MONITORING USING DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING (DAS) TECHNOLOGY

• US 20120092960A1
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Bostick, Francis X. III, GASTON, GRAHAM, Drakeley, Brian K.
• Application Number:
  US13/276,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/35
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/107 using acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/113 using electrical indications; using light radiations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/14 using acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 9/004 using fibre optic sensors light guides per se G02B6/00, acousto-optical devices specially adapted for gating or modulating in optical wave guides G02F1/125
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/226 Optoseismic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/42 using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice versa G01V1/52 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for performing acoustic sensing by utilizing distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) along a length of a conduit, such that the sensing is performed with the functional equivalent of tens, hundreds, or thousands of sensors. Utilizing DAS in this manner may cut down the time in performing acoustic sensing, which, therefore, may make acoustic sensing more practical and cost effective and may enable applications that were previously cost prohibitive with discrete acoustic sensors.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

introducing optical pulses into a fiber optic cable disposed along a length of a conduit;

receiving acoustic signals that cause disturbances in the optical pulses propagating through the fiber optic cable; and

performing distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) along the length of the conduit by sensing the disturbances, such that the sensing produces the functional equivalent of a plurality of sensors along the length of the conduit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least tens, hundreds, or thousands of sensors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic signals are generated from a passive source.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the passive source comprises seismic or micro-seismic activity in a formation adjacent the conduit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the acoustic signals via an acoustic energy source, wherein the acoustic energy source produces acoustic stimulation along at least a portion of the length of the conduit.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the acoustic energy source comprises an operating drill bit.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the acoustic signals interact with at least one of a wellbore, a wellbore completion, or a formation adjacent the conduit to form transmitted, reflected, refracted, or absorbed acoustic signals and wherein the transmitted, reflected, or refracted acoustic signals cause the disturbances in the optical pulses propagating through the fiber optic cable.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic signals may change an index of refraction or mechanically deform the fiber optic cable such that a Rayleigh scattered signal changes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises one of a surface pipeline, a well casing, or production tubing.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting one or more faults based upon the DAS; and

drilling in a different direction based on the detection.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic cable is disposed along the length of the conduit in at least one of equally spaced rows or columns, non-equally spaced rows or columns, a grid, substantially concentric circles, a spiral pattern, a linear pattern, or a star pattern.

12. A system, comprising:

a fiber optic cable disposed along a length of a first wellbore;

an acoustic energy source disposed in a second wellbore for generating acoustic signals; and

a control unit for performing distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) along the length of the first wellbore, wherein the control unit is configured to;

introduce optical pulses into the fiber optic cable, wherein the acoustic signals cause disturbances in the optical pulses propagating through the fiber optic cable; and

perform the DAS, such that the sensing produces the functional equivalent of a plurality of sensors along the length of the first wellbore.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least tens, hundreds, or thousands of sensors.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the acoustic signals interact with a formation adjacent the first and second wellbores to form transmitted, reflected, refracted, or absorbed acoustic signals and wherein the transmitted, reflected, or refracted acoustic signals cause the disturbances in the optical pulses propagating through the fiber optic cable.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the acoustic signals may change an index of refraction or mechanically deform the fiber optic cable such that a Rayleigh scattered signal changes.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the acoustic energy source comprises a rotating drill bit operating in the second wellbore.

17. A system, comprising:

a fiber optic cable disposed at a surface of a wellbore; and

a control unit for performing distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) at the surface of the wellbore, wherein the control unit is configured to;

introduce optical pulses into the fiber optic cable, wherein acoustic signals cause disturbances in the optical pulses propagating through the fiber optic cable; and

perform the DAS, such that the sensing produces the functional equivalent of a plurality of sensors at the surface of the wellbore.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising an active acoustic energy source for generating the acoustic signals adjacent the wellbore.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the fiber optic cable is disposed at the surface of the wellbore in at least one of equally spaced rows or columns, non-equally spaced rows or columns, a grid, substantially concentric circles, a spiral pattern, a linear pattern, or a star pattern.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the fiber optic cable is disposed at a surface of the Earth under water.