COMMUNICATION THROUGH AN ENCLOSURE OF A LINE

• US 20120013893A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: MAIDA, John L., SAMSON, Etienne M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,584,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/73.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/16 through the drill string or casing , e.g. by torsional acoustic waves

Abstract

A communication system can include a transmitter which transmits a signal, and at least one sensing device which receives the signal, the sensing device including a line contained in an enclosure, and the signal being detected by the line through a material of the enclosure. A sensing system can include at least one sensor which senses a parameter, at least one sensing device which receives an indication of the parameter, the sensing device including a line contained in an enclosure, and a transmitter which transmits the indication of the parameter to the line through a material of the enclosure. Another sensing system can include an object which displaces in a subterranean well. At least one sensing device can receive a signal from the object. The sensing device can include a line contained in an enclosure, and the signal can be detected by the line through a material of the enclosure.

Claims

1. A sensing system, comprising:

a transmitter which transmits a signal; and

at least one sensing device which receives the signal, the sensing device including a line contained in an enclosure, and the signal being detected by the line through a material of the enclosure.

2. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the line comprises an optical waveguide.

3. The sensing system of claim 2, wherein an interrogation system detects Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

4. The sensing system of claim 2, wherein an interrogation system detects coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

5. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an acoustic signal.

6. The sensing system of claim 5, wherein the acoustic signal vibrates the line through the enclosure material.

7. The sensing system of claim 5, wherein an interrogation system detects triboelectric noise generated in response to the acoustic signal.

8. The sensing system of claim 5, wherein an interrogation system detects piezoelectric energy generated in response to the acoustic signal.

9. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is positioned external to a casing, and wherein the transmitter displaces through an interior of the casing.

10. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an electromagnetic signal.

11. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is not attached to the sensing device.

12. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is secured to the sensing device.

13. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is disposed along a sea floor in close proximity to the transmitter.

14. The sensing system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor, and wherein the signal includes an indication of a parameter measured by the sensor.

15. A sensing system, comprising:

at least one sensor which senses a parameter;

at least one sensing device which receives an indication of the parameter, the sensing device including a line contained in an enclosure; and

a transmitter which transmits the indication of the parameter to the line through a material of the enclosure.

16. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein the line comprises an optical waveguide.

17. The sensing system of claim 16, wherein an interrogation system detects Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

18. The sensing system of claim 16, wherein an interrogation system detects coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

19. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein the transmitter transmits the indication of the parameter via an acoustic signal.

20. The sensing system of claim 19, wherein the acoustic signal vibrates the line through the enclosure material.

21. The sensing system of claim 19, wherein an interrogation system detects triboelectric noise generated in response to the acoustic signal.

22. The sensing system of claim 19, wherein an interrogation system detects piezoelectric energy generated in response to the acoustic signal.

23. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein the sensing device is positioned external to a casing, and wherein the sensor displaces through an interior of the casing.

24. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein the transmitter transmits the indication of the parameter via an electromagnetic signal.

25. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is not attached to the sensing device.

26. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is secured to the sensing device.

27. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein the sensing device is disposed along a sea floor in close proximity to the sensor.

28. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises a tiltmeter.

29. A method of monitoring a parameter sensed by a sensor, the method comprising:

positioning a sensing device in close proximity to the sensor; and

transmitting an indication of the sensed parameter to a line of the sensing device, the indication being transmitted through a material of an enclosure containing the line.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein positioning the sensing device is performed after positioning the sensor in a location where the parameter is to be sensed.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein positioning the sensing device is performed prior to positioning the sensor in a location where the parameter is to be sensed.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein positioning the sensing device further comprises laying the sensing device on a sea floor.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the sensor comprises a tiltmeter.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the line comprises an optical waveguide.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of detecting Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of detecting coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting the indication of the parameter via an acoustic signal.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the acoustic signal vibrates the line through the enclosure material.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein an interrogation system detects triboelectric noise generated in response to the acoustic signal.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein an interrogation system detects piezoelectric energy generated in response to the acoustic signal.

41. The method of claim 29, wherein positioning the sensing device further comprises positioning the sensing device external to a casing, and wherein the sensor displaces through an interior of the casing.

42. The method of claim 29, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting the indication of the parameter via an electromagnetic signal.

43. The method of claim 29, wherein the sensor is not attached to the sensing device in the transmitting step.

44. The method of claim 29, wherein the sensor is secured to the sensing device in the transmitting step.

45. A method of monitoring a parameter sensed by a sensor, the method comprising:

positioning an optical waveguide in close proximity to the sensor; and

transmitting an indication of the sensed parameter to the optical waveguide, the indication being transmitted acoustically through a material of an enclosure containing the optical waveguide.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein positioning the optical waveguide is performed after positioning the sensor in a location where the parameter is to be sensed.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein positioning the optical waveguide is performed prior to positioning the sensor in a location where the parameter is to be sensed.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein positioning the optical waveguide further comprises laying the optical waveguide on a sea floor.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the sensor comprises a tiltmeter.

50. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of detecting Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of detecting coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein the transmitting step further comprises vibrating the optical waveguide through the enclosure material.

53. The method of claim 45, wherein positioning the sensing device further comprises positioning the sensing device external to a casing, and wherein the sensor displaces through an interior of the casing.

54. The method of claim 45, wherein the sensor is not attached to the sensing device in the transmitting step.

55. The method of claim 45, wherein the sensor is secured to the sensing device in the transmitting step.

56. A sensing system, comprising:

an object which displaces in a subterranean well; and

at least one sensing device which receives a signal from the object, the sensing device including a line contained in an enclosure, and the signal being detected by the line through a material of the enclosure.

57. The sensing system of claim 56, wherein the line comprises an optical waveguide.

58. The sensing system of claim 57, wherein an interrogation system detects Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

59. The sensing system of claim 57, wherein an interrogation system detects coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

60. The sensing system of claim 56, wherein the signal comprises an acoustic signal.

61. The sensing system of claim 60, wherein the acoustic signal vibrates the line through the enclosure material.

62. The sensing system of claim 60, wherein an interrogation system detects triboelectric noise generated in response to the acoustic signal.

63. The sensing system of claim 60, wherein an interrogation system detects piezoelectric energy generated in response to the acoustic signal.

64. The sensing system of claim 60, wherein the acoustic signal is generated by displacement of the object through the well.

65. The sensing system of claim 56, wherein the signal comprises a thermal signal.

66. The sensing system of claim 56, wherein the signal is generated in response to arrival of the object at a predetermined location in the well.

67. The sensing system of claim 56, further comprising a sensor, and wherein the signal includes an indication of a parameter measured by the sensor.