Method and apparatus for a sand screen with integrated sensors
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsHenry L. Restarick, Clark E. Robison, Roger L. Schultz
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Abstract
Sensors are attached directly to portions of the sand screen of a gravel packing assembly, with connectors to the sensors run through elements of the screen that are hollow for that purpose. The hollow element can be the trapezoidal wire that is circumferentially wrapped to form the outer screen or one of the outer spacers used to provide a stand-off of the wire from the underlying tubing. Sensors can detect such conditions as pressure, temperature, flow rate, density, etc., and can provide real-time information on the effectiveness of gravel placement during packing and on well conditions during production.
Claims39
A gravel pack comprising:
- a sand screen having
- an inner mandrel with at least one aperture therethrough, and
- an outer mesh separated from said mandrel by a spacer;
- and
- a sensor directly coupled to said sand screen.
A method of collecting data from a downhole environment comprising the steps of:
- (a) lowering a gravel pack assembly into the downhole environment;
- wherein a sensor is directly coupled to a sand screen which forms a portion of said gravel pack assembly;
- and
- (b) collecting data from the sensor.
A method for placing sand around a gravel pack assembly including the steps of:
- (a) gathering data in real time from a sensor directly coupled to a sand screen of a gravel pack assembly;
- (b) flowing a sand suspended in a fluid into said assembly wherein sand is deposited between said sand screen and a formation;
- (c) actuating a vibrator that redistributes sand between said sand screen and the formation.
A method for modifying a production profile in a producing well including the steps of:
- (a) sensing a flow characteristic or a fluid parameters from sensors located on a sand screen in the well;
- wherein said sand screen is located adjacent to a production region;
- and
- (b) motivating an actuation system to reconfigure the flow area through the screen.
A device for use in the production of hydrocarbons from wells, said device comprising:
- a sand screen having a connection at one end for attachment to a tool string for a borehole;
- and
- a sensor directly attached to said sand screen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.