Wellbore systems with hydrocarbon leak detection apparatus and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9797218-B2
Application number	US-201414278236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2014
Priority date	May 15, 2014
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

In one aspect, a wellbore system is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes a cement section in the wellbore formed to prevent flow of fluids including hydrocarbons through the cement section, a plug disposed uphole of the cement section to provide a space between the cement section and the plug and a sensor in the space for providing measurements relating to a parameter of interest. In one aspect, the parameter of interest may include one or more of presence and extent of a hydrocarbon, presence of moisture; pressure; and temperature. The system may further include a transmitter that transmits measurements from the sensor via a communication line or wirelessly to a receiver for processing the sensor measurements.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wellbore system, comprising:
a cement section in the wellbore to prevent flow of fluids including hydrocarbons through the cement section;
a seal plug disposed uphole of the cement section to provide a non-barrier space between the cement section and the seal plug;
a sensor in the non-barrier space for providing measurements relating to a parameter of interest;
a circuit uphole of the seal that receives a signal from the sensor via a wired communication link through the seal; and
a receiver conveyed into the wellbore on a conveying member to retrieve information from the circuit.

2. The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter of interest is selected from a group consisting of: presence of a hydrocarbon; presence of water; pressure; and
temperature.

3. The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the wired communication link is one of: a wire; and an optical fiber.

4. The wellbore system of claim 3 , wherein the circuit further comprises a transmitter that transmits signals wirelessly to the receiver conveyed into the wellbore.

5. The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is selected from a group consisting of a: chemical sensor; water detection sensor; pressure sensor; and temperature sensor.

6. The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is permanently installed in the wellbore for providing the measurements relating to the parameter of interest.

7. A method of determining integrity of a cement section formed in a wellbore, the method comprising:
placing a seal plug uphole of the cement section to provide a non-barrier space between the cement section and the seal plug;
placing a sensor in the non-barrier space for providing measurements relating to a property of interest relating to a leak through the cement section;
receiving a signal from the sensor at a circuit uphole of the seal via a wired communication link through the seal; and
conveying a receiver into the wellbore on a conveying member to retrieve the signal from the circuit.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the parameter of interest is selected from a group consisting of: presence of a hydrocarbon; presence of water; pressure; and temperature.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising transmitting signals wirelessly from the circuit to the receiver that is located in the wellbore.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the signals from the sensor at the circuit comprises receiving the signals by one of: a wire; and an optical fiber.

11. The well bore system of claim 9 further comprising a processor for determining the parameter of interest from the measurements transmitted by the circuit.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sensor is selected from a group consisting of a: chemical sensor; water detection sensor; pressure sensor; and temperature sensor.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein placing the sensor in the non-barrier space comprises placing the sensor permanently in the non-barrier space.

14. A wellbore system, comprising:
a first seal plug to seal a section of the wellbore to prevent flow of fluids including hydrocarbons through the first seal plug;
a second seal plug uphole of the first seal plug to provide a non-barrier space between the first seal plug and the second seal plug;
a sensor in the non-barrier space for providing measurements relating to a parameter of interest relating to integrity of the first plug;
a circuit uphole of the second seal plug that receives signals from the sensor via a wired communication link through the seal; and
a receiver conveyed into the wellbore on a conveying member to retrieve information from the circuit.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first seal plug includes one of: cement; and an elastomeric material.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a processor that processes measurements from the sensor to provide a measure of a leak of a hydrocarbon through the first seal plug.

Assignees

• Duphorne Darin H
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Duphorne Darin H

Classifications

• E21B47/005

  Monitoring or checking of cementation quality or level · CPC title

• E21B47/117

  Detecting leaks, e.g. from tubing, by pressure testing · CPC title

• E21B33/13 Primary

  Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like · CPC title

• E21B47/12

  Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling · CPC title

• E21B33/04 Primary

  Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads · CPC title