DOWNHOLE TAGGANT INJECTOR APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

Abstract

A downhole injector apparatus for injecting a taggant into a wellbore includes an injector nozzle outlet and a taggant reservoir in fluid communication with the injector nozzle outlet and configured to hold the taggant to be injected. The apparatus further includes a pressure wave generator configured to apply a pressure wave within the reservoir to expel the taggant from the reservoir through the injector nozzle outlet.

Claims

1. A downhole injector apparatus for injecting a taggant into a wellbore, comprising: an injector nozzle outlet; a taggant reservoir in fluid communication with the injector nozzle outlet and configured to hold the taggant to be injected; and a pressure wave generator configured to apply a pressure wave within the reservoir to expel the taggant from the reservoir through the injector nozzle outlet.

2. The downhole injector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure wave generator is configured to generate a pressure wave in the form of a pressure disturbance which propagates within the taggant located within the reservoir, to provide a driving force to expel the taggant through the injector nozzle outlet.

3. The downhole injector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure wave generator is configured to generate an acoustic shock wave.

4. The downhole injector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure wave generator comprises a mechanical actuator which imparts a physical disturbance to the taggant within the reservoir to generate a pressure wave.

5. The downhole injector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure wave generator comprises a thermal actuator which provides a localized heating to the taggant within the reservoir to generate a pressure wave.

6. (canceled)

7. The downhole injector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure wave generator comprises a reflector configured to direct a generated pressure wave in a desired direction.

8. The downhole injector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the taggant is retained within the reservoir by a surface tension effect of the taggant across the injector nozzle outlet, and the pressure wave generator is configured to generate a pressure wave of sufficient magnitude to overcome the surface tension of the taggant across the injector nozzle outlet.

9. The downhole injector apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a pressure balance arrangement for pressure balancing the reservoir relative to an external environment.

10. The downhole apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the pressure balance arrangement comprises a pressure transfer structure configured to communicate pressure between the external environment and the reservoir.

11. The downhole apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pressure transfer structure fluidly isolates the reservoir from the external environment.

12. The downhole apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of injector nozzle outlets.

13. (canceled)

14. The downhole apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least two injector nozzle outlets are in communication with a common reservoir, and wherein a single pressure wave generator is provided to expel taggant from the common reservoir through the at least two injector nozzle outlet ports.

15. The downhole apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the single pressure wave generator comprises a reflector assembly to direct a pressure wave towards the at least two injector nozzle outlets.

16. (canceled)

17. The downhole apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least two injector nozzle outlet ports are in communication with different reservoirs of the apparatus.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a controller configured to control operation of the apparatus, wherein the controller is in communication with at least one sensor, wherein data from the at least one sensor is used by the controller to control operation of the apparatus.

19-20. (canceled)

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured to inject taggant into a flow of fluid in a wellbore in response to a sensed fluid type.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured for use in conveying telemetry data within a wellbore, wherein data to be transmitted is encoded within one or more qualities or characteristics of taggant injection into the wellbore.

23. (canceled)

24. A method for injecting a taggant into a wellbore, comprising generating a pressure wave within a reservoir of taggant which is located in the wellbore, wherein the pressure wave expels the taggant from the reservoir through an injector nozzle outlet.

25. A wellbore telemetry system comprising: a downhole injector apparatus according to claim 1; and a controller configured to control injection of taggant from the downhole injector apparatus in accordance with data to be communicated.

26. A method for communicating in a wellbore subject to fluid flow, comprising controlling a downhole injector apparatus according to claim 1 to inject a taggant into the fluid flow to form a taggant signal which is conveyed with the fluid flow.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] These and other aspects of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0062] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a downhole taggant injector apparatus in use injecting a taggant into a wellbore;

[0063] FIGS. 2A to 2C provide sequential illustrations of a taggant being ejected from an injector nozzle of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0064] FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a number of example options of using multiple nozzle outlets in a downhole taggant injector apparatus;

[0065] FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 in use in a wellbore taggant telemetry system;

[0066] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary time domain plot of surface detected taggant using the system of FIG. 4;

[0067] FIGS. 6A and 6B diagrammatically illustrate multiple downhole taggant injectors in use in a wellbore;

[0068] FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates a hybrid wellbore telemetry system;

[0069] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate alternative examples of a downhole taggant injector apparatus; and

[0070] FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a multi-zone wellbore completion which incorporates multiple downhole taggant injectors which detect the presence of a particular fluid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0071] A diagrammatic illustration of a downhole injector apparatus, generally identified by reference numeral 10, is shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus 10 is secured to a wellbore tubular 12 (e.g., production tubing, coiled tubing, drill pipe, casing, liner and/or the like) which defines a flow path 14 containing fluid flow 16, and is configured to inject a volume of a taggant 18 into said tubular flow path 14 thus to be carried by the fluid flow 16 to be detected, as required, at a different location.

[0072] The apparatus 10 comprises an injector nozzle 20 which includes an injector nozzle outlet 22 which is in communication with the tubular flow path 14. The apparatus 10 further comprises a taggant reservoir 24 which contains a volume of taggant 18, wherein the reservoir 24 is in fluid communication with the injector nozzle outlet 22. The taggant 18 may be provided in any suitable form to permit expulsion from the apparatus 10 via the injector nozzle outlet 22. For example, the taggant may be provided in a colloidal suspension within a carrier medium. Further, the taggant may comprise any suitable taggant which permits detection in a required application. In this respect a wide range of different taggants may be used, such as one or more of radioisotopes, chemical markers, optical isomers, ferroelectrics, ferromagnetics, fluorescent dyes, inks, surface tension modifiers, electrical conductivity modifiers, optical speckle additives and the like.

[0073] A pressure wave generator or actuator 26 is provided within the reservoir 24 and functions to apply a pressure wave 28 (e.g., an acoustic shock-wave) within the reservoir 24 to expel the taggant 18 through the injector nozzle outlet 22. The pressure wave generator 26 may be configured to generate a pressure wave 28 in the form of a pressure disturbance which propagates within the taggant 18 located within the reservoir 24, to thus provide a driving force to expel the taggant 18 through the injector nozzle outlet 22.

[0074] The pressure wave generator 26 may comprise any suitable actuator, such as a mechanical actuator, thermal actuator, electrical actuator, and/or the like.

[0075] In the illustrated example the pressure wave generator 26 comprises an optional reflector 30 which functions to direct generated pressure waves 28 towards the injector nozzle outlet 22.

[0076] The apparatus 10 further comprises a pressure balance arrangement 32 for pressure balancing the reservoir 24 relative to the flow path 14. The pressure balance arrangement 32 comprises an inflatable bladder 34 which is in pressure communication with the reservoir 24, such that the pressure internally of the bladder 34 is balanced with that of the reservoir 24. The bladder 34 is positioned within a plenum chamber 36 which is in pressure communication with the tubular flow path 14 via pressure port or channel 38, such that the pressure within the plenum chamber 36 which acts on the bladder 34 is balanced with the tubular flow path 14. Thus, pressure transfer may be permitted from the flow path 14 to the reservoir 24 via the pressure channel 38, plenum chamber 36 and inflatable bladder 34.

[0077] The pressure balance arrangement 32 may be provided in multiple alternative forms, such as via a piston barrier arrangement, bellows arrangement and/or the like.

[0078] The apparatus 10 may comprise or be provided in combination with a controller 40 configured to control operation of the apparatus 10, for example to control operation of the pressure wave generator 26. The controller 40 may control the apparatus 10 in accordance with pre-programmed instructions, for example contained within memory (not shown) associated with the controller 40.

[0079] Alternatively, or additionally, the controller 40 may control the apparatus 10 in accordance with information or signals received from other sources, such as from a downhole sensor 42. Such a sensor 42 may form part of the apparatus 10 (illustrated by the broken outline box 1), or alternatively may be provided separately, for example as an independent sensor and/or as part of a separate tool (not shown). While a single sensor 42 is illustrated, multiple sensors may be present for performing multiple similar or different sensing operations.

[0080] In the present example the apparatus 10 may permit application in monitoring operations, for example operations in which monitoring of downhole conditions via the sensor 42 is performed.

[0081] As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the taggant 18 may be retained within the reservoir 24 by a surface tension effect of the taggant 18 across the injector nozzle outlet 22. That is, the taggant 18 may form a meniscus 44 across the injector nozzle outlet 22 which prevents or resists the taggant 18 from cascading or naturally flowing from the reservoir 24. The injector nozzle outlet 18 may be configured to permit this surface tension effect to be supported. For example, the injector nozzle outlet 18 may be provided with a desired geometry and/or dimension to permit the taggant to form the meniscus 44 thereacross. A person of skill in the art would readily be able to provide this surface tension effect based on known principles.

[0082] When a pressure wave 28 is generated, as shown in FIG. 2B, the surface tension is overcome such that a taggant droplet 19 begins to be ejected, wherein the droplet 19 eventually breaks free, as shown in FIG. 2C, with the surface tension again forming a meniscus 44.

[0083] The apparatus 10 may include a single injector nozzle outlet 22, as illustrated in FIG. 1. However, in other examples multiple injector nozzle outlets 22a may be provided, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this respect the number, form and arrangement of outlets 22a in FIG. 3 is merely exemplary. FIG. 3 also provides a diagrammatic illustration of example options of taggant reservoirs and pressure wave generators which may operate in conjunction with such multiple injector nozzle outlets 22a. For example, two or more nozzle outlets may be supplied via separate reservoirs 24a which include respective pressure wave generators 26a. Alternatively/additionally, two or more nozzle outlets may be supplied via a single reservoir 24b using a single pressure wave generator 26b, or in the case of single reservoir 24c using a single pressure wave generator 26c which includes a specially formed reflector 30a which appropriately directs pressure waves to the individual nozzle outlets. In a further example, a single reservoir 24d may communicate with two or more nozzle outlets, wherein the single reservoir 24d includes a plurality of pressure wave generators 26d.

[0084] As noted above, the apparatus 10 may be controlled in accordance with information or signals received from other sources, such as from a downhole sensor 42. One such example operation will now be described with reference to FIG. 4, which illustrates the apparatus 10 being used in a wellbore telemetry operation, communicating data from a downhole location to surface 50. In this example the wellbore tubular 12 may define or comprise production tubing, and the flow 16 may comprise production flow which is directed towards a wellhead facility 52 at surface 50. However, it should be recognized that any flowing application may also support data communication using the apparatus 10, such as mud flow during drilling operations, injection flow during injection operations, and the like.

[0085] The sensor 42 will sense data associated with one or more downhole conditions, such pressure, temperature, fluid properties, fluid types (e.g., water cut), and/or the like. Alternatively/additionally, the sensor may sense data associated with the condition of a separate tool or apparatus located downhole. Such data will be communicated to the controller 40 which will function as a signal modulator to generate suitable instructions to the pressure wave controller 26 to facilitate taggant injection in accordance with the data to be transmitted. In this way, the data signal to be transmitted may be encoded within one or more characteristics of taggant injection into the wellbore.

[0086] In the example illustrated, the data is encoded in a taggant based signal using a pulse-interval modulation technique, in which taggant pulses or clouds 18a-e are injected at specifically spaced time intervals. The taggant clouds 18a-e are then transported to surface within the flow 16. A suitable sensor arrangement 54 is provided at or near the surface for detecting the taggant clouds 18a-e, and communicates received data to a surface controller 56, which may function to de-modulate the signal to extract the encoded transmitted data. Such surface detection may be performed to accommodate the same modulation technique or time regime used in generating the taggant signal. For example, detection may be achieved at a suitable sampling rate to ensure sufficient resolution to recognize, or not, individual taggant pulses 18a-e.

[0087] In this example the time regime, or injection rate, may be selected which accounts for diffusion and other dispersion effects of the taggant pulses 18a-e as they travel with the fluid flow 16 from the point of injection to the point of detection. This may minimize the risk of individual pulses smearing or merging together.

[0088] Reference is additionally made to FIG. 5 which illustrates an exemplary time domain plot of surface detected taggant clouds 18a-e using the system of FIG. 4. As illustrated, sampling is achieved in even time windows 58 at a sampling frequency which corresponds to the taggant injection frequency. A detected taggant cloud within a time window 58 may represent one binary digit (e.g., “1”), whereas no taggant detection within a time window 58 may represent a different binary digit (e.g.,“0”).

[0089] In this communication regime the data rate achievable may be dictated by the flow rate and the required injection intervals to minimize cloud smearing. In some examples, for example as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the effective data rate of the scheme may be increased by using two injector apparatuses 10a, 10b which inject different taggants 18, 60. This may permit multi-bit data signals to be composed and transmitted. In the examples of FIGS. 6A and 6B separate apparatuses 10a, 10b are illustrated. However, a single apparatus may be provided which permits injection of different taggants. Further, while the injection of two different taggants 18, 60 is illustrated, multiple different taggant type injection may be accommodated.

[0090] In FIG. 6A taggant injection is achieved at different axial locations along a bore, whereas in FIG. 6B taggant injection is achieved at a common axial location while at different circumferential locations around a bore. Of course, a combination of the two examples in FIGS. 6A and 6B may be possible, in which taggant injection is achieved at different axial and circumferential locations.

[0091] In the examples presented above, a sensor 42 may function to sense downhole properties or conditions which are transmitted to surface 50 using a taggant based signal. However, any other form of data may be transmitted, such as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this example a receiver 62 is provided within the tubular 12 which detects a signal 64 transmitted from a remote location along the flow path 14, for example from further downhole. The received signal 64 may be of any type, such as acoustic, pressure pulse, electromagnetic and the like. Further, although the signal 64 is shown being transmitted along the flow path 14 of the tubular 12, the signal 64 may alternatively, or additionally, be transmitted through the wall of the tubular 12.

[0092] Once the signal 64 is received by receiver 62, data is communicated to the controller 40, which then controls the apparatus 10 as required to initiate taggant injection and transmission of a taggant based signal to be received at surface 50 by sensor arrangement 54 and surface controller 56. In this example the data encoded within the taggant signal corresponds to the message encoded within the received signal 64. As such, the apparatus 10 may function as a signal relay device. Such an arrangement may provide a hybrid telemetry system.

[0093] In the example first presented above in FIG. 1 the injector apparatus 10 is located external to the tubular 12. However, in alternative examples the apparatus 10 may be mounted internally of the tubular 12, for example as illustrated in FIG. 8. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the apparatus 10 may be capable of being mounted within a side-pocket 66 of a side-pocket mandrel 68 which is connected to or forms part of a tubular. In this example the apparatus 10 may be sized and configured to be received within the side-pocket 66. Further, the apparatus 10 may be configured to be retrieved (as might be the case in any of the examples described herein), for example using known wireline tools, such as kick-over tools.

[0094] Although the apparatus described above may be used in a wellbore telemetry application, multiple different uses are possible. An example of an alternative use will now be described with reference to FIG. 10 which illustrates a production string 100 located within a wellbore 102, wherein the production string 100 defines a flow path 104 for accommodating production flow 106. In the present example the production string 100 accommodates production from multiple zones 108, 110 isolated from each other via a suitable packer 112. Thus, inflow 114, 116 into the flow path 104 may be accommodated from different regions of a formation 118.

[0095] An injector apparatus 120, 122 is mounted within each zone 108, 110 of the production string 100, specifically within respective side pocket mandrels 124, 126 of the production string 100. Each injector apparatus 120, 122 may be provided in a similar manner to apparatus 10 described above, and as such no further description will be given. However, in the present example each injector apparatus 120, 122 includes a respective water sensor 128, 130. During normal oil (and/or gas) production the injector apparatuses 120, 122 may remain inactive. However, upon detection of water being produced, for example in zone 110, such water production will be detected by sensor 130, and thus cause injector apparatus 122 to inject a unique taggant 132 into the flow 106. Detection of the taggant 132, for example at surface, can thus be used to confirm not only that water has been produced, but due to the uniqueness of the taggant 132, the zone 110 in which water breakthrough has occurred. This may therefore permit improved well management decisions to be taken, for example to isolate or choke production from zone 110.

[0096] It should be understood that the examples provided herein are indeed examples, and that various modifications may be made. For example, the principles of the present disclosure may permit use in any number of applications. Further, while a downhole application is presented as an example, the principles of the present disclosure may have utility in any flowing system, such as in topside applications, pipelines etc.