WELLBORE TELEMETRY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20070017671A1
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: CLARK, BRIAN, GOMEZ, STEVE, HUTIN, REMI, PACAULT, NICOLAS, CODESAL, PABLO, LEBLANC, RANDALL, JOHNSTON, LUCIAN
• Application Number:
  US11/382,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20070017671A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/248
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/18 through the well fluid , e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry

Abstract

Wellbore communication systems and methods for a wellsite having a downhole tool deployed from a rig into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation are disclosed. One example communication system includes a first mud pulse telemetry device positioned in a downhole tool and at least one additional non-mud pulse telemetry device positioned in the downhole tool. The example system also includes at least one of a pressure transducer or a pressure sensor adapted to detect a modulated pressure provided by at least one of the telemetry devices.

Claims

1. A wellbore communication system for a wellsite having a downhole tool deployed in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the communication system comprising:

a first mud pulse telemetry device disposed in the downhole tool;

at least one additional telemetry device other than a mud pulse telemetry device disposed in the wellbore; and

at least one of a pressure transducer or a pressure sensor to detect a modulated pressure provided by the mud pulse telemetry device.

2. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a surface unit to communicate with at least one of the telemetry devices.

3. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising at least one formation evaluation component to perform a downhole operation.

4. The communication system of claim 3, wherein at least one formation evaluation component is to be operatively coupled to at least one of the telemetry devices.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein at least one additional telemetry device comprises a telemetry system.

6. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the at least one additional telemetry system comprises an electromagnetic wellbore telemetry system.

7. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the at least one additional telemetry system comprises a wired drill pipe telemetry system.

8. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional mud pulse telemetry device positioned in the downhole tool.

9. A wellbore communication system for a wellsite having a downhole tool deployed from a rig into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the communication system comprising:

a plurality of wellbore telemetry systems, wherein at least one of the wellbore telemetry systems comprises a wired drill pipe telemetry system; and

at least one surface unit in communication with at least one of the plurality of wellbore telemetry systems.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of wellbore telemetry systems comprises one or more of another wired drill pipe telemetry system, a mud pulse telemetry system, or an electromagnetic telemetry system.

11. The communication system of claim 9, further comprising at least one formation evaluation component to perform a downhole operation.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the at least one formation evaluation component is to be operatively coupled to at least one of the wellbore telemetry systems.

13. A wellbore communication system for a wellsite having a downhole tool deployed in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the communication system comprising:

at least one formation evaluation component to measure at least one wellbore parameter; and

a plurality of wellbore telemetry systems, wherein at least one of the wellbore telemetry systems is to be in communication with the at least one formation evaluation component to receive data therefrom and to transmit the data to a surface unit.

14. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the wellbore telemetry systems comprise one or more of a mud pulse telemetry system, an electromagnetic telemetry system, or a wired drill pipe telemetry system.

15. The communication system of claim 13, wherein each formation evaluation tool is to be operatively coupled to a respective wellbore telemetry device.

16. A method of communicating between a surface location and a downhole tool deployed in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

evaluating a subterranean formation using at least one downhole component positioned in the downhole tool, wherein the downhole tool comprises a plurality of wellbore telemetry systems; and

selectively transmitting data from the at least one downhole component to a surface unit of at least one of the wellbore telemetry systems.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the data is transmitted simultaneously from each downhole component.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the data is transmitted at different times from at least two downhole components.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting the data between wellbore telemetry devices.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising analyzing data collected from the at least one formation evaluation component.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the data from each formation evaluation component is compared.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising supplying power to a downhole tool using one of the plurality of wellbore telemetry systems.

23. A wellbore telemetry system, comprising:

a first wellbore telemetry device coupled to a downhole tool and adapted to use a communication medium to communicate with a surface computer; and

a second wellbore telemetry device coupled to a downhole tool and adapted to use one of the communication medium, a wired drill pipe communication link, or an electromagnetic communication link to communicate with the surface computer.

24. The wellbore telemetry system of claim 23, wherein the downhole tool comprises at least two measurement while drilling tools.

25. The wellbore telemetry system of claim 23, wherein the communication medium comprises mud in a wellbore.

26. The wellbore telemetry system of claim 23, wherein the communication medium comprises a mixture of mud and gas in a wellbore.

27. The wellbore telemetry system of claim 23, wherein the communication medium comprises a gas consisting substantially of nitrogen, methane, or air in a wellbore.

28. The wellbore telemetry system of claim 24, wherein the first and second wellbore telemetry devices comprise at least one of mud pulse telemetry devices, sirens, positive pulse devices, or negative pulse devices.