System and method of a reservoir monitoring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9316756-B2
Application number	US-201213568773-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2012
Priority date	Aug 7, 2012
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

Reservoir monitoring system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising installing a hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring system in a marine environment. The installing may be by: placing a base unit at the sea floor, the base unit communicatively coupled to a computer system at the surface, the communicative coupling by way of an umbilical cable; mechanically coupling a first termination module to the base unit, the termination module coupled to a first sensor cable; and communicatively coupling the first sensor cable to the umbilical cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
installing a hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring system in a marine environment by:
placing a base unit at the sea floor, the base unit communicatively coupled to a computer system at the surface, the communicative coupling by way of an umbilical cable; and then
mechanically coupling a first termination module to the base unit, the termination module coupled to a first sensor cable; and then
communicatively coupling the first sensor cable to the umbilical cable by physically moving a releasable coupler.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
mechanically connecting a second termination module to the base unit, the second termination module coupled to a second sensor cable; and
communicatively coupling the second sensor cable to the umbilical cable.

3. A method comprising:
installing a hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring system in a marine environment by:
placing a base unit at the sea floor, the base unit communicatively coupled to a computer system at the surface, the communicative coupling by way of an umbilical cable;
mechanically coupling a first termination module to the base unit, the termination module coupled to a first sensor cable, the mechanically coupling by:
aligning the first termination module with an alignment mechanism of the base unit, the aligning at least in part by an underwater intervention system;
lowering the first termination module; and
locking the first termination module in place, the locking at least in part by the underwater intervention system;

communicatively coupling the first sensor cable to the umbilical cable by the underwater intervention system mating a first connector portion associated with the base unit to a second connector portion associated with the first termination module.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein aligning further comprises aligning an aperture defined in the first termination module with a pin defined on the base unit.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein aligning further comprises aligning an aperture defined in the first termination module with a conical pin defined on the base unit.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein aligning further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: aligning by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV); and aligning by a diver.

7. A method comprising:
installing a hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring system in a marine environment by:
placing a base unit at the sea floor, the base unit communicatively coupled to a computer system at the surface, the communicative coupling by way of an umbilical cable;
mechanically coupling a first termination module to the base unit, the termination module coupled to a first sensor cable; and
communicatively coupling the first sensor cable to the umbilical cable;
mechanically coupling a second termination module to the base unit, the second termination module coupled to a first end of a second sensor cable;
communicatively coupling the first end of the second sensor cable to the umbilical cable;
connecting a third termination module to the base unit, the third termination module coupled to a second end of the second sensor cable; and
communicatively coupling the second end of the second sensor cable to the umbilical cable.

8. A system comprising:
a base unit comprising:
a structure defining a top, a bottom, and a side;
a plurality of attachment locations defined by the structure;
an enclosure mechanically coupled to the structure, the enclosure defining an interior volume, and the enclosure water tight;
optical devices disposed within the enclosure;
an umbilical cable mechanically coupled to the structure, and the umbilical cable communicatively coupled to the optical devices;
wherein tension forces carried on the umbilical cable proximate to the base unit are communicated to the structure through the enclosure, and the tension forces are not communicated to the optical devices;

a first termination module releasably coupled to the base unit at a first attachment location of the plurality of attachment locations, the first termination unit comprising:
a frame that defines a front and a back;
a first sensor cable comprising a plurality of seismic measurement devices, the first sensor cable mechanically coupled to the frame of the first termination module and extending away from base unit; and
a first releasable optical coupler disposed within a primary communicative coupling between the first sensor cable and the optical devices;
wherein tension forces carried on the first sensor cable proximate the first termination module are communicated to the structure of the base unit through the frame of the first termination module, and the tension forces carried by the first sensor cable are not communicated to the first releasable optical coupler.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:
a second termination module releasably coupled to base unit at a second attachment location of the plurality of attachment locations, the second termination unit comprising:
a frame that defines a front and a back;
a second sensor cable comprising a plurality of seismic measurement devices, the second sensor cable mechanically coupled to the frame of the second termination module and extending away from base unit; and
a second releasable optical coupler disposed within a primary communicative coupling between the second sensor cable and the optical devices;
wherein tension forces carried on second sensor cable proximate the second termination module are communicated to the structure of the base unit through the frame of the first termination module, and the tension forces carried by the second sensor cable are not communicated to the second releasable optical coupler.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the first attachment location further comprises:
a coarse alignment framework defined by the structure of the base unit, the coarse alignment framework configured to provide coarse alignment of the first termination module with the structure of the base unit during installation in a marine environment; and
a fine alignment mechanism defined on the structure of the base unit, the fine alignment mechanism configured to provide fine alignment of the first termination module with the structure of the base unit during installation in the marine environment.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the coarse alignment framework further comprises:
a first plane defined by the structure of the base unit on the side; and
a second plane defined by the structure of the base unit on the side, the second plane perpendicular to the first plane.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the fine alignment mechanism comprises a pin extending from the structure of the base unit, the pin defining a central axis, and the central axis parallel to both the first and second planes.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the fine alignment mechanism comprises a conical pin extending from the structure of the base unit.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the first releasable optical coupler further comprises:
a first coupler portion rigidly coupled to the frame of the first termination module and having an optical fiber communicatively coupled to the first sensor cable; and
a second coupler portion coupled to the structure of the base unit by an intermediate communication cable, the second coupler having an optical fiber communicatively coupled to the umbilical cable;
wherein in situations where the first coupler portion is coupled the second coupler portion, the optical fiber of the of the first coupler portion optically couples to the optical fiber of the seco

Assignees

• Smith Aaron B
• Metzbower D Richard
• Pgs Geophysical As

Inventors

• Smith Aaron B
• Metzbower D Richard

Classifications

• E21B41/0007

  for underwater installations (E21B41/005, E21B41/04, E21B41/06, E21B41/08, E21B41/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01V2210/6122

  Tracking reservoir changes over time, e.g. due to production · CPC title

• G01V1/3852 Primary

  to the seabed · CPC title

• E21B47/0001

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• G01V1/22 Primary

  Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus · CPC title