Apparatus and Method for Monitoring Fluid Flow in a Wellbore Using Acoustic Signals

摘要

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.

主权项

1. An electro-acoustic telemetry system for monitoring fluid flow in a wellbore, comprising:
a tubular body disposed in a wellbore; a topside communications node placed proximate a surface of the wellbore; a plurality of subsurface communications nodes spaced along the wellbore and attached to a wall of the tubular body, the subsurface communications nodes configured to transmit acoustic waves from node-to-node up the wellbore and to the topside communications node; one or more sensors along the wellbore for measuring a parameter indicative of fluid flow within the wellbore; and a receiver at the surface configured to receive signals from the topside communications node; wherein each of the subsurface communications nodes comprises:
a sealed housing;an electro-acoustic transducer and associated transceiver also residing within the housing, with the transceiver being designed to relay signals from node-to-node up the wellbore, with each signal representing a packet of information that comprises an identifier for the subsurface communications node that originally transmitted the signal, and an acoustic waveform representing fluid flow data; andan independent power source residing within the housing providing power to the transceiver.