BEHIND CASING FLUID FLOW DETECTION IN PRODUCING WELLS USING GAS LIFT

摘要

BEHIND CASING FLUID FLOW DETECTION IN PRODUCING WELLS USING GAS LIFT (D#74,517-3-F) Methods are provided for locating and measuring the linear flow velocity and volume flow rate of undesired water production behind casing in a producing well operating on gas lift while the well remains in a producing configuration. A well logging tool sized and adapted for passing through production tubing is lowered through the tubing string into the producing zone. The tool contains a source of 14 MEV neutrons and two longitudinally spaced gamma ray detectors. The detector may be placed alternately above or below the neutron source on the tool while maintaining the same source to detector spacing. With the well on production under gas lift the earth formations behind the casing are irradiated with 14 MEV neutrons, either continuously or in bursts, to activate elemental oxygen nuclei comprising the molecular structure of the undesired water flow. The decay of unstable isotope nitrogen 16 produced thereby is detected by the detection of its characteristic gamma rays at the dual spaced detectors. These measurements may then be interpreted in terms of the linear flow rate and volume flow rate of the undesired water flow. -I-