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Title: Remote down-hole well telemetry

Abstract

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.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos, NM
  2. Albuquerque, NM
  3. Santa Fe, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
913054
Patent Number(s):
6766141
Application Number:
10/187,025
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California (Los Alamos, NM)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01S - RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01Q - ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION

Citation Formats

Briles, Scott D, Neagley, Daniel L, Coates, Don M, and Freund, Samuel M. Remote down-hole well telemetry. United States: N. p., 2004. Web.
Briles, Scott D, Neagley, Daniel L, Coates, Don M, & Freund, Samuel M. Remote down-hole well telemetry. United States.
Briles, Scott D, Neagley, Daniel L, Coates, Don M, and Freund, Samuel M. Tue . "Remote down-hole well telemetry". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/913054.
@article{osti_913054,
title = {Remote down-hole well telemetry},
author = {Briles, Scott D and Neagley, Daniel L and Coates, Don M and Freund, Samuel M},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2004},
month = {7}
}