Patent · US Expired

Wellbore antennae system and method

US6691779B1 · kind B1 · utility

61Cited by
38References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 1999
Grant dateFeb 17, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 28, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B47/017
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for controlling oilfield production to improve efficiency includes a remote sensing unit that is placed within a subsurface formation, an antenna structure for communicating with the remote sensing unit, a casing joint having nonconductive “windows” for allowing a internally located antenna to communicate with the remote sensing unit, and a system for obtaining subsurface formation data and for producing the formation data to a central location for subsequent analysis. The remote sensing unit is placed sufficiently far from the wellbore to reduce or eliminate effects that the wellbore might have on formation data samples taken by the remote sensing unit. The remote sensing unit is an active device with the capability of responding to control commands by determining certain subsurface formation characteristics such as pressure or temperature, and transmitting corresponding data values to a wellbore tool. The inventive system includes an antenna structure that is for delivering power and communication signals to the remote sensing unit. In one embodiment, the antenna structure is formed on an external surface of a wellbore casing. In another embo…

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