Method for detecting and locating fluid ingress in a wellbore
US9057254B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jun 16, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B47/107
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method for detecting fluid ingress in a wellbore. An acoustic sensor is placed along a wellbore. The acoustic sensor is adapted to sense individual acoustic signals from a plurality of corresponding locations along the wellbore. The individual acoustic signals are analyzed to determine if there exists a common acoustic component in acoustic signals generated from proximate locations in the wellbore. If so, the acoustic signal having the common acoustic component which appears earliest in phase, by virtue of such acoustic signal's corresponding location in the wellbore, determines the location in the wellbore of likely fluid ingress. The acoustic sensor may be a fiber optic cable extending substantially the length of the wellbore, or alternatively a plurality of microphones situated at various locations along the wellbore.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.