Scale identifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10114144-B2
Application number	US-201415317033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2014
Priority date	Jul 7, 2014
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

Scale identifier systems and methods for generating a log of scale type and location in subterranean formations, and, more particularly, in wellbore tubing are provided. A method for scale identification may be provided. The method may comprise providing a first logging tool comprising a tool body, a neutron source coupled to the tool body, and detectors coupled to the tool body; providing a second logging tool for measuring deviations in inner diameter of a tubing in a wellbore; placing the first logging tool and the second logging tool into the wellbore; logging the interior of the tubing with the first logging tool and the second logging tool to generate data; and generating a log of scale location and type from the data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for scale identification comprising:
disposing a first logging tool into a wellbore comprising a tool body, a neutron source coupled to the tool body, wherein the neutron source induces an emission of gamma rays from a measured area, wherein the emission of gamma rays is related to an elemental makeup of the measured area, and detectors coupled to the tool body;
disposing a second logging tool for measuring deviations in inner diameter of a tubing in the wellbore, wherein the second logging tool is coupled to the first logging tool;
logging the interior of the tubing with the first logging tool and the second logging tool to generate data;
analyzing the emission of gamma rays in relation to base element spectra; and
generating a log of scale location and type from the data.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first logging tool is placed into the tubing after the second logging tool.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first logging tool and the second logging tool are coupled to form a connected unit.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of generating the log is performed real-time with the step of logging the interior of the tubing.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first logging tool comprises a pulsed neutron logging tool.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second logging tool comprises a caliper tool comprising a caliper tool body and two or more caliper arms that extend outward from the caliper tool body.

7. A method according to claim 1 claim wherein the detectors comprise scintillators.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of generating the log comprises determining whether an elemental yield is above a nominal value at a location in the tubing where the second logging tool identifies a deviation in the inner diameter of the tubing.

9. A method according to claim 1 further comprising treating the scale in the tubing after the step of generating the log.

10. A method for scale identification comprising:
disposing a first logging tool into a wellbore comprising a tool body, a neutron source coupled to the tool body, wherein the neutron source induces an emission of gamma rays from a measured area, wherein the emission of gamma rays is related to an elemental makeup of the measured area, and detectors coupled to the tool body;
disposing a second logging tool for measuring deviations in inner diameter of a tubing in the wellbore, wherein the second logging tool is coupled to the first logging tool;
logging the interior of the tubing with the first logging tool and the second login tool to generate data;
analyzing the emission of gamma rays in relation to base element spectra; and
generating a log of scale location and type from the data, wherein generating the log comprises of determining whether an elemental yield is above a nominal value at a location in the tubing where the second logging tool identifies a deviation in the inner diameter of the tubing, wherein determining whether an elemental yield is above a nominal value comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:
identifying calcium carbonate scale if calcium yield is above a calcium threshold value and sulfur yield is not above a sulfur threshold value;
identifying calcium sulfate scale if calcium yield is above a calcium threshold value and sulfur yield is above a sulfur threshold value;
identifying iron sulfide scale if iron yield is above an iron threshold value and sulfur yield is above a sulfur threshold value; and
identifying barium sulfate scale if barium yield is above a barium threshold value and sulfur yield is above a sulfur threshold value.

11. A method for scale identification and treatment comprising:
collecting elemental data produced from a neutron source in a first logging tool, wherein the neutron source induces an emission of gamma rays from a measured area, wherein the emission of gamma rays is related to an elemental makeup of the measured area, wherein the first logging tool is disposed in tubing in a wellbore;
collecting tubing data about deviations in an inner diameter of the tubing from a second logging tool, wherein the second logging tool is coupled to the first logging tool;
analyzing the emission of gamma rays in relation to base element spectra;
identifying type and location of scale in the tubing from the elemental data and the tubing data; and
treating the scale in the tubing after the step of identifying the type and location of the scale.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the first logging tool comprises a pulse neutron logging tool.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the second logging tool comprises a caliper tool comprising a caliper tool body and two or more caliper arms that extend outward from the caliper tool body.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the step of identifying type and location of the scale comprises determining whether an elemental yield is above a nominal value at a location in the tubing where the second logging tool identifies a deviation in the inner diameter of the tubing.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the step of identifying type and location of the scale comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:
identifying calcium carbonate scale if calcium yield is above a calcium threshold value and sulfur yield is not above a sulfur threshold value;
identifying calcium sulfate scale if calcium yield is above a calcium threshold value and sulfur yield is above a sulfur threshold value;
identifying iron sulfide scale if iron yield is above an iron threshold value and sulfur yield is above a sulfur threshold value; and
identifying barium sulfate scale if barium yield is above a barium threshold value and sulfur yield is above a sulfur threshold value.

16. A system for scale identification comprising:
a first logging tool comprising a tool body, a neutron source coupled to the tool body, wherein the neutron source is operable to induce an emission of gamma rays from a measured area, wherein the emission of gamma rays is related to an elemental makeup of the measured area, and detectors coupled to the tool body;
a second logging tool coupled to the first logging tool that determines deviations in an inner diameter of a tubing; and
a computer system that determines a log of scale type and location based at least in part on measurements received from the first logging tool and the second logging tool.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein the first logging tool and the second logging tool are connected on a conveyance string.

18. A system according to claim 16 wherein the first logging tool comprises a pulse neutron logging tool.

19. A system according to claim 16 wherein the second logging tool comprises a caliper tool comprising a caliper tool body and two or more caliper arms that extend outward from the caliper tool body.

20. A system according claim 16 wherein the computer system determines whether an elemental yield is above a nominal value at a location in the tubing where the second logging tool identifies a deviation in the inner diameter of the tubing.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Vasquez Quintilio

Classifications

• G01V5/105 Primary

  the neutron source being of the pulsed type · CPC title

• E21B47/082

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• G01B3/38

  Gauges with an open yoke and opposed faces, i.e. calipers, in which the internal distance between the faces is fixed, although it may be preadjustable · CPC title

• E21B47/08

  Measuring diameters or related dimensions at the borehole · CPC title

• G01B5/12

  internal diameters · CPC title