Distributed marinized borehole system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9435197-B2
Application number	US-201414154638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2014
Priority date	Jan 14, 2014
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

A distributed borehole system includes a surface-based assembly located on a surface of a body of water and a marinized assembly located on a floor of the body of water adjacent to a borehole in an earth formation. The system includes a borehole interrogator including a transmitter configured to generate a signal and to transmit the signal into the borehole and a receiver configured to receive a reflected signal from the borehole based on the signal transmitted by the transmitter. The system further includes a processor configured to process the reflected signal to generate data representing characteristics of one of the borehole system, the borehole, and an earth formation defining the borehole. The processor is located in the surface-based assembly, the receiver is located in the marinized assembly, and the transmitter is located in at least one of the surface-based assembly and the marinized assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A distributed borehole system, comprising:
a surface-based assembly located on a surface of a body of water; and
a marinized assembly located on a floor of the body of water adjacent to a borehole in an earth formation;
a borehole interrogator including a transmitter configured to generate a signal and to transmit the signal into the borehole and a receiver configured to receive a reflected signal from the borehole based on the signal transmitted by the transmitter and convert the reflected signal into an electronic signal; and
a processor configured to process the electronic signal representing the reflected signal to generate data representing characteristics of one or more of the borehole system, the borehole, and an earth formation defining the borehole,
wherein the processor is located in the surface-based assembly, the receiver is located in the marinized assembly, and the transmitter is located in at least one of the surface-based assembly and the marinized assembly.

2. The distributed wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the system is a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system,
the transmitter includes a laser and a pulse conditioner, the pulse conditioner configured to modulate a laser beam generated by the laser, and the transmitter configured to transmit a modulated laser beam into the wellbore, and
the receiver receives light reflected from the borehole based on the modulated laser beam and converts the light reflected from the borehole into the electronic signal.

3. The distributed wellbore system of claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is located in the marinized assembly.

4. The distributed wellbore system of claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is located in the surface-based assembly.

5. The distributed wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the marinized assembly includes downhole assembly control equipment for controlling operation of a downhole assembly in the borehole.

6. The distributed wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the marinized assembly includes passive optical components of the interrogator, and the surface-based assembly includes active processing components of the interrogator.

7. A method of monitoring a distributed borehole system, comprising:
generating, by a transmitter of an interrogator, a laser beam;
transmitting the laser beam into a borehole;
receiving, by a receiver of the interrogator, reflected light from the borehole and converting reflected light into an electronic signal, the receiver located on a floor of a body of water;
transmitting the electronic signal to a processor located on a platform on a surface of the body of water; and
processing the electronic signal representing the reflected light, by the processor located on the platform, to analyze characteristics of the borehole.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the transmitter is located on the platform on the surface of the body of water, the method comprising:
transmitting the laser beam from the platform to the borehole.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the transmitter is located in a marinized assembly locate on the floor of the body of water adjacent to the borehole.

10. A method of fabricating a distributed borehole system, comprising:
fabricating a surface-based assembly on a surface of a body of water;
fabricating a marinized assembly on a floor of the body of water adjacent to a borehole in an earth formation;
providing in at least one of the surface-based assembly and the marinized assembly a borehole interrogator including a transmitter configured to generate a signal and to transmit the signal into the borehole and a receiver configured to receive a reflected signal from the borehole based on the signal transmitted by the transmitter and convert the reflected signal into an electronic signal, the receiver located in the marinized assembly; and
providing in the surface-based assembly a processor configured to process the electronic signal representing the reflected signal to generate data representing characteristics of one of the borehole system, the borehole, and an earth formation defining the borehole.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein providing the borehole interrogator in at least one of the surface-based assembly and the marinized assembly includes providing the transmitter in the surface-based assembly.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein providing the borehole interrogator in at least one of the surface-based assembly and the marinized assembly includes providing the transmitter in the marinized assembly.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein providing the borehole interrogator in at least one of the surface-based assembly and the marinized assembly includes providing passive optical components in the marinized assembly and providing active processing components in the surface-based assembly.

Assignees

• Duncan Roger G
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Duncan Roger G

Classifications

• E21B47/135 Primary

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

• E21B7/124

  with underwater tool drive prime mover, e.g. portable drilling rigs for use on underwater floors · CPC title

• E21B33/0355 Primary

  Control systems, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, acoustic, for submerged well heads · CPC title

• E21B47/123 Primary

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic