Moving system and method

Abstract

A method to locate fracture zones in a well by emitting tube waves from different emission locations, sensing responses from the fracture zones at different corresponding receiving locations, and analyzing the responses to map the location of the fracture zones. Also, a system to locate the fracture zones in a well with an emitter movable to emit tube waves at different emission locations in the well, a downhole receiver adapted to sense responses at respective receiving locations a fixed distance relative to the emission locations, and a recorder to track the time between the emission and the response for the different emission locations. Also a downhole tool equipped with a tube wave emitter, a tube wave response receiver in a tandem arrangement with the emitter, and a deployment system selected from wireline, coiled tubing, tractor, and combinations thereof to move the emitter and receiver together in tandem.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to locate one or more fracture zones in a well, comprising:
 (a) emitting a plurality of tube waves from an emitter in the well from a like plurality of different emission locations;   (b) sensing for respective responses to the tube waves from the one or more fracture zones at a like plurality of different receiving locations; and   (c) analyzing the sensed responses at the different receiving locations to map the location of the one or more fracture zones.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the emitter to the different emission locations. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the different receiving locations is a fixed distance from each of the respective emission locations. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising deploying a distributed sensor in the well to sense the emissions and responses. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising moving an emitter-receiver tool in the well, the tool comprising the emitter and a receiver positioned at a fixed distance relative to the emitter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising deploying a distributed sensor in the well to sense the emissions and responses. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising moving the emitter at a constant rate in the well, emitting the tube waves at evenly spaced time intervals, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of emission locations comprise a first set of the emission locations above a first fracture and a second set of the emission locations below the first fracture. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first set of emission locations is located intermediate the first fracture and an adjacent higher fracture, the second set of emission locations is located intermediate the first fracture and an adjacent lower fracture, or both of the first and second sets of emission locations are located intermediate respective adjacent higher and lower fractures. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of receiving locations comprise a first set of the receiving locations above a first fracture and a second set of the receiving locations below the first fracture. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first set of receiving locations is located intermediate the first fracture and an adjacent higher fracture, the second set of receiving locations is located intermediate the first fracture and an adjacent lower fracture, or both of the first and second sets of receiving locations are located intermediate respective adjacent higher and lower fractures. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sensing the emissions and/or responses at a surface receiver. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising deploying the emitter on a wireline, coiled tubing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising planning a treatment of the well based on the mapped fracture locations, and implementing the treatment in accordance with the plan. 
     
     
         15 . A system to locate one or more fracture zones in a well, comprising:
 (a) an emitter movable in the well to emit tube waves at different emission locations in the well;   (b) a downhole receiver adapted to sense respective responses to the tube waves at respective receiving locations a fixed distance relative to the emission locations; and   (c) a recorder to track the time period between the emission of the tube waves and the sensed response for the different emission locations.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , comprising a wireline, or coiled tubing carrying the emitter for deployment. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the downhole receiver is carried on the wireline, or coiled tubing in a tandem arrangement at a fixed distance relative to the emitter. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the emitter is connected to a free end of the coiled tubing and the downhole receiver is mounted inside the coiled tubing, outside the coiled tubing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a distributed sensor in the well. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the downhole receiver comprises a distributed sensor. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a surface receiver adapted to sense the tube wave emissions, the responses to the tube waves, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a controller to deploy the emitter to different depths in the well. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is adapted to deploy the emitter at a constant rate of travel and release a continuous tube wave emission from the emitter. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is adapted to release a tube wave emission from the emitter at spaced intervals. 
     
     
         25 . A downhole tool for mapping fracture zones in a well, comprising:
 (a) a downhole assembly comprising:
 a. an emitter to emit tube waves; 
 b. a receiver to sense responses to the tube waves characteristic of fracture zones; and 
 c. an elongated member carrying the emitter and the receiver in a tandem arrangement with a fixed relative spacing; and 
   (b) a deployment system to move the downhole assembly to different depths selected from wireline, coiled tubing, and combinations thereof.