Patent ID: 6374913
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
An array disposed between inner and outer concentric pipes extending into a well from the surface comprising:a plurality of data collection hubs; a plurality of sensor groups, each having a plurality of sensor pods configured to perform downhole measurements; a backbone extending from the surface of said well through each of said data collection hubs to allow said hubs to communicate with a surface controller; said backbone also containing a distribution system to deliver electrical power from the surface of said well to each of said data collection hubs; at least one of said sensor groups extending from each of said data collection hubs; an umbilical cable to connect said sensor pods of each of said sensor group together; and said umbilical cable to allow communication between each of said data collection hubs and each of its said sensor groups, wherein said backbone comprises multiple communication paths, and wherein each of said communication paths communicates only with a partial set of said data collection hubs.