5

Technical Field

The present invention relates to devices for measuring 10 ultrasonic vibrations by deployment of magnetic and electric means.

Background of the invention

Drilling of oil and gas wells requires a drilling rig that includes a drill floor with a rotary table, a vertical derrick extending above 15 the drill floor, and a travelling block or other hoisting mechanism that can be raised and lowered within the dimensions of the derrick.

This hoist mechanism may be equipped with a top drive mechanism. During a well drilling operations, the rig equipment is often used to handle tubular goods (drill pipe, tubing, casing, or the 20 like) through the rotary table and in or out of the well bore which extends into the earth’s crust.

Once the well has been drilled to a certain depth, a casing is inserted and cemented into place in a number of steps which follow. l Wiper plugs or wiper darts, commonly made of rubber, plastic, or a combination of materials, are often injected into the well during cementing operations. In most cases, these plugs or darts are contained within a cementing head until they are launched into the casing at the desired time. Once they are launched, they travel with the fluid or slurry flow down the casing into the well. It is important to know exactly when these plugs or darts have been successfully released into the casing below the cementing head.

In most cases, a rubber wiper plug with a hollow core and a rupture disk is injected into the casing using a cementing head prior to pumping liquid cement slurry into the well, to cleanly separate the cement slurry from fluid already in the wellbore. This first wiper plug is forced down the casing by pumping cement slurry until it reaches a restriction in the wellbore, commonly called a float collar, near the end of the casing where it stops. Once this wiper plug has stopped, continued pumping increases the pressure within the casing causing the disk to rupture and the cement slurry is then pumped through the remainder of the casing and into the annular space between the bore-hole and the casing.

Once the desired volume of cement has been pumped, a second rubber wiper-plug with a solid core is typically inserted into the casing to separate the cement slurry from the displacement fluid. It is important to note that at this point, during many cementing operations, the slurry continues to travel down the casing even when the pumps have stopped to launch the wiper plug.

This happens because the density of the cement slurry is normally higher than the density of the fluids in the wellbore which creates a hydrostatic imbalance from the inside of the casing to the casing - wellbore annulus. This slurry flow is commonly referred to as“U-tubing”, and this leaves the casing below the cement head void of fluid or slurry, into which the wiper plug is launched. After the second plug has been launched, a non-cementitious displacement fluid such as drilling mud, brine, or water, is pumped into the casing, forcing the second plug down the casing and displacing the cement from the casing into the annulus. Typically, the end of cement displacement is observed when this second wiper plug is stopped by either a restriction within the casing or the first plug previously injected, causing an increase in pressure observed at surface.

This pressure increase clearly indicates that the cement has been displaced correctly out of the casing into the annulus. Circulation is thus stopped and the cement is left to set. This process effectively seals off the annular space thereby preventing hydrocarbons from flowing up the annulus and contamination of shallow aquifers with the same hydrocarbons.

The restriction that stops the passage of the wiper plug, such as a float collar or float shoe, typically comprises a non-return valve which prevents the cement slurry from flowing back into the casing until the cement hardens.

The precise knowledge of if and when a wiper plug or dart has been released into the well is essential to the successful completion of a cementing operation. In the absence of this information, one or more severe problems can arise. For example without limitation, lack of precise plug departure time can lead to incorrect calculation of cement displacement volume, leading to a failure to completely displace the cement from the casing above the float collar, or over displacement of the cement completely out of the casing

Prior art for detecting when a wiper plug has left the cement head include mechanical lever-actuated tattle tale mechanisms installed inside the cement head. Such mechanical lever-actuated plug release indicators may falsely indicate plug passage even though the plug is still within the cement head. False-positive indications such as this can lead to cement job failure due to over displacement of the cement.

The mechanical lever system is widely used and is installed on many models of cementing heads of different manufacturers, and data on the device and the operation of mechanical indicators are published in cement head manufacturer’s catalogs.

Other prior art methods include using radio frequency ID (RFID) devices

(https://patents.google.com/patent/GB2413814A/en?oq=GB24 13814),

(https://patents.google.com/patent/US6597175B l/en?q=~patent%2f US20110214853A1 &assignee=Halliburton+Energy+Services%2c+ Inc) which require RF communication to the inside of the casing. While this method is attractive at first, the need to have a high pressure electrical bulkhead to enable RF signal to be introduced to the casing has limited the application of this method. Another prior art indicator uses radioactive materials incorporated into the wiper plugs

(https://patents.google.com/patent/US20110214853 Al/en?oq= 20110214853), referred to in this patent as a previous technical solution. Once the plug has left the cement head a radiation survey instrument such as a Geiger counter will indicate that the plug has left its original position. Limitations of this method include health and safety concerns associated with storage and handling of radioactive materials.

Acoustic plug release indicators have also been used which include one or more microphones to detect the sound of plug passage (https://patents.google.com/patent/US4468967). Sound signatures require interpretation and do not provide immediate and clear indication of plug passage.

Other prior art includes magnetic detectors (reed switch) or other micro switches

(https://patents.google.com/patent/US4928520A/en?oq=49285 20). Both of these options are limited due to difficulties installing electronic components inside the cement head and the reliability of these devices in high pressure, abrasive environment.

Yet another prior art method uses ultrasonic devices firing across the casing inner diameter to identify plug passage. This method, used in pipelines to detect“pig” passage, is inapplicable in cases where the casing is not filled with fluid, as often occurs at the end of pumping cement slurry before releasing the wiper plug.

Limitations of prior art devices and methods: All existing prior art devices and methods are characterized by the fact that they cannot always accurately determine the passage of a moving object.

The closest to the claimed invention is US patent No. 6597175, GO IV 3/08, “Electromagnetic detector apparatus and method for oil or gas well, and circuit-bearing displaceable object to be detected therein”

A detector apparatus for an oil or gas well generally comprises: a body movable through a conduit of an oil or gas well; an electrical circuit connected to the body, the electrical circuit for transmitting an electromagnetic Signal for reception away from the body as the body moves through the conduit; and a receiver disposed relative to the conduit and the body to receive the electromagnetic Signal from the electrical circuit. The apparatus can further comprise a transmitter disposed relative to the conduit and the body to transmit into the conduit an alternating current electromagnetic Signal, wherein the electrical circuit transmits its electromagnetic Signal in response to the alternating current electromagnetic Signal from the transmitter.

The disadvantages of this technical solution include the requirements to perform structural changes to the cementing head and the need to install additional devices on the plugs.

Disclosure of Invention

The proposed method and mobile device solve the problem of determining the passage of moving objects in oil, gas, and water wells in a reliable, accurate, and easy to use manner, without requiring any changes to the design of existing cementing heads.

The objective (determination of the passage of moving objects in oil, gas, and water wells) is achieved by installing the mobile device on the casing below the cementing head. Key parameters, such as temperature, speed, time interval for recording parameters, time, geo localization (latitude / longitude), self-calibration parameters, and the frequency and color of flashing light elements, are determined by built in components inside the mobile device.

Furthermore, the mobile device is installed vertically on the outer surface of the pipe using a permanent magnet at a level below the cementing head. The mobile device is tumed-on by transmitting a signal to the microcontroller.

After power is turned on, the mobile device automatically performs self-calibration, which includes checking the thickness of the pipe wall and vertical alignment of the mobile device to the pipe. After that, the microcontroller, through the sensor control unit, provides a signal to turn on the sensor group. Then the ultrasonic wave transmitting sensor begins to radiate multidirectional ultrasonic waves into the tube, and the reception sensors begin to receive these waves reflected from the inner side of the pipe wall.

Simultaneously with the beginning of operation of the mobile device, a group of sensors sends a signal through the sensor control unit to the microcontroller, whose analyzing device, in turn, analyzes this signal and distributes information about it to the indicators, to the external device, to the display that displays information about the start of the sensors’ operation and to a hard disk that starts recording the received information.

At the beginning of operation of the sensor group, receiving sensors located vertically above and below the signal transmitting sensor, receive ultrasonic waves of the same or similar amplitudes. The microcontroller analyzes and compares the information coming from both receiver sensors. At the moment when the moving object has reached the level of the upper receiver sensor, the ultrasonic wave in the location of the moving object ceases to reflect from the inner side of the pipe wall, and the upper receiver sensor ceases to receive this wave. The microcontroller analyzes this signal and concludes that the moving object is in the zone of the upper receiver sensor.

Based on this analysis, the microcontroller distributes information about the event to the indicators and to the hard drive.

Then, the moving object enters the zone of the lower receiver sensor, resulting in a state in which both receiver sensors stop receiving the reflected ultrasonic wave. Again this signal is transmitted to the microcontroller, the analysis device, which analyzes this signal and concludes that the moving object is in the zone of the upper and lower receiver sensors. The microcontroller, distributes the information about the event to the indicators and to the hard disk.

When the moving object leaves the area of the upper receiver sensor, this sensor starts receiving an ultrasonic wave and transmits a signal to the microcontroller. The microcontroller analysis device, in turn, receives a signal from the upper and lower receiver sensors, analyzes it and concludes that the moving object is only in the zone of the lower receiver sensor. After that, the microcontroller distributes information about the event to the indicators and to the hard disk. Next, the moving object passes below the level of the lower receiver sensor. At this point, this sensor starts receiving the ultrasonic wave again and provides a signal to the microcontroller. The microcontroller analysis device, in turn, comparing the signals received from the upper and lower reception sensors, makes a conclusion about the passage of the moving object from the zone of the sensor group. The microcontroller distributes the information about the completed event to the indicators, the display, the external device and to the hard disk.

After that, the microcontroller analysis device makes a conclusion about the fact that the moving object passed through location of the mobile device and transfers this information to the indicators, the display, to the external device and to the hard disk.

In the case when the microcontroller analysis device, tuned to the specified parameters, does not receive signals from the receiver sensors to resume reception of the ultrasonic wave within a given time, the microcontroller analysis device makes a conclusion about the occurrence of an emergency situation. The microcontroller, using the event analysis, distributes information to the indicators, the display, the external device and to the hard drive, including an alarm signal.

If there are n+1 sensor groups in the mobile device, based on the analysis of events registered at a certain time, the mobile device determines additional parameters, such as: the length of the moving object, the speed and direction of its movement.

The mobile device consists of: a microcontroller with an analysis device, a sensor control unit, at least one group of sensors, a hard drive; a touch-sensitive keypad, indicator lights, a display, Bluetooth (BT) and GPS modules, BT and GPS antennas, a battery pack, a gyroscope, and an attachment device. The sensor unit is connected to the microcontroller through the sensor control unit and includes at least one transmitting sensor and two ultrasonic wave receiver sensors.

A transmitting sensor is located between the ultrasonic wave receiver sensors, each sensor of the sensor group being configured to provide feedback to the sensor control unit. The hard drive, touch-sensitive keypad, lights, display, BT and GPS modules, BT antenna and GPS and gyroscope are connected to the microcontroller.

The battery pack supplies power to all elements of the device. The display, indicator lights, touch-sensitive keypad and gyroscope have a one-way communication with the microcontroller, which obtains information from them an subsequently displays and / or transmits that information. The sensor unit, hard disk, USB port, Bluetooth and GPS module with Bluetooth and GPS antennas are made with the possibility of feedback to the microcontroller.

The mobile device is designed to be able to communicate with independent external devices, which is carried out by connecting to Bluetooth module with antenna or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. The external mounting device can be made in the form of a permanent magnet or in the form of a permanent magnet with additional fixing clamps.

The essence of the utility model is explained by the drawings:

Fig. 1. - General view of the well before cementing with a mobile device

Fig. 2 - Arrangement of sensors and plug before passing through the sensors zone

Fig. 3 - Arrangement of sensors and plug - blocking of the signal of the upper receiver sensor Fig. 4 - Arrangement of sensors and plug - blocking the signal of both receiver sensors

Fig. 5 - Arrangement of sensors and plug - blocking of the signal of the upper receiver sensor

Fig. 6 - Arrangement of sensors and plug after passing through the sensor zone

Fig. 7 - Graphical representation of the received signal at the top receiver sensor (Rl)

Fig. 8 - Graphical representation of the received signal at the bottom receiver sensor (R2) Fig. 9 - Graphical representation of summing signals on (R2-

Rl)

Fig. 10 - Block diagram of mobile device elements The objective (determination of the passage of moving objects in oil, gas, and water wells) is achieved by installing the mobile device (3) on the casing below the cementing head (9). Key parameters, such as temperature, speed, time interval for recording parameters, time, geo localization (latitude / longitude), selfcalibration parameters, and the frequency and color of flashing light elements, are determined by built in components inside the mobile device (3).

Furthermore, the mobile device (3) is installed vertically on the outer surface of the pipe (16) using a permanent magnet at a level below the cementing head (9) (Fig. 1).

The mobile device (3) is tumed-on by transmitting a signal to the microcontroller (22). After power is turned on, the mobile device (3) automatically performs self-calibration, which includes checking the thickness of the pipe wall and vertical alignment of the mobile device (3) to the pipe (16).

After that, the microcontroller (22), through the sensor control unit (21), provides a signal to turn on at least one of the sensor groups (18, 19, 20). Then the ultrasonic wave transmitting sensor (19) begins to radiate multidirectional ultrasonic waves into the tube (16), and the receiver sensors (18,20) begin to receive these waves reflected from the inner side of the pipe wall (16).

Simultaneously with the beginning of operation of the mobile device (3), a group of sensors (18,19,20) sends a signal through the sensor control unit (21) to the microcontroller (22), whose analyzing device, in turn, analyzes this signal and distributes information about it to the indicators (26), to the external device, to the display (25) that displays information about the start of the sensors’ operation and to a hard disk (23) that starts recording the received information.

At the beginning of operation of the sensor group (18, 19, 20), receiving sensors (18, 20) located vertically above and below the signal transmitting sensor (19), receive ultrasonic waves of the same or similar amplitudes. The microcontroller - analyzes and compares the information coming from both receiver sensors (18,20) (Fig 1, 2, 10).

The time interval t <= 1 corresponds to the position of the moving object on (FIG. 2) - when there are no moving objects directly opposite any component of of the sensor group. The amplitude of the signals received at R1 (18) and R2 (20) are the same. The difference between the signal received at R 2 (20) and R1 (18) indicates the absence of a plug (Fig. 2, 7, 8, 9)

At the moment when the moving object (1/2) has reached the level of the upper receiver sensor (18), the ultrasonic wave in the location of the moving object ceases to reflect from the inner side of the pipe wall (16), and the upper receiver sensor (18) ceases to receive this wave. The microcontroller (22) analyzes this signal and concludes that the moving object (1,2) is in the zone of the upper receiver sensor (18).

Based on this analysis, the microcontroller (22) distributes information about the event to the indicators (26) and to the hard drive (23) (Fig 1, 3, 10). The time interval 1 < t <2 corresponds to the position of the moving object on (Fig. 3) - when the lower part of the moving object (1/2) passes the upper acquisition sensor R1 (18). The amplitude of the signal received on R1 (18) decreases, and on R2 (20) remains unchanged. The difference between the signal received at the receiver sensors R2 (20) and R1 (18) indicates the presence of the moving object between the receiver sensor R1 (18) and the transmission sensor T (19) (Fig. 3, 7, 8, 9)

Then, the moving object (1/2) enters the zone of the lower receiver sensor (20), resulting in a state in which both receiver sensors (18,20) stop receiving the reflected ultrasonic wave. Again, this signal is transmitted to the microcontroller (22) and the analysis device, which analyzes this signal and concludes that the moving object is in the zone of the upper (18) and lower (20) receiver sensors. The microcontroller (22), distributes the information about the event to the indicators (26) and to the hard disk (23) (Fig. 1, 4, 10).

The time interval 2 < t <3 corresponds to the position of the moving object on (Fig. 4) - when the moving object (1/2) continues to move downward and blocks reception of the signal on both reception sensors R1 (18), R2 (20). The amplitude of the signal received by the reception sensors R1 (18) and R2 (20) becomes zero. The difference between the signal received by the reception sensors R2 (20) and R1 (18) indicates the presence of the moving object in the area of the location of sensors R1 (18) and R2 (20) (Fig. 4, 7, 8, 9) When the moving object (1/2) leaves the area of the upper receiver sensor (18), this sensor starts receiving an ultrasonic wave and transmits a signal to the microcontroller (22). The microcontroller analysis device, in turn, receives a signal from the upper (18) and lower (20) receiver sensors, analyzes it and concludes that the moving object (1,2) is only in the zone of the lower receiver sensor (20). After that, the microcontroller (22) distributes information about the event to the indicators (26) and to the hard disk (23) (Fig. 1, 5, 10).

The time interval 3 < t <4 corresponds to the position of the moving object on (Fig. 5) - when the upper part of the moving object (1/2) has passed the upper interval between the reciever sensor R1 (18) and the transmission sensor T (19) but is still present in the zone the receiver sensor R2 (20). The amplitude of the signal received by the receiver sensor R1 (18) returns to the original value and remains unchanged and close to zero at the receiver sensor R2 (20). The difference between the signal received by the pickup sensors R2 (20) and R1 (18) indicates the presence of the moving object in the range of the receiver sensors R2 (20) and T (19) (Fig. 5, 7, 8, 9)

Next, the moving object (1/2) passes through the level of the lower receiver sensor (20). At this point, the lower sensor (20) starts receiving the ultrasonic wave again and provides a signal to the microcontroller (22). The microcontroller analysis device, in turn, comparing the signals received from the upper (18) and lower (20) receiver sensors, makes a conclusion about the passage of the moving object from the zone of the sensor group (18, 19, 20). The microcontroller (22) distributes the information about the completed event to the indicators (26), the display (25), the external device and to the hard disk (23).

After that, the microcontroller analysis device makes a conclusion about the fact of the moving object (1/2) passed through location of the mobile device (3) and transfers this information to the indicators (26), the display (25), to the external device, and to the hard disk (23) (Fig. 1, 6, 10).

The time interval t > = 4 corresponds to the position of the moving object on (Fig. 6) - when there are no moving objects in the zone of the sensor group. The amplitude of the signal received by the reception sensors R1 (18) and R2 (20) is the same. The difference between the signal received by the reception sensors R2 (20) and R1 (18) indicates the absence of a moving object (1/2) in the sensor group location area (Fig. 6, 7, 8, 9)

In the case when the microcontroller analysis device, tuned to the specified parameters, does not receive signals from the receiver sensors (18,20) to resume reception of the ultrasonic wave within a given time, the microcontroller (22) analysis device makes a conclusion about the occurrence of an emergency situation. The microcontroller (22), using the event analysis, distributes information to the indicators (26), the display (25), the external device and to the hard drive (23), including an alarm signal.

If there are n+1 sensor groups in the mobile device (3), based on the analysis of events registered at a certain time, the mobile device (3) determines additional parameters, such as: the length of the moving object (1/2) and the speed and direction of its movement. The mobile device (3) includes the following elements: a microcontroller (22) that receives and processes data from a sensor control unit (21) that controls a group of sensors that consist of one transmitting sensor T (19) and two reception sensors R1 (18) and R2 (20), the hard disk (23) on which all data is saved, the touch- sensitive keypad (24) located on the front side of the device enabling job information input, the display (25) serves to display information and LED indicators (26) signaling occurrence of events and the state of the device, the radio module (Bluetooth) and the GPS receiver (27), the antennas for Bluetooth and GPS (28) located on the front side of the device, the jack for connecting an external computer via a USB cable (29), the battery pack (30.1-30.3) , a battery charging slot (31) and a gyroscope (32) (Fig. 10)

The mobile device (3) consists of: a microcontroller (22) with an analysis device, a sensor control unit (21), at least one group of sensors (18,1,20), a hard drive (23), a touch-sensitive keypad (24), indicator lights (26), a display (25), Bluetooth (BT) and GPS modules (27), BT and GPS antennas (28), a battery pack (30.1, 30.2, 30.3), a gyroscope (32), and an attachment device. The sensor unit (18,19,20) is connected to the microcontroller (22) through the sensor control unit (21) and includes at least one transmitting sensor (19) and two ultrasonic wave receiver sensors (18,20).

A transmitting sensor (19) is located between the ultrasonic wave receiver sensors (18,20), each sensor of the sensor group being configured to provide feedback to the sensor control unit (21). The hard drive (23), touch-sensitive keypad (24), lights (26), display (24), BT and GPS modules (27), BT and GPS antenna (28) and gyroscope (32) are connected to the microcontroller (22). The battery pack (301., 30.2, 30.3) supplies power to all elements of the device. The display (25), indicator lights (26), touch-sensitive keypad (24), and gyroscope (32) have a one-way communication with the microcontroller (22), which obtains information from them an subsequently displays and / or transmits that information. The sensor unit (18,19,20), hard disk (23), USB port (29), Bluetooth and GPS module (27) with Bluetooth and GPS antennas (28) are made with the possibility of feedback to the microcontroller (22). The mobile device (3) is designed to be able to communicate with independent external devices, which is carried out by connecting to Bluetooth module with antenna or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. The external mounting device can be made in the form of a permanent magnet or in the form of a permanent magnet with additional fixing clamps (Fig 1, 10).

A mobile device for determining the passage of a moving object in oil and water wells has passed successful tests, which confirms the industrial applicability of the proposed method and apparatus. Advantages over the prior art:

1.There is no requirement for structural changes in the cement head

2. No need to install radio frequency tags on plugs

3. The ability to determine the speed of moving objects All of the above indicates the fulfillment of the technical tasks and the industrial applicability of the claimed device.

List of items:

1 Top Plug

2 Bottom Plug

3 Mobile device

4 Cement head bottom pin

5 Cement head top pin

6 Plug valve

7 Pump

8 High pressure manifold

9 Cement head

10 Quick connect

11 Tattle Tale indicator

12 Float Collar

13 Float Shoe

14 Annulus

15 Rig Floor 16 Casing

17 Ground level

18 Receiver sensor - R1

19 Transmiter Sensor - T

20 Reception sensor - R2

21 Sensor control unit

22 Microcontroller

23 Hard Drive

24 Touch-sensitive keypad

25 Display

26 LED indicators

27 BT and GPS Modules

28 Antennas for BT and GPS modules

29 USB connection

30 30.1-30.3 Batery

31 Batery charging slot

32 Gyroscope