Completion system having a sand control assembly, an inductive coupler, and a sensor proximate to the sand control assembly

Abstract

A completion system for use in a well includes a first completion section and a second section. The first completion section has a sand control assembly to prevent passage of particulates, a first inductive coupler portion, and a sensor positioned proximate to the sand control assembly that is electrically coupled to the first inductive coupler portion. The second section is deployable after installation of the first completion section. It includes a second inductive coupler portion to communicate with the first inductive coupler portion, to enable communication between the first completion section's sensor and another component coupled to the second section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor assembly for deployment into a well, comprising:
 a sand screen configured to prevent passage of particulate material into a completion section;   a sensor cable comprising:
 an outer liner; 
 a plurality of spaced apart sensors inside the outer liner, wherein the sensors are spaced apart longitudinally along a length of the cable; and 
 wires inside the outer liner to interconnect the plurality of sensors; 
 wherein the sensor cable is deployed proximate to the sand screen in the well. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sensor cable of  claim 1 , wherein the outer liner includes a continuous control line. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor cable of  claim 1 , wherein the liner is made up of housing sections and sensor housing structures sealably connected to the housing sections, wherein the sensors are contained in respective sensor housing structures. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor cable of  claim 3 , wherein the housing sections are welded to the sensor housing structures. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor cable of  claim 1 , wherein each sensor includes a sensor chip and a communications interface connected to at least one of the wires. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor cable of  claim 5 , wherein each sensor further includes a sensing element for sensing an environment outside the sensor cable, wherein the sensing element is electrically connected to the sensor chip. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor cable of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller cartridge that is part of the liner, the controller cartridge having a processor. 
     
     
         8 . A sensor cable for deployment in a well, comprising:
 a control line defining an inner chamber containing a non electrically conductive liquid; and   plural sensors in the liquid.   
     
     
         9 . The sensor cable of  claim 8 , wherein the sensors include resistance temperature detectors. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor cable of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid is thermally conductive. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor cable of  claim 8 , wherein each resistance temperature detector includes an electronic chip and a resistance temperature detector filament electrically connected to the electronic chip. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor cable of  claim 8 , further comprising individual encapsulating structures in the inner chamber, the sensors located in respective encapsulating structures, the encapsulating structures containing the liquid, and wherein the inner chamber outside the encapsulating structures is filled with gas. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 a spool; and   a sensor cable wound on the spool and deployable from the spool by rotating the spool,   wherein the sensor cable includes multiple sensors located at a plurality of discrete locations along the sensor cable, and   wherein the sensor cable has electrical wires interconnecting the sensors.   
     
     
         14 . The sensor cable of  claim 1  wherein the completion section defines an annulus region between the completion section and an interior surface of the well, wherein the sensor cable is positioned between within the annulus region spaced apart from the completion section and the interior surface of the well.