Smart portable non-rotating protector composite embedded distributed sensing

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring environmental parameters along a drill string includes a protector disposed radially around the drill string, and a sensor system with an optical fiber configured to collect data on environmentalditions within a wellbore through which the drill string is being inserted. Protector is made of a composite material having the sensor system and the optical fiber embedded within. Collected data may be extracted from the sensor system. A method of collecting data on environmental conditions within a wellbore includes disposing a sensor system onto a matrix substrate of a protector; coating the sensor system and matrix substrate with a composite material; curing the composite material so as to embed the sensor system within the protector; forming a protector around a drill string; using the sensor system to collect data from within the wellbore upon insertion of the drill string and protector; and retrieving the collected data.

1 . An apparatus for measuring environmental parameters along a drill string, the system comprising:
 a protector disposed radially around the drill string, and   a sensor system with an optical fiber configured to collect data on environmental conditions within a wellbore through which the drill string is being inserted,   wherein the protector is made of a composite material having the sensor system and the optical fiber embedded within, and   wherein the collected data is capable of being extracted from the sensor system.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protector further comprises at least one of a temperature sensor and an acoustic sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the protector further comprises a power supply attached to the sensor system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is configured to perform at least one of distributed acoustic sensing and optical frequency domain reflectometry. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises the optical fiber embedded in the protector and an arrangement of optical components coupled to the embedded optical fiber located outside of the wellbore, wherein the optical components comprise a laser, a photodetector, and optical signal processing elements. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the protector is a non-rotating protector. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the non-rotating protector further comprises:
 an upper collar; a lower collar; and a protector sleeve,   wherein the sensor system and the optical fiber are embedded within the protector sleeve of the non-rotating protector,   wherein the upper collar and the lower collar connects to the drill string holding the protector sleeve at a location along the drill string, and   wherein the protector sleeve has an outer diameter greater than the drill string in order to create standoff between the drill string and the wellbore during drilling operations.   
     
     
         8 . A method of collecting data on environmental conditions within a wellbore, the method comprising:
 disposing a sensor system onto a matrix substrate of a protector;   coating the sensor system and the matrix substrate with a composite material;   curing the composite material so as to embed the sensor system within the protector;   forming the protector around a drill string to be inserted into the wellbore;   using the sensor system to collect data from within the wellbore upon insertion of the drill string and the protector; and   retrieving the collected data for processing.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 coupling at least one of a temperature sensor and an acoustic sensor to the sensor system.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 coupling a power supply to the sensor system.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 configuring the sensor system to perform at least one of distributed acoustic sensing and optical frequency domain reflectometry.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 coupling an arrangement of optical components located outside of the wellbore to an embedded optical fiber,   wherein the sensor system comprises the optical fiber embedded in the protector and the arrangement of optical components comprises a laser, a photodetector, and optical signal processing elements.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the protector is a non-rotating protector. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the non-rotating protector further comprises:
 an upper collar; a lower collar; and a protector sleeve,   wherein the sensor system and an optical fiber are embedded within the protector sleeve of the non-rotating protector,   wherein the upper collar and the lower collar connects to the drill string holding the protector sleeve at a location along the drill string, and   wherein the protector sleeve has an outer diameter greater than the drill string in order to create standoff between the drill string and the wellbore during drilling operations.