Methods for indication of at least one subsurface barrier characteristic and methods of use
First Claim
1. A method of indicating at least one characteristic of at least a portion of a containment system providing a barrier adjacent a selected region of a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
- forming a barrier by providing a plurality of casing strings, wherein each of the plurality of casing strings is laterally adjoined to at least one other adjacent casing string of the plurality of casing strings by way of an interlocking structure;
disposing at least one electrically conductive element along at least a portion of a length of at least one of the plurality of casing strings forming the barrier;
substantially filling at least one interlocking structure extending between two laterally adjacent casing strings of the plurality with barrier filler materialperforming a first electrical time domain reflectometry using the at least one electrically conductive element to determine at least one characteristic associated with the barrier prior to substantially filling the at least one interlocking structure with the barrier filler material; and
performing at least a second electrical time domain reflectometry process subsequent to substantially filling the at least one interlocking structure with the barrier filler material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A containment system for use adjacent to a selected region of a subterranean formation and comprising a plurality of laterally interlocked casing strings. At least one electrically conductive element is disposed along at least a portion of a casing string and is used for performing electrical time domain reflectometry. At least one protective element may be positioned between portions of adjacent casing strings of the barrier, and at least one electrically conductive element may be disposed at least partially within the at least one protective element for use in indicating at least one characteristic of at least a portion of the containment system. Electrical time domain reflectometry (TDR) may be used to indicate the at least one characteristic; for instance, TDR may be used to indicate leakage through the barrier or a discontinuity or void in a barrier filler material.
293 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of indicating at least one characteristic of at least a portion of a containment system providing a barrier adjacent a selected region of a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
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forming a barrier by providing a plurality of casing strings, wherein each of the plurality of casing strings is laterally adjoined to at least one other adjacent casing string of the plurality of casing strings by way of an interlocking structure; disposing at least one electrically conductive element along at least a portion of a length of at least one of the plurality of casing strings forming the barrier; substantially filling at least one interlocking structure extending between two laterally adjacent casing strings of the plurality with barrier filler material performing a first electrical time domain reflectometry using the at least one electrically conductive element to determine at least one characteristic associated with the barrier prior to substantially filling the at least one interlocking structure with the barrier filler material; and performing at least a second electrical time domain reflectometry process subsequent to substantially filling the at least one interlocking structure with the barrier filler material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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9. A method of indicating at least one characteristic of at least a portion of a containment system providing a barrier adjacent a selected region of a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
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forming a barrier by providing a plurality of casing strings, wherein each of the plurality of casing strings is laterally adjoined to at least one other adjacent casing string of the plurality of casing strings by way of an interlocking structure; disposing at least one electrically conductive element along at least a portion of a length of at least one of the plurality of casing strings forming the barrier; substantially filling at least one interlocking structure extending between two laterally adjacent casing strings of the plurality with barrier filler material; and performing electrical time domain reflectometry using the at least one electrically conductive element to determine at least one characteristic associated with the barrier during the substantially filling the at least one interlocking structure with the barrier filler material.
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10. A method of indicating at least one characteristic of at least a portion of a containment system providing a barrier adjacent a selected region of a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
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forming a barrier by providing a plurality of casing strings, wherein each of the plurality of casing strings is laterally adjoined to at least one other adjacent casing string of the plurality of casing strings by way of an interlocking structure; disposing at least one electrically conductive element along at least a portion of a length of at least one of the plurality of casing strings forming the barrier; substantially filling at least one interlocking structure extending between two laterally adjacent casing strings of the plurality with barrier filler material; performing electrical time domain reflectometry using the at least one electrically conductive element to determine at least one characteristic associated with the barrier wherein determining the at least one characteristic associated with the barrier comprises determining a presence of a discontinuity in the barrier filler material responsive to performing electrical time domain reflectometry. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification