Acoustic detection system
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsColin Longfield, Dexter Myles Mootoo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique facilitates detection of an event in a subterranean environment, e.g. in a wellbore. A tool may be deployed to a desired wellbore location or other subterranean location for actuation between operational positions. An acoustic system also is deployed to detect a unique acoustic signature associated with an event related to operation of the tool. Upon detection of the unique acoustic signature, the acoustic system transmits data to a surface location or other suitable location to indicate occurrence of the event. An example of such an event is transition of the tool between operational positions.
Claims18
A system for use in a well, comprising:
- a well tool deployed in a wellbore;
- a tool actuator coupled to the well tool, the tool actuator being operable to shift the well tool between a plurality of operational positions;
- a pair of spring mass resonators, mounted to the tool actuator and configured such that when one of the spring mass resonators is excited, the other spring mass resonator of the pair is dampened depending on the position of the tool actuator;
- and
- an acoustic system deployed downhole into the wellbore, the acoustic system comprising a sensor calibrated to listen for a unique acoustic signature associated with fluid flow depending on the position of the tool actuator, the acoustic system further comprising wireless repeaters positioned within the wellbore to wirelessly transmit data received from the sensor uphole.
A method for detecting and communicating event information, comprising:
- actuating a tool, having a pair of spring mass resonators, in a subterranean environment between different operational tool positions wherein when one of the spring mass resonators is excited, the other spring mass resonator of the pair is dampened depending on the position of the tool actuator;
- using an acoustic sensor calibrated to listen for a unique acoustic signature associated with fluid flow corresponding to a specific operational tool position;
- and
- upon detecting the unique acoustic signature, wirelessly transmitting data from the acoustic sensor to a control system via at least one wireless repeater to provide an indication of the operational tool position.
A method for monitoring in a well, comprising:
- deploying a tool, having a pair of spring mass resonators, downhole in a well bore;
- actuating the tool between operational positions wherein when one of a pair of spring mass resonators is excited, the other spring mass resonator of the pair is dampened depending on the position of the tool actuator;
- detecting a unique acoustic signature associated with fluid flow related to operation of the tool;
- and wirelessly transmitting data to a surface location via repeaters indicating the event detected via the unique acoustic signature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.