Integrated Multiple Parameter Sensing System And Method For Leak Detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017350234-A1
Application number	US-201415523216-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 31, 2014
Priority date	Dec 31, 2014
Publication date	Dec 7, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multiple parameter sensing leak detection system may include one or more multi-parameter sensing modules capable of simultaneously measuring downhole temperature, pressure, and acoustic signals. The temperature and pressure detectors may include quartz based sensing elements, and the acoustic detector may include piezoelectric based sensing elements. In one or more embodiments, a plurality of sensing modules may be carried on a caliper for allowing radial identification of leak location. In one or more embodiments, multiple calipers, each carrying a circumferential arrangement of sensing modules may be used to identify annular or inter-annular leakage beyond production tubing using triangulation techniques. A leak analysis method identifies if relative pressure and temperature variation amplitudes fall outside leak thresholds and if power spectral density from noise has anomalous frequency signatures. A leak event may be identified by relative pressure and temperature variation amplitude and verified by power spectral density variation.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A logging tool comprising:
a first temperature detector; a first pressure detector disposed in proximity to said first temperature detector; a first acoustic detector disposed in proximity to said first temperature detector; data acquisition circuitry coupled to said first temperature detector, said first pressure detector, and said first acoustic detector; and a processor coupled to said data acquisition circuitry and arranged to correlate a temperature parameter, a pressure parameter, and an acoustic parameter to identify a leak source.

2 . The logging tool of claim 1 wherein:
said first temperature detector, said first pressure detector, and said first acoustic detector are collocated within a first sensing module.

3 . The logging tool of claim 1 further comprising:
at least second and third acoustic detectors disposed about a circumference at a same axial position as said first acoustic detector, said data acquisition circuitry coupled to at least said second and said third acoustic detectors; wherein
said processor is arranged to calculate an azimuthal angle and a radial distance to said leak source with respect to a position of said logging tool.

4 . The logging tool of claim 1 further comprising:
a second acoustic detector disposed at a different axial position from said first acoustic detector, said data acquisition circuitry coupled to said second acoustic detector; wherein
said processor is arranged to calculate an elevation of said leak source with respect to a position of said logging tool.

5 . The logging tool of claim 1 further comprising:
at least second and third acoustic detectors equally disposed about a first circumference at a same axial position as said first acoustic detector;
at least fourth, fifth, and sixth acoustic detectors equally disposed about a second circumference at a different axial position from said first acoustic detector;
said data acquisition circuitry coupled to at least said second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth acoustic detectors; wherein
said processor is arranged to calculate an azimuthal angle, a radial distance, and an elevation to said leak source with respect to a position of said logging tool.

6 . The logging tool of claim 5 further comprising:
a second temperature detector disposed in proximity to said fourth acoustic detector.

7 . The logging tool of claim 5 further comprising:
a second temperature detector disposed in proximity to said fourth acoustic detector.

8 . The logging tool of claim 1 wherein:
said first temperature detector is a quartz temperature gauge;
said first pressure detector is a quartz temperature compensated pressure gauge; and
said first acoustic detector is a piezoelectric element.

9 . A method for detecting a leak source in a wellbore, comprising:
measuring a first temperature parameter at a first point in said wellbore by a first temperature detector; measuring a first pressure parameter at said first point by a first pressure detector; measuring a first acoustic parameter at said first point by a first acoustic detector; and correlating said first temperature parameter, first pressure parameter, and first acoustic parameter to identify a leak source.

10 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:
collocating said first temperature detector, said first pressure detector, and said first acoustic detector within a first sensing module.

11 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:
measuring second and third acoustic parameters by second and third acoustic detectors located at a same axial position as said first acoustic detector; and
calculating an azimuthal angle and a radial distance with respect to a position of said logging tool to said leak source by correlating said first, second, and third acoustic parameters.

12 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:
measuring a second acoustic parameter by a second acoustic detector disposed at a different axial position from said first acoustic detector; and
calculating an elevation with respect to a position of said logging tool to said leak source by correlating said first and second acoustic parameters.

13 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:
measuring second and third acoustic parameters by second and third acoustic detectors located at a same axial position as said first acoustic detector;
measuring fourth, fifth, and sixth acoustic parameters by fourth, fifth, and sixth acoustic detectors disposed at a different axial position from said first acoustic detector; and
calculating an azimuthal angle, a radial distance, and an elevation with respect to a position of said logging tool to said leak source by correlating said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth acoustic parameters.

14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
measuring a second temperature parameter by a second temperature detector disposed in proximity to said fourth acoustic detector.

15 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
disposing a second temperature detector in proximity to said fourth acoustic detector.

16 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:
measuring a temperature by a quartz temperature gauge;
measuring a pressure by a quartz temperature compensated pressure gauge;
measuring an acoustic signal by a piezoelectric element; and
converting said acoustic signal to a frequency domain.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Xia Hua
• Bonavides Clovis S
• Taware Avinash V

Classifications

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• E21B47/10 Primary

  Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements · CPC title

• E21B47/12

  Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling · CPC title