Methods and Means for the Measurement of Tubing, Casing, Perforation and Sand-Screen Imaging Using Backscattered X-ray Radiation in a Wellbore Environment
An x-ray-based cased wellbore tubing and casing imaging tool is disclosed, the tool including at least a shield to define the output form of the produced x-rays; a two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array; a parallel hole collimator format in one direction that is formed as a pinhole in another direction; Sonde-dependent electronics; and a plurality of tool logic electronics and PSUs. A method of using an x-ray-based cased wellbore tubing and casing imaging tool is also disclosed, the method including at least: producing x-rays in a shaped output; measuring the intensity of backscatter x-rays returning from materials surrounding a wellbore; determining an inner and an outer diameter of tubing or casing from the backscatter x-rays; and converting image data from said detectors into consolidated images of the tubing or casing.
1 . An x-ray-based cased wellbore tubing and casing imaging tool, said tool comprising:
a shield to define the output form of the produced x-rays;
a two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array;
a parallel hole collimator format in one direction that is formed as a pinhole in another direction;
Sonde-dependent electronics; and
a plurality of tool logic electronics and PSUs.
2 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein said imaging detector comprises a two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays, wherein the imaging array is one pixel wide and multiple pixels long.
3 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein said imaging detectors comprise two sets of two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays.
4 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein said imaging detectors comprise a plurality of two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays.
5 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the images contain spectral information to inform characteristics of any wellbore materials or debris.
6 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein said shield further comprises tungsten.
7 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool is configured so as to permit through-wiring.
8 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool is combinable with other measurement tools comprising one or more of acoustic or ultrasonic tools.
9 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine an inner diameter of a tubing or casing.
10 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine an outer diameter of a tubing or casing.
11 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine a distribution and inner diameter of a scale upon an inner diameter of a tubing or casing.
12 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position, distribution and area of perforations, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore.
13 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of sand-screens, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore.
14 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of gravel-packs, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore.
15 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of side-pocket mandrels, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore.
16 . The tool in claim 1 , wherein machine learning is employed to automatically reformat or re-tesselate the resulting images as a function of depth and varying logging speeds or logging steps.
17 . A method of using an x-ray-based cased wellbore tubing and casing imaging tool, said method comprising:
producing x-rays in a shaped output;
measuring the intensity of backscatter x-rays returning from materials surrounding a wellbore;
determining an inner and an outer diameter of tubing or casing from the backscatter x-rays; and
converting image data from said detectors into consolidated images of the tubing or casing.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said imaging detector comprises a two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays wherein the imaging array is one pixel wide and multiple pixels long.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said imaging detectors comprise two sets of two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said imaging detectors comprise a plurality of two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays.
21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the images contain spectral information to inform the characteristics of any wellbore materials or debris.
22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the tool is combinable with other measurement methods comprising one or more of acoustic or ultrasonic.
23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the tool is used to determine an inner diameter of a tubing or casing.
24 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the tool is used to determine an outer diameter of a tubing or casing.
25 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the tool is used to determine the distribution and inner diameter of a scale upon the inner diameter of a tubing or casing.
26 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position, distribution and area of perforations, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore.
27 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of sand-screens, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore.
28 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of gravel-packs, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore.
29 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of side-pocket mandrels, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore.
30 . The method of claim 17 , wherein machine learning is employed to automatically reformat or re-tesselate the resulting images as a function of depth and varying logging speeds or logging steps.