Institut Francais Du Pe'trole

Other

Compagnie Generale De Geophysique

Institut Francais Du Petrole, Des Carburants Et Lubrifiants Et

Institut Francais Du Petrole & Compagnie Generale De Geophysique

Gaz De France

Elf France

Institute Francais Du Petrole

Institut Francais Du Petrole, Des Carburants Et Lubrifiants

Institut Francias Du Petrole

Vinci Technologies

Ateliers Mecaniques De Saint Gaudens 'a.m.g.'

Companie General De Geophysique

Jean Laurent

Charles Naville

Jacques Cholet

Pascal Dedole

Pierre Magneville

Jacques Cretin

Georges Constantinou

Jean Czernichow

Yves R Ollivier

Claude Duconge

Christian Wittrisch

Claude Beauducel

Patrick Meynier

Bernard Torck

Philippe J Staron

Pierre Amigues

Pierre-Claude Layotte

Henri Grangette

Yves Glaize

Guy Pignard

Jean-Francois Therond

Pascal Tierce

Pierre Grolet

Andre James

Philippe Guerendel

Marc Bernard

Rene Paterna

Frederic Huguet

Fred Fitoussi

Noel Etourmy

Francois Villain

Bernard Damotte

Georges Tillon

Andre Fabre

A VSP or reversed VSP type seismic prospecting method according to the invention allows disturbances contained in seismic recordings produced by tube waves propagating along wells and refracted in zones close to the surface to be minimized. The method disperses a gas under pressure, having preferably a high compressibility, capable of absorbing these tube waves. The gas may be generated by an explosive chemical reaction set off in situ, at a certain depth of the well (which may constitute the seismic wave source). The method has an application for seismic prospecting or drilling noise monitoring.

Seismic prospecting method and device in wells allowing guided waves filtering

Hydrophone with two unsymmetrically connected sensitive elements. The hydrophone comprises a detection unit including a closed housing (,) delimited by two cups (,) resting against each other, each one being provided with a flexible diaphragm (,) and at least two piezoelectric sensitive elements (,) associated each with electrodes (,), one outside the housing, the other inside the housing. The two sensitive elements are preferably different in size, notably with different diameters. Electrodes (,) of the sensitive elements that are not in contact with cups (,) are electrically interconnected and the electrodes in contact with cups (,) are also electrically interconnected. Each detection unit is preferably included in a protective assembly (not shown). The hydrophone can be used for marine seismic monitoring or prospecting for example.

Hydrophone for acoustic or seismic wave reception

The invention is a method and device for permanent seismic monitoring of an underground formation by means of one or more seismic emission-reception sets comprising a source (S) such as a vibrator and elastic wave receivers (R,, R,, . . . , Rn) such as geophones and/or hydrophones. A well (W) is drilled into the ground. Seismic receivers (R,to Rn) are lowered therein and coupled with the surrounding formation. The section of the well is widened in the upper part thereof so as to form a cavity (P) against whose walls the seismic source (S) is pressed. Receivers (R) and source (S) are connected to an outside signal control and acquisition station (ST). The wells (W) can be exploration wells that are drilled for example around wells intended for production of reservoirs containing fluids, or mixed exploration and production wells. Each source can also be coupled with a cavity next to the well. The operations intended for setting of these equipments are relatively simple and the site coverage area of the various wells is reduced, which facilitates their integration in reservoir production sites. The method and device can be applied for monitoring of oil-bearing reservoirs or of gas storage reservoirs.

Method and device intended for permanent monitoring of an underground formation

A vibration detector is disclosed. The vibration includes a ring (2) closed at its opposite ends by two ring ends (3, 4), that is externally covered with a sheath (11) made from an elastic material transparent to vibrations, two supporting plates (5) with a flexible central part (6) and a reinforced peripheral part (7) resting on the two ring ends. An inner cavity (8) between the two plates (5) is filled with liquid communicating through ports (10) and sheath (11) with the outside environment. Two sensitive elements (9) such as piezoelectric disks for example are fastened to the flexible central parts (6) on their faces of the interior of the cavity (8). The sensitive elements (9) are well protected from the outside environment and their sensitivity is not substantially influenced by variations in the static pressure. The invention has an application for detection of acoustic or seismic waves.

Vibration detector

The hydrophone according to the invention comprises at least one detection unit (1) comprising a casing made up of two cups (2a, 2b) resting on each other by a peripheral rim (3), each one of them being provided with a flexible central part, and a sensitive element (4) associated with electrodes, that is fastened to the central part of the cups, on the outer face thereof, a hollowed flat centering element (6) made of a deformable material, into which at least one casing is fitted, intended to be inserted into a tube (9) along an axial plane thereof, this centering element being provided for example with an inner slot (8) for fitting in the peripheral rim of the two cups (2a, 2b) of the casing, and a sealed protective coating (11) sheathing detection unit (1), and a part of the inner face of tube (9). Once the centering element is introduced in the tube, the substance forming the coating is injected into a thin space provided around the centering element by a two-legged moulding piece (13a, 13b) that is inserted into the tube. The hydrophone can be used in geophysical prospecting or subsea listening for example.

Hydrophone and process for manufacturing it

Method and device for the long-term seismic monitoring of an underground

Electroacoustic transducer with mechanical impedance transformer

Process and device for making decorated woven-knitted textile backing

The mobile seismic system according to the invention is made up by interconnecting reception sections (T1) and of anchoring sections (T2), and possibly emission sections, the assembly being suspended in the well by means of an electro-carrying cable (3). The first sections (T1), which are filled with liquid, are delimited at least partly by a wall transparent to acoustic waves. They contain each one or several hydrophones and an electronic module of acquisition of the signals picked up. The second sections (T2) comprise a body provided with retractable anchoring means (13) and with motor means, either autonomous, or connected, by a hydraulic line running along the reception system, to common motor means located preferably in a lower section so as to be used as a ballast weight. The reception system may be continuous or made up of several parts connected to each other by electric or electro-hydraulic linking means. The system is suitable for seismic prospecting in wells for example.

Mobile seismic system of great length for wells

The invention centralizes data acquired through active or passive monitoring equipments installed permanently in contact with a geologic formation and notably in wells, under the control of one or several permanent stations (PCL) comprising microcomputers. The signals collected by these stations including spontaneous or induced seismic signals, parameters measured by condition sensors, etc., are converted and transferred onto a communication network managed by a server. The signals are translated into a common format more easily accessible for a seismic laboratory taking part in the processing of the data collected by the various monitoring equipments.

System of acquistion and centralization of data obtained through a

The seismic source (5) according to the invention is associated with a drill string (1) linking a drill bit to a surface installation close to the bit. It comprises a closed chamber (6) fastened inside a drill cellar (4) of the drill string. The section thereof is smaller than the inner section of the drill string, so as to allow free circulation of the drilling fluid. A reactive mass (8) may move within this chamber (6) and along the axis of drill string (1). Hydraulic or electro-mechanical means allow a strong alternating force of controlled frequency and duration to be applied to this mass. The energy necessary to the operating thereof is taken from the fluid current. This source requires no substantial modification in the usual drilling equipments. Drilling a well and performing seismic measurings may be achieved at the same time by means of the source by arranging sensors at the surface and/or in one or several adjacent wells.

Seismic well source

Electric interconnecting cables fitted with sealed electric connectors resistant to pressure are most often used to connect electrically together various equipments (1) distant from one another and immersed in a conducting liquid such as may be encountered in wellbores. To avoid this relatively costly solution, a process is proposed, wherein the various equipments (1) are linked together through sealed and empty hydraulic pipes or cables (22), so as to form a common space insulated from the external environment, and the electric linking conductors (25) are passed inside the hydraulic cable circuit constituted thereby.

Process and device for the electrical interconnecting of equipments such

A casing is lowered in a well for production of an underground petroleum deposit. The casing includes a number of tubular sections connected successively to each other by special tubular connectors, at least certain of these being modified, and the casing being cemented in position when installed in the well. These special connectors include housings for one or several sensors and other housings, if necessary, for the electronic acquisition or transmission circuits. The different connectors for the device are interconnected by cables and to an installation on the surface by a multi-line cable for the electrical supply to the electronic modules and transmission of the data acquired. This arrangement permits prewiring of the different connectors, thus simplifying the positioning of the device during operations for equipping the wells.

Device for monitoring a deposit for a production well

A method of installing a reception device in a cased well at an optimum depth for surveying a formation under production or a localized part thereof and a source of acoustic waves at the surface or in a well. A placing or setting of the device is achieved by associating a plurality of acoustic wave reception units with a tubing lowered into the well and by applying the respective units against the pipe casing of the well by arms and springs or by including the reception units in sondes which are mechanically uncoupled from the tubing during the stages of use, with the reception device being easily moved by displacing the tubing during, for example, interruptions in the production of effluents.

Method and equipment for acoustic wave prospecting in producing wells

A device is provided for anchoring a probe in a well by remote control spreading, from the surface, of at least one anchorage arm kept in a closed position by a retractable bolt engaged in a rod connected to the anchorage arm by links. The external pressure is exerted permanently on the bolt and the bolt is fast with a head movable in a cavity. A pressure is applied to the head which is proportional to the external pressure which holds the bolt locked in the rod or a much lower pressure resulting in release of the bolt.

Device for anchoring a probe in a well by spreading mobile anchorage arms

Growing community of inventors

Orgeval, France

Jean Laurent