High-speed, downhole, cross well measurement system

• US 7,453,768 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: NovaDrill, Inc. (SLB)
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Fox, Joe, Durrand, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hughes; Scott A
• Application Number:
  US11/382,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20060221768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 3408531-8537, 340/856.1, 367 81- 83, 367/25
• US Class Current: 367/82
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/40 specially adapted for well-logging

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, a high-speed measurement system has a first and a second well bore. A first and second plurality of network nodes is integrated into and spaced at intervals along the first and second well bore, respectively. A communications channel connects each plurality of network nodes forming a first and second downhole network. A signal source is in communication with the first downhole network and a signal receiver is in communication with the second downhole network; and a common clock source is in communication with both the signal source and the signal receiver over the first and second downhole networks, respectively. The signal source and signal receiver are synchronized with the clock source and the signal source is adapted to send a signal to the signal receiver through a subterranean formation.

Claims

1. A high-speed measurement system, the system comprising:

a first and second well bore;

a first and second plurality of network nodes integrated into and spaced at intervals along the first and second well bores, respectively;

a communication channel connecting each plurality of network nodes forming a first and second downhole network;

a signal source in communication with the first downhole network and a signal receiver in communication with the second downhole network; and

a common clock source in communication with both the signal source and the signal receiver over the first and second downhole networks respectively;

wherein the signal source and signal receiver are synchronized with the common clock source over the downhole networks, the signal source is adapted to send a signal to the signal receiver through a subterranean formation and at least one of the downhole networks is integrated into a downhole tool string;

wherein each of the nodes comprises a downhole clock; and

wherein the source and reciever are in communication with at least one of the downhole clocks;

wherein the communication channel in at least one of the tool strings comprises a plurality of segments, each segment terminating proximate the ends of each tool string component

wherein the segments are electrically insulated from one another, but are in magnetic communication via inductive couplers

wherein the inductive couplers comprises a coil disposed within a trough of magnetically conductive electrically insulating material.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the source is an acoustic source, an induction source, an electric source, a nuclear source or combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the acoustic source is a seismic source, a sonic source, an explosive, a compressed gun, a vibrator, a sparker, or combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one tool string is a drill string, a production string, an injection string, casing string, or combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the source and the receiver and are used to create a cross-well map.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the common clock source is a disposed within a node of either the first or second plurality of nodes, a GPS, a server, surface equipment, a satellite, or combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a processing element is in electrical communication with the common clock and the downhole clocks.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing element is adapted to process the latency between the common clock and at least one downhole clock.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is adapted to send a synchronization pulse over at least one of the networks.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one downhole clock is in communication with a downhole processing element adapted to synchronize the downhole clock with the synchronization pulse.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second networks are controlled by a common server.