GB2196410A

GB2196410A - A housing for pipe monitoring apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2196410A
Application number: GB08724722A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Shane Johnson Lake
Original assignee: Wood Group Drilling and Production Services Ltd
Current assignee: Wood Group Drilling and Production Services Ltd
Priority date: 1986-10-22
Filing date: 1987-10-22
Publication date: 1988-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2007-10-22
Also published as: GB8625290D0; NO874411D0; GB8724722D0; NO173754B; NO874411L; GB2196410B; NO173754C

Abstract

Pipe monitoring apparatus comprises an integral one-piece section of tubing 1 having means 2, 3 at each end for connection to further sections of tubing, the tubing wall defining one or more longitudinal throughbore 4 for passage of fluid and for communication with corresponding bores in said further sections of tubing, and a chamber eg. bore 5 in the tubing wall for receiving monitoring equipment for monitoring parameters of fluid in the throughbore(s) 4. An interconnecting bore 6 may or may not (Fig. 4) be provided. The bore 6 may be open to atmosphere, Fig. 5. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Monitoring apparatus This invention relates to monitoring apparatus for remotely monitoring parameters of fluid in tubing or pipes.

There is a requirement to provide means for monitoring various parameters of fluid in tubing and pipes. This requirement exists particularly in oil, gas, geothermal and water wells.

Previously this has been done by threading, welding or bolting a monitoring unit onto the side of a length of standard tubing. Apertures in the tubing allow monitoring equipment to communicate with fluid. Such equipment is costly and time consuming to instal and can cause weakening of the tubing.

According to the present invention there is provided monitoring apparatus comprising an integral one-piece section of tubing having means at each end for connection to further sections of tubing, the tubing wall defining a longitudinal throughbore for passage of fluid and for communication with corresponding bores in said further sections of tubing, and a chamber in the tubing wall for receiving monitoring equipment for monitoring parameters of fluid in the throughbore.

The chamber may if required communicate with the throughbore by means of a connecting passageway.

Preferably the chamber or chambers take the form of auxiliary bores coaxial with and offset from the throughbore and having one or more apertures communicating with the throughbore and an external aperture for passage of electric cable.

Seals may be incorporated at any point or points within the bores or apertures according to the application of the apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side view of one embodiment of monitoring apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a sectional plan view of a second embodiment of monitoring apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of a third embodiment of monitoring apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of a fourth embodiment of monitoring apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 6 is a sectional plan view of a fifth embodiment of monitoring apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, monitoring appa ratus is in the form of a section of tubing 1 for use downhole in well operations. The tubing 1 has integral connectors 2 and 3 at either end for connection to further sections of tubing (shown dotted in Fig. 1).

The tubing 1 is formed from a single piece of steel and has a throughbore 4 for the passage of fluids. A second bore 5 is offset from and runs parallel to the throughbore 4. Apertures 6 connect the throughbore 4 to the second bore 5 and the second bore 5 also has an external aperture 7.

The apertures 6 and/or bores 5 contain electronic sensors which sense various parameters in the tubing 1. Wiring from the sensors is gathered together in electronic monitoring equipment in the bore 5 which communicates with the surface or attaches onto cable for communication through the aperture 7.

The one piece construction of the tubing 1 with the integral nature of the bore 5 and electronic monitoring equipment makes the apparatus simple and robust and the tubing may: simply be inserted between two standard lengths of flow tubing as used to allow the free passage of fluid or other purposes.

Second and third embodiments of monitoring apparatus are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

In Fig. 3 three bores 5 are shown provided with interconnecting passages 8. This allows a greater number of electronic monitoring devices to be employed. Fig. 4 illustrates a construction of monitoring apparatus which comprises the throughbore 4 and a pair of chambers 5 formed in the tubing 1; in this case the chambers 5 do not have communicating passages with the throughbore 4, and are designed to house sensors for monitoring temperature, acoustic activity, nuclear activity or electromagnetic activity of the fluid in which case direct contact with the fluid is not required.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of monitoring apparatus incorporating two bores 5 with an interconnecting passage 8. Apertures 6 connect the bores 5 to the throughbore 4 and the annulus outside of the tubing 1. This allows conditions to be achieved wherein both apertures 6 are open to allow comparison between conditions in the annulus and conditions in the throughbore 4, or wherein one or other of the apertures is closed.

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 5 where there are two throughbores 4.

The monitoring apparatus can be used for monitoring various parameters during the time the well is completed and may be either a temporary installation or permanently included in the apparatus. The bore or bores 5 can be used to contain other equipment in addition to or in place of the electronic monitoring devices.

Modifications and improvements may be in corporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Monitoring apparatus comprising an integral one-piece section of tubing having means at each end for connection to further sections of tubing, the tubing wall defining a longitudinal throughbone for passage of fluid and for communication with corresponding bores in said further sections of tubing, and a chamber in the tubing wall for receiving monitoring equipment for monitoring parameters of fluid in the throughbore.

2. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the chamber is coaxial with an offset from the throughbore.

3. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the chamber is in communication with the throughbore by means of a connecting passageway.

4. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the chamber is in communication with the environment external of the tubing.

5. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a plurality of chambers are provided in the tubing wall.

6. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein at least two of the chambers are in communication with one another.

7. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, wherein at least one of the chambers is in communication with the throughbore and at least one other of the chambers is in communication with the environment external of the tubing.

8. Monitoring-apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or Fig. 3, or Fig.

4, or Fig. 5, or Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.