Wellbore Tubular Inner Diameter Variation for Flow Monitoring

The patent applies preliminary action by installing sensors after cementing operations are completed, rather than before. This sequencing ensures that sensors are not exposed to potential damage from cementing operations, while still enabling flow monitoring to begin as soon as the well is ready for production. The wellbore tubular is prepared with appropriate features (such as expanded sections or flow disturbances) in advance, so that sensor installation and flow monitoring can proceed immediately after cementing without delay.

The patent applies local quality by creating localized variations in the inner diameter of the wellbore tubular at specific positions, rather than making the entire tubular non-uniform. These local variations (such as expanded sections or deliberate constrictions) serve as flow disturbances that generate measurable pressure signals for flow monitoring. The majority of the tubular maintains a uniform diameter for ease of manufacture, while only specific local regions are modified to provide the necessary flow characteristics for accurate monitoring.

The patent applies local quality by creating localized expanded sections or variations in the inner diameter at specific positions within the wellbore tubular, rather than increasing the diameter along the entire length. These local expansions generate flow disturbances and pressure signals that enhance flow monitoring capability, while the majority of the tubular maintains its original smaller diameter that preserves production capacity. The localized modifications minimize the overall impact on flow capacity while providing sufficient flow disturbances for accurate monitoring.