Self-contained downhole sensor and method of placing and interrogating same

摘要

A self-contained sensor module for use in a subterranean well (100) that has a well transmitter or a well receiver associated therewith. In one embodiment, the sensor module (100) comprises a housing (110), a signal receiver (120), a parameter sensor (140), an electronic control assembly (150), and a parameter transmitter (160); the receiver (120), sensor (140), control assembly (150) and transmitter (160) are all contained within the housing (110). The housing (110) has a size that allows the module (100) to be positioned within a formation about the well or in an annulus between a casing positioned within the well and an outer diameter of the well. The signal receiver (120) is configured to receive a signal from the well transmitter, while the parameter sensor (140) is configured to sense a physical parameter of an environment surrounding the sensor module (100) within the well. The electronic control assembly (150) is coupled to both the signal receiver (120) and the parameter sensor (140), and is configured to convert the physical parameter to a data signal. The parameter transmitter (160) is coupled to the electronic control assembly (150) and is configured to transmit the data signal to the well receiver.