Detecting downhole sand ingress locations
AssigneeBP Exploration Operating Company Limited
InventorsTommy Langnes, Pradyumna Thiruvenkatanathan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of detecting sand inflow into a wellbore is disclosed. The method can include obtaining a sample data set, detecting a broadband signal within the sample data set, comparing the broadband signal with a signal reference, determining that the broadband signal meets or exceeds the signal reference, and determining the presence of sand inflow into the wellbore based on determining that the broadband signal meets or exceeds the signal reference. The sample data set can be a sample of an acoustic signal originating within a wellbore including a fluid, and the broadband signal at least includes a portion of the sample data set at frequencies above 0.5 kHz.
Claims33
A system of detecting sand inflow into a wellbore, the system comprising:
- a processor unit comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor unit is adapted for signal communication with a receiver, and wherein the memory comprises an analysis application, that when executed on the processor, configures the processor to:
- receive, from the receiver, a sample data set, the sample data set being a sample of an acoustic signal from a wellbore that comprises a fluid;
- detect a broadband signal within the sample data set, wherein the broadband signal at least includes a portion of the sample data set at frequencies above 0.5 kHz;
- compare the broadband signal with a signal reference;
- determine that the broadband signal meets or exceeds the signal reference;
- determine the presence of sand inflow into the wellbore based on determining that the broadband signal meets or exceeds the signal reference;
- and
- provide an output indicative of the determination of the presence of the sand inflow.
A system of detecting sand inflow into a wellbore, the system comprising:
- a processor unit comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor unit is adapted for signal communication with a receiver, and wherein the memory comprises an analysis application, that when executed on the processor, configures the processor to:
- receive a sample data set, wherein the sample data set is a sample of an acoustic signal originating within a wellbore comprising a fluid, and wherein the sample data set is representative of the acoustic signal across a frequency spectrum,
- determine a plurality of frequency domain features of the sample data set,
- determine a presence of sand ingress at one or more locations within the wellbore based on determining that the plurality of frequency domain features match a sand ingress signature;
- generate a sand log comprising an indication of the sand ingress at the one or more locations within the wellbore;
- and
- display the sand log on an output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.