Abstract: A technique facilitates use of an inductive coupler assembly with casing, e.g. well casing. An inductive coupler is formed as a female inductive coupler with an inductive coil. The inductive coupler is constructed for sliding movement along an exterior of the casing so that it may ultimately be positioned and secured at a suitable location along the casing. The inductive coupler is designed for connection with an electrical device, e.g. a sensor. The inductive coupler facilitates the transfer of sensor data and/or power signals across the casing. Signal transfer across the casing is further enabled by a male inductive coupler positioned within the casing at a location which allows it to cooperate with the exterior, female inductive coupler.

Abstract: A technique facilitates use of an inductive coupler assembly with casing, e.g. well casing. An inductive coupler is formed as a female inductive coupler with an inductive coil. The inductive coupler is constructed for sliding movement along an exterior of the casing so that it may ultimately be positioned and secured at a suitable location along the casing. The inductive coupler is designed for connection with an electrical device, e.g. a sensor. The inductive coupler facilitates the transfer of sensor data and/or power signals across the casing. Signal transfer across the casing is further enabled by a male inductive coupler positioned within the casing at a location which allows it to cooperate with the exterior, female inductive coupler.

Abstract: A technique facilitates formation of secure connections for use in downhole environments. According to an embodiment, a connector may be constructed as a dry mate connector which provides both a sealed connection and a connection able to withstand a predetermined tensile loading. The connector comprises connector ends combined with an outer connector housing. Additionally, the connector comprises a shape memory alloy sealing system which may be activated to form a secure seal with a corresponding cable or other component feature. The connector also comprises a shape memory alloy retainer system which may be activated to securely grip the corresponding cable or other component feature so as to withstand substantial tensile loading acting on the corresponding cable or other component feature.

Abstract: A technique facilitates verification of the integrity of a lower completion prior to deployment of a corresponding upper completion. A lower completion is initially deployed downhole into a wellbore and comprises a plurality of functional components, such as a sensor, a communication system, a flow control system, and/or other functional components. A service tool system is removably deployed into the wellbore and comprises a service tool with an interface which interacts with the lower completion. The interface enables verification of the integrity, e.g. functionality, of various functional components of the lower completion without the use of an additional communication line, e.g. power cable, routed separately to the lower completion.

Abstract: A multiphase flowmeter for detection of fluid flow by monitoring of vortex frequency or perturbation time of flight. The flowmeter includes a bluff body to facilitate formation of vortices during a consistent phase of a flowing fluid. Thus, monitoring frequency of the vortices may be employed to ascertain flowrate. Further, the bluff body may also facilitate formation of perturbations during transitioning phase of the fluid and include perturbation sensors at multiple known locations along the flow-path. Thus, analysis of perturbation detection times at the different locations may be used to ascertain flowrate even in the absence of vortices.

Abstract: A technique facilitates evaluation of a fluid flowing through a tubing and includes at least one sensor deployed along an interior of the tubing. Each sensor comprises a plurality of electrodes and insulation material disposed between the electrodes to isolate the electrodes from each other and to facilitate resistivity measurements. The plurality of electrodes comprises electrodes for emitting an electric current and for monitoring voltage so as to enable resistivity measurements with respect to fluid flowing through the tubing. The resistivity measurements may be used to determine a constituent fraction, e.g. a water fraction, of the fluid flowing through the tubing.

Abstract: An adaptive multiband access communication system and method for a network of downhole components located in a wellbore are disclosed. Low noise regions of a communication spectrum are identified and frequency channels within the low noise regions are assigned to the downhole components. Communications on the assigned channels are monitored for quality and adjustments are dynamically made to frequency channel assignments if the quality does not satisfy an acceptance criterion.

Abstract: A multiphase flowmeter for detection of fluid flow by monitoring of vortex frequency or perturbation time of flight. The flowmeter includes a bluff body to facilitate formation of vortices during a consistent phase of a flowing fluid. Thus, monitoring frequency of the vortices may be employed to ascertain flowrate. Further, the bluff body may also facilitate formation of perturbations during transitioning phase of the fluid and include perturbation sensors at multiple known locations along the flow-path. Thus, analysis of perturbation detection times at the different locations may be used to ascertain flowrate even in the absence of vortices.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for testing inductively coupled downhole systems are described. An example inductive coupler assembly for use in a wellbore includes an inductive coupler fixed to a completion in the wellbore, a drill pipe, a portion of which is to be located adjacent to the inductive coupler, and a sleeve surrounding the portion of the drill pipe to reduce a reluctance of a magnetic circuit including the inductive coupler.

Abstract: A carrier device is provided for temporary installation downhole in a well. The carrier device is a robust device that is divided by a pressure bulkhead into a first section having an inductive coupler, power electronics, and a telemetry unit, typically all formed using multi-chip-module type electronics, and a second section with at least one test device typically using printed circuit board technology that may include sensors or transducers coupled to a communications bus and/or a power line that extends to the first section via the pressure bulkhead. The carrier further includes a mechanism that permits the carrier to be pulled out of the wellbore, and may include a mechanical locating element, typically adjacent the inductive coupler that permits the carrier to be located in the wellbore so that the inductive coupler will be located adjacent an inductive coupler in, on, or behind a liner or casing of the wellbore.

Abstract: A technique facilitates verification of the integrity of a lower completion prior to deployment of a corresponding upper completion. A lower completion is initially deployed downhole into a wellbore and comprises a plurality of functional components, such as a sensor, a communication system, a flow control system, and/or other functional components. A service tool system is removably deployed into the wellbore and comprises a service tool with an interface which interacts with the lower completion. The interface enables verification of the integrity, e.g. functionality, of various functional components of the lower completion without the use of an additional communication line, e.g. power cable, routed separately to the lower completion.

Abstract: A technique facilitates use of an inductive coupler assembly with casing, e.g. well casing. An inductive coupler is formed as a female inductive coupler with an inductive coil. The inductive coupler is constructed for sliding movement along an exterior of the casing so that it may ultimately be positioned and secured at a suitable location along the casing. The inductive coupler is designed for connection with an electrical device, e.g. a sensor. The inductive coupler facilitates the transfer of sensor data and/or power signals across the casing. Signal transfer across the casing is further enabled by a male inductive coupler positioned within the casing at a location which allows it to cooperate with the exterior, female inductive coupler.

Abstract: A carrier device is provided for temporary installation downhole in a well. The carrier device is a robust device that is divided by a pressure bulkhead into a first section having an inductive coupler, power electronics, and a telemetry unit, typically all formed using multi-chip-module type electronics, and a second section with at least one test device typically using printed circuit board technology that may include sensors or transducers coupled to a communications bus and/or a power line that extends to the first section via the pressure bulkhead. The carrier further includes a mechanism that permits the carrier to be pulled out of the wellbore, and may include a mechanical locating element, typically adjacent the inductive coupler that permits the carrier to be located in the wellbore so that the inductive coupler will be located adjacent an inductive coupler in, on, or behind a liner or casing of the wellbore.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring water fraction in a fluid mixture flowing in a conductive tubing within a borehole. The sensor comprises: an active probe, a reference probe, and an electronic unit. The active probe includes a first electrode and a second electrode isolated from each other by a first insulating layer, the first and second electrodes are preferably in contact with the fluid mixture. The reference probe is formed from an internal wall of the conductive tubing contacting the fluid mixture and isolated from the reference probe by a second insulating layer. The electronic unit is coupled to the first and second electrodes, and to the reference probe, the electronic unit preferably includes a capacitance module for measuring a capacitance between the active probe and the reference probe.

Abstract: An instrumented tubing for determining a contribution of a given zone to fluid production of a reservoir, the instrumented tubing including a tube having an open end for collecting a fluid flowing from the given zone and a port for coupling the tube to a production tubing for letting the collected fluid flow into the production tubing, and a sensor for measuring a parameter of the collected fluid, wherein the sensor is connected to an electronic unit for determining the contribution of the given zone to the fluid production of the reservoir based on said measured parameter.

Abstract: Inductive couplers for use in a downhole environment are described. An example inductive coupler for use in a downhole environment includes a body defining a cavity and magnetic material positioned in the cavity. The example inductive coupler also includes a coil adjacent the magnetic material, the coil formed with a number of turns of wire, and a first metal cover coupled to the body to enclose the cavity. The metal cover being electrically coupled to the body to form a substantially contiguous electrically conductive surface surrounding the cavity.

Abstract: An inductive coupler assembly for use in a downhole environment and related methods are described. An example indicative coupler assembly includes a first inductive coupler having first and second magnetically coupled coils and a second inductive coupler having third and fourth magnetically coupled coils. The first and third coils are coupled to a first pair of signal lines and the second and fourth coils are coupled to a second pair of signal lines. The first inductive coupler is to magnetically convey a differential communications signal between the first and second pairs of signal lines, and the second inductive coupler is to magnetically convey a common mode power signal between the first and second pairs of signal lines.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for testing inductively coupled downhole systems are described. An example inductive coupler assembly for use in a wellbore includes an inductive coupler fixed to a completion in the wellbore, a drill pipe, a portion of which is to be located adjacent to the inductive coupler, and a sleeve surrounding the portion of the drill pipe to reduce a reluctance of a magnetic circuit including the inductive coupler.

Abstract: Inductive couplers for use in a downhole environment are described. An example inductive coupler for use in a downhole environment includes a body defining a cavity and magnetic material positioned in the cavity. The example inductive coupler also includes a coil adjacent the magnetic material, the coil formed with a number of turns of wire, and a first metal cover coupled to the body to enclose the cavity. The metal cover being electrically coupled to the body to form a substantially contiguous electrically conductive surface surrounding the cavity.

Abstract: An inductive coupler assembly for use in a downhole environment and related methods are described. An example indicative coupler assembly includes a first inductive coupler having first and second magnetically coupled coils and a second inductive coupler having third and fourth magnetically coupled coils. The first and third coils are coupled to a first pair of signal lines and the second and fourth coils are coupled to a second pair of signal lines. The first inductive coupler is to magnetically convey a differential communications signal between the first and second pairs of signal lines, and the second inductive coupler is to magnetically convey a common mode power signal between the first and second pairs of signal lines.