Housing on the exterior of a well casing for optical fiber sensors
US6840114B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jan 11, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 19, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01L1/246
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Improved methods and apparatuses for directly monitoring well casing strain and structural integrity are disclosed that allows for monitoring of potentially damaging strain from any orientation or mode and over long stretches of well casing. In a preferred embodiment, optical fiber sensors are housed within a housing and attached to the exterior surface of the casing. The sensors may be aligned parallel, perpendicular, or at an appropriate angle to the axis of the casing to detect axial, hoop, and shear stresses respectively. The sensors are preferably interferometrically interrogatable and are capable of measuring both static and dynamic strains such as those emitted from microfractures in the well casing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.