Remote down-hole well telemetry

Patent · Tue Jul 20 04:00:00 EDT 2004

OSTI ID:913054

Briles, Scott D ^[1]; Neagley, Daniel L ^[2]; Coates, Don M ^[3]; Freund, Samuel M ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos, NM
2. Albuquerque, NM
3. Santa Fe, NM

The present invention includes an apparatus and method for telemetry communication with oil-well monitoring and recording instruments located in the vicinity of the bottom of gas or oil recovery pipes. Such instruments are currently monitored using electrical cabling that is inserted into the pipes; cabling has a short life in this environment, and requires periodic replacement with the concomitant, costly shutdown of the well. Modulated reflectance, a wireless communication method that does not require signal transmission power from the telemetry package will provide a long-lived and reliable way to monitor down-hole conditions. Normal wireless technology is not practical since batteries and capacitors have to frequently be replaced or recharged, again with the well being removed from service. RF energy generated above ground can also be received, converted and stored down-hole without the use of wires, for actuating down-hole valves, as one example. Although modulated reflectance reduces or eliminates the loss of energy at the sensor package because energy is not consumed, during the transmission process, additional stored extra energy down-hole is needed.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM
• Sponsoring Organization: United States Department of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Los Alamos, NM)
• Patent Number(s): 6,766,141
• Application Number: 10/187,025
• OSTI ID: 913054
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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