Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Yinghui Lu

Avinash Vinayak Taware

Nam Nguyen

Yi Yang Ang

Srinivasan Jagannathan

Paris Smaragdis

Daniel Viassolo

David Alan Welsh

Rebecca Corina Jachmann

Hua Xia

Yibing Zheng

Tatiana Gilstrap

Srinivasan Jagannanthan

Clifford Lloyd Macklin

Chung Lung Chang

Batakrishna Mandal

John L Maida

Sean Gregory Thomas

Lizheng Zhang

Arthur Cheng

Mark Vincent Collins

John Philip Granville

Joni Polili Lie

Muralidhar Seshadri

Darren Philip Walters

Zhijuan Zhang

Joni Lie

Freeman Hill

Nugroho Perhatianto

Rob Epstein

Jonathan Ben Freund

The disclosed embodiments include a method of downhole leak detection. The method of downhole leak detection includes obtaining physical signals detected by at least one physical sensor traveling along a wellbore. Additionally, the method includes detecting correlated sequences from the physical signals and constructing a covariance matrix based on the correlated sequences. The method also includes computing a spatial spectrum indicative of a location of a leak based on the covariance matrix.

Systems and methods to utilize sensors to provide spatial resolution in downhole leak detection

Disclosed are systems and methods for processing broadband acoustic signals acquired by a plurality of acoustic sensors, using an array-signal-processing technique to compute fused-signal maps in the frequency domain for a plurality of frequency bins. In accordance with various embodiments, the fused-signal maps are combined across the frequency bins, with respective weightings that are based on eigenvalues of covariance matrices computed for the plurality of frequency bins. The combined maps can be used to locate an acoustic source in a wellbore.

Frequency weighting in broadband acoustic beamforming

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

Disclosed are acoustic logging systems and methods that involve correlating broadband acoustic signals acquired by a plurality of acoustic sensors at multiple depths within a wellbore to compute covariance matrices and their eigenvalues in the frequency domain for a plurality of frequency bins. In accordance with various embodiments, acoustic sources are detected and located based on the eigenvalues viewed as a function of depth and frequency.

Leak localization using acoustic-signal correlations

Disclosed are tools, systems, and methods for detecting one or more underground acoustic sources and localizing them in depth and radial distance from a wellbore, for example, for the purpose of finding underground fluid flows, such as may result from leaks in the well barriers. In various embodiments, acoustic-source detection and localization are accomplished with an array of at least three acoustic sensors disposed in the wellbore, in conjunction with array signal processing.

Acoustic array signal processing for flow detection

Described herein are tools, systems, and methods for detecting, classifying, and/or quantifying underground fluid flows based on acoustic signals emanating therefrom, using a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed in the wellbore in conjunction with array signal processing and systematic feature-based classification and estimation methods.

Acoustic downhole leak classification and quantification

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

Various apparatus or methods are arranged to operate a tool in a wellbore, where the tool has a number of acoustic sensors. Scanning images obtained by the tool sensors along the borehole can be combined to increase the contrast of leak location with respect to background noise. A sequence of beamformed images, generated from signals captured by the tool as it moves over a range of depths of the wellbore, can be acquired. Each beamformed image may overlap at least one other beamformed image of the sequence. The beamformed images can be processed and the processed beamformed images can be combined, forming a stitched image. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods operable in providing stitched images can operate in a variety of applications.

Stitching methods to enhance beamforming results

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

An example method may include selecting a proposed pulse. A minimum phase wavelet may be generated based, at least in part, on the proposed pulse. A pulse signal within a wellbore may be generated based, at least in part, on the minimum phase wavelet. An echo signal corresponding to the pulse signal from at least a portion of the wellbore may be received, wherein the echo signal is indicative of a wellbore property.

Real-time adaptive minimum phase wavelet generation for downhole tools

The acoustic energy induced by a transmitter module of an acoustic logging tool is dependent on several factors. In some implementations, the induced acoustic energy is dependent on the electromagnetic energy input into the transmitter module, the response behavior of the transmitter module, and the operating conditions of the transmitter module. Variation in one or more of these factors can result in a corresponding variation in the induced acoustic. Thus, a desired acoustic signal can be produced by applying an appropriately selected input signal to the transmitter module, while accounting for other factors that influence the output of the transmitter module.

Control of acoustic transmitters for downhole measurement or logging

The disclosed embodiments include leak detection systems and methods of downhole leak detection. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining physical signals measured by at least one physical sensor traveling along a wellbore. The method also includes performing a frame decomposition operation on the physical signals of a first of the at least one the physical sensor to obtain a plurality of virtual signals associated with an array of virtual sensors, each virtual sensor of the array of virtual sensors being located at a virtual distance relative to the first physical sensor, the virtual distance corresponding to a physical distance. The method further includes synchronizing the virtual signals of the array of virtual sensors. The method further includes computing a spatial spectrum indicative of a location of a leak based on the synchronized virtual signals.

Systems and methods to utilize a sensor to provide spatial resolution in downhole leak detection

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for taking acoustic/ultrasonic wave measurements of a wellbore using a downhole tool equipped with microelectromechanical (MEM) transducers are provided. The MEM transducers may include a plurality of MEM transmitters (e.g., MEM speakers) and a plurality of separate MEM receivers (e.g., MEM microphones). These MEM transducers may be disposed in arrays proximate an outer surface of the downhole tool to collect acoustic/ultrasonic wave measurements of the full circumference of a wellbore. Due to their small size, large numbers of MEM transducers may be distributed radially around the downhole tool. Such an arrangement of sensors may enable the downhole tool to perform measurements of the entire wellbore without the downhole tool needing to be rotated, leading to an increased signal-to-noise ratio of the measurements.

MEMS-based transducers on a downhole tool

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

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for determining a dynamic effective elastic modulus of a composite slickline or wireline cable are provided. A system for estimating the effective elastic modulus (or change thereof) may include a sensing head assembly, a vibration generator, a pair of pulleys, and an optical-based signal processing assembly. The system may detect a resonant frequency of a section of the composite cable held between the two pulleys and estimate the effective elastic modulus based on the detected resonant frequency variation. Adjustments for weight and length of the cable extending into the wellbore may be made as well to determine the dynamic elastic modulus of the cable. The opto-mechanical integrated system described below may enable real-time elastic modulus determination. The system may provide a non-contact inspection method for monitoring mechanical fatigue of a composite cable without interfering with the composite cable intervention operation.

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The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Yinghui Lu