Measuring sealing quality of connections in downhole casings
AssigneeDarkVision Technologies Inc.
InventorsGraham T. Manders, Kurt Kolb, Jacob Law
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for inspecting casings in a wellbore to determine a mechanical or sealing quality of casing connections. Casing connections may become mechanically weak or start to leak after some period of use in harsh conditions. A radial array of ultrasound transducers images the casing in-situ to create an ultrasound image, which is analyzed to detect the casing connector then analyzed a sealing band of the connector. Machine learning and image processing methods may be used to analyze the images.
Claims20
A method of inspecting a wellbore comprising:
- deploying an imaging tool into and axially through a casing of the wellbore;
- imaging the casing with a radial array of ultrasound transducers to create an ultrasound image;
- analyzing the ultrasound image to detect one or more features that identify a casing connector;
- locating a sealing band in the ultrasound image at a predetermined offset from the one or more detected features;
- and
- analyzing the sealing band in the ultrasound image to determine a connection quality of the casing connector to the casing.
An imaging system for inspecting casing connections in a wellbore comprising:
- an elongate body disposable in a casing;
- means for moving the elongate body axially through the casing;
- a radial array of ultrasound transducers connected to the elongate body;
- a memory for storing an ultrasound image from the radial array as the radial array is deployed through the casing;
- and
- a processor configured to process the ultrasound image in the memory through executing of program instructions by:
- analyzing the ultrasound image to detect one or more features identifying a casing connector;
- locating a sealing band in the ultrasound image at a predetermined offset from the one or more detected features;
- and
- analyzing the sealing band in the ultrasound image to determine a connection quality of the casing connector with the casing.
A method of inspecting a wellbore comprising:
- deploying an imaging tool into and axially through a casing of the wellbore;
- imaging the casing with a radial array of ultrasound transducers to create an ultrasound image, the radial array sonifying the casing at an angle of incidence greater than 0° and less than 40°;
- analyzing the ultrasound image to detect one or more features comprising at least one of:
- a thread, a torque shoulder, or a dope relief, the feature identifying a casing connector;
- locating a sealing band in the ultrasound image at a predetermined offset from the one or more detected features;
- and
- analyzing the sealing band in the ultrasound image to determine a connection quality of the casing connector to the casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.