Acoustic Wireless Sensor Network for Downhole Data Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks for downhole applications in the oil and gas industry face challenges such as high energy consumption, limited operational life, and incompatibility with space-constrained locations due to the need for large batteries and physical cables, which restrict the quantity and type of retrievable data, leading to reduced analytical value and increased installation risks.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication network with nodes that operate in a sleep state, waking only to process queries and transmit data, utilizing a linear topology with acoustic signals along a tubular body, allowing for efficient data processing and transmission while maintaining low power consumption and extended operational life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If physical cables are used for data transmission, then real-time data transmission and electrical power delivery are achieved, but installation difficulty increases and pipe rotation is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical cable connections with acoustic wave transmission through the tubular body. Acoustic transducers convert electrical signals to mechanical vibrations that propagate through the pipe wall, eliminating the need for physical cable attachments and enabling pipe rotation during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular body itself serves as an intermediary medium for signal transmission. Instead of using separate cables, the pipe wall transmits acoustic vibrations from downhole sensors to surface receivers, simplifying installation while maintaining real-time data capability.
2Loss of information
If physical cables are installed through the wellbore, then data transmission is enabled, but leakage risk and cement seal failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates physical cable penetrations through the tubular body by using acoustic wave transmission through the pipe wall. This maintains data transmission capability while removing leakage pathways that could compromise cement seals and wellbore integrity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If large batteries are used to extend operational life, then energy supply is improved, but device size increases and space-constrained locations become incompatible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical power transmission through cables with acoustic energy transmission through the tubular body. This eliminates the need for large downhole battery systems, enabling deployment in space-constrained locations while maintaining extended operational capability through surface-powered acoustic transmission.
4Use of energy by moving object
If acoustic telemetry is used with a single frequency range, then energy consumption is reduced, but data transmission capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic modulation of acoustic signals at multiple frequency ranges. By alternating between different frequency bands and using spread-spectrum techniques, the system increases data transmission capacity while maintaining low average power consumption through duty-cycled operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts acoustic frequency and modulation schemes based on transmission conditions and data priority. This allows efficient use of available bandwidth while adapting to changing operational requirements, maximizing data capacity within energy constraints.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the retrieval of high analytical value data with extended network life, reducing operational expenses and increasing the reliability of downhole condition monitoring, while avoiding the risks associated with physical cables and large batteries.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a linear topology with acoustic signals along a tubular body
Data Source
AI summary
A method of communicating in a wireless network. Devices are positioned such that each device communicates with one or more other devices. Some of the devices include one or more sensors. Each device is a node in the wireless network. At one of the devices, values are recorded from the sensors associated therewith. At least some of the devices, one or more recorded values from the sensors associated with said each device, and/or a sensor associated with at least one other device, are processed in accordance with a variable instruction set, to thereby generate a processed dataset. At each device, at least one of recorded values, a processed dataset associated with another device, or a revision to the variable instruction set are received from another device. At least one of the one or more recorded values, and one or more processed datasets, are transmitted at each device to another device.