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US 12,716,330 B2Granted
Well integrity system and method
AssigneeAds Services, LLC
InventorsChristian Leuchtenberg, Charles Orbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remotely operable Wellbore Integrity System for large scale monitoring of annular pressure on production wells. The system enhances the integrity of annular casing strings associated with mineral wellbores. The system can be autonomously deployed and has programmable pressure relief valves enabling remote adjustment of the casing pressure.
Claims22
A wellbore integrity monitoring system comprising:
- a wellbore lined with a casing string;
- a production tubing that extends down the wellbore to a reservoir of formation fluid so that fluid from the reservoir of formation fluid can flow up the production tubing;
- a casing annulus formed between an exterior of the production tubing and the casing string;
- a fluid flow line that extends from the casing annulus to a vent via a surface deployed skid assembly, wherein the surface deployed skid assembly comprises:
- a communication module comprising a transceiver that is configured to transmit data to and receive data and/or instructions from a remote location;
- and
- a data storage memory that is configured to store data representing pressure signals received from a pressure sensor of the wellbore integrity monitoring system arranged to measure fluid pressure in the casing annulus;
- a pressure relief valve that is provided in the fluid flow line and is movable between a closed position in which flow of a fluid along the fluid flow line from the casing annulus to the vent is prevented and an open position in which flow of the fluid along the fluid flow line from the casing annulus to the vent is allowed;
- a valve actuator system that is configured to move the pressure relief valve between the open position and the closed position;
- a processor/controller that is connected to the pressure sensor and is configured to receive and process one of the pressure signals received from the pressure sensor, the processor/controller also being connected to the valve actuator system and configured to control the valve actuator system to move the pressure relief valve from the closed position to the open position if the one of the pressure signals from the pressure sensor indicates that the fluid pressure in the casing annulus is greater than a high pressure set point, wherein the processor/controller comprises a data input interface that is connected to the communication module and that is configured to change the high pressure set point to a new value according to instructions from a remote location received at the data input interface;
- a renewable power module comprising a solar panel, a charge controller, a storage battery, an air compressor, and a compressed air storage tank, the renewable power module being configured to supply power to the surface deployed skid assembly to that the wellbore integrity monitoring system can operate on power supplied exclusively by the renewable power module;
- and
- a fluid-type detection system that is configured to measure a density of the fluid being vented from the fluid flow line.
10 more elements
A method of operating a wellbore monitoring system, wherein the wellbore monitoring system comprises:
- a fluid flow line that extends from an interior of a wellbore casing to a vent;
- a programmable pressure relief valve that is provided in the fluid flow line and is movable between a closed position in which a flow of the fluid along the fluid flow line from a casing annulus in the interior of a wellbore to the vent is prevented and an open position in which flow of the fluid along the fluid flow line from the casing annulus to the vent is allowed;
- a valve actuator system that is configured to move the programmable pressure relief valve between the open position and the closed position;
- a pressure sensor that is arranged to measure a fluid pressure in the casing annulus;
- a processor/controller that is connected to the pressure sensor and is configured to receive and process a pressure signal from the pressure sensor, the processor/controller also being connected to the valve actuator system and configured to control the valve actuator system to move the programmable pressure relief valve between the closed position and the open position;
- wherein the method comprises:
- a) using the pressure sensor to monitor the fluid pressure in the casing annulus and if the signal from the pressure sensor indicates that the fluid pressure in the casing annulus is greater than a high pressure set point, using the processor/controller to operate the valve actuator system to move the pressure relief valve from the closed position to the open position;
- b) allowing fluid from an interior of the casing annulus to flow to the vent;
- c) when the signal from the pressure sensor indicates that the fluid pressure in the interior of the casing annulus is lower than a low pressure set point, using the processor/controller to control the valve actuator system to move the programmable pressure relief valve from the open position to the closed position;
- d) measuring a length of time between moving the programmable pressure relief valve to the open position and returning the programmable pressure relief valve to the closed position;
- and
- e) using the length of time measured to assess a condition of the wellbore.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.