Locating pipe external equipment in a wellbore

Abstract

A method for providing a location of equipment external to a downhole pipe within a wellbore by detecting or generating magnetic or electromagnetic fields within the downhole pipe and measuring the magnetic/electromagnetic field disturbances caused from one or more magnetic generating entities. The magnetic generating entities are detected from the magnetic/electromagnetic field disturbances and the location of the pipe external equipment is determined based upon the magnetic/electromagnetic field disturbances caused from the magnetic generating entities. In another embodiment, an apparatus that comprises at least one pipe external equipment coupled to a downhole pipe within the wellbore, and at least one magnetic field generating entities coupled relatively close or at a known geometric distance to the at least one pipe external equipment. The magnetic field generating entities are coupled to at least one pipe external equipment using a fastening component or installed in the downhole pipe or pipe mandrel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing a location of downhole equipment external to a downhole pipe within a wellbore, comprising:
 generating a magnetic or an electromagnetic field within the downhole pipe using a logging tool;   measuring one or more at least one of the following: magnetic field disturbances and electromagnetic field disturbances caused from one or more magnetic generating entities;   detecting the positions of the one or more magnetic generating entities from at least one of the following: magnetic field disturbances and electromagnetic field disturbances; and   determining the location of one or more pipe external equipment based upon at least one of the following: magnetic field disturbances and electromagnetic field disturbances caused from the one or more magnetic generating entities,   wherein the one or more magnetic generating entities are located in close proximity to the one or more pipe external equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising securing the one or more pipe external equipment to the downhole pipe using one or more fastening components. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more magnetic generating entities are permanent magnets located on the one or more fastening components. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more magnetic generating entities are permanent magnets located in the pipe or pipe couplings 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more magnetic generating entities are permanent magnets located in a mandrel in the pipe string. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more magnetic generating entities are permanent magnets located in encapsulation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the one or more fastening components is a cross coupling clamp. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising securing the one or more pipe external equipment and the one or more magnetic generating entities to the downhole pipe using one or more fastening components. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the position of the one or more magnetic generating entities from at least one of the following: magnetic field disturbances and electromagnetic field disturbances comprise determining a magnetic flux leakage. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field is generated using a permanent magnet within the logging tool. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnetic generating entities is an array of magnets with different magnetic field pole orientations relative to the axis of the downhole pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnetic generating entities are a magnetic wire. 
     
     
         13 . A system for determining the locations of at least one pipe external equipment, the system comprising:
 a downhole pipe running within a wellbore;   at least one pipe external equipment running outside or within the downhole pipe within the wellbore;   a logging tool running within the downhole pipe; and   at least one magnetic field generating entities located at a determined distance to the at least one pipe external equipment,   wherein the logging tool is configured to:
 generate a magnetic, an electromagnetic field, or both; and 
 detect one or more magnetic field disturbances, electromagnetic field disturbances, or both that correspond to the location of at least one magnetic field generating entities. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one magnetic field generating entities are located outside of the downhole pipe. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one pipe external equipment is coupled to the downhole pipe via one or more fastening components. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the fastening component is a cross coupling clamp. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one magnetic generating entities are permanent magnets attached to the cross coupling clamp. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the logging tool is further configured to detect pits and voids within the downhole pipe by detecting the magnetic flux leakage of the downhole pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the logging tool is further configured to generate an magnetic field using a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one pipe external equipment coupled to the exterior of a downhole pipe configured to be run down a wellbore; and   at least one magnetic field generating entity coupled at a determined distance to the at least one pipe external equipment,   wherein the at least one magnetic field generating entity is coupled to the at least one pipe external equipment using a fastening component.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the least one magnetic generating entities are permanent magnets attached to the fastening component. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the least one magnetic generating entities is a magnetic wire. 
     
     
         23 . A method, system, and apparatus magnetically detecting equipment external to a downhole pipe prior to performing certain well operations as shown and described.