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

• US 9,732,584 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2011
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• 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: Rodney, Paul, Tapie, William, Bittar, Michael, Mandal, Batakrishna, Ravi, Krishna M., Covington, Rick, Bonavides, Clovis, Moake, Gordon, Roddy, Craig W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Benlagsir, Amine
• Application Number:
  US13/031,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20110199228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,367 Days
• Field of Search: 3408531, 3408563, 3408564, 367 82, 367 83, 1662531
• 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 a wellbore composition, placing the wellbore composition in the wellbore, obtaining data from the MEMS sensors using a plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore, and telemetrically transmitting the data from an interior of the wellbore to an exterior of the wellbore using a conduit positioned in the wellbore. A system, comprising a wellbore extending the earth'"'"'s surface, a conduit positioned in the wellbore, a wellbore composition positioned in the wellbore, the wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors, and a plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore and adapted to obtain data from the MEMS sensors and telemetrically transmit the data from an interior of the wellbore to an entrance of the wellbore via the conduit.

Claims

1. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:

placing a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in a wellbore composition located within surface wellbore operating equipment at a surface;

pumping the wellbore composition downhole in the wellbore;

fixing a casing string within the wellbore, the casing string further comprising;

a plurality of casing collars for coupling casing joints together, and

a plurality of data interrogation units situated on or in the plurality of casing collars,

wherein the data interrogation units are spaced along a length of the wellbore;

obtaining data from the MEMS sensors using the data interrogation units, wherein the data interrogation units energize the MEMS sensors;

monitoring integrity or performance metric of the wellbore composition based, on the data obtained from the MEMS sensors;

scanning for a presence of the MEMS sensors by an acoustic sensor;

tracking, by the data interrogation units, a sampling of the MEMS sensors;

telemetrically transmitting the data from an interior of the wellbore to an exterior of the wellbore using the casing string, wherein the data is transmitted from the data interrogation units via a cable disposed within a groove that runs longitudinally along a length of the casing string; and

verifying the data obtained from the MEMS sensors based on the scanning, wherein the acoustic sensor indicates the presence of the MEMS sensors is used to at least one of trouble-shoot or indicate that a problem exists with the MEMS sensors in case of a failure to attempt to interrogate the MEMS sensors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said telemetrically transmitting the data from the interior of the wellbore to the exterior of the wellbore comprises converting the data into acoustic vibrations of the casing string.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising relaying the telemetrically transmitted data through a series of relay components.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data interrogation units communicate with a second data interrogation unit via a network formed by the MEMS sensors in the wellbore composition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data interrogation units are powered by a tool placed into the wellbore and brought into proximity with the data interrogation units.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the data interrogation units includes at least one battery and the tool powers the data interrogation units by inductively charging the battery.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data interrogation units are powered by a downhole energy source.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the downhole energy source is a thermal energy source or a flow of fluid within the wellbore.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the wellbore composition comprises a drilling fluid, a spacer fluid, a sealant, a fracturing fluid, a gravel pack fluid or a completion fluid.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data interrogation units are powered by a battery.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising

joining the casing joints to the plurality of casing collars so that the plurality of casing collars couples the casing joints together in the wellbore.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the data interrogation units obtaining data from a sensor sensing a wellbore condition.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor, and the method further comprises the data interrogation units telemetrically transmitting temperature data from the temperature sensor to the exterior of the wellbore.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a sensor is a pressure sensor, and the method further comprises the data interrogation units telemetrically transmitting pressure data from the pressure sensor to the exterior of the wellbore.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a sensor is a chemical sensor, and the method further comprises the data interrogation units telemetrically transmitting chemical parameter data from the chemical sensor to the exterior of the wellbore.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the data interrogation units interrogating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said telemetrically transmitting the data from the interior of the wellbore to the exterior of the wellbore comprises converting the data into electromagnetic waves and transmitting the electromagnetic waves in the casing string.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electromagnetic waves are transmitted between the data interrogation units and a second data interrogation unit.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the electromagnetic waves are transmitted between the data interrogation units and a second data interrogation unit.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said telemetrically transmitting the data from the interior of the wellbore to the exterior of the wellbore comprises converting the data into electromagnetic waves and transmitting the electromagnetic waves in the casing string.

21. A system, comprising:

a wellbore composition positioned in a wellbore penetrating the earth'"'"'s surface, the wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors, and wherein the wellbore composition is prepared at a surface and is pumped downhole in the wellbore;

a casing string fixed within the wellbore, the casing string further comprising a casing collar for coupling casing joints together, and a plurality of data interrogation units situated on or in the casing collar, wherein the data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore, and wherein the data interrogation units energize the MEMS sensors, obtain data from the MEMS sensors and telemetrically transmit the data from an interior of the wellbore to an entrance of the wellbore via the casing string, wherein the data is transmitted from the data interrogation units via a cable disposed within a groove that runs longitudinally along a length of the casing string, and wherein an integrity or performance metric is monitored based, on the data; and

a sampling of the MEMS sensors, wherein the sampling is tracked by the data interrogation units; and

an acoustic sensor positioned within the wellbore, wherein the acoustic sensor scanning for a presence of the MEMS sensors, and the acoustic sensor to verify the data obtained from the MEMS sensors based on the scanning, wherein the acoustic sensor indicates the presence of the MEMS sensors is used to at least one of trouble-shoot or indicate that a problem exists with the MEMs sensors in case of a failure to attempt to interrogate the MEMS sensors.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a processing unit to receive the telemetrically transmitted data from the data interrogation units and process the data.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising a processing unit to receive and process the data from the MEMS sensors prior to the data being said telemetrically transmitted from the interior of the wellbore to the entrance of the wellbore.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processing unit is integral with the data interrogation units.

25. The system of claim 21, further comprising at least one turbogenerator positioned in the wellbore for providing power to the data interrogation units.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising at least one quantum thermoelectric generator positioned in the wellbore for providing power to the data interrogation units.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising an acoustic transmitter integral with the data interrogation units for providing the telemetric transmission via the casing string.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the acoustic transmitter comprises at least one piezoelectric device.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the telemetric transmission includes transmitting acoustic waves in the casing string.

30. The system of claim 21, further comprising a power transmission tool lowered from the surface into the wellbore, wherein the data interrogation units are powered by bringing the power transmission tool into proximity with the data interrogation units.

31. The system of claim 21, further comprising at least one repeater located in the wellbore and configured to receive and retransmit one or more telemetry signals.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein each of the data interrogation units comprises a transmitter for transmitting data.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising a sensor coupled to the transmitter to provide sensor data for transmission by the transmitter.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the sensor is an acoustic transceiver.

35. The system of claim 32, further comprising a sensor, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

36. The system of claim 32, further comprising a sensor, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

37. The system of claim 32, further comprising a sensor, wherein the sensor is a chemical sensor.

38. The system of claim 32, wherein each of the data interrogation units further includes a receiver for receiving sensor data from a MEMS sensor.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising a sensor coupled to the transmitter to provide sensor data for transmission by the transmitter.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the sensor is an acoustic transceiver.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein the sensor is a chemical sensor.

44. The system of claim 39, wherein each of the data interrogation units further includes a receiver for receiving sensor data from a MEMS sensor.

45. The system of claim 39, wherein each of the data interrogation units further includes a transceiver for interrogating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

46. The system of claim 39, wherein each of the data interrogation units further includes one or more batteries for powering the data interrogation unit.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein at least one of the batteries is inductively rechargeable by a recharging unit.

48. The system of claim 21, wherein each of the data interrogation units includes a transceiver for interrogating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

49. The system of claim 21, wherein each of the data interrogation units includes one or more batteries for powering the data interrogation unit.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein at least one of the batteries is inductively rechargeable by a recharging unit.

51. The system of claim 21, wherein said telemetrically transmitting the data from the interior of the wellbore to the entrance of the wellbore comprises converting the data into electromagnetic waves and transmitting the electromagnetic waves in the casing string.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the electromagnetic waves are transmitted between the data interrogation units and a second data interrogation unit.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the electromagnetic waves are transmitted between the data interrogation units and a second data interrogation unit.

54. The system of claim 21, wherein said telemetrically transmitting the data from the interior of the wellbore to the entrance of the wellbore comprises converting the data into electromagnetic waves and transmitting the electromagnetic waves in the casing string.

55. A system, comprising:

a wellbore composition positioned in a wellbore penetrating the earth'"'"'s surface, the wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors, wherein the wellbore composition is prepared at a surface and is pumped downhole in the wellbore;

a casing string fixed within the wellbore, the casing string further comprising a casing collar for coupling casing joints together, and a plurality of data interrogation units situated on or in the casing collar, wherein the data interrogation units to energize the MEMS sensors, obtain data from the MEMS sensors and telemetrically transmit the data from an interior of the wellbore to an entrance of the wellbore via the casing string;

the plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore to obtain the data from the MEMS sensors, wherein the data interrogation units tracks a sampling of the MEMS sensors; and

a processing unit to receive the data from the data interrogation units and process the data, wherein an integrity or a performance metric are monitored based on the data;

wherein the data is transmitted from the data interrogation units to the processing unit via a cable disposed within a groove that runs longitudinally along a length of the casing string; and

an acoustic sensor positioned in the wellbore, wherein the acoustic sensor scanning for a presence of the MEMS sensors, and the acoustic sensor to verify the data obtained from the MEMS sensors based on the scanning, wherein the acoustic sensor indicates the presence of the MEMS sensors is used to at least one of trouble-shoot or indicate that a problem exists with the MEMs sensors in case of a failure to attempt to interrogate the MEMS sensor.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein the cable, or a separate cable likewise disposed within the groove, provides power to the data interrogation units.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein each of the data interrogation units comprises a transmitter for transmitting data.