CONTROLLING WELL OPERATIONS BASED ON MONITORED PARAMETERS OF CEMENT HEALTH

• US 20110308788A1
• Filed: 06/16/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: SAMSON, Etienne M., RAVI, Kris, MAIDA, John L., HUNTER, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,505,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/250.01
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/14 for cementing casings into boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35303 using a reference fibre, e.g. interferometric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35364 using inelastic backscattering to detect the measured quantity, e.g. using Brillouin or Raman backscattering

Abstract

A method of controlling a well operation can include monitoring at least one parameter of cement lining a wellbore, the monitoring being performed via at least one optical waveguide, and modifying the well operation in response to the parameter being outside of a predetermined acceptable range. A well monitoring system can include at least one optical waveguide which is used to sense at least one parameter of cement lining a wellbore, an optical interrogation system optically connected to the at least one optical waveguide, and a control system which controls operation of at least one item of well equipment in response to information received from the optical interrogation system.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a well operation, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one parameter of cement lining a wellbore, the monitoring being performed via at least one optical waveguide; and

modifying the well operation in response to the parameter being outside of a predetermined acceptable range.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein an optical interrogation system detects Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an optical interrogation system detects coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical waveguide comprises at least first and second optical waveguides, wherein strain in the cement is imparted to the first optical waveguide, and wherein the second optical waveguide is isolated from the strain in the cement.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second optical waveguide senses temperature of the cement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical waveguide comprises at least first and second optical waveguides, wherein an optical interrogation system detects Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the first optical waveguide, and wherein the optical interrogation system detects Raman backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the second optical waveguide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical waveguide comprises at least first and second optical waveguides, wherein an optical interrogation system detects coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the first optical waveguide, and wherein the optical interrogation system detects Raman backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the second optical waveguide.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the well operation further comprises changing a rate of production into the wellbore.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the well operation further comprises changing a rate of fluid flow into a formation surrounding the wellbore.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the at least one parameter further comprises detecting at least one of strain, stress and temperature.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the at least one parameter further comprises detecting hydration of the cement.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the at least one parameter further comprises detecting acoustic vibrations in the cement.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the at least one parameter further comprises detecting compression of the cement.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the well operation further comprises modifying a density of a fluid circulated into the wellbore.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the well operation further comprises modifying a pump rate of a stimulation fluid.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the well operation further comprises modifying a thermal cycling operation.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the well operation further comprises modifying a drilling operation, thereby avoiding a collision with the wellbore.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the at least one parameter further comprises detecting point loading of casing.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the well operation further comprises relieving pressure build up in an annulus.

20. A well monitoring system, comprising:

at least one optical waveguide which is used to sense at least one parameter of cement lining a wellbore;

an optical interrogation system optically connected to the at least one optical waveguide; and

a control system which controls operation of well equipment in response to information received from the optical interrogation system.

21. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein operation of the well equipment is changed by the control system in response to the parameter being outside of a predetermined acceptable range.

22. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the optical interrogation system detects Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

23. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the optical interrogation system detects coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

24. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the at least one optical waveguide comprises at least first and second optical waveguides, wherein strain in the cement is imparted to the first optical waveguide, and wherein the second optical waveguide is isolated from the strain in the cement.

25. The well monitoring system of claim 24, wherein the second optical waveguide senses temperature of the cement.

26. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the at least one optical waveguide comprises at least first and second optical waveguides, wherein the optical interrogation system detects Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the first optical waveguide, and wherein the optical interrogation system detects Raman backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the second optical waveguide.

27. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the at least one optical waveguide comprises at least first and second optical waveguides, wherein the optical interrogation system detects coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the first optical waveguide, and wherein the optical interrogation system detects Raman backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the second optical waveguide.

28. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the well equipment regulates a rate of production into the wellbore.

29. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the well equipment regulates a rate of fluid flow into a formation surrounding the wellbore.

30. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of strain, stress and temperature.

31. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the at least one parameter comprises hydration of the cement.

32. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the at least one parameter comprises acoustic vibration in the cement.

33. The well monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the at least one parameter comprises compression of the cement.