Wireless reservoir production control

• US 7,259,688 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Savage, William Mountjoy, Burnett, Robert Rex, Vinegar, Harold J., Stegemeier, George Leo, Carl, Frederick Gordon Jr., Hirsch, John Michele, Hall, James William
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang; Hung Q
• Application Number:
  US10/220,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,363 Days
• Field of Search: 340/853.1, 340/870.09, 340/854.4, 340/853.4, 166/53, 166/319, 166/332.5, 166/250.01, 166/771, 702/6
• US Class Current: 340/854.4
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/00 Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells applicable only to water E03B
• 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 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/305 comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 20/00 Geomodelling in general

Abstract

A reservoir production control system includes a plurality of wells for producing a reservoir linked to a central computer over a downhole communication network and a surface communication network. Both the downhole and the surface communication networks are wireless communications paths for transmitting downhole data and surface data to the central computer. Both networks include a series of interconnected tubing or pipe that allows transmission of data over electrically isolated portions of the pipe and tubing. After integrating and analyzing all relevant data and comparing the data with a reservoir model, the central computer initiates changes in a plurality of downhole control devices associated with the wells, thereby optimizing the production of the reservoir.

Claims

1. A reservoir production control system comprising:

a plurality of wells disposed on a reservoir, each well having a borehole and at least one piping structure located within the borehole;

a central computer for collecting downhole data from one or more wells;

a downhole communication network associated with one or more wells, the downhole communication comprising electrically isolated portions of the piping structure defined by electrical chokes;

a surface communication network comprising a plurality of interconnected pipes located between the downhole communication network and the central computer for communicating information between the downhole communication network and the central computer;

wherein the central computer receives downhole data via the downhole communication network and the surface communication network; and

wherein communication occurs between the downhole communication network and the central computer by passing communication signals along electrically isolated sections of the interconnected pipes.

2. The production control system according to claim 1, wherein:

the downhole data collected from the wells is compared to a reservoir model; and

wherein a selected well of the plurality of wells is adjusted to optimize production of the reservoir.

3. The production control system according to claim 1, wherein the surface communication network includes wiring that electrically connects the downhole communication network to the central computer.

4. The production control system according to claim 1 wherein the electrically isolated sections of interconnected pipe are created by placing ferromagnetic chokes at selected locations along the pipe, the ferromagnetic chokes circumferentially surrounding the pipe and impeding current flow through the pipe.

5. The production control system according to claim 1, wherein communication and power transmission within the downhole communication network occurs along an electrically isolated section of the tubing string.

6. The production control system according to claim 5, wherein the electrically isolated section of the tubing string is located between a first and a second ferromagnetic choke disposed circumferentially around the tubing string, both ferromagnetic chokes impeding current flow along the tubing string.

7. The production control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second central computer for collecting downhole data from a second reservoir;

wherein the second central computer is electrically connected to the first central computer via a remote communication network; and

wherein the downhole data collected by the first and second central computers is analyzed and used to collectively optimize the production of the first and second reservoir.

8. A reservoir production control system comprising:

a plurality of wells for producing a reservoir, each well having a borehole extending from the surface, and at least one piping structure located within the borehole;

at least one downhole data pod located within the borehole of one of the wells for monitoring downhole data about downhole physical characteristics of the well;

at least one surface data pod for monitoring surface data;

a central computer for collecting the surface data from the surface data pod and the downhole data from the downhole data pod;

a downhole communication network for transmitting alternating current electrical power and communication signals along an electrically isolated portion of the piping structure of the one or more wells from the downhole data pod to the surface of the one or more wells;

a surface communication network electrically connected between the surface of the well and the central computer;

wherein the surface communication network comprises a plurality of interconnected pipes having electrically isolated portions for communicating information between the surface of the well and the central computer;

wherein the downhole data and the surface data is analyzed by the central computer to optimize production of the reservoir.

9. The production control system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a second central computer for collecting downhole data and surface data associated with a second reservoir, the second computer receiving the data over a second surface communication network; and

wherein the second central computer is electrically connected to the first central computer.

10. The production control system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a second central computer for collecting downhole data and surface data associated with a second reservoir, the second computer receiving the data over a second surface communication network;

wherein the second central computer is electrically connected to the first central computer over a remote communication network; and

wherein the downhole and surface data collected by the second computer and the downhole and surface data collected by the first central computer are analyzed to optimize the production of both the first reservoir and the second reservoir.

11. The production control system according to claim 10, wherein economic data is also provided to one of the central computers, the economic data being considered in conjunction with the surface data and the downhole data from both reservoirs to collectively optimize the production of the first reservoir and the second reservoir.

12. The production control system according to claim 11, wherein the economic data is information on petroleum prices.

13. The production control system according to claim 11, wherein the economic data is information on petroleum supplies.

14. The production control system according to claim 11, wherein the economic data is information on national production controls.

15. The production control system according to claim 11, wherein the economic data is information on pipeline capacities.

16. The production control system according to claim 11, wherein the economic data is information on tanker capacities.

17. The production control system according to claim 11, wherein the economic data is information on location storage limitations.

18. The production control system according to claim 8, further comprising at least one downhole control device electrically connected to the downhole communication network, the downhole control device receiving instructions from the central computer to assist in optimizing the production of the reservoir.

19. The production control system according to claim 18, wherein the downhole control device is a controllable gas-lift valve disposed along the tubing string of the well.

20. The production control system according to claim 18, wherein the downhole control device is an electric submersible pump.

21. The production control system according to claim 18, wherein the downhole control device is a chemical treatment injector.

22. The production control system according to claim 18, wherein the downhole control device is an inflow control device.

23. The production control system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the wells is a conventional production well.

24. The production control system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the wells is an injection well.

25. The production control system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the wells is a multi-lateral production well.

26. The production control system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the wells is a data observation well.

27. A method for controlling the production of a reservoir having a plurality of wells for producing the reservoir, each well having a borehole extending from the surface, and a tubing string inserted in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) communicating downhole data from a downhole pod in at least one of the wells to the surface along a downhole communication network utilizing an electrically isolated portion of the tubing string;

(b) providing a central computer for collecting the downhole data from one or more wells;

(c) communicating the downhole data from the surface of the well to the central computer along a surface communication network; and

(d) analyzing the downhole data and communicating instructions from the central computer to at least one of the wells to change selected operating parameters of the well;

wherein communicating occurs by passing communication signals along electrically isolated sections of the interconnected pipes.

28. The method according to claim 27 further comprising the step of comparing the downhole data collected by the central computer to a reservoir model.