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

• US 20110199228A1
• Filed: 02/21/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• 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: Bittar, Michael, Ravi, Krishna M., Rodney, Paul, Tapie, William, RODDY, Craig W., Moake, Gordon, Covington, Rick, Mandal, Batakrishna, Bonavides, Clovis
• Granted Patent: US 9,732,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/856.4
• 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 a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a wellbore composition, placing the wellbore composition in the wellbore, obtaining data from the MEMS sensors using a plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore, and telemetrically transmitting the data from an interior of the wellbore to an exterior of the wellbore using a conduit positioned in the wellbore. A system, comprising a wellbore extending the earth'"'"'s surface, a conduit positioned in the wellbore, a wellbore composition positioned in the wellbore, the wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors, and a plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore and adapted to obtain data from the MEMS sensors and telemetrically transmit the data from an interior of the wellbore to an entrance of the wellbore via the conduit.

Claims

1. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:

placing a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a wellbore composition;

placing the wellbore composition in the wellbore;

obtaining data from the MEMS sensors using a plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore; and

telemetrically transmitting the data from an interior of the wellbore to an exterior of the wellbore using a conduit positioned in the wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein telemetrically transmitting the data from an interior of the wellbore to an exterior of the wellbore comprises converting the data into acoustic vibrations of the conduit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising relaying the telemetrically transmitted data through a series of relay components from downhole to the surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the data interrogation units communicate with one another via a networks formed by the MEMS sensors in the wellbore composition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the data interrogation units are powered by a tool placed into the wellbore and brought into proximity with the data interrogation units.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the data interrogation units is powered by a downhole energy source.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the downhole energy source is a thermal energy source or a flow of fluid within the wellbore.

8. 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.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the data interrogation units are powered by a battery.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the conduit is a casing.

9. A system, comprising:

a wellbore extending the earth'"'"'s surface;

a conduit positioned in the wellbore;

a wellbore composition positioned in the wellbore, the wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors; and

a plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore and adapted to obtain data from the MEMS sensors and telemetrically transmit the data from an interior of the wellbore to an entrance of the wellbore via the conduit.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a processing unit adapted to receive the telemetrically transmitted data from the data interrogation units and process the data.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a processing unit adapted to receive and process the data from the MEMS sensors prior to the data being telemetrically transmitted from an interior of the wellbore to an entrance of the wellbore.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing unit is integral with one or more of the data interrogation units.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising at least one turbogenerator positioned in the wellbore and providing power to one or more data interrogation units.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising at least one quantum thermoelectric generator positioned in the wellbore and providing power to one or more data interrogation units.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising an acoustic transmitter integral with one or more of the data interrogation units and providing the telemetric transmission via the conduit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the acoustic transmitter comprises at least one piezoelectric device.

17. The system of claim 9, further comprising a power transmission tool lowered from the surface into the wellbore, wherein one or more of the data interrogation units are powered by bringing the tool into proximity with the data interrogation units.

18. The system of claim 9, further comprising at least one repeater located in the wellbore and configured to receive and retransmit the telemetry signals.

19. A system, comprising:

a wellbore extending the earth'"'"'s surface;

a conduit positioned in the wellbore;

a wellbore composition positioned in the wellbore, the wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors;

a plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore and adapted to obtain data from the MEMS sensors; and

a processing unit adapted to receive the data from the data interrogation units and process the data,

wherein data is transmitted from one or more of the data interrogation units to the processing unit via a cable disposed within a groove that runs longitudinally along at least part of a length of the conduit.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the cable, or a separate cable likewise disposed within the groove, provides power to one or more of the data interrogation units.