Method and apparatus for testing, completion and/or maintaining wellbores using a sensor device
First Claim
1. A device for monitoring a reservoir in a wellbore, said wellbore having at least one target formation and having a tubular member comprising casing or production tubing;
- said device for monitoring further comprising;
at least one sensor comprising an information retrieval device, being mounted on the tubular member on a probe such that said sensor is retained substantially within said tubular member until it is positioned adjacent the target formation whereupon said probe is extendable with said sensor to position said sensor adjacent the target formation for gathering wellbore characteristic data therefrom.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an improved method and apparatus for testing and monitoring wellbore operations. The invention is (1) a data acquisition device capable of monitoring, recording wellbore and/or reservoir characteristics while capable of fluid flow control; and (2) a method of monitoring and/or recording at least one downhole characteristic during testing, completion and/or maintenance of a wellbore. The invention includes an assembly within a casing string comprising a sensor probe having an optional flow port allowing fluid flow while sensing wellbore and/or reservoir characteristics. It also includes a microprocessor, a transmitting device, and a controlling device located in the casing string for processing and transmitting real time data. A memory device is also provided for recording data relating to the monitored wellbore or reservoir characteristics. Examples of downhole characteristics which may be monitored include: temperature, pressure, fluid flow rate and type, formation resistivity, cross-well and acoustic sesmometry, perforation depth, fluid characteristic or logging data. With the microprocessor, hydrocarbon production performance maybe enhanced by activating local operations in additional associated downhole equipment, e.g., water shut-off operations at a particular zone, maintaining desired performance of a well by controlling flow in multiple wellbores, zone mapping on a cumulative basis, flow control operations, spacing casing and its associated flow ports in multiple zone wellbores, maintaining wellbore and/or reservoir pressure, sensing perforation characteristics, sensing reservoir characteristics or any number of other operations.
548 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A device for monitoring a reservoir in a wellbore, said wellbore having at least one target formation and having a tubular member comprising casing or production tubing;
- said device for monitoring further comprising;
at least one sensor comprising an information retrieval device, being mounted on the tubular member on a probe such that said sensor is retained substantially within said tubular member until it is positioned adjacent the target formation whereupon said probe is extendable with said sensor to position said sensor adjacent the target formation for gathering wellbore characteristic data therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- said device for monitoring further comprising;
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15. A device for monitoring a reservoir in a wellbore comprising:
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a tubular member being received in the wellbore adjacent a target formation; one or more screen liners mounted along the tubular member; at least one sensor, comprising an information retrieval device, being mounted on the tubular member and positioned at predetermined intervals along the length of the tubular member; at least one sensor, each comprising an information retrieval device, being mounted on screen liner and positioned at predetermined intervals along the length of the liner; and the tubular member being positioned in the wellbore to extend adjacent the target formation for gathering wellbore characteristic data therefrom.
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16. An apparatus, for performing wellbore testing, completion or production, which is in communication with a target reservoir in a wellbore comprising:
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a tubular pipe having an aperture for communicating with the target reservoir; at least one flow control device moveably mounted within the aperture of the tubular pipe for receiving fluid flow from the wellbore comprising; a tubular member moveably mounted on the tubular pipe for movement in a direction generally along the tubular member'"'"'s longitudinal axis between a retracted position primarily within the tubular pipe and an extended position towards a sidewall of the wellbore near the target reservoir; and
,a sensor device located in the tubular member for selectively monitoring a wellbore parameter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of wellbore completion, including a method for monitoring a wellbore parameter during hydrocarbon production, comprising:
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positioning a tubular into a wellbore, having a sensor device movably mounted for receiving a wellbore parameter signal and having fluid communication with a target reservoir; correlating the position of the sensor device with the target reservoir so that the sensor device is adjacent the target reservoir; extending the sensor device toward the target reservoir from a retracted position to an extended position; sensing a wellbore parameter signal from the subterranean formation by way of the sensor device; transmitting the wellbore parameter signal from the sensor device to a microprocessor; processing the wellbore parameter signal with the microprocessor; and transmitting a control signal from the microprocessor to a control device located downhole for carrying out a command instruction. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of testing an exploratory well leading to a target reservoir, comprising:
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positioning in the exploratory wellbore a tubular having at least one flow control device for receiving selective fluid communication from an adjacent target reservoir, the flow control device comprising; an extendible member, containing a filter media allowing selective fluid flow, extendible from within the casing string in a retracted position to an expanded position toward the wellbore wall; a sensor device located within the extendible member for receiving wellbore parameter signals; correlating the position of the flow control device so that it is adjacent the target reservoir; activating the flow control device so that the extendible member moves toward the wellbore wall; testing the hydrocarbon zone by flowing the target reservoir through the filter media into the;
tubularreceiving a wellbore parameter signal using said sensor device; transmitting the wellbore parameter signal to a microprocessor and processing the signal; and sending a control instruction to a control device located within the wellbore for performing a control operation. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A device for monitoring a reservoir in a wellbore, said wellbore having at least one target formation and having a tubular member comprising casing or production tubing;
- said device for monitoring further comprising;
at least one sensor comprising an information retrieval device, being mounted on the tubular member and positioned on the tubular member adjacent the target formation for gathering wellbore characteristic data therefrom; at least one extendible probe mounted on the tubular member having a sensor, said probe extended toward the sidewall of the wellbore when it is in a fully extended position; and said probe receives fluid flow from an adjacent formation. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
- said device for monitoring further comprising;
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48. A device for monitoring a reservoir in a wellbore, said wellbore having at least one target formation and having a tubular member comprising casing or production tubing;
- said device for monitoring further comprising;
at least one sensor comprising an information retrieval device, being mounted on the tubular member and positioned on the tubular member adjacent the target formation for gathering wellbore characteristic data therefrom; at least one housing defining a flow passage into the tubular member for receiving fluid flow from the reservoir and wherein said housing contains a filter media for retention of at least some of the particulate matter; and wherein said housing has a sensor in said housing for sensing fluid properties.
- said device for monitoring further comprising;
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49. A device for monitoring a reservoir in a wellbore, said wellbore having at least one target formation and having a tubular member comprising casing or production tubing;
- said device for monitoring further comprising;
at least one sensor comprising an information retrieval device, being mounted on the tubular member and positioned on the tubular member adjacent the target formation for gathering wellbore characteristic data therefrom; said sensor transmits a sensed wellbore characteristic data signal to a microprocessor at a surface location; and the microprocessor, after processing the received wellbore characteristic data signal, transmits a signal to implement a control instruction to a downhole control device.
- said device for monitoring further comprising;
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50. A device for monitoring a reservoir in a wellbore, said wellbore having at least one target formation and having a tubular member comprising casing or production tubing;
- said device for monitoring further comprising;
at least one sensor comprising an information retrieval device, being mounted on the tubular member and positioned on the tubular member adjacent the target formation for gathering wellbore characteristic data therefrom; a microprocessor mounted with said sensor for processing at least one data signal received from said sensor and for transmitting said signal to implement a control instruction to a downhole control device. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53)
- said device for monitoring further comprising;
Specification