Subsurface well apparatus

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• wherein forces acting on said conduit member include stress components from said pressurized fluid and an axial force component from at least said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• and
• wherein said processor distinguishes said stress components from said axial force components to facilitate detection of said coded message.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor means and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said sensor includes a plurality of strain gauge elements, and said sensor produces at least one electrical output signal corresponding to strain on said plurality of strain gauge elements;
• and
• wherein said processor receives said at least one electrical output signal, calculates pressure magnitudes for said pressurized fluid in said fluid flow path of said conduit member, and detects said coded message in said predetermined fluid pressure pattern.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said conduit member is subject to torsion forces;
• and
• wherein said sensor includes a plurality of sensor elements which are secured to said conduit member in a geometric configuration which eliminates by cancellation said torsion forces detected by said sensor which act on said conduit member.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said processor receives said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor, calculates absolute pressure magnitudes for said pressurized fluid, and detects said coded message therein.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said pressurized fluid in said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string includes unintentional ambient fluid pressure level fluctuation which includes changes in pressure amplitude over a first short range of durations;
• and
• wherein said processor receives said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor which corresponds to forces acting on said conduit member from said pressurized fluid, determines pressure magnitudes and durations for said pressurized fluid, and detects said coded message as a function of both pressure magnitudes and durations, thereby preventing erroneous detection of coded messages from ambient fluid pressure level fluctuation in said wellbore.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said wellbore is subject to temperature variation;
• and
• wherein said output signal is compensated for temperature variation at least in part by said sensor, and at least in part by said processor.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said conduit member is subject to axial force from at least said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• and
• wherein said processor means includes pattern detection means which is insensitive to said axial force.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• and
• wherein said processor receives identifying characteristic criteria relating to said predetermined fluid pressure pattern to allow detection by said processor means of said coded message in said pressurized fluid.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor means and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said processor means comprises a microprocessor with memory which is operable in a plurality of operating modes including:
• a programming mode of operation, wherein said processor receives into memory a plurality of identifying characteristics relating to a selected fluid pressure pattern;
• and
• a monitoring mode of operation, wherein said processor receives said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor means, determines at least pressure amplitudes of said pressurized fluid from said at least one electrical output signal, and detects said identifying characteristics of said fluid pressure pattern.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• a wellbore tool, disposed in said wellbore, operable in a plurality of modes of operation, and switchable between selected modes of operation in response to an actuation signal;
• and
• wherein said processor is coupled to said wellbore tool and provides said actuation signal to said wellbore tool upon detection of said predetermined fluid pressure pattern.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said pump selectively sources pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a plurality of differing and selectable predetermined fluid pressure patterns;
• and
• wherein said apparatus further comprises:
• a plurality of wellbore tools, each disposed in said wellbore and operable in a plurality of modes of operation, and switchable between selected modes of operation in response to an actuation signal;
• and
• wherein said processor is coupled to said plurality of wellbore tools and selectively provides an actuator signal to a particular wellbore tool of said plurality of wellbore tools, upon detection of a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is defined in said processor to correspond to said particular wellbore tool.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said pump selectively sources pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a plurality of differing and selectable predetermined fluid pressure patterns;
• and
• wherein said apparatus further comprises:
• a plurality of wellbore tools, each disposed in said wellbore and operable in a plurality of modes of operation, and switchable between selected modes of operation in response to an actuation signal;
• wherein said processor is coupled to said plurality of wellbore tools and selectively provides an actuator signal to a particular wellbore tool of said plurality of wellbore tools, upon detection of a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is defined by said processor to correspond to said particular wellbore tool;
• and
• wherein each of said plurality of wellbore tools is identifiable with a particular predetermined fluid pressure pattern, rendering each wellbore tool of said plurality of wellbore tools independently operable.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• wherein pressurized fluid within said fluid flow path of a particular conduit member includes a pressure amplitude which is a mathematical function of said at least one electrical output signal of said sensor and mathematical constants unique to said particular conduit member;
• wherein said processor is operable in a plurality of operating modes, including:
• a calibration mode of operation, wherein said processor is programmed with mathematical constants unique to said particular conduit member;
• and
• a monitoring mode of operation, wherein said processor continually calculates said pressure amplitude of said pressurized fluid within said fluid flow path of said particular conduit member as a function of said at least one output of said sensor and said mathematical constants unique to said particular conduit member.

An apparatus for receiving coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, wherein said wellbore tubular conduit is coupled to a pump for selectively sourcing pressurized fluid to said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string in a predetermined fluid pressure pattern which is representative of a coded message, comprising:

• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said pressurized fluid which act upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor means and detecting said coded message;
• and
• an input, releasibly coupled to said processor, for programming identifying characteristics of said predetermined fluid pressure pattern into said processor to render said coded message susceptible to detection by said processor.

An apparatus for communicating coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, comprising:

• a coded message generator for developing a coded message in said fluid;
• a sensor member, carried in said wellbore on said tubular conduit string, for sensing said coded message and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor member for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor member and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said fluid in said wellbore includes unintentional ambient fluid pressure level fluctuation which includes changes in pressure amplitude over a first short range of durations;
• and
• wherein said processor member receives said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor member which corresponds to forces acting on said fluid, determines pressure magnitudes and durations for said pressurized fluid, and detects said coded message as a function of both pressure magnitudes and durations, thereby preventing erroneous detection of coded messages from ambient fluid pressure level fluctuation in said wellbore.

An apparatus for communicating coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, comprising:

• a coded message generator for developing a coded message in said fluid;
• a sensor member, carried in said wellbore on said tubular conduit string, for sensing said coded message and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor member for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor member and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said wellbore is subject to temperature variation;
• and
• wherein said output signal is compensated for temperature variation at least in part by said sensor member, and at least in part by said processor member.

An apparatus for communicating coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, comprising:

• a coded message generator for developing a coded message in said fluid;
• a sensor member for sensing said coded message and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor member for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor member and detecting said coded message;
• wherein said processor member comprises a microprocessor with memory which is operable in a plurality of operating modes including:
• a programming mode of operation, wherein said processor member receives into memory a plurality of identifying characteristics relating to a selected coded message;
• and
• a monitoring mode of operation, wherein said processor member receives said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor member, determines at least pressure amplitudes of said fluid from said at least one electrical output signal, and detects said identifying characteristics of said selected coded message.

An apparatus for communicating coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, comprising:

• a coded message generator for developing a coded message in said fluid;
• a sensor member for sensing said coded message and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor member for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor means and detecting said coded message;
• and
• an input member, releasibly coupled to said processor member, for programming identifying characteristics of said coded message into said processor member to render said coded message susceptible to detection by said processor member.

An apparatus for communicating coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, comprising:

• a coded message generator for developing a predetermined coded message in said wellbore;
• a conduit member having an imperforate wall which at least in part defines a fluid flow path in communication with said central bore of said wellbore tubular conduit string, for receiving pressurized fluid from said wellbore tubular conduit string;
• a sensor for detecting non-torsional forces generated by said predetermined coded message acting upon said conduit member and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• and
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said predetermined coded message.

An apparatus for communicating coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, comprising:

• a coded message generator for developing a predetermined coded message in said wellbore;
• a sensor member, carried in said wellbore on said tubular conduit string, for sensing said predetermined coded message and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor member for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor member and detecting said predetermined coded message;
• wherein said wellbore is subject to temperature variation;
• and
• wherein said output signal is compensated for temperature variation at least in part by said sensor member, and at least in part by said processor member.

An apparatus for communicating in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, comprising:

• a coded message generator for developing a predetermined coded message in said wellbore;
• a sensor for detecting said predetermined coded message and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said predetermined coded message;
• a programming communication input which allows communication between a location exterior of said apparatus and said processor;
• wherein said processor receives identifying characteristic criteria relating to said predetermined coded message to allow detection by said processor means of said predetermined coded message;
• and
• a portable programming unit including:
• (1) a relatively small housing;
• (2) a communication interface for receiving operator input;
• (3) a display for displaying human-readable information;
• (4) a communication coupling allowing temporary communicative coupling with said programming communication input;
• and
• (5) wherein said portable programming unit is operable in a plurality of modes of operation, including a identifying characteristic criteria programming mode of operation wherein said identifying characteristics are provided to said processor.

An apparatus for communicating coded messages in a wellbore having a wellbore tubular conduit string disposed therein, with said wellbore tubular conduit string having a central bore for receiving fluid, comprising:

• a coded message generator for developing a predetermined coded message in said wellbore;
• a sensor for detecting forces from said predetermined coded message which act upon said wellbore tubular conduit string and for producing at least one electrical output signal corresponding thereto;
• a processor for receiving said at least one electrical output signal from said sensor and detecting said coded message;
• a programming communication input which allows communication between a location exterior of said apparatus and said processor;
• a wellbore tool, disposed in said wellbore, operable in a plurality of modes of operation, and switchable between selected modes of operation in response to an actuation signal;
• wherein said processor is coupled to said wellbore tool and provides said actuation signal to said wellbore tool upon detection of said predetermined coded message;
• and
• a portable programming unit including:
• (1) a relatively small housing;
• (2) a communication interface for receiving operator input;
• (3) a display for displaying human-readable information;
• (4) a communication coupling allowing temporary communicative coupling with said programming communication input;
• and
• (5) wherein said portable programming unit is operable in a plurality of modes of operation, including a identifying characteristic criteria programming mode of operation wherein said identifying characteristics are provided to said processor.