Gas well integrity inspection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9746583-B2
Application number	US-201414470348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2014
Priority date	Aug 27, 2014
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A well integrity inspection system configured to inspect a well structure including multiple concentric layers. The well integrity inspection system includes an inspection probe positioned in the well structure. The inspection probe includes a plurality of excitation assemblies for transmitting a plurality of radiation emissions into the well structure. The plurality of excitation assemblies includes at least a neutron excitation assembly and an X-ray excitation assembly. The inspection probe also includes a plurality of detection assemblies configured to receive a plurality of backscatter radiation returns from the well structure. The plurality of detection assemblies includes at least a neutron detection assembly and an X-ray detection assembly. The well integrity inspection system further including a processor operatively coupled to the inspection probe. The processor is configured to determine a well integrity parameter of the well structure based on at least one of the plurality of backscatter radiation returns.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A well integrity inspection system configured to inspect a well structure, the well structure including multiple concentric layers, said well integrity inspection system comprising:
an inspection probe positioned in the well structure, said inspection probe comprising:
a plurality of excitation assemblies configured to transmit a plurality of shaped radiation emissions into the well structure, wherein said plurality of excitation assemblies comprises at least a neutron excitation assembly and an X-ray excitation assembly; and
a plurality of detection assemblies configured to receive a plurality of modulated backscatter radiation returns from the well structure, wherein said plurality of detection assemblies comprises at least a neutron detection assembly and an X-ray detection assembly; and

a processor coupled to said inspection probe, said processor configured to determine a well integrity parameter of the well structure based on at least one of the plurality of modulated backscatter radiation returns;
wherein the well structure further includes a fluid flow conduit, a plurality of concentric casings circumscribing the fluid flow conduit, and a plurality concentric stabilizer regions, each stabilizer region positioned between consecutive concentric casings, wherein said plurality of excitation assemblies transmits the plurality of radiation emissions into at least two consecutive concentric casings of the plurality of concentric casings and at least two concentric stabilizer regions of the plurality of concentric stabilizer regions.

2. The well integrity inspection system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said plurality of excitation assemblies further comprises at least one of a magnetic field generator, an ultrasound generator, and an eddy-current pulse generator.

3. The well integrity inspection system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each of said neutron excitation assembly and said X-ray excitation assembly comprises:
an excitation generator; and
a beam shaping device.

4. The well integrity inspection system in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said excitation generator comprises a neutron generator and an X-ray generator.

5. The well integrity inspection system in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said beam shaping device comprises a rotating sleeve configured to facilitate transmission of the plurality of radiation emissions along a predetermined path by substantially limiting transmission of the radiation emissions other than along the predetermined path.

6. The well integrity inspection system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each of said neutron detection assembly and said X-ray excitation detection assembly comprises:
a radiation focusing element;
a radiation transforming element;
a radiation guiding element; and
a detector.

7. The well integrity inspection system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said radiation focusing element comprises a collimator configured to align the plurality of backscatter radiation returns and guide the plurality of backscatter radiation returns toward said radiation transforming element.

8. The well integrity inspection system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said radiation transforming element comprises a scintillator material substantially extending about said radiation guiding element, said scintillator material configured to transform the plurality of high energy backscatter radiation returns into a plurality of low energy radiation for receipt by said detector.

9. The well integrity inspection system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said radiation guiding element comprises a waveguide configured to channel the plurality of low energy radiation from said scintillator material to said detector.

10. An inspection probe for interrogating the integrity of a well structure, the well structure including a plurality of alternating concentric casings and stabilizer regions, said inspection probe comprising:
a neutron excitation assembly configured to transmit a beam of neutrons into the well structure;
an X-ray excitation assembly configured to transmit a beam of X-rays into the well structure;
a neutron detection assembly configured to receive a plurality of backscatter neutrons from the well structure;
an X-ray detection assembly configured to receive a plurality of backscatter X-rays from the well structure;
wherein said neutron excitation assembly comprises a neutron generator and a neutron beam shaping device;
wherein said X-ray excitation assembly comprises an X-ray generator and an X-ray beam shaping device; and
wherein said neutron beam shaping device and said X-ray beam shaping device each comprise a rotating sleeve configured to facilitate transmission of the beam of neutrons and the beam of X-rays along a predetermined path by substantially limiting transmission of the neutrons and the X-rays other than along the predetermined path.

11. The inspection probe in accordance with claim 10 further comprising at least one of a magnetic field generator, an ultrasound generator, and an eddy-current pulse generator.

12. The inspection probe in accordance with claim 10 , wherein each of said neutron detection assembly and said X-ray excitation detection assembly comprises:
a radiation focusing element;
a radiation transforming element;
a radiation guiding element; and
a detector.

13. The well integrity inspection system in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said radiation focusing element is coated with at least one layer of at least one material to enable total internal reflection that aligns the plurality of backscatter radiation returns and guide the plurality of backscatter radiation returns toward said radiation transforming element.

14. The inspection probe in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said radiation transforming element comprises a scintillator material substantially extending about said radiation guiding element, said scintillator material configured to transform the pluralities of high-energy backscatter neutrons and high-energy backscatter X-rays into a plurality of low energy radiation for receipt by said detector.

15. The inspection probe in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said radiation guiding element comprises a waveguide configured to channel the plurality of low energy radiation from said scintillator material to said detector.

16. A method of interrogating the integrity of a well structure having a plurality of alternating concentric casings and concentric stabilizer regions, said method comprising:
inserting an inspection probe into an innermost casing of the well structure;
transmitting a plurality of radiation emissions into the well structure using a plurality of excitation assemblies, wherein the plurality of excitation assemblies includes at least a neutron excitation assembly and an X-ray excitation assembly;
receiving a plurality of backscatter radiation returns from the well structure using a plurality of excitation detection assemblies, wherein the plurality of detection assemblies includes at least a neutron detection assembly and an X-ray detection assembly; and
determining a well integrity parameter of the well structure based on at least one of the plurality of backscatter radiation returns using a processor that is operatively coupled to the inspection probe;
wherein transmitting a plurality of radiation emissions comprises shaping the plurality of radiation emissions with a rotating sleeve to facilitate transmitting the plurality of radiation emissions along a predetermined path by substantially limiting transmission of the plurality of radia

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Berkcan Ertugrul
• Price John Scott
• Nieters Edward James
• Ross William Robert
• Bueno Clifford
• Plotnikov Yuri Alexeyevich
• Lee Susanne Madeline

Classifications

• G01V5/145 Primary

  using a neutron source combined with a gamma- or X-ray source · CPC title