Surface formation monitoring system and method
First Claim
1. A subsurface formation monitoring system comprising:
- a conductive piping structure positioned within a borehole extending into a subsurface formation;
a production tubing disposed inside the conductive piping structure;
an insulating packer electrically decoupling the production tubing and the conductive piping structure;
a surface installed power and communication module coupled to a grounded return electrode coupled to the subsurface formation;
a downhole installed conductive casing sub coupled to the conductive piping structure and comprising at least one sensor mounted on the downhole installed conductive casing sub; and
a downhole intermediate module connected to the surface installed power communication module and coupled to the conductive piping structure so as to couple the surface installed power and communication module and the conductive piping structure;
wherein the surface installed power and communication module comprises an alternate current generator to define an ingoing signal path along the conductive piping structure and the downhole installed conductive casing sub, the ingoing signal flowing from the surface installed power and communication module to the conductive piping structure via the downhole intermediate module and then to the downhole installed conductive casing sub, the ingoing signal transmitting power from the alternate current generator to the downhole intermediate module and to the at least one sensor via the downhole installed conductive casing sub; and
wherein a return signal comprising sensor measurements is transmitted through a return signal path from the downhole installed conductive casing sub to the surface installed power and communication module via the grounded return electrode.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A subsurface formation monitoring system and method is described. The system includes a conductive piping structure positionable within a borehole extending into a subsurface formation. The conductive piping structure is electrically decoupled from a production tubing by an insulating packer. The system also includes a downhole installed conductive casing sub that has one or more sensors. The conductive casing sub is electrically coupled to the conductive piping structure. The system further includes a surface installed power and communication module that has an alternate current generator. The power and communication module is electrically coupled to the conductive piping structure via a downhole intermediate module. The alternate current generator can inject a current signal that flows downhole to the conductive casing sub and then returns with sensor measurements to the surface power and communication module via a grounded return electrode that is coupled to the subsurface formation.
14 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A subsurface formation monitoring system comprising:
-
a conductive piping structure positioned within a borehole extending into a subsurface formation; a production tubing disposed inside the conductive piping structure; an insulating packer electrically decoupling the production tubing and the conductive piping structure; a surface installed power and communication module coupled to a grounded return electrode coupled to the subsurface formation; a downhole installed conductive casing sub coupled to the conductive piping structure and comprising at least one sensor mounted on the downhole installed conductive casing sub; and a downhole intermediate module connected to the surface installed power communication module and coupled to the conductive piping structure so as to couple the surface installed power and communication module and the conductive piping structure; wherein the surface installed power and communication module comprises an alternate current generator to define an ingoing signal path along the conductive piping structure and the downhole installed conductive casing sub, the ingoing signal flowing from the surface installed power and communication module to the conductive piping structure via the downhole intermediate module and then to the downhole installed conductive casing sub, the ingoing signal transmitting power from the alternate current generator to the downhole intermediate module and to the at least one sensor via the downhole installed conductive casing sub; and wherein a return signal comprising sensor measurements is transmitted through a return signal path from the downhole installed conductive casing sub to the surface installed power and communication module via the grounded return electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of monitoring a subsurface formation comprising the steps of:
-
installing a conductive casing sub within a borehole extending into a subsurface formation, the conductive casing sub comprising at least one sensor mounted thereon; positioning a conductive piping structure within the borehole and coupling the conductive piping structure to the conductive casing sub, the conductive piping structure electrically decoupled from a production tubing via an insulating packer; coupling a surface installed power and communication module to the conductive piping structure via a downhole intermediate module and to a grounded return electrode coupled to the subsurface formation, the surface installed power and communication module comprising an alternate current generator; injecting an ingoing signal using the alternate current generator that flows from the surface installed power and communication module to the conductive piping structure via the downhole intermediate module and then to the downhole installed conductive casing sub and transmits power to the downhole intermediate module and the at least one sensor; and receiving, at the surface installed power and communication module, a return signal with sensor measurements that flows from the downhole installed conductive casing sub to the surface installed power and communication module via the grounded return electrode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification