Production wells having permanent downhole formation evaluation sensors
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring a formation surrounding a borehole in a production well, comprising:
- a production well having at least one borehole, said borehole including at least two production zones, each of said production zones including;
a completion string in said borehole for producing a fluid from the formation surrounding the borehole; and
at least one downhole formation evaluation sensor permanently located downhole for sensing a downhole formation parameter in an area associated with at least a portion of said completion string wherein said sensed downhole formation parameter constitutes a parameter which is not normally present within the wellbore.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A downhole control system for a production well is associated with permanent downhole formation evaluation sensors which remain downhole throughout production operations. These formation evaluation sensors may include, for example, neutron generator, gamma ray detector and resistivity sensors which can, in real time, sense and evaluate formation parameters including important information regarding formation invading water entering the producing zone. Significantly, this information can be obtained prior to the water actually entering the producing geological formation and therefore corrective action (i.e., closing of a valve or sliding sleeve) can be taken prior to water being produced. This real time acquisition of formation data in the production well constitutes an important advance over current wireline techniques in that the present invention is far less costly and can anticipate and react to potential problems before they occur. In addition, the formation evaluation sensors themselves can be placed much closer to the actual formation (i.e., adjacent the casing or downhole completion tool) than wireline devices which are restricted to the interior of the production tubing.
257 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A system for monitoring a formation surrounding a borehole in a production well, comprising:
-
a production well having at least one borehole, said borehole including at least two production zones, each of said production zones including; a completion string in said borehole for producing a fluid from the formation surrounding the borehole; and at least one downhole formation evaluation sensor permanently located downhole for sensing a downhole formation parameter in an area associated with at least a portion of said completion string wherein said sensed downhole formation parameter constitutes a parameter which is not normally present within the wellbore. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A system for the downhole control and monitoring of at least one downhole tool in a well comprising:
-
a surface system located on the surface of the well for monitoring information acquired downhole; at least one downhole tool disposed downhole in the well; and a downhole control and monitoring system disposed downhole in the well, said downhole control and monitoring system including; (a) at least one downhole formation evaluation sensor for sensing parameters in the formation surrounding the well, said at least one downhole formation evaluation sensor being permanently located downhole for sensing a downhole formation parameter wherein said sensed downhole formation parameter constitutes a parameter which is not normally present within the wellbore; (b) at least one downhole control device for controlling at least one downhole tool; and (c) a downhole electronic controller in communication with said downhole formation evaluation sensor and said downhole control device. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
-
-
6. A system for the downhole control and monitoring of a plurality of downhole tools in a well, said well including at least a first and second zone for producing fluid, comprising:
-
a surface system located on the surface of the well for monitoring information acquired downhole; at least one downhole tool disposed downhole in the each of said first and second zones of said well; and a downhole control and monitoring system disposed downhole in each of said first and second zones of said well, said downhole control and monitoring system including; (a) at least one downhole formation evaluation sensor for sensing parameters in the formation surrounding the well, said at least one downhole formation evaluation sensor being permanently located downhole for sensing a downhole parameter wherein said sensed downhole formation parameter constitutes a parameter which is not normally present within the wellbore; (b) at least one downhole control device for controlling said at least one downhole tool; and (c) a downhole electronic controller in communication with said downhole formation evaluation sensor and said downhole control device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for monitoring a formation surrounding a borehole in a production well, comprising:
-
a production well having a borehole; a completion string in said borehole for producing a fluid from the formation surrounding the borehole; at least one downhole formation evaluation sensor for sensing parameters in the formation surrounding the well, said at least one downhole formation evaluation sensor being permanently located downhole for sensing a downhole formation parameter in an area associated with at least a portion of said completion string wherein said sensed downhole formation parameter constitutes a parameter which is not normally present within the wellbore. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification