Piezoelectric Borehole Seismic Source for Continuous Monitoring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current borehole seismic sources require expensive and time-consuming procedures for installation and removal, disrupting well operations and risking borehole damage, especially in deep and pressurized wells, as they need to be lowered and retracted for testing, which is impractical and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A piezoelectric borehole seismic source apparatus with a mandrel, cylindrical piezoelectric sources, and an actuation mechanism that allows for in-situ generation of sonic pulses, enabling continuous operation of wells without interrupting fluid or gas flow, and allowing for the passage of control lines through the source, using a corrosion-resistant housing and insulating fluid to prevent damage and ensure energy transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional borehole sources are lowered and retracted for testing, then seismic data can be collected, but well operations are interrupted and borehole damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveborehole integrityVSAvoidwell operation interruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The seismic source is permanently installed in the borehole before production begins, allowing seismic monitoring to be ready and available without requiring subsequent installation or removal operations that would interrupt well operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The permanent installation enables continuous seismic monitoring capability while maintaining continuous well production operations, eliminating the need to stop production for source installation or removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Measurement precision

If conventional borehole sources are used in deep wells, then seismic readings can be taken, but installation and removal become extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseismic data qualityVSAvoidinstallation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The source is permanently installed during the initial well completion phase rather than being temporarily lowered later, eliminating the need for repeated installation and removal operations that consume time and labor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The permanent installation allows the source to remain in place indefinitely, enabling multiple seismic surveys to be conducted without reinstallation, thereby dramatically improving operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If production tubing is retracted and removed for source installation, then seismic testing can be performed, but the process becomes expensive and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseismic measurement capabilityVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The source is installed permanently during well completion before production tubing is fully deployed, allowing seismic capability to be integrated without requiring subsequent tubing removal and reinstallation operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The permanent installation eliminates the need to repeatedly retract and replace production tubing for seismic testing, thereby reducing operational costs and time expenditure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 continuous seismic monitoring without interrupting well operations, reducing costs and damage risks by allowing the source to remain permanently or semi-permanently in place, facilitating long-term data collection and reducing test variability due to insertion and extraction damage.

Implementation Method 1

one or more cylindrical piezoelectric sources longitudinally mounted along the mandrel; an actuation means for causing one or more of the piezoelectric cylindrical sources to change dimension, whereby a sonic pulse is generated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The cavity defined by the housing contains within it an insulator material. In another embodiment the insulator material is a fluid that immerses the piezoelectric sources

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Dielectric

Implementation Method 3

the source may additionally include a pressure compensator projecting from the piezo housing and in fluid communication with the fluid filled cavity, whereby pressure inside the piezo housing and an exterior ambient pressure are equalized

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure equalization: Pascal's Law

Data Source

PatentUS8717850B2Piezotube borehole seismic source

Publication Date: 2014.05.06 RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA

AI summary

A piezoelectric borehole source capable of permanent or semipermanent insertion into a well for uninterrupted well operations is described. The source itself comprises a series of piezoelectric rings mounted to an insulative mandrel internally sized to fit over a section of well tubing, the rings encased in a protective housing and electrically connected to a power source. Providing an AC voltage to the rings will cause expansion and contraction sufficient to create a sonic pulse. The piezoelectric borehole source fits into a standard well, and allows for uninterrupted pass-through of production tubing, and other tubing and electrical cables. Testing using the source may be done at any time, even concurrent with well operations, during standard production.