Method and device for the measuring physical parameters in a production shaft of a deposit of underground fluid storage reservoir

• US 6,644,403 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gdf Suez
• Original Assignee: Gaz de France
• Inventors: Pichery, Thierry, Sirieix, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): GAY, JENNIFER HAWKINS
• Application Number:
  US10/019,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 166/250.01, 166/250.11, 166/53, 166/65.1, 166/66, 166/66.5, 166/64, 166/162, 166/242.1, 166/242.5, 731/520.1, 731/520.2, 731/521.8, 731/525.1, 731/525.3
• US Class Current: 166/250.11
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/0283 characterised by the coupling being contactless, e.g. inductive
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/03 for setting the tools into, or removing the tools from, laterally offset landing nipples or pockets
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency

Abstract

An operating well of a fluid storage reserve, includes an outer wall delimiting, with a central operating tubing of the well, an annular space in which is placed a protective sheath of an electrical link cable between a surface installation and elements arranged in the well. A device for the measurement of physical parameters includes at least one compact, removable, sealed measuring subassembly arranged in a housing in communication with the interior of the central tubing and at least one compact, sealed connecting subassembly integral with the central tubing of the well and arranged at least partially in the annular space in the vicinity of the protective sheath to be connected to the electrical link cable. The sealed measuring subassembly and the sealed connecting subassembly have plane contact surfaces, each associated with a half-transformer so as to form an inductive coupling between the measuring subassembly and the connecting subassembly.

Claims

1. Device for the measurement of physical parameters in an operating well of a deposit or underground fluid storage reserve, which operating well includes an outer wall delimiting, with a central operating tubing of the well, an annular space in which is placed a protective sheath of an electrical link cable between a surface installation and elements arranged in the well, characterised in that the device includes at least one compact, removable, sealed measuring subassembly arranged in a housing in communication with the interior of the central tubing and at least one compact, sealed connecting subassembly integral with the central tubing of the well and arranged at least partially in the annular space in the vicinity of said protective sheath in order to be connected to said electrical link cable and in that the sealed measuring subassembly and the sealed connecting subassembly have plane contact surfaces each associated with a half-transformer so as to form an inductive coupling between the measuring subassembly and the connecting subassembly.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that each half-transformer associated with a plane contact surface includes a magnetic circuit and a coil embedded in a solid material making it possible to withstand pressure forces.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the solid material is a resin or a glass.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the half-transformers include thin welded non-magnetic metal sheets which constitute said plane contact surfaces and form part of sealed enclosures of said connecting and measuring subassemblies.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the measuring subassembly includes at least one sensor, an energy storage element and electronic circuits providing the interface between the half-transformer, the energy storage element and the sensor.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the electronic circuits include coding-decoding circuits and circuits for control of the power supply and management sensor of the information emitted by the sensor.

7. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the energy storage element comprises a capacitor.

8. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the energy storage element comprises a rechargeable battery.

9. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from among the following sensors:

pressure sensor, temperature sensor, flow rate sensor.

10. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the measuring subassembly cooperates with positioning stops formed by the housing of the central tubing.

11. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the measuring subassembly includes a profiled portion for positioning in the housing of the central tubing.

12. Device according to claim 11, characterised in that the connecting subassembly includes a profiled portion complementary to the profiled portion for positioning the measuring subassembly to allow positioning of the connecting subassembly integrally with the housing of the central tubing.

13. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the measuring subassembly is provided with means for being installed or removed through the interior of the central tubing with the aid of a tool remotely controlled by cable.

14. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting subassembly traverses the wall of the housing of the central tubing in order to be situated partially in said annular space and partially in the housing in communication with the interior of the central tubing.

15. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the electrical link cable cooperating with the connecting subassembly and the measuring subassembly forms a single-wire semi-duplex link for transmitting electrical signals alternately in descending fashion in the form of control signals and in ascending fashion in the form of data signals.

16. Device according to claim 15, characterised in that the electrical link cable is adapted to transmit signals for electrical supply of the connecting subassembly and the measuring subassembly during the periods in which data signals are not transmitted.

17. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting subassembly and the protective sheath define a sealed enclosure.

18. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it the device comprises several measuring subassemblies associated with the connecting subassemblies connected in parallel on the same electrical cable constituting a link in the form of a bus.

19. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it the device is applied to an operating well of an underground natural gas reserve.

20. Method for the measurement of physical parameters in an operating well of a deposit or underground fluid storage reserve, which operating well includes an outer wall delimiting, with a central operating tubing of the well, an annular space in which is placed a protective sheath of an electrical link cable between a surface installation and elements arranged in the well, characterised in that at least one sealed connecting subassembly arranged at least partially in said annular space and including a half-transformer is installed stationarily and integrally with the central operating tubing of the well, in the vicinity of the protective sheath and electrically connected to the electrical link cable, in that at least one compact, sealed measuring assembly provided with a half-transformer is introduced removably through the central tubing with the aid of a tool remotely controlled from the surface owing to a current-carrying cable and in that this measuring subassembly is positioned in a side pocket formed in the central tubing to which is fixed the connecting subassembly, in such a way that the measuring subassembly is coupled inductively to the connecting subassembly connected to the electrical link cable.

21. Method according to claim 20, characterised in that alternating low-frequency electrical signals for power supply of the measuring subassembly and data transmission and control signals are sent alternately via the electrical link cable.