The Operator's Eyes Downhole: Multiple Applications for a Novel Autonomous and Wireless Real-Time Integrated Monitoring System

Abstract

Abstract Nowadays wells are drilled deeper, hotter, and subjected to higher downhole pressures making it more complex for completion, deployment of production tools, and to maintain long term well integrity. It is evident that the utilization of downhole data is becoming more important, to optimize production, maximize the recoverable reserves, and to preserve the proper structure of the wells, facilitating their full life cycle until decommissioning. The Energy industry is relying on new technologies to reduce the cost of exploration, production, and maintaining the wellbore's structural integrity for the duration of the well-life as well as the reduction of their decommissioning cost. This paper addresses various new opportunities created by an "integrated" casing/tubing/microsensor technology, and real-time data communication from downhole to the surface. This manuscript will highlight some of the main components of this Novel Autonomous and Wireless Real-time Integrated Monitoring System, which consists of: A smart casing-collar module with an array of various sensors, to monitor casing/cement for the initial state of stress, formation creeping, open annuli and near-wellbore reservoir properties. This information is processed through a short-hop, two-way wireless communication system, for data and command transfer from the casing module to the tubing module, and a wireless power transfer system, to provide power from the tubing-module to the casing-module.An intelligent tubing module deployed near the smart casing-collar module that contains another set of smart sensors for production and annulus monitoring. Interfacing with the casing module is done via the short-hop wireless power transfer and communications system. Included here is a downhole power generator and a real-time wireless communication for data transfer to surface. This provides the end user, the ability of in-situ power generation and real-time wireless data. The abovementioned integrated system is aimed at addressing the entire well-life planning needs, as it can feed the asset management system for production optimization, zonal isolation, P&A placement, casing integrity, formation creeping, reservoir evaluation, and potential decommissioning requirements. Custom-specified systems can quickly adapt and incrporate new features that are of potential benefit to other "industries".