Downhole data transmission system

• US 9,284,834 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2010
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Alteirac, Laurent, Rayssiguier, Christophe M, Merino, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, CURTIS J
• Application Number:
  US13/517,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20120286967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/14 using acoustic waves

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed herein relating to transmitting data within a borehole. The method and system include having a transmitter disposed at a first location within the borehole and configured to generate a first signal, and more than one receiver and/or repeater disposed at a second location within the borehole. The receivers and/or repeaters are configured to receive the first signal, and further are configured to communicate with each other.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting data within a borehole, comprising:

a first communication node disposed at a first location within the borehole, the first communication node including a first transmitter configured to transmit a first signal; and

a second communication node disposed at a second location within the borehole remote from the first location, the second communication node including a first receiver, a second receiver, a second transmitter, and a communication link to communicatively couple the second transmitter, the first receiver, and the second receiver at the second location, wherein each of the first receiver and the second receiver are configured to receive the first signal transmitted from the first transmitter, and wherein the second transmitter communicates information associated with the first receiver to the second receiver at the second location via the communication link.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second transmitter disposed at the second location within the borehole is configured to generate a second signal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the first receiver and the second receiver are configured to receive the second signal generated by the second transmitter.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first communication node further comprises a third receiver disposed at the first location and configured to receive the second signal generated by the second transmitter.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the second transmitter and the first receiver comprise a repeater, wherein the second signal generated by the second transmitter corresponds to the first signal received by the first receiver.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the repeater comprises a piezoelectric transceiver that is configured to receive the first signal and re-transmit the first signal as the second signal.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein one of the first transmitter and the second transmitter is configured to generate one of an acoustic signal and an electromagnetic signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein one of the first receiver and the third receiver is configured to receive one of the acoustic signal and the electromagnetic signal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication link is a wired link that communicatively connects the second transmitter, the first receiver, and the second receiver at the second location.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication link is a wireless link, and the second transmitter, the first receiver, and the second receiver are configured to communicate with each other wirelessly.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first receiver comprises a first repeater and the second receiver comprises a second repeater.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first repeater and the second repeater are configured such that when at least a portion of one of the first repeater and the second repeater is powered on, at least a portion of the other of the first repeater and the second repeater is powered off.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the second communication node further comprises a third receiver disposed at the second location and configured to receive the first signal transmitted by the first transmitter.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the third receiver comprises a third repeater.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a securing mechanism to secure the first receiver and the second receiver to a tubular member disposed within the borehole, where the securing mechanism secures the first receiver and the second receiver at the second location.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the securing mechanism secures to an outer surface of the tubular member and at least a portion of the first receiver and the second receiver are disposed within the securing mechanism.

17. A system for transmitting data within a borehole, comprising:

a first communication node disposed at a first location within the borehole, the first communication node including a first transmitter configured to transmit a first signal; and

a second communication node disposed at a second location within the borehole remote from the first location, the second communication node including a first repeater, a second repeater, and a communications link communicatively coupling the first repeater and the second repeater at the second location, wherein each of the first repeater and the second repeater are configured to receive the first signal and re-transmit the first signal as a second signal, and wherein the first repeater and the second repeater are configured to transmit and receive communications to and from each other at the second location via the communications link.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a third repeater disposed at a third location within the borehole remote from the second location and a fourth repeater disposed at a fourth location within the borehole remote from the third location, wherein each of the third repeater and the fourth repeater are configured to receive the first signal re-transmitted as the second signal from one of the first repeater and the second repeater.

19. A method for transmitting data within a borehole, the method comprising:

disposing a first communication node at a first location within the borehole, the first communication node including a first transmitter;

disposing a second communication node at a second location within the borehole remote from the first location, the second communication node including a first receiver, a second receiver, a second transmitter, and a communication link to communicatively couple the first receiver, the second receiver, and the second transmitter at the second location, wherein the second transmitter is configured to communicate information associated with each of the first receiver and the second receiver to the other of the first receiver and the second receiver at the second location via the communication link; and

transmitting a signal with the first transmitter to one of the first receiver and the second receiver.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first receiver comprises a first repeater and the second receiver comprises a second repeater.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

communicating between the first repeater and the second repeater via the communication link at the second location such that when at least a portion of one of the first repeater and the second repeater is powered on, at least a portion of the other of the first repeater and the second repeater is powered off.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

securing the first receiver and the second receiver with a securing mechanism to a tubular member; and

disposing the tubular member within the borehole.