IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,125,077
Granted Patent B2
US 11,125,077 · App. 16/454,106 · Granted Sep 21, 2021

Wellbore inflow detection based on distributed temperature sensing

Inventors: Jerome Lewandowski (Spring, TX); Sri Venkata Tapovan Lolla (Houston, TX); Badrinarayanan Velamur Asokan (Houston, TX)
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
E21B47/103E21B47/07G01V9/005G01V9/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,125,077
App. No.
16/454,106
Granted
Sep 21, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for detecting wellbore inflows can include detecting a plurality of temperature values within a wellbore, wherein each temperature value corresponds to a different depth within the wellbore and the temperature values are detected with a distributed temperature measuring technique. The method can also include calculating a plurality of proxy temperatures, wherein each proxy temperature corresponds to one of the temperature values and a reference temperature value. The method can also include calculating a continuous wavelet transform based on the plurality of proxy temperatures. Additionally, the method can include identifying a wellbore inflow based on a combination of the continuous wavelet transform and a wellbore schematic, and generating an alert indicating a location of the wellbore inflow within the wellbore.

Claims (49)

1. A method for detecting wellbore fluid inflows comprising:

detecting a plurality of temperature values within a wellbore, wherein each temperature value corresponds to a different depth within the wellbore and the temperature values are detected with a distributed temperature measuring technique comprising one or more of:

a) detecting the plurality of temperature values via a fiber optic cable residing within a casing of the wellbore or outside of the casing of the wellbore;

b) detecting a flux measurement from a wire in the wellbore;

c) detecting the plurality of temperature values from a downhole wireless sensor; and

d) detecting the plurality of temperature values from a production logging tool;

calculating a plurality of proxy temperatures, wherein each proxy temperature corresponds to one of the temperature values and a reference temperature value;

calculating a continuous wavelet transform based on the plurality of proxy temperatures;

identifying a wellbore inflow based on a combination of the continuous wavelet transform and a wellbore schematic; and

generating an alert indicating a location of the wellbore inflow within the wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising, when the fiber optic cable is present:

detecting a spectrum of signals via the fiber optic cable; and

determining a Stokes scattering value and an anti-Stokes scattering value based on the spectrum of signals.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wellbore schematic indicates a region of casing in the wellbore or a production packer location in the wellbore.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

detecting a user credential indicating a user access level; and

generating an output indicating information related to the location of the wellbore inflow based on the user access level.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising generating an output signal to adjust a control valve within the wellbore based on the location of the wellbore inflow.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising detecting a maximum amplitude identified by the continuous wavelet transform.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference temperature value corresponds to a geothermal temperature or a calibrated temperature detected during a shut-in of the wellbore.

8. A system for detecting wellbore fluid inflows comprising:

a processor to:

detect a plurality of temperature values within a wellbore, wherein each temperature value corresponds to a different depth within the wellbore and the temperature values are detected with a distributed temperature measuring technique comprising one or more of:

a) detecting the plurality of temperature values via a fiber optic cable residing within a casing of the wellbore or outside of the casing of the wellbore;

b) detecting a flux measurement from a wire in the wellbore;

c) detecting the plurality of temperature values from a downhole wireless sensor; and

d) detecting the plurality of temperature values from a production logging tool;

calculate a plurality of proxy temperatures, wherein each proxy temperature corresponds to one of the temperature values and a reference temperature value;

calculate a continuous wavelet transform based on the plurality of proxy temperatures;

identify a wellbore inflow based on a combination of the continuous wavelet transform and a wellbore schematic; and

generate an alert indicating a location of the wellbore inflow within the wellbore.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein, when the fiber optic cable is present, the processor is to:

detect a spectrum of signals via the fiber optic cable; and

determine a Stokes scattering value and an anti-Stokes scattering value based on the spectrum of signals.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the wellbore schematic indicates a region of casing in the wellbore or a production packer location in the wellbore.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is to:

detect a user credential indicating a user access level; and

generate an output indicating information related to the location of the wellbore inflow based on the user access level.

12. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media for detecting wellbore fluid inflows comprising a plurality of instructions that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to:

detect a plurality of temperature values within a wellbore, wherein each temperature value corresponds to a different depth within the wellbore, and wherein the temperature values are detected with a distributed temperature measuring technique comprising one or more of:

a) detecting the plurality of temperature values via a fiber optic cable residing within a casing of the wellbore or outside of the casing of the wellbore;

b) detecting a flux measurement from a wire in the wellbore;

c) detecting the plurality of temperature values from a downhole wireless sensor; and

d) detecting the plurality of temperature values from a production logging tool;

calculate a plurality of proxy temperatures, wherein each proxy temperature corresponds to one of the temperature values and a reference temperature value;

calculate a continuous wavelet transform based on the plurality of proxy temperatures;

identify a wellbore inflow based on a combination of the continuous wavelet transform and a wellbore schematic; and

generate an alert indicating a location of the wellbore inflow within the wellbore.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein the distributed temperature measuring technique comprises detecting the plurality of temperature values via a fiber optic cable residing within a casing of the wellbore or outside of the casing of the wellbore, and wherein the plurality of instructions cause the processor to detect a spectrum of signals via the fiber optic cable, and determine a Stokes scattering value and an anti-Stokes scattering value based on the spectrum of signals.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62701986 · Jul 23, 2018
Related Publication 20200024942A1 · Jan 23, 2020