Monitoring system for borehole operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9222333-B2
Application number	US-201213685978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2012
Priority date	Nov 27, 2012
Publication date	Dec 29, 2015
Grant date	Dec 29, 2015

Abstract

An assembly for monitoring a fluid operation including a plug member operatively arranged to impede fluid flow past the plug when the plug member is engaged with a seat. A conveyor is coupled to the plug and operatively arranged for positioning the plug at a desired location. A signal conductor is disposed with the conveyor. At least one sensor is coupled with the signal conductor for monitoring one or more parameters related to the fluid operation. A method of monitoring a fluid operation is also included.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for monitoring a fluid operation, comprising:
a plug member operatively arranged to impede fluid flow past the plug member when the plug member is engaged with a seat;
a conveyor coupled to the plug member and operatively arranged for positioning the plug member at a desired location;
a signal conductor disposed with the conveyor;
at least one sensor arranged within a fluid permeable body coupled to the plug member and coupled with the signal conductor for monitoring one or more parameters related to the fluid operation; and
a retrieval device configured and disposed to deliver a flow stream of fluid about the plug member.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug member is configured and disposed to separate from the conveyor.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug member is at least partially formed from a material disintegrable upon exposure to a selected fluid.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the material is a controlled electrolytic metallic material.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug member is coupled to the conveyor via one or more release members.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the signal conductor includes a fiber optic line.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the sensor includes at least one fiber Bragg grating formed in the fiber optic line.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor includes a wireline.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the signal conductor is integrated with the wireline.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor includes a coiled tubing string.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a gauge for measuring temperature, pressure, acoustics, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing.

12. A system including the assembly of claim 1 and a tubular string, the assembly positioned within an inner passageway of the tubular string, and the plug member of the assembly engaged with a corresponding seat coupled with the tubular string.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the tubular string includes at least one opening for providing fluid communication between the inner passageway and a formation proximate to the at least one opening.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the fluid operation is a fracturing operation or a fluid treatment operation performed on the formation.

15. A method of monitoring a fluid operation, comprising:
positioning a monitoring assembly within a tubular string with a conveyor of the monitoring assembly;
engaging a plug member of the monitoring assembly with a seat of the tubular string in order to impede fluid flow through the seat;
monitoring a fluid operation performed at least partially through the tubular string with a sensor of the monitoring assembly while the plug member is engaged with the seat, the sensor being arranged in a fluid permeable body coupled to the plug;
conducting a signal to or from the sensor via a signal conductor disposed with the conveyor; and
delivering a flow stream of fluid about the plug member from a retrieval device.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising retrieving at least a portion of the monitoring assembly.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein retrieving including decoupling the plug member from the monitoring assembly.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein decoupling includes disintegrating the plug member or a component coupling the plug member to the monitoring assembly.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising re-positioning the monitoring assembly and re-monitoring a new fluid operation in a new zone of the tubular string.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising attaching a new plug member to the monitoring assembly before re-positioning the monitoring assembly, the new plug member operatively arranged to engage a different seat in the tubular string associated with the new zone.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid operation is a hydraulic fracture or a fluid treatment operations.

Assignees

• Hoffman Joshua
• O'Malley Edward
• Johnson Charles
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Hoffman Joshua
• O'Malley Edward
• Johnson Charles

Classifications

• E21B33/134 Primary

  Bridging plugs · CPC title

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• E21B47/017

  Protecting measuring instruments · CPC title

• E21B47/011

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic