Optical Waveguide Drilling Sensors for Bottom Hole Pressure Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drilling operations lack effective sensors to detect fluid influx or loss along the drill string, limiting the ability to maintain optimal bottom hole pressure and prevent undesired fluid exchange between the wellbore and the earth formation.

Innovation Solution

A well system utilizing a continuous tubing drill string with integrated optical waveguides for distributed temperature and acoustic sensing, allowing for real-time measurement of parameters like pressure, temperature, and fluid flow, which enables precise control of bottom hole pressure through adjustable chokes and backpressure pumps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional sensors at surface and bottom hole assembly are used, then the drilling operation can be monitored, but fluid influx or loss along the drill string cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid influx detectionVSAvoidparameter measurement along drill string

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The drill string is divided into multiple sensing segments with distributed sensors along its length, enabling localized detection of fluid influx or loss at specific positions rather than only at endpoints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An optical waveguide system serves as an intermediary medium embedded within the drill string to transmit optical signals for sensing parameters along the entire length of the drill string, enabling remote and distributed measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If sensors are added along the drill string, then fluid influx and loss can be detected, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure controlVSAvoidsensor system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical waveguide system performs multiple functions including temperature sensing, acoustic sensing, and strain measurement along the drill string, reducing the need for separate dedicated sensor systems for each parameter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Optical sensing methods replace traditional mechanical and electrical sensors, eliminating complex wiring and power requirements while providing distributed measurement capability along the drill string

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate detection and management of fluid influx and loss events, allowing for optimized pressure control during drilling, preventing fracturing and maintaining desired pressure gradients, thus improving drilling efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

integrated optical waveguides for distributed temperature and acoustic sensing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDistributed temperature sensing: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 2

integrated optical waveguides for distributed temperature and acoustic sensing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDistributed acoustic sensing: Optical Fibre

Data Source

PatentUS8573325B2Optimized pressure drilling with continuous tubing drill string

Publication Date: 2013.11.05 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A method of drilling a wellbore can include drilling the wellbore with a continuous tubing drill string, and sensing at least one parameter with an optical waveguide in the drill string. A well system can include a continuous tubing drill string, and an optical waveguide in the drill string. The optical waveguide may sense at least one parameter distributed along the drill string.