In-Well Piezoelectric Devices to Transmit Signals

Abstract

A wellbore system includes a first piezoelectric device on a first side of a wall and a second piezoelectric device on a second side of the wall. The second piezoelectric device is adapted to communicate through the wall wirelessly with the first piezoelectric device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A well system, comprising:
 a wall; and   a first piezoelectric device on a first side of the wall; and   a second piezoelectric device spaced apart from the first piezoelectric device and on a second, opposing side of the wall, the second piezoelectric device arranged to communicate a mechanical signal with the first piezoelectric device through the wall.   
     
     
         2 . The well system of  claim 1 , where the wall comprises a tubular wall; and
 where the wall has no wires passing between the first and second sides of the wall.   
     
     
         3 . The well system of  claim 1 , the second piezoelectric device is in a region sealed from the first piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         4 . The well system of  claim 1 , where:
 the first piezoelectric device is a transmitter that receives an input electric signal from on the first side of the wall and generates and transmits a mechanical signal into the wall; and   the second piezoelectric device is a receiver that receives the mechanical signal from the wall and generates, on the second side of the wall, an output electrical signal from the mechanical signal.   
     
     
         5 . The well system of  claim 4 , where the well system comprises a battery on the second side of the wall; and
 where the second piezoelectric device is coupled to the battery and configured to charge the battery with the output electric signal.   
     
     
         6 . The well system of  claim 4 , where the well system further comprises an electromechanical actuator; and
 where the second piezoelectric device is coupled to the electromechanical actuator to signal the electromechanical actuator to actuate, in response to the output electric signal, an aspect of the well system.   
     
     
         7 . The well system of  claim 6 , where the input electric signal comprises power and a signal to actuate the electromechanical actuator, and
 where the second piezoelectric device is coupled to the electromechanical actuator to signal and to provide power to the electromechanical actuator to actuate.   
     
     
         8 . The well system of  claim 6 , where the aspect of the well system comprises at least one of a valve or choke. 
     
     
         9 . The well system of  claim 8 , where well system comprises a safety valve and the valve and electromechanical actuator are elements of the safety valve. 
     
     
         10 . The well system of  claim 1 , where:
 the second piezoelectric device is a transmitter that receives an input electric signal from on the second side of the wall and generates and transmits a mechanical signal into the wall; and   the first piezoelectric device is a receiver that receives the mechanical signal from the wall and generates, on the first side of the wall, an output electrical signal from the mechanical signal.   
     
     
         11 . The well system of  claim 10 , where the well system further comprises a sensor on the second side of the wall, the sensor adapted to output an electric signal; and
 where the second piezoelectric device is coupled to the sensor to receive the electric signal as the input electric signal.   
     
     
         12 . The well system of claim of  claim 1 , where the well system comprises:
 a first well tool comprising the first piezoelectric device; and   a second well tool comprising the wall and the second piezoelectric device, the first and second well tools movable relative to one another and the second piezoelectric device adapted communicate a mechanical signal with the first piezoelectric device when the first and second piezoelectric devices are proximate to one another.   
     
     
         13 . The well system of  claim 12 , where the second well tool further comprises a battery; and
 where the first well tool comprises a battery charger.   
     
     
         14 . The well system of  claim 12 , where the second well tool comprises a tubing and a plurality of second piezoelectric devices, each configured to generate a different mechanical signal in the wall; and
 where the first well tool comprises a locator tool adapted to receive the different mechanical signals with the first piezoelectric device and output a signal indicative of the position of the first well tool.   
     
     
         15 . The well system of  claim 12 , where the second well tool comprises a formation isolation valve. 
     
     
         16 . The well system of  claim 11 , where the second piezoelectric device is coupled to an electromechanical actuator to signal the electromechanical actuator to actuate in response to receiving the mechanical signal by the second piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         17 . The well system of  claim 1 , where the wall is a wall of a casing and the first piezoelectric device is interior the casing. 
     
     
         18 . The well system of  claim 17 , where the first piezoelectric device is carried by a tubing string interior the casing. 
     
     
         19 . The well system of  claim 1 , where the wall is a wall of a tubing string and the first piezoelectric device is interior the tubing string. 
     
     
         20 . The well system of  claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of first piezoelectric devices interior the tubing string and a plurality of second piezoelectric devices;
 and further comprising a conductor exterior the tubing string.   
     
     
         21 . A method of communicating in a wellbore, comprising:
 receiving an input electric signal at a first piezoelectric device on a first side of a wall in the wellbore;   generating, with the first piezoelectric device, a mechanical signal in the wall based on the input electric signal; and   generating an output electric signal, with a second piezoelectric device on a second, opposing side of the wall, based on the mechanical signal.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , where receiving an input electric signal at a first piezoelectric device comprises receiving an actuation signal at the first piezoelectric device; and
 where generating an output signal with a second piezoelectric device comprises generating an output actuation signal to an actuated element of a well tool in the wellbore.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , where receiving an input electric signal at a first piezoelectric device comprises receiving a power signal at the first piezoelectric device; and
 where generating an output electric signal with a second piezoelectric device comprises generating an output power signal to an actuated element of a well tool in the wellbore to power the actuated element.   
     
     
         24 . A wellbore system, comprising:
 a first piezoelectric device on a first side of a wall; and   a second piezoelectric device on a second side of the wall and adapted to communicate through the wall wirelessly with the first piezoelectric device.   
     
     
         25 . The wellbore system of  claim 24 , where the wellbore system comprises a safety valve and the second piezoelectric device is coupled to an electromechanical actuator adapted to operate a valve of the safety valve in response to a signal from the second piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         26 . The wellbore system of  claim 24 , where the wellbore system comprises a formation isolation valve and the second piezoelectric device is coupled to an electromechanical actuator adapted to operate a valve of the formation isolation valve when the first piezoelectric device is passed by the second piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         27 . The wellbore system of  claim 24 , where the wellbore system comprises a position sensor and the first piezoelectric device is adapted to generate a signal indicative of the position of the first piezoelectric device when it passes the second piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         28 . The wellbore system of  claim 24 , where the wall is a wall of a tubing.