Use of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) in Well Treatments

• US 20100051266A1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: COVINGTON, Ricky L., RODDY, Craig W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,342,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/250.10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/13 Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/25 Methods for stimulating production by vibrating earth formations E21B43/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/005 Monitoring or checking of cementation quality or level
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/10 Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency

Abstract

A method comprising placing a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor in a subterranean formation, placing a wellbore composition in the subterranean formation, and using the MEMS sensor to detect a location of the wellbore composition. A method comprising placing a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor in a subterranean formation, placing a wellbore composition in the subterranean formation, and using the MEMS sensor to monitor a condition of the wellbore composition. A method comprising placing one or more Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a subterranean formation, placing a wellbore composition in the subterranean formation, using the one or more MEMS sensors to detect a location of at least a portion of the wellbore composition, and using the one or more MEMS sensors to monitor at least a portion of the wellbore composition. A method comprising placing one or more Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a subterranean formation using a wellbore composition, and monitoring a condition using the one or more MEMS sensors.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

placing a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor in a subterranean formation;

placing a wellbore composition in the subterranean formation; and

using the MEMS sensor to detect a location of the wellbore composition.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the MEMS sensor is used to detect the location of the wellbore composition while the wellbore composition is being placed in the subterranean formation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the MEMS sensor is used to detect the location of the wellbore composition after the wellbore composition is placed in the subterranean formation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the MEMS sensor determines one or more parameters.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the one or more parameters comprises a physical parameter.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the one or more parameters comprises a chemical parameter.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the wellbore composition comprises a drilling fluid, a spacer fluid, a sealant, a fracturing fluid, a gravel pack fluid, or a completion fluid.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the MEMS sensor is placed in a CO₂ injection, storage, or disposal well in the subterranean formation.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of using an interrogator to communicate with the MEMS sensor.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of communicating data from the interrogator to a processor.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of using the processor to analyze the data.

12. A method comprising:

placing a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor in a subterranean formation;

placing a wellbore composition in the subterranean formation; and

using the MEMS sensor to monitor a condition of the wellbore composition.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the MEMS sensor is used to monitor the condition of the wellbore composition while the wellbore composition is being placed in the subterranean formation.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the MEMS sensor is used to monitor the condition of the wellbore composition after the wellbore composition is placed in the subterranean formation.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the MEMS sensor determines one or more parameters.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the one or more parameters comprises a physical parameter.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the one or more parameters comprises a chemical parameter.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the wellbore composition comprises a drilling fluid, a spacer fluid, a sealant, a fracturing fluid, a gravel pack fluid, or a completion fluid.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the MEMS sensor is placed in a CO₂ injection, storage, or disposal well in the subterranean formation.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of using an interrogator to communicate with the MEMS sensor.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of communicating data from the interrogator to a processor.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of using the processor to analyze the data.

23. A method comprising:

placing one or more Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a subterranean formation;

placing a wellbore composition in the subterranean formation;

using the one or more MEMS sensors to detect a location of at least a portion of the wellbore composition; and

using the one or more MEMS sensors to monitor at least a portion of the wellbore composition.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the wellbore composition comprises a drilling fluid, a spacer fluid, a sealant, a fracturing fluid, a gravel pack fluid, or a completion fluid.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the MEMS sensor is placed in a CO₂ injection, storage, or disposal well in the subterranean formation.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of using an interrogator to communicate with at least one of the MEMS sensors.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of communicating data from the interrogator to a processor.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of using the processor to analyze the data.

29. A method comprising:

placing one or more Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a subterranean formation using a wellbore composition; and

monitoring a condition using the one or more MEMS sensors.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more MEMS sensors are located in a filtercake in the subterranean formation.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more MEMS sensors are located in a fracture in the subterranean formation.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more MEMS sensors are located in a gravel pack in the subterranean formation.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more MEMS sensors comprise an amount from about 0.001 to about 10 weight percent of the wellbore composition.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more MEMS sensors are located in a wellbore in the subterranean formation.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more MEMS sensors are used in monitoring a liquid or a gas produced from the subterranean formation.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the wellbore composition comprises a drilling fluid, a spacer fluid, a sealant, a fracturing fluid, a gravel pack fluid, or a completion fluid.

36. A method comprising:

placing one or more Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a subterranean formation using a wellbore composition, wherein the one or more MEMS sensors comprise an amount from about 0.001 to about 10 weight percent of the wellbore composition.

38. A method comprising:

placing one or more Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in CO₂ injection, storage or disposal well in a subterranean formation; and

monitoring a condition using the one or more MEMS sensors.