Dual transducer communications node for downhole acoustic wireless networks and method employing same
First Claim
1. An electro-acoustic communications node assembly for a downhole wireless telemetry system, comprising:
- a housing having a mounting face for mounting to a surface of a tubular body;
a receiver transducer positioned within the housing, the receiver transducer structured and arranged to receive acoustic waves that propagate through the tubular member, using multiple frequency shift keying (MFSK), in a frequency range between 50 kHz and 120 kHz;
a transmitter transducer positioned within the housing, the transmitter transducer structured and arranged to retransmit the received acoustic waves, using MFSK, in the frequency range, through the tubular member to another receiver transducer;
electronic circuits positioned within the housing for electrically communicating with each of the receiver transducer and the transmitter transducer;
a processor in communication with each of the receiver transducer and transmitter transducer via the electronic circuits; and
a power source comprising one or more batteries positioned within the housing for powering the transmitter transducer and the receiver transducer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-acoustic communications node system and method for downhole wireless telemetry, the system including a housing for mounting to or with a tubular body; a receiver transducer positioned within the housing, the receiver transducer structured and arranged to receive acoustic waves that propagate through the tubular member; a transmitter transducer and a processor, positioned within the housing and arranged to retransmit the acoustic waves to another acoustic receiver in a different housing, using the tubular member for the acoustic telemetry. In some embodiments, the transducers may be piezoelectric transducers and/or magnetostrictive transducers. Included in the housing is also a power source comprising one or more batteries. A downhole wireless telemetry system and a method of monitoring a hydrocarbon well are also provided.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An electro-acoustic communications node assembly for a downhole wireless telemetry system, comprising:
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a housing having a mounting face for mounting to a surface of a tubular body; a receiver transducer positioned within the housing, the receiver transducer structured and arranged to receive acoustic waves that propagate through the tubular member, using multiple frequency shift keying (MFSK), in a frequency range between 50 kHz and 120 kHz; a transmitter transducer positioned within the housing, the transmitter transducer structured and arranged to retransmit the received acoustic waves, using MFSK, in the frequency range, through the tubular member to another receiver transducer; electronic circuits positioned within the housing for electrically communicating with each of the receiver transducer and the transmitter transducer; a processor in communication with each of the receiver transducer and transmitter transducer via the electronic circuits; and a power source comprising one or more batteries positioned within the housing for powering the transmitter transducer and the receiver transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A downhole wireless telemetry system, comprising:
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at least one sensor disposed along a tubular body; at least one sensor communications node placed along the tubular body and affixed to a wall of the tubular body, the sensor communications node being in at least one of acoustic and electrical communication with the at least one sensor and configured to receive signals therefrom; a topside communications node placed proximate a surface; a plurality of electro-acoustic communications nodes spaced along the tubular body and attached to a wall of the tubular body, each electro-acoustic communications node comprising a housing having a mounting face for mounting to a surface of the tubular body;
a receiver transducer positioned within the housing, the receiver transducer structured and arranged to receive acoustic waves that propagate through the tubular member, using multiple frequency shift keying (MFSK), in a frequency range between 50 kHz and 120 kHz;
a transmitter transducer positioned within the housing, the transmitter transducer structured and arranged to transmit acoustic waves through the tubular member, using MFSK, in the frequency range between 50 kHz and 120 kHz; and
a power source comprising one or more batteries positioned within the housing powering electronics circuits interfaced to the transmitter and receiver transducers;wherein the electro-acoustic communications nodes are configured to transmit signals received from the at least one sensor communications node to the topside communications node in a substantially node-to-node arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of monitoring a hydrocarbon well having a tubular body comprising:
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providing one or more sensors positioned along the tubular body; receiving signals from the one or more sensors; transmitting those signals via a sensor transmitter to an electro-acoustic communications node attached to a wall of the tubular body, the electro-acoustic communications node comprising a housing;
a receiver transducer positioned within the housing, the receiver transducer structured and arranged to receive acoustic waves that propagate through the tubular member;
a transmitter transducer positioned within the housing, the transmitter transducer structured and arranged to transmit acoustic waves through the tubular member;
electronics circuits interfaced to the transmitter and receiver transducers; and
a power source comprising one or more batteries positioned within the housing;transmitting signals received by the electro-acoustic communications node to at least one additional electro-acoustic communications node, using multiple frequency shift keying (MFSK), in a frequency range between 50 kHz and 120 kHz; and transmitting, using MFSK, signals received by the at least one additional intermediate communications node, in the frequency range between 50 kHz and 120 kHz to a topside communications node. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification