Well assembly monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12486754-B2
Application number	US-202017617157-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2020
Priority date	Jun 7, 2019
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

Herein disclosed is a well assembly comprising a sensor and a method of monitoring using the sensor. The well assembly may comprise a wellbore and the sensor, wherein the sensor is in a fixed location relative to the wellbore, and wherein the sensor is for monitoring the size and/or shape of the wellbore. The method may be a method of monitoring the size and/or shape of the wellbore. The method may comprise: providing the sensor in a fixed location relative to the wellbore, and monitoring the size and/or shape of the wellbore using the sensor. The well assembly may comprise a well foundation and the sensor, wherein the sensor is in a fixed location relative to the well foundation, and wherein the sensor is for monitoring the earth underneath the well foundation during installation of the well assembly. The method may be a method of monitoring the earth underneath the well foundation. The method may comprise providing the sensor in a fixed location relative to the well foundation, and monitoring the earth underneath the well foundation during installation of the well assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A subsea well assembly, the subsea well assembly comprising:
a well foundation fixed to the seabed and defining a wellbore location prior to drilling a wellbore; and a sensor fixed to the well foundation before drilling of the wellbore and casing installation, and wherein the sensor is for monitoring the size and/or shape of the wellbore during initial drilling of the wellbore before casing installation, and the sensor is for monitoring the earth underneath the sensor and/or obliquely to the sensor.

2 . The subsea well assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the well foundation is a suction anchor.

3 . The subsea well assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is for monitoring the size and/or shape of a borehole drilled through the foundation.

4 . The subsea well assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is for detecting structural defects that could affect the structural integrity of the subsea well assembly.

5 . A method of monitoring the size and/or shape of a wellbore of a subsea well assembly, the method comprising:
providing a subsea well assembly comprising:
a well foundation fixed to the seabed and defining a wellbore location prior to drilling a wellbore; and
a sensor fixed to the well foundation before drilling the well bore and casing installation; and
monitoring the size and/or shape of the wellbore during initial drilling of the wellbore before casing installation using the sensor, wherein the sensor is for monitoring the earth underneath the sensor and/or obliquely to the sensor.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the well foundation is a suction anchor.

7 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the method comprises monitoring the size and/or shape of a borehole drilled through the foundation.

8 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the method comprises detecting structural defects that could affect the structural integrity of the well assembly using the sensor.

9 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the method comprises detecting a change in the size and/or shape of the wellbore, and taking remedial measures to avoid or minimize further change in the size and/or shape of the wellbore.

10 . A subsea well assembly, the subsea well assembly comprising:
a well foundation configured to be fixed to the seabed and to define a wellbore location; and a sensor fixed to the well foundation before drilling of the wellbore and casing installation; and wherein the sensor is for monitoring earth underneath the well foundation before and/or during installation of the well foundation for identifying a suitable location for the well foundation to be installed.

11 . The subsea well assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the sensor is for monitoring the earth underneath the foundation during drilling.

12 . The subsea well assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the well foundation is a suction anchor.

13 . The subsea well assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the sensor is for detecting structural defects that could affect the structural integrity of the well foundation.

14 . The subsea well assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the sensor is for monitoring cement during installation of the subsea assembly.

15 . A method of monitoring the earth underneath a well foundation of a subsea well assembly, the method comprising:
providing a well foundation configured to be fixed to the seabed and to define a wellbore location prior to drilling a wellbore; providing a sensor fixed to the well foundation before drilling of the wellbore and casing installation; monitoring the earth underneath the well foundation using the sensor before and/or during installation of the well foundation; and identifying a suitable location for the well foundation to be installed using the sensor; and installing the well foundation.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the method comprises monitoring the earth underneath the foundation during drilling using the sensor.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the well foundation is a suction anchor.

18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the method comprises detecting structural defects that could affect the structural integrity of the well foundation using the sensor.

19 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the method comprises monitoring cement during installation of the subsea assembly.

Assignees

• Equinor Energy As

Inventors

• Reinås Lorents

Classifications

• E21B47/08

  Measuring diameters or related dimensions at the borehole · CPC title

• E21B33/035 Primary

  specially adapted for underwater installations (E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B47/005

  Monitoring or checking of cementation quality or level · CPC title

• E21B47/001 Primary

  for underwater installation · CPC title

• E21B47/003

  Determining well or borehole volumes · CPC title