Data acquisition apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for acquiring data signals in a wellbore, comprising:
- a receiver attached to an elongate electrical connector for conveying signals between a downhole location and the surface; and
a plurality of sensing devices adapted to be positioned downhole in spaced apart positions from the receiver, so as to form an array of sensing devices, wherein at least one of the sensing devices is provided with a processing unit to allow signals received from a second sensing device in the array to be combined with its own signal, and so as to produce a combined signal for onward transmission to a third sensing device in the array.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a data acquisition apparatus for use in a wellbore, having a receiver attached to an elongate electrical connector for conveying signals from downhole to surface, and a plurality of sensing devices adapted to be positioned downhole in spaced apart positions remote from the receiver, so as to form an array of sensing devices. The receiver includes a transmitter so as to allow two-way travel of signals within the wellbore. The invention is particularly of use when acquiring data in near-horizontal wells, or horizontal wells. Data acquired by one sensing device is transmitted to a receiver on a neighboring sensing device for transmittal from the neighboring sensing device to a next neighbour in the array. Data signals are thus relayed along the array of sensing devices until the last sensing device in the array transmits all acquired data to the receiver. The spacing between the individual sensing devices is regular and ranges from 3 meters to 100 meters. There is also provided a method of acquiring signals down a wellbore, comprising the steps of placing a plurality of spaced apart sensing devices within a lower part of the wellbore in the form of an array, and transmitting data acquired by each sensing device to a next one in the array by wireless telemetry.
119 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for acquiring data signals in a wellbore, comprising:
-
a receiver attached to an elongate electrical connector for conveying signals between a downhole location and the surface; and
a plurality of sensing devices adapted to be positioned downhole in spaced apart positions from the receiver, so as to form an array of sensing devices, wherein at least one of the sensing devices is provided with a processing unit to allow signals received from a second sensing device in the array to be combined with its own signal, and so as to produce a combined signal for onward transmission to a third sensing device in the array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 22)
-
-
15. An apparatus for acquiring data signals in a wellbore, comprising:
-
a receiver attached to an elongate electrical connector for conveying signals between a downhole location and the surface; and
a plurality of sensing devices adapted to be positioned downhole in spaced apart positions remote from the receiver, so as to form an array of sensing devices, wherein at least some of the plurality of sensing devices are each provided with a processing unit to allow signals received from a sensing device further down the array to be combined with its own signal, and so as to produce a combined signal for onward transmission to the another sensing device in the array, and wherein at least one sensing device includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal to the receiver.
-
-
16. A method of acquiring signals in a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
-
placing a plurality of spaced apart sensing devices within a lower part of the wellbore so as to form an array;
receiving with a first sensing device signals from a second sensing device in the array;
combining within the first sensing device the received signals from the second sensing device with signals from the first sensing device to form a combined signal; and
transmitting the combined signal to a third sensing device in the array. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
placing a receiver attached to an elongate electrical connector within an upper part of the wellbore; and
transmitting data to the receiver from one of the sensing devices of the array.
-
-
18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the sensing devices are provided with a downhole power supply.
-
19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of placing boosters between the sensing devices to ensure that each device is within transmission range of its nearest neighbour.
-
20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the sensing devices are spaced at intervals along the well to ensure that each device is within transmission range of its nearest neighbour.
-
21. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of transmitting uses wireless telemetry.
Specification
-
- Resources
-
Current AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
-
Original AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
-
InventorsBesson, Christian
-
Primary Examiner(s)Edwards, Jr., Timothy
-
Application NumberUS09/372,520Time in Patent Office1,154 DaysField of Search340/853.2, 340/853.7, 340/853.8, 340/584.9US Class Current340/853.2CPC Class CodesE21B 47/12 Means for transmitting meas...E21B 47/16 through the drill string or...
