Exxonmobil Technology and Engineering Company

Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Kenneth W Desmond

Gary L Hunter

Limin Song

Mark M Disko

Yibing Zhang

Scott William Clawson

Peter A Gordon

Brent D Wheelock

Xiaohua Yi

Jeff H Moss

Timothy F Kinn

Methods and systems for measuring cluster efficiency for stages of wellbores are provided herein. One method includes selecting a frequency band for generating broadband tube waves within the fluid column of the wellbore and generating the broadband tube waves within the fluid column of the wellbore using a pressure pulse generator that is hydraulically coupled to the wellbore. The method also includes recording data corresponding to the broadband tube waves and reflected broadband tube waves using pressure receivers that are hydraulically coupled to the wellbore. The pressure receivers are arranged into arrays with two or more pressure receivers in each array. The data recorded by the pressure receivers relate to characteristics of reflectors (including perforation cluster/fracture interfaces) within the wellbore. The method further includes processing the recorded data using interferometry and performing full waveform inversion(s) on the processed data to determine frequency-dependent, complex-valued reflection coefficients at each perforation cluster/fracture interface.

Systems and methods for measuring cluster efficiency using broadband tube waves

Provided herein are improved methods for estimating the flow velocity of a fluid in a vessel. Systems and methods are provided herein related to making and/or refining velocity measurements for flowing fluids, both single and multi-phase fluids, in vessels, such as pipes or conduits, utilizing contrast media property agent variations. In one aspect, this disclosure provides a method of determining a flow velocity of a fluid flow in a vessel including: providing a fluid flow having contrast media, the contrast media having a contrast media property variation; providing a detectable signal corresponding to the contrast media property variation; collecting the detectable signal at an upstream receiver to produce a first received signal; collecting the detectable signal at a downstream receiver to produce a second received signal, the downstream receiver being located downstream of the upstream receiver at a distance (L); filtering the first received signal and the second received signal through a contrast media variant filter to produce a first filtered signal and a second filtered signal; cross-correlating the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal to determine a time shift (&#x394;t) between the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal; and estimating the velocity of the fluid flow using this relationship vflow=L/&#x394;t.

Estimates of flow velocity with controlled spatio-temporal variations in contrast media properties

Systems and methods are provided for estimating the flow velocity of a multi-phase flow in a pipe using injected microbubbles in combination with ultrasonic signals produced by transducers external to the pipe. The transducers can be located so that one transducer/receiver pair is downstream from a second pair by a separation distance. The receivers can preferably be located in alignment with the transducers for receiving a desirable amount of signal emitted from microbubbles that are excited by absorption of energy from a signal generated by a transducer. The frequency of the signal emitted by the microbubbles can correspond to a harmonic and/or sub-harmonic of the frequency of the signal generated by the transducer. In order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, frequencies corresponding to a primary frequency emitted by a transducer can be filtered out.

Estimating flow velocity by harmonic excitation of injected microbubbles

A method and system are described for wirelessly communicating along tubular members. The method includes determining, constructing and installing a communication network, which communicates using one or more communication coupling devices along one or more tubular members. The communication network is used to perform operations for a system, such as hydrocarbon operations, which may involve hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production.

Method and system for performing wireless ultrasonic communications along tubular members

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Nazareth, PA, United States of America

Kenneth W Desmond