Profile measurement for underground hydrocarbon storage caverns

a technology for hydrocarbon storage caverns and profiles, which is applied in the direction of surveys, borehole/well accessories, constructions, etc., can solve the problems of complex wireline operations and high cos

Inactive Publication Date: 2020-05-21
MCCOY JAMES N +1
View PDF2 Cites 0 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This approach enables accurate and cost-effective monitoring of cavern profiles, allowing for early detection of structural issues and preventing leaks by identifying changes in gas pressure rates, which correlate with changes in cavern geometry, thus ensuring the integrity of the storage well.

Problems solved by technology

Wireline operations are complex, expensive and subject to leakage of gas or liquid from the wellhead or wireline connectors.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Profile measurement for underground hydrocarbon storage caverns
  • Profile measurement for underground hydrocarbon storage caverns
  • Profile measurement for underground hydrocarbon storage caverns

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0012]Multiple embodiments of the present invention are now described in reference to the FIGS. 1-6. This invention is for use with an underground storage cavern, which is also referred to as a storage well.

[0013]An important objective of the present invention is to determine when a gas / liquid interface, which is driven downward by injection of gas into the casing, is located at a position in a region immediately below the casing shoe. The casing shoe is positioned at the bottom of the string of casing in the storage well. The interface level is termed a reference level. This operation is a part of a process for measuring the profile of a chimney of an underground storage cavern.

[0014]Measuring the profile of a chimney of a storage cavern is important because it can indicate the mechanical integrity of the chimney portion of the storage cavern. If the profile is measured periodically, for example, every five years, each measurement can be compared to the last measurement. If the pre...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

Underground storage caverns are widely used for the bulk storage of petroleum products, in particular, crude oil. The caverns are accessed through a casing in a borehole down to the cavern. The lower end of the casing opens into an upper region of the cavern termed the chimney. The chimney provides a transition from the casing into the cavern body. The invention presents a process of injecting a gas into the well while measuring the gas pressure and optionally measuring the volume of injected gas. The gas drives down an interface between the gas and hydrocarbon liquid. By monitoring the rate of change of the gas pressure, and detecting a sudden decrease in the rate of change, it can be determined when the interface has been driven down to the region immediately below the bottom of the casing at the upper end of the chimney.

Description

RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA[0001]This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 15 / 621,574 filed on Jun. 13, 2017.CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0002]Applicant has filed copending applications entitled “Method for Detecting Leakage in an Underground Hydrocarbon Storage Cavern”, filed Apr. 25, 2015 and having Ser. No. 14 / 696,387, Method for Determining the profile of an Underground Hydrocarbon Storage Cavern, filed Apr. 25, 2015 and having Ser. No. 14 / 696,389 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,669,997) and Method for Determining the profile of an Underground Hydrocarbon Storage Cavern, filed May 2, 2017 and having Ser. No. 15 / 584,962 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,323,971).BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention[0003]The field of the present invention is that of test and measurement equipment used in the oil and gas industry, which includes the use of large volume underground storage caverns for storing substantial quantities of petroleum products, such as crude oil, propane ...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): E21B47/10E21B47/06
CPCE21B47/06E21B47/117E21B47/047E21B49/008
InventorMCCOY, JAMES N.ROWLAN, ORVEL L.
OwnerMCCOY JAMES N