METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REGISTERING AND MEASURING LEAKS AND FLOWS

• US 20100268489A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Archer USA, Inc. (Lenco Mobile Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Archer USA, Inc. (Lenco Mobile Incorporated)
• Inventors: Instanes, Geir, Andersen, Gunnar, Lie, Terje Lennart
• Application Number:
  US12/734,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268489A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/51
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/107 using acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/246 using pigs or probes travelling in the pipe

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method of quantifying, detecting and localizing leaks or flows of liquid, gasses, or particles, in an oil or gas producing well (230). The method utilizes an acoustic transducer (150) arranged in the well (230). The method comprises steps of: (a) detecting signals (210) using the transducer (150), wherein the signals (210) are generated by acoustic noise from leaks (20) or flow of liquid, gasses, or particles in surroundings of the transducer (150); (b) amplifying the signals (210) to generate corresponding amplified signals for subsequent processing in a processing unit (170) disposed locally to the transducer (150); (c) filtering the amplified signals (210) over several frequency ranges using dynamic filtering for simultaneously detecting in these frequency ranges for better optimizing the signal-to-noise ratio by filtering away background noise in the amplified signals (210), and thereby generating corresponding processed data; and (d) sending the processed data from the processing unit (170) to a unit on the surface for storage and/or viewing of said data. The invention also comprises a corresponding system for implementing the method. The method and system are beneficially adapted for a continuous measurement up and/or down the oil or gas producing well. (230) in a non-stepwise manner.

Claims

1. A method of quantifying, detecting and localizing one or more leaks or a flow of liquid, gasses, or particles, in an oil or gas producing well (230), wherein said method employs at least one acoustic transducer (150) deployed in operation in the well (230), characterized by that said method comprises steps of:

(a) detecting one or more signals (210) using the at least one acoustic transducer (150), wherein said one or more signals (210) are generated by acoustic noise from one or more leaks (200) or flow of liquid, gasses, or particles in a region surrounding said at least one transducer (150);

(b) amplifying said one or more signals (210) to generate one or more corresponding amplified signals for inputting into a processing unit (170) local to the at least one transducer (150);

(c) filtering said one or more amplified signals (210) over several frequency ranges by utilizing dynamic filtering for improving signal-to-noise ratio by filtering away background noise in said one or more amplified signals (210), thereby generating corresponding filtered data; and

(d) processing said filtered data in said processing unit (170) for transmitting said filtered data to a unit including a computer (300) in a surface region remote from the at least one acoustic transducer for storage and/or viewing of said filtered data, said computer (300) being adapted to perform simultaneous resolution of said filtered data to identify occurrence of said one or more leaks or a flow of liquid, gasses, or particles, in an oil or gas producing well (230).

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, including a step of computing a physical size of said one or more leaks from a pressure difference (a) existing in operation across a wall of a pipe (140) in which said one or more leaks have arisen and an amplitude of said one or more signals (210) provided by said at least one transducer (150).

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said filtered data is transmitted at a data rate of up to 1 kbit/second from said processing unit (170) along a wire connection of a string to said computer (300) in the surface region remote from the at least one acoustic transducer (150).

4. A method as claimed in claimed in claim 3, wherein said wire connection is in a range of 3 to 10 km long.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one acoustic transducer (150) is mounted inside a sensor housing adapted to be lowered in operation down into said well (230) or a pipe by utilizing a string (20).

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein data collection occurs concurrently with the at least one transducer (150) being moved in a manner of a continuous motion up or down the well (230) or pipe with a log speed in a range of 0.1 to 50 meters per minute.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (170) is operable to process the one or more amplified signals in real time during data logging.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method is adapted to characterize the well (230) implemented as an injection well for gas and water.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method is adapted to detect and localize a secondary leak, said secondary leak being a leak and flow of gas, liquid, or particles, in a position further out from said well (230), namely in a distantly-positioned casing room.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method is adapted to detect and localize a leak (200) in the well (230) during operation or shutdown of the well (230).

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method is adapted to measure small flows of oil, water, or gas, or a combination of these in a casing room close to a position of the at least one acoustic transducers (150).

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method is adapted to measure particles in small flows of oil, water, or gas, or a combination of these in a production zone close to a position of the at least one acoustic transducers (150).

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method is adapted to implement fluid measurements whilst the well (230) or the pipe is operational or during shutdown.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method involves using a log string or a tool for said at least one transducer (150) that is continuously in motion when in operation in the well (230), or a pipe with log speeds in a range of 0.1 to 50 meters per minute, for carrying out measurements whilst the well (230) or pipe is operational or during shutdown.

29. A software product (305) recorded on a machine-readable data carrier, said software product (305) being executable on computing hardware (300) in connection with implementing a method as claimed in claim 1.

30. A software product recorded on a machine-readable data carrier, said software product being executable on digital signal processing hardware (170) for processing one or more signals, said software product being executable on said signal processing hardware (170) in connection with implementing a method as claimed in claim 1.

15. A system for implementing a method of quantifying, detecting, or localizing one or more leaks or a flow of liquid, gasses, particles in an oil or gas producing well (230), wherein said system includes at least one acoustic transducer (150) arranged in operation in the well (230), characterized by that said system comprises;

(a) a detector operable to detect one or more signals (210) generated by said at least one acoustic transducer (150), wherein said one or more signals (210) are generated in operation by acoustic noise from one or more leaks (200) or flow of liquid, gasses, or particles in a surroundings of said at least one transducer (150);

(b) an amplification device (160) arranged to amplify said one or more signals (210) to generate corresponding one or more amplified signals, said system further comprising a processing unit (170) local to the transducer (150) for processing said one or more amplified signals;

(c) a filtering device associated with said processing unit (170) for dividing said one or more amplified signals (210) over several frequency ranges by applying in operation dynamic filtering, said filtering device being operable to simultaneously detect in said several frequency ranges for enhancing signal-to-noise ratio by filtering away background noise in said one or more amplified signals (210), and thereby generating corresponding processed data; and

(d) a communication link operable to send the processed data from the processing unit (170) to a unit on a surface for storage and/or viewing of said processed data.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said system is operable to compute a physical size of said one or more leaks from a pressure difference (Δ

P) existing in operation across a wall of a pipe (140) in which said one or more leaks have arisen and an amplitude of said one or more signals (210) provided by said at least one transducer (150).

17. A system as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein said filtered data is transmitted at a data rate of up to 1 kbit/second from said processing unit (170) along a wire connection of a string to said computer (300) in the surface region remote from the at least one acoustic transducer (150).

18. A method as claimed in claimed in claim 17, wherein said wire connection is in a range of 3 to 10 km long.

19. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said at least one acoustic transducer (150) is mounted inside a sensory housing operable to be lowered or raised in a continuous manner down or up respectively into the well (230) or a pipe whilst being supported from a string (20).

20. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the system is operable to collect measurement data when the at least one transducer (150) is continuously moved with a log speed in a range of 0.1 to 50 meter per minute.

21. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the processing unit (170) is arranged to carry out adaptive data processing in real time.

22. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the system is configured for the well (230) implemented as an injection well for gas and water.

23. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the system is operable to detect and localize a secondary leak, said secondary leak being a leak and flow of gas, liquid, or particles, in a position further out in a well construction, in a distant casing room.

24. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the system is operable to detect and localize a leak (200) in a well (230) whilst the well (230) is operational or during shutdown.

25. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the system is operable to measure small flows of oil, water, or gas, or a combination of these in a casing room in proximity of a position of the at least one transducer (150).

26. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the system is operable to measure small flows of oil, water, or gas, or a combination of these in a production zone in proximity of a position of the at least one transducer (150).

27. A system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the system is operable to implement flow measurements while the well (230) or pipe is operational or during shutdown.

28. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the system is arranged to use a log string or a tool for the at least one transducer (150), said log string being adapted for being in a continuous motion in a well (230), or in a pipe with log speeds in a range of 0.1 to 50 meters per minute, said system being operable to implement measurements whilst the well (230) or pipe is operational or during shutdown.