Method and device for well communication
AssigneeSercel
InventorsNicolas Bravard, Pascal Coince
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention concerns a method and a well string element for transmitting data in a well. The well string element (20c) includes an elongated body (80) that defines a through channel (110) and also includes a side pocket (92) that is open to ambient (91); and an acoustic modem (60) provided in the pocket (92) and configured to emit acoustic waves. The acoustic modem (60) is configured to receive electrical signals from one or more sensors (50, 52), transform the electrical signals into the acoustic waves and emit the acoustic waves into a wall (112) of the elongated body (80) when receiving an acoustic wake-up call from a device (70) outside the drill string element (20c).
Claims20
A line for oil and gas exploration comprising:
- a well string element including,
- an elongated body that defines a through channel and also includes a side pocket that is open to ambient, and
- an acoustic modem provided in the pocket and configured to emit acoustic waves;
- a valve provided in the well string element or upstream of it;
- and
- a receiving device configured to communicate through acoustic waves with the acoustic modem, the receiving device being configured to be lowered, with a cable, into a medium contained within the drill line, and to be positioned upstream the valve,
- wherein the acoustic modem is configured to receive electrical signals from one or more sensors, transform the electrical signals into the acoustic waves indicative of various parameters measured by sensors connected to the acoustic modem, and emit the acoustic waves into a wall of the elongated body when receiving an acoustic wake-up call from a device outside the drill string element, and
- wherein the receiving device receives the acoustic waves emitted by the acoustic modem through the medium.
A well communication system configured to transmit data across a closed valve inside the well, the system comprising:
- an acoustic modem provided in a body of a well string element and configured to transmit acoustic waves into a wall of the well string element, wherein the acoustic waves are indicative of various parameters measured by sensors connected to the acoustic modem;
- and
- a receiving device configured to communicate through acoustic waves with the acoustic modem, the receiving device being configured to be lowered into a medium within the well with a cable, and to be positioned upstream a valve provided in a well line,
- wherein the acoustic waves propagate from the acoustic modem to the wall of the drill string element, the valve, the medium, and the receiving device, and
- wherein the receiving device is not in direct contact with the drill line for receiving the acoustic waves.
A method for transmitting data from sensors to a surface of a well in which the sensors are provided, the method comprising:
- recording measurements related to the well with one or more sensors provided in the well;
- having an acoustic modem provided in the well, in a vicinity of the sensors, in a sleeping mode;
- receiving a wake-up signal at the acoustic modem from a receiving device also provided in the well, wherein the receiving device is separated from the acoustic modem by a closed valve;
- receiving the measurements from the one or more sensors at the acoustic modem;
- transmitting acoustic waves from the acoustic modem to the receiving device through the valve, wherein the acoustic signals are indicative of the measurements of the one or more sensors;
- and
- receiving at the receiving device the acoustic signals when the receiving device is not in direct contact with a drill line provided in the well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.