Corrosion monitoring tool

• US 5,627,749 A
• Filed: 02/25/1994
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rohrback Cosasco Systems, Inc. (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Rohrback Cosasco Systems, Inc. (Halma PLC)
• Inventors: Powell, Steven W., Waterman, David K., Sweetman, Budd, Maciejewski, Walter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Application Number:
  US08/201,838
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 73/151, 73/155, 324/71.2, 166/336, 166/902, 364/422
• US Class Current: 702/6
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/006 Detection of corrosion or deposition of substances
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/26 Storing data down-hole, e.g. in a memory or on a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/00 Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 166/902 for inhibiting corrosion or coating

Abstract

A tool for monitoring corrosion levels within a wellbore particularly suited for remote monitoring over extended periods. The monitoring tool utilizes a thin wall electrical resistance type corrosion sensor to determine rate of metal loss within the wellbore. The corrosion sensor is preferably made of the same material as the production tubing or drill pipe of the well and is positioned to allows the fluid within the wellbore to flow over the sensor at the same rate as the fluid flows over the tubing. A reference element is incorporated into the corrosion sensor to provide primary temperature compensation. A temperature sensor provides temperature data and allows for secondary temperature compensation for the corrosion sensor. A central processing unit reads and stores the data from the three sensors into solid state memory. The probe records data at programmable time intervals. Upon retrieval of the probe from the wellbore, the probe may be connected to a computer for downloading of the raw data and subsequent analysis.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring environmental parameters within a wellbore having metal material there,, said apparatus comprising:

an elongated housing positionable within the wellbore and including a downhole end;

detecting means disposed within said housing for detecting the environmental parameters within the wellbore proximate said housing, said detecting means including at least one sensor for measuring the loss of metal material within the wellbore; and

data storage means in communication with said detecting means for storing data information communicated by said detecting means, said data storage means being disposed within said housing.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further comprising means for supplying electrical power for operation of said detecting means and data storage means.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said power means includes at least one battery disposed within said housing and electrically connected to said detecting means and data storage means.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said electrical power of operation of said detecting means and data storage means is supplied from the surface through a wireline tool attached to said housing.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said detecting means includes a temperature sensor and said sensor for measuring the loss of metal within the wellbore, said sensors being disposed at said downhole end of said housing.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said at least one sensor for measuring the loss of metal includes a primary corrosion sensor and a secondary reference corrosion sensor, said detecting means measuring the electrical resistance of said primary and secondary sensors such that said metal loss is determined through comparison of a ratio of electrical resistance across said primary sensor and electrical resistance across said secondary sensor.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said primary corrosion sensor includes an outer sleeve formed of a similar metal material as the metal material within the wellbore and said secondary corrosion sensor incudes an inner sleeve coaxially mounted within said outer sleeve, whereby said outer sleeve is exposed to the wellbore environment.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said data storage means includes a central processing unit and a memory unit, said central processing unit communicating with said detecting means to process and store data from said detecting means onto said memory unit.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said central processing unit and said memory unit are disposed within an instrument assembly housed within said housing.

10. The apparatus as defined claim 9 wherein said instrument assembly includes a connector for providing communication between said memory unit and an independent processing unit at the surface such that said data stored on said memory unit may be downloaded to said independent processing unit.

11. An apparatus for measuring environmental parameters within a wellbore having metal material therein, said apparatus comprising:

an elongated housing positionable within the wellbore and including a downhole end;

a detecting probe disposed within said downhole end of said housing such that said probe is exposed to the wellbore environment, said probe including a primary corrosion sensor and a secondary reference corrosion sensor for determining a loss of metal material within the wellbore, said probe being electrically isolated from said elongated housing of said tool;

data storage means disposed within said housing in electrical communication with said detecting probe, said data storage means including a central processing unit and a memory unit, said central processing unit receiving downhole environment data from said detecting probe and storing said data on said memory unit; and

means for supplying electrical power for operation of said detecting probe and said data storage means, said power supply means being disposed in said housing in electrical communication with said detecting probe and said data storage means whereby said apparatus may be positioned in the wellbore for independent operation collecting data on the wellbore environment.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said power supply means includes at least one battery disposed within said housing in electrical communication with said detecting probe and said data storage means.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said detecting probe further comprises a temperature sensor, said primary corrosion sensor, said secondary reference corrosion sensor and said temperature sensor supplying data on the wellbore environment to said data storage means.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said primary corrosion sensor includes an outer sleeve formed of a metal material similar to the metal material within the wellbore and said secondary reference corrosion sensor includes an inner sleeve coaxially mounted within said outer sleeve, whereby said outer sleeve is exposed to the wellbore environment.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 and further comprising a probe shield forming a part of said housing, said probe shield being formed of a metal material similar to the metal material within the wellbore thereby forming a weight loss coupon exposed to the wellbore environment, said weight loss coupon providing means for verifying corrosion rates within the wellbore.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said central processing unit measures the electrical resistance of said primary and secondary sensors such that said metal loss is determined through comparison of a ratio of electrical resistance across said primary sensor and electrical resistance across said secondary reference sensor.