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

• US 20110192592A1
• Filed: 02/21/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• 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: Ravi, Krishna M., Bittar, Michael, Rodney, Paul, Tapie, William, RODDY, Craig W., Frisch, Gary, Covington, Rick, Mandal, Batakrishna
• Granted Patent: US 8,291,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/250.01
• 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 47/01 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 47/10 Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency

Abstract

A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising placing into a wellbore a first wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors having a first identifier, and determining positions in the wellbore of the MEMS sensors having the first identifiers. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising placing into a wellbore a first wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors having a first identifier, placing into the wellbore a second wellbore composition comprising a plurality of MEMS sensors having first identifier, and determining positions in the wellbore of the MEMS sensors having the first identifier, wherein the MEMS sensors of the first wellbore composition are added to a portion of the first wellbore composition added to the wellbore prior to a remainder of the first wellbore composition, and the MEMS sensors of the second wellbore composition are added to a portion of the second wellbore composition added to the wellbore prior to a remainder of the second wellbore composition.

Claims

1. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:

placing into a wellbore a first wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors having a first identifier; and

determining positions in the wellbore of the MEMS sensors having the first identifiers.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing into the wellbore a second wellbore composition comprising a plurality of MEMS sensors having a second identifier; and

determining positions in the wellbore of the MEMS sensors having the first and second identifiers.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining one or more positions in the wellbore of the first and/or second wellbore compositions using the positions in the wellbore of the MEMS sensors having the first and second identifiers.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the MEMS sensors having the first identifier are added to a portion of the first wellbore composition added to the well bore prior to a remainder of the first wellbore composition; and

the MEMS sensors having the second identifier are added to a portion of the second wellbore composition added to the well bore prior to a remainder of the second wellbore composition.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining an interface of the first wellbore composition and the second wellbore composition based on the positions in the wellbore of at least a portion of the MEMS sensors having the identifier.

6. The method of claim 2, further placing into the wellbore at least one third wellbore composition comprising a plurality of MEMS sensors having an identifier that is different from the second identifier of the MEMS sensors of the second wellbore composition.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the identifier of the MEMS sensors of the at least one third wellbore composition is the same as the first identifier of the MEMS sensors of the first wellbore composition.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the positions of the MEMS sensors in the wellbore are determined using a plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein apart from MEMS sensors, the first and second wellbore compositions are substantially the same compositionally.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein irrespective of the MEMS sensors, the first and second wellbore compositions are compositionally different.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wellbore composition is a cement slurry, and wherein the MEMS sensors comprising the first identifier are added to a portion of the cement slurry added to the well bore prior to a remainder of the cement slurry.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wellbore has a casing disposed therein forming an annulus between the casing and the wellbore and wherein the cement slurry is pumped down the casing and up the annulus.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the wellbore has a casing disposed therein forming an annulus between the casing and the wellbore and wherein the cement slurry is pumped down the annulus.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein entry of the cement slurry into a downhole end of the annulus is determined when at least a portion of the MEMS sensors are detected by a data interrogation unit positioned proximate to a downhole terminal end of the annulus.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein pumping of the cement into the wellbore is discontinued when at least a portion of the MEMS sensors are detected in the annulus at a designated location uphole from a downhole terminal end of the annulus.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein pumping of the cement into the wellbore is discontinued when at least a portion of the MEMS sensors are detected by a data interrogation unit positioned proximate to a downhole terminal end of the annulus.

21. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a location, temperature, pressure, velocity, density, a stress, a strain, a CO₂ concentration, an H₂S concentration, a CH₄ concentration, a moisture content, a pH, an Na⁺ concentration, a K⁺ concentration, a Cl⁻

concentration, or any combination thereof.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein pumping of a fracturing fluid comprising the MEMS sensors is adjusted in response to the transmitted data regarding the at least one parameter associated with the fracture.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the pumping of the fracturing fluid is adjusted in real time during carrying out of a fracturing operation on the wellbore.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wellbore composition is a drilling fluid and the position determined in the wellbore is a fluid loss zone wherein at least a portion of the drilling fluid is being lost to the formation.

29. The method of claim 13, wherein a downhole valve is closed when at least a portion of the MEMS sensors are detected by a data interrogation unit positioned proximate to a downhole terminal end of the annulus, wherein the downhole valve is positioned proximate to the downhole terminal end of the annulus.

30. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and/or second wellbore composition comprises a drilling fluid, a spacer fluid, a sealant, a fracturing fluid, a gravel pack fluid, or a completion fluid.

17. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:

placing into a wellbore a first wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors having a first identifier;

placing into the wellbore a second wellbore composition comprising a plurality of MEMS sensors having first identifier; and

determining positions in the wellbore of the MEMS sensors having the first identifier;

wherein;

the MEMS sensors of the first wellbore composition are added to a portion of the first wellbore composition added to the wellbore prior to a remainder of the first wellbore composition; and

the MEMS sensors of the second wellbore composition are added to a portion of the second wellbore composition added to the wellbore prior to a remainder of the second wellbore composition.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the portions of the first and second wellbore compositions have different volumes, different MEMS sensor concentrations, or both.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the different volumes, the different sensor loadings, or both of the portions of the first and second wellbore compositions are detectable as a signal by a plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore and transmittable from the data interrogation units to a processing unit positioned at an exterior of the wellbore.

20. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:

placing a plurality of MEMS sensors in a fracture that is in communication with the wellbore, the MEMS sensors being configured to measure at least one parameter associated with the fracture;

measuring the at least one parameter associated with the fracture; and

transmitting data regarding the at least one parameter from the MEMS sensors to an exterior of the wellbore.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the transmitted data is used to map at least a portion of the fracture containing the MEMS sensors.

25. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:

placing a wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors into a wellbore, wherein the MEMS sensors are effective to detect a presence or concentration of one or more gases in the wellbore.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the wellbore composition is a cement slurry that is placed in an annulus of the wellbore, and wherein the MEMS sensors are effective to detect an inflow of gas into the cement slurry prior to setting of the cement.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the wellbore composition is a cement slurry that hardens to form a cement sheath in an annulus of the wellbore, and wherein the MEMS sensors are effective to detect an inflow of gas into the cement sheath.