Monitoring of downhole parameters and tools utilizing fiber optics

• US 8,789,587 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Tubel, Paulo, Bidigare, Brian, Johnson, Michael, Harrell, John, Voll, Benn
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay, Jennifer H
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLACE, KIPP CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US12/394,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20090188665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 166/261, 166/270.1, 166/250.02, 166/250.05, 166/250.08, 166/250.15, 166/66, 166/266, 166/268, 166/252.1, 166/272.2, 166/271, 731/520.2, 731/521.2, 731/521.8, 731/522.4, 731/520.1
• US Class Current: 166/250.15
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1275 inflated by down-hole pumping means operated by a down-hole drive
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 37/06 using chemical means for preventing or limiting , e.g. eliminating, the deposition of paraffins or like substances
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0035 Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/02 in situ inhibition of corrosion in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/20 Displacing by water
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/25 Methods for stimulating production by vibrating earth formations E21B43/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/017 Protecting measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/07 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/107 using acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/11 using tracers; using radioactivity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/113 using electrical indications; using light radiations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/00 Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/006 Measuring wall stresses in the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/008 by injection test; by analysing pressure variations in an injection or production test, e.g. for estimating the skin factor measuring pressure E21B47/06
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/08 : Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/268 : using optical fibres G01D5/28 - G01D5/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 : Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/40 : specially adapted for well-logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/42 : using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice versa G01V1/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/46 : Data acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/52 : Structural details
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/00 : Prospecting or detecting by methods combining techniques covered by two or more of main groups G01V1/00 - G01V9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 : Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/6163 : Electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/6167 : Nuclear
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 7/08 : using balances
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 7/16 : specially adapted for use on moving platforms, e.g. ship, aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/02 : Prospecting

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring and controlling an injection operation is disclosed. A plurality of distributed fiber optic sensors is located in a production well. Fluid is injected into an injection well spaced apart from the production well. A parameter of a formation between the production well and the injection well is determined from measurements from the formation obtained using the fiber optic sensors. At least one of an injection of fluid into the injection well and a flow into the production well is controlled in response to the determined parameter.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring and controlling an injection operation, comprising:

locating in a production well a plurality of distributed fiber optic sensors;

injecting a fluid in an injection well formed spaced apart from the production well;

determining a parameter of the formation between the production well and the injection well from a measurement of an acoustic signal generated in the formation obtained using the fiber optic sensors; and

controlling a flow of fluid into the production well in response to the parameter determined from the measurement of the acoustic signal generated in the formation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fiber optic sensors comprise strain sensors and the determined parameter comprises a depletion of hydrocarbons.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising estimating a stress distribution at the production well.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fiber optic sensors comprise acoustic sensors and the determined parameter comprises at least one of;

(i) a seismic map, (ii) an extent of fracturing of the formation, and (iii) a sealing character of a fault.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising using a seismic source at a surface location to generate acoustic waves in the formation.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising using a seismic source in the injection well to generate an acoustic wave in the formation.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising using a flow controller for controlling at least one of:

(i) the injection of fluid, and (ii) the flow into the production well.

8. A system configured to monitor and control an injection operation, the system comprising:

an injection well spaced apart from a production well, the injection well configured to have a device for injecting a fluid into the formation;

a plurality of fiber optic sensors disposed in a production well, the fiber optic sensors configured to measure an acoustic signal generated in the formation in response to the injection of the fluid; and

at least one processor configured to;

(i) determine from the measured acoustic signal a parameter of the formation between the production well and the injection well; and

(ii) control a flow into the production well in response to the parameter determined from the measured acoustic signal.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the fiber optic sensors comprise strain sensors and the parameter determined by the at least one processor further comprises a depletion of hydrocarbons.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to estimate a stress distribution at the production well.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the fiber optic sensors comprise acoustic sensors and the parameter determined by the at least one processor further comprises at least one of:

(i) a seismic map, (ii) an extent of fracturing of the formation, and (iii) a sealing character of a fault.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a seismic source at a surface location configured to generate acoustic waves in the formation.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising a seismic source in the injection well configured to generate an acoustic wave in the formation.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising a flow controller configured to control at least one of:

(i) the injection of fluid, and (ii) the flow into the production well.