System and method for detecting movement in well equipment

Abstract

An apparatus for use in a well for indicating movement of a reservoir. The apparatus may include first and second equipment assemblies connected by a telescoping connection mechanism. A sensor assembly may be provided and configured to detect relative movement of at least a portion of the telescoping connection mechanism. The relative movement of at least a portion of the telescoping mechanism may interpreted so as to correlate to the compaction or expansion of the reservoir.

1 . An apparatus for use in a well that extends to a reservoir, comprising:
 a first equipment assembly;   a second equipment assembly;   a telescoping connection mechanism between the first and second equipment assemblies; and   a sensor assembly to detect movement in at least a portion of the telescoping connection mechanism.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to interpret measurement data from the sensor assembly and to indicate compaction of the reservoir in response to the measurement data. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the telescoping connection mechanism has a first segment and a second segment arranged within the first segment, wherein the first and second segments are axially moveable with respect to each other. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first equipment assembly comprises a first casing segment to line the well, and the second equipment assembly comprises a second casing segment to line the well, wherein the first and second casing segments are interconnected by the telescoping connection mechanism. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises a position sensor configured to provide substantially continuous measurement of axial movement of the at least a portion of the telescoping connection mechanism. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises a position sensor configured to provide discrete measurements indicating axial movement of the at least a portion of the telescoping connection mechanism. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising production equipment to produce fluid from the reservoir. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a position sensor configured to detect relative movement between the first and second equipment assemblies. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the position sensor includes a probe member translatably engaged with a profile surface provided in the telescoping connection mechanism, wherein the position sensor detects movement in the at least a portion of the telescoping connection mechanism based on the relative motion of the probe member and the profile surface. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the probe member comprises a radial protrusion, and wherein relative motion of the radial protrusion and the profile surface is reported by the position sensor as a radial displacement. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the position sensor includes one of an optical, resistive, electrical, electrostatic, or magnetic sensor 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is configured to provide an indication that the first and second completion assemblies have successfully landed with respect to each other. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is configured to further provide an indication of one or more properties associated with the well or reservoir. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more properties include pressure, temperature, or resistivity. 
   
   
       15 . A method comprising:
 positioning first and second well equipment assemblies in a well;   interconnecting the first and second well equipment assemblies using a telescoping connection mechanism;   detecting relative movement between the first and second well assemblies using a sensor assembly; and   determining an indication of reservoir compaction correlating to the relative movement detected by the sensor assembly,   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein positioning the first and second well equipment assemblies comprises positioning first and second casing segments that line the well. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein determining the indication of reservoir compaction comprises:
 communicating to a controller the relative movement detected by the sensor;   communicating to the controller other measurement data from the sensor assembly;   interpreting the relative movement and the other measurement data communicated to the controller to provide the indication of reservoir compaction.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the other measurement data is selected from pressure and temperature of the reservoir. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein detecting the relative movement using the sensor assembly comprises using one of a mechanical position sensor, an optical sensor, a resistive sensor, an electrical sensor, an electrostatic sensor, or a magnetic sensor. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising communicating relative movement from the sensor assembly to a surface controller through a wireless mechanism. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein communicating the measurement data from the sensor assembly to the surface controller through the wireless mechanism comprises communicating through one of an inductive coupler, an acoustic telemetry mechanism, or an electromagnetic telemetry mechanism.