Telemetry on tubing

Abstract

In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to program a first acoustic repeater to transmit information at a first operating frequency; to couple the first acoustic repeater circumferentially around a coiled tubing portion, an inner diameter of the first acoustic repeater being about equal to an outer diameter of the coiled tubing portion; to program a second acoustic repeater to receive information transmitted by the first acoustic repeater; and to receive sensor information transmitted at the first operating frequency by the first acoustic repeater and relayed by the second acoustic repeater, the second acoustic repeater being coupled to the coiled tubing portion uphole from the first acoustic repeater. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A coiled tubing acoustic telemetry system, comprising:
 a length of coiled tubing; and   a first repeater apparatus including,
 an acoustic transmitter, 
 electrical circuitry configured to drive the acoustic transmitter to generate acoustic signals, and 
 an annular housing configured to enclose the acoustic transmitter and to engage an outer surface of the coiled tubing, the annular housing having an inner diameter about equal to an outer diameter of the length of coiled tubing; and 
   a second repeater apparatus coupled to the coiled tubing portion and spaced at a distance downhole from the first repeater apparatus, the second repeater apparatus including an acoustic transmitter and an annular housing configured to enclose the acoustic transmitter and to engage an outer surface of the coiled tubing, the annular housing having an inner diameter about equal to an outer diameter of the coiled tubing portion.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the annular housing has an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of a stripper packer assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic transmitter includes a flexible piezoelectric actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuitry is housed in another annular housing separate from the annular housing. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first repeater apparatus further includes a flexible battery element including a plurality of battery portions. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a battery portion of the plurality of battery portions being enclosed in another annular housing separate from the annular housing. 
     
     
         7 . A method for providing communication between acoustic repeaters and a surface system, the method comprising:
 programming a first acoustic repeater to transmit information at a first operating frequency;   coupling the first acoustic repeater circumferentially around a coiled tubing portion, an inner diameter of the first acoustic repeater being about equal to an outer diameter of the coiled tubing portion;   programming a second acoustic repeater to receive information transmitted by the first acoustic repeater; and   receiving sensor information transmitted at the first operating frequency by the first acoustic repeater and relayed by the second acoustic repeater, the second acoustic repeater being coupled to the coiled tubing portion uphole from the first acoustic repeater.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second acoustic repeater relays the information on a second operating frequency different from the first operating frequency. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 coupling additional acoustic repeaters to the coiled tubing portion responsive to a determination that a wellbore condition has changed; and   transmitting synchronization instructions to the first acoustic repeater, subsequent to the coupling or uncoupling, to instruct the first acoustic repeater to transmit test information using another frequency different from the first frequency.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 programming the first acoustic repeater to use a modulation scheme for modulating signals containing the sensor information.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the modulation scheme includes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving mud pulse telemetry signals from the first acoustic repeater based on a measurement by an accelerometer of the first acoustic repeater.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an acoustic transmitter;   electrical circuitry configured to drive the acoustic transmitter to generate acoustic signals;   an annular housing configured to enclose the acoustic transmitter and to engage an outer circumference of a section of coiled tubing; and   a receiver.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the acoustic transmitter includes a flexible piezoelectric actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical circuitry is enclosed in the annular housing. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising additional electrical circuitry enclosed in another annular housing separate from the annular housing, the additional electrical circuitry including one or more of a transducer interface board, a digital signal processing board, or a gamma board. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the annular housing has an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of a stripper packer assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a flexible battery element. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible battery element includes a plurality of flexible battery portions. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein a battery portion of the plurality of battery portions is enclosed in a second annular housing different from the annular housing.