Method for flow profiling using transient active-source heating or cooling and temperature profiling
AssigneeExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
InventorsBrian C. Seabrook, Ted A. Long, Charles J. Mart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for determining movement of a fluid into or out of a subsurface wellbore, to thereby enable accurate allocation of fluids being produced by or injected into each of several zones of the wellbore. A temperature change is effected in the fluid in a semi-continuous or pulsed manner at one or more locations in the wellbore. A temperature of the fluid is measured at one or more sensing locations downstream of the location of the temperature change. A time of flight model is used to determine, for a plurality of points of interest, a fluid flow direction, bulk flow rate and/or a cumulative flow rate contribution.
Claims17
A method of determining movement of a fluid into or out of a subsurface wellbore, to thereby enable accurate allocation of fluids being produced by or injected into each of several zones of the wellbore, comprising:
- effecting a semi-continuous or pulsed temperature change by a temperature changing element disposed directly within the wellbore in the fluid at one location in the wellbore, the temperature changing element comprising a single heating element being disposed on a waveguide that receives a signal indicative of temperature within the wellbore;
- measuring a temperature of the fluid at a plurality of sensing locations downstream of the location of the temperature change, wherein a change in temperature between each of the plurality of sensing locations is representative of fluid flow within the wellbore;
- and
- using a time of flight model, determining, for a plurality of points of interest, a fluid flow direction, bulk flow rate and/or a cumulative flow rate contribution.
A system for determining movement of a fluid into or out of a subsurface wellbore, to thereby enable accurate allocation of fluids being produced by or injected into each of several zones of the well, comprising:
- a single means for effecting a temperature change disposed directly within the wellbore in the fluid at a first location in the wellbore, the single means for effecting a temperature change being disposed on a waveguide that receives a signal indicative of temperature within the wellbore;
- means for measuring a temperature of the fluid at a plurality of sensing locations downstream of the location of the temperature change, wherein a change in temperature between the first location and each of the plurality of sensing locations is representative of heat flow within the wellbore;
- and
- means for using a time of flight model to determine, for a plurality of points of interest, a fluid flow direction, bulk flow rate and/or a cumulative flow rate contribution.
The system of paragraph 13, wherein the single means for effecting a temperature change is a temperature modifying element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.