Patent ID: 8525986
Filing Date: 2013-09-03
Classification: E21B,G01F,G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of completing a lateral well in a target shale formation, comprising the steps of: a) providing a flow cell assembly within a flare gas flow line of a rig drilling said lateral well, said gas flow line being in fluid communication with a return flow line of said lateral well, said assembly comprising: a flow cell having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an internal bore, said flow cell including a first aperture and a second aperture, each of said first and second apertures providing an opening to said internal bore; an optical probe detachably mounted on said outer surface of said flow cell, said optical probe having a proximal end and a distal end, said optical probe being disposed through said first aperture in said flow cell so that said distal end of said optical probe is positioned within said internal bore of said flow cell, said optical probe capable of measuring the velocity of a gas flowing through said internal bore of said flow cell; an optical probe mounting assembly detachably mounted on said outer surface of said flow cell, said optical probe mounting assembly encasing a portion of said optical probe; a sensor means detachably mounted on said outer surface of said flow cell, said sensor means including a sensor array having a proximal end and a distal end, said sensor array being disposed through said second aperture in said flow cell so that said distal end of said sensor array is positioned within said internal bore of said flow cell, said sensor array including a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor; b) obtaining a raw point flow velocity data of the gas flowing in said flow line; c) obtaining a temperature measurement of said gas in said flow line; d) obtaining a pressure measurement of said gas in said flow line; e) filtering said raw point flow velocity data to reject errant velocity data to obtain filtered raw point flow velocity data; f) correcting said filtered raw point flow velocity data based on an empirical data of flow meter type and operating conditions to obtain a bulk velocity data; g) calculating a corrected flow rate for said gas in said flow line based on said bulk velocity data and an internal diameter of said flow line; h) using said temperature measurement and said pressure measurement for calculating said corrected flow rate for said gas in said flow line; i) calculating a gas volume per foot drilled data based on said corrected flow rate for said gas and a time measurement; j) using said corrected flow rate to determine an amount of gas in said return flow line; k) generating a data log showing areas of said lateral well exhibiting high free gas porosity.