Well fluid leak detection and response systems

• US 8,720,551 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2013
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UR Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: UR Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Short, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomar, Shane
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLACE, KIPP CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US13/937,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20130293387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 166/81.1, 166/75.13, 166/250.08, 175/209, 405/52
• US Class Current: 166/250.08
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/0122 Collecting oil or the like from a submerged leakage cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or the like E02B15/04
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/117 Detecting leaks, e.g. from tubing, by pressure testing

Abstract

Embodiments of the inventive technology may provide a leaked fluid detection and response system in one aspect, and in another aspect, an environmental enclosure for at least a component of such leaked fluid detection system. Various embodiments of the leaked fluid detection and response system may provide wireless communication of detected leaks and a PLC that automates response and provides information regarding the presence of a leak. Enclosures may, in various embodiments, comprehensively surround enclosed components, thermally insulate enclosed components, include a leaked fluid capture basin, be aerodynamically streamlined, and/or be vermin-tight.

Claims

1. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus comprising:

a plurality of well fluid leak detectors established to generate information regarding the presence of a leak of a well fluid from any of a plurality of wellheads;

a communication system configured to convey said information digitally;

a programmable logic controller configured to act according to said information;

a response system coordinated with said programmable logic controller to automatically act in the event of detection of said well fluid leak; and

at least one power supply that powers said at least one well fluid leak detector, said communication system, said programmable logic controller and said response system,

wherein said well fluid comprises a well fluid selected from the group consisting of;

barren lixiviant, lixiviant, in-situ mining fluid, in-situ leach mining fluid, in-situ recovery mining fluid, in-situ uranium mining fluid, slurry mining fluid, slurry uranium mining fluid, disposal well fluid, uranium mining disposal well fluid, production well fluid, uranium mining production well fluid, injection well fluid, uranium mining injection well fluid, water, hot mineralized water, hydrocarbon mining fluid, hydrocarbon leach mining fluid, oil well fluid, oil, natural gas mining fluid, and natural gas,

wherein said communication system is at least partially wireless,

wherein said communication system uses one or more of methodology selected from the group consisting of bluetooth, mesh, point to point and point to multi-point,

wherein said communication system comprises a plurality of radios, at least one of which is a repeater,

wherein said apparatus further comprises a functionality verification system that itself comprises a focused, communication system functionality validator and a leak simulator,

wherein said programmable logic controller causes said leak simulator to automatically simulate a leak periodically,

wherein said response system further comprises a human notification system that effects a sensible indication in the event of a leak,

wherein said programmable logic controller comprises a programmed requirement of leak notification receipt acknowledgement,

wherein said programmed requirement of leak notification receipt acknowledgement comprises a programmed requirement selected from the group consisting of;

autonomous leak notification receipt acknowledgement and authorized leak notification receipt acknowledgement,

wherein said apparatus further comprises an automatic shutdown system that is configured to automatically terminate fluid flow in the event of non-acknowledgement of said receipt of notification by a human, and

wherein said programmable logic controller comprises a leak data recorder, wherein data recorded is selected from the group consisting of;

leak time, leak location, and time of said acknowledgement of receipt of notification by a human.

2. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said at least one well fluid leak detector comprises at least one probe pair.

3. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said at least one well fluid leak detector comprises at least one float type fluid leak detector.

4. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said at least one well fluid leak detector comprises at least one sniffer.

5. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said wellheads comprise wellheads that are subject to thermal stresses induced by temperature extrema more than 20 degs C. apart.

6. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said wellheads are established at an interface of earth and atmosphere.

7. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said communication system operates under any one or more of the protocols selected from the group consisting of RS232, RS422, RS485, 802-11, ethernet and zigbee.

8. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein at least one of said radios is a coordinator.

9. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said human notification system effects a sensible indication in the event of a leak.

10. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said sensible indication comprises a visual notifier.

11. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said sensible indication comprises an audible notifier.

12. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said human notification system comprises a leak location identifier.

13. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 further comprising at least one additional programmable logic controller.

14. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 13 further comprising a PLC-to-PLC communication system configured to enable communication between said programmable logic controller and said at least one additional programmable logic controller.

15. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said PLC-to-PLC communication system is fiber optic, Ethernet, ethernet radio, 900 MHz radio, device net.

16. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said leak simulator acts on an input conveyed by said communication system.

17. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said human notification system effects a sensible indication in the event of system disfunctionality.

18. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said at least one power supply comprises a solar power supply.

19. An above-ground, well fluid leak detection and response apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises at least one leak detector for each of said wellheads.