Downhole Telemetry System Using an Optically Transmissive Fluid Media and Method for Use of Same

Abstract

A downhole telemetry system ( 10 ) disposed within a wellbore ( 32 ). The downhole telemetry system ( 10 ) includes a downhole transmitter ( 48 ) operable to optically transmit a data stream and a downhole receiver ( 52 ) operable to receive the optically transmitted data stream. An optically transmissive fluid ( 64 ) is disposed in the wellbore ( 32 ) and provides a medium for the optical transmission of the data stream between the downhole transmitter ( 48 ) and the downhole receiver ( 52 ).

1 . A downhole telemetry system disposed within a wellbore, the downhole telemetry system comprising:
 a downhole transmitter operable to optically transmit a data stream;   a downhole receiver operable to receive the optically transmitted data stream; and   an optically transmissive fluid disposed in the wellbore that provides a medium for the optical transmission of the data stream between the downhole transmitter and the downhole receiver.   
   
   
       2 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a tubular string that supports the downhole transmitter and the downhole receiver. 
   
   
       3 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 2  wherein the optically transmissive fluid is disposed in at least one of an annulus between the tubular string and the wellbore and an interior of the tubular string. 
   
   
       4 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the downhole transmitter is positioned uphole of the downhole receiver. 
   
   
       5 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the downhole transmitter is positioned downhole of the downhole receiver. 
   
   
       6 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the data stream further comprises at least one of surface commands and downhole data. 
   
   
       7 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the optically transmitted data stream further comprises at least one of light and laser. 
   
   
       8 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the optically transmissive fluid further comprises a brine. 
   
   
       9 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the optically transmissive fluid further comprises suspended solids. 
   
   
       10 . A method for transmitting data with a wellbore, the method comprising:
 disposing an optically transmissive fluid within the wellbore to provide a medium for optical transmission of data; and   optically transmitting a data stream through the optically transmissive fluid.   
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising suspending particles in the optically transmissive fluid. 
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein optically transmitting a data stream through the optically transmissive fluid further comprises transmitting light through the optically transmissive fluid. 
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein optically transmitting a data stream through the optically transmissive fluid further comprises transmitting laser through the optically transmissive fluid. 
   
   
       14 . A downhole telemetry system disposed within a wellbore, the downhole telemetry system comprising:
 a downhole transmitter operable to optically transmit a data stream;   a downhole repeater operable to receive the optically transmitted data stream from the downhole transmitter and to optically retransmit the data stream;   a downhole receiver operable to receive the optically retransmitted data stream; and   an optically transmissive fluid disposed in the wellbore that provides a medium for the optical transmission of the data stream between the downhole transmitter and the downhole repeater and for the optical retransmission of the data stream between the downhole repeater and the downhole receiver.   
   
   
       15 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 14  wherein the optically transmissive fluid further comprises a brine. 
   
   
       16 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 14  wherein the optically transmissive fluid further comprises suspended solids. 
   
   
       17 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 14  further comprising a tubular string that supports the downhole transmitter, the downhole repeater and the downhole receiver and wherein the optically transmissive fluid is disposed in at least one of an annulus between the tubular string and the wellbore and an interior of the tubular string. 
   
   
       18 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of downhole repeaters disposed with the wellbore between the downhole transmitter and the downhole receiver, each of the downhole repeaters operable to receive the optically transmitted data stream and to optically retransmit the data stream. 
   
   
       19 . A downhole telemetry system disposed within a wellbore, the downhole telemetry system comprising:
 a first downhole transmitter operable to transmit a data stream via a first transmission mode;   a first downhole receiver operable to receive the data stream transmitted via the first transmission mode;   a second downhole transmitter communicably associated with the first downhole receiver operable to retransmit the data stream via a second transmission mode; and   a second downhole receiver operable to receive the data stream retransmitted via the second transmission mode;   wherein one of the first and the second transmission modes is optical transmission; and   wherein an optically transmissive fluid disposed in the wellbore provides a medium for the optical transmission of the data stream.   
   
   
       20 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 19  wherein the other of the first and the second transmission modes is selected from acoustic transmission, electromagnetic transmission, electrical transmission and sonar transmission. 
   
   
       21 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 19  further comprising a tubular string that supports the first and second downhole transmitters and the first and second downhole receivers and wherein the optically transmissive fluid is disposed in at least one of an annulus between the tubular string and the wellbore and an interior of the tubular string. 
   
   
       22 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 19  wherein the optically transmissive fluid further comprises a brine. 
   
   
       23 . The downhole telemetry system as recited in  claim 19  wherein the optically transmissive fluid further comprises suspended solids. 
   
   
       24 . A method for transmitting data with a wellbore, the method comprising:
 transmitting a data stream via a first transmission mode;   receiving the data stream transmitted via the first transmission mode;   retransmitting the data stream via a second transmission mode; and   receiving the data stream retransmitted via the second transmission mode;   wherein one of the first and the second transmission modes is optical transmission; and   wherein an optically transmissive fluid disposed in the wellbore provides a medium for the optical transmission of the data stream.   
   
   
       25 . The method as recited in  claim 24  wherein the other of the first and the second transmission modes is selected from acoustic transmission, electromagnetic transmission, electrical transmission and sonar transmission.