Tools, systems, and methods for downhole monitoring

Abstract

Downhole gauges can be used in oil and gas wells, geothermal wells, and groundwater wells for geological surveys. A system and method for controlling downhole gauges include downhole gauges electrically connected in parallel and positioned within a well for monitoring parameters downhole, and electronics assemblies electrically connected in series and positioned within the well to isolate the downhole gauges within defined zones. The electronics assemblies control power and communication across the downhole gauges within the defined zones, such that the downhole gauges within the defined zones remain operable during electrical and communication interruptions or failures. Further, a computer program product, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, system, and method for obtaining downhole data involve downhole gauges sampling downhole parameters synchronously. Further, an ESP tool enables obtaining data from downhole gauges below an ESP.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for controlling downhole gauges comprising:
 a plurality of downhole gauges electrically connected in parallel and positioned within a well for monitoring parameters downhole; and   a plurality of electronics assemblies electrically connected in series and positioned within the well to isolate the downhole gauges within defined zones;   the electronics assemblies being operably connected to the downhole gauges via shared connection means for controlling power and communication across the downhole gauges within the defined zones;   wherein the downhole gauges within the defined zones remain operable during electrical and communication interruptions or failures.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each electronics assembly comprises a housing encapsulating an electronics printed circuit board. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole gauges are electrically connected to the electronics assemblies for transmitting electrical signals representative of the parameters to the electronics assemblies. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronics assemblies receive and process the electrical signals from the downhole gauges for transmission to surface equipment. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole gauges comprise permanent downhole gauges mountable to a tubing within the well. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the electronics assemblies are mounted in alignment with the downhole gauges to the tubing. 
     
     
         7 . A method for controlling downhole gauges comprising:
 positioning a plurality of downhole gauges electrically connected in parallel within a well for monitoring parameters downhole;   positioning a plurality of electronics assemblies electrically connected in series within the well to isolate the downhole gauges within defined zones;   operably connecting the electronics assemblies to the downhole gauges via shared connection means; and   controlling, via the electronics assemblies, power and communication across the downhole gauges within the defined zones;   wherein the downhole gauges within the defined zones remain operable during electrical and communication interruptions or failures.   
     
     
         8 . A system for obtaining downhole data comprising:
 one or more processors; and   at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 output a first command to a plurality of downhole gauges to sample parameters indicative of downhole conditions synchronously; 
 output a second command to the downhole gauges to collect data representative of the sampled parameters; and 
 receive the data transmitted from the downhole gauges for storing, processing and analyzing; 
 wherein the data are representative of downhole conditions at a same single timepoint. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the downhole gauges comprise permanent downhole gauges positioned at multiple levels within a well for monitoring the parameters. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising a computer program product having the instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that cause the one or more processors to perform operations to obtain the downhole data. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations to obtain the downhole data. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method for obtaining downhole data comprising:
 positioning a plurality of downhole gauges at multiple levels within a well for monitoring parameters indicative of downhole conditions;   outputting, via one or more processors, a first command to the downhole gauges to sample the parameters synchronously;   outputting, via the one or more processors, a second command to the downhole gauges to collect data representative of the sampled parameters; and   receiving, via the one or more processors, the data transmitted from the downhole gauges for storing, processing, and analyzing;   wherein the data are representative of downhole conditions at a same single timepoint.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising adjusting or determining a wellbore operation based on the stored, processed, and analyzed data. 
     
     
         14 . A device for obtaining downhole data below an electrical submersible pump having a motor comprising:
 a head and a body for accommodating electrical connection means;   a housing connected to the body and housing an electronics assembly operably connected to the electrical connection means;   a sealing block mounted to the body and configured for receiving a connector; and   a cable head connected to the sealing block and operably connected to downhole gauges;   
       wherein the sealing block, the connector, and the cable head together form a sealed wired connection to the downhole gauges below the pump. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising an electrical feedthrough assembly positioned in the head and configured to receive power from the motor for transmission to the electronics assembly, and to receive electrical signals from the electronics assembly for transmission to surface equipment. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned proximal to the electrical feedthrough assembly, and electrically connected to the electronics assembly for transmitting an electrical signal representative of motor oil temperature to the electronics assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a strap for securing the cable head to the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the electronics assembly comprises a logic PCB for receiving and processing data from the downhole gauges before transmitting the data to the surface controller, and a voltage power PCB for routing power to the downhole gauges.