Smart seal methods and systems

Abstract

An oilfield component configured to contain a fluid flowing from a well, the oilfield component including a hollow body having a bore; a sealing component having an elastomeric body, the sealing component being able to close to seal against an object in the bore of the hollow body; wherein the sealing component comprises at least one embedded sensor configured to detect a change in a radial dimension of the object in the bore as the object is moved axially through the oilfield component; and a controller operable to control a closing pressure on the sealing component of the oilfield component based on the detected change in the radial dimension of the object in the bore measured by the at least one embedded sensor. Related method is also disclosed.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing an oilfield component configured to contain a fluid flowing from a well, the oilfield component including a sealing component having an elastomeric body with at least one embedded sensor;   detecting a change in a radial dimension of a tubular as the tubular is moved axially through the oilfield component using the embedded sensor; and   using the detected change in the radial dimension of the tubular as feedback in controlling the oilfield component.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the change in the radial dimension of the tubular using the embedded sensor includes detecting a change in loading on the sealing component resulting from movement of the tubular via the embedded sensor and inferring passage of the change in the radial dimension of the tubular through the oilfield component from the change in loading on the sealing component. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising determining the location of the change in the radial dimension of the tubular with respect to the oilfield component after the change in the radial dimension of the tubular has exited the oilfield component based on data from the embedded sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the oilfield component comprises reducing closing pressure on the sealing component in response to detecting, with the embedded sensor, an increase in the radial dimension of the tubular corresponding to entry of a tool joint into engagement with the sealing component. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the oilfield component comprises increasing closing pressure on the sealing component in response to detecting, with the embedded sensor, a decrease in the radial dimension of the tubular corresponding to exit of a tool joint out of engagement with the sealing component. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing component having the elastomeric body with the embedded sensor is a packer that is in contact with the tubular. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the location of the change in the radial dimension of the tubular comprises determining the location of a tool joint with respect to the oilfield component after the tool joint has exited the oilfield component based on data from the embedded sensor and includes:
 detecting increased loading on a packer of the oilfield component resulting from passage of the tool joint through the packer of the oilfield component when the oilfield component is in a closed position about the tubular;   measuring an elapsed time of the increased loading on the packer resulting from passage of the tool joint through the packer; and   extrapolating the position of the tool joint based on the elapsed time.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the location of the change in the radial dimension of the tubular comprises determining the location of a tool joint with respect to the oilfield component after the tool joint has exited the oilfield component based on data from the embedded sensor and includes:
 detecting increased loading on a packer of the oilfield component resulting from passage of multiple tool joints through the packer of the oilfield component;   measuring an elapsed time between passage of at least two of the multiple tool joints through the packer; and   extrapolating the position of the tool joint based on the elapsed time.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oilfield component comprises a blowout preventer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing component is selected from the group consisting of a ram packer, a ram top seal, an annular packer, an O-ring, a gasket, a pressure seal, a wiper seal, and a shaft seal. 
     
     
         11 . An oilfield component configured to contain a fluid flowing from a well, the oilfield component including:
 a hollow body having a bore;   a sealing component having an elastomeric body, the sealing component being able to close to seal against an object in the bore of the hollow body; wherein the sealing component comprises at least one embedded sensor configured to detect a change in a radial dimension of the object in the bore as the object is moved axially through the oilfield component; and   a controller operable to control a closing pressure on the sealing component of the oilfield component based on the detected change in the radial dimension of the object in the bore measured by the at least one embedded sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The oilfield component of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is operable to detect a tool joint of the object when in contact with the sealing component of the oilfield component. 
     
     
         13 . The oilfield component of  claim 11 , wherein the oilfield component is a blowout preventer. 
     
     
         14 . The oilfield component of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing component is selected from the group consisting of a ram packer, a ram top seal, an annular packer, an O-ring, a gasket, a pressure seal, a wiper seal, and a shaft seal.