US 11,572,784 B2 · ALD-thin layer coating applications for sensing telemetry

Abstract

Layered coating applications for sensing telemetry are provided. An example method can include depositing an optical waveguide on an inner surface of a wellbore tool, the optical waveguide including a first layer of low refractive-index material, a second layer of high refractive-index material applied to a first surface of the first layer, and a third layer of low refractive-index material applied to a second surface of the second layer; configuring non-uniformities at one or more locations of the optical waveguide, the non-uniformities configured to reflect or scatter light at angles relative to a site of interaction between the light and the non-uniformities; determining a reflection and/or transmission pattern of light propagated through the optical waveguide and reflected or scattered by the non-uniformities; and based on the reflection and/or transmission pattern of the light, determining one or more conditions associated with of the wellbore tool.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

depositing an optical waveguide directly onto an inner surface of a drill pipe, the optical waveguide comprising a first layer of low refractive-index material, a second layer of high refractive-index material applied to a first surface of the first layer, and a third layer of low refractive-index material applied to a second surface of the second layer;
configuring one or more non-uniformities at one or more locations of the optical waveguide, the one or more non-uniformities being configured to reflect or scatter light at one or more angles relative to a site of interaction between the light and the one or more non-uniformities;
determining at least one of a reflection pattern and a transmission pattern of light propagated through the optical waveguide and reflected or scattered by the one or more non-uniformities;
and
based on the at least one of the reflection pattern and the transmission pattern of the light, determining one or more conditions associated with the drill pipe.

2 more elements

A system comprising:

a wellbore tool;
an optical waveguide directly deposited onto an inner surface of a drill pipe, the optical waveguide comprising a first layer of low refractive-index material, a second layer of high refractive-index material applied to a first surface of the first layer, and a third layer of low refractive-index material applied to a second surface of the second layer;
one or more non-uniformities at one or more locations of the optical waveguide, the one or more non-uniformities being configured to reflect or scatter light at one or more angles relative to a site of interaction between the light and the one or more non-uniformities;
and
an apparatus configured to:
determine at least one of a reflection pattern and a transmission pattern of light propagated through the optical waveguide and reflected or scattered by the one or more non-uniformities;
and
determine, based on the at least one of the reflection pattern and the transmission pattern of the light, one or more conditions associated with the drill pipe.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

ALD-thin layer coating applications for sensing telemetry

Life of this patent

ALD-thin layer coating applications for sensing telemetry

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20