Systems, methods and apparatuses for monitoring and recovery of petroleum from earth formations

• US 8,159,226 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Sponchia, Barton
• Primary Examiner(s): Aurora, Reena
• Application Number:
  US12/140,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20090284260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 324/333, 324/345, 166/250.11
• US Class Current: 324/333
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/10 Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring a location of a borehole for production of petroleum from an earth formation is provided. The apparatus includes: a detection source disposable within a detection source conduit, the detection source including an elongated electrically conductive member extendable along at least a portion of the detection source conduit; and an electrosensitive material disposed in at least one portion of the elongated member, the electrosensitive material reactive to an electric current to change a shape of the electrosensitive material, the electrosensitive material configured to change shape in response to the electric current to form an electromagnet at the portion. A system and method for monitoring a location of a borehole for production of petroleum from an earth formation are also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring a location of a borehole for production of petroleum from an earth formation, the apparatus comprising:

a detection source disposable within a detection source conduit, the detection source including an elongated electrically conductive member extendable along at least a portion of the detection source conduit; and

an electrosensitive material disposed in at least one portion of the elongated member, the electrosensitive material reactive to an electric current to change a shape of the electrosensitive material, the electrosensitive material configured to change shape in response to the electric current to form an electromagnet at the portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrosensitive material is configured to cause the elongated member to form a coil in response to the electric current.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the coil is configured to form a magnetic field in response to the electric current.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is a conductive cable, and the electrosensitive material is selected from at least one of an electrosensitive shape memory alloy and an electrically sensitive polymer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrosensitive material is disposed in a plurality of selected locations along a length of the elongated member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a parallel RLC (resistor-inductor-capacitor) circuit in electrical connection with the elongated member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing in which the conductive member is disposed.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the elongated member is configured to be coiled within the housing and is retractable to extend at least a portion of the conductive member along a selected length of the borehole.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a retrieval line attached to an end of the elongated member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one additional detection source selected from at least one of a magnetic source, a point of nuclear source, an electromagnetic induction coil, an acoustical device, a transmitting device, and a well logging tool.

11. A system for monitoring a location of a borehole for production of petroleum from an earth formation, the system comprising:

an assembly including at least one of an injection conduit for injecting a thermal source into the formation and a production conduit for recovering the petroleum from the formation;

a detection source conduit configured to extend at least substantially parallel to the assembly;

a detection source disposed within the detection source conduit, the detection source including an elongated electrically conductive member extendable along at least a portion of the detection source conduit; and

an electrosensitive material disposed in at least one portion of the elongated member, the electrosensitive material reactive to an electric current to change a shape of the electrosensitive material, the electrosensitive material configured to cause the elongated member to form a coil in response to the electric current to form an electromagnet at the portion.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the electro sensitive material is disposed in a plurality of selected locations along a length of the elongated member.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the coil is configured to form a magnetic field in response to the electric current.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the elongated member is a conductive cable, and the electrosensitive material is selected from at least one of an electrosensitive shape memory alloy and an electrically sensitive polymer.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a housing in which the conductive member is disposed.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the elongated member is configured to be coiled within the housing and is retractable to extend at least a portion of the conductive member along a selected length of the borehole.

17. A method for monitoring a location of a borehole for production of petroleum from an earth formation, the method comprising:

disposing a detection source within a detection source conduit that extends at least substantially parallel to a borehole conduit, the detection source including an elongated electrically conductive member, the elongated member including an electrosensitive material disposed in at least one portion of the elongated member, the electrosensitive material reactive to an electric current to change a shape of the electrosensitive material, extending the elongated member along at least a portion of the detection source conduit;

applying a current to the elongated member to cause the at least one portion of the elongated member to form a coil;

forming an electromagnet at the coil; and

detecting a magnetic field of the electromagnet to determine a position of the detection source.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electro sensitive material is disposed in a plurality of selected locations along a length of the elongated member.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the elongated member is coiled within a housing, and disposing the elongated member includes lowering the housing in the detection source conduit to a selected location in the borehole.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the elongated member is coiled within a housing, and disposing the elongated member includes retracting the elongated member to extend at least a portion of the conductive member along a selected length of the borehole.