Self-consistent flow regime identification for downhole monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025163800-A1
Application number	US-202318518002-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 22, 2023
Priority date	Nov 22, 2023
Publication date	May 22, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods of the present disclosure include receiving measured data corresponding to a wellbore and locating the measured data in a flow map corresponding to the wellbore. The method also includes converting the measured data to determine friction loss and comparing the located measured data and the determined friction loss. Moreover, the method also includes determining that the located measured data is consistent with the determined friction loss with a common flow regime and deeming the common flow regime as a current flow regime. Furthermore, the method includes controlling an operation in the wellbore based at least in part on the deemed current flow regime.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
receiving, at one or more processors, measured data corresponding to a wellbore; locating, using the one or more processors, the measured data in a flow map corresponding to the wellbore; converting, using the one or more processors, the measured data to determine friction loss; comparing, using the one or more processors, the located measured data and the determined friction loss; determining, using the one or more processors, that the located measured data is consistent with the determined friction loss with a common flow regime; deeming, using the one or more processors, the common flow regime as a current flow regime; and using the one or more processors to control an operation in the wellbore based at least in part on the deemed current flow regime.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising selecting the flow map from a plurality of flow maps.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein selecting the flow map comprises receiving a user selection of the flow map.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein locating the measured data in the flow map comprises determining a first classification as a first flow regime of a plurality of flow regimes from the location in the flow map.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein locating the measured data in the flow map comprises determining a second classification as a second flow regime of the plurality of flow regimes from the determined friction loss.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the determined friction loss comprises a probability density function for the determined friction loss and the plurality of flow regimes.

7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving additional measured data that comprises a plurality of data points.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of data points is not consistently classified between the flow map and the determined friction loss.

9 . The method of claim 8 , comprising adjusting at least one transition boundary of the flow map based at least in part on the at least one of the plurality of data points being inconsistently classified between the flow map and the determined friction loss.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein adjusting the at least one transition boundary comprises receiving manual adjustment of the at least one transition boundary until the at least one of the plurality of data points is the same flow regime in the flow map as indicated by the determined friction loss.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein adjusting the at least one transition boundary comprises performing an optimization process using a plurality of superficial velocities for the flow map to determine an improved curve for the at least one transition boundary.

12 . A system, comprising:
one or more memory devices storing instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
set a first superficial velocity from a plurality of first superficial velocities using a first index;
set a second superficial velocity from a plurality of second superficial velocities using a second index;
identify a flow regime for the indexed values based at least in part on the first and second superficial velocities;
increment the second index;
until the second index reaches a first maximum value, perform a first loop, wherein the first loop comprises continuing to set the second superficial velocity based on the second index, identify the flow regime for the index values, and increment the second index;
after the second index has met or exceeded the first maximum value, reset the second index and increment the first index;
until the first index reaches a second maximum value, perform a second loop, wherein the second loop comprises iteratively performing operations of the first loop and incrementing the first index;
return a plurality of indications of flow regimes for the plurality of first superficial velocities and the plurality of second superficial velocities; and
set transition boundaries in a flow map to best fit the plurality of indications.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to initialize the first and second indices, initialize a flow regime indicator, and set a maximum number of flow regimes in a plurality of flow regimes.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the first superficial velocity comprises a liquid superficial velocity.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the second superficial velocity comprises a gas superficial velocity.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein setting the transition boundaries comprises using a best fit curve for each transition boundary to maximize a number of a plurality of flow regimes that are consistently classified between the flow map and a friction loss probability density function for the plurality of indications of flow regimes.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to:
receive measured data corresponding to a wellbore; locate the measured data in the flow map corresponding to the wellbore to classify a measured flow regime for the measured data using a first classification; convert the measured data to determine friction loss; determine a second classification of the measured flow regime from the friction loss; determine that the first and second classifications are not consistent; and in response to the first and second classification being inconsistent, perform operations of claim 12 .

18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to operate a wellbore based at least in part on classifications of a flow regime based on the set transition boundaries.

19 . A system, comprising:
one or more memory devices storing instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to cause the one or more processors to: receive measured data corresponding to a wellbore; locate the measured data in a flow map corresponding to the wellbore to classify a measured flow regime for the measured data using a first classification; convert the measured data to determine friction loss; determine a second classification of the measured flow regime from the friction loss; determine that the first and second classifications are not consistent; adjust a transition boundary in the flow map based at least in part on the determination that the first and second classifications are not consistent; and control an operation in the wellbore based at least in part on identification of the measured flow regime based on the adjustment of the transition boundary.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the operation comprises a production operation or a clean-out operation for the wellbore.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Bailey William J
• Ramakrishnan Terizhandur S
• Rashid Kashif

Classifications

• E21B2200/20

  Computer models or simulations, e.g. for reservoirs under production, drill bits · CPC title

• E21B47/10 Primary

  Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements · CPC title