Distributed sensor array for well completions

Abstract

A sensor assembly for use with a completion disposable within a well extending through a reservoir. The sensor assembly may include a sensor cable and a plurality of vibration sensors. The sensor cable may include an outer liner made up of housing sections and sensor housing structures sealably connected to the housing sections and spaced apart longitudinally along a length of the sensor cable. The plurality of vibration sensors may be operable to measure a property related to a flow of fluid within the reservoir and each sensor of the plurality of vibration sensors may be disposed in a respective sensor housing structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor assembly for use with a completion disposable within a well extending through a reservoir, the sensor assembly comprising:
 sensor cable comprising an outer liner made up of housing sections and sensor housing structures sealably connected to the housing sections and spaced apart longitudinally along a length of the sensor cable; and   a plurality of vibration sensors operable to measure a property related to a flow of fluid within the reservoir, each sensor of the plurality of vibration sensors disposed in a respective sensor housing structure.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration sensors comprises single axis vibration sensors. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration sensors comprises multiaxis vibration sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a sand screen configured to prevent passage of particulate material into a completion section. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising wires inside the outer liner to interconnect the plurality of sensors, wherein the sensor cable is deployed proximate to the sand screen in the well. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor assembly of  claim 5 , wherein each sensor includes a sensor chip and a communications interface connected to at least one of the wires. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer liner includes a continuous control line. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller cartridge that is part of the liner, the controller cartridge having a processor. 
     
     
         9 . A production system disposable within a wellbore extending through a reservoir, the production system comprising:
 a completion assembly; and   sensor assembly coupled to the completion assembly, the sensor assembly comprising:
 sensor cable comprising an outer liner made up of housing sections and sensor housing structures sealably connected to the housing sections and spaced apart longitudinally along a length of the sensor cable; and 
 a plurality of vibration sensors operable to measure a property related to a flow of fluid within the reservoir, each sensor of the plurality of vibration sensors disposed in a respective sensor housing structure. 
   
     
     
         10 . The production system of  claim 9 , wherein the completion assembly comprises:
 a first completion section for positioning in the wellbore; and   a second completion section for positioning within the wellbore and couplable to the first completion section.   
     
     
         11 . The production system of  claim 10 , wherein the first completion section comprises a first inductive coupler portion and the second completion section comprises a second inductive coupler portion to communicate with the first inductive coupler portion. 
     
     
         12 . The production system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of vibration sensors comprises single axis vibration sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The production system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of vibration sensors comprises multiaxis vibration sensors. 
     
     
         14 . The production system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a sand screen configured to prevent passage of particulate material into a completion section. 
     
     
         15 . The production system of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor assembly further comprises wires inside the outer liner to interconnect the plurality of sensors, wherein the sensor cable is deployed proximate to the sand screen in the well. 
     
     
         16 . The production system of  claim 15 , wherein each sensor includes a sensor chip and a communications interface connected to at least one of the wires. 
     
     
         17 . The production system of  claim 9 , wherein the outer liner includes a continuous control line. 
     
     
         18 . The production system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a controller cartridge that is part of the liner, the controller cartridge having a processor. 
     
     
         19 . A method of completing a well, the method comprising:
 deploying a completion assembly within the well, the completion assembly comprising a plurality of vibration sensors; and   measuring a property related to a flow of fluid within a reservoir surrounding the well via the plurality of vibration sensors.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising filtering particulate from the fluid within the reservoir via a sand screen prior to the fluid entering the completion assembly.