Treatment well tiltmeter system

• US 20030205375A1
• Filed: 02/11/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Pinnacle Technologies, Inc. (Carbo Ceramics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wang, Gang, Samson, Etienne, Wright, Chris, Ward, James, Davis, Eric, Fisher, Kevin, Demetrius, Sharon, Griffin, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,028,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/250.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/01 Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/02 Determining slope or direction
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/022 of the borehole, e.g. using geomagnetism
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/008 by injection test; by analysing pressure variations in an injection or production test, e.g. for estimating the skin factor measuring pressure E21B47/06

Abstract

The treatment well tiltmeter system comprises one or more tiltmeter assemblies which are located within an active treatment well. The treatment well tiltmeter system provides data from the downhole tiltmeters, and can be used to map hydraulic fracture growth or other subsurface processes from the collected downhole tilt data versus time. The system provides tilt data inversion of data from each of the treatment well tiltmeter assemblies, and provides isolation of data signals from noise associated with the treatment well environment. As well, the treatment well tiltmeter system provides geomechanical modeling for treatment well processes.

Claims

1. A treatment well tiltmeter system for monitoring fluid motion in subsurface strata from an active well, comprising a bore hole extending from a surface into the strata, the treatment well tiltmeter system comprising:

a tiltmeter array located within the bore hole of the active well, the tiltmeter array comprising at least one tiltmeter assembly, each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly comprising at least one tiltmeter sensor; and

means for communication between the tiltmeter array and the surface.

2. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein the means for communication is a wireline extending from the surface to the tiltmeter array.

3. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 2, wherein the wireline is retrievable.

4. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 2, further comprising:

an external power supply electrically connected to the wireline.

5. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 2, further comprising:

an external computer connected to the wireline.

6. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 2, wherein the wireline comprises:

an electrically conductive cable; and

a secondary conductor electrically insulated from the electrically conductive cable.

7. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein the means for communication is wireless link.

8. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein the means for communication comprises a retrievable memory within the tiltmeter array.

9. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, further comprising:

a movable fluid within the bore hole.

10. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for injecting a movable fluid from the surface into the bore hole.

11. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein the tiltmeter array comprises a plurality of tiltmeter assemblies, the treatment well tiltmeter system further comprising:

an interconnect wireline between each of the plurality of tiltmeter assemblies.

12. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein the tiltmeter array comprises a plurality of tiltmeter assemblies, the treatment well tiltmeter system further comprising:

a wireless connection between at least two of the plurality of tiltmeter assemblies.

13. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein the active well comprises a casing having a hollow bore, and wherein the tiltmeter array is located within the hollow bore.

14. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 13, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for holding each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly within the hollow bore.

15. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 14, wherein the means for holding the at least one tiltmeter assembly within the hollow bore comprises a bowspring connector in contact with the hollow bore.

16. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 14, wherein the means for holding the at least one tiltmeter assembly within the hollow bore comprises at least one magnet.

17. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein the active well comprises a casing having a hollow bore located within the bore hole, wherein the tiltmeter array is located between the casing and the strata.

18. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 17, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly is cemented on the casing.

19. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 17, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly is strapped to the outer surface of the casing.

20. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein the active well comprises a casing having a hollow bore located within the bore hole, an inner tubing having a hollow bore located within the hollow bore of the casing, wherein an annular region is defined between the inner tubing and the casing, and wherein the tiltmeter array is located within the annular region.

21. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 20, wherein each of the at (east one tiltmeter assembly is magnetically attached to the casing.

22. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for mechanical isolation between each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly and the inner tubing.

23. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 22, wherein means for mechanical isolation between each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly and the inner tubing comprises a spring.

24. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for leveling the at least one tiltmeter sensor.

25. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises an accelerometer.

26. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a geophone.

27. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a temperature sensor.

28. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a pressure sensor.

29. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a gyroscope.

30. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for storing data from the at least one tiltmeter sensor.

31. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for sending data from the at least one tiltmeter sensor to the surface.

32. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises an internal power source.

33. The treatment well tiltmeter system of claim 1, further comprising:

an external computer having a wireless connection with at least one of the at least one tiltmeter assembly.

34. An apparatus, comprising:

an active well comprising a borehole extending from a surface into a strata;

a movable fluid located within the bore hole; and

a tiltmeter array located within the bore hole, the tiltmeter array comprising at least one tiltmeter assembly, each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly comprising at least one tiltmeter sensor for measuring the effect of the movable fluid on the strata.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a wireline extending from the surface to the tiltmeter array.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the wireline is retrievable.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

an external power supply electrically connected to the wireline.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

an external computer connected to the wireline.

39. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the wireline comprises:

an electrically conductive cable; and

a secondary conductor electrically insulated from the electrically conductive cable.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a wireless communication link between the tiltmeter array and the surface.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a retrievable memory within the tiltmeter array.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

means for injecting the movable fluid from the surface into the bore hole.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the tiltmeter array comprises a plurality of tiltmeter assemblies, the apparatus further comprising:

an interconnect wireline between each of the plurality of tiltmeter assemblies.

44. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the tiltmeter array comprises a plurality of tiltmeter assemblies, the apparatus further comprising:

a wireless connection between at least two of the plurality of tiltmeter assemblies.

45. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the active well comprises a casing having a hollow bore, and wherein the tiltmeter array is located within the hollow bore.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for holding each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly within the hollow bore.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the means for holding the at least one tiltmeter assembly within the hollow bore comprises a bowspring connector in contact with the hollow bore.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the means for holding the at least one tiltmeter assembly within the hollow bore comprises at least one magnet.

49. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the active well comprises a casing having a hollow bore located within the bore hole, wherein the tiltmeter array is located between the casing and the strata.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly is cemented on the casing.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly is strapped to the casing.

52. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the active well comprises a casing having a hollow bore located within the bore hole, an inner tubing having a hollow bore located within the hollow bore of the casing, wherein an annular region is defined between the inner tubing and the casing, and wherein the tiltmeter array is located within the annular region.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly is magnetically attached to the casing.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising:

means for mechanical isolation between each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly and the inner tubing.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein means for mechanical isolation between each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly and the inner tubing comprises a spring.

56. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for leveling the at least one tiltmeter sensor.

57. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises an accelerometer.

58. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a geophone.

59. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a temperature sensor.

60. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a pressure sensor.

61. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a gyroscope.

62. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for storing data from the at least one tiltmeter sensor.

63. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for sending data from the at least one tiltmeter sensor to the surface.

64. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises an internal power source.

65. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

an external computer having a wireless connection with at least one of the at least one tiltmeter assembly.

66. A process, comprising:

providing a well extending from a surface into a strata, the well having a bore hole;

providing a tiltmeter array comprising at least one tiltmeter assembly, each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly comprising at least one tiltmeter sensor;

installing the tiltmeter array within the bore hole; and

measuring the effect of fluid motion through the bore hole and strata on the strata with the tiltmeter array.

67. The process of claim 66, further comprising the step of:

providing a wireline between the tiltmeter array and the surface.

68. The process of claim 67, wherein the wireline is retrievable.

69. The process of claim 67, further comprising:

connecting an external power supply electrically to the wireline.

70. The process of claim 67, further comprising:

connecting an external computer to the wireline.

71. The process of claim 67, wherein the wireline comprises:

an electrically conductive cable; and

a secondary conductor electrically insulated from the electrically conductive cable.

72. The process of claim 66, further comprising the step of:

providing a communication link between the tiltmeter array and the surface.

73. The process of claim 72, wherein the communication link is a wireline.

74. The process of claim 72, wherein the communication link is a wireless link.

75. The process of claim 66, further comprising the step of:

providing a retrievable memory within the tiltmeter array.

76. The process of claim 66, further comprising the step of:

providing means for injecting the fluid from the surface into the bore hole.

77. The process of claim 66, wherein the tiltmeter array comprises a plurality of tiltmeter assemblies, the process further comprising the step of:

providing an interconnect wireline between each of the plurality of tiltmeter assemblies.

78. The process of claim 66, wherein the tiltmeter array comprises a plurality of tiltmeter assemblies, the process further comprising the step of:

providing a wireless connection between at least two of the plurality of tiltmeter assemblies.

79. The process of claim 66, wherein the active well comprises a casing having a hollow bore, and wherein the tiltmeter array is located within the hollow bore.

80. The process of claim 79, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for holding each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly within the hollow bore.

81. The process of claim 80, wherein the means for holding the at least one tiltmeter assembly within the hollow bore comprises a bowspring connector in contact with the hollow bore.

82. The process of claim 80, wherein the means for holding the at least one tiltmeter assembly within the hollow bore comprises at least one magnet.

83. The process of claim 66, wherein the active well comprises a casing having a hollow bore located within the bore hole, and wherein the tiltmeter array is located between the casing and the strata.

84. The process of claim 83, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly is cemented on the casing.

85. The process of claim 83, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly is strapped to the casing.

86. The process of claim 66, wherein the active well comprises a casing having a hollow bore located within the bore hole, an inner tubing having a hollow bore located within the hollow bore of the casing, wherein an annular region is defined between the inner tubing and the casing, and wherein the tiltmeter array is located within the annular region.

87. The process of claim 86, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly is magnetically attached to the casing.

88. The process of claim 87, further comprising the step of:

providing means for mechanical isolation between each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly and the inner tubing.

89. The process of claim 88, wherein the provided means for mechanical isolation between each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly and the inner tubing comprises a spring.

90. The process of claim 66, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for leveling the at least one tiltmeter sensor.

91. The process of claim 66, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises an accelerometer.

92. The process of claim 66, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a geophone.

93. The process of claim 66, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a temperature sensor.

94. The process of claim 66, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a pressure sensor.

95. The process of claim 66, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises a gyroscope.

96. The process of claim 66, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for storing data from the at least one tiltmeter sensor.

97. The process of claim 66, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for sending data from the at least one tiltmeter sensor to the surface.

98. The process of claim 66, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises an internal power source.

99. The process of claim 66, further comprising the step of:

establishing a wireless connection between an external computer and at least one of the at least one tiltmeter assembly.

100. The process of claim 66, further comprising the step of:

sending data from the tiltmeter array to the surface.

101. The process of claim 66, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for storing data from the at least one tiltmeter sensor.

102. The process of claim 66, wherein each of the at least one tiltmeter assembly further comprises means for sending data from the at least one tiltmeter sensor to the surface.

103. The process of claim 66, further comprising the step of:

recording tilt data with at least one of the at least one tiltmeter assembly.

104. The process of claim 103, further comprising the step of:

transferring the tilt data to the surface.

105. The process of claim 104, further comprising the step of:

extracting strata deformation information from the transferred tilt data.

106. The process of claim 105, further comprising the step of:

running a geomechanical model of strata deformation.

107. The process of claim 106, further comprising the step of:

comparing the geomechanical model to the extracted strata deformation information.

108. The process of claim 107, further comprising the step of:

iteratively running the geomechanical model based on the comparison of the geomechanical model to the extracted strata deformation information.

109. The process of claim 107, further comprising the step of:

displaying the extracted strata deformation information.

110. The process of claim 107, further comprising the step of:

displaying the geomechanical model.