Non-destructive inspection of downhole equipment

• US 7,149,339 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Veneruso, Anthony Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): MARIAM, DANIEL G
• Application Number:
  US10/374,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 382/112, 382/141, 382/149, 382/218, 382/305, 382/217, 378/4
• US Class Current: 382/141
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/04 involving 3D image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30164 Workpiece; Machine component
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection

Abstract

The present invention provides non-destructive computed tomography (CT) methods of testing downhole equipment. The non-destructive CT methods enable both extrinsic and intrinsic testing to ensure the quality of downhole components in elements such as downhole packers.

Claims

1. A non-destructive CT method of detecting extrinsic defects in downhole equipment, comprising:

creating a digital image of a plurality of components of the ideal downhole equipment;

determining acceptance criteria for one or more properties of at least one interface between components of the plurality of components on the digital image;

using a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner to create a digital image that includes an interface between a plurality of components of the actual downhole equipment; and

comparing the digital image of the plurality of components of the actual downhole equipment to the acceptance criteria for the one or more components of the ideal downhole equipment to determine whether the interface is acceptable.

2. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, further comprising detecting defects selected from de-bonds, geometric irregularities, and irregularities in component interfaces.

3. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, wherein the downhole equipment comprises a downhole packer.

4. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of downhole components are selected from packer sealing elements, valve seals, tubular seals, O-rings, protector elements in electrical submersible pumps, electrical insulators, electrical connectors, fiber optic cable, fiber optic connections, ram blowout preventers, mud pump pistons, drill motors, well head seals, cable jackets, drilling hoses, pressure accumulators, wipers, swab cups, pump stators, bonded seals, and drill pipe protectors.

5. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, wherein the downhole equipment comprises a downhole shaped charge.

6. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, wherein the downhole equipment comprises a downhole perforating gun.

7. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, further comprising forming the plurality of components from materials selected from rubber, elastomers, fiber reinforced composites, fiberglass, metal, polymers, and ceramics.

8. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, further comprising defining the plurality of components of the ideal downhole equipment by CAD files.

9. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, further comprising creating the plurality of components of the ideal downhole equipment from calibration samples.

10. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, wherein the acceptance criteria includes max/min tolerances for the one or more properties of the one or more components of the ideal downhole equipment.

11. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, wherein the one or more properties of the plurality of components of the ideal downhole equipment are selected from geometric dimensions and component interfaces.

12. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, wherein the CT scanner uses X-rays.

13. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, wherein the CT scanner uses neutron imaging rays.

14. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, wherein the CT scanner creates a 2-D image.

15. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, wherein the CT scanner creates a 3-D image.

16. The non-destructive CT method of claim 1, wherein the comparing of the image is performed through edge detection techniques.

17. A non-destructive CT method of measuring intrinsic density defects in a downhole component, comprising:

performing a CT scan on the downhole component to evaluate densities of a plurality of voxels in the downhole component;

utilizing data from the CT scan to determine the densities of the plurality of voxels;

recording the density for each voxel in the component;

determining an acceptable range for the density values existing in the downhole component; and

comparing the density values to the acceptable range to determine whether the downhole component is acceptable for use in a downhole environment.

18. The non-destructive CT method of claim 17, adapted to detect defects selected from density irregularities.

19. The non-destructive CT method of claim 17, wherein the downhole equipment is a packer.

20. The non-destructive CT method of claim 17, wherein the downhole component comprises a sealing element.

21. The non-destructive CT method of claim 17, wherein the downhole component comprises materials selected from rubber, elastomers, fiber reinforced composites, fiberglass, metal, polymeric, and ceramics.

22. The non-destructive CT method of claim 17, wherein the downhole component is selected from valve seals, tubular seals, O-rings, protector elements in electrical submersible pumps, electrical insulators, cable connectors, fiber optic cable, fiber optic connections, ram blowout preventers, mud pump pistons, drill motors, well head seals, cable jackets, drilling hoses, pressure accumulators, wipers, swab cups, pump stators, bonded seals, and drill pipe protectors.

23. The non-destructive CT method of claim 17, wherein the downhole equipment is a downhole shaped charge.

24. The non-destructive CT method of claim 17, wherein the downhole equipment is a downhole perforating gun.

25. The non-destructive method of claim 17, wherein the CT scanner uses X-rays.

26. The non-destructive method of claim 17, wherein the CT scanner uses neutron imaging rays.

27. A non-destructive CT method of measuring intrinsic void defects in a downhole component, comprising:

performing a CT scan on the downhole component to evaluate densities of a plurality of voxels in the downhole component;

utilizing data from the CT scan to determine the densities of the plurality of voxels;

recording the voxels, of the plurality of voxels, having densities below a pre-determined threshold;

summing the recorded voxels;

determining an acceptable measure of void volume existing in the downhole component; and

comparing the summation of the recorded voxels to the acceptable measure.

28. The non-destructive CT method of claim 27, adapted to detect defects selected from de-laminations and density irregularities.

29. The non-destructive CT method of claim 27, wherein the downhole equipment is a packer.

30. The non-destructive CT method of claim 27, wherein the downhole component comprises a sealing element.

31. The non-destructive CT method of claim 27, wherein the downhole component comprises materials selected from rubber, elastomers, fiber reinforced composites, fiberglass, metal, polymeric, and ceramics.

32. The non-destructive CT method of claim 27, wherein the downhole component is selected from valve seals, tubular seals, O-rings, protector elements in electrical submersible pumps, electrical cable, electrical connectors, electrical insulators, fiber optic cable, fiber optic connections, ram blowout preventers, mud pump pistons, drill motors, well head seals, cable jackets, drilling hoses, pressure accumulators, wipers, swab cuts, pump stators, bonded seals, and drill pipe protectors.

33. The non-destructive CT method of claim 27, wherein the downhole equipment is a downhole shaped charge.

34. The non-destructive CT method of claim 27, wherein the downhole equipment is a downhole perforating gun.

35. The non-destructive method of claim 27, wherein the CT scanner uses X-rays.

36. The non-destructive method of claim 27, wherein the CT scanner uses neutron imaging rays.

37. A non-destructive CT method of measuring contiguous intrinsic void defects in a downhole component, comprising:

performing a CT scan on the downhole component to evaluate densities of a plurality of voxels in the downhole component;

utilizing data from the CT scan to determine the densities of the plurality of voxels;

recording the voxels, of the plurality of voxels, having densities below a pre-determined threshold;

assigning unique addresses for the recorded voxels;

summing the contiguous recorded voxels;

determining an acceptable measure of contiguous void volume existing in the downhole component; and

comparing the summation of the recorded contiguous voxels to the acceptable measure.

38. The non-destructive CT method of claim 37, adapted to detect defects selected from de-laminations and density irregularities.

39. The non-destructive CT method of claim 37, further adapted to measure defects across multiple CT scan slices.

40. The non-destructive CT method of claim 37, wherein the downhole equipment is a packer.

41. The non-destructive CT method of claim 37, wherein the downhole component comprises a sealing element.

42. The non-destructive CT method of claim 37, wherein the downhole component comprises materials selected from rubber, elastomers, fiber reinforced composites, fiberglass, metal, polymeric, and ceramics.

43. The non-destructive CT method of claim 37, wherein the downhole component is selected from valve seals, tubular seals, O-rings, protector elements in electrical submersible pumps, electrical cable, electrical connectors, electrical insulators, fiber optic cable, fiber optic connections, ram blowout preventers, mud pump pistons, drill motors, well head seals, cable jackets, drilling hoses, pressure accumulators, wipers, swab cuts, pump stators, bonded seals, and drill pipe protectors.

44. The non-destructive CT method of claim 37, wherein the downhole equipment is a downhole shaped charge.

45. The non-destructive CT method of claim 37, wherein the downhole equipment is a downhole perforating gun.

46. The non-destructive method of claim 37, wherein the CT scanner uses X-rays.

47. The non-destructive method of claim 37, wherein the CT scanner uses neutron imaging rays.

48. A non-destructive method of determining the quality of downhole components, comprising:

performing a CT scan on the downhole components to evaluate densities of a plurality of voxels in the downhole component;

utilizing data from the CT scan to determine the densities of the plurality of voxels;

performing a density test for each voxel;

performing a void volume test for each voxel having a density with an range;

performing a contiguous void volume test for each voxel when a sum of defective voxels is less than an acceptance criteria; and

determining whether a downhole component is to be rejected based on the number of defective voxels.