Method and apparatus for monitoring acoustic activity in a subsurface formation
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsFrancois M. Auzerais, William B. Underhill, Theodore Bruce Lafferty, Jr., Peter Airey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for monitoring microseismic activity in a formation. The method and apparatus include placing a tool string having a shuttle including a sensor thereon in a stimulation well, and activating the shuttle to acoustically couple the sensor to an inner surface of a casing. The sensor is acoustically decoupled from the tool string. Fluid is then injected into the formation via the tool string. The sensor is reengaged with the tool string. The tool string may then be removed from the stimulation well or moved to another position along the wellbore.
Claims20
A method of monitoring microseismic activity around a stimulation well, the method comprising:
- activating a packer disposed at a lower end of the tool string to seal an annulus defined by the tool string and an inner casing surface;
- temporarily attaching at least one shuttle comprising a sensor able to detect microseismic events to the exterior of the tool string;
- activating the shuttle in the wellbore by acoustically coupling the sensor to the inner casing surface;
- physically detaching the sensor from the tool string so that the sensor is acoustically decoupled therefrom;
- hydraulic fracturing the formation via the tool string;
- recording microseismic data-via the sensor;
- and
- reattaching the sensor to the tool string.
A method of monitoring microseismic activity in a formation interacting with a stimulation well, the method comprising:
- engaging at least one shuttle comprising a sensor able to detect microseismic events on a tool string;
- activating the shuttle in the stimulation well by coupling the sensor to an inner casing surface;
- physically detaching the sensor from the tool string;
- injecting fluid into the formation via the tool string;
- generating microseismic data via the sensor;
- storing the microseismic data into a memory communicably coupled to the sensor;
- and
- reengaging the sensor to the tool string.
An apparatus for monitoring microseismic activity in a stimulation well interacting with a formation, the apparatus comprising:
- a tool string;
- a packer disposed at a lower end of the tool string for sealing an annulus defined by the tool string and an inner casing surface;
- at least one controllable shuttle comprising a sensor able to detect microseismic events temporarily attached to the tool string, wherein the shuttle is configured to acoustically couple the sensor to the inner casing surface and physically detach the sensor from the tool string as well as reattach the sensor to the tool string;
- and
- wherein the tool string is configured for injecting operations into the formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.