System and Method for Verifying Perforating Gun Status Prior to Perforating a Wellbore

Abstract

A system for verifying perforating gun status prior to perforating a wellbore. The system includes a perforating gun ( 38 ) having a leak sensor disposed therein that is positionable at a target location within the wellbore on a tubing string ( 30 ). A communication system ( 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 ) is integrated with the tubing string ( 30 ). The communication system ( 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 ) is operable to communicate with the leak sensor. A surface controller ( 40 ) is operable to send a first telemetry signal via the communication system ( 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 ) to interrogate the leak sensor regarding a leak status of the perforating gun ( 38 ), receive a second telemetry signal from the leak sensor via the communication system ( 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 ) including the leak status of the perforating gun ( 38 ) and determine whether to operate the perforating gun ( 38 ) based upon the leak status information.

1 . A method for verifying perforating gun status prior to perforating a wellbore comprising:
 running a perforating gun having a leak sensor disposed therein to a target location within the wellbore on a tubing string;   integrating a communication system with the tubing string, the communication system operable to communicate with the leak sensor;   sending a first telemetry signal via the communication system to interrogate the leak sensor regarding a leak status of the perforating gun;   returning a second telemetry signal from the leak sensor via the communication system including the leak status of the perforating gun; and   determining whether to operate the perforating gun based upon the leak status information.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein running the perforating gun having a leak sensor disposed therein further comprises running the perforating gun having a moisture sensor disposed therein. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein running the perforating gun having a leak sensor disposed therein further comprises running the perforating gun having a pressure sensor disposed therein. 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein integrating a communication system with the tubing string further comprises integrating an acoustic communication system with the tubing string. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein sending a first telemetry signal via the communication system to interrogate the leak sensor regarding a leak status of the perforating gun further comprises sending an acoustic signal encoded with the leak status request. 
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein returning a second telemetry signal from the leak sensor via the communication system including the leak status of the perforating gun further comprises returning an acoustic signal encoded with the leak status information. 
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein determining whether to operate the perforating gun based upon the leak status information further comprises determining whether to operate the perforating gun based upon moisture status information. 
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein determining whether to operate the perforating gun based upon the leak status information further comprises determining whether to operate the perforating gun based upon pressure status information. 
   
   
       9 . A method for verifying perforating gun system status prior to perforating a wellbore comprising:
 running the perforating gun system to a target location within the wellbore on a tubing string, the perforating gun system including a plurality of perforating guns each having a leak sensor disposed therein;   integrating a communication system with the tubing string, the communication system operable to communicate with the leak sensors;   sending first telemetry signals via the communication system to interrogate the leak sensors regarding a leak status of each of the perforating guns;   returning second telemetry signals from the leak sensors via the communication system including the leak status of each of the perforating guns; and   determining whether to operate the perforating gun system based upon the leak status information.   
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9  further comprises selecting the leak sensors from moisture sensors and pressure sensors. 
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 9  wherein integrating a communication system with the tubing string further comprises integrating an acoustic communication system with the tubing string. 
   
   
       12 . A system for verifying perforating gun status prior to perforating a wellbore comprising:
 a perforating gun having a leak sensor disposed therein positioned at a target location within the wellbore on a tubing string;   a communication system integrated with the tubing string, the communication system operable to communicate with the leak sensor; and   a surface controller operable to send a first telemetry signal via the communication system to interrogate the leak sensor regarding a leak status of the perforating gun, receive a second telemetry signal from the leak sensor via the communication system including the leak status of the perforating gun and determine whether to operate the perforating gun based upon the leak status information.   
   
   
       13 . The system as recited in  claim 12  wherein the leak sensor further comprises a moisture sensor. 
   
   
       14 . The system as recited in  claim 12  wherein the leak sensor further comprises a pressure sensor. 
   
   
       15 . The system as recited in  claim 12  wherein the communication system further comprises an acoustic communication system. 
   
   
       16 . A method for verifying an environmental condition relative to a perforating gun disposed in a wellbore comprising:
 running the perforating gun having at least one environmental sensor associated therewith to a target location within the wellbore on a tubing string;   integrating a communication system with the tubing string, the communication system operable to communicate with the environmental sensor;   sending a first telemetry signal via the communication system to interrogate the environmental sensor regarding an environmental condition relative to the perforating gun; and   returning a second telemetry signal from the environmental sensor via the communication system including the environmental condition relative to the perforating gun.   
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein running the perforating gun having at least one environmental sensor associated therewith to a target location within the wellbore on a tubing string further comprises selecting the at least one environmental sensor from at least one of a moisture sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a shock load sensor, a liner displacement sensor, a depth sensor and a fluid sensor. 
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein running the perforating gun having at least one environmental sensor associated therewith to a target location within the wellbore on a tubing string further comprises disposing the at least one environmental sensor interior of the perforating gun. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein running the perforating gun having at least one environmental sensor associated therewith to a target location within the wellbore on a tubing string further comprises disposing the at least one environmental sensor exterior of the perforating gun. 
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein integrating a communication system with the tubing string further comprises integrating an acoustic communication system with the tubing string. 
   
   
       21 . The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein sending a first telemetry signal via the communication system to interrogate the environmental sensor regarding an environmental condition relative to the perforating gun further comprises sending an acoustic signal encoded with the environmental condition request. 
   
   
       22 . The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein returning a second telemetry signal from the environmental sensor via the communication system including the environmental condition relative to the perforating gun further comprises returning an acoustic signal encoded with the environmental condition information. 
   
   
       23 . The method as recited in  claim 16  further comprising determining whether to operate the perforating gun based upon the environmental condition. 
   
   
       24 . A system for verifying an environmental condition relative to a perforating gun disposed in a wellbore comprising:
 at least one environmental sensor associated with the perforating gun positioned at a target location within the wellbore on a tubing string;   a communication system integrated with the tubing string, the communication system operable to communicate with the environmental sensor; and   a surface controller operable to send a first telemetry signal via the communication system to interrogate the environmental sensor regarding an environmental condition relative to the perforating gun and receive a second telemetry signal from the environmental sensor via the communication system including the environmental condition relative to the perforating gun.   
   
   
       25 . The system as recited in  claim 24  wherein the communication system further comprises an acoustic communication system.