Property monitoring below a nonpenetrated seal

Abstract

A nonpenetrated barrier system includes: one or more elements and a component having properties configured to reliably respond to impetus downhole of the one or more elements of the barrier system in a way that is measurable uphole of the one or more of the one or more elements of the barrier system. The system further includes one or more sensors positioned in operable communication with the component uphole of the one or more elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nonpenetrated barrier system comprising:
 one or more elements;   a component having properties configured to reliably respond to impetus downhole of the one or more elements of the barrier system in a way that is measurable uphole of the one or more of the one or more elements of the barrier system;   one or more sensors positioned in operable communication with the component uphole of the one or more elements.   
     
     
         2 . The nonpenetrated barrier system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the one or more elements is two or more elements. 
     
     
         3 . The nonpenetrated barrier system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the one or more elements are packers. 
     
     
         4 . The nonpenetrated barrier system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the component is a mandrel. 
     
     
         5 . The nonpenetrated barrier system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the component is a ramp. 
     
     
         6 . The nonpenetrated barrier system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sensor is a strain gauge. 
     
     
         7 . The nonpenetrated barrier system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sensor is communicatively connected to a remote location via a communication configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The nonpenetrated barrier system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sensor includes a memory. 
     
     
         9 . A method for monitoring a condition downhole of a nonpenetrated barrier system comprising:
 installing a barrier system as claimed in  claim 1 ;   measuring a property of the component that is related to a condition downhole of the one or more elements.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the measuring is continuous. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the measuring is periodic. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the measuring is measuring strain in the component. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the method further comprises communicating measurement data to a remote location. 
     
     
         14 . A method for monitoring conditions downhole of a nonpenetrated bather system in a borehole comprising:
 positioning a sensor relative to a component of the barrier system and uphole of an uphole-most nonpenetrated element of the barrier system that exhibits a condition created by properties downhole of the uphole-most nonpenetrated element of the barrier system;   monitoring the sensor.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the positioning is in contact with the component. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the sensor is a strain gauge. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the monitoring is periodic. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the monitoring is continuous. 
     
     
         19 . A method for enabling monitoring of a condition downhole of a nonpenetrated barrier system comprising installing a barrier system as claimed in  claim 1 .