Well integrity smart joint

Abstract

A well integrity joint including a body, and at least two components of a sensory system, disposed on the joint such that the at least components of a sensory system are connectible by a straight line that does not intersect the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A well integrity joint comprising:
 a body; and   at least two components of a sensory system, disposed on the joint such that the at least components of a sensory system are connectible by a straight line that does not intersect the body.   
     
     
         2 . The joint as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least two supports on or as a part of the pipe joint, the at least two supports extending radially outwardly of the body, one of the at least two components of a sensory system being disposed on one of the at least two supports. 
 
     
     
         3 . The joint as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the straight line does not intersect any of the at least two supports. 
     
     
         4 . The joint as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are transducers. 
     
     
         5 . The joint as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are a transducer and a reflector. 
     
     
         6 . The joint as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are active acoustic components. 
     
     
         7 . The joint as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are ultrasonic components. 
     
     
         8 . The joint as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are cement bond log components. 
     
     
         9 . The joint as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are passive acoustic components. 
     
     
         10 . The joint as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are arranged about a circumference of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The joint as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are arranged along a length of the body. 
     
     
         12 . The joint as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least two components of a sensory system are arranged angularly relative to one another wherein the angular range is from greater than zero degrees apart to less than 180 degrees apart. 
     
     
         13 . The joint as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a temperature sensor disposed on or as a part of the casing body. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method for monitoring well cement comprising;
 propagating a signal between the at least two components of a sensory system as claimed in  claim 1 .   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the signal is propagated through cement disposed between the at least two components of a sensory system. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the signal is continuous over time. 
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a wellbore system comprising:
 disposing one or more well integrity joints as claimed in  claim 1  in a borehole; and   monitoring integrity of the borehole over time using the one or more well integrity joints.   
     
     
         18 . A wellbore system comprising:
 a borehole in a subsurface formation; and   a casing string in the borehole, the casing string including a well integrity joint as claimed in  claim 1 .