Evaluation tool for concentric wellbore casings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016245779-A1
Application number	US-201515026194-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2015
Priority date	Jul 11, 2014
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system comprises one or more first electromagnetic coils configured to generate and direct first excitation signals toward a plurality of casings in a wellbore and receive response signals based on the excitation signals. The system also comprises a magnetic field source configured to generate a static magnetic field in a particular casing of the plurality of casings and a magnetometer configured to receive response signals based on the static magnetic field in the particular casing. The system further comprises one or more processors configured to receive a first response signal from the one or more electromagnetic coils, receive a second response signal from the magnetometer, and determine, based on the first response signal and the second response signal, whether a defect exists in the plurality of casings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
one or more first electromagnetic coils configured to:
generate and direct first excitation signals toward a plurality of casings in a wellbore; and
receive response signals based on the excitation signals;
a magnetic field source configured to generate a static magnetic field in a particular casing of the plurality of casings; a magnetometer configured to receive response signals based on the static magnetic field in the particular casing; and one or more processors configured to:
receive a first response signal from the one or more electromagnetic coils;
receive a second response signal from the magnetometer; and
determine, based on the first response signal and the second response signal, whether a defect exists in the plurality of casings.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of casings are concentric and comprise an inner casing and outer casings; determining whether a defect exists on the inner casing of the plurality of casings is based on the second response signal; and determining whether a defect exists on outer casings of the plurality of casings is based on the first response signal.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein determining whether a defect exists on the inner casing of the plurality of casings is further based on the first response signal.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field source comprises the one or more first electromagnetic coils.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the first excitation signals and the static magnetic field are generated using the same electromagnetic coil.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the first excitation signals and the static magnetic field are generated using different electromagnetic coils.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field source comprises a permanent magnet.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetometer comprises one or more pick-up coils.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetometer comprises one or more Hall-effect sensors.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the system further comprises one or more second electromagnetic coils configured to:
generate and direct second excitation signals toward the particular casing; and
receive response signals based on the second excitation signals;
the one or more processors are further configured to:
receive a third response signal from the one or more second electromagnetic coils; and
determine whether a defect exists in the plurality of casings using the first response signal, the second response signal, and the third response signal.

11 . A method, comprising:
generating and directing first excitation signals toward a plurality of casings in a wellbore using one or more first electromagnetic coils; and receiving first response signals from the one or more first electromagnetic coils based on the first excitation signals; generating a static magnetic field in a particular casing of the plurality of casings using a magnetic field source; receiving second response signals from a magnetometer based on the static magnetic field in the particular casing; and determining, based on the first response signals and the second response signals, whether a defect exists in the plurality of casings.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the plurality of casings are concentric and comprise an inner casing and outer casings; determining whether a defect exists on the inner casing of the plurality of casings is based on the second response signal; and determining whether a defect exists on outer casings of the plurality of casings is based on the first response signal.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein determining whether a defect exists on the inner casing of the plurality of casings is further based on the first response signal.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic field source comprises the one or more first electromagnetic coils.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first excitation signals and the static magnetic field are generated using the same electromagnetic coil.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first excitation signals and the static magnetic field are generated using different electromagnetic coils.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic field source comprises a permanent magnet.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the magnetometer comprises one or more pick-up coils.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the magnetometer comprises one or more Hall-effect sensors.

20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating and directing second excitation signals toward the particular casing using one or more second electromagnetic coils; receiving third response signals from the one or more second electromagnetic coils based on the second excitation signals; and determining whether a defect exists in the plurality of casings using the first response signal, the second response signal, and the third response signal.

21 . A system, comprising:
one or more first electromagnetic coils configured to:
generate and direct first excitation signals toward a plurality of casings in a wellbore; and
receive response signals based on the first excitation signals;
one or more second electromagnetic coils configured to:
generate and direct second excitation signals toward a particular casing of the plurality of casings; and
receive response signals based on the second excitation signals;
one or more processors configured to:
receive a first response signal from the one or more first electromagnetic coils;
receive a second response signal from the one or more second electromagnetic coils; and
determine, based on the first response signal and the second response signal, whether a defect exists in the plurality of casings in the wellbore.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the second excitation signals include electromagnetic pulses.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the spectral range of the electromagnetic pulses is within the range of 100 KHz and 10 MHz.

24 . The system of claim 21 , wherein:
the plurality of casings are concentric and comprise an inner casing and outer casings; determining whether a defect exists on the inner casing of the plurality of casings is based on the second response signal; and determining whether a defect exists on outer casings of the plurality of casings is based on the first response signal.

25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein determining whether a defect exists on the inner casing of the plurality of casings is further based on the first response signal.

26 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the one or more first electromagnetic coils are the same as the one or more second electromagnetic coils.

27 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the one or more first electromagnetic coils are different from the one or more second electromagnetic coils.

28 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the system further comprises a magnetic field source configured to generate a static magnetic field in the particular casing of the plurality of casings.

29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the magnetic field source comprises the one or more first electromagnetic coils.

30 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the magnetic field sour

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Khalaj Amineh Reza
• San Martin Luis Emilio
• Donderici Burkay

Classifications

• E21B47/092

  by detecting magnetic anomalies · CPC title

• E21B17/00

  Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; {Cables;} Casings; Tubings · CPC title

• G01V3/28

  using induction coils · CPC title

• G01N27/82 Primary

  for investigating the presence of flaws · CPC title

• E21B47/00 Primary

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