US 11,746,649 B2
Leak detection for electric submersible pump systems
Abdullah M. Al-Dhafeeri, Al Khobar (SA); and Saad Ahmed Al Sdeiri, Khafji (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/647,677.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/136,520, filed on Jan. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0220844 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 47/117 (2012.01); G01M 3/28 (2006.01); E21B 43/12 (2006.01); E21B 47/008 (2012.01); E21B 47/06 (2012.01); E21B 33/12 (2006.01); E21B 34/06 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 47/117 (2020.05) [E21B 43/128 (2013.01); E21B 47/008 (2020.05); E21B 47/06 (2013.01); G01M 3/2846 (2013.01); E21B 33/12 (2013.01); E21B 34/06 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of determining a presence of a leak in a wall of a production tubing string positioned within a well drilled into a subterranean formation, wherein an electrical submersible pump is positioned at a downhole end of the production tubing string and wherein the electric submersible pump is configured to pump fluids from the subterranean zone in an uphole direction through the production tubing string, the method comprising:
(a) determining, based on measurements from a pressure sensor positioned at a downhole location at a discharge end of the electrical submersible pump, that a discharge pressure of fluid flowing from the electrical submersible pump in the uphole direction through the production tubing string has decreased over a specified time period;
(b) determining, based on measurements from a pressure sensor positioned at a surface location within a wellhead of the well, that a pressure within the production tubing string at the surface has decreased over the specified time period;
(c) determining, based on measurements from a flow-rate sensor positioned at an uphole end of the production tubing string, that a flow rate of fluids from the uphole end of the production tubing string has decreased relative to a calculated expected flow rate of fluids through the production tubing string at the discharge end of the electrical submersible pump over the specified time period;
(d) initiating, in response to (a), (b), and (c), a pressure integrity test of the production tubing string; and
(e) determining, based on the pressure integrity test, the presence of the leak.