ACOUSTIC TELEMETRY WITH DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING SYSTEM

• US 20140126331A1
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: SKINNER, Neal G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,823,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/82
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/14 using acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/226 Optoseismic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/40 specially adapted for well-logging
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2001/526 Mounting of transducers

Abstract

An acoustic telemetry method for use with a subterranean well can include positioning a well tool in the well, the well tool including an acoustic transmitter and a sensor, and an acoustic receiver in the well receiving an acoustic signal transmitted by the transmitter, the acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the sensor. A system for use with a subterranean well can include a well tool positioned in the well, the well tool including an acoustic transmitter and a sensor, the acoustic transmitter transmits an acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the sensor to an acoustic receiver positioned in the well.

Claims

1. A system for use with a subterranean well, the system comprising:

at least one well tool positioned in the well, the well tool including a sensor and an acoustic transmitter which transmits an acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the sensor to an acoustic receiver positioned in the well.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic receiver comprises an optical waveguide.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the acoustic signal causes vibrations in the optical waveguide.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein an optical interrogator connected to the optical waveguide detects backscattering of light in the optical waveguide.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the backscattering of light is indicative of vibrations distributed along the optical waveguide.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic receiver comprises a fiber Bragg grating.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic receiver comprises a Fabry-Perot interferometer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the well tool is connected in a tubular string.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned external to the tubular string.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned between tubular strings.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned in cement external to a tubular string.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one well tool comprises multiple well tools, and wherein the acoustic transmitters of the well tools transmit the acoustic signals including information representative of measurements by the corresponding sensors to the acoustic receiver.

13. An acoustic telemetry method for use with a subterranean well, the method comprising:

positioning at least one well tool in the well, the well tool including an acoustic transmitter and a sensor; and

an acoustic receiver in the well receiving an acoustic signal transmitted by the transmitter, the acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the sensor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the acoustic receiver comprises an optical waveguide.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the acoustic signal causing vibrations in the optical waveguide.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising an optical interrogator connected to the optical waveguide detecting backscattering of light in the optical waveguide.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the backscattering of light is indicative of vibrations distributed along the optical waveguide.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the acoustic receiver comprises a fiber Bragg grating.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the acoustic receiver comprises a Fabry-Perot interferometer.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the well tool is connected in a tubular string.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned external to the tubular string.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned between tubular strings.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned in cement external to a tubular string.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one well tool comprises multiple well tools, and wherein the acoustic transmitters of the well tools transmit the acoustic signals including information representative of measurements by the corresponding sensors to the acoustic receiver.

25. A system for use with a subterranean well, the system comprising:

a well tool positioned in the well, the well tool including an acoustic transmitter and a sensor; and

an optical waveguide positioned in the well, the optical waveguide receives an acoustic signal transmitted by the transmitter, and the acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the sensor.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the acoustic signal causes vibrations in the optical waveguide.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein an optical interrogator connected to the optical waveguide detects backscattering of light in the optical waveguide.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the backscattering of light is indicative of vibrations distributed along the optical waveguide.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the well tool is connected in a tubular string.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned external to the tubular string.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned between tubular strings.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned in cement external to a tubular string.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a distributed acoustic receiver.