Backbone network architecture and network management scheme for downhole wireless communications system
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsArnaud Croux, Stephane Vannuffelen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A network management system for a wireless communications network adaptively selects wireless modems to use in communicating messages between a control system and downhole equipment. The wireless modems are selected based on a monitored signal to noise ratio. The network management system may be centralized within the network or within a surface control system or can be decentralized so that a plurality of the wireless modems can adaptively determine routing in the network. The network management systems can be used in conjunction with a backbone network architecture to achieve further efficiencies in network throughput.
Claims18
A method of communicating with downhole equipment in a borehole, comprising:
- communicating wireless signals to exchange messages between a surface control system and downhole equipment to control performance of a downhole operation, wherein the messages are exchanged using a first set of active wireless devices provided along a tubing in the borehole;
- monitoring an indicator of quality of the wireless signals on the first wireless communications path;
- selecting, based on the monitored quality indicator, a second set of active wireless devices for exchanging messages between the surface control system and the downhole equipment;
- and
- exchanging messages between the surface control system and the downhole equipment using the second set of active wireless devices to control the downhole operation,
- wherein selecting the second set of active wireless devices comprises transmitting a message to add selected wireless devices to the first set of active wireless devices.
A method of communicating with downhole equipment in a borehole, comprising:
- communicating wireless signals to exchange messages between a surface control system and downhole equipment to control performance of a downhole operation, wherein the messages are exchanged using a first set of active wireless devices provided along a tubing in the borehole;
- monitoring an indicator of quality of the wireless signals on the first wireless communications path;
- selecting, based on the monitored quality indicator, a second set of active wireless devices for exchanging messages between the surface control system and the downhole equipment;
- and
- exchanging messages between the surface control system and the downhole equipment using the second set of active wireless devices to control the downhole operation,
- wherein the second set of active wireless devices is a subset of the first set of active wireless devices, and wherein selecting the second set comprises transmitting a message to place selected wireless devices in the first set of active wireless devices in a standby mode.
A method, comprising:
- establishing an acoustic communications network of acoustic modems communicatively interconnecting equipment and a control system, the acoustic modems deployed along a conduit, wherein the equipment is located in a wellbore that penetrates an earth surface;
- communicating acoustic signals to exchange messages between the control system and the equipment using a plurality of hops between the acoustic modems;
- performing a downhole operation in the wellbore while communicating the messages between the equipment and the control system;
- in response to a change in a noise condition in the acoustic communications network, changing the number of hops used to communicate messages between the control system and the equipment, wherein the number of hops are changed during performance of the downhole operation;
- and
- continuing to perform the downhole operation while communicating messages between the control system and the equipment using the changed number of hops.
A communication system for communicating with downhole components in a wellbore, comprising:
- a control system to exchange messages with the downhole components to control performance of a downhole operation;
- a plurality of first wireless modems axially spaced along a tubing deployed in the wellbore to transmit wireless signals to communicate the messages between the control system and the downhole components during performance of the downhole operation, the first wireless modems including repeater modems;
- a cluster of second wireless modems positioned proximate a first location along the tubing and communicatively coupled to the first wireless modems, the second wireless modems including a hub modem and a plurality of end nodes interfaced to a corresponding downhole component;
- and
- a network management system to adapt selection of particular repeater modems of the first wireless modems to communicate messages between the control system and the downhole components, wherein the network management system adapts selection by instructing particular repeater modems of the first wireless modems to either enter or exit a standby state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.