Communication through an enclosure of a line

• US 8,584,519 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Maida, John L., Samson, Etienne M.
• Primary Examiner(s): FITZGERALD, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US12/838,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20120013893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 324/220, 324/221, 367/87, 731/525.4
• US Class Current: 73/152.54
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/16 through the drill string or casing , e.g. by torsional acoustic waves

Abstract

A communication system can include a transmitter which transmits a signal, and at least one sensing device which receives the signal, the sensing device including a line contained in an enclosure, and the signal being detected by the line through a material of the enclosure. A sensing system can include at least one sensor which senses a parameter, at least one sensing device which receives an indication of the parameter, the sensing device including a line contained in an enclosure, and a transmitter which transmits the indication of the parameter to the line through a material of the enclosure. Another sensing system can include an object which displaces in a subterranean well. At least one sensing device can receive a signal from the object. The sensing device can include a line contained in an enclosure, and the signal can be detected by the line through a material of the enclosure.

Claims

1. A sensing system, comprising:

a sensor;

a transmitter which transmits a signal, the signal including an indication of a parameter measured by the sensor; and

at least one sensing device which receives the signal, the sensing device including a line contained in an enclosure, and the signal being detected by the line through a material of the enclosure.

2. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is positioned external to a casing, and wherein the transmitter displaces through an interior of the casing.

3. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an electromagnetic signal.

4. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is not attached to the sensing device.

5. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is secured to the sensing device.

6. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is disposed along a sea floor in close proximity to the transmitter.

7. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the line comprises an optical waveguide.

8. The sensing system of claim 7, wherein an interrogation system detects Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

9. The sensing system of claim 7, wherein an interrogation system detects coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

10. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an acoustic signal.

11. The sensing system of claim 10, wherein the acoustic signal vibrates the line through the enclosure material.

12. The sensing system of claim 10, wherein an interrogation system detects triboelectric noise generated in response to the acoustic signal.

13. The sensing system of claim 10, wherein an interrogation system detects piezoelectric energy generated in response to the acoustic signal.

14. A sensing system, comprising:

at least one sensor which senses a parameter;

at least one sensing device which receives an indication of the parameter, the sensing device including a line contained in an enclosure; and

a transmitter which transmits the indication of the parameter to the line through a material of the enclosure.

15. The sensing system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter transmits the indication of the parameter via an acoustic signal.

16. The sensing system of claim 14, wherein the sensing device is positioned external to a casing, and wherein the sensor displaces through an interior of the casing.

17. The sensing system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter transmits the indication of the parameter via an electromagnetic signal.

18. The sensing system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is not attached to the sensing device.

19. The sensing system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is secured to the sensing device.

20. The sensing system of claim 14, wherein the sensing device is disposed along a sea floor in close proximity to the sensor.

21. The sensing system of claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a tiltmeter.

22. The sensing system of claim 14, wherein the line comprises an optical waveguide.

23. The sensing system of claim 22, wherein an interrogation system detects Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

24. The sensing system of claim 22, wherein an interrogation system detects coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

25. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein an interrogation system detects piezoelectric energy generated in response to the acoustic signal.

26. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein the acoustic signal vibrates the line through the enclosure material.

27. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein an interrogation system detects triboelectric noise generated in response to the acoustic signal.

28. A sensing system, comprising:

an object which displaces in a subterranean well;

at least one sensing device which receives a signal from the object, the sensing device including a line contained in an enclosure, and the signal being detected by the line through a material of the enclosure; and

a sensor, wherein the signal includes an indication of a parameter measured by the sensor.

29. The sensing system of claim 28, wherein the signal comprises a thermal signal.

30. The sensing system of claim 28, wherein the signal is generated in response to arrival of the object at a predetermined location in the well.

31. The sensing system of claim 28, wherein the line comprises an optical waveguide.

32. The sensing system of claim 31, wherein an interrogation system detects Brillouin backscatter gain resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

33. The sensing system of claim 31, wherein an interrogation system detects coherent Rayleigh backscatter resulting from light transmitted through the optical waveguide.

34. The sensing system of claim 28, wherein the signal comprises an acoustic signal.

35. The sensing system of claim 34, wherein the acoustic signal vibrates the line through the enclosure material.

36. The sensing system of claim 34, wherein an interrogation system detects triboelectric noise generated in response to the acoustic signal.

37. The sensing system of claim 34, wherein an interrogation system detects piezoelectric energy generated in response to the acoustic signal.

38. The sensing system of claim 34, wherein the acoustic signal is generated by displacement of the object through the well.