Wireless retrievable intelligent downhole production module

Abstract

An apparatus for performing an operation in a borehole penetrating the earth includes a downhole module configured to perform the operation and having an anchor device configured to anchor the module in the borehole, the anchor device being releasable in order to retrieve the module. A power source is disposed on the module and configured to provide power to the module while a signal transducer is disposed on the module and configured to at least one of transmit a wireless signal and receive a wireless signal. The apparatus further includes a downhole electronic device disposed on the module, coupled to the signal transducer, and configured to operate the module and provide communications to the module including repeating a signal for transmission downhole or uphole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for performing an operation in a borehole penetrating the earth, the apparatus comprising:
 a downhole module configured to perform the operation and comprising an anchor device configured to anchor the module in the borehole, the anchor device being releasable in order to retrieve the module;   a power source disposed on the module and configured to provide power to the module;   a signal transducer disposed on the module and configured to at least one of transmit a wireless signal and receive a wireless signal; and   a downhole electronic device disposed on the module, coupled to the signal transducer, and configured to operate the module and provide communications to the module including repeating a signal for transmission downhole or uphole.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless signal is an electromagnetic signal, an acoustic signal, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the signal transducer is an antenna, an acoustic transducer, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a signal receiver disposed at or near the surface of the earth and configured to receive the wireless signal. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , the signal receiver is further configured to transmit the wireless signal to a controller configured to send a control signal to the module. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a battery. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the power source comprises a turbine generator configured to convert energy from a fluid flowing in the borehole into electrical energy to charge the battery. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flow control valve coupled to the module and configured to receive a control signal using the signal transducer from a controller and to control flow through the valve based on the control signal. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller is disposed at the surface of the earth. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising an expandable seal configured to isolate the control valve from the borehole annulus above or below the control valve. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the expandable seal comprises an upper expandable seal disposed above the flow control valve and a lower expandable seal disposed below the flow control valve. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the flow control valve is electromechanically actuated. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the downhole electronics and configured to sense a parameter, the downhole electronic device being configured to transmit the wireless signal using the signal transducer, the wireless signal comprising a sensor reading. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense a flow rate of fluid flowing through the flow control valve. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for performing an operation in a borehole penetrating the earth, the apparatus comprising:
 a downhole module configured to perform the operation and comprising an anchor device configured to anchor the module in the borehole, the anchor device being releasable in order to retrieve the module;   a power source disposed on the module and configured to provide power to the module, the power source comprising a battery;   a signal transducer disposed on the module and configured to at least one of transmit a wireless signal and receive a wireless signal;   a downhole electronic device disposed on the module, coupled to the signal transducer, and configured to operate the module and provide communications to the module including repeating a signal for transmission downhole or uphole;   an electromechanically actuated flow control valve coupled to the module and configured to receive a control signal using the signal transducer from a controller and to control flow through the valve based on the control signal; and   a sensor coupled to the downhole electronics and configured to sense a parameter, the downhole electronic device being configured to transmit the wireless signal using the signal transducer, the wireless signal comprising a sensor reading.   
     
     
         16 . A method for performing an operation in a borehole penetrating the earth, the method comprising:
 disposing a downhole module in the borehole, the module being configured to perform the operation and comprising an anchor device configured to anchor the module in the borehole and to be released in order to retrieve the module, a power source disposed on the module and configured to provide power to the module, a signal transducer disposed on the module and configured to at least one of transmit a wireless signal and receive a wireless signal, and a downhole electronic device disposed on the module, coupled to the signal transducer, and configured to operate the module and provide communications to the module including repeating a received wireless signal for transmission downhole or uphole;   anchoring the module in the borehole using the anchor device; and   performing the operation using the module.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the operation comprises repeating a received wireless signal using the downhole electronic device and the signal transducer. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising receiving a wireless control signal from a controller disposed at the surface of the earth and controlling a flow control valve coupled to the module and configured to control flow through the valve based on the control signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising modulating the flow through the flow control valve to achieve a selected flow rate using the control signal. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising sensing a parameter with a sensor coupled to the module and transmitting a wireless signal comprising the sensed parameter using the signal transducer to a receiver disposed at or near the surface of the earth. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising releasing the anchor device and relocating the module.