Systems and methods for detecting kick and well flow
AssigneeLandmark Graphics Corporation
InventorsRobello Samuel, Yuan Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for detecting a gas kick within a wellbore are provided. The system includes a rotatable tool including one or more acceleration sensors and/or oscillators. The method includes rotating the rotatable tool in contact with fluid inside the wellbore and detecting changes in rotational velocity of the rotatable tool to detect the gas kick. In other aspects, the method includes detecting a change in density of the fluid within the wellbore by at least one or more pressure waves to determine the gas kick within the wellbore.
Claims12
A method for detecting a gas kick within a wellbore through a subterranean formation containing a fluid, comprising:
- rotating a rotatable tool at least partially in contact with the fluid within the wellbore;
- detecting changes in rotational velocity of the rotatable tool within the wellbore to produce vibration data;
- determining a damping factor from the vibration data;
- determining a viscosity of the fluid;
- monitoring at least one of the damping factor or the viscosity;
- and
- determining presence of a gas bubble in the fluid by detecting a reduction of the damping factor or the viscosity.
A system for detecting a gas kick within a wellbore through a subterranean formation containing a fluid, comprising:
- an acceleration sensor coupled to a rotatable tool and operable to
- detect or determine changes in velocity of the rotatable tool and detect or determine changes in viscosity of the fluid;
- and
- a computing and control system in electronic communication with the acceleration sensor and configured to:
- determine a damping factor from vibration data produced based on the changes in velocity;
- monitor at least one of the damping factor or the changes in viscosity;
- and
- determine presence of a gas bubble in the fluid by detecting a reduction of the damping factor or the viscosity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.