Fluid flow location identification system and method of determining location of flow contributions in a commingled fluid

Abstract

A fluid flow location identification system includes, a tubular having at least a first opening and a second opening therethrough, wherein the first component is degraded at least by fluid flowing from an outside of the tubular to an inside of the tubular through the first opening and the second component is degraded at least by fluid flowing from an outside of the tubular to the inside of the tubular through the second opening. Trace amounts of a first identifier are releasable into fluid degrading the first component, trace amounts of a second identifier are releasable into fluid degrading the second component. The trace amounts of the first identifier and the trace amounts of the second identifier are detectable in fluid after having comingled to allow determination of whether each of the first opening and the second opening have fluid flowing therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid flow location identification system, comprising:
 a tubular having at least a first opening and a second opening therethrough;   a first component being in operable communication with the first opening and a second component being in operable communication with the second opening such that the first component is eroded at least by fluid flowing from an outside of the tubular to an inside of the tubular through the first opening and the second component is eroded at least by fluid flowing from an outside of the tubular to the inside of the tubular through the second opening;   a first identifier in operable communication with the first component, trace amounts of the first identifier being releasable into fluid eroding the first component as the first component is eroded; and   a second identifier in operable communication with the second component, trace amounts of the second identifier being releasable into fluid eroding the second component as the second component is eroded, the trace amounts of the first identifier and the trace amounts of the second identifier being detectable in fluid after having comingled to allow determination of whether each of the first opening and the second opening have fluid flowing therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first component and the second component is positioned outside of the tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening and the second opening can be occluded when a closure in operable communication therewith covers the respective opening. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the first component and the second component each include a shell that prevents release of the first identifier and the second identifier until the shell has been breached. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 4 , wherein the shell is breachable in response to erosion. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 4 , wherein the shell is breachable in response to degradation. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 6 , wherein the degradation is in response to exposure to a target environment. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 1 , wherein an amount of each identifier released into the fluid is proportional to a flow rate of fluid flowing therepast. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 1 , wherein flow rates through each of the openings is determinable by analysis of concentrations of the identifier in operable communication with the respective opening. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 9 , wherein proportions of the traces of the first identifier and the traces of the second identifier in a comingled fluid are proportional to the flow rates through the first opening and the second opening. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular is positioned within a borehole in an earth formation. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 11 , wherein fluid flows from the earth formation through the first opening and the second opening. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 11 , wherein packers seal the tubular to the earth formation between the first opening and the second opening. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid flow location identification system of  claim 11 , wherein cement seals the tubular to the earth formation between the first opening and the second opening. 
     
     
         15 . A method of determining location of flow contributions in a commingled fluid, comprising:
 flowing fluid through at least a first opening in a tubular past a first component having a first identifier;   eroding the first component with the fluid flowing therepast;   releasing trace amounts of the first identifier from the first component into the fluid flowing therepast;   flowing fluid through at least a second opening in the tubular past a second component having a second identifier;   eroding the second component with the fluid flowing therepast;   releasing trace amounts of the second identifier from the second component into the fluid flowing therepast; and   determining whether fluid is flowing through the first opening and the second opening by detecting trace amounts of the first identifier and trace amounts of the second identifier in a flowing commingled fluid.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising releasing the first identifier and the second identifier into the fluid at a rate proportional to a flow rate of fluid therepast. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising only flowing fluid past the first component that flows through the first opening and only flowing fluid past the second component that flows through the second opening. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising isolating the first identifier from erosion unit a shell covering the first component has been breached. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising breaching the shell with erosion from the flowing fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising breaching the shell by degradation of the shell. 
     
     
         21 . A fluid flow location identification system, comprising:
 a tubular having at least one opening therethrough;   a component in operable communication with the at least one opening such that the component is eroded at least by fluid flowing from an outside of the tubular to an inside of the tubular through the at least one opening; and   an identifier in operable communication with the component, trace amounts of the identifier being releasable into fluid eroding the component as the component is eroded, the trace amounts of the identifier being detectable in fluid after having comingled with other fluid flowing within the tubular to allow determination of whether or not the at least one opening has fluid flowing therethrough.