Monitoring Tubing Related Equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016160630-A1
Application number	US-201514958231-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 3, 2015
Priority date	Dec 5, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A technique facilitates monitoring of strain related effects along a tubing string, such as a tubing string extending from surface equipment toward a sea floor in a subsea well application. A monitoring module is employed to monitor the strain related effects and may have a tubular structure. The monitoring module also has a reduced wall thickness region constructed to concentrate strain in this reduced wall thickness region. Additionally, the monitoring module comprises at least one sensor mounted to the tubular structure in the reduced wall thickness region for monitoring of strains.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a tubular string extending from a surface platform toward a sea floor, the string having an upper end and a lower remote end; and a string monitoring module coupled into the tubular string, the string monitoring module comprising:
a hollow mandrel having a reduced wall thickness region encircling the hollow mandrel to concentrate strain in the reduced wall thickness region; and
at least one sensor coupled to an exterior surface of the hollow mandrel at the reduced wall thickness region to monitor strain.

2 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of strain sensors.

3 . The system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of strain sensors comprises at least three strain sensors.

4 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is located in a load sensing chamber defined at least in part by a sleeve covering the reduced wall thickness region.

5 . The system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the load sensing chamber is filled with oil.

6 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is bonded to the exterior surface of the hollow mandrel.

7 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tubular string comprises a production tubing.

8 . The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the tubular string comprises a tubing hanger.

9 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the string monitoring module is a structural member for both fluid and load transmission.

10 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reduced wall thickness region is formed by a recessed profile in the string monitoring module, the recessed profile having a flat bottom bounded by curved axial ends.

11 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reduced wall thickness region is formed by a recessed profile in the string monitoring module, the recessed profile having a flat bottom bounded by flat, angled axial ends.

12 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors of different types.

13 . The system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of strain sensors is arranged to sense a localized deflection of the hollow mandrel indicative of internal pressure or external pressure acting on the reduced wall thickness region.

14 . A method, comprising:
coupling a monitoring module in a tubing string, wherein the monitoring module comprises an internal passage and a reduced wall thickness region in which at least one sensor is mounted; running the tubing string in-hole with the monitoring module; sensing physical characteristics of the monitoring module at the reduced wall thickness region; and correlating the sense physical characteristics to at least one of a load on the tubing string or a downhole condition.

15 . The method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising providing the reduced wall thickness region in the form of a recessed profile extending around the circumference of the monitoring module.

16 . The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein sensing comprises determining pressure by sensing a localized deflection at the reduced wall thickness region.

17 . The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein sensing comprises sensing a localized deflection at the reduced wall thickness region to remove potential sources of error related to thermal changes within downhole fluids.

18 . The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein sensing comprises sensing a localized deflection at the reduced wall thickness region as an indication of a load to which the tubing string is exposed.

19 . A system for monitoring strain related effects, comprising:
a monitoring module having a tubular structure with a reduced radius section extending around the circumference of the monitoring module, the reduced radius section having a reduced wall thickness relative to a remainder of the tubular structure, the reduced radius section having an axial profile with a generally flat bottom region bounded by non-perpendicular axial ends, the monitoring module further comprising at least one strain sensor mounted to the generally flat bottom region to monitor strains concentrated at the generally flat bottom region.

20 . The system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the at least one strain sensor comprises a plurality of strain sensors mounted in the reduced radius section.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Flight Kirk
• Yarnold John
• Niemeyer Matthew
• Marabella Jeffrey

Classifications

• E21B47/007 Primary

  Measuring stresses in a pipe string or casing (for locating blocked portions of pipes E21B47/09) · CPC title

• E21B17/01

  Risers · CPC title

• E21B47/0001

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E21B47/0006 Primary

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E21B47/001

  for underwater installation · CPC title