Adaptive Method for High Data Rate Communication In Wells

Abstract

Apparatus for downhole transmission and reception of data in an oil or gas well comprises a downhole signal transceiver adapted to receive data from a signal generator and transmit the signal through the well and an elongate member with an axis, located in the wellbore; wherein the signal is transmitted by the transceiver, predominantly axially along the elongate member.

1 . Apparatus for downhole transmission and reception of data in an oil or gas well comprising a downhole signal transceiver adapted to receive data from a signal generator and transmit the signal through the well and an elongate member with an axis, located in the wellbore; wherein: the signal is transmitted by the transceiver, predominantly axially along the elongate member, there being at least two down hole transceivers, said transceivers being linked in series as nodes along elongate members; the signal presented at the transceiver nodes and at the elongate members is a radio frequency (RF) signal and the elongate members incorporate a signal conductor comprising a conductive element; the signal conductor is optimised in its effectiveness of transmitting RF signals by variations to its electrical impedance, through changes to its material composition or morphology and/or changes to its physical arrangements such as width, thickness, length and separation from adjacent surfaces, which influence its electrical impedance and electrical resistance and efficiency at carrying RF signals. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said signals transmitted comprise signals from the, or each transceiver, and one or more sensors in the well. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the signal conductor is electrically insulated from the environment by resting within electrically-insulating materials optimised for the RF signals being transmitted. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein, the electrical insulating materials are coated with further electrically conducting layers. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the signal conductors are mounted on the surface of the elongate members. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the signal conductors have a lower electrical transmission loss to transmission of the signal than the elongate member or the surrounding fluid medium, thereby increasing the efficiency of transmission between transceivers. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the signal conductor is incorporated within the wall of the tubular such that the signal conductor extends axially along the elongate member, as well as circumferentially, so that the signal carried by the signal conductor is transmitted along the conductor and along the axial length of the elongate member. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the signal conductor comprises one or more axially-aligned strips. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein more than one axial strip is provided and adjacent axially-aligned strips are positioned be parallel to one another, so that they extend parallel to the axis along the length of the elongate member. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the signal conductor is of uniform dimensions of width and thickness along the length of the signal conductor. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein the signal pathway transmits large amounts of data bi-directionally along the elongate structure as exemplified by radio-frequency transmissions up to the Megahertz and Gigahertz range and to send commands to transducers and actuators placed along the elongate structure to change their status or mode of operation. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the pathway is formed using flame spray techniques to achieve a robust structure, as applied to the outside surfaces or inside surfaces of the elongate structure. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein electrical conductors with non-uniform dimensions are provided to optimise the transmission and reception of the wirelessly-transmitted signals. 
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 31  further comprising friction-reducers and annular ring spacers to house RF transceivers and transceiver electronics, sensors, power supplies and ancillary electronic circuitry. 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 29  wherein said friction-reducers and annular ring spacers are formed as housings to incorporate an energy harvester to supply energy to the electronic systems and signal transmissions. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus comprising a wireless network formed by the interaction of transceiver nodes and electrical conductors placed along elongate member surfaces combined with an embedded capability to alter the signal transmission pathways that are used at any one time in order to optimise the signal transmission data rates or energy requirements. 
     
     
         32 . Apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein transceiver nodes are placed along the elongate member that possess their own identification. 
     
     
         33 . Apparatus according to  claim 32  wherein transceiver nodes that contain embedded sensors are provided to allow data to be gathered from multiple points along the elongate members. 
     
     
         34 . Apparatus according to  claim 32  wherein said transceiver nodes that contain RF transceivers are positioned conformal to the tubular, so as to optimise the transmitted and received signals within the radial clearance confinements of the node housing. 
     
     
         35 . A method of downhole transmission and reception of data in an oil or gas well comprising providing a downhole signal transceiver adapted to receive data from a signal generator and transmit the signal through the well and providing an elongate member with an axis, extending through the wellbore; and transmitting the signal from the transceiver along the elongate member via a wireless network formed by the interaction of transceiver nodes and electrical conductors placed along the elongate member surfaces combined with an embedded capability to alter the signal transmission pathways that are used at any one time in order to optimise the signal transmission data rates or energy requirements.