Use of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) in well treatments

• US 8,297,353 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2011
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Roddy, Craig W., Ravi, Krishna M., Frisch, Gary, Moake, Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Kenneth L
• Application Number:
  US13/031,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20110192598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 166/250.01, 166/254.1, 166/255.1, 166/285, 166/66, 166/250.14, 166/292
• US Class Current: 166/250.14
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/13 Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/25 Methods for stimulating production by vibrating earth formations E21B43/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/005 Monitoring or checking of cementation quality or level
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/01 Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/10 Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency

Abstract

A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising placing a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in at least a portion of a sealant composition, placing the sealant composition in an annular space formed between a casing and the wellbore wall, and monitoring, via the MEMS sensors, the sealant composition and/or the annular space for a presence of gas, water, or both. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising placing a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a wellbore composition, placing the wellbore composition in the wellbore, and monitoring, via the MEMS sensors, the wellbore and/or the surrounding formation for movement.

Claims

1. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:

placing a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in at least a portion of a sealant composition;

placing the sealant composition in an annular space formed between a casing and the wellbore wall; and

monitoring, via the MEMS sensors, the sealant composition and/or the annular space for a presence of gas, water, or both.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition is a cement slurry and wherein the monitoring is carried out prior to setting of the cement slurry.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising signaling an operator upon detection of gas and/or water.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing a location in the wellbore corresponding a detection of gas and/or water.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising applying pressure to the well upon detection of gas and/or water.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising activating at least one device to prevent flow out of the well upon detection gas and/or water.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the cement slurry is pumped down the annulus in a reverse cementing service.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the cement slurry is pumped down the casing and up the annulus in a conventional cementing service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the wellbore is associated with a carbon dioxide injection system and wherein the monitoring an undesirable leak or loss of zonal isolation in the wellbore.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising performing a remedial action on the casing and/or the cement proximate a location where the leak or loss of zonal isolation is detected.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing carbon dioxide into the wellbore and surrounding formation to sequester the carbon dioxide.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition is a cement slurry and wherein the monitoring is carried out after setting of the cement slurry.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the monitoring is carried out by running an interrogator tool into the wellbore at one or more service intervals over the operating life of the well.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a location in the wellbore corresponding a detection of gas and/or water.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising assessing the integrity of the casing and/or the cement proximate the location where gas and/or water is detected.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a corrosive gas is detected.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the integrity of the casing and/or cement is compromised via corrosion and further comprising performing a remedial action on the casing and/or the cement proximate the location where corrosion is present.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising performing a remedial action on the casing and/or the cement proximate the location where gas and/or water is detected.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the remedial action comprises placing additional sealant composition proximate the location where gas and/or water is detected.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the remedial action comprises replacing and/or reinforcing the casing proximate the location where gas and/or water is detected.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising upon detection of gas and/or water, adjusting an operating condition of the well.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the operating condition comprises temperature, pressure, production rate, length of service interval, or any combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein adjusting the operating condition extends an expected service life of the wellbore.

25. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:

placing a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a wellbore composition;

placing the wellbore composition in the wellbore; and

monitoring, via the MEMS sensors, the wellbore and/or the surrounding formation for movement, wherein the MEMS sensors are in a sealant composition placed within an annular casing space in the wellbore and wherein the movement comprises a relative movement between the sealant composition and the adjacent casing and/or wellbore wall.

26. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:

placing a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a wellbore composition;

placing the wellbore composition in the wellbore; and

monitoring, via the MEMS sensors, the wellbore and/or the surrounding formation for movement, wherein at least a portion of the wellbore composition comprising the MEMS flows into the surrounding formation and wherein the movement comprises a movement in the formation.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising upon detection of the movement in the formation, adjusting an operating condition of the well.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the operating condition comprises a production rate of the wellbore.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein adjusting the production rate extends an expected service life of the wellbore.