Acoustic telemetry with distributed acoustic sensing system

• US 9,823,373 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Skinner, Neal G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Zhen Y
• Application Number:
  US13/672,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20140126331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 367 82
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/14 using acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/226 Optoseismic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/40 specially adapted for well-logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2001/526 Mounting of transducers

Abstract

An acoustic telemetry method for use with a subterranean well can include positioning a well tool in the well, the well tool including an acoustic transmitter and a sensor, and an acoustic receiver in the well receiving an acoustic signal transmitted by the transmitter, the acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the sensor. A system for use with a subterranean well can include a well tool positioned in the well, the well tool including an acoustic transmitter and a sensor, the acoustic transmitter transmits an acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the sensor to an acoustic receiver positioned in the well.

Claims

1. A system for use with a subterranean well, the system comprising:

multiple well tools installed at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the well, each of the multiple well tools are encompassed in a side-pocket mandrel disposed in the well, each of the multiple well tools including a sensor to measure one or more downhole parameters and an acoustic transmitter which wirelessly transmits an acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement of the one or more downhole parameters by the sensor, and wherein the multiple well tools are configured to change a data source, a data rate, a modulation technique, or a transmitting frequency on command from a surface controller;

an optical waveguide positioned in the well, wherein the optical waveguide is present at each of the locations, the optical waveguide sensing the respective acoustic signal from the respective acoustic transmitter at the respective location for each of the multiple well tools; and

an optical interrogator positioned at a surface of the earth and connected to the optical waveguide, the optical interrogator thereby receiving the respective information representative of the respective measurement by the respective sensor for each of the multiple well tools.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the respective acoustic signal causes vibrations in the optical waveguide.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical interrogator detects backscattering of light in the optical waveguide.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the backscattering of light is indicative of vibrations distributed along the optical waveguide.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a fiber Bragg grating.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical interrogator comprises a Fabry-Perot interferometer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple well tools are installed in a tubular string.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned external to the tubular string.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned between tubular strings.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned in cement external to a tubular string.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a distributed acoustic sensor.

12. An acoustic telemetry method for use with a subterranean well, the method comprising:

installing multiple well tools installed at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the well, each of the multiple well tools are encompassed in a side-pocket mandrel disposed in the well, each of the multiple well tools including a sensor to measure downhole parameters and an acoustic transmitter;

transmitting an acoustic signal from each of the multiple well tools via the respective acoustic transmitter, the respective acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the respective sensor, and wherein the multiple well tools are configured to change a data source, a data rate, a modulation technique, or a transmitting frequency on command from a surface controller;

positioning an optical waveguide in the well laterally adjacent each of the location, the optical waveguide sensing the respective acoustic signal from the respective acoustic transmitter at the respective location for each of the multiple well tools; and

connecting the optical interrogator to the optical waveguide, the optical interrogator thereby receiving the respective information representative of the respective measurement of downhole parameters by the respective sensor for each of the multiple well tools.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the respective acoustic signal causing vibrations in the optical waveguide.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the optical interrogator detecting backscattering of light in the optical waveguide.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the backscattering of light is indicative of vibrations distributed along the optical waveguide.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical interrogator comprises a fiber Bragg grating.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical interrogator comprises a Fabry-Perot interferometer.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the multiple well tools are installed in a tubular string.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned external to the tubular string.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned between tubular strings.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical waveguide is positioned in cement external to a tubular string.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a distributed acoustic sensor.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the multiple well tools is received in a separate pocket mandrel of the tubular string.