Bottom hole assembly fiber optic shape sensing

Abstract

One or more of these thermomechanical properties of an underground formation can be monitored using a monitoring system. An example monitoring system includes a signal processing module, a visualization module, a signal source module, a signal detection module, and one or more optical fibers. Each fiber includes one or more sensors. The signal source module emits an optical signal into one or more optical fibers. The one or more sensors along the fiber interact with the optical signal, and alter the optical signal in response to one or more detected thermomechanical properties. The resulting optical signal is detected by the signal detection module. Based on the detected optical signal, the signal processing module determines the one or more thermomechanical properties that were detected by the sensors. An operator can view and monitor the detected thermomechanical properties using the visualization module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a bottom hole assembly (BHA) comprising one or more drill collars and a drill bit connected to the one or more drill collars; and   a sensor system for monitoring the BHA, comprising:
 one or more lengths of optical fiber helically wound and extending along the one or more drill collars; 
 a signal source module arranged to emit an optical signal into the one or more lengths of optical fiber; 
 a signal detection module arranged to detect the optical signal guided from the signal source module by the one or more lengths of optical fiber; 
 a signal processing module in communication with the detection module; and 
 an operator interface in communication with the signal processing module, 
   wherein the signal processing module is programmed to, during operation of the system:
 determine measurement information, based on the detected optical signal, about a thermomechanical property at multiple different locations on the one or more drill collars while the BHA is used to bore a well, and 
 send a signal to the operator interface when measurement information exceeds a threshold. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal processing module is further programmed to, during operation of the system, provide a recommendation to the operator interface based on the measurement information and the threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermomechanical property is strain. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermomechanical property is temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermomechanical property is pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermomechanical property is a shape of the BHA. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the BHA comprises at least two drill collars connected to each other via a coupler;
 wherein the coupler comprises a tube-shaped wall extending from a first end and a second end and a channel between the first end and the second end;   wherein the one or more lengths of optical fiber pass through the channel to continuously extend across the at least two drill collars and the coupler.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more lengths of optical fiber are disposed in one or more channels that extend helically along the BHA. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a protective cladding disposed in the one or more channels. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal source module is positioned between the one or more drill collars and the drill bit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a visualization module in communication with the signal processing module, wherein the visualization module is programmed to display the measurement information and an indication of a location that corresponds to the measurement information during operation of the system. 
     
     
         12 . A method of monitoring a bottomhole assembly (BHA) comprising:
 directing an optical signal into one or more lengths of optical fiber helically wound around and extending along one or more drill collars of the BHA;   detecting the optical signal after the optical signal is guided by the one or more lengths of optical fiber;   determining, based on the detected optical signal, measurement information about a thermomechanical property at multiple different locations on the one or more drill collars while the BHA is used to bore a well; and   sending a signal to an operator interface when the measurement information exceeds a threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing a recommendation to the user based on the measurement information and the threshold. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermomechanical property is strain. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermomechanical property is temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermomechanical property is pressure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermomechanical property is a shape of the BHA. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising displaying the measurement information and an indication of the locations on the BHA that corresponds to the measurement information. 
     
     
         19 . A sensor system for monitoring a bottom hole assembly (BHA) comprising:
 one or more lengths of optical fiber adapted to be helically wound and extended along a BHA;   a signal source module arranged to emit an optical signal into the one or more lengths of optical fiber;   a signal detection module arranged to receive the optical signal guided from the signal source module by the one or more lengths of optical fiber;   a signal processing module in communication with the detection module; and   an operator interface in communication with the signal processing module,   wherein the signal processing module is programmed to, during operation of the system:   determine measurement information about a thermomechanical property at multiple different locations on the BHA , and   send a signal to the operator interface when the measurement information exceeds a threshold.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the signal processing module is further programmed to, during operation of the system, provide a recommendation to the operator interface based on the measurement information and the threshold. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thermomechanical property is strain. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thermomechanical property is temperature. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thermomechanical property is pressure. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thermomechanical property is a shape of the BHA. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the signal source module is positioned between a drill collar and a drill bit. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a visualization module in communication with the signal processing module, wherein the visualization module is programmed to display the measurement information and an indication of the locations on the BHA that corresponds to the measurement information during operation of the system. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a coupler that connects a first portion of the BHA to a second portion of the BHA;
 wherein the coupler comprises a tube-shaped wall extending from a first end and a second end and a channel between the first end and the second end;   wherein the one or more lengths of optical fiber pass through the channel to continuously extend across the at least two drill collars and the coupler.