Downhole acoustic transducer delivery system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10865639-B1
Application number	US-201916539792-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 13, 2019
Priority date	Aug 13, 2019
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus for transmitting and/or receiving energy in a borehole penetrating a subsurface formation includes a tubular assembly having a tubing mandrel and a sleeve at least partially surrounding a circumference of the tubing mandrel, wherein the tubing mandrel includes a cavity and the sleeve defines at least a portion of an opening over the cavity. The apparatus also includes a transducer assembly disposed in the cavity and configured for transmitting and/or receiving the energy, wherein the transducer assembly upon relative movement of the tubing mandrel with respect to the sleeve is displaced radially.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for transmitting and/or receiving energy in a borehole penetrating a subsurface formation, the apparatus comprising:
a tubular assembly comprising a tubing mandrel and a sleeve at least partially surrounding a circumference of the tubing mandrel, wherein the tubing mandrel comprises a cavity and the sleeve defines at least a portion of an opening over the cavity; and
a transducer assembly disposed in the cavity and configured for transmitting and/or receiving the energy, wherein the transducer assembly upon relative movement of the tubing mandrel with respect to the sleeve is displaced radially outward such that at least a portion of the transducer assembly extends outside of the sleeve.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transducer assembly upon being radially displaced outward makes contact with a casing lining the borehole.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cavity comprises a first ramp edge at an uphole end of the cavity and/or the transducer assembly comprises a second ramp edge at an uphole end of the transducer assembly in order for the transducer assembly to be displaced radially due to the relative movement of the tubing mandrel with respect to the sleeve.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the transducer assembly comprises a transducer disposed on a carrier.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the carrier comprises the second ramp edge.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the transducer is an acoustic transducer.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the acoustic transducer comprises a compliant pad configured to seal against a casing lining the borehole.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a releasable securing device securing the sleeve to the tubing mandrel.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the releasable securing device comprises a shear screw.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a locating collet disposed on the sleeve and configured to interlock with a casing lining the borehole at a specified location in order to stop downhole movement of the sleeve.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the locating collet comprises a finger being urged outward from the locating collet.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the finger is configured to interlock with a groove in the casing.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor disposed exterior to a casing lining the borehole and an exterior transducer disposed exterior to the casing and in communication with the sensor and with a transducer in the transducer assembly after that transducer assembly displaces radially from the cavity.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the sensor is at least one of a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising downhole transmitter electronics disposed in an annulus between the tubing mandrel and the sleeve and configured to transmit sensor data received by the transducer assembly to a surface receiver system.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the downhole transmitter electronics are further configured to transmit energy to the transducer assembly for transmission to the exterior transducer.

17. A method for transmitting and/or receiving energy in a borehole penetrating a subsurface formation, the method comprising:
conveying a tubular assembly through the borehole, the tubular assembly comprising a tubing mandrel and a sleeve at least partially surrounding a circumference of the tubing mandrel, wherein the tubing mandrel comprises a cavity and the sleeve defines at least a portion of an opening over the cavity, wherein a transducer assembly is disposed in the cavity and configured for transmitting and/or receiving the energy, and wherein the transducer assembly upon relative movement of the tubing mandrel with respect to the sleeve is displaced radially outward such that at least a portion of the transducer assembly extends outside of the sleeve:
stopping a conveyance of the sleeve in the borehole at a selected location while the tubing mandrel proceeds downhole;
said displacing the transducer assembly radially through the opening due to the relative movement of the tubing mandrel with respect to the sleeve; and
transmitting and/or receiving the energy using the displaced transducer assembly.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein said stopping the conveyance of the sleeve comprises using a locating collet disposed on the sleeve, the locating collet being configured to engage a feature on a casing lining the borehole in order to stop the conveyance.

19. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising:
sensing a property value using a sensor disposed exterior to a casing lining the borehole;
transmitting a signal comprising the property value from an exterior transducer external to the casing and in communication with the sensor to the transducer assembly that is displaced radially; and
transmitting acoustic energy from the transducer assembly to the exterior transducer to power the sensor.

Assignees

• Bishop David
• Obrien Robert
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Bishop David
• O'Brien Robert

Classifications

• E21B47/16 Primary

  through the drill string or casing {, e.g. by torsional acoustic waves} · CPC title

• E21B47/01 Primary

  Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like · CPC title

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• E21B41/00

  Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 · CPC title