Device for Remote Detection of a Fracturing Tool, Wireline, Tubing or Any Other Object Present in a Gas/Oil Well and/or Fracture Tree

Abstract

This invention provides a device for remote detection of a fracturing tool, wireline, tubing or other object in a gas and/or oil well and/or fracture tree (A) installed therein, comprising: a support element ( 2 ) configured to be installed at the upper end of the fracturing tree (A), said support means comprising a main body ( 2 a ), a through hole ( 2 b ), an upper end ( 2 c ), a lower end ( 2 d ), and an outer surface ( 2 c ), at least one geomagnetic sensor ( 1 ), wherein said at least one geomagnetic sensor is disposed on the external surface ( 2 e ) of the main body ( 2 a ) of the support element ( 2 ), said at least one geomagnetic sensor ( 1 ) being in wireless communication with a remote control and monitoring unit ( 3 ) comprising a user interface, and configured to receive and process data sent by said at least one geomagnetic sensor ( 1 ), and a command panel ( 11 ) comprising a logic controller ( 7 ) in communication with said at least one geomagnetic sensor ( 1 ).

1 . A device for remote detection of a fracturing tool, wireline, tubing or other object in a gas and/or oil well and/or fracture tree (A) installed therein, characterized in that it comprises:
 a support element ( 2 ) configured to be installed at the upper end of a fracture tree (A), said support means comprising a main body ( 2   a ), a through hole ( 2   b ), an upper end ( 2   c ), a lower end ( 2   d ), and an outer surface ( 2   c ), at least one geomagnetic sensor ( 1 ), wherein said at least one geomagnetic sensor is disposed on the external surface ( 2   e ) of the main body ( 2   a ) of the support element ( 2 ), said at least one geomagnetic sensor ( 1 ) being in wireless communication with a remote control and monitoring unit ( 3 ) comprising a user interface, and configured to receive and process data sent by said at least one geomagnetic sensor ( 1 ), and   a command panel ( 11 ) comprising a logic controller ( 7 ) in communication with said at least one geomagnetic sensor ( 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the data sent by said at least one geomagnetic sensor ( 1 ) is transmitted by data acquisition means via a data transmission network and stored in a cloud. 
     
     
         3 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said user interface is selected from a computer, a tablet and/or a smart cell phone. 
     
     
         4 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said remote control and monitoring unit ( 3 ) is configured to process the signal patterns sent by said data acquisition means and generate a set of warning and information signals for the user. 
     
     
         5 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said warning and information signals are light and/or audio signals and/or text messages which alert an operator by means of a user interface ( 3   a ) or by means of the command panel ( 11 ). 
     
     
         6 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said command panel ( 11 ) comprises an enclosure ( 12 ) adapted to house a logic controller ( 7 ), an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) ( 5 ), means for protecting electrical and electronic components and means for remote communication ( 8 ), an external 220V power supply ( 9 ), and a Skid assembly ( 10 ). 
     
     
         7 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the main support body ( 2   a ) includes a blast-proof housing ( 6 ) configured to house the at least one geomagnetic sensor and electrical and electronic means for remote communication. 
     
     
         8 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one geomagnetic sensor ( 1 ) is disposed on the perimetral external surface ( 2   e ) of the support ( 2 ) with a fixing means. 
     
     
         9 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises two geomagnetic sensors ( 1 ) disposed on the perimetral external surface ( 2   e ) of the support ( 2 ). 
     
     
         10 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises two geomagnetic sensors arranged in the same radial plane on the external surface ( 2   e ) of the support ( 2 ). 
     
     
         11 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 10 , characterized in that said two geomagnetic sensors ( 1 ) arranged in the same radial plane form between themselves an angle ranging between 30° and 90°, preferably, between 30 and 60°. 
     
     
         12 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor support ( 2 ) is a spool of flanged joints, a valve, a connection hub, or a bend. 
     
     
         13 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the upper end ( 2   c ) of the support ( 2 ) includes connection means configured for manual connection of a fracturing tool or automatic connection of a fracturing tool. 
     
     
         14 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said lower end ( 2   d ) of the support element ( 2 ) comprises lower connection means configured to connect to the upper end of the vertical branch of a fracturing tree (A). 
     
     
         15 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said upper connection means ( 2   c ) and lower connection means ( 2   d ) are flanged connections. 
     
     
         16 . The remote detection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said command panel ( 11 ) and/or said remote control and monitoring unit ( 3 ) allows to display a set of light and/or audio signals and/or warning text messages indicating to the operator the following situations:
 i—the device is on,   ii—the device has failed,   iii—there is a tool or wireline in the borehole,   iv—there is no tool or wireline in the borehole,   v—the wireline has been cut and consequently, the tool fell to the bottom of the well,   vi—there is a hydrate formation,   vii—damage to the wireline has occurred,   viii—there is a kink in the wireline,   ix—history of the operations performed during a given period is required.   
     
     
         17 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 16 , characterized in that said operation history comprises a historical summary of the fracturing tool and/or wireline detections indicating date and time of the status changes: presence of the tool/absence of the tool. 
     
     
         18 . The remote sensing device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one geomagnetic sensor includes a metallic sheath ( 4 ) preferably, made of aluminum.