AU2009299856B2 - Method and system for producing hydrocarbon fluid through a well with a sensor assembly outside the well casing - Google Patents

Method and system for producing hydrocarbon fluid through a well with a sensor assembly outside the well casing Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2009299856B2
AU2009299856B2 AU2009299856A AU2009299856A AU2009299856B2 AU 2009299856 B2 AU2009299856 B2 AU 2009299856B2 AU 2009299856 A AU2009299856 A AU 2009299856A AU 2009299856 A AU2009299856 A AU 2009299856A AU 2009299856 B2 AU2009299856 B2 AU 2009299856B2
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AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
annular space
sensor assembly
casing
materials
well
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AU2009299856A
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AU2009299856A1 (en
Inventor
Michael Anthony Addis
William Birch
Johannis Josephus Den Boer
Stephen Ainsleigh Rice
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Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
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Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B47/00Survey of boreholes or wells
    • E21B47/01Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like

Abstract

A method is disclosed for producing hydrocarbon fluids through a well (1) having a well casing string (5) with a casing section (5A) which is surrounded by an annular space (9) which comprises a sensor assembly (8) for measuring electromagnetic and/or other physical properties of solid and fluid materials within the annular space (8), in an underground formation (2) surrounding the annular space (8) and/or within the interior of the section (5A) of the casing string (5), wherein the sensor assembly (8) is mounted on a body of swellable material, such as a swellable rubber or other elastomeric material, which is secured to the outer surface of said casing section and presses the sensor assembly (8) against the inner surface of the surrounding underground formation after the casing string (5) has been lowered into the wellbore (1).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING HYDROCARBON FLUID THROUGH A WELL WITH A SENSOR ASSEMBLY OUTSIDE THE WELL CASING Background of the Invention The invention relates to a method and system for producing hydrocarbon fluid through a well with a sensor assembly outside the well casing. Such a method and system are known from International patent application WO 03/029614, which discloses a system for measuring pore pressure in a formation surrounding a well casing by a pressure sensor which is embedded in a cement sheath surrounding a steel well casing, and which sheath is fractured by a perforating gun to provide an open fluid channel between the sensor and the pores of the surrounding formation. A limitation of the known system is that it is difficult to provide electrical power to the sensor and to transmit data from the sensor to surface and that the steel casing inhibits collection of electromagnetic data about several properties of fluid and solid materials in the surrounding formation. Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a method of producing hydrocarbon fluids through a well having a well casing string with a casing section which is surrounded by an annular space comprising a body of swellable material, which is secured to the outer surface of the casing section and is configured to swell against the inner surface of the underground formation surrounding the wellbore after the casing string has been lowered into the wellbore; wherein a sensor assembly is mounted on the body of swellable material, which sensor assembly is configured to measure electromagnetic and/or other physical properties of solid and 2 fluid materials within the annular space, in an underground formation surrounding the annular space and/or within the interior of the casing section, including one or more of the following properties: the pore pressure in pores of the formation adjacent to the annular space; the chemical composition of fluid in the pores of the formation adjacent to the annular space; the electrical resistivity and/or conductivity of the solid and fluid materials in the formation surrounding the annular space; the streaming and spontaneous potentials of the solid and fluid materials in the formation surrounding the annular space; the dielectric constant of the solid and fluid materials in the formation surrounding the annular space; changes in a cement lining arranged in the annular space, including migration of any chemical contaminants through the cement lining; properties of a fluid flowing through the interior of the casing string; deformation and/or tilting of the well casing string; deformation, such as compaction and expansion, of the formation surrounding the annular space; stress in any solid materials in the annular space and the formation surrounding the annular space; and acoustic rock reflections; and wherein the sensor assembly is connected to an electrical and/or fiber optical data transmission conduit within the casing string by a wireless data and/or power transmission link, which transmits data and/or power through the wall of the casing section, which is made of a non-magnetic or weakly magnetic material. Preferably, the wireless data and/or power transmission link comprises at least one pair of substantially coaxial inductive couplers which each comprise a coiled electrical cable. Preferably, the sensor assembly is mounted on a body of swellable elastomeric material, such as a swellable rubber. The present invention also provides a system for producing hydrocarbon fluids through a well having a well casing string with a casing section which is surrounded by an annular space which 3 comprises a body of swellable material, which body is secured to the outer surface of the casing section and presses against the inner surface of the underground formation surrounding the wellbore after the casing string has been lowered into the wellbore; wherein the body of swellable material carries a sensor assembly for measuring electromagnetic and/or other physical properties of solid and fluid materials within the annular space, in the underground formation surrounding the annular space and/or within the interior of the casing section, which sensor assembly is connected to an electrical and/or fiber optical data transmission conduit within the casing string by a wireless data and/or power transmission link, which transmits data and/or power through the wall of the casing section, which is made of a non magnetic or weakly magnetic material. Preferably, the sensor assembly is mounted on a body of swellable elastomeric material, such as a swellable rubber. Preferably, the non-magnetic or weakly magnetic material is selected from the following group of materials: non-metallic materials, such as Glassfiber Reinforced Plastic (GRP); non-magnetic materials, such as aluminium, gold and titanium; low curie temperature materials, such as an inconel 718 and monel K500; and/or low magnetic permeability soft magnetic materials, such as casing steel grades L80 and L80 13 Chrome, where the relative magnetic permeability is in the range from 50 to 200 and/or the bulk electrical resistivity is in the range from 30x10~8 to 120x10~8 Qm. These and other features, embodiments and advantages of the method and system according to the invention are described in the accompanying claims, abstract and the following detailed description of preferred embodiments disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which reference numerals are used which refer to corresponding reference numerals that are shown in the drawings.
WO 2010/037729 PCT/EP2009/062577 4 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a well equipped with a sensor assembly according to the invention; 5 FIG.2 is a schematic three-dimensional view of the inductive couplings on the production tubing and casing sections in the vicinity of the sensor assembly; and FIG.3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a well equipped with a sensor assembly according to the 10 invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPICTED EMBODIMENTS FIG.1 shows a crude oil and/or natural gas production well 1, which traverses a crude oil and/or natural gas containing formation 2. 15 The well 1 comprises a wellhead 3 which is located at the earth surface 4 and from which a well casing 5 and a tubing hanger 6 are suspended, from which tubing hanger 6 a production tubing 7 is suspended within the well 1. 20 A sensor assembly 8 is mounted in a support sleeve 9, which is secured to the outer surface of a casing section 5A of the well casing 5, which support sleeve 9 substantially fills an annular space surrounding the well casing 5 within a region where the well 1 25 traverses the crude oil and/or natural gas containing formation 2. A wireless power and/or signal transmission sleeve 10 is mounted on the outer surface of the production tubing 7 at the same depth as the support sleeve 9 and such that the sleeves 9 and 10 are 30 substantially co-axial to each other. The wireless power and/or signal transmission sleeve 10 is connected to a surface monitoring unit 11 via an electrical and/or fiber optical cable assembly 12 WO 2010/037729 PCT/EP2009/062577 5 extending through the annulus between the production tubing 7 and well casing 5 and through the wellhead 3. Optionally the cable assembly 12 may be equipped with a sensor interface unit 13 and a subsea control module 14 5 if the wellhead 3 is located at the sea bottom 4. FIG.2 shows in more detail and at a larger scale than in FIG.1 that the support sleeve 9 is provided with an inductive coupler 15 which is connected to the sensor assembly 8 and that the wireless power and/or signal 10 transmission sleeve 10 is provided with a second inductive coupler 16, which is connected to the cable assembly 12 by a power and/or signal transmission, amplification and/or conversion module 17. The tubing 7 is inserted into the non-magnetic casing section 5A as 15 illustrated by arrow 18 such that the inductive couplers 15 and 16 are arranged substantially co-axially to each other and form a wireless electrical power and/or signal transmission link which connects the sensor assembly 8 via the cable assembly 12 to the surface monitor unit 11. 20 The presence of a non-magnetic casing section 5A between the inductive couplers 15 and 16 enhances the wireless transmission of electrical power and/or signals between the sensor assembly 8 and the power and/or signal transmission, amplification and/or conversion module 17 25 so that the sensor assembly 8 may be equipped with a significant amount of sensors, such as sensors which are configured to measure: - the pore pressure in pores of the formation adjacent to the annular space; 30 - the chemical composition of fluid in the pores of the formation adjacent to the annular space; - the electrical resistivity and/or conductivity of the solid and fluid materials in the formation surrounding WO 2010/037729 PCT/EP2009/062577 6 the annular space; - the streaming and spontaneous potentials of the solid and fluid materials in the formation surrounding the annular space; 5 - the dielectric constant of the solid and fluid materials in the formation surrounding the annular space - deformation and/or tilting of the well casing string; - deformation, such as compaction and expansion, of the formation surrounding the annular space; 10 - stress in any solid materials in the annular space and the formation surrounding the annular space; and/or - acoustic rock reflections. Fig.3 shows a liner 30 arranged in a wellbore 31 wherein the annular space between the liner 30 and wellbore 31 is 15 filled with cement 32 and a sensor assembly according to the invention. The assembly comprises a support sleeve 33, a pressure sensor 34 which is embedded in an intermediate permeable swellable elastomeric sleeve 35, and an upper and a lower swellable elastomeric sleeve 36 20 and 37 are arranged above and below the intermediate permeable elastomeric sleeve 35. The upper, lower and intermediate sleeves 35-37 are configured to swell against the wellbore 31 such that they have the swollen shape as indicated by dotted lines 25 35A-37A after the cement slurry 32 has been injected and before the cement slurry 32 has been hardened. The upper and lower sleeves 36 and 37 are impermeable and thereby seal off the intermediate sleeve 35 and the pressure sensor 34 embedded therein from the cement body 30 32. The intermediate sleeve 35 has a permeability, preferably in the range of 1 -10 mD, to allow the pressure sensor 34 to be in fluid contact with the fluid in the pores of the formation 38 surrounding the wellbore WO 2010/037729 PCT/EP2009/062577 7 31. The pressure sensor 34 is provided with a signal and power supply cable 39, which may be connected to an umbilical power and signal transmission cable assembly 40 by an inductive coupler 41 or another wireless or wired 5 coupling assembly. The pressure sensor 34 shown in Fig.3 is adequately isolated from the cement 32 by the swellable sleeves 36A and 37A and is in fluid contact with the fluid in the pores of the surrounding formation 38 via the permeable 10 sleeve 35A which enables the pressure sensor 34 to accurately monitor the pore pressure of the fluid, such as crude oil, natural gas, oil shale and/or shale oil, in the pores of the formation 38 over a prolonged period of time.

Claims (8)

1. A method of producing hydrocarbon fluids through a well having a well casing string with a casing section which is surrounded by an annular space comprising a body of swellable material, which is secured to the outer surface of the casing section and is configured to swell against the inner surface of the underground formation surrounding the wellbore after the casing string has been lowered into the wellbore; wherein a sensor assembly is mounted on the body of swellable material, which sensor assembly is configured to measure electromagnetic and/or other physical properties of solid and fluid materials within the annular space, in an underground formation surrounding the annular space and/or within the interior of the casing section, including one or more of the following properties: the pore pressure in pores of the formation adjacent to the annular space; the chemical composition of fluid in the pores of the formation adjacent to the annular space; the electrical resistivity and/or conductivity of the solid and fluid materials in the formation surrounding the annular space; the streaming and spontaneous potentials of the solid and fluid materials in the formation surrounding the annular space; the dielectric constant of the solid and fluid materials in the formation surrounding the annular space; changes in a cement lining arranged in the annular space, including migration of any chemical contaminants through the cement lining; properties of a fluid flowing through the interior of the casing string; deformation and/or tilting of the well casing string; deformation, such as compaction and expansion, of the formation surrounding the annular space; stress in any solid materials in the annular space and the formation surrounding the annular space; and acoustic rock reflections; and wherein the sensor assembly is connected to an electrical and/or fiber optical data transmission conduit within the casing string by a wireless data and/or power transmission link, which transmits data and/or power through the wall of the casing section, which is made of a non-magnetic or weakly magnetic material. 9
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless data and/or power transmission link comprises at least one pair of substantially coaxial inductive couplers which each comprise a coiled electrical cable.
3. The method of any one of claims 1-2, wherein the sensor assembly is mounted on a body of swellable elastomeric material, such as a swellable rubber.
4. A system for producing hydrocarbon fluids through a well having a well casing string with a casing section which is surrounded by an annular space which comprises a body of swellable material, which body is secured to the outer surface of the casing section and presses against the inner surface of the underground formation surrounding the wellbore after the casing string has been lowered into the wellbore; wherein the body of swellable material carries a sensor assembly for measuring electromagnetic and/or other physical properties of solid and fluid materials within the annular space, in the underground formation surrounding the annular space and/or within the interior of the casing section, which sensor assembly is connected to an electrical and/or fiber optical data transmission conduit within the casing string by a wireless data and/or power transmission link, which transmits data and/or power through the wall of the casing section, which is made of a non magnetic or weakly magnetic material.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the sensor assembly is mounted on a body of swellable elastomeric material, such as a swellable rubber.
6. The system of claim 4, where the non-magnetic or weakly magnetic material is selected from the following group of materials: non-metallic materials, such as Glassfiber Reinforced Plastic (GRP); non-magnetic materials, such as aluminium, gold and titanium; low curie temperature materials, such as an inconel 718 and monel K500; and/or low magnetic permeability soft magnetic materials, such as casing steel grades L80 and L80 13 Chrome, where the relative magnetic permeability is in the range from 50 to 200 and/or the bulk electrical resistivity is in the range from 30x10-8 to 120x10- 8 m.
7. A method of producing hydrocarbon fluids substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10
8. A system for producing hydrocarbon fluids substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON
AU2009299856A 2008-10-01 2009-09-29 Method and system for producing hydrocarbon fluid through a well with a sensor assembly outside the well casing Ceased AU2009299856B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08165649.8 2008-10-01
EP08165649 2008-10-01
PCT/EP2009/062577 WO2010037729A1 (en) 2008-10-01 2009-09-29 Method and system for producing hydrocarbon fluid through a well with a sensor assembly outside the well casing

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AU2009299856A1 AU2009299856A1 (en) 2010-04-08
AU2009299856B2 true AU2009299856B2 (en) 2013-07-18

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US (1) US20110284216A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2329110A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2009299856B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2736925A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2010037729A1 (en)

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WO2010037729A1 (en) 2010-04-08
AU2009299856A1 (en) 2010-04-08
CA2736925A1 (en) 2010-04-08
US20110284216A1 (en) 2011-11-24
EP2329110A1 (en) 2011-06-08

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