OPTICAL WELL LOGGING

• US 20140203946A1
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: SKINNER, Neal G., SAMSON, Etienne M., STOKELY, Christopher L., BARFOOT, David A., MAIDA, John L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,247,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/854.7
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/114 using light radiation
• 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 1/44 using generators and receivers in the same well G01V1/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/24 using optical fibres

Abstract

A method of logging a well can include conveying an optical waveguide and at least one signal generator with a conveyance into the well, causing the signal generator to generate at least one signal in the well, and receiving the signal as distributed along the optical waveguide. A well logging system can include a conveyance with an optical waveguide, and at least one signal generator which is conveyed by the conveyance into a well with the optical waveguide, whereby the signal generator generates at least one signal received with the optical waveguide.

Claims

1. A method of logging a well, the method comprising:

conveying an optical waveguide and at least one signal generator with a conveyance into the well;

causing the signal generator to generate at least one signal in the well; and

receiving the signal as distributed along the optical waveguide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an acoustic signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises a pressure pulse.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the signal comprises detecting light backscattered in the optical waveguide.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the signal comprises detecting light reflected via the optical waveguide.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a reflection of the signal as distributed along the optical waveguide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the conveying further comprises conveying at least first and second ones of the signal generators, wherein the causing further comprises causing the first and second signal generators to generate at least first and second respective ones of the signals, and wherein the receiving further comprises receiving the first and second signals as distributed along the optical waveguide.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing further comprises transmitting the signal through a gravel packed section of the well.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining a hydraulic impedance of the gravel packed section based on the receiving.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a fluid acoustic velocity based on the receiving.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a velocity of a fluid in the well based on the receiving.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining further comprises compensating for pipe compliance.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the conveyance comprises a cable with the optical waveguide incorporated therein.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the conveyance comprises a coiled tubing.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the conveying further comprises conveying a reflector with the conveyance into the well.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing further comprises striking a structure which transmits the signal.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing further comprises activating an exothermic device.

18. A well logging system, comprising:

a conveyance with an optical waveguide; and

at least one signal generator which is conveyed by the conveyance into a well with the optical waveguide,

wherein the signal generator generates at least one signal received with the optical waveguide.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising an optical interrogator which detects light backscattered in the optical waveguide.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the conveyance comprises a cable with the optical waveguide incorporated therein.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the conveyance comprises a coiled tubing.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the signal comprises an acoustic signal.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the signal comprises a pressure pulse.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein a reflection of the signal is received with the optical waveguide.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one signal generator comprises at least first and second signal generators, wherein the first and second signal generators generate at least first and second respective ones of the signals, and wherein the first and second signals are received with the optical waveguide.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the signal is transmitted through a gravel packed section of the well.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the received signal indicates a hydraulic impedance of the gravel packed section.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the received signal indicates a fluid acoustic velocity in the well.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the received signal indicates a velocity of a fluid in the well.