Wellbore Tube Wave Analysis for Pipe Friction and Stage Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic fracturing monitoring requires significant resources to evaluate downhole conditions, and there is a need for more efficient methods to determine subsurface properties within a wellbore.
Innovation Solution
The use of tube waves generated within the wellbore to extract Darcy friction factor and stage resistance by analyzing acoustic reflections, utilizing a system that includes a fluid management system, blender system, pumping systems, and information handling systems to process surface pressure measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If tube wave operations are used to evaluate downhole conditions, then subsurface information can be obtained, but a large number of resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and analyzes acoustic reflections from tube waves that are naturally generated during hydraulic fracturing operations. By taking out the acoustic signal information from the existing pressure measurements and analyzing the reflections to determine subsurface properties like Darcy friction factor and stage resistance, the method obtains valuable subsurface information without requiring additional specialized monitoring equipment or resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the existing pressure measurement system multi-functional by using the same pressure transducers and tube wave generation capabilities to serve both the primary hydraulic fracturing function and the secondary subsurface evaluation function. This universal approach allows the system to obtain subsurface information through acoustic reflection analysis without adding separate dedicated monitoring systems.
2Measurement precision
If traditional monitoring methods are used to evaluate downhole conditions, then comprehensive data can be obtained, but the process is resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the hydraulic fracturing system to self-monitor and self-evaluate by using the tube waves naturally generated during the fracturing process itself as the measurement medium. The system uses its own operational parameters (pressure, flow rate) and the resulting acoustic reflections to automatically determine subsurface properties, eliminating the need for external monitoring resources and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from direct physical measurement to acoustic parameter analysis. By transforming the pressure-time data into acoustic reflection analysis and using the tube wave propagation characteristics, the method extracts subsurface information through changes in acoustic parameters rather than requiring direct downhole sensing, thereby improving measurement precision while reducing resource requirements.
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
This method provides quantitative subsurface information by processing acoustic reflections from tube waves, reducing the need for extensive resources and enhancing the efficiency of hydraulic fracturing monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
analyzing acoustic reflections
Implementation Method 2
generating a tube wave in a tubular of a wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
A method for evaluating one or more properties of a wellbore. The method may include generating a tube wave in a wellbore, measuring a pressure created by the tube wave at a wellhead and creating a time-domain model based at least in part on the pressure. The method may further include identifying a Darcy factor and a stage resistance based at least in part on the time-domain model.