Apparatus for compiling and monitoring subterranean well-test data

• US 4,393,485 A
• Filed: 05/02/1980
• Issued: 07/12/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baker International Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker International Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Redden, Raymond L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moskowitz, Nelson
• Application Number:
  US06/146,734
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 364/422, 367/86, 367/25, 340/861, 340/857, 73/152, 73/151, 73/151.5, 175/40, 175/48, 175/50, 166/250
• US Class Current: 367/25
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring the testing of a subterranean well by acquiring data from the well includes means for monitoring transducers positioned downhole, at the wellhead, at a separator or at other locations to obtain the values for a predetermined set of operating characteristics. The apparatus includes a microcomputer for calculating additional characteristics utilizing one or more of the transducer values and a visual display for onsite viewing of the values for the monitored and calculated characteristics. The apparatus further includes a printer and a tape recorder. The microcomputer controls the recording intervals of the printer and the tape recorder for recording the monitored and calculated values of the characteristics on a continuous basis. The values of the characteristics represent current production information for the well. The apparatus also includes means for monitoring the transducer power supply voltage and the microcomputer power supply voltage. If the microcomputer power supply fails, a backup battery is automatically connected to power a storage means for preserving the values of the operating characteristics for a predetermined time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for compiling and monitoring data during the testing of a subterranean well having a plurality of transducers for generating signals representing production characteristics of the well, including at least one transducer positioned at the surface of the well for generating a surface production characteristic signal representing at least one of wellhead pressure, wellhead temperature, gas temperature, oil temperature, gas differential pressure, static separator pressure, oil flow and water flow, comprising:

means connected to the transducers for periodically storing values of the transducer signals;

means connected to said means for storing for reading said stored value of said one surface transducer signal to generate a value for an additional operating characteristic of the well;

means connected to said means for storing and said means for generating said additional operating characteristic value for generating a plurality of output signals representing said stored values and said additional operating characteristic value;

a power supply connected to power the transducers;

means connected to said power supply for generating a voltage level signal representing the magnitude of the power supply output voltage; and

means for comparing said voltage level signal with predetermined upper and lower voltage limits to generate a power fluctuation signal when said voltage level signal is outside said voltage limits.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including filter means connected between the transducers and said means for storing for filtering electrical noise from the transducer signals.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means responsive to said power fluctuation signal for generating a power fluctuation output signal representing the value of the power supply fluctuation.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 3 including means responsive to said output signals for visually displaying the values of said output signals.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 including a primary power supply connected to said means for storing, a backup power supply, and means connected to said primary power supply for connecting said backup power supply to said means for storing when the magnitude of the primary power supply output voltage drops below a predetermined value whereby said means for storing continues to store said transducer signal values during a failure of said primary power supply.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for connecting includes means connected to said primary power supply for generating a power failure warning signal in response to a primary power supply output voltage drop below said predetermined value, means responsive to said power failure warning signal for generating a control signal after a predetermined time, and means responsive to said control signal for connecting said means for storing to said backup power supply.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means connected to said means for generating said output signals for recording the values of said output signals on a record medium.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for recording includes a magnetic tape recorder means for recording the values of said output signals on magnetic tape.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for recording includes a printer means for recording the values of said output signals on paper.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least another one of the transducers is positioned downhole and wherein said means for generating said additional operating characteristic value reads said stored value of said one downhole transducer signal to generate a value for a second additional operating characteristic of the oil well and said means for generating said output signals generates an output signal representing said second additional operating characteristic value.

11. An apparatus for compiling and monitoring data during testing of a subterranean well connected to a production test system having a plurality of transducers for generating signals representing operational characteristics of the well, including at least one transducer positioned at the surface of the well for generating a surface operational characteristic signal representing at least one of wellhead pressure, wellhead temperature, gas temperature, oil temperature, gas differential pressure, static separator pressure, oil flow and water flow, comprising:

means for storing values of the transducer signals;

means for periodically reading the values of the transducer signals into said means for storing;

means for reading said stored value of said one surface transducer signal to generate a value for an additional operating characteristic of the well;

means for generating a plurality of output signals representing said stored values and said additional operating characteristic value;

means for interconnecting the transducers of the production test system, said means for storing, said means for reading, said means for generating said additional operating characteristic value, and said means for generating output signals for intercommunication;

a power supply connected to power the transducers, means connected to said power supply for generating a voltage level signal representing the magnitude of the power supply output voltage, and means for comparing said voltage level signal with predetermined upper and lower voltage limits to generate a power fluctuation signal when said voltage level signal is outside said voltage limits.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 including means responsive to said power fluctuation signal for visually displaying the value of the fluctuation of the power supply output voltage from said predetermined limits.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 including means for recording the value of said power fluctuation signal on a record medium.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 including means responsive to said output signals for visually displaying the values of said output signals.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11 including means for recording the values of said output signals on a record medium.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11 including a primary power supply connected to power said means for storing;

a backup power supply; and

means responsive to the magnitude of the output voltage of said primary power supply for connecting said backup power supply to said means for storing when the magnitude of the output voltage of said primary power supply falls below a predetermined value.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said means for connecting includes means for comparing the primary power supply output voltage magnitude with said predetermined value and for generating a power failure warning signal when the magnitude falls below said predetermined value, means responsive to said power failure warning signal for generating a control signal after a predetermined time, and means responsive to said control signal for connecting said means for storing to said backup power supply.

18. An apparatus for compiling and monitoring data during the testing of a subterranean well connected to a production system having a plurality of transducers for generating signals representing operational characteristics of the well, including at least one transducer positioned at the surface of the well for generating a surface operational characteristic signal representing at least one of wellhead pressure, wellhead temperature, gas temperature, oil temperature, gas differential pressure, static separator pressure, oil flow and water flow, comprising:

means for storing current values of the transducer signals;

means for periodically reading the current values of the transducer signals into said storage means to replace previously stored current values;

means for reading said stored current value of said one surface transducer signal from said means for storing to generate a value for an additional operating characteristic of the well;

means for generating a plurality of output signals representing said stored values and said additional operating characteristic value;

means for interconnecting the transducers of the production system, said means for storing, said means for periodically reading, said means for reading at least one of the stored current values, and said means for generating said output signals for intercommunication;

a power supply connected to power the transducers, means connected to said power supply for generating a voltage level signal representing the magnitude of the power supply output voltage, and means for comparing said voltage level signal with predetermined upper and lower voltage limits to generate a power fluctuation signal when said voltage level signal is outside said voltage limits.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said means for reading said one stored current value periodically reads each new current value of said one stored current value to generate a new value for said additional operating characteristic.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 including means responsive to said output signals for visually displaying the values of said output signals.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said means for visually displaying periodically displays the values of said output signals for periods of greater time duration than the reading periods of said means for periodically reading.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18 including means responsive to said output signals for recording the values of said output signals on a record medium.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said means for recording includes a magnetic tape recorder for recording the values of said output signals on magnetic tape.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said means for recording periodically records the values of said output signals at the same frequency as said means for periodically reading reads the current values of the transducer signals.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said means for recording includes a printer means for recording the values of said output signals on paper.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said means for recording periodically records the values of said output signals for periods of greater time duration than the reading periods of said means for periodically reading.

27. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein at least one of the transducers is positioned downhole.

28. The apparatus according to claim 18 including means responsive to said output signals for recording the values of said output signals on a first magnetic tape, means for reading said first magnetic tape and storing the values, means for changing at least one of said first magnetic tape stored values, and means for recording said changed value and the remainder of said first magnetic tape stored values on a second magnetic tape.