Method and system for using wellbore instruments with a wired pipe string

Abstract

A wellbore instrument system includes a pipe string extending from earth's surface to a selected depth in a wellbore. The pipe string includes at least one of an electrical conductor and an optical fiber signal channel. A power generator sub is coupled at one end to a lower end of the pipe string. At least one electrically powered wellbore instrument is coupled to the other end of the adapter sub.

1 . A wellbore instrument system, comprising:
 a pipe string extending from earth's surface to a selected depth in wellbore, the pipe string including at least one of an electrical conductor and an optical fiber signal channel   a power generator sub coupled at one end to a lower end of the pipe string; and   at least one electrically powered wellbore instrument coupled to the other end of the adapter sub.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the power generator sub includes a turbine for converting flow of fluid through the pipe string into power to operate the at least one wellbore instrument. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the turbine includes a device for adjusting response of the turbine to fluid flow. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the response adjusting device includes at least one bypass valve disposed between the turbine and the pipe string. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the turbine is functionally coupled to a generator. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the turbine is functionally coupled to an hydraulic pump. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pipe string comprises pipe segments threadedly coupled end to end, each pipe segment including at least one signal communication device in a longitudinal end thereof for coupling signals to a device coupled to the pipe segment. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an inflatable packer disposed between the pipe string and the at least one wellbore. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one longitudinal slip joint disposed at a selected position along the system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the adapter sub comprises a first turbine coupled to a generator and a second turbine coupled to an hydraulic pump. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one wellbore instrument at least one of a formation testing instrument, an induction resistivity instrument, a gamma ray sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a telemetry converted configured to receive signals from the at least one wireline configurable instrument and to reformat the signals for transmission over the pipe string. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wellbore instrument comprises at least one wireline configurable well logging instrument. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wellbore instrument comprises at least one logging while drilling instrument. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the generator sub comprises a power storage device configured to operate the wellbore instrument during times when an electric generator in the generator sub is not operating. 
     
     
         16 . A method for well logging, comprising:
 moving at least one wellbore instrument along a wellbore at one end of a segmented pipe string, the pipe string including a signal communication channel associated therewith;   generating electrical power proximate a downhole end of the segmented pipe string to operate the wellbore instrument;   communicating measurements from at least one sensor in the instrument to the signal communication channel; and   detecting the communicated measurements at a surface end of the communication channel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising storing at least some of the measurements in a data storage device proximate the well logging instrument. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the generating electrical power includes converting flow of fluid through the pipe string into power to operate the at least one well logging instrument. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the converting comprises rotating a generator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the converting comprises rotating an hydraulic pump. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the converting comprises rotating a turbine, the rotating including adjusting a response of the turbine to compensate for power load imparted by the well logging instrument. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising changing a longitudinal distance between the pipe string and the wellbore. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising storing electrical power proximate a location of the generating electrical power, and operating the at least one wellbore instrument during times when the generating electrical power is not performed using the stored electrical power.