DOWNHOLE POWER GENERATION AND COMMUNICATIONS APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20070194947A1
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Huang, Songming, Monmont, Franck, Sadikoglu, Kasim
• Granted Patent: US 8,009,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/854.3
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/14 using acoustic waves

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods to power and communicate with downhole sensors are presented. Preferred embodiments of the present invention includes energizing a downhole sensor with a surface pressure wave generator and a downhole mechanical to electrical energy converter. Preferred embodiments of the present invention also include transmitting data measured from a downhole sensor to a surface unit through modulation of surface-generated pressure waves.

Claims

1. An apparatus to communicate with a downhole sensor, the apparatus comprising:

a surface unit including a pressure wave generator and a signal processing unit;

a downhole energy converter configured to convert pressure fluctuations from said pressure wave generator to electrical energy, wherein said energy converter comprises one of a magnetostrictive material or a single crystal piezoelectric;

an energy storage device configured to store said electrical energy from said energy converter; and

a control module configured to receive data from said downhole sensor and to transmit said data to said signal processing unit through a pressure wave telemetry unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said downhole sensor includes a plurality of measurement devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said downhole sensor includes a plurality of downhole actuators, said actuators configured to be controlled by said control module.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said downhole actuators are configured to perform completion tasks.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said downhole actuators are configured to open and close downhole valves.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including sensors to determine a position of said downhole valves.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said downhole sensor exists within more than one zone of investigation.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure wave generator is a piston-type pressure generator.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal processing unit includes pressure transducers.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said piezoelectric material includes quartz.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said downhole energy converter further includes an electrical coil configured to generate power when a magnetic field of said magnetostrictive material fluctuates.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said downhole energy converter includes electrostrictive material.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said energy storage device includes a capacitor.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said downhole energy converter utilizes impedance matching to improve energy conversion.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control module converts analog signals received from said downhole sensor to digital data.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure wave telemetry unit is a phase-shifting wave reflector.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure wave telemetry unit includes a Helmholtz resonator.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure wave telemetry unit includes one of a bi-stable actuator assembly or a low power actuator assembly.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said downhole sensor is located within an annulus formed between a string of production tubing and a casing string.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrical energy powers said control module.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrical energy powers said downhole sensor.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is installed as part of a permanent completion.

23. A method to communicate with a downhole sensor, the method comprising:

activating a surface pressure wave generator to excite a downhole energy converter, wherein said energy converter comprises one of a magnetostrictive material or a single crystal piezoelectric;

storing energy from said downhole energy converter in a downhole energy storage device;

accumulating data in a downhole control module from said downhole sensor;

modulating a pressure wave telemetry unit with said downhole control module; and

transmitting said data from said downhole control module to a surface signal processing unit.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising sending a ready signal from said downhole control module.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising exciting said downhole energy converter to charge said downhole energy storage device for a predetermined period of time.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising interrupting transmission of said data from said downhole control module to said surface processing unit to re-charge said downhole energy storage device.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising activating a Helmholtz resonator in said pressure wave telemetry unit to transmit said data to said surface signal processing unit.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising shifting a phase of a pressure wave generated by said pressure wave generator with said pressure wave telemetry unit.

29. The method of claim 23 further comprising switching a frequency of said surface pressure wave generator between an energization frequency and a telemetry frequency.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein said downhole sensor includes a plurality of downhole actuators.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said downhole actuators are configured to open and close downhole valves.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising sending an instruction from said surface signal processing unit to said downhole control module to direct activation of a downhole valve.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising increasing annulus pressure to engage said downhole valve into a directed position.

34. The method of claim 23 further comprising powering said control module with said energy.

35. The method of claim 23 further comprising powering said downhole sensor with said energy.

36. The method of claim 23 further comprising installing said sensor, said energy converter, said storage device, and control module as part of a permanent completion.