Reservoir management system and method

• US 6,693,553 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1999
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Ciglenec, Reinhart, Tabanou, Jacques R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/382,534
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 340/853.1, 340/853.3, 175/50, 116/250.01, 731/525.9, 731/524.6, 731/522.4
• US Class Current: 340/853.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/14 for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/06 Cutting windows, e.g. directional window cutters for whipstock operations E21B29/005 and E21B29/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/13 Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/01 Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/053 using radioactive markers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/09 Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells , e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/26 Storing data down-hole, e.g. in a memory or on a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/00 Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/061 the tool shaft advancing relative to a guide, e.g. a curved tube or a whipstock

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for controlling oilfield production to improve efficiency includes a remote sensing unit that is placed within a subsurface formation, an antenna structure for transmitting power and communicating signals to the remote sensing unit and for receiving communication signals from the remote sensor, a casing joint having nonconductive “windows” for allowing an internally located antenna to communicate with the remote sensing unit for those embodiments in which a wireline tool is being used to communicate with remote sensing unit, and a system for obtaining subsurface formation data and for producing the formation data to a central location for subsequent analysis. The remote sensing unit is a standalone sensor that is placed sufficiently far from the wellbore to reduce or eliminate effects that the wellbore might have on formation data samples taken by the remote sensing unit. The subsurface formation data values are transmitted to a central location for analysis.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining data from a subsurface formation, comprising:

a downhole data acquisition system comprising a downhole communication unit and a remote sensing unit, the remote sensing unit deployed into the formation from a wellbore for gathering formation data therefrom, the remote sensing unit wirelessly coupled to the downhole communication unit;

an above ground communication network; and

a wellbore communication link coupling the downhole communication unit to the above ground communication network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the downhole data acquisition system further comprises a downhole power and communication signal transceiver system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the downhole data acquisition system further comprises an antenna and a power anplifier, the power amplifier for transmitting RF power for the remote sensing unit.

4. The system of claim 3, the remote sensing unit including a charge storage device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the remote sensing unit further includes circuitry for converting RF power to DC for charging the charge storage device.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote sensing unit includes demodulation circuitry for demodulating communication signals transmitted by the downhole power and communication transceiver system.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote sensing unit includes a pressure sensor.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote sensing unit includes a temperature sensor.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote sensing unit includes a sensor for measuring formation resistivity.

10. The downhole power and communication signal transceiver system of claim 2, further including modulation circuitry for modulating communication signals.

11. The downhole power and communication signal transceiver system of claim 2 further including an antenna having at least two antenna coil sections, the at least two antenna coil sections being formed so that current flows in opposite directions.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the above ground communication network includes a central control unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the above ground communication network further includes a well control unit.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the well control unit includes transceiver circuitry for transmitting data from a subsurface formation to the central control unit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the transceiver circuitry includes circuitry for transmitting the subsurface formation data over a wireline network.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the transceiver circuitry includes circuitry for transmitting the formation data over a wireless network.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the transceiver circuitry includes circuitry for transmitting the formation data over a cellular wireless network.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the transceiver circuitry includes circuitry for transmitting the formation data over a satellite based network.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the central control unit includes circuitry for determining well depletion rates based upon received subsurface formation data values and for transmitting control commands responsive thereto.

20. A method for sampling a subsurface formation to obtain subsurface formation data, comprising:

measuring a subsurface formation characteristic with a remote sensing unit deployed into a subsurface formation from a wellbore to obtain subsurface formation data; and

transmitting the subsurface formation data from the remote sensing unit over a wireless communication link to a downhole power and communication signal transceiver system.

21. The method of claim 20 further including the step of receiving RF power over a wireless communication link from the downhole power and communication signal transceiver system and converting the RF power to DC to charge a charge storage device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of transmitting subsurface formation data only occurs if RF power is not being received.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of transmitting subsurface formation data occurs while RF power is being received.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the subsurface formation data is only transmitted if an amount of charge of the charge storage device exceeds a specified amount.