Downhole power generation and communications apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A method to periodically communicate with a sensor installed downhole in a completed well, the method comprising periodically and repeatedly:
- activating a surface pressure wave generator to transmit pressure waves to excite a downhole energy converter, wherein said energy converter comprises one of a magnetostrictive material or a single crystal piezoelectric;
storing electrical energy from said downhole energy converter in a downhole energy storage device;
after storing electrical energy in the device, powering up the sensor and a downhole control module both powered by electrical energy from the device;
accumulating data received from said downhole sensor in the downhole control module;
transmitting said data from said downhole control module to a surface signal processing unit, wherein the step of transmitting said data from said downhole control module to said surface signal processing unit comprises said module controlling a pressure wave telemetry unit to modify and reflect the pressure waves back to the surface location; and
deactivating the surface pressure wave generator, allowing electrical energy remaining in the storage device to be consumed and shutting down the sensor and control module.
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods to power and communicate with downhole sensors are presented. Preferred embodiments of the present invention includes energizing a downhole sensor with a surface pressure wave generator and a downhole mechanical to electrical energy converter. Preferred embodiments of the present invention also include transmitting data measured from a downhole sensor to a surface unit through modulation of surface-generated pressure waves.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method to periodically communicate with a sensor installed downhole in a completed well, the method comprising periodically and repeatedly:
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activating a surface pressure wave generator to transmit pressure waves to excite a downhole energy converter, wherein said energy converter comprises one of a magnetostrictive material or a single crystal piezoelectric; storing electrical energy from said downhole energy converter in a downhole energy storage device; after storing electrical energy in the device, powering up the sensor and a downhole control module both powered by electrical energy from the device; accumulating data received from said downhole sensor in the downhole control module; transmitting said data from said downhole control module to a surface signal processing unit, wherein the step of transmitting said data from said downhole control module to said surface signal processing unit comprises said module controlling a pressure wave telemetry unit to modify and reflect the pressure waves back to the surface location; and deactivating the surface pressure wave generator, allowing electrical energy remaining in the storage device to be consumed and shutting down the sensor and control module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification