Wellbore completion for methane hydrate production with real time feedback of borehole integrity using fiber optic cable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10233746-B2
Application number	US-201414448636-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2014
Priority date	Sep 11, 2013
Publication date	Mar 19, 2019
Grant date	Mar 19, 2019

Abstract

In producing methane a bottom hole assembly the borehole may enlarge due to shifting sands in an unconsolidated formation as the methane is produced. The enlargement of the borehole can be sensed in real time such as by using a fiber optic cable. In response to such information parts of the bottom hole assembly near the washout can be isolated or the bottom hole assembly in the vicinity of the washout can be fortified with inserts from the surface to minimize damage from erosion caused by higher velocities resulting from borehole washouts.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A completion method for methane production from a subterranean location, comprising:
running in a bottom hole assembly to an isolated producing zone, said bottom hole assembly conducting produced fluid away from said subterranean location;
providing a real time signal away from said subterranean location that a portion of a borehole adjacent said bottom hole assembly has washed out during said conducting of produced fluid; and
relocating production flow into said bottom hole assembly or changing the rate of said production flow to limit further washing out of said borehole while allowing at least part of said washed out portion of the borehole to remain washed out when conducting produced fluid.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
producing methane as said produced fluid.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
using a fiber optic cable for said real time signal.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
including a shape memory porous material as part of said bottom hole assembly; and
mounting said cable over said shape memory porous material.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
moving said cable to a borehole wall with said shape memory porous material; and
obtaining initial reading of stress in said cable from said moving before said conducting produced fluid.

6. The method of claim 5 , comprising:
measuring a reduced stress in said cable as a result of said washed out portion of the borehole due to said conducting produced fluid.

7. The method of claim 6 , comprising:
blocking openings in said bottom hole assembly adjacent where said washed out portion of the borehole is indicated by said reduced stress in said cable.

8. The method of claim 7 , comprising:
inserting an inner string with at least one seal to block said openings.

9. The method of claim 6 , comprising:
changing the rate of said conducting said fluid in response to said measuring reduced stress in said cable.

10. The method of claim 6 , comprising:
producing methane as said produced fluid.

11. The method of claim 5 , comprising:
causing said shape memory porous material to conform to a borehole shape before conducting said fluid.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
allowing washouts in the borehole to remain unfilled by said shape memory porous material after said conforming to an initial borehole shape.

13. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
using borehole fluids to take said shape memory porous material past its critical temperature to change shape.

14. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
adding fluids or heat through said bottom hole assembly to take said shape memory porous material past its critical temperature to change shape.

15. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
producing methane as said produced fluid.

16. The method of claim 5 , comprising:
stressing said cable in compression; and
using data from said stressing to determine that said shape memory porous material has filled an annular space in the borehole around said bottom hole assembly before said conducting produced fluid from the subterranean location.

17. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
extending said cable inside or outside said bottom hole assembly.

18. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
transmitting pressure data adjacent said bottom hole assembly in real time as part of said providing a real time signal.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Johnson Michael H
• Richard Bennett M
• Wakefield John K

Classifications

• E21B47/08 Primary

  Measuring diameters or related dimensions at the borehole · CPC title

• E21B43/108

  Expandable screens or perforated liners · CPC title

• E21B41/0099

  specially adapted for drilling for or production of natural hydrate or clathrate gas reservoirs; Drilling through or monitoring of formations containing gas hydrates or clathrates · CPC title

• E21B2043/0115

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic