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Hybrid transponder system for long-range sensing and 3D localization

  • US 9,062,539 B2
  • Filed: 04/26/2011
  • Issued: 06/23/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system to determine a size, extent, and orientation of a hydraulic fracture of a reservoir, the system comprising:

  • a plurality of transponders each configured to be carried by a fluid into a hydraulic fracture of a reservoir, each transponder comprising a substrate carrying;

    an RF receiver antenna configured to receive radiofrequency (RF) signals comprising a command RF signal,an acoustic transmitter configured to transmit an acoustic return signal, anda control circuit operably coupled to the RF antenna and to the acoustic transmitter and configured;

    to receive the command RF signal through the RF receiver antenna,to selectively control a state of the acoustic transmitter of the respective transponder in response thereto,to determine a power level of the received command RF signal,to transmit the acoustic return signal from the acoustic transmitter when the power level of the received command signal is at or above a predetermined power level thereby to define an active state, andto enter a quiescent state when the power level of the received command signal drops below the predetermined level;

    a reader dimensioned to be deployed within a wellbore, the reader comprising;

    an RF antenna assembly including an RF antenna,an RF transmitter operably coupled to the RF antenna and configured to transmit the command RF signal or command RF signals to the plurality of transponders deployed within the reservoir, andat least one acoustic receiver configured to receive acoustic return signals from the plurality of transponders deployed within the reservoir; and

    a reader controller, a computer controller, or both the reader controller and the computer controller defining one or more controllers configured to perform the operations of;

    initiating rotation of the reader RF antenna of the reader to actuate one or more of the plurality of transponders,identifying an approximate center of positive response for each of the one or more of the plurality of transponders responsive to receiving the respective acoustic return signal therefrom,determining an approximate azimuth of the one or more of the plurality of transponders,repeating performing the operations of causing the rotation of the RF antenna of the reader and identifying an approximate center of positive response for each of one or more other of the plurality of the transponders until determining the approximate azimuth for each of the plurality of transponders,determining a three-dimensional position of each of the plurality of transponders responsive to determining the approximate azimuth of each of the plurality of transponders, anddetermining characteristics of the hydraulic fracture responsive to the determining the three-dimensional position of each of the plurality of transponders.

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