Dart detector for wellbore tubular cementation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9957794-B2
Application number	US-201514717441-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2015
Priority date	May 21, 2014
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A detector for use in cementing a tubular string in a wellbore includes: a tubular mandrel; an electronics package fastened to an outer surface of the mandrel; a first transducer: fastened to the mandrel outer surface, in communication with the electronics package, and operable to generate ultrasonic pulses; a second transducer: fastened to the mandrel outer surface, in communication with the electronics package, and operable to receive the ultrasonic pulses; and an antenna fastened to the mandrel outer surface and in communication with the electronics package.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A detector for use in cementing a tubular string in a wellbore, comprising:
a tubular mandrel;
an electronics package fastened to an outer surface of the mandrel;
a first transducer: fastened to the mandrel outer surface, in communication with the electronics package, and operable to generate ultrasonic pulses;
a second transducer: fastened to the mandrel outer surface, in communication with the electronics package, and operable to receive the ultrasonic pulses; and
an antenna fastened to the mandrel outer surface and in communication with the electronics package.

2. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the electronics package is operable to transmit amplitudes or amplitude ratios of output voltage pulses received from the second transducer using the antenna.

3. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the electronics package is operable to transmit transit times of output voltage pulses received from the second transducer using the antenna.

4. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the detector further comprises a piezoelectric vibratory element.

5. The detector of claim 4 , wherein the detector further comprises:
a spring for exerting a compression force on the respective vibratory element against the mandrel outer surface; and
a mechanism for adjusting the compression force.

6. The detector of claim 1 , further comprising a battery fastened to the mandrel outer surface and in communication with the electronics package.

7. A cementing head, comprising:
a launcher: operable between a capture position and a release position, operable to keep a plug retained therein in the capture position while allowing fluid flow therethrough, and operable to allow the fluid flow to propel the plug in the release position; and
the detector of claim 1 .

8. The cementing head of claim 7 , wherein the mandrel is connected to a lower end of the launcher body for detecting passage of the plug through the mandrel.

9. The cementing head of claim 7 , wherein the plug is retained in the mandrel for detecting release of the plug.

10. The cementing head of claim 7 , further comprising a cementing swivel for allowing rotation of the tubular string during cementing.

11. The cementing head of claim 10 , further comprising an actuator swivel in communication with an actuator of the launcher.

12. The cementing head of claim 7 , further comprising a contingency launcher located above the launcher.

13. A method for cementing a tubular string into a wellbore, comprising:
running the tubular string into the wellbore;
pumping cement slurry into a cementing head coupled to the tubular string;
after pumping the cement slurry, launching a plug from the cementing head;
monitoring launching of the plug using ultrasonic transducers of the cementing head, wherein the transducers are located on a lower portion of the cementing head for detecting passage of the plug therethrough; and
driving the launched plug and cement slurry through a bore of the tubular string by pumping chaser fluid into the cementing head.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
rotating the tubular string during pumping and driving of the cement slurry; and
wirelessly transmitting data of the ultrasonic monitoring from the cement head.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the transducers are located adjacent to the plug before launching for detecting release of the plug.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising launching a contingency plug to free the plug in response to detecting a failed launch of the plug.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the transducers are fastened to an outer surface of the cementing head.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
one of the transducers transmits ultrasonic pulses into a bore of the cementing head,
another one of the transducers receives the ultrasonic pulses from the bore of the cementing head, and
launching of the plug is monitored by analyzing one or more parameters of the ultrasonic pulses.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
wirelessly transmitting amplitudes of or amplitude ratios of output voltage pulses received from at least one of the ultrasonic transducers.

20. A method for cementing a tubular string into a wellbore, comprising:
running the tubular string into the wellbore;
pumping cement slurry into a cementing head coupled to the tubular string;
after pumping the cement slurry, launching a plug from the cementing head;
monitoring launching of the plug using ultrasonic transducers of the cementing head;
driving the launched plug and cement slurry through a bore of the tubular string by pumping chaser fluid into the cementing head; and
launching a contingency plug to free the plug in response to detecting a failed launch of the plug.

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Zippel Burkhard
• Helms Martin
• Chandler Mark
• Harrall Simon J

Classifications

• E21B47/09

  Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells {, e.g. the position of an extending arm}; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes · CPC title

• E21B33/14

  for cementing casings into boreholes · CPC title

• E21B33/05 Primary

  Cementing-heads, e.g. having provision for introducing cementing plugs · CPC title

• E21B47/095 Primary

  by detecting an acoustic anomalies, e.g. using mud-pressure pulses · 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