Intelligent well system and method

• US 8,844,627 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2012
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Wetzel, Rodney J., Howard, Peter V., Johnson, Craig D., Pai, Sudhir, Smith, David R., Danos, Jake A., Bixenman, Patrick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, Zakiya W
• Application Number:
  US13/346,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20130008645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/250.14
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/00 Flexible luggage; Handbags collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/028 by sliding extraction from within a common frame
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/06 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/1035 for plural rods, pipes or lines, e.g. for control lines
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/04 Gravelling of wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/045 Crossover tools
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/084 Screens comprising woven materials, e.g. mesh or cloth
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/086 Screens with preformed openings, e.g. slotted liners comprising porous materials E21B43/082
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/103 of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/105 Expanding tools specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/106 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/108 Expandable screens or perforated liners
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/25 Methods for stimulating production by vibrating earth formations E21B43/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/07 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/09 Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells , e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 : using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves

Abstract

An intelligent well system and method has a sand face completion and a monitoring system to monitor application of a well operation. Various equipment and services may be used. In another aspect, the invention provides a monitoring system for determining placement of a well treatment. Yet another aspect of the invention is an instrumented sand screen. Another aspect is a connector for routing control lines.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring an operation in a well, comprising:

injecting a cement into the well;

monitoring a characteristic in the well by using a sensor positioned in the well, the sensor being a fiber optic line; and

determining a placement position of the cement in the well from the monitored characteristic, wherein the fiber optic line provides a distributed temperature measurement.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting gravel slurry or additional cement into the well in response into the determined placement position of the cement in the well.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned proximate a screen.

4. A method for monitoring an operation in a well, comprising:

injecting a cement into the well;

monitoring a characteristic in the well by using a sensor positioned in the well, the sensor being a fiber optic line; and

determining a placement position of the cement in the well from the monitored characteristic, wherein the fiber optic line provides a distributed stress measurement.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising injecting gravel slurry or additional cement into the well in response into the determined placement position of the cement in the well.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor is positioned proximate a screen.

7. A method for monitoring an operation in a well, comprising:

injecting a cement into the well;

monitoring a characteristic in the well by using a sensor positioned in the well, the sensor being a fiber optic line; and

determining a placement position of the cement in the well from the monitored characteristic, wherein the fiber optic line provides a distributed strain measurement.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising injecting gravel slurry or additional cement into the well in response into the determined placement position of the cement in the well.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor is positioned proximate a screen.

10. A method for monitoring an operation in a well, comprising:

injecting a cement into the well;

monitoring a characteristic in the well by using a sensor positioned in the well, the sensor being a fiber optic line; and

determining a placement position of the cement in the well from the monitored characteristic, wherein the fiber optic line provides a distributed sand detection measurement.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising injecting gravel slurry or additional cement into the well in response into the determined placement position of the cement in the well.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor is positioned proximate a screen.

13. A method for monitoring an operation in a well, comprising:

injecting a cement into the well;

monitoring a characteristic in the well by using a sensor positioned in the well, the sensor being a fiber optic line; and

determining a placement position of the cement in the well from the monitored characteristic, wherein the fiber optic line provides a distributed seismic measurement.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising injecting gravel slurry or additional cement into the well in response into the determined placement position of the cement in the well.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensor is positioned proximate a screen.

16. A method for monitoring an operation in a well, comprising:

injecting a cement into the well;

monitoring a characteristic in the well by using a sensor positioned in the well, the sensor being a fiber optic line;

determining a placement position of the cement in the well from the monitored characteristic, wherein the fiber optic line provides a distributed measurement; and

performing a remedial action based upon the determined placement.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the distributed measurement provided by the fiber optic line is a distributed pressure measurement.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the monitored characteristic is selected from temperature, pressure, flow, stress, strain, sand detection, and seismic measurements.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the remedial action is selected from the group consisting of injecting gravel slurry or additional cement into the well, actuating a sleeve, and actuating a valve.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensor is positioned proximate a screen.