Monitoring Pipe Conditions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016231280-A1
Application number	US-201315024314-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 1, 2013
Priority date	Oct 1, 2013
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A technique facilitates monitoring of pipe, such as coiled tubing. The monitoring may be used to detect conditions which occur within the pipe itself or in components employed along an interior of the pipe. A magnetic sensor system is positioned along an exterior of the pipe, e.g. coiled tubing. During relative movement between the pipe and the magnetic sensor system, the magnetic sensor system monitors for the condition, e.g. change/abnormality, of interest. In some applications, the magnetic sensor system is used to monitor changes in a physical property of the pipe, and/or a component within the pipe, during a succession of operations employing the pipe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for monitoring pipe, comprising:
positioning a magnetic sensor system along an exterior of a pipe; causing relative movement between the pipe and the magnetic sensor system when the pipe is employed for a given operation; repeating the positioning and causing of relative movement at a plurality of subsequent operations; and using the magnetic sensor system to monitor changes in a physical property of the pipe during the plurality of subsequent operations.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein positioning comprises positioning the magnetic sensor system along the exterior of coiled tubing.

3 . The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein positioning comprises positioning the magnetic sensor system between a coiled tubing reel and a coiled tubing injector.

4 . The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein causing relative movement comprises operating the coiled tubing reel to spool the coiled tubing and thus move the coiled tubing past the magnetic sensor system.

5 . The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein causing relative movement comprises operating the coiled tubing reel to unspool the coiled tubing and thus move the coiled tubing past the magnetic sensor system.

6 . The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein repeating comprises employing the coiled tubing in a plurality of downhole operations.

7 . The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein repeating comprises employing the coiled tubing in a plurality of downhole intervention operations.

8 . The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein using comprises using the magnetic sensor system to monitor stretching of the coiled tubing from one operation to the next.

9 . The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein using comprises using the magnetic sensor system to monitor seam weld spiraling of the coiled tubing from one operation to the next.

10 . The method as recited in claim 2 , further comprising using the magnetic sensor system to detect abnormalities of a component within the coiled tubing.

11 . The method as recited in claim 2 , further comprising using the magnetic sensor system to detect cable slack of a cable located within the coiled tubing.

12 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising pumping fluid through an interior of the pipe while using the magnetic sensor system to monitor changes in real time.

13 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein positioning comprises positioning a magnetic flux leakage sensor along the exterior of the pipe.

14 . A method, comprising:
positioning a magnetic sensor along an exterior of a pipe containing an internal component disposed along an interior of the pipe; causing relative movement between the pipe and the magnetic sensor; and using the magnetic sensor to monitor parameters of the internal component during the relative movement.

15 . The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein positioning comprises positioning the magnetic sensor along pipe in the form of coiled tubing.

16 . The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein causing comprises moving the coiled tubing with respect to the magnetic sensor via a coiled tubing reel.

17 . The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein using comprises using the magnetic sensor to monitor cable slack when the internal component comprises a cable.

18 . A method, comprising:
using a magnetic flux leakage sensor positioned along an exterior of coiled tubing to monitor for a condition on or within the coiled tubing as the coiled tubing is moved longitudinally with respect to a wellbore for a given well operation; repeating the monitoring for a plurality of subsequent well operations; and comparing data from the magnetic flux leakage sensor for the given well operation and the plurality of subsequent well operations to determine a progression of the condition.

19 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein comparing data comprises determining the progression of coiled tubing stretching.

20 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein comparing data comprises determining the progression of coiled tubing bias weld spiraling.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp
• Schlumberger Ca Ltd

Inventors

• Zwanenburg Mirjam
• Smith David P
• Liu Zhanke
• Torregrossa Michelle
• Zsolt Liam

Classifications

• G01N27/87 Primary

  using probes · CPC title

• E21B47/00

  Survey of boreholes or wells (monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08) · CPC title

• G01N27/83 Primary

  by investigating stray magnetic fields · CPC title