Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Srinivasan Jagannathan

Yinghui Lu

Avinash Vinayak Taware

Batakrishna Mandal

Nam Nguyen

Yi Yang Ang

Darren Philip Walters

Freeman Hill

Chung Lung Chang

Rebecca Corina Jachmann

Mark Vincent Collins

Yibing Zheng

Oluwatosin Ogundare

David Bennett

Muralidhar Seshadri

Terry Bickley

Ratheen Chaturvedi

Aurel Adrian Popoviciu

Pranab Narayan Jha

Jonathan Ben Freund

David B Bennett

Acoustic characterization and mapping of flow from a perforation zone of a well. As a wireline probe containing acoustic sensors moves through the well, the acoustic sensors record acoustic pressure measurements of flow for each perforation in the well casing. The acoustic data is recorded and compiled into a three-dimensional flow model showing flow of hydrocarbons within and/or out of perforation tunnels. The three-dimensional flow models generated can be combined with historical data to form four-dimensional models illustrating flow over time, and both the three and four-dimensional models can be used to determine effectiveness of perforation charges as well as future flow from the well.

System and method for estimation and prediction of production rate of a well via geometric mapping of a perforation zone using a three-dimensional acoustic array

Pressure-inducing devices and pressure transducers can be used to detect and quantify liquid pools in hydrocarbon fluid pipelines. Pressure fluctuations can be detected by a pressure transducer, where the pressure fluctuations are the response of a pressure-inducing device outputting a pressure signal in a pipe carrying hydrocarbons. Variation in a pipe diameter caused by pooling or deposition can be estimated using an inverse model. The pooling or depositions can be classified by applying a machine-learning model to the pressure fluctuations. The variation in pipe diameter can be converted to an equivalent liquid volume for pooling locations. A pooling or deposition location and volume can be output and used for determining an action on the pipe to remove the pooling or deposition.

Detecting and quantifying liquid pools in hydrocarbon fluid pipelines

The subject technology relates to synthetic aperture to image leaks and sound sources. Other methods and systems are also disclosed. The subject technology includes drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The subject technology includes logging the wellbore using the stationary acoustic sensor and the moving acoustic sensor of the logging tool to obtain logged measurements, and obtaining an actual acoustic signal associated with a leak source in the wellbore using logged measurement data. The subject technology also includes determining a synthetic acoustic signal indicating an estimated leak source in the wellbore, and determining a correlation between the synthetic acoustic signal and the actual acoustic signal. The subject technology also includes generating a probability map from the determined correlation, in which the probability map indicates a likelihood of the leak source being located at a given location in the wellbore based on the probability map.

Synthetic aperture to image leaks and sound sources

A method is provided for non-intrusively determining cross-sectional variation of a fluidic channel. The method includes creating a pressure pulse in a fluidic channel using a hammer to strike an external surface of a fluidic channel. The method also includes sensing, by one or more sensors, reflections of the pressure pulse; and obtaining, from the one or more sensors, a measured pressure profile based on the sensed reflections of the pressure pulse. A forward model of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel is generated based on a baseline simulation. Using the forward model, a simulated pressure profile is generated. Using the measured pressure profile and the simulated pressure profile, an error is determined. When the error is outside a predetermined threshold, the forward model is updated based on the error. An estimate of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel based on the forward model is displayed.

Method and system for non-intrusively inspecting a fluidic channel

A method for detecting an irregularity within a fluidic channel, the method including inducing a pressure pulse within a fluidic channel, the pressure pulse resulting in a pressure fluctuation; detecting the pressure fluctuation at a predetermined location within the fluidic channel; determining a measured pressure profile based on the detected pressure fluctuation; providing a baseline pressure profile relating to a pressure within an unaltered fluidic channel; applying an algorithm to the baseline pressure profile and the measured pressure profile; and outputting an irregularity location and an irregularity effect based on the algorithm.

Method and system for detecting and quantifying irregularities in a fluidic channel

Dynamic pressure wave propagation can be used in pipelines to provide information about the available, unobstructed diameter and any partial or complete blockages in the pipeline. Based on this information, a system can automatically determine optimal times to launch pipeline inspection gauges for cleaning or other purposes. A pipeline inspection gauge is sometimes referred to as a pig. Certain aspects and features include a system that can launch pigs as needed automatically by activating an automatic multiple pig launcher at appropriate times.

Automated pipeline maintenance using multiple pigs over time

The subject technology relates to a process by which data from two downhole loggers (e.g., acoustic transducers), one at each end of a pipeline, can be used to improve the resolution of a pressure pulse system, even for slow valve operating times. For example, the process of the subject technology uses data from two transducers (e.g., acoustic transducers), instead of one transducer typically employed in traditional approaches, thereby leading to increased resolution of the deposit location and thickness. By improving the deposition estimation resolution, locating smaller deposits in a pipeline more accurately can be realized. The improved resolution in deposition estimation computations supports better decision making by providing more detailed measurement and quantification data for use in resolution of deposition buildup.

Pipeline deposition imaging

A passive array of acoustic sensors capture acoustic signals produced by sand movement. The array tool is deployed downhole where it passively listens for acoustic energy generated by sand movement in the well. Once acoustic signals are acquired, model-based frameworks are used to extract single and multiple sensor features from the acoustic signals. The extracted features are used as signatures to detect or classify the production of sand.

Wellbore sand detection using passive acoustic array

The subject technology relates to estimation of flow rates using acoustics in a subterranean borehole and/or formation. Other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. The subject technology includes drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The subject technology includes logging the wellbore using an acoustic sensing tool to obtain logged measurements, and obtaining acoustic pressure data associated with a leak source in the wellbore using the logged measurements. The subject technology also includes determining a flow rate (volumetric for fluid-based or mass for gas-based) of the leak source from the acoustic pressure data, and determining an area of the leak source from the determined flow rate. The subject technology also includes generating and providing, for display, a representation of the leak source using the flow rate and the area of the leak source.

Estimation of flow rates using acoustics in a subterranean borehole and/or formation

A method for operation of an acoustic tool, having a plurality of acoustic sensors, may include receiving acoustic waves from an acoustic source located at a depth in a borehole. A selected location (e.g., central location) of the acoustic sensor array may be positioned substantially at the depth of the acoustic source based on a symmetricity of an upper and lower section of a frequency-wavenumber (f-k) transform pattern with respect to a selected wavenumber. A radial distance from the acoustic source to the acoustic tool may be determined based on a theoretical f-k transform pattern used as a mask to filter measured data in the f-k domain.

Downhole acoustic source localization

Methods and systems for frequency-dependent fluid attenuation measurement are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods comprise: generating one or more reference acoustic signals within a reference fluid; receiving one or more reference acoustic signal reflections; determining a frequency-dependent response function based, at least in part, on the one or more reference acoustic signal reflections; generating one or more sample acoustic signals within a sample fluid; receiving one or more sample acoustic signal reflections; and determining a frequency-dependent attenuation function of the sample fluid based, at least in part, on the one or more sample acoustic signal reflections and the frequency-dependent response function.

Measuring frequency-dependent acoustic attenuation

A method including selecting a forward model based on a modeled well structure and including a single modeled acoustic source located in a modeled wellbore and a plurality of modeled acoustic sensors located in a modeled source area, simulating an acoustic signal generated by the single modeled acoustic source and received by each modeled acoustic sensor, calculating phases of the simulated acoustic signals received at each modeled acoustic sensor, obtaining with a principle of reciprocity a plurality of modeled acoustic sources in the modeled source area and a single modeled acoustic sensor in the modeled wellbore, calculating phase delays of the simulated acoustic signals between each modeled acoustic source and the single modeled acoustic sensor, detecting acoustic signals generated by a flow of fluid using acoustic sensors in a wellbore, and processing the acoustic signals using the phase delays to generate a flow likelihood map.

Methods to image acoustic sources in wellbores

Methods for evaluating cement bonding in a wellbore are provided. An example method for determining cement impedance includes generating one or more acoustic signals within a wellbore comprising a borehole fluid, a casing, and a cement layer. One or more reflections of the acoustic signals may be received from at least a portion of the wellbore, wherein each of the one or more reflections comprises an initial reflection portion and a resonance portion. At least one of the initial reflection portion and the resonance portion may be modified based, at least in part, on an attenuation response of the borehole fluid. An impedance of the cement layer may be determined by analyzing at least one of the modified initial reflection portion and the modified resonance portion.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Srinivasan Jagannathan