Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Scott William Clawson

Katie M Walker

Limin Song

Mark M Disko

Yibing Zhang

Henry Alan Wolf

Max Deffenbaugh

Timothy I Morrow

Xiaohua Yi

Stuart Ronald Keller

H Alan Wolf

David A Stiles

Renzo Moises Angeles Boza

David A Howell

Jeff H Moss

Timothy F Kinn

Kenneth W Desmond

Badrinarayanan Velamur Asokan

David M Chorneyko

Patrick M Moore

Renzo M Angeles Boza

In conjunction with a communication network, for example, a downhole wireless network for transmission of data along a tubular body, disclosed herein are: (1) a variety of hardware interfacing methods with sensors and downhole tools; (2) sensing concepts that are enabled by the unique interfaces; (3) physical implementation of the integrated sensor/communication node structures; (4) related software communication protocols. The interfaces may support both data communication and power transfer.

Downhole wireless communication node and sensor/tools interface

A method and system are described for wirelessly communicating along tubular members. The method includes determining, constructing and installing a communication network, which communicates using one or more communication coupling devices along one or more tubular members. The communication network is used to perform operations for a system, such as hydrocarbon operations, which may involve hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production.

Method and system for performing wireless ultrasonic communications along tubular members

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for operating and maintaining downhole wireless networks. The methods and systems utilize a downhole tool, such as a downhole tool comprising a communications device, to perform maintenance on the downhole wireless network, and for overcoming and/or correcting communications errors along the network. The downhole tool may also be used for updating and reprograming communication nodes in the downhole wireless network.

Methods and systems for operating and maintaining a downhole wireless network

A method and system are described for wirelessly communicating within a wellbore. The method includes constructing a communication network for a wellbore accessing a subsurface region and using the communication network in hydrocarbon operations, such as hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production.

Method and system for performing operations with communications

A method and system are described for wirelessly communicating within a wellbore. The method includes constructing a communication network (e.g., which uses aliased signals as part of the configuration) for a wellbore accessing a subsurface region and using the communication network in hydrocarbon operations, such as hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production.

Method and system for performing communications using aliasing

A method of communicating in a wireless network. Devices are positioned such that each device communicates with one or more other devices. Some of the devices include one or more sensors. Each device is a node in the wireless network. At one of the devices, values are recorded from the sensors associated therewith. At least some of the devices, one or more recorded values from the sensors associated with said each device, and/or a sensor associated with at least one other device, are processed in accordance with a variable instruction set, to thereby generate a processed dataset. At each device, at least one of recorded values, a processed dataset associated with another device, or a revision to the variable instruction set are received from another device. At least one of the one or more recorded values, and one or more processed datasets, are transmitted at each device to another device.

Energy efficient method of retrieving wireless networked sensor data

A method and system are described for wirelessly communicating within a wellbore. The method includes constructing a communication network, which communicates during drilling operations along one or more drilling strings. The communication network is used to perform drilling operations for hydrocarbon operations, such as hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production.

Method and system for performing wireless ultrasonic communications along a drilling string

A method and system are described for communicating within a system, which may be along tubular members. The method includes constructing a communication network for tubular member, such as a wellbore accessing a subsurface region or a pipeline, and using the communication network in hydrocarbon operations, such as hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production.

Method and system for performing operations using communications

A method and system are described for using different types of communication networks along one or more tubular members. The method includes constructing a communication network along one or more tubular members, which may access a subsurface region and using the communication network in hydrocarbon operations, such as hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production.

Method and system for performing hydrocarbon operations with mixed communication networks

A method of communication using a wireless network is disclosed. A wireless transmission of a signal is received at a first node. The signal has a frequency signature. The frequency signature of the received signal is compared with a frequency signature of a previously received signal from a second node. If it is determined that the frequency signature of the received signal and the frequency signature of the previously received signal are within a predetermined range of similarity, the received signal and the previously received signal are accepted as having been transmitted by the second node.

Methods of network peer identification and self-organization using unique tonal signatures and wells that use the methods

A method and system are described for communicating within a system, which may be along tubular members. The method includes constructing a communication network for a hydrocarbon system, which includes one or more wellbores accessing a subsurface region or a pipeline, and using the communication network in hydrocarbon operations, such as hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production.

Method and system for performing operations using communications for a hydrocarbon system

Provided are systems and methods for in-situ zonal assessment of multiphase fluid flow in one or more production zones of a production well, including for at least one production zone sensing one or more fluid flow parameters via at least one sensor disposed in a production zone; at least one sensor communications node being in electrical communication with an associated sensor, the at least one sensor communications node positioned along a tubular body in the production zone proximate an associated at least one sensor, and receiving signals from the associated at least one sensor; sending the acoustic signals from the at least one sensor communications node to a receiver at a surface via a series of intermediate communications nodes, node-to-node, the signals being indicative of one or more fluid flow parameters, the series of intermediate communications nodes being spaced along the tubular and configured to transmit acoustic waves; assessing one or more fluid flow parameters for the one or more production zones in response to signals received from a topside communications node.

Downhole multiphase flow sensing methods

A hybrid electro-acoustic system for extending battery life of a downhole wireless telemetry system. The system includes a plurality of battery-powered intermediate communications nodes spaced along a downhole tubular body and attached to a wall of the tubular body, each of the battery-powered intermediate communications nodes configured to alternate between a sleep mode and an active mode and comprising: a power source comprising one or more batteries positioned within a housing; an electro-acoustic transducer and a transceiver, or a separate transmitter and receiver, positioned within the housing; and a topside communications node comprising: a transmitter and a power supply, the topside communications node structured and arranged to send an acoustic signal to one or more of the battery-powered intermediate communications nodes to place same in the active mode; wherein the power supply of the topside communications node is sufficient to enable communications directly with the intermediate communications node most remote from the surface and greater than the battery power provided to each of the intermediate communications nodes.

Hybrid downhole acoustic wireless network

An electro-acoustic system for downhole telemetry employs a series of communications nodes spaced along a string of casing within a wellbore. The nodes allow wireless communication between transceivers residing within the nodes and a receiver at the surface. The transceivers provide node-to-node communication up a wellbore at high data transmission rates for data indicative of fluid flow within the wellbore. A method of monitoring the flow of fluid within a wellbore uses a plurality of data transmission nodes situated along the casing string sending signals to a receiver at the surface. The signals are then analyzed.

Apparatus and method for monitoring fluid flow in a wellbore using acoustic signals

Methods of acoustically communicating and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium and include determining a major frequency of a received acoustic tone transmitted via the tone transmission medium.

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Califon, NJ, United States of America

Scott William Clawson