Methods and systems for determining integrity and operational boundaries of subterranean wells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11261729-B2
Application number	US-201916429221-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2019
Priority date	Jun 3, 2019
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

Methods and systems for determining a property of a tubular are described. Measurement data of cross-sectional shapes of the tubular at a plurality of depth positions is provided. A three-dimensional mesh representing the tubular based on the cross-sectional shapes is generated. A stress simulation using the three-dimensional mesh to provide an integrity assessment of the tubular is performed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for determining a property of a tubular disposed within a well, comprising:
obtaining well log data representing measurements performed by a downhole tool at a plurality of depth positions in the well, wherein the well log data represents at least one of inner radius of the tubular, outer radius of the tubular, and wall thickness of the tubular;
generating a three-dimensional mesh representing the tubular from the well log data, wherein spatial resolution of the well log data that represents at least one of inner radius of the tubular, outer radius of the tubular, and wall thickness of the tubular is used to define resolution of the mesh to capture at least one geometrical feature of the tubular;
performing a stress simulation which includes simulating stress results for an applied pressure using the three-dimensional mesh to provide an integrity assessment of the tubular; and
displaying the integrity assessment which includes displaying a representation at stress in the tubular associated with the applied pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising preprocessing the well log data to remove at least one undesirable artifact in the well log data prior to generating the three-dimensional mesh representing the tubular from the well log data.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applied pressure is constant applied pressure.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the constant applied pressure is applied internally to provide an integrity assessment of burst conditions.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the constant applied pressure is applied externally to provide an integrity assessment of collapse conditions.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the constant applied pressure is applied axially to provide an integrity assessment of buckling conditions.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the applied pressure is a variable applied pressure applied internally to provide an integrity assessment of burst conditions, and
a result of the stress simulation includes stress results associated with a range of the variable applied pressures such that a user may adjust the displayed integrity assessment without recalculating the stress simulation.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the applied pressure is a variable applied pressure applied externally to provide an integrity assessment of collapse conditions, and
a result of the stress simulation includes stress results associated with a range of the variable applied pressures such that a user may adjust the displayed integrity assessment without recalculating the stress simulation.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applied pressure is a variable applied pressure applied axially to provide an integrity assessment of buckling conditions, and a result of the stress simulation includes stress results associated with a range of the variable applied pressures such that a user may adjust the displayed integrity assessment without recalculating the stress simulation.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the well log data comprises ultrasonic data.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tubular is part of a casing of the well.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the well log data characterizes mechanical properties of environment around the tubular.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one geometrical feature of the tubular comprises a cavity in the tubular or mechanical property degradation in the tubular.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions for causing a processor to perform the method of claim 1 .

15. A system, comprising:
a memory configured to store measurement data including cross-sectional shapes of a tubular at a plurality of depth positions; and
a processor configured to:
generate a three-dimensional mesh representing the tubular based on the cross-sectional shapes,
perform a stress simulation using the three-dimensional mesh to provide an integrity assessment of the tubular; and
wherein the processor is configured to simulate stress results for a constant applied pressure and cause the display to display a representation of stress in the tubular associated with the constant applied pressure, and the constant applied pressures includes at least one of: an internal pressure to provide an integrity assessment of burst conditions, an external pressure to provide an integrity assessment of collapse conditions, and an axial pressure to provide an integrity assessment of buckling conditions.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the stress simulation is based at least in part on mechanical properties of environment around the tubular.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the measurement data includes ultrasound data and at least one of inner radius information, outer radius information, and wall thickness information.

18. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a user input device configured to receive an adjustment of a pressure value, wherein the processor is configured to cause the displayed integrity assessment in response to the adjustment of the pressure value without re-performing the stress simulation.

19. A system for determining a property of a tubular disposed within a well, comprising:
a memory configured to store well log data representing measurements performed by a downhole tool at a plurality of depth positions in the well, wherein the well log data represents at least one of inner radius of the tubular, outer radius of the tubular, and wall thickness of the tubular; and
a processor configured to:
generate a three-dimensional mesh representing the tubular from the well log data, wherein spatial resolution of the well log data that represents at least one of inner radius of the tubular, outer radius of the tubular, and wall thickness of the tubular is used to define resolution of the mesh to capture at least one geometrical feature of the tubular;
perform a stress simulation which includes simulating stress results for an applied pressure using the three-dimensional mesh to provide an integrity assessment of the tubular; and
display the integrity assessment which includes displaying a representation of stress in the tubular associated with the applied pressure.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the well log data comprises ultrasonic data.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Rodriguez Herrera Adrian
• Kalyanraman Ram Sunder
• Fischer Karsten
• Minton James
• Gomez Francisco Jose
• Mohamad Hussein Assef
• Kisra Saad

Classifications

• G01V1/50

  Analysing data · CPC title

• E21B47/14 Primary

  using acoustic waves · CPC title

• G01V2210/6161

  Seismic or acoustic, e.g. land or sea measurements · CPC title

• G01V99/00 Primary

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• E21B2200/20

  Computer models or simulations, e.g. for reservoirs under production, drill bits · CPC title