Method and system for determining relative depth of an acoustic event within a wellbore
US9605537B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 6, 2012 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B47/14
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed at a method and system for determining relative depth of an acoustic event within a wellbore. The method includes obtaining two acoustic signals at two different and known depths in the wellbore, in which each of the acoustic signals includes the acoustic event; dividing each of the acoustic signals into windows; determining cross-correlations of pairs of the windows, in which each of the pairs includes one window from one of the acoustic signals and another window from the other of the acoustic signals that at least partially overlap each other in time; and determining the relative depth of the acoustic event relative to the two known depths from the cross-correlations. The acoustic event may represent, for example, fluid flowing from formation into the wellbore (or vice-versa) or fluid flowing across any casing or tubing located within the wellbore.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.