Patent Publication Number: US-2023135161-A1

Title: Convertible gauge module and system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In the resource recovery and fluid sequestration arts, it is often necessary to monitor pressures in the downhole environment. There are devices that measure tubing pressure. These are effective but the art would well receive alternative constructions that allow greater flexibility with fewer components and convertibility as well. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of a convertible sensor module kit including a housing, a sensor port in the housing and having a seal block receptacle fluidly coupled to the sensor port, and a tubing pressure seal block or an annulus pressure seal block disposed in the receptacle. 
     An embodiment of a module for sensing annulus pressure comprising a housing, a sensor port in the housing and having a seal block receptacle fluidly coupled to the sensor port, and an annulus pressure seal block disposed in the receptacle, the block including a communication channel intersecting a monitor channel, the monitor channel in fluid pressure connection with the sensor port. 
     A method for determining a parameter in a borehole comprising determining a parameter of interest, selecting a seal block from the kit, installing the selected seal block in the housing, installing the housing on a tubing member to be monitored. 
     A borehole system comprising a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, a module constructed using the kit, then module disposed in or as a part of the string. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG.  1    is a view of a prior art tubing pressure module; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view showing a configurable pressure module as disclosed herein disposed on a segment of tubing; 
         FIG.  3    is a view of the configurable pressure module in the same perspective as the prior art module; 
         FIG.  4    is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG.  3   ; and 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic view of a borehole system including the pressure module as disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , illustrated is a prior art pressure module  10  mounted to a portion of a tubular member  12 , which may be a part of a string in a borehole. The module is commercially available from Baker Hughes Houston Texas and measures and or monitors pressure inside of the tubular member  12  via a pressure pathway  14  extending from an inside diameter  16  of the tubular member  12  into fluid communication with the module  10 , including a housing  11  and a sensor (not shown) in the housing  11 . The housing  11  further includes a seal block receptacle  13 . A tubing pressure seal block  18  is disposed in the receptacle  13  in fluid communication with the pathway  14 , the block  18  having a passage  20  fluidly connecting the pathway  14  to a sensor port  22  in the housing  11 . Plugs  24  and  26  are testing configurations allowing testing of the various seals in the module  10 . The module works well for its intended purpose but is limited to one purpose. 
     It has been determined by the inventors hereof that the prior art module  10  may be modified to allow for configurability in the field and to reduce inventory items if certain modifications are made to the prior art module  10  to create a new module  30  that it is alternatively capable of measuring or monitoring annulus pressure or measuring/monitoring tubing member pressure. Specifically, and referring now to  FIGS.  2 - 4   , an annulus pressure seal block  32  having a different configuration from seal block  18  may be substituted for seal block  18 . Seal block  32  includes a dead head for pathway  14  in tubular member  12  thereby preventing communication of fluid pressure from the inside diameter  16  to the module  30 . It should be evident from the drawing that the dead head nature of block  32  still includes a recess  34 . Recess  34  is useful in improving the metal-to-metal seal capability of the block  32  with the member  12  at  36 . Block  32  further includes a communication channel  38  that intersects with a monitor conduit  40 . Monitor conduit  40  conveys pressure to the sensor port  22 . In an embodiment the receptacle  13  is of larger dimensions than the seal block  32  so that fluid from the annulus may move about the seal block to access additional openings therein such as opening  33 . With the module  30  configuration, pressure from an annular space about the tubular member  12  is conveyed through the seal block  32  via plug port  42  due to the removal of plug  26 . Since port  42  is exposed to annulus pressure, the modification of module  10  to have the block  32  instead of block  18  and the removal of plug  26  allows the balance of the module  10  to operate as it would have done previously but be sensitive to annulus pressure instead of tubing pressure. The pressure pathway that occurs in Module  30  is easily apprehended in  FIG.  4    where arrow  34  identifies the tubing pressure being dead headed and arrow  36  identifies the annulus pressure being conveyed to the sensor port  22 . 
     Advantageously, the end user may select either block  32  or block  18  to insert into the module  30  or  10 , respectively, to monitor a pressure source (annulus or tubing, respectively), as desired. This may be done at a rig site in real time. The module may be sold as a kit including both blocks  18  and  32  so that configuration at the wellsite into a module  10  or a module  30  is an easily accomplished selection for an operator. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , a borehole system  50  is schematically illustrated. The system  50  includes a borehole  52  in a subsurface formation  54 . A string  56  is disposed in the borehole  52 . A module  30  is disposed within or as a part of the string  56 . 
     Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure: 
     Embodiment 1: A convertible sensor module kit including a housing, a sensor port in the housing and having a seal block receptacle fluidly coupled to the sensor port, and a tubing pressure seal block or an annulus pressure seal block disposed in the receptacle. 
     Embodiment 2: The module as in any prior embodiment wherein the tubing pressure seal block includes a passage therein to connect tubing pressure to the sensor port. 
     Embodiment 3: The module as in any prior embodiment wherein the annulus pressure seal block includes a communication channel therein to connect annulus pressure to the sensor port. 
     Embodiment 4: The module as in any prior embodiment wherein the annulus pressure seal block includes a monitor conduit between the communication channel and the sensor port. 
     Embodiment 5: The module as in any prior embodiment wherein the annulus pressure seal block includes an opening in addition to the communication channel feeding the monitor conduit. 
     Embodiment 6: The module as in any prior embodiment wherein the annulus pressure seal block includes a recess therein, the recess providing resilience in the annulus seal block to energize a metal-to-metal seal between the seal block and a tubing member upon which the module kit is installed. 
     Embodiment 7: The module as in any prior embodiment wherein the receptacle is of dimensions larger than dimensions of the annulus pressure seal block. 
     Embodiment 8: A module for sensing annulus pressure comprising a housing, a sensor port in the housing and having a seal block receptacle fluidly coupled to the sensor port, and an annulus pressure seal block disposed in the receptacle, the block including a communication channel intersecting a monitor channel, the monitor channel in fluid pressure connection with the sensor port. 
     Embodiment 9: The module as in any prior embodiment further including an opening intersecting the monitor conduit. 
     Embodiment 10: A method for determining a parameter in a borehole comprising determining a parameter of interest, selecting a seal block from the kit as in any prior embodiment, installing the selected seal block in the housing, installing the housing on a tubing member to be monitored. 
     Embodiment 11: A borehole system comprising a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, a module constructed using the kit as in any prior embodiment, then module disposed in or as a part of the string. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value. 
     The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.