Apparatus and method for wireless communication through well casing annulus
An antenna assembly includes a first antenna fastened to a first member disposed in a second member, where the first member is spaced apart from the second member in a radial direction. The antenna assembly includes a second antenna fastened to the second member. A direction of an antenna moment associated with the first antenna or the second antenna intersects an axial direction of the first member, an axial direction of the second member, or both.
1 . An antenna assembly comprising:
a first antenna fastened to a first member disposed in a second member, wherein the first member is spaced apart from the second member in a radial direction; and
a second antenna fastened to the second member,
wherein:
the first antenna comprises one or more first antenna segments each partially wrapping around the first member, without fully wrapping around the first member,
the second antenna comprises one or more second antenna segments each partially wrapping around the second member, without fully wrapping around the second member,
a direction of an antenna moment associated with the first antenna intersects an axial direction of the first member, an axial direction of the second member, or both; and
a direction of an antenna moment associated with the second antenna intersects the axial direction of the first member, the axial direction of the second member, or both.
2 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a monitoring gauge which is disposed on the second member and electrically coupled to the second antenna,
wherein:
the second antenna is configured to wirelessly receive power from the first antenna and provide at least a portion of the received power to the monitoring gauge in association with powering the monitoring gauge;
the monitoring gauge is configured to provide measurement data associated with an annulus between the second member and a third member which is outside the second member; and
the second antenna is configured to provide data signals representative of the measurement data to the first antenna.
3 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first antenna, the second antenna, the first member, and the second member are concentric with the antenna assembly,
the first member is a tubular member, and
the second member is a tubular casing outside the tubular member.
4 . The antenna assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least one of:
the first antenna comprises an inner surface facing toward a first center axis of the first member, wherein a distance between the inner surface of the first antenna and the first center axis is greater than or equal to a distance between an outer surface of the first member and the first center axis; and
the second antenna comprises an inner surface facing toward a second center axis of the second member, wherein a distance between the inner surface of the second antenna and the second center axis is greater than or equal to a distance between an outer surface of the second member and the second center axis.
5 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
a direction of an antenna moments associated with the one or more first antenna segments intersects the axial direction of the first member, the axial direction of the second member, or both; and
a direction of second antenna moments associated with the one or more second antenna segments intersects the axial direction of the first member, the axial direction of the second member, or both.
6 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more first antenna segments at least partially overlap the one or more second antenna segments in a radial plane associated with the first member, the second member, or both.
7 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
a first radial angle of the one or more first antenna segments is less than or equal to 360 degrees; and
a second radial angle of the one or more second antenna segments is less than or equal to 360 degrees.
8 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first antenna segments, the one or more second antenna segments, or both each comprise:
at least two curved wiring elements, wherein each of the at least two curved wiring elements partially wraps around the first member; and
at least two wiring elements extending in a first direction of the antenna assembly or a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein each of the at least two wiring elements is coupled to the at least two curved wiring elements.
9 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first antenna segments, the one or more second antenna segments, or both each comprise at least one curved wiring element, wherein:
the at least one curved wiring element of the one or more first antenna segments at least partially wraps around the first member; and
the at least one curved wiring element of the one or more second antenna segments at least partially wraps around the second member.
10 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
each of the one or more first antenna segments comprises a coil including one or more turns; and
each of the one or more second antenna segments comprises a coil including one or more turns.
11 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first antenna segments are of a different size compared to the one or more second antenna segments.
12 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the one or more first antenna segments are encapsulated by one or more non-conductive materials, one or more conductive materials, or both; and
the one or more second antenna segments are encapsulated by the one or more non-conductive materials, the one or more conductive materials, or both.
13 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more first antenna segments are directly fastened or indirectly fastened to the first member; and
the one or more second antenna segments are directly fastened to or indirectly fastened to the second member.
14 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the first antenna comprises a first antenna segment and a second antenna segment, wherein the first antenna segment at least partially overlaps the second antenna segment; and
the second antenna comprises a third antenna segment and a fourth antenna segment, wherein the third antenna segment at least partially overlaps the fourth antenna segment.
15 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the first antenna comprises a first antenna segment and a second antenna segment, wherein the first antenna segment is non-overlapping with the second antenna segment; and
the second antenna comprises a third antenna segment and a fourth antenna segment, wherein the third antenna segment is non-overlapping with the fourth antenna segment.
16 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the first antenna comprises a first antenna segment of a first radial angle and a second antenna segment of a second radial angle, wherein:
the first radial angle is different from the second radial angle; or
the first radial angle is equal to the second radial angle; and
the second antenna comprises a third antenna segment of a third radial angle and a fourth antenna segment of a fourth radial angle, wherein:
the third radial angle is different from the fourth radial angle; or
the third radial angle is equal to the fourth radial angle.
17 . An antenna comprising:
one or more antenna segments each partially wrapped around and releasably fastened to a member disposed in a borehole, without fully wrapping around the member, wherein:
the member surrounds a second member disposed in the borehole and is spaced apart from the second member in a radial direction,
a direction of an antenna moment associated with the one or more antenna segments intersects an axial direction of the member, an axial direction of the second member, or both, and
the antenna is configured to at least one of:
wirelessly receive power from a second antenna which is fastened to the second member and provide data signals representative of measurement data to the second antenna, or
wirelessly transmit second power to the second antenna and receive data signals representative of second measurement data from the second antenna.
18 . The antenna of claim 17 , wherein a radial angle of each of the one or more antenna segments is equal to or less than 360 degrees.
19 . A communication system comprising:
a first member disposed in a borehole;
a second member disposed in the borehole, wherein the first member is disposed in the second member and is spaced apart from the second member in a radial direction;
an antenna assembly comprising:
a first antenna fastened to the first member, wherein the first antenna comprises one or more first antenna segments each partially wrapping around the first member, without fully wrapping around the first member; and
a second antenna fastened to the second member, wherein the second antenna comprises one or more second antenna segments each partially wrapping around the second member, without fully wrapping around the second member,
wherein:
the first antenna is configured to generate an electromagnetic field associated with delivering power to the second antenna,
the second antenna is configured to provide data signals representative of measurement data to the first antenna, and
a direction of an antenna moment associated with the first antenna or the second antenna intersects an axial direction of the first member, an axial direction of the second member, or both.
20 . The communication system of claim 19 , wherein the first antenna extends partially around the first member, the second antenna extends partially around the second member, or a combination thereof.