Detecting Downhole Sand Ingress Locations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020200000-A1
Application number	US-201816639774-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 23, 2018
Priority date	Aug 23, 2017
Publication date	Jun 25, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of detecting sand ingress within a wellbore includes obtaining a sample data set, determining a plurality of frequency domain features of the sample data set over a plurality of depth ranges, determining a presence of sand ingress at a first depth range of the plurality of depth ranges within the wellbore based on determining that the plurality of frequency domain features over the first depth range match a sand ingress signature, and determining a presence of sand migration along a second depth range of the plurality of depths within the wellbore based on determining that the plurality of frequency domain features over the second depth range match a sand migration signature. The sample data set is a sample of an acoustic signal originating within a wellbore including a fluid. The sample data set is representative of the acoustic signal across a frequency spectrum.

First claim

1 . A method of detecting sand ingress within a wellbore, the method comprising:
obtaining a sample data set, wherein the sample data set is a sample of an acoustic signal originating within a wellbore comprising a fluid, and wherein the sample data set is representative of the acoustic signal across a frequency spectrum; determining a plurality of frequency domain features of the sample data set over a plurality of depth ranges; determining a presence of sand ingress at a first depth range of the plurality of depth ranges within the wellbore based on determining that the plurality of frequency domain features over the first depth range match a sand ingress signature; and determining a presence of sand migration along a second depth range of the plurality of depths within the wellbore based on determining that the plurality of frequency domain features over the second depth range match a sand migration signature.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first depth range and the second depth range are contiguous.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying the sand ingress location from the formation as being within the second depth range.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying the sand ingress location into the wellbore as being within the first depth range.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
isolating the first depth range and the second depth range; and preventing the sand ingress into the wellbore based on the isolating.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein isolating the first depth range comprises sealing an annulus between a completion assembly and a wall of the wellbore between the first depth range and the second depth range.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
correlating petrophysical data for the wellbore with the plurality of depth ranges; identifying a plurality of non-porous zones on both sides of the first depth range and the second depth range; and isolating the wellbore between the plurality of non-porous zones.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wellbore comprises a liner, wherein an annulus is formed between the liner and the wellbore wall, and wherein the presence of the sand migration is within the annulus.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the presence of the sand ingress occurs between the annulus and the interior of the liner.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining a fluid flow path between the second depth within the annulus to the interior of the liner at the first depth.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
increasing a production rate from the wellbore; obtaining a second sample data set at the increased production rate, wherein the second sample data set is a second sample of an acoustic signal originating within the wellbore; re-determining the presence of sand ingress at the first depth range using the second sample data set; and verifying a flow path having the presence of the sand migration using the second sample data set.

12 . A system of determining a sand migration path, the system comprising:
a receiver unit comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the receiver unit is configured to receive a first signal from a sensor disposed in a wellbore, wherein a processing application is stored in the memory, and wherein the processing application, when executed on the processor, configures the processor to:
receive the first signal from the sensor, wherein the signal comprises an indication of an acoustic signal received at a plurality of depth zones within the wellbore;
determine the presence of sand ingress into the wellbore in a first depth zone of the plurality of depth zones using the first signal;
determine the presence of sand migration between the first depth zone and a second depth zone of the of the plurality of depth zones using the first signal; and
identify a sand ingress location from the formation as being within the second depth zone.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
the sensor, wherein the sensor comprises a fiber optic cable disposed within the wellbore across the plurality of depth zones; and an optical generator coupled to the fiber optic cable, wherein the optical generator is configured to generate a light beam and pass the light beam into the fiber optic cable.

14 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
an isolation device, wherein the isolation device is disposed within the wellbore across the first depth zone and the second depth zone.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the processing application, when executed on the processor, further configures the processor to:
identify a depth of a fluid barrier in the wellbore; determine a fluid flow path between the second depth and the fluid barrier; and identify the fluid flow path.

16 . A method for remediating a well, the method comprising:
determining the presence of sand ingress at a first depth in a well; identifying, using secondary information data, a depth of a sand barrier in the well; identifying, using the secondary information data, a fluid flow path between the sand ingress depth and the depth of the sand barrier; isolating the fluid flow path; blocking fluid flow from the fluid flow path into the wellbore above the depth of the sand barrier; and reducing sand ingress into the wellbore in response to blocking said fluid flow.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein determining the presence of sand ingress at the first depth in the wellbore comprises:
determining a plurality of frequency domain features of a sample data set, wherein the sample data set is a sample of an acoustic or dynamic strain signal originating within a wellbore, and wherein the sample data set is representative of the acoustic signal across a frequency spectrum; and determining the presence of the sand ingress at the first depth within the wellbore based on determining that the plurality of frequency domain features match a sand ingress signature.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein isolating the flow path comprises installing a fluid barrier in the well to prevent well fluids from flowing from the first depth to above the sand barrier.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein isolating the flow path comprises installing a fluid barrier in the well to redirect fluid flowing along the fluid flow path along a second fluid flow path through the sand barrier and into the wellbore above the sand barrier.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the secondary information data comprises a well log, a cement log, a gravel pack log, or completion string data.

21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein identifying the fluid flow path comprises:
predicting the fluid flow path using the secondary information data.

22 . The method of claim 16 , wherein identifying the fluid flow path comprises:
determining a presence of sand migration along the fluid flow path.

23 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the sand barrier comprises a fluid barrier, for example an impermeable layer of a formation around the wellbore or a component installed in the well to prevent fluid flow therethrough.

24 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the sand barrier comprises a material in an annulus between a casing and a formation wall that is permeable to well fluids but which blocks the flow of sand.

Assignees

• Bp Exploration Operating Co Ltd

Inventors

• Langnes Tommy
• Thiruvenkatanathan Pradyumna

Classifications

• E21B47/00

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

• E21B47/107 Primary

  using acoustic means · CPC title

• E21B47/135

  using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves · CPC title

• E21B43/04 Primary

  Gravelling of wells · CPC title

• E21B43/12

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title