Electro-magnetic antenna for wireless communication and inter-well electro-magnetic characterization in hydrocarbon production wells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10185049-B2
Application number	US-201113984759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2011
Priority date	Feb 11, 2011
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

Methods, a system and antennas are provided for transmitting or receiving signals from a hydrocarbon production well. The well comprises a well bore formed in a formation, a production liner/tubing extending axially along the well bore, and an inductive coupling disposed around the liner/tubing. The liner tubing is electrically coupled to the formation at two axially separated locations and is electrically isolated from the formation between the locations. For transmitting, an alternating current signal to the inductive coupling to induce a current in the liner/tubing, the liner tubing forming a dipole antenna that generates an electromagnetic radiation signal propagating through the formation. For receiving, the dipole antenna is exposed to an electromagnetic radiation signal propagated through the formation which induces an alternating current signal in the tubing and the current signal is detected at the inductive coupling.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An antenna for use in a hydrocarbon production well installation, wherein the well comprises a well bore formed in a formation, a production liner/tubing extending axially along the well bore, the antenna comprising:
a first length of the liner/tubing in direct conductive contact with the formation at two axially separated locations, the first length of liner/tubing being electrically isolated from the formation between said locations;
an inductive coupling disposed around the first length of liner/tubing;
an ac signal generator for providing a signal to the inductive coupling to induce a current in the liner/tubing, the liner/tubing forming a dipole antenna for generating an electromagnetic radiation signal propagating through the formation; and
a cable for bypassing a section of liner/tubing that has a large surface area exposure, to extend the length of the first antenna beyond the section,
wherein an effective length of the dipole antenna is given by a distance between said two axially separated locations.

2. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the section of liner/tubing comprises one or more screened lengths, an insulated conducting cable connecting the tubing either side of the screened lengths.

3. The antenna of claim 2 , wherein the screened length of liner/tubing comprises screens having grooves therein to accommodate the cable.

4. An antenna for use in a hydrocarbon production well installation, wherein the well comprises a well bore formed in a formation, a production liner/tubing extending axially along the well bore, the antenna comprising:
a first length of the liner/tubing in direct conductive contact with the formation at two axially separated locations, the first length of liner/tubing being electrically isolated from the formation between said locations;
an inductive coupling disposed around the first length of liner/tubing;
a receiver for detecting a current signal induced in the inductive coupling as a result of a current induced in the tubing as a result of exposure of the antenna to an electromagnetic radiation signal propagated through the formation; and
a cable for bypassing a section of liner/tubing that has a large surface area exposure, to extend the length of the first antenna beyond the section.

5. The antenna of claim 4 , wherein the section of liner/tubing comprises one or more screened lengths, an insulated conducting cable connecting the tubing either side of the screened lengths.

6. The antenna of claim 5 , wherein the screened length of liner/tubing comprises screens having grooves therein to accommodate the cable.

Assignees

• Johannessen Kjetil
• Statoil Petroleum As

Inventors

• Johannessen Kjetil

Classifications

• H01Q1/04

  Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use · CPC title

• G01V3/30 Primary

  operating with electromagnetic waves · CPC title

• G01V3/12

  operating with electromagnetic waves {(operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005)} · CPC title

• H01Q9/16

  with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole (H01Q9/44 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B47/122

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic