Remotely actuating a casing conveyed tool

• US 7,273,102 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Sheffield, Randolph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOMAR, THOMAS S
• Application Number:
  US10/709,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20050263286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 166/297, 166/299, 166/55, 175/40, 340/853.2, 340/854.3
• US Class Current: 166/297
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/117 Shaped-charge perforators E21B43/118 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency

Abstract

A technique that is usable with a subterranean well includes communicating a wireless stimulus downhole in the well and actuating a casing conveyed tool in response to the communication.

Claims

1. A method usable with a subterranean well, comprising:

communicating a wireless stimulus downhole in the well;

actuating a casing conveyed perforating gun in response to the communication;

downhole in the well, confirming firing of the perforating gun; and

in response to the confirmation of the firing, communicating another wireless stimulus from a transmitter integrated with a casing string uphole to indicate the confirmation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating the wireless stimulus downhole comprises:

transmitting an electromagnetic wave from the surface of the well through at least one formation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating the wireless stimulus downhole comprises:

communicating a seismic wave from the surface of the well through at least one formation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating the wireless stimulus downhole comprises:

communicating an acoustic wave downhole.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

communicating the acoustic wave on at least one of a production tubing and the casing string.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating the wireless stimulus downhole comprises:

communicating a pressure pulse downhole.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

communicating the pressure pulse through at least one of a fluid in a production tubing and a fluid in an annulus.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

encoding the stimulus to indicate a command; and

decoding the stimulus near the perforating gun to extract the command.

9. A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising:

a casing string comprising a casing conveyed perforating gun located downhole in the well; and

an apparatus to communicate a wireless stimulus downhole to the perforating gun to actuate the perforating gun;

a circuit located downhole to confirm firing of the perforating gun; and

a transmitter integrated with the casing string to in response to the confirmation of the firing of the perforating gun, communicate another wireless stimulus uphole indicative of the firing.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a firing system to fire the perforating gun in response to the wireless stimulus.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is adapted to transmit an electromagnetic wave from the surface to the tool through at least one formation.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is adapted to communicate a seismic wave from the surface through at least one formation.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is adapted to communicate an acoustic wave downhole to actuate the perforating gun.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said apparatus is further adapted to communicate the acoustic wave using at least one of a production tubing and a casing string.

15. The system of claim 9, where the apparatus is adapted to communicate a pressure pulse downhole to actuate the perforating gun.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further adapted to communicate the pressure pulse through at least one of a fluid in a production tubing and a fluid in an annulus.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further adapted to:

encode the stimulus to indicate a command, and

decode the stimulus near the perforating gun to extract the command.

18. A perforating gun comprising:

perforating charges adapted to be embedded in a casing string section to perform a downhole function,

a mechanism adapted to respond to a wireless stimulus transmitted from a surface of the well to fire the perforating charges;

a circuit located downhole near the perforating gun to confirm firing of the perforating charges; and

a transmitter embedded in the casing string section to in response to the confirmation communicate another wireless stimulus uphole to confirm firing of the perforating charges.

19. The tool of claim 18, wherein the stimulus comprises at least one of the following:

an acoustic wave, an electromagnetic wave, a seismic wave and a fluid pressure pulse.

20. The tool of claim 18, wherein the mechanism is integrated into the casing string section.