PRODUCTION LOGGING PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS

• US 20110252878A1
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Marathon Oil Company (Marathon Oil Corporation)
• Inventors: Snider, Philip M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,850,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/152.29
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/11 using tracers; using radioactivity

Abstract

Processes and systems for logging production of fluid produced into a well bore without intervention of the well are disclosed. Two or more markers may be introduced into produced fluid at spaced apart locations along a well. The time for each marker to reach a common point may be measured and production rates for produced fluids at each spaced apart location may be calculated.

Claims

1. A process comprising:

releasing at least two markers into fluid produced from a subterranean environs at spaced apart locations within a well penetrating and in fluid communication with said subterranean environs;

measuring the elapsed time from the step of releasing until each of said at least two markers reaches a common point along the well; and

determining the flow rates of fluid produced from said subterranean environs at each of said spaced apart locations based upon said elapsed time.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said at least two markers are released substantially simultaneously.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein each of said at least two markers is a signal device.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein said signal device is a device capable of generating one or more signals.

5. The process of claim 3 wherein said signal device is a radio frequency identification device, a device carrying a magnetic bar code, a radioactive device, an acoustic device, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device or a low frequency magnetic transmitter.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein each of said at least two markers is buoyant.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein each of said at least two markers is a fluid, a compound, or an article.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the compound or the article is a nano particle.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the common point is at the well head.

10. A process for determining flow rates from a subterranean well comprising:

simultaneously releasing at least two markers into fluid produced from a subterranean environs at spaced apart locations within a well penetrating and in fluid communication with said subterranean environs;

detecting each of said at least two markers at a common point along the well; and

determining fluid velocity and flow rate of the fluid produced into the well at each of said spaced apart locations from the diameter of the well through which the fluid is produced and the elapsed time from releasing to detection of each of said at least two markers.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein said well is equipped with a tubular along at least a portion thereof through which said fluid is produced.

12. The process of claim 11 wherein said tubular is casing.

13. The process of claim 11 wherein said well is open hole through at least a portion of the subterranean environs.

14. The process of claim 10 wherein each of said two markers is a radio frequency identification device, a device carrying a magnetic bar code, a radioactive device, an acoustic device, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device or a low frequency magnetic transmitter.

15. The process of claim 10 wherein each of said two markers is buoyant.

16. The process of claim 10 wherein each of said two markers is a fluid, a compound or an article.

17. The process of claim 10 wherein said step of detecting is performed visually, by detecting changes in temperature, pressure or both, by chemical analysis or by means for reading a signal.

18. A system for determining flow rates from a subterranean well comprising:

at least two devices for releasing markers at each of spaced apart locations along a subterranean well into fluid produced into said well from a subterranean environs at said spaced apart locations; and

a detection device located along the well, wherein each of said two devices for releasing markers is located along the well more distal than the detection device to the well head.

19. The system of claim 19 wherein said at least two devices are a control line having suitable valves or injection points corresponding to said spaced apart locations or a tubular having sliding sleeves corresponding to said spaced apart locations.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

a timer for releasing said markers simultaneously at each of said spaced apart locations.