Flow Sensing in Subterranean Wells

• US 20170138179A1
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Jaaskelainen, Mikko, Kalia, Nitika, Ranjan, Priyesh
• Granted Patent: US 10,370,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/107 using acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/114 using light radiation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/353 influencing the transmission properties of an optical fibre

Abstract

A flow rate sensing system can include an optical waveguide, an optical interrogator that detects optical scatter in the optical waveguide, and an emitter that produces vibration in response to flow, the optical scatter being influenced by the vibration. A method of measuring flow rate can include detecting optical scattering in an optical waveguide, the optical scattering varying in response to changes in vibration produced by an emitter, and the vibration changing in response to the flow rate changing. A well system can include at least one tubular string positioned in a wellbore, multiple locations at which fluid flows between an interior and an exterior of the tubular string, multiple emitters, each of which produces vibration in response to the flow between the interior and the exterior of the tubular string, and an optical waveguide in which optical scatter varies in response to changes in the vibration.

Claims

1. A flow rate sensing system for use with a subterranean well, the system comprising:

an optical waveguide extending in the well;

an optical interrogator that detects optical scatter in the optical waveguide; and

an emitter that produces vibration in response to flow in the well, the optical scatter in the optical waveguide being influenced by the vibration.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a frequency of the vibration varies in response to a change in a rate of the flow.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein an amplitude of the vibration varies in response to a change in a rate of the flow.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is included in an optical line that is in contact with the emitter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the vibration comprises acoustic waves.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the emitter comprises multiple chambers, each of the chambers having a different resonant frequency.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the emitter produces the vibration in response to the flow into a tubular string.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the emitter produces the vibration in response to the flow out of a tubular string.

9. A method of measuring flow rate in a subterranean well, the method comprising:

detecting optical scattering in an optical waveguide positioned in the well;

the optical scattering varying in response to changes in vibration produced by an emitter in the well; and

the vibration changing in response to the flow rate changing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein flow past at least one cavity of the emitter produces the vibration at a resonant frequency of the cavity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one cavity comprises multiple cavities, the resonant frequency being different for each of the cavities.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the vibration comprises acoustic waves.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the emitter produces the vibration in response to flow into a tubular string in the well.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the emitter produces the vibration in response to flow out of a tubular string in the well.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the vibration changing comprises varying a frequency of the vibration.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the vibration changing comprises varying an amplitude of the vibration.

17. A well system, comprising:

at least one tubular string positioned in a wellbore;

multiple locations at which fluid flows between an interior and an exterior of the tubular string;

multiple emitters, each of which produces vibration in response to the flow between the interior and the exterior of the tubular string; and

an optical waveguide in which optical scatter varies in response to changes in the vibration.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the emitters is positioned at a respective one of the locations, and at each of the locations the flow between the interior and exterior of the tubular string passes through a respective one of the emitters.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the optical waveguide is included in an optical line in contact with each of the emitters.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one tubular string comprises a production tubular string and an injection tubular string, and wherein a first set of the emitters produce the vibration in response to the flow out of the injection tubular string and a second set of the emitters produce the vibration in response to the flow into the production tubular string.