Distributed electromagnetic interrogation system
AssigneeUnited States Department of Energy
InventorsPaul R. Ohodnicki, Jagannath Devkota, Roman Shugayev, Ruishu Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A distributed electromagnetic interrogation system may include a wellbore, a wellbore casing positioned in the wellbore, and a plurality of conformal helical antennas distributed along the wellbore casing. The plurality of conformal helical antennas may be configured to operate in a radio or microwave frequency range and to propagate electromagnetic radiation along an external propagating mode of the wellbore casing. An interrogator may be coupled to receive and process data from the plurality of conformal helical antennas.
Claims19
A distributed electromagnetic interrogation system comprising:
- a wellbore;
- a wellbore casing positioned in the wellbore;
- a plurality of conformal helical antennas distributed along the wellbore casing, wherein the plurality of conformal helical antennas are configured to operate in a radio or microwave frequency range, wherein the plurality of conformal helical antennas propagate electromagnetic radiation along an external propagating mode of the wellbore casing;
- and
- an interrogator coupled to receive data from the plurality of conformal helical antennas, wherein said interrogator processes the data;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of conformal helical antennas are coupled to the external propagating mode of the wellbore casing according to:
- n
- ·
- S
- λ
- 0
- =
- 1
- -
- n
- ·
- L
- 0
- ·
- e
- eff
- λ
- 0
- .
A system for interrogating an underground environment comprising:
- a borehole;
- a metallic tube extending down the borehole;
- a plurality of microstrip antennas mounted on and distributed along the metallic tube;
- a plurality of wireless sensors distributed down the borehole;
- and
- a source of electromagnetic energy positioned above or near ground level and operable for transmitting electromagnetic energy to the plurality of microstrip antennas;
- wherein the plurality of microstrip antennas radiate the electromagnetic energy to interrogate the plurality of wireless sensors, wherein the plurality of wireless sensors re-emit the electromagnetic energy to the plurality of microstrip antennas, and wherein the plurality of microstrip antennas transmits data on the re-emitted electromagnetic energy to the source.
A system for interrogating a subsurface environment comprising:
- a casing lined borehole;
- a source of electromagnetic energy positionable aboveground and operable for generation of an electromagnetic energy signal;
- a plurality of microstrip antennas mounted on the outer surface of the casing and connected to the source of electromagnetic energy via the internal guided modes of the casing, the plurality of microstrip antennas configured to receive and radiate the electromagnetic energy signal via the external guided modes of the casing to the subsurface environment and receive re-emitted electromagnetic energy therefrom;
- and
- a signal analyzer in data connection with the plurality of microstrip antennas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.