Short Hop Wireless Telemetry for Completion Systems

• US 20090045974A1
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Patel, Dinesh R.
• Application Number:
  US12/189,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20090045974A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/854.600
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B

Abstract

A downhole wireless communication method and system is provided for a completed wellbore having a mother bore and two or more lateral branches, wherein at least one of the lateral branches is not electrically or hydraulically wet connected to the mother bore. The system includes an upper two-way, short hop, wireless telemetry module disposed within the mother bore and connected to a first power source, and two or more lower two-way, short hop, wireless telemetry modules disposed within the completed wellbore and connected to a second power source wherein at least one of the lower two-way, short hop wireless telemetry modules is disposed within each of the lateral branches. At least one sensor is adapted to measure downhole parameters and at least one flow control valve are communicably coupled to the upper two-way, short hop, wireless telemetry module or the lower two-way, short hop, wireless telemetry modules.

Claims

1. A downhole wireless communication system for a well having at least two segments wherein the communication between said segments is wireless, comprising:

a first wireless telemetry module disposed within a first segment of the well and communicably coupled and powered from a surface via a cable;

at least one second wireless telemetry module disposed within at least one segment of the well having one or more second segments and coupled to at least one downhole power source and at least one downhole device; and

wherein the first wireless telemetry module is wirelessly communicably coupled with the at least one second wireless telemetry module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one downhole device is a sensor configured to measure a downhole parameter and is communicably coupled to at least the second wireless telemetry module.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one downhole device is a flow control valve configured to be communicably coupled to at least the second wireless telemetry module.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one downhole device is coupled to the second telemetry module via a cable.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless telemetry between the first and the at least one of the second segments is electromagnetic.

6. The downhole wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the wireless telemetry between the first and the at least one of the second segments is acoustic where there is at least some direct metal to metal connection or contact between the first and the at least one second segments.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless telemetry module communicates with two or more second wireless telemetry modules within at least one second segment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the two or more second wireless telemetry modules communicates with a corresponding first wireless telemetry module.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical interface device configured to establish a metal to metal connection between the first segment and the at least one of the second segments.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mechanical interface device comprises one or more biased collars or wedged pads configured to provided a metal to metal connection between a tubing and a liner.

11. A downhole wireless communication system for a completed wellbore having a mother bore and one or more lateral branches, wherein at least one of the lateral branches is not electrically or hydraulically wet connected to the mother bore, comprising:

an upper wireless telemetry module disposed within the mother bore and connected to a first power source;

two or more lower wireless telemetry modules disposed within the completed wellbore wherein at least one of the lower wireless telemetry modules is disposed within each of the lateral branches;

at least one sensor adapted to measure downhole parameters and communicably coupled to the upper wireless telemetry module or the lower wireless telemetry modules;

at least one flow control valve communicably coupled to the upper wireless telemetry module or the lower wireless telemetry module; and

a second power source electrically connected to each of the lower wireless telemetry modules.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein more than one lower wireless telemetry modules is disposed in at least one of the lateral branches.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein each lateral branch comprises two or more levels and at least one wireless telemetry module is disposed in each level.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the upper and lower wireless telemetry modules communicate with one another to relay sensor data or commands up and down the completed wellbore.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the upper wireless telemetry module and the lower wireless telemetry module(s) each comprise a processor communicably coupled to a transceiver.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the transceiver comprises an acoustic transceiver or an electromagnetic transceiver.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first power source comprises a battery, a fuel cell, a downhole power generator or a power communication line connected to an external power source.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the second power source comprises a battery, a fuel cell or a downhole power generator.

19. A method for optimizing hydrocarbon recovery from a completed wellbore having a mother bore and two or more lateral branches, wherein at least one of the lateral branches is not electrically or hydraulically wet connected to the mother bore, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving sensor data at a lower wireless telemetry module disposed within one of the lateral branches;

transmitting the sensor data wirelessly to a controller external to the wellbore via an upper wireless telemetry module disposed within the mother bore;

analyzing the received sensor data and determining one or more commands to enhance hydrocarbon recovery from the wellbore;

transmitting the command(s) to the lower wireless telemetry module via the upper wireless telemetry module; and

transmitting the command(s) to one or more control valves communicably connected to the lower wireless telemetry module.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the sensor data and the command(s) are further transmitted via one or more intermediate wireless telemetry modules disposed between the upper wireless telemetry module and the lower wireless telemetry modules.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the upper wireless telemetry module and the lower wireless telemetry module(s) each comprise a processor communicably coupled to an acoustic or electromagnetic transceiver.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the upper wireless telemetry module is electrically connected to a first power source;

the lower wireless telemetry module(s) is electrically connected to a second power source; and

the sensor comprises a gauge, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow rate measurement device, an oil/water/gas ratio measurement device, a scale detector, a vibration sensor, a sand detection sensor, a water detection sensor, a viscosity sensor, a density sensor, a bubble point sensor, a composition sensor, a resistivity array sensor, an acoustic sensor, a near infrared sensor, a gamma ray detector, a H2S detector or CO2 detector, or a combination thereof.

23. A downhole wireless communication system for a completed wellbore having a mother bore and two or more lateral branches, wherein at least one of the lateral branches is not electrically or hydraulically wet connected to the mother bore, comprising:

an upper two-way, short hop, wireless telemetry module disposed within the mother bore and connected to a battery, a fuel cell, a downhole power generator or a power communication line connected to an external power source;

two or more lower two-way, short hop, wireless telemetry modules disposed within the completed wellbore wherein at least one of the lower two-way, short hop wireless telemetry modules is disposed within each of the lateral branches;

at least one sensor adapted to measure downhole parameters and communicably coupled to the upper wireless telemetry module or the lower wireless telemetry modules, wherein the sensor comprises a gauge, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow rate measurement device, an oil/water/gas ratio measurement device, a scale detector, a vibration sensor, a sand detection sensor, a water detection sensor, a viscosity sensor, a density sensor, a bubble point sensor, a composition sensor, a resistivity array sensor, an acoustic sensor, a near infrared sensor, a gamma ray detector, a H₂S detector or CO₂ detector, or a combination thereof;

at least one flow control valve communicably coupled to the upper wireless telemetry module or the lower wireless telemetry module;

a battery, a fuel cell or a downhole power generator electrically connected to each lower wireless telemetry module.

wherein the upper and lower wireless telemetry modules communicate with one another to relay sensor data or commands up and down the completed wellbore, and the sensor data is analyzed to determine one or more commands to enhance hydrocarbon recovery from the wellbore using the one or more control valves; and

wherein the upper wireless telemetry module and the lower wireless telemetry module(s) each comprise a processor communicably coupled to an acoustic or electromagnetic transceiver, and a memory storage unit communicably coupled to the processor.