Cidra Corporation

Baker Hughes Corporation

Other

Weatherford/lamb, Inc.

Arthur D Hay

Alan D Kersey

Phillip E Pruett

Volker Krueger

Jian-Qun Wu

Mike H Johnson

James R Dunphy

Robert J Maron

Guy A Daigle

Peter C Ogle

F Kevin Didden

Mark R Fernald

Michael A Davis

Timothy J Bailey

Allen R Davis

Robert F Robinson

Kevin F Didden

An apparatus and method for determining the position of a hydraulically actuated sliding sleeve valve in real time is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a reference sensor and a position sensor, both of which constitute fiber optic windings wound around the hydraulic fluid cavity used to activate the sleeve. The sensors measure the pressure exerted by the hydraulic fluid in the cavity, with the reference sensor circumferentially lengthening to create an optical time delay indicative of the base line pressure of the hydraulic fluid. As the sleeve moves, the position sensor becomes increasingly exposed to the hydraulic fluid pressure and also begins to experience a time delay, which can be compared to the reference sensor's time delay to determine sleeve position.

Fiber optic based method and system for determining and controlling position of a sliding sleeve valve

A coring apparatus permitting the taking of a non-rotating core sample and testing of same, as by NMR, prior to breakage and ejection from the apparatus. A core barrel is suspended from a rotating outer sleeve by one or more bearing assemblies which permit the core barrel to remain stationary during rotation of the sleeve with attached core bit for cutting the core. A core test device is fixed with respect to the core barrel on the outside thereof to test the core as it proceeds through the barrel. The apparatus optionally includes a directional detecting device such as an inclinometer and a compact set of circumferentially-spaced steering arms for changing the direction of the apparatus during coring.

Method of extracting and testing a core from a subterranean formation

A quartz sensing system includes a quartz sensor, an electromechanical converter, an optical source, an optical fiber and a signal processor. The quartz sensor responds to a pressure, and further responds to an electrical power signal, for providing a quartz sensor electrical signal containing information about the pressure. The electromechanical converter responds to the quartz sensor signal, for providing an electromechanical converter force containing information about the sensed voltage or current signal. The optical source for provides an optical source signal. The optical fiber responds to the electromechanical converter force, for changing an optical parameter or characteristic of the optical source signal depending on the change in length of the optical fiber and providing an electromechanical converter optical signal containing information about the electromechanical converter force. The signal processor responds to the electromechanical converter optical signal, for providing a signal processor signal containing information about the pressure. In one embodiment, the electromechanical converter includes a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer that responds to the quartz sensor signal, for providing an piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer force containing information about the quartz sensor signal. In another embodiment, the electromechanical converter includes an acoustic transducer and a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer. The acoustic transducer responds to the quartz sensor signal, for providing an acoustic transducer wave containing information about the quartz sensor signal. The piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer responds to the acoustic transducer wave, for providing a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer force containing information about the acoustic transducer wave.

Sensing systems using quartz sensors and fiber optics

A well assembly for extracting production fluids from at least one production zone of at least one well includes a production pipe for transporting fluid downstream to a surface, a packer for defining the production zone, and a fiber optic sensor package disposed substantially adjacent to a downstream side of the packer. The fiber optic sensor package measures parameters of the production fluid and communicates these parameters to the surface to determine composition of the production fluid entering the production pipe through each production zone. The production pipe has a zone opening for allowing the production fluid to enter the production pipe and a control valve for controlling the amount of production fluid flowing downstream from each production zone. The production pipe control valve is adjusted to optimize fluid production from the particular production zone of the well based on fluid parameters measured by the fiber optic sensor package.

Apparatus for optimizing production of multi-phase fluid

A fiber optic Bragg grating pressure sensor particularly suited for measuring ambient pressure of a fluid includes a pressuring detecting device,such as a glass element whose elastic deformation is proportional to applied pressure. An optical fiber,with an integral first grating,is wrapped at least once around the device and has at least a portion of its length fused to the device,such that elastic deformation of the device,generates a corresponding axial strain in the fiber,and/or the grating,and thus a corresponding change of the fiber length and/or characteristic reflectance wavelength of the grating,. A second grating,may be formed near the pressure detecting device,so as to sense ambient temperature but not be affected by deformation of the device,for temperature compensation. Also, the fiber,may have more than one grating or be doped at least between a pair of gratings,, to form a fiber laser or a DFB fiber laser which lasing wavelength changes with changing pressure.

Fiber optic bragg grating pressure sensor

Distributed selectable fiber optic sensing system include a plurality of fiber grating sensors,connected to an optical fiber,and installed in an oil/gas well,and an instrumentation box,at the surface which selects which of the sensors,to activate, or provide output data from to a display,or to a remote link,such as the internet. The box,has a transceiver/converter,which provides a source optical signal,and receives a return optical signal,and which converts the return signal,to a signal indicative of the parameters being measured by the sensors,. A sensor selection signal is provided from the remote link,the keyboard,to the converter,which is indicative of which of the sensors,to be selected to provide output data for. The end user only pays for the sensors,that are selected. Each of the sensors,may be similar to any fiber optic grating-based sensor that measures one or more parameters, such as pressure, temperature, liquid fraction, flow, acoustic, seismic, resistivity, corrosion, pipe wall build-up, or other parameters.

Distributed selectable latent fiber optic sensors

The invention provides a select trigger or detonation system featuring an optical source, an optical fiber, one or more optical couplers and one or more light trigger or detonation devices. The an optical source provides an optical signal containing information about triggering or detonating a respective device. The optical fiber has one or more fiber Bragg Gratings for providing one or more fiber Bragg Grating optical trigger or detonation signals, each having a respective optical trigger or detonation wavelength. The one or more optical couplers each respond to the one or more fiber Bragg Grating optical trigger or detonation signals depending on the respective optical trigger or detonation wavelength, for providing a respective coupled fiber Bragg Grating optical trigger or detonation signal. The one or more light trigger or detonation devices each respond to the respective coupled fiber Bragg Grating optical trigger or detonation signals, for triggering or detonating the respective device, which may detonating an explosive charge or triggering any other control device to be actuated. In one embodiment, the one or more optical couplers may include a circulation coupler or a directional coupler. The system may also be used as a monitoring system.

Select trigger and detonation system using an optical fiber

A pressure transducer using as a component for changing shape in response to a change in the pressure being measured a composite elongated body, with specially arranged reinforcing fibers. Such a pressure transducer can use various means for sensing the change in shape of the elongated body, including an optical fiber affixed to the elongated body so as to itself change in length in response to a change in pressure, and having a Bragg grating as part of the optical fiber, with the Bragg grating positioned and arranged so as to convey, in response to an optical signal, information about the change in shape of the elongated body. The elongated body is provided with at least one pair of contra-helically wound reinforcing fibers, which may even be bi-axially braided, and are wound either to amplify the effect of pressure acting on the elongated body or to insulate the elongated body from the effects of pressure and other sources of stress. The reinforcing fibers are embedded in a resin, and in some applications more than one pair of contra-helically wound reinforcing fibers are used, so that the composite body consists of more than one layer of reinforcing fibers. The resulting elongated body is a non-isotropic material and can be designed to have a Poisson's ratio significantly greater than &frac12;, the maximum possible Poisson's ratio for an isotropic material, providing an enhanced axial strain accompanying any radial or circumferential strain. The elongated body can also be designed to have a small Poisson's ratio by using an inner layer and outer layer of contra-helical windings where the reinforcing fibers of the two layers intersect at different angles.

Composite form as a component for a pressure transducer

Steering device for bottomhole drilling assemblies

Lengths of coiled tubing have sensor carrier elements mounted therebetween such that a plurality of sensor carrier elements are positioned along a length of coiled tubing. Each sensor carrier element carriers a sensor implemented with one or more intrinsic fiber optic sensor elements positioned therein for measuring one or more parameters in an environment. The intrinsic fiber optic sensor elements are multiplexed on one or more optical fibers along the length of the coiled tubing thereby forming a length of coiled tubing having a plurality of spaced apart sensors. The optical fiber or fibers positioned along the length of the coiled tubing are positioned in a fiber carrier which protects the fiber or fibers from the harsh environment. The fiber carrier may be interconnected to each of the sensors to isolate the fibers from the harsh environment. Each sensor carrier element provides the desired transmission of environmental conditions to the sensor carried therein, such as fluid communication, heat transmission, acoustic signal transmission, etc., such that the sensor contained in the sensor carrier element is responsive to a parameter of interest. A plurality of sensors may be serially connected to one another for distributed sensing of one or more parameters at multiple locations along the length of the coiled tubing. The sensor carrier elements are interconnected to the coiled tubing to provide a reliable and secure seal therebetween. The sensor carrier elements are configured to maintain the structural integrity of the coiled tubing while at the same time carrying a sensor implemented with an intrinsic fiber optic sensor element. The sensor carrier elements may be interconnected to the coiled tubing by press fit engagement, welding, fusion, and/or any other suitable method for providing a secure connection between the coiled tubing and the sensor carrier elements.

Coiled tubing sensor system for delivery of distributed multiplexed

A fiber optic sensor includes a sensor element responsive to a property or condition of a material, such a resistivity, capacitance, inductance, frequency, etc., for providing an output voltage signal that is dependent upon the property or condition of the material. The sensor further includes an optical-to-electrical conversion element, such as a photo detector or a solar cell, that converts an optical signal (photo detector driving optical signal) carried by an optical fiber into an electrical signal. The electrical signal is applied to the sensor element, and in response, the sensor element provides the output electrical signal. The output electrical signal is applied to a measurement device, such as a piezoelectric element, having at least one dimension that varies with changes in the output electrical signal. An optical strain sensor, such as a Bragg grating or Fabry Perot interferometer, is mounted to the measurement device such that changes in the dimension of the measurement device causes changes in the strain of the optical strain sensor. These changes in strain are detected and related to the property or condition of the material. The fiber optic sensor is particularly useful as a resistivity sensor for measuring the resistivity of a fluid. For example, the resistivity of a fluid mixture of oil and water can be measured for determining the relative water and oil content in the fluid mixture. In this configuration, the sensor element includes a pair of spaced apart conductive elements. The output electrical power from the photo detector is applied to the conductive elements and the fluid is passed between the conductive elements. The output voltage from the conductive elements varies in relation to the resistivity of the fluid sample between the conductive elements.

Fiber optic sensing system

The present invention features an apparatus for detecting a shoulder load between two components in a drill string, comprising a pin connection, a box connection and a washer for sensing tensioning strain force therebetween. The pin connection has coupling means, and the box connection has corresponding coupling means for coupling to the pin connection to form a drill string. The washer is arranged between the pin connection and the box connection. The washer has embedded fiber optic Bragg Grating sensors that respond to a compressive strain shoulder load force when the pin connection is coupled to the box connection, and further responds to a light signal, for providing a compressive strain shoulder load force light signal containing information about a sensed compressive strain shoulder load force between the pin connection and the box connection in the drill string. The fiber optic Bragg Grating sensor may include either a Bragg Grating single point sensor, multiple Bragg Gratings, or a lasing element formed with pairs of multiple Bragg Gratings.

Washer having fiber optic Bragg Grating sensors for sensing a shoulder

Downhole core sampling and testing apparatus

The present invention features an apparatus that provides an indication of tensioning strain when it is tensioned with respect to a workpiece, comprising either a bolt, stud or fastener together with an embedded fiber optic Bragg Grating sensor. For example, the bolt has a head at one end, threads at the other end and a central bore with a bore wall drilled into at least one end thereof. The bolt responds to a tensioning force applied on the head of the bolt, for providing a tensioning strain force applied inwardly on the wall of the central bore. The fiber optic Bragg Grating sensor is arranged inside the central bore of the bolt and bonded, for example by epoxy, to the central bore wall. The fiber optic Bragg Grating sensor responds to the tensioning strain force, and further responds to a light signal, for providing a fiber optic Bragg Grating sensor light signal containing information about a sensed tensioning strain force on the bolt when the threads are tensioned to the workpiece.

Bolt, stud or fastener having an embedded fiber optic Bragg Grating

The present invention features an apparatus comprising a packer means and a packer pressure sensing means. The packer means inflates to isolate zones in a well, such as an oil well or a gas well. The packer means responds to a material for inflating and providing a packer inflation pressure. The packer pressure sensing means responds to the packer inflation pressure, for providing a sensed packer inflation pressure signal containing information about a sensed packer inflation pressure when the packer is inflated to isolate zones in the oil or gas well. The packer pressure sensing means may include an internal fiber optic Bragg Grating sensor arranged inside the packer means, for providing the sensed internal packer inflation pressure signal. The packer pressure sensing means may also include an external fiber optic Bragg Grating sensor arranged outside the packer means, for providing the sensed external packer inflation pressure signal. The internal fiber optic Bragg Grating sensor and the external fiber optic Bragg Grating sensor may be either a Bragg Grating point sensor, multiple Bragg Gratings, or a lasing element formed with a pair or pairs of multiple Bragg Gratings.

Growing community of inventors

Cheshire, CT, United States of America

Arthur D Hay