Subsea template electromagnetic telemetry
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorHarrison C. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electromagnetic downlink and pickup apparatus for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals is disclosed. The electromagnetic downlink and pickup apparatus includes a subsea conductor (47) disposed beneath the sea floor (16) and a surface installation (58) for generating and interpreting signals. The subsea conductor (47) and the surface installation (58) are electrically connecting by first and second conduits (30, 51) that form a pair terminals on the subsea conductor (47) between which a voltage potential may be established, thereby providing a path for current flow therebetween.
Claims49
An electromagnetic downlink and pickup apparatus for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals comprising:
- a subsea conductor;
- a surface installation having a signal generator;
- and
- first and second conduits electrically connecting the subsea conductor and the surface installation, the first and second conduits forming a pair terminals on the subsea conductor between which a voltage potential is established to provide a path for current flow therebetween such that when the signal generator injects a current carrying information into the subsea conductor, electromagnetic waves carrying the information are generated.
An electromagnetic downlink and pickup apparatus for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals comprising:
- a subsea template;
- a surface installation having a signal generator and a signal receiver;
- and
- first and second conduits electrically connecting the subsea template and the surface installation, the first and second conduits forming a pair terminals on the subsea template between which a voltage potential is established to provide a path for current flow therebetween such that when the signal generator injects a current carrying information into the subsea template, electromagnetic waves carrying the information are generated and such that when electromagnetic waves carrying information generate a current in the subsea conductor, the signal receiver interprets the information carried in the current.
The apparatus as recited in clans 11 wherein the first conduit further comprises an electrical wire.
A downhole telemetry system for changing the operational state of a downhole device, the system comprising:
- a subsea conductor;
- a surface installation for transmitting a command signal;
- first and second conduits electrically connecting the subsea conductor and the surface installation, the first and second conduits forming a pair terminals on the subsea conductor between which a voltage potential is established to provide a path for current flow therebetween, the subsea conductor electromagnetically transmitting the command signal;
- an electromagnetic receiver disposed in a wellbore for receiving the command signal;
- and
- an electronics package electrically connected to the electromagnetic receiver and operably connected to the downhole device, the electronics package generating a driver signal in response to the command signal that prompts the downhole device to change operational states.
A method of transmitting electromagnetic signals to a downhole device to prompt the downhole device to change operational states comprising the steps of:
- transmitting an electrical command signal from a surface installation to a subsea conductor, the surface installation and the subsea conductor coupled together by a pair of conduits forming a pair of terminals on the subsea conductor between which a voltage potential is established;
- generating an electromagntic command signal from the subsea conductor;
- receiving the electromagnetic command signal on an electromagnetic receiver disposed in a wellbore;
- generating a driver signal with an electronics package electrically connected to the electromagnetic receiver in response to the electromagnetic command signal;
- and
- receiving the driver signal at the downhole device, thereby prompting the downhole device to change operational states.
An electromagnetic downlink and pickup apparatus for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals comprising:
- a subsea conductor;
- a surface installation having a signal receiver;
- and
- first and second conduits electrically connecting the subsea conductor and the surface installation, the first and second conduits forming a pair terminals on the subsea conductor between which a voltage potential is established to provide a path for current flow therebetween such that when electromagnetic waves carrying information generate a current in the subsea conductor, the signal receiver interprets the information carried in the current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.