Monitoring formation properties

Abstract

A method for monitoring pressure in a formation traversed by at least one wellbore comprising providing a tubular element having an outside surface, attaching a perforating gun oriented in such a way that when fired, the perforating gun does not damage the tubular element, connecting a sensor to the perforating gun in close proximity to the perforating gun wherein the sensor is exposed to the wellbore, inserting the tubular element into the wellbore, securing the tubular element in the wellbore, firing the perforating gun to penetrate the formation, exposing the sensor to the formation pressure, and monitoring the pressure in the formation with the sensor to obtain pressure data.

1 . A method for monitoring pressure in a formation traversed by at least one wellbore comprising: 
 providing a tubular element having an outside surface;    attaching a perforating gun oriented in such a way that when fired, the perforating gun does not damage the tubular element;    connecting a sensor to the perforating gun in close proximity to the perforating gun wherein the sensor is exposed to the wellbore;    inserting the tubular element into the wellbore;    securing the tubular element in the wellbore;    firing the perforating gun to penetrate the formation;    exposing the sensor to the formation pressure; and    monitoring the pressure in the formation with the sensor to obtain pressure data.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising attaching a wireless communications module to the outside of the tubular element.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the tubular element is casing.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the securing is performed by cementing the casing against the formation  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the firing is performed by pressuring up the casing to detonate a plurality of shaped charges.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising transmitting the pressure data to a surface control unit using the wireless communications module.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising producing oil from the formation.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising connecting the sensor to a surface control unit using a hard wire connection.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the inserting is performed by a cement stinger.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising producing oil from the formation.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the inserting is performed by tubing.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising producing oil from the formation.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for monitoring pressure in a formation traversed by at least one wellbore lined with casing comprising: 
 a wireless communications module mounted on the outside of the casing;    a perforating gun oriented away from the casing mounted on the outside of the casing; and    a sensor mounted on the outside of the casing wherein the sensor is not protected from overpressure.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a surface control unit, which is operatively connected to the wireless communications module.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the sensor is a pressure gauge.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for monitoring pressure in a formation traversed by at least one wellbore comprising: 
 a tubular element having an outside surface;    a wireless communications module mounted on the outside surface of the tubular element;    a perforating gun oriented away from the tubular element mounted on the outside surface of the tubular element; and    a sensor mounted on the outside surface of the tubular element wherein the sensor is not protected from overpressure.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a deployment device selected from the group consisting of tubing, cement stingers, and wireline.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a surface control unit which is operatively is connected to the wireless communications module.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the sensor is a pressure gauge.