Remote actuation of downhole tools using vibration

A method of remotely actuating a downhole tool comprising:

• causing a vibration in a tubing string of a wellbore by selectively operating machinery having a function other than causing vibration;
• propagating said vibration downhole;
• sensing said vibration;
• and
• actuating said tool upon said sensing.

A method for communicating in a wellbore comprising:

• generating a vibration at a first location by selectively operating machinery having a function other than causing vibration;
• propagating said vibration;
• and
• sensing said vibration at a second location.

An apparatus for actuating a downhole tool remotely in response to a defined sequence of vibrations created by selectively operating machinery having a function other than causing vibrations;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a transducer sensitive to the sequence of vibrations and generating an electrical signal representative of the sensed vibrations;
• and
• a computer in communication with said transducer, said computer actuating the downhole tool in response to the defined sequence of vibrations.

An apparatus for actuating a downhole tool remotely in response to a defined sequence of vibration, said apparatus comprising:

• a transducer for generating an electrical signal representative of the sensed vibrations;
• and
• a computer in communication with said transducer, said computer actuating the downhole tool in response to the defined sequence of vibrations;
• and
• a converter for generating a direct current voltage signal representative of the root mean square value of said electrical signal, wherein said direct current voltage signal is provided to said computer.

A method of detecting a sequence of vibrations created by selectively operating machinery having a function other than causing vibration, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving an electronic signal representative of the sequence of vibrations;
• verifying the presence of a vibration within said sequence for a first defined period of time;
• verifying the absence of a vibration within said sequence for a second defined period of time;
• and
• generating an actuation signal in response to the sequential repeating of verifying the presence of a vibration and verifying the absence of a vibration for a defined number of cycles.

A remote downhole tool actuation system comprising:

• a vibration initiator having a function other than as a vibration source;
• a vibration propagator in vibrating communication with said vibration initiator;
• and
• a vibration receiver attachable to said downhole tool and in communication with an actuator of said tool.