Method and apparatus for determining position in a pipe

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining position in a pipe provides for the precise determination of location and associated characteristics of each pipe joint of a well, cross country pipeline or other fluid transmission line. The system includes a passive or active radio identification device at each joint in the pipe or casing string. The devices are preferably sealed within the resilient seal positioned between each pipe or casing joint. A pipeline tool includes a radio transmitter and receiver, with the transmitter transmitting on a frequency selected for resonating the identification devices. The resonant response of each device is detected by a receiver in the pipeline tool, with the response transmitted to the surface via the wireline to which the tool is connected. Alternatively, the tool may include storage information means until the tool can be recovered from the well or pipe. An information storage and retrieval system includes information on the location of each of the identification devices in the well or pipe, e.g., length or depth, pipe or casing diameter, previously logged geological characteristics and stratum at each identification device location, etc. The system may count each device as the tool passes through the pipe in order to determine the location of the tool at any point. Alternatively, each identification device may provide a distinct signal, with the tool transmitting the signal to the surface (or storing the signal for later retrieval) where the system correlates the signal with previously logged information for that specific location.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A well comprising: 
 a pipe; and    at least one radio frequency identification device installed in said pipe.    
     
     
         2 . The well of  claim 1  wherein said pipe is casing.  
     
     
         3 . The well of  claim 2  wherein said casing is secured in a well bore by cement.  
     
     
         4 . The well of  claim 2  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed at an intermediate point in said casing.  
     
     
         5 . The well of  claim 2  wherein said casing has a plurality of sections with adjoining sections defining a joint therebetween.  
     
     
         6 . The well of  claim 5  wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed in one of said plurality of joints.  
     
     
         7 . The well of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a seal positioned in said joint.  
 
     
     
         8 . The well of  claim 5  wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification devices is installed at an intermediate point along one of said plurality of sections.  
     
     
         9 . The well of  claim 2  wherein a plurality of radio frequency identification devices are installed in said casing.  
     
     
         10 . The well of  claim 9  wherein said casing has a plurality of joints.  
     
     
         11 . The well of  claim 10  wherein each of said plurality of radio frequency identification devices is installed in a different joint of said plurality of joints.  
     
     
         12 . The well of  claim 1  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is an active radio frequency identification device.  
     
     
         13 . The well of  claim 1  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is a passive radio frequency identification device.  
     
     
         14 . The well of  claim 1  wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is configured to provide a distinct response.  
     
     
         15 . The well of  claim 1  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.  
     
     
         16 . The well of  claim 15  wherein said antenna is a configured as a loop.  
     
     
         17 . The well of  claim 8  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is secured in said casing by means of a sleeve.  
     
     
         18 . The well of  claim 17  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.  
     
     
         19 . A pipeline comprising: 
 a pipe; and    at least one radio frequency identification device installed in said pipe.    
     
     
         20 . The pipeline of  claim 19  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed at an intermediate point in said pipe.  
     
     
         21 . The pipeline of  claim 19  wherein said pipe has a plurality of sections with adjoining sections defining a joint therebetween.  
     
     
         22 . The pipeline of  claim 21  wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed in one of said plurality of joints.  
     
     
         23 . The pipeline of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 a seal positioned in said joint.  
 
     
     
         24 . The pipeline of  claim 21  wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification devices is installed at an intermediate point along one of said plurality of sections.  
     
     
         25 . The pipeline of  claim 19  wherein a plurality of radio frequency identification devices are installed in said pipe.  
     
     
         26 . The pipeline of  claim 25  wherein said pipe has a plurality of joints.  
     
     
         27 . The pipeline of  claim 26  wherein each of said plurality of radio frequency identification devices is installed in a different joint of said plurality of joints.  
     
     
         28 . The pipeline of  claim 19  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is an active radio frequency identification device.  
     
     
         29 . The pipeline of  claim 19  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is a passive radio frequency identification device.  
     
     
         30 . The pipeline of  claim 19  wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is configured to provide a distinct response.  
     
     
         31 . The pipeline of  claim 19  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.  
     
     
         32 . The pipeline of  claim 31  wherein said antenna is a configured as a loop.  
     
     
         33 . The pipeline of  claim 20  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is secured in said pipe by means of a sleeve.  
     
     
         34 . The pipeline of  claim 33  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.  
     
     
         35 . A method of assembling casing for use in a well comprising: 
 installing at least one radio frequency identification device in casing.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed at an intermediate point in said casing.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said casing has a plurality of sections with adjoining sections defining a joint therebetween.  
     
     
         38 . The mentod of  claim 37  wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is installed in one of said plurality of joints.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification devices is installed at an intermediate point along one of said plurality of sections.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35  wherein a plurality of radio frequency identification devices are installed in said casing.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein said casing has a plurality of joints.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein each of said plurality of radio frequency identification devices is installed in a different joint of said plurality of joints.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is an active radio frequency identification device.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is a passive radio frequency identification device.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 34  wherein each of said at least one radio frequency identification device is configured to provide a distinct response.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein said antenna is a configured as a loop.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device is secured in said pipe by means of a sleeve.  
     
     
         48 . The well of  claim 47  wherein said at least one radio frequency identification device has an antenna.