Electromagnetic telemetry for sensor systems deployed in a borehole environment

Disclosed are telemetry systems and methods that employ a plurality of electromagnetic transceivers disposed outside a well casing string at a corresponding plurality of depths along the casing string. Each transceiver includes one or more toroidal inductors circumferentially surrounding the casing string and inductively coupled thereto to allow signal transmission between transceivers via currents induced in the casing. In some embodiments, signals are relayed via a chain of transceivers to facilitate indirect communication between a surface facility and other transceivers located too deep for direct communication to the surface.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to electromagnetic (EM) telemetry within a borehole, and more particularly to telemetry that provides particular capabilities for providing communication between sensors permanently deployed outside casing in a borehole.

During completion and servicing of a borehole, sensors can be employed along the exterior of the borehole casing to monitor the condition of well-servicing and other fluids in the annulus formed between the casing and borehole wall, or, more generally, to monitor conditions of the wellbore, of the surrounding formation, and/or of tools and materials used inside the wellbore. For example, when a borehole is completed by securing the casing in place with cement or another suitable sealant (such as, e.g., a polymer, resin, or latex-based sealant) (all such sealants generically referred to herein as “cement”), it is often desirable to measure one or more cement parameters (e.g., resistivity, permittivity, moisture content, temperature, pH, and/or ion concentration) in order to monitor the integrity thereof. Fluid-sensing approaches used for this and similar purposes include, without limitation, RFID tag detection and EM-based fluid characterization.

In various implementations, the sensors are deployed outside (or “behind”) the borehole casing, for instance, mounted to the exterior surface of the casing. A system for transmitting signals from these sensors to the surface for processing and evaluation is needed. In many circumstances, however, signal transmission via electrical or optical cables does not pose a viable solution for downhole-to-surface telemetry. For offshore wells, for example, regulations may require that no cables be clamped to the exterior of the casing because any such cables could present a potential conduit for fluid flow that could result in failure of the well's integrity. Accordingly, systems and methods for wireless telemetry between sensors deployed downhole and a surface-based control and data-acquisition/processing facility are needed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein are telemetry systems and methods for two-way communication between a plurality of transceivers located outside a well casing string at various depths therealong (herein, “depth” refers to a distance from the surface, measured along, i.e., locally parallel to, an axis of the casing string, regardless of whether the casing string, or segment thereof, is vertical or not; in other words, the term “depth” is to be understood broad enough to allow for slanted or horizontal wells). In some embodiments, each transceiver includes a toroidal inductor circumferentially surrounding the electrically conductive casing string and inductively coupled thereto, allowing signals to be transmitted between transceivers at least partially via currents induced in the casing. Such signal transmission may serve to communicate data acquired by a plurality of sensors (e.g., fluid sensors for monitoring the condition of the cement or other sealant securing the casing) located proximate respective transceivers to a control and processing facility located above surface, and to transmit control signals from the surface facility to the sensors and/or transceivers. (Herein, a sensor is deemed “proximate” a certain transceiver if it is uniquely physically associated with that transceiver by virtue of, for example, a distance between the sensor and transceiver not exceeding a specified maximum distance (e.g., in some embodiments, twelve inches), integration of the sensor and transceiver into the same package, mounting of the sensor and transceiver on the same support, and/or a direct electrical connection between the sensor and transceiver.) In particular, signals may be relayed via a chain of transceivers to facilitate indirect communication between the surface facility and those sensors that are located too deep for direct wired or wireless communication.

The spaced relations between transceivers may be such that each transceiver is coupled to at least one other transceiver located thereabove (i.e., at a smaller depth) or to the surface facility. In one embodiment, a first transceiver transmits a signal including data from a first sensor proximate the first transceiver, and a second transceiver located above and in a spaced relation to the first transceiver receives the signal and transmits a second signal that relays the data from the first sensor and, optionally, further includes data from a second senor proximate the second transceiver. The surface control and processing facility may be communicatively coupled to the chain of transceivers via a wireless connection with one (e.g., the highest one) of the transceivers, or alternatively via a wired connection, such as with an optical fiber. In various embodiments, the transceivers are spaced at intervals not exceeding 120 feet, not exceeding 90 feet, not exceeding 60 feet, or not exceeding 30 feet. For example, the casing string may include a plurality of 30-feet segments coupled together (e.g., via threaded connections), and each segment may have a respective transceiver located thereat; the transceivers may be uniformly spaced at a distance of about 30 feet between nearest neighbors. Alternatively, transceivers may be located at only every other or every third 30-feet segment, resulting in transceiver spacings of about 60 feet or about 90 feet, respectively. In various embodiments, the transceivers are configured to transmit signals in the frequency range from 10 kHz to 3 MHz, depending on the distances between transceivers, the formation resistivity, and whether the transceivers are surrounded by a secondary casing string (see, e.g.,FIG. 1). For example, in some embodiments where single casing is used and the transceivers are spaced 30 feet apart, signals are transmitted within the frequency range from 20 kHz to 200 kHz.

In some embodiments, the transceivers are separated into two or more disjoint groups of transceivers, where the transceivers within each group are communicatively coupled to each other but not to transceivers in another group, such that each group provides a separate signal channel. Such multiple groups and corresponding separate signal channels may be formed, for example, by using different frequency bands for data transmission within different groups, by assigning different time slots for different groups, or by configuring the transceivers within each group to address signals only to other transceivers within that group (e.g., such as by identifying the receiving transceiver in a signal header). In some cases, the transceivers of two groups may be disposed along the casing string in an alternating fashion. Also, the grouping of transceivers may be fixed or dynamically configurable.

In some embodiments, one or more of the transceivers are configured to each operate in multiple frequency bands so as to support multiple corresponding signal channels. For example, the electronic circuitry of a transceiver may generate a superposition of signal components falling within different frequency bands, which may then be transmitted by the toroidal conductor as a composite signal. Conversely, a transceiver may be configured to receive and decode signals sent from multiple nearby transceivers in multiple different frequency bands.

FIG. 1schematically illustrates an example sensor and wireless telemetry system deployed in a borehole environment, in accordance with various embodiments. As shown, a wellbore100has been drilled into subterranean (e.g., oil- or gas-bearing) formation102located beneath the earth's surface104. (While the wellbore100is shown as oriented vertically, it can also include slanted or even horizontal portions.) Further, during well completion, casing strings106,107have been placed in the wellbore100to stabilize the well and to facilitate the production of oil and gas from the formation102. Although shown as contiguous pipes, each of the casing strings106,107may include multiple pipe sections (each being, e.g., thirty feet in length), which may be connected to each other via threads machined into the ends of the sections. The casing strings106,107may be made of steel or another suitable metal or alloy. To secure the casing strings106,107in place and to isolate different formations penetrated by wellbore100from one another, the annulus108formed between the casing strings106,107and the formation sidewalls defining the wellbore100will commonly be filled with cement or another suitable sealant.

As is known to those of ordinary skill in the art, wellbores are often drilled in stages to form multiple borehole sections with smaller and smaller diameters. The individual borehole sections may be completed using casing strings of correspondingly different diameters, which may be nested inside each other. In some embodiments, the inner, smaller-diameter casing string of a deeper borehole section is hung from the preceding larger-diameter casing string. In other embodiments, as shown, multiple nested casing strings extend (from different depths) all the way to the surface104(see casing string106nested in casing string107); accordingly, a portion (or portions) of the wellbore100may have double (or, more generally, multifold) casing; in this case, the region between the two casings may likewise be filled with cement.

In various embodiments, a plurality of sensors and associated telemetry components are disposed behind the casing (e.g., the inner casing string106) at multiple locations along the longitudinal borehole axis. (If the inner casing is hung from the outer casing and does not extend all the way up to the surface, a transceiver chain can be formed of transceivers placed behind the outer casing in the upper borehole section and communicatively coupled with transceivers placed behind the inner casing in the lower borehole section.) The sensor(s) and telemetry components at any such longitudinal locations are often integrated into an electronic device package (conceptually depicted inFIG. 1as elements110). (Note that, although shown for simplicity at only one circumferential position of the casing string, the packages110may include components that circumferentially surround the casing string, as explained below with respect toFIG. 4.) As indicated by arrows inFIG. 1, the sensor/telemetry packages110may be spaced such that at least neighboring packages110are in direct communication with each other. Further, each sensor/telemetry package110may be communicatively coupled to a control and processing facility112located at or above the surface104via one or more intervening sensor/telemetry packages110placed therebetween (if not directly). The sensor/telemetry packages110may be uniformly spaced (e.g., about every 30 feet, corresponding to one package per section of casing) throughout at least a portion of the length of the casing string. For boreholes that include single-cased and double-cased sections, the spacing may differ between different sections; for example, the spacing can be increased in the double-cased section, for reasons set forth below in the context ofFIGS. 6A-6C.

FIG. 2illustrates an alternative sensor and telemetry system, in accordance with various embodiments. Herein, signal transmission through the upper, double-cased section of the borehole (where sensors between the casings may not be needed) is accomplished by wired, optical telemetry. Specifically, the upper-most electronic sensor package110a(which may or may not contain a fluid sensor) may include a fiber-optic induction sensor114that couples to an optical fiber116deployed behind (as shown) or inside the (inner) casing string106and returning to the surface. The optical fiber116may be included in a tubing-encapsulated cable (TEC). The optical fiber116and the optical induction sensor114may be remotely interrogated, using any of a variety of interrogation methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art, by a fiber-optic interrogation system118coupled, in turn, to the control and processing facility112. In the illustrated embodiment, the use of an optical cable connection is rendered feasible due to the outer casing107surrounding the optical fiber116, which mitigates any borehole integrity concerns related to the cable as a potential conduit for fluid flow. Even without such a protective outer casing107, optical telemetry in the upper portion of the borehole may be permissible, as long as the fiber-optic induction sensor114is located above the zones where borehole integrity is a concern.

With reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, example embodiments of the sensor/telemetry package110are now described in more detail.FIG. 3shows, in block-diagram form, several components of a sensor/telemetry package110according to various embodiments. The package110includes a sensor (or system of multiple sensors)300and a transceiver302. The sensor(s)300may include, for example, one or more EM fluid sensors, or sensors for RFID tag detection. The transceiver302includes an antenna304(or multiple antennae) for EM signal transmission and receiving, and components for converting a raw data signal received from the sensor(s)300into an encoded data signal suitable for transmission by the antenna304, such as a waveform generator306and signal encoder/decoder circuitry308. The waveform generator306may generate an oscillating current that provides a (for instance sinusoidal) carrier with a frequency in the kilohertz or megahertz regime. The encoder/decoder circuitry308modulates the carrier based on the raw data signal received from the sensor(s)300, using any of a variety of well-known modulation schemes, such as, without limitation, pulse width modulation (PWM), pulse position modulation (PPM), on-off keying (OOK), amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), single-side-band modulation (SSB), frequency shift keying (FSK), phase shift keying (PSK) (binary phase shift keying (BPSK) and N-ary shift keying), discrete multi-tone (DMT), or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).

The sensor/telemetry package110may include additional circuitry (not specifically shown) for controlling the operation of the sensor(s)300and transceiver302, processing data from the sensor(s)300prior to transmission by the antenna304, storing data, etc. In some embodiments, such additional circuitry includes one or more processors coupled to data buffers or data storage devices for either temporary or continued storage of instructions, data, etc. The data storage devices may include volatile and/or nonvolatile memory devices, such as, without limitation, DRAM, SRAM, Flash, FRAM, MRAM, and combinations thereof.

Since power delivery to the sensor/telemetry package110via cables will not be possible, or at least practical, for many applications, the transceiver302further includes an independent power supply310, which may in some embodiments be rechargeable. In some embodiments, the power supply310powers not only the other components of the transceiver302, but also the sensor(s)300associated therewith. Alternatively, the sensor(s)300and transceiver302may be powered by separate power supplies. The power supply310may include one or more batteries or energy-harvesting devices. Electronic control circuitry may control the power supply310to operate the sensor(s)300and transceiver302for a time duration sufficient for monitoring fluids throughout, for example, a pumping process, or a curing process, or any other periods of interest. To provide enhanced power efficiencies, the control circuitry may awaken the transceiver302from a sleep state based on any of a variety of factors, including passage of one or more time intervals, prior sensed parameters, etc.

The transceiver302may be configured or operated to function as a transmitter, receiver, or both, depending, for instance, on its position within the telemetry system (which includes multiple transceivers302, as shown inFIG. 1). For example, in the sensor/telemetry package at the deepest position, the transceiver302need only encode and transmit signals acquired by the sensor(s) proximate the transceiver302. Other transceivers302may receive and decode (using the encoder/decoder circuitry308) signals received from transceivers therebelow, as well as re-encode and transmit the signal to relay the data contained therein. Some transceivers may, in addition, encode and transmit data signals from their own proximate sensors, whereas others may function purely to relay signals (in which case they need not have proximate sensors associated therewith). In some embodiments (particularly those where a relaying transceiver does not add further sensor data to the signal), signal relay can be achieved simply by amplifying and re-transmitting the received signal, without the need for any signal decoding and re-encoding. In the embodiment ofFIG. 2, the upper-most sensor/telemetry transceiver may use an antenna302to receive signals from below, and a separate fiber-optic induction sensor to transmit the signal to the surface.

Although this description focuses on the transmission of sensor data from downhole locations to a surface facility, the transceivers disclosed herein generally facilitate signal transmission in both directions. Signal transmission from the surface downward may be used, for instance, to send control signals to the downhole sensors or transceivers, for example, to turn off or reactivate “sleeping” sensors (as described above), or to reconfigure the transceiver chain (as described below). Accordingly, depending on the particular application, the transceivers can be configured for operation in simplex mode (i.e., for data transmission in only one direction) or in duplex mode (i.e., for data transmission in both directions).

FIG. 4Ashows one example configuration of components of the sensor/telemetry package110. As depicted, in accordance with various embodiments, the antenna304is or includes a toroidal coil400that circumferentially surrounds the casing string106(or, in other words, a solenoid whose axis has been bent along a circle (concentrically) surrounding the casing string106). The toroidal coil does not need to extend all the way around the casing string. However, extending it all the way maximizes the casing signal generated as the signal is roughly proportional to the angular coverage of the toroidal winding. When an oscillating electrical current flows through the toroidal coil400, it generates an oscillating magnetic field, which, in turn, can create an oscillating secondary electrical current402in a conductor surrounded by the toroidal coil400, in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane in which the toroidal coil400lies. Thus, since the casing string106(which is made of a metal/alloy, such as steel) is electrically conductive, the toroidal coil400, when driven by an oscillating current, functions as a toroidal inductor, inducing an oscillating current402in the casing106in a direction parallel to the axis404of the casing. This current402propagates along the casing string106, and can be detected by the toroidal inductor of a second antenna304located above (or below) the toroidal inductor400from which the current originates, provided the distance between the two antennae304is not so large that the current402is attenuated to a level too low for detection. Advantageously, attenuation and leakage into the formation are relatively low for currents propagating in the casing string, as compared with currents propagating through the formation, which may in principal be induced with solenoid antennae wound around the casing.

The toroidal coil400may generally have any number of windings; coils with a large number of windings (e.g., hundreds or thousands) are generally preferred, as they result in larger effective magnetic dipole moments and, thus, stronger signals. Moreover, the antenna304may include a magnetic core406(made, e.g., of ferrite, Mu-metal, or another suitable magnetic material with low hysteresis, low loss, and high relative magnetic permeability) about which the coil turns are wound to further increase inductance and effective magnetic dipole moment. For example, the effective dipole moment of an antenna including one thousand turns about a ferrite core (which has a relative magnetic permeability of about one thousand) is increased by a factor of about one million over a single-turn, air-core antenna. For two antennae operating together as a transmitter-receiver pair, this can increase the minimum detectable voltage (i.e., the minimum input voltage at the transmitting antenna that's detectable by the receiving antenna) by a factor of 1012, compared with a pair of single-turn, air-core antennas.

Returning to the configuration of the sensor/telemetry package110, the sensor(s)300, power supply310, and electronics components of the transceiver (including, e.g., waveform generator306and encoder/decoder circuitry308) may be disposed above (as shown inFIG. 4) or below the toroidal inductor400, for example, contained inside an annular housing408mounted to the exterior surface of the casing string106. Within the housing, the various components may be distributed about the circumference. For example, as shown, multiple sensors300may be located at different circumferential (or “azimuthal”) positions to provide azimuthally resolved measurements. Power supplies, electronic circuitry, etc. may be arranged between the sensors300. The sensor/electronics package contained inside the annular housing408is electrically connected to the toroidal inductor400. The transceiver antenna304and other components of the sensor/telemetry package110may be shaped and sized compatible with the limited space available in the annulus formed between the casing and the formation, and the need to allow fluid (including cement) flow through the annulus, and thus past the annular housing. Of course, as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the various sensor/telemetry components can be configured and arranged in many different ways, the illustrated embodiment being just one example.

Referring now toFIG. 4B, that figure depicts an alternative configuration for a sensor/telemetry package, indicated generally at410. Sensor/telemetry package410includes a body member412having a plurality of fins414attached thereto, and having at least one toroidal inductor413extending around body member412. In this example, sensor/telemetry package410includes a plurality of fins414that extend longitudinally along the assembly and in spaced relation to one another around the periphery of the assembly. In many examples, fins414will be hollow and will house control circuitry or other electronics, for example, voltage-controlled oscillators, memory, analog RF circuitry, sensors, power systems, processors, and other circuitry to enable communication with an external location, etc. In this example, the fins414will further include interrogation circuitry suitable for generating signals to both interrogate RFID tags (which may include additional MEMS sensor components, as described earlier herein) and to receive signals from those interrogated RFID tags. Such signals will be communicated to one or more antennas416operatively coupled to each instance of such interrogation circuitry). An instance of interrogation circuitry with at least one antenna will form a “sensor assembly” for sensing the presence of RFID tags, and any additional information obtained when the RFID tags are interrogated (such as sensor data). The example sensor/telemetry package410includes a pair of electrode sensors418, which may be used, in combination with appropriate electronic circuitry, to make electrical measurements of the fluid environment surrounding sensor/telemetry package410in a borehole. The various electronic circuits within each fin414can be configured to communicate as desired with circuitry in another fin414. Such communications between electronic circuits can occur through use of any suitable mechanism as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, for example, through use of a serial peripheral interface (SPI), though embodiments are not limited thereto.

Sensor/telemetry package410can be configured to be associated with the casing string by a variety of mechanisms. Each sensor/telemetry package410includes a body member412supporting other components and facilitating association with the casing string. In some embodiments, sensor/telemetry package410will include a sleeve body member configured to concentrically engage the outer diameter of a length of casing. In such cases, the sleeve body member can be placed over a length of casing before it is incorporated into the casing string106, and then secured in place by an appropriate mechanism. As one example, the sleeve body member may be secured against the upset at the box end of the casing section and then clamped in place, or otherwise secured in a desired location—for example through use of an adhesive, such a Protect DRB™ or Protech CRB™ available from the Halliburton Company of Houston, Tex. In other examples, sensor/telemetry package410can include a body member configured as a specialized section of casing, which either includes fins414as depicted inFIG. 4B, or provides recesses or other structures to house the described components, and configured to be threadably inserted into the casing string. In yet another alternative, sensor/telemetry package410can have a supporting body member configured as a hinged clamshell (or a two part assembly) that can be secured concentrically around a length of casing106, without either having to be joined into the casing string or the casing having to be inserted through the body member, as with the above alternative examples.

Refer now toFIGS. 5A-8C, which quantify the signal-transmission capabilities of telemetry systems in accordance with various example embodiments.FIG. 5Ais a schematic representation of an example representational transceiver system placed behind 9⅝″ steel production casing500(having a conductivity of σ=107S/m (Siemens per meter) and a relative magnetic permeability μr=100) in a 12¼″ borehole502drilled into a formation504. Cured cement (with a resistivity of 20 Ωm) fills the annulus506formed between the production casing500and the formation504. The transceiver system includes five transceivers placed at 30-feet intervals along the casing, operating as a transmitter510and four receivers512,513,514,515spaced 30 feet, 60 feet, 90 feet, and 120 feet therefrom.FIG. 5Billustrates a similarly configured transceiver system placed behind 9⅝″ production casing520inside a 13⅛″ surface casing522in a 15″ borehole524drilled in a formation504. Water-based mud (with a resistivity of 1 Ωm) fills the annulus526formed between the production casing520and the surface casing522. Cured cement (with a resistivity of 20 Ωm) fills the annulus528formed between the surface casing522and the formation504.

As can be seen inFIG. 6A(corresponding to a formation resistivity of 1 Ωm), for single casing and transmitting and receiving toroidal antennae separated by 30 feet, the detected induced voltage, which is indicative of the strength of the generated magnetic field, peaks at about 100 kHz. As expected, the received magnetic fields decrease with increasing transmitter-receiver distance due to attenuation. Further, as the formation resistivity is increased (seeFIGS. 6B and 6Cin comparison withFIG. 6A), the peak-response frequency and signal level is increased. For double casing and, again, a transmitter-receiver separation of 30 feet, the peak response occurs at about 1 MHz, and the peak response frequency and signal level are largely independent of the formation resistivity (seeFIGS. 6B and 6Cin comparison withFIG. 6A). Since the received magnetic field strengths are generally higher for double casing, it becomes feasible to increase the distance between transceivers in the telemetry chain. Thus, in embodiments where the distance between neighboring transceivers in a single-cased borehole section is, for example, selected to be 30 feet to ensure sufficient signal strength, it may suffice to place transceivers in the double-cased section every 60 feet (or at some other distance exceeding 30 feet). Furthermore, since the peak response is generally shifted to higher frequencies for double casing, it may be beneficial to operate transceivers in the double-cased section at different frequencies (e.g., at 100s kHz to MHz) than transceivers in the singled-cased section (where frequencies may range, e.g., from 10s to 100s of kHz).

In some embodiments, illustrated inFIG. 7for a single-cased borehole, the casing500is coated with a layer700of electrically insulating material to limit current leakage of the induced current from the casing500into the formation. The electrically insulating material may be or include, for example, as a paint, polymer, or ceramic that exhibits high electrical resistivity and is abrasion-resistant, in accordance with general casing-emplacement and well-completion practices.FIG. 8presents the measured magnetic fields resulting from the use of an electrically insulating coating (for a formation resistivity of 1 Ωm and transmitter-receiver distances of 30 ft, 60 ft, 90 ft, and 120 ft), in comparison with the corresponding data (ofFIG. 6A) for casing without insulation. As can be seen, the presence of the electrically insulating material tends to improve the signal strength, at least for frequencies near or above the peak-response frequency. In some embodiments, electrical insulation of the casing is realized not with a separate insulating layer, but with a cement slurry containing appropriate chemical additives to increase the electrical resistivity of the cured cement.

In various embodiments, transceivers can be operated with a dynamically configurable (or “ad-hoc”) network topology that does not require serial signal transmission from one transceiver to the next (i.e., the closest one). Rather, when the signal levels are sufficiently high, the telemetered signals can skip over one or more transceivers. For example, when transceivers are placed along the casing string every 30 feet, signals may transmitted over 60-feet stretches and thus relayed along an active telemetry chain including only every other transceiver. The inactive transceivers that are skipped over can serve to provide system redundancy and/or reliability in situations where signal levels are weaker (e.g., due to a more conductive formation), or facilitate multiple signal channels, as explained below. Furthermore, the transmitted signal strengths may be deliberately adjusted, based, among other things, on transmitter-receiver distances and minimum detectable signal levels, to control, reduce, or avoid cross-talk between receiving antennae.

As will be apparent from the graphs shown inFIGS. 6A-6C and 8, telemetry via toroidal antennas in accordance herewith supports a broad band of transmission frequencies. This not only renders a large number of modulation schemes applicable for data-encoding, but also facilitates multiple signal channels utilizing multiple respective frequency bands. In some embodiments, one or more transceivers are configured to each operate (simultaneously) in multiple frequency bands. For example, a transceiver (at a certain position along the casing string) may transmit a superposition of signals components having different respective carrier frequencies. Alternatively, in some embodiments, different sub-sets of the transceivers may be operated within different frequency bands. For example, along the casing string, transceivers operating at a first frequency may alternate with transceivers operating at a second, different frequency, creating two parallel signal channels. This is feasible, for instance, if transceivers are spaced at 30-feet intervals, but signals can travel at least sixty feet without the need for relay or amplification. Similarly, if signal transmission to the surface can be accomplished with transceivers spaced 90 feet apart, a system of transceivers spaced at 30-feet intervals allows for three separate signal channels, and so on. The different signal channels need not necessarily utilize different frequency bands. Alternatively, signals transmitted by the transceivers may include header and data portions, where the header specifies the intended recipient transceiver of the signal. While signals are broadcast along the casing string and thus in principle detectable by every receiver that is sufficiently close to the transmitter, transceivers to which a particular signal is not addressed may simply ignore that signal. Communication protocols for implementing addressable signals are well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Where the transceivers are configured to provide multiple signal channels, one or more of the channels may be configured to preferentially carry only data from certain sensors or data of a certain property. For example, during a cementing operation one type of relatively high value data is that indicating arrival at a given sensor depth of the top of cement. In systems in which RFID tags with an identifiable frequency or other detectable characteristic are placed within the cement introduced into the well, the initial detection of such RFID tags associated with the cement will be indicative of arrival of the cement fluid volume at the sensor depth. In a multiple channel transceiver system, one channel might be isolated, for example, to carry only sensor data of sensing the RFID tag configuration associated with the cement, or potentially to carry only data of initial sensing at a sensor of such RFID tag configuration, indicating arrival of the top of cement.

By dedicating a channel to such data, it may be possible to avoid delays in transmission resulting from compiling increasing amounts of data as the signals are conveyed up through the transceiver system. In some example systems, it may be desirable to configure such a priority communication channel to use a streamlined communication protocol and/or to have a priority for retransmission within each transceiver, so as to further enhance the communication capabilities of the channel. In one possible example, the system may be configured merely to transmit a burst signal indicating that an indicator of the arrival of top of cement has been detected, and an indicator of the sensor (and therefore the depth at which the detection was made), to provide optimally streamlined communication of the movement of the top of cement. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, other types of information may similarly be given high priority, including data associated from specific sensors were data obtained only through certain types of sensors.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement configured to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.