System and method for receiving and decoding electromagnetic transmissions within a well
First Claim
1. A method for interrogating a downhole environment below a surface of a landform, the method comprising the steps of:
- directing at least one electromagnetic energy pulse into a downhole environment such that the electromagnetic energy pulse interacts with at least one downhole transducer such that at least some of the electromagnetic energy contained within the pulse is reflected at a ring frequency determined by the at least one downhole transducer;
receiving the reflected energy pulse at a receiver located at the surface of the landform during a predetermined time interval;
processing the received energy pulse to extract the ring frequency using a processing method selected from the group consisting of time domain tracking, frequency domain tracking, and combinations thereof; and
correlating the ring frequency to a parameter of the transducer, wherein said parameter further correlates to a condition in the downhole environment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Exemplary systems and methods are directed to transmission of electromagnetic (EM) pulses in a downhole environment, which is located below a surface of a landform. A sequence of EM energy pulses is generated from a signal generator located at the surface of the landform. The energy pulses are reflected at a ring frequency by one or more downhole transducers. The reflected energy pulse is received at a receiver, which is located at the surface, during a predetermined time interval. The receiver detects the received energy pulses through a time domain or frequency domain technique. The detected ring frequency is correlated to a parameter or condition of the downhole environment.
94 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for interrogating a downhole environment below a surface of a landform, the method comprising the steps of:
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directing at least one electromagnetic energy pulse into a downhole environment such that the electromagnetic energy pulse interacts with at least one downhole transducer such that at least some of the electromagnetic energy contained within the pulse is reflected at a ring frequency determined by the at least one downhole transducer; receiving the reflected energy pulse at a receiver located at the surface of the landform during a predetermined time interval; processing the received energy pulse to extract the ring frequency using a processing method selected from the group consisting of time domain tracking, frequency domain tracking, and combinations thereof; and correlating the ring frequency to a parameter of the transducer, wherein said parameter further correlates to a condition in the downhole environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for interrogating a downhole environment, which is located below a surface of a landform, based on at least one energy pulse that is reflected at a modulation frequency from at least one downhole transducer to the surface of the landform, the system comprising:
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a means for receiving the modulated energy pulse at the surface during a predetermined time interval; a means for processing the received energy pulse to extract the modulation frequency; and a means for correlating the modulation frequency of the energy pulse to a parameter of the transducer or a characteristic of the downhole environment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for interrogating a downhole environment located below a surface of a landform, the apparatus being included in a system that transmits energy pulses to at least one downhole transducer which modulates the energy pulses and returns the modulated energy pulses to a location at the surface of the landform, the apparatus comprising:
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a means for receiving the modulated energy pulses at the surface; a means for sampling the modulated energy pulses; a means for detecting a modulating frequency of the sampled energy pulses; and a means for correlating the modulating frequency to conditions of the downhole environment.
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31. An apparatus for interrogating a downhole environment located below a surface of a landform, the apparatus being included in a system that transmits energy pulses to at least one downhole transducer which modulates the energy pulses and returns the modulated energy pulses to a location at the surface of the landform, the apparatus comprising:
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a means for receiving the modulated energy pulses at the surface; a means for locking onto a modulating frequency of the energy pulses when the modulating frequency is within a tolerance range; and a means for correlating the modulating frequency to conditions of the downhole environment.
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Specification