Apparatus and Technique to Communicate With a Tubing-Conveyed Perforating Gun

Abstract

A technique that is usable with a well includes providing a string that includes a tubing conveyed perforating (TCP) gun. The technique includes using a downhole component of the string to communicate uphole an indication of at least a depth or an orientation of the gun.

1 . A method usable with a well, comprising:
 providing a string comprising a tubing conveyed perforating gun in the well; and   using a downhole component of the string to communicate uphole an indication of at least a depth or an orientation of the gun.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of using comprises communicating the indication in real time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of using comprises wirelessly communicating the indication. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of using comprises communicating an electromagnetic signal having a frequency in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 hertz. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 measuring at least the depth of the perforating gun or the orientation of the perforating gun.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating downhole from the surface of the well an indication of a command to control the orientation of the perforating gun.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 physically manipulating the string to adjust the depth of the perforating gun in response to the communication.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 physically manipulating the string to adjust the orientation of the gun in response to the communication.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 firing the perforating gun after the communication.   
     
     
         10 . A system usable with a well, comprising:
 a string to be disposed in the well;   a tubing conveyed perforating gun to be disposed in the string; and   a transmitter to be disposed in the string to communicate uphole an indication of at least a depth or an orientation of the gun.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the transmitter is part of a wireless telemetry system to wirelessly communicate the indication. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicated the indication in real time. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an orientation device to be disposed in the string near the perforating gun to orient the gun in response to a remote communication from the surface of the well.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a battery to provide power to the transmitter.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicate the indication using an electromagnetic carrier wave having an associated carrier frequency in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 hertz. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a depth measuring device to be disposed in the string to measure the depth of the perforating gun.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an orientation sensing device to be disposed in the string to measure the orientation of the perforating gun.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the orientation device comprises a motor to selectively rotate the perforating gun in response to a command received at a position near the perforating gun and communicated from a position near the surface. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a receiver to be disposed in the string to receive an indication of a indication of a command to control an orientation of the perforating gun, the indication being communicated from a position near the surface of the well to a position near the perforating gun.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one additional tubing conveyed perforating gun to be disposed in the string, wherein   the transmitter is part of a transmission system to be disposed in the string to communicate from a first position near the perforating gun to a second position near the surface of the well, an indication of at least a depth or an orientation of each of said at least one additional gun.