Borehole telemetry system

• US 20050168349A1
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Hackworth, Matthew, Huang, Songrning, Johnson, Craig, Monmont, Franck, Tennent, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,397,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/854.300
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/20 by modulation of mud waves, e.g. by continuous modulation

Abstract

A system that is usable with a subterranean well includes an assembly and a telemetry tool. The system includes an assembly that performs a downhole measurement. The system also includes a downhole telemetry tool to modulate a carrier stimulus that is communicated through a downhole fluid to communicate the downhole measurement uphole.

Claims

1. A method usable in a subterranean well, comprising:

performing a downhole measurement; and

modulating a carrier stimulus communicated through a downhole fluid to communicate the downhole measurement uphole.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the downhole measurement comprises a measurement indicative of a change in state of a downhole tool.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of modulating is used to confirm operation of a downhole tool.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second stimulus at the surface of the well indicative of the measurement.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of performing occurs in response to setting a packer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the measurement indicates an integrity of an annulus seal formed by the packer when set.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the measurement comprises a pressure of a fluid through which pressure is communicated to set the packer.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

forming a sealed annulus in response to setting the packer and using the annulus to communicate the second stimulus.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of performing occurs in response to setting a zone isolation tool.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the measurement comprises a pressure inside an isolated zone established by the zone isolation tool.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the measurement comprises a pressure below an isolated zone established by the zone isolation tool.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the measurement comprises a pressure above an isolated zone established by the zone isolation tool.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of performing occurs in response to a gravel packing operation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the measurement comprises a pressure of a slurry flow near a slurry exit port of a gravel packing tool where the slurry flow exits the tool and enters an annulus of the well.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

communicating a wireless stimulus downhole to change a state of a gravel packing tool.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of performing comprises setting a seal assembly to isolate a zone and the measurement comprises a pressure in the zone.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the modulating generates a second stimulus that indicates the measurement and is generated over a first time interval that has a substantially longer duration than a second time interval over which the downhole measurement occurs.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

triggering the measurement in response to a predetermined pressure level caused by at least one of a shut-in condition and a draw-down condition.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of performing comprises:

measuring a pressure associated with a fracturing operation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the pressure comprises a pressure of fracturing fluid during pumping of the fracturing fluid.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the pressure comprises a pressure of fracturing fluid during flowback of the fracturing fluid after pumping of the fracturing fluid.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement comprises a pressure near a permanently mounted formation isolation valve.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the pressure comprises a pressure below the valve in an area of the well sealed off by the valve.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the pressure comprises a pressure above the valve in a region of the well isolated from the region by the valve.

25. A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising:

an assembly to perform a downhole measurement; and

a downhole telemetry tool connected to the assembly to modulate a carrier stimulus communicated through a downhole fluid to communicate the downhole measurement uphole.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the downhole measurement comprises a measurement indicative of a change in a state of the assembly.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the telemetry tool generates the second stimulus to confirm operation of the assembly.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the telemetry tool generates a second stimulus that is received at the surface of the well and indicates the measurement.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the assembly comprises a packer.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the measurement indicates an integrity of an annulus seal formed by the packer.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the packer is adapted to be set in response to a pressure of a fluid and the measurement is indicative of the pressure.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein setting of the packer creates a sealed annulus in which the assembly generates the second stimulus.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the assembly comprises a zone isolation tool adapted to establish an isolated zone downhole in the well.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the measurement comprises a pressure inside the isolated zone.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the measurement comprises a pressure below the isolated zone.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the measurement comprises a pressure above the isolated zone.

37. The system of claim 25, wherein the assembly comprises a gravel packing tool.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein

the gravel packing tool comprises an exit port to communicate a slurry flow inside an annulus of the well and a sensor to measure a pressure of the slurry flow near the exit port.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the gravel packing tool is adapted to change a state in response to a wireless stimulus communicated downhole from the surface of the well.

40. The system of claim 25, wherein the assembly comprises a straddle packer assembly to isolate a zone in the well.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the measurement is indicated by a second stimulus and the second stimulus is generated over a first time interval that has a substantially longer duration than a second time interval over which the assembly performs the downhole measurement.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the assembly is adapted to trigger the measurement in response to a predetermined pressure level caused by at least one a shut-in condition and a draw-down condition in the zone.

43. The system of claim 25, wherein the assembly comprises a tool to communicate a fracturing fluid into the well.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the assembly comprises a sensor to measure a pressure of fracturing fluid during pumping of the fracturing fluid through the tool.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the assembly comprises a sensor to measure a pressure of fracturing fluid during flowback of the fracturing fluid after pumping of the fracturing fluid through the tool.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the assembly further includes a perforating gun.

47. The system of claim 25, wherein the assembly comprises a permanently mounted formation isolation valve.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the assembly comprises a sensor to measure a pressure below the valve in an area of the well sealed off by the valve.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the assembly comprises a sensor to measure a pressure in a region above the valve and isolated by the valve from a formation below the valve.