Wireless Communications Associated With A Wellbore

• US 20060086497A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Ohmer, Herve, Huber, Klaus, Sheffield, Randolph J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/250.10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency

Abstract

A subsea communication system includes devices in a wellbore and devices on a floor, where the devices in the wellbore and on the floor are able to communicate wirelessly with each other, such as through a formation.

Claims

1. A method for use in a subsea environment, comprising:

wirelessly communicating between electrical devices in a subsea wellbore and electrical devices proximal a sea floor through a formation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly communicating through the formation comprises wirelessly communicating electromagnetic signaling through the formation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing the wireless communicating during an exploration phase for determining characteristics of a reservoir in the formation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing the wireless communicating while completing a subsea wellbore.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising wirelessly communicating between electrical devices proximal the sea floor.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising wirelessly communicating between electrical devices in the subsea wellbore.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

sending, from a first electrical device proximal the sea floor, wireless signals into the formation; and

receiving, at a second electrical device proximal the sea floor, a portion of the wireless signals reflected from a reservoir in the formation for determining a characteristic of the reservoir.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a first electrical device proximal the sea floor sending wireless signaling through sea water to a second electrical device proximal the sea floor; and

in response to the wireless signaling from the first electrical device, the second electrical device sending, through the formation, wireless signaling into the formation to test a characteristic of a portion of the formation.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in the subsea wellbore sending measurement data in wireless signaling through the formation to a receiver proximal the sea floor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the receiver sending, through sea water, the measurement data in wireless signaling to another electrical device proximal the sea floor.

4. The method of class 1, further comprising performing the wireless communicating during a drilling phase to provide feedback from the subsea wellbore.

12. A subsea well system comprising:

a first electrical device for positioning proximal a sea floor; and

a second electrical device for location in a subsea wellbore,

wherein the first and second electrical devices are adapted to communicate wirelessly through a formation separating the first and second electrical devices.

13. The subsea well system of claim 12, wherein the second electrical device comprises a sensor,

the sensor to send measurement data in wireless signaling through the formation to the first electrical device.

14. The subsea well system of claim 12, further comprising a third electrical device and a fourth electrical device proximal the sea floor, the third electrical device to send wireless signaling through the formation to a reservoir in the formation, and the fourth electrical device to receive wireless signaling reflected from the reservoir.

15. A method for use in conjunction with a wellbore, comprising:

providing a network of transmitters and receivers on the surface; and

wirelessly communicating between devices in the wellbore and the network.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising using the network during at least two phases of the wellbore.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising using the network during an exploration, drilling, completion, and production phase of the wellbore.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising wirelessly communicating between network devices.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising wirelessly communicating between wellbore devices.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising automatically activating the network upon an event occurrence.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising automatically activating a wellbore device upon an event occurrence.

22. A well system comprising:

a network of devices for positioning proximal a floor; and

at least one second device for location in a wellbore,

wherein the network and second devices are adapted to communicate wirelessly.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the network is used during at least two phases of the wellbore.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the network is used during an exploration, drilling, completion, and production phase of the wellbore.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the network devices are adapted to communicate wirelessly with each other.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the network devices are adapted to communicate wirelessly with each other.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the network is automatically activated upon an event occurrence.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein a wellbore device is automatically activated upon an event occurrence.