Rod String Acoustic Telemetry for Suspended Wells

Solution Overview

Problem

In downhole environments where production tubing is not available, wireless acoustic telemetry systems face challenges in establishing a communication channel, limiting their implementation and effectiveness for monitoring and data transmission.

Innovation Solution

The use of a rod string comprising mechanically coupled metal rods as a propagation medium for acoustic signals, where acoustic repeaters are coupled to the rods to transmit data between tools and the surface, enabling wireless communication without the need for production piping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If production tubing is deployed to provide a communication channel for acoustic signals, then wireless acoustic telemetry can be implemented, but the system complexity and cost increase due to requiring additional piping infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication channel availabilityVSAvoidpiping infrastructure requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rod string is designed to serve dual functions: mechanical support for downhole tools and acoustic signal propagation medium. By making the rod string itself the communication channel, the system eliminates the need for separate production tubing while enabling wireless acoustic telemetry, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining communication reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The rod string provides its own utility by serving as both the structural support element and the acoustic transmission medium. The existing mechanical infrastructure automatically becomes the communication channel without requiring additional dedicated components, allowing the system to communicate using its inherent physical structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If production tubing is not deployed in suspended wells, then operational flexibility is improved, but wireless acoustic communication becomes impossible without alternative propagation media

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewell operation flexibilityVSAvoidcommunication channel availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rod string is designed to serve dual functions: mechanical support for downhole tools and acoustic signal propagation medium. By making the rod string itself the communication channel, the system eliminates the need for separate production tubing while enabling wireless acoustic telemetry, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining communication reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The rod string provides its own utility by serving as both the structural support element and the acoustic transmission medium. The existing mechanical infrastructure automatically becomes the communication channel without requiring additional dedicated components, allowing the system to communicate using its inherent physical structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If traditional wireline cable communication is used, then data transmission is reliable, but the system loses wireless communication capability and operational flexibility in obstructed wellbores

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidwireless communication capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces electromagnetic wireline cable communication with mechanical acoustic wave transmission through the rod string. Acoustic signals modulated onto mechanical vibrations of the rod string enable wireless data transmission, substituting the electrical field-based communication with a mechanical wave-based system that provides both reliability and wireless capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 allows for efficient wireless communication between tools and the surface in environments without production tubing, facilitating monitoring and data transmission, and providing an alternative to traditional signal propagation methods, thus enhancing operational control and data collection in suspended wells.

Implementation Method 1

a rod string including one or more acoustic repeaters coupled thereto. The rod string is to propagate a signal associated with the acoustic repeater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic signal propagation: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS10900352B2Wireless acoustic communication apparatus and related methods

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

Wireless acoustic communication apparatus and related methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first rod and a second rod. The first rod and the second rod are to form a rod string. The example apparatus includes a first acoustic repeater mechanically coupled to the first rod. The first acoustic repeater is to communicate with a second acoustic repeater to convey data via the rod string. The second acoustic repeater is to receive the data from a first tool.