Systems and methods for monitoring wellbore fluids using microanalysis of real-time pumping data

Abstract

Systems and methods for obtaining information about one or more fluids in a wellbore in a subterranean formation are disclosed herein. A fluid monitoring system comprises a fluid measurement device and a data system that receives a first and second set of data. A first set of data and second set of data may be obtained and compared to determine the location of one or more fluids in a wellbore in real time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for obtaining information about one or more fluids in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, comprising:
 obtaining a first set of data relating to one or more fluids directed into the wellbore over a period of time in short intervals;   obtaining a second set of data relating to one or more fluids exiting the wellbore over a period of time in short intervals; and   in real time, determining the location of a fluid in the wellbore based on the first and second sets of data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sets of data are compared by performing a regression. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location of a fluid in the wellbore is determined based at least in part on the available volume of a plurality of components, wherein the plurality of components includes at least two of the following: a casing, a tubing, and the wellbore. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sets of data include one or more of the following: fluid volume, fluid pressure, fluid density, and fluid flow rate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing two or more fluids downhole, wherein the two or more fluids are of different densities;
 and wherein the second set of data includes fluid density data. 
   
     
     
         6 . A method for obtaining information about one or more fluids in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, comprising:
 modeling a first set of data relating to one or more fluids expected to be directed into or expected to exit the wellbore over a period of time in short intervals;   obtaining a second set of data relating to one or more fluids exiting the wellbore over a period of time in short intervals; and   in real time, comparing the first and second sets of data to determine the location of a fluid in the wellbore.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second sets of data are compared by performing a regression. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the location of a fluid in the wellbore is calculated based on the available volume of a plurality of components, wherein the plurality of components includes at least two of the following: a casing, a tubing, and the wellbore. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second sets of data include one or more of the following: fluid volume, fluid pressure, fluid density, and fluid flow rate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 directing two or more fluids downhole, wherein the two or more fluids are of different densities;
 and wherein the second set of data includes fluid density data. 
   
     
     
         11 . A fluid monitoring system comprising:
 a data system;   one or more fluid measurement devices communicatively coupled to the data system that are configured to detect amounts of fluids directed into or exiting the wellbore;   wherein the data system receives
 a first set of data relating to one or more fluids directed into, expected to be directed into, or expected to exit the wellbore over a period of time, and 
 a second set of data relating to one or more fluids exiting the wellbore over a period of time from the one or more fluid measurement devices; 
   wherein the data system uses the first and second sets of data received to determine the location of one or more fluids in the wellbore in real time.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the data system is coupled to an external communications interface that is remotely accessible. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second sets of data are compared by performing a regression. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the location of a fluid in the wellbore is determined based at least in part on the available volume of a plurality of components, wherein the plurality of components includes at least two of the following: a casing, a tubing, and the wellbore. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second sets of data include one or more of the following: fluid volume, fluid pressure, fluid density, and fluid flow rate.