Apparatus and methods for self-powered communication and sensor network

• US 7,400,262 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Chemali, Roland E., Fincher, Roger, Aronstam, Peter, Krueger, Volker, Watkins, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US11/049,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20050207279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 340/854.3, 340/853.1, 340/854.4, 340/855, 367/81, 738/612.7
• US Class Current: 340/854.3
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/028 Electrical or electro-magnetic connections
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• 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: E21B 47/16 through the drill string or casing , e.g. by torsional acoustic waves
• 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 system for communicating between a first location and a second location comprises a jointed tubular string having a first section and a second section connected at a connection joint, with the tubular string having a fluid in an internal passage thereof. A first acoustic transducer is mounted in the internal passage of the first section proximate the connection joint, and a second acoustic transducer is mounted in the internal passage of the second section proximate the connection joint. A signal transmitted from the first location to the second location is transmitted across the connection joint as an acoustic signal in the fluid from the first acoustic transducer to the second acoustic transducer.

Claims

1. A system for communicating data through a drill string, comprising:

a jointed tubular string having a first section and a second section connected at a connection joint, said tubular string having a fluid in an internal passage thereof;

a first acoustic transducer mounted in the internal passage at an inner surface of the first section proximate the connection joint; and

a second acoustic transducer mounted in the internal passage at an inner surface of the second section proximate the connection joint, wherein a signal transmitted from the first section to the second section is configured to be transmitted across the connection joint as an acoustic signal in the fluid from the first acoustic transducer to the second acoustic transducer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first acoustic transducer is a transmitter and the second acoustic transducer is a receiver.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the first section and the second section has a first acoustic transducer and a second acoustic transducer mounted at distal ends of each section.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer are interconnected by a communication link.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer are transceivers, each capable of transmitting and receiving acoustic signals.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic signal is in the range from about 1 kHz to about 20 MHz.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic signal is about 200 kHz.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each transducer comprises:

electronic circuits for driving the transducer; and

a power source.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a controller having a processor and memory configured to control each transducer according to programmed instructions.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the power source is configured to extract energy from a downhole potential energy source.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the downhole potential energy source is chosen from the group consisting of (i) a fluid flowing in said tubular string and (ii) motion of the tubular string.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the power source is chosen from the group consisting of (i) a piezoelectric element, (ii) a microturbine generator, (iii) a galvanic cell, (iv) a magneto-hydrodynamic generator, (v) an eccentric mass generator, (vi) a rolling ball generator, (vii) an electric battery, (viii) a thermoelectric generator, and (ix) a fuel cell.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein a retaining ring is used to mount each of the acoustic transducers in the internal passage of their respective sections.

14. A method for communicating data through a drill string comprising:

providing a jointed tubular string having a first section and a second section connected at a connection joint, said jointed tubular string having a fluid in an internal passage thereof; and

transmitting a signal from the first section to the second section across the connection joint as an acoustic signal in the fluid from a first acoustic transducer placed along an inner surface of the first section to a second acoustic transducer placed along an inner surface of the second section.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the first acoustic transducer is mounted in the internal passage of the first section proximate the connection joint; and

the second acoustic transducer is mounted in the internal passage of the second section proximate the connection joint.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first acoustic transducer is a transmitter and the second acoustic transducer is a receiver.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer are mounted at distal ends from each section.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer are interconnected by a data communication link.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer are transceivers, each capable of transmitting and receiving acoustic signals.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the acoustic signal is in the range from about 1 kHz to about 20 MHz.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the acoustic signal is about 200 kHz.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein each transducer comprises:

electronic circuits for driving the transducer; and

a power source.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising using a controller having a processor and memory to control each transducer according to programmed instructions.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the power source is adapted to extract energy from a downhole potential energy source.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the downhole potential energy source is chosen from the group consisting of (i) a fluid flowing in said tubular string and (ii) motion of the tubular string.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the power source is chosen from the group consisting of (i) a piezoelectric element, (ii) a microturbine generator, (iii) a galvanic cell, (iv) a magneto-hydrodynamic generator, (v) an eccentric mass generator, (vi) a rolling ball generator, (vii) an electric battery, (viii) a thermoelectric generator, and (ix) a fuel cell.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein a retaining ring is used to mount each acoustic transducer in the internal passage of the respective section.