US2014375467A1PendingUtilityA1

Wireless Transmission of Well Formation Information

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 21, 2013Filed: Jun 21, 2013Published: Dec 25, 2014
Est. expiryJun 21, 2033(~6.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:David H. LillyJohn M. Moore
E21B 47/13G01V 1/52E21B 47/12E21B 47/14E21B 47/123E21B 47/122E21B 47/135
32
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

An apparatus includes an acoustic sensor that receives a signal propagated by a well formation. The acoustic sensor includes a sensing component that receives the signal, a transmitter that transmits information based on the signal, and a receiver that receives the information. The transmitter and receiver are wirelessly coupled. The transmitter and receiver may be inductively coupled, capacitively coupled, or optically coupled, or the transmitter may transmit information using radio waves. The transmitter may be encapsulated in a polymer. The acoustic sensor may be part of a system including a downhole tool that detects subterranean conditions. The downhole tool may include a retaining member that retains the acoustic sensor within an outer layer of the downhole tool.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an acoustic sensor that receives a signal propagated by a well formation, the acoustic sensor comprising:
 a sensing component that receives the signal; 
 a transmitter that transmits information based on the signal; and 
 a receiver that receives the information; 
   wherein the transmitter and receiver are wirelessly coupled.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are inductively coupled. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein (a) the transmitter comprises an inductive circuit, coupled to the sensing component, used to transmit the information and/or (b) the receiver comprises an inductive circuit used to receive the information. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing component and the transmitter are enclosed in a polymer layer and/or contained in a container containing oil. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are capacitively coupled. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are optically coupled. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter transmits the information using radio waves. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is encapsulated in a polymer. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a downhole tool that detects subterranean conditions;   an acoustic sensor that receives a signal propagated by a well formation, the acoustic sensor coupled to the downhole tool, the acoustic sensor comprising:
 a sensing component that receives the signal; 
 a transmitter that transmits information based on the signal; and 
 a receiver that receives the information; 
   wherein the transmitter and receiver are wirelessly coupled.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the transmitter transmits the information using radio waves. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a retaining member that retains the acoustic sensor within an outer layer of the downhole tool. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a controller that receives data from the receiver based on the information. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are optically coupled. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are inductively coupled. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are capacitively coupled. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a signal propagated by a well formation;   transmitting, wirelessly, information based on the signal;   sending data, based on the information, to a controller in a downhole tool.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein transmitting the information comprises transmitting, inductively, the information based on the signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving, wirelessly, the information based on the signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein transmitting the information comprises transmitting, using radio waves, the information based on the signal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein transmitting the information comprises transmitting, optically, the information based on the signal. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein transmitting the information comprises transmitting, capacitively, the information based on the signal.

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