Methods and means for measuring multiple casing wall thicknesses using x-ray radiation in a wellbore environment

Abstract

An x-ray-based cased wellbore simultaneous tubing and casing measurement tool is disclosed including at least an x-ray source; a radiation shield to define the output from of the produced x-rays; a two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array; a secondary two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array; a plurality of parallel hole collimators formatted such in one direction so as to form a pinhole in another direction; sonde-dependent electronics; and a plurality of tool logic electronics and PSUs. A method of using an x-ray-based cased wellbore simultaneous tubing and casing measurement tool is also disclosed, the method including at least producing x-rays in a shaped output; measuring the intensity of backscatter x-rays returning from materials surrounding the wellbore; determining the inner and outer diameters of tubing and casing from the backscatter x-rays; and converting image data from said detectors into consolidated images of the tubing and casing.

1 . An x-ray-based cased wellbore simultaneous tubing and casing measurement tool comprising a source collimator located cylindrically around an X-ray source with a plurality of collimated per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays, wherein said collimators are formed as pinholes in the transverse direction and a parallel hole collimator sets in the axial direction, and said tool comprises:
 an x-ray source;   a radiation shield to define the output from of the produced x-rays;   a two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array;   a secondary two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array;   a plurality of parallel hole collimators formatted such in one direction so as to form a pinhole in another direction;   sonde-dependent electronics; and   a plurality of tool logic electronics and PSUs.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging detector further comprises two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays wherein the imaging array is one pixel wide and multiple pixels long. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging detectors comprise two sets of two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays. 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging detectors comprise a plurality of two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays. 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging detectors comprise a plurality of collimated scintillator-based detector arrays. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the images contain spectral information to inform the characteristics of any wellbore materials or debris. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said shield further comprises tungsten. 
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is configured so as to permit through-wiring. 
     
     
         9 . The tool in  claim 1 , wherein the tool would be combinable would other measurement tools comprising one or more of acoustic or ultrasonic. 
     
     
         10 . The tool in  claim 1 , wherein the tool would be used to determine the inner diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         11 . The tool in  claim 1 , wherein the tool would be used to determine the outer diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         12 . The tool in  claim 1 , wherein the tool would be used to determine the distribution and inner diameter of a scale upon the inner diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         13 . The tool in  claim 1 , wherein the tool would be used to determine the position, distribution and area of perforations, within the casings surrounding the cased wellbore. 
     
     
         14 . The tool in  claim 1 , wherein the tool would be used to determine the position and integrity of sand-screens, within the casings surrounding the cased wellbore. 
     
     
         15 . The tool in  claim 1 , wherein the tool would be used to determine the position and integrity of gravel-packs, within the casings surrounding the cased wellbore. 
     
     
         16 . The tool in  claim 1 , wherein the tool would be used to determine the position and integrity of side-pocket mandrels, within the casings surrounding the cased wellbore. 
     
     
         17 . The tool in  claim 1 , wherein machine learning is employed to automatically reformat or re-tesselate the resulting images as a function of depth and varying logging speeds or logging steps. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using an x-ray-based cased wellbore simultaneous tubing and casing measurement tool comprising a source collimator located cylindrically around an X-ray source with a plurality of collimated per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays wherein said collimators are formed as pinholes in the transverse direction and a parallel hole collimator sets in the axial direction, said method comprising:
 producing x-rays in a shaped output;   measuring the intensity of backscatter x-rays returning from materials surrounding the wellbore;   determining the inner and outer diameters of tubing and casing from the backscatter x-rays; and   converting image data from said detectors into consolidated images of the tubing and casing.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said imaging detector comprises a two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays wherein the imaging array is one pixel wide and multiple pixels long. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said imaging detectors comprise a two sets of two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said imaging detectors comprise a plurality of two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the images contain spectral information to inform the characteristics of any wellbore materials or debris. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tool is combinable would other measurement methods comprising one or more of acoustic or ultrasonic. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tool would be used to determine the inner diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tool is used to determine the outer diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tool is used to determine the distribution and inner diameter of a scale upon the inner diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position, distribution and area of perforations within the casings surrounding the cased wellbore. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tool would be used to determine the position and integrity of sand-screens, within the casings surrounding the cased wellbore. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tool would be used to determine the position and integrity of gravel-packs within the casings surrounding the cased wellbore. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tool would be used to determine the position and integrity of side-pocket mandrels, within the casings surrounding the cased wellbore. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein machine learning is employed to automatically reformat or e-tesselate the resulting images, as a function of depth and varying logging speeds or logging steps.