Patent · US Active

Hybrid downhole acoustic wireless network

US10487647B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
208References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 1, 2017
Grant dateNov 26, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 1, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D30/70
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A hybrid electro-acoustic system for extending battery life of a downhole wireless telemetry system. The system includes a plurality of battery-powered intermediate communications nodes spaced along a downhole tubular body and attached to a wall of the tubular body, each of the battery-powered intermediate communications nodes configured to alternate between a sleep mode and an active mode and comprising: a power source comprising one or more batteries positioned within a housing; an electro-acoustic transducer and a transceiver, or a separate transmitter and receiver, positioned within the housing; and a topside communications node comprising: a transmitter and a power supply, the topside communications node structured and arranged to send an acoustic signal to one or more of the battery-powered intermediate communications nodes to place same in the active mode; wherein the power supply of the topside communications node is sufficient to enable communications directly with the intermediate communications node most remote from the surface and greater than the battery power provided to each of the intermediate communications nodes.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.