Method and apparatus for determining the temperature of subterranean wells using fiber optic cable
AssigneeSensor Highway Limited
InventorGary O. Harkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses to determine the temperature profile of a pressurized wellbore using a fiber optic cable and an anchor are disclosed. Furthermore, a pressurized wellhead spool that couples to a standard Christmas tree structure on a well head to facilitate the injection of fiber optic cable into an oil and gas well is disclosed. The wellhead spool is portable and may be connected to fiber optic cable already located at the site, for quick connection to on-site instrumentation. A method of using the apparatuses disclosed to measure wellbore temperature at multiple depths of investigation is also disclosed.
Claims52
A method for determining the temperature of a wellbore, the method including the steps of:
- gravitationally deploying an anchor coupled to a distal end of a sensing fiber optic cable into a pressurized wellbore;
- measuring temperature along at least part of the length of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- and
- retrieving the sensing fiber optic cable from the pressurized wellbore.
A method for determining the temperature of a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- temporarily coupling an anchor to a sensing fiber optic cables;
- temporarily gravitationally deploying the anchor and sensing fiber optic cable into a pressurized wellbore;
- measuring temperature along at least part of the length of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- and
- retrieving the sensing fiber optic cable from the pressurized wellbore.
A system used to determine the temperature of a wellbore, the system comprising:
- an anchor coupled to a distal end of a sensing fiber optic cable and adapted to be gravitationally deployed into a pressurized wellbore;
- the sensing fiber optic cable adapted to measure temperature along at least part of the length of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- and
- the sensing fiber optic cable adapted to be retrieved from the pressurized wellbore.
A method for determining the temperature of a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- mounting a wellhead spool in a sealable housing associated with a wellbore, the spool including a sensing fiber optic cable spooled thereon,
- said sensing fiber optic cable having an anchor attached to a distal end of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- gravitationally unspooling the sensing fiber optic cable into the wellbore;
- measuring temperature along at least part of the length of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- and
- spooling the sensing fiber optic cable from the pressurized wellbore.
A system to determine the temperature of a wellbore, the system comprising:
- a wellhead spool mounted in a sealable housing associated with the wellbore, the spool including a sensing fiber optic cable having an anchor attached to a distal end of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- the spool adapted to gravitationally unspool the sensing fiber optic cable into the wellbore;
- the sensing fiber optic cable adapted to measure temperature along a length of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- and
- the spool adapted to spool the sensing fiber optic cable from the wellbore.
A method for determining the temperature of a wellbore, the method including the steps of:
- gravitationally deploying a weighted assembly into a pressurized wellbore, the weighted assembly comprising a sensing fiber optic cable having an anchor coupled to the distal end of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- measuring temperature along at least part of the length of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- and
- retrieving the weighted assembly from the pressurized wellbore.
A system used to determine the temperature of a pressurized wellbore, the system comprising:
- a weighted assembly adapted to be gravitationally deployed into the pressurized wellbore, the weighted assembly comprising a sensing fiber optic cable having an anchor coupled to the distal end of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- the sensing fiber optic cable adapted to measure temperature along a length of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- and
- the weighted assembly adapted to be retrieved from the pressurized wellbore.
An apparatus to determine the temperature of a pressurized wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
- a wellhead assembly, said wellhead assembly configured to gravitationally deploy a sensing fiber optic cable having an anchor coupled to the distal end of the sensing fiber optic cable into the pressurized wellbore;
- said sensing fiber optic cable adapted to measure temperature;
- and
- said wellhead assembly configured to retrieve said sensing fiber optic cable from the pressurized wellbore.
A method to determine the temperature of a pressurized wellbore, the method comprising the steps:
- communicating a wellhead assembly with the pressurized wellbore, the wellhead assembly including a sensing fiber optic cable having an anchor coupled to the distal end of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- gravitationally deploying the sensing fiber optic cable into the pressurized wellbore;
- measuring the temperature of the pressurized wellbore at a measurement location;
- and
- retrieving the sensing fiber optic cable from the pressurized wellbore.
A method for determining the temperature of a wellbore, the method including the steps of:
- connecting a sealable housing containing a wellhead spool in communication with a pressurized wellhead, said wellhead spool having a sensing fiber optic cable, having an anchor coupled to the distal end of the sensing fiber optic cable, spooled thereon;
- and
- gravitationally inserting the anchor and sensing fiber optic cable directly into a pressurized wellbore;
- measuring temperature along at least part of the length of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- and
- removing the sensing fiber optic cable from the pressurized wellbore onto the wellhead spool.
A system used to determine the temperature of a pressurized wellbore, the system comprising:
- a hydraulically actuated anchor assembly adapted to be gravitationally deployed into the pressurized wellbore, the hydraulically actuated anchor assembly comprising an anchor attached to a distal end of a sensing fiber optic cable having a proximal and a distal end;
- the sensing fiber optic cable adapted to measure temperature along a length of the sensing fiber optic cable;
- said sensing fiber optic cable further comprising a fluid transport tube allowing fluid transport from the proximal end of the fiber optic cable to the distal end of the fiber optic cable;
- and
- the hydraulically actuated anchor assembly adapted to be retrieved from the pressurized wellbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.