Electromagnetic depth/orientation detection tool and methods thereof

Abstract

Methods and systems for depth and radial orientation detection are provided. Methods for determining the depth or radial orientation of one or more downhole components include the steps of providing a target mass and a using a detection device for detecting the depth and/or orientation of the target mass. In some cases, the target mass is an electromagnet. In certain embodiments, the target mass is a magneto-disruptive element that is detected with a magnetic flux leakage tool. In this way, the target mass acts as a depth or radial orientation marker. Where the target mass is situated downhole in a known radial relationship to another downhole component, the radial orientation of the other downhole component may be deduced once the radial orientation of the target mass is determined. Advantages include higher accuracies and reduced health, safety, and environmental risks.

1 . A method for perforating a conduit disposed in a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:
 providing an inactivated electromagnet;   wherein the conduit is characterized by a longitudinal axis and a radial axis;   locating the inactivated electromagnet in proximity to the conduit wherein the inactivated electromagnet element is situated at a radial offset angle from a sensitive apparatus, wherein the radial offset angle is an angle from about 0° to about 360°;   activating the inactivated electromagnet to form an activated electromagnet element;   detecting the radial location of the activated electromagnet;   determining a perforation target based on the radial location of the activated electromagnet and the radial offset angle so as to reduce the risk of damage to the sensitive apparatus; and   perforating the conduit at the perforation target in a direction substantially away from the sensitive apparatus so as to not damage the sensitive apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the activated electromagnet comprises a solenoid having a ferromagnetic core. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of deactivating the activated electromagnet after the step of detecting the radial location of the activated electromagnet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of attaching the sensitive apparatus to the conduit and wherein the step of locating the target mass further comprises clamping the target mass to the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the radial offset angle is about 0° or about 180°. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the perforation target is radially situated about 180° from the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the perforation target is about 170° to about 190° from the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sensitive apparatus is a cable adjacent to the conduit and wherein the radial offset angle is about 0°. 
     
     
         9 . A method for perforating a conduit disposed in a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:
 providing a target mass having a magneto-disruptive element therein;   wherein the conduit is characterized by a longitudinal axis and a radial axis;   locating the target mass in proximity to the conduit wherein the target mass is situated at a radial offset angle from a sensitive apparatus, wherein the radial offset angle is an angle from about 0° to about 360°;   detecting the radial location of the magneto-disruptive element with a magnetic flux leakage tool;   determining a perforation target based on the radial location of magneto-disruptive element and the radial offset angle so as to reduce the risk of damage to the sensitive apparatus; and   perforating the conduit at the perforation target in a direction substantially away from the sensitive apparatus so as to not damage the sensitive apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of attaching the sensitive apparatus to the conduit and wherein the step of locating the target mass further comprises clamping the target mass to the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the radial offset angle is about 0° or about 180°. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the perforation target is radially situated about 180° from the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the perforation target is about 170° to about 190° from the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the sensitive apparatus is a cable adjacent to the conduit and wherein the radial offset angle is about 0°. 
     
     
         15 . A method for measuring deformation of a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a plurality of target masses at a plurality of depths in the subterranean formation, wherein the target masses are inactivated electromagnets;   (b) activating each inactivated electromagnet to form activated electromagnet elements;   (c) detecting an initial depth of each activated electromagnet to determine a baseline reference depth of each activated electromagnet;   (d) allowing the subterranean formation to deform;   (e) after step (d), detecting a measured depth of each activated electromagnet to determine a subsequent location of each activated electromagnet; and   (f) comparing the baseline reference depths to the subsequent locations to determine a deformation of the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of attaching the sensitive apparatus to the conduit and wherein the step of locating the target mass further comprises clamping the target mass to the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the radial offset angle is about 0° or about 180°. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the perforation target is radially situated about 180° from the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the perforation target is about 170° to about 190° from the sensitive apparatus.
 The method of  claim 15  wherein the sensitive apparatus is a cable adjacent to the conduit and wherein the radial offset angle is about 0°. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method for determining a radial orientation of a sensitive apparatus disposed in a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:
 providing an inactivated electromagnet in proximity to a conduit, wherein the conduit is characterized by a longitudinal axis and a radial axis;   locating the inactivated electromagnet at a radial offset angle from the sensitive apparatus, wherein the radial offset angle is an angle from about 0° to about 360°;   activating the inactivated electromagnet to form an activated electromagnet element;   detecting the radial location of the activated electromagnet using a magnetic flux measurement device; and   determining a radial location of the sensitive apparatus based on the radial location of the activated electromagnet and the radial offset angle.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of attaching the sensitive apparatus to the conduit and wherein the step of locating the target mass further comprises clamping the target mass to the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the radial offset angle is about 0° or about 180°. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the perforation target is radially situated about 180° from the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the perforation target is about 170° to about 190° from the sensitive apparatus.
 The method of  claim 20  wherein the sensitive apparatus is a cable adjacent to the conduit and wherein the radial offset angle is about 0°. 
 
     
     
         25 . A method for determining a radial orientation of a sensitive apparatus disposed in a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:
 providing a target mass having a magneto-disruptive element therein in proximity to a conduit disposed in the subterranean formation, wherein the conduit is characterized by a longitudinal axis and a radial axis;   locating the target mass at a radial offset angle from the sensitive apparatus, wherein the radial offset angle is an angle from about 0° to about 360°;   detecting the radial location of the magneto-disruptive element with a magnetic flux leakage tool; and   determining a radial location of the sensitive apparatus based on the radial location of the magneto-disruptive element and the radial offset angle.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the step of attaching the sensitive apparatus to the conduit and wherein the step of locating the target mass further comprises clamping the target mass to the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the radial offset angle is about 0° or about 180°. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the perforation target is radially situated about 180° from the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the perforation target is about 170° to about 190° from the sensitive apparatus. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the sensitive apparatus is a cable adjacent to the conduit and wherein the radial offset angle is about 0°.