Computer controlled injection wells

• US 6,615,917 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Bussear, Terry R., Jones, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEUDER, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US09/947,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 160/250.15, 160/303, 160/53, 160/272.1, 160/250.01, 160/252.1
• US Class Current: 166/250.15
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 37/06 using chemical means for preventing or limiting , e.g. eliminating, the deposition of paraffins or like substances
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0035 Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/02 in situ inhibition of corrosion in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/20 Displacing by water
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/017 Protecting measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/07 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/107 using acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/113 using electrical indications; using light radiations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/00 Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/006 Measuring wall stresses in the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/008 by injection test; by analysing pressure variations in an injection or production test, e.g. for estimating the skin factor measuring pressure E21B47/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/268 using optical fibres G01D5/28 - G01D5/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/40 specially adapted for well-logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/00 Prospecting or detecting by methods combining techniques covered by two or more of main groups G01V1/00 - G01V9/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/02 Prospecting

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling and monitoring injection zone and production zone parameters in order to control the injected fluid front to avoid breakthrough of the injected fluid to the production zone and thus optimize hydrocarbon recovery.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing target fluid recovery in a formation having a fault comprising:

generating acoustic signals;

receiving reflected signals;

determining distance and acoustic volume through which the acoustic signals have traveled; and

calculating a location and condition of said fault.

2. A method of enhancing target fluid recovery in a formation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiving further includes receiving naturally generated acoustic signals.

3. A method of enhancing target fluid recovery in a formation as claimed in wherein claim 1 said enhancing includes adjusting an injection well injection profile in accordance with the location and condition of said fault.

4. An enhanced recovery hydrocarbon well system comprising:

at least one injection well;

at least one production well;

at least one acoustic generator in each of said injection well and said production well;

at least one acoustic receiver in each of said injection well and said production well;

a controller system in communication with said at least one generator in said injection well and said production well and with said at least one receiver in said injection well and said production well, said controller having the ability to determine distance and acoustic volume through which acoustic signals have traveled to determine location and condition of a fault in a formation.

5. An enhanced recovery hydrocarbon well system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said at least one acoustic generator and said at least one acoustic receiver are configured to detect a fault in a reservoir.

6. An enhanced recovery hydrocarbon well system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said at least one acoustic receiver and said at least one acoustic generator are alternated with increasing depth.

7. An enhanced recovery hydrocarbon well system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said at least one acoustic receiver is configured to receive naturally occurring acoustic waves.