inspection;

(b) providing a plurality of fluid pressure monitoring passages each located within the outer pressure containing section of a wellhead and each being disposed in fluid pressure communication with one of the plurality of annuli;

(c) selectively communicating said plurality of pressure monitoring passages with the annuli pressure monitoring system for communicating the fluid pressure of the selected annulus with said annuli pressure monitoring system; and

(d) presenting the fluid pressure representative signal of the selected annulus for inspection.

6. The method of

claim 5

, wherein said annuli pressure monitoring system having pressure monitoring lines communicating said fluid pressure monitoring passages with said pressure monitoring system and control valves in said pressure monitoring lines, said method comprising:

selectively controlling said control valves to place a selected fluid pressure monitoring passage in communication with said annuli pressure monitoring system and to isolate non-selected fluid pressure monitoring passages from said annuli pressure monitoring system.

7. The method of

claim 5

, comprising:

(a) providing a wellhead structure having a pressure containing housing wall having an upper end and with annulus pressure sensing passages each extending through the pressure containing outer wall from the upper end and being in communication with a selected annulus;

(b) via valve controller pressure sensing lines each being connected to the outer pressure containing housing and being in communication with one of the annulus pressure sensing passages, selectively sensing annulus pressure within the annuli of the wellhead.

8. A non-invasive annuli monitoring system for monitoring well parameters within the annuli of a well and wellhead system, comprising:

(a) an outer pressure containing housing

(b) an annuli monitoring system that is subject to inspection;

(c) a plurality of intelligent well data sensors each being exposed to the conditions present within an annulus of the well and wellhead system and each having the capability for transmitting data through wellhead structure; and

(d) an intelligent sensor interrogation system for selectively interrogating said intelligent sensors and having the capability for transmitting interrogation signals through wellhead structure and for receiving data transmitted by said intelligent sensors, said intelligent sensor interrogation system having data communication with said annuli pressure monitoring system.

9. The non-invasive annuli monitoring system of

claim 8

, comprising:

(a) said annuli monitoring system having the capability for monitoring fluid pressure responsive signals and for presenting fluid pressure responsive signals for inspection;

(b) said intelligent well data sensors having the capability of sensing annulus pressure and for transmitting fluid pressure related signals through said outer pressure containing housing to said intelligent sensor interrogation system; and

(c) said intelligent sensor interrogation system having the capability of receiving fluid pressure related signals of said intelligent well data sensors and communicating said fluid pressure related signals to said annuli monitoring system.

10. The non-invasive annuli monitoring system of

claim 8

, comprising:

said intelligent sensor interrogation system being located externally of said outer pressure containing housing and having the capability for transmitting sensor interrogation signals through said outer pressure containing housing to said intelligent sensors.

11. The non-invasive annuli monitoring system of

claim 8

, comprising:

said intelligent sensor interrogation system being located internally of said outer pressure containing housing and having the capability for transmitting sensor interrogation signals through well and wellhead structure to said intelligent sensors.

12. A non-invasive annuli pressure monitoring system for monitoring the fluid pressure of normally inaccessible annuli of a well and wellhead system, comprising:

(a) an outer pressure containing housing

(b) an annuli pressure monitoring system that is subject to inspection;

(c) a plurality of fluid pressure monitoring passages each located within said outer pressure containing housing of a wellhead and each being disposed in fluid pressure communication with one of the plurality of normally inaccessible annuli;

(d) a plurality of well data monitoring lines each being in communication with respective fluid pressure monitoring passages and with the annuli pressure monitoring system for communicating the fluid pressure of the selected annulus with said annuli pressure monitoring system; and

(e) valving having controlling relation with said plurality of pressure monitoring lines and being controllably actuated for communicating the pressure of a selected one of the normally inaccessible annuli with said annuli pressure monitoring system and isolated non-selected ones of said normally inaccessible annuli from said annuli pressure monitoring system.

13. The non-invasive annuli pressure monitoring system of

claim 12

, comprising:

said plurality of pressure monitoring passages extending through wall structure of said outer pressure containing housing without penetrating through the outer wall surface of said outer pressure containing wall.

14. The non-invasive annuli pressure monitoring system of

claim 12

, comprising:

said plurality of pressure monitoring passages being located internally of the wall structure of said outer pressure containing housing.

15. A non-invasive annuli pressure monitoring system for monitoring the fluid pressure of normally inaccessible annuli of a well and wellhead system, comprising:

(a) an outer pressure containing housing;

(b) a plurality of strain gauges being fixed to said outer pressure containing housing and providing pressure related signals responsive to pressure within selected annuli within said pressure containing housing;

(c) a plurality of strain measurement devices being located externally of said an outer pressure containing housing and being coupled with respective strain gauges and generating pressure responsive signals representative of pressure conditions within respective annuli; and

(d) an annulus pressure monitoring system disposed in signal receiving relation with said strain measurement devices and having the capability of presenting said strain measurement signals for inspection.

16. The non-invasive annuli pressure monitoring system of

claim 15

, comprising:

said strain gauges being mounted to said outer pressure containing at locations substantially intermediate the location of internal packers.