High-resolution pressure transducer design and associated circuitry to build a network-ready smart sensor for distributed measurement in oil and gas production wells

Abstract

Miniaturized single-mode thickness-shear pressure transducer combined with high-temperature SOI, silicon on insulator, integrated circuit technology is proposed as network-ready high-pressure high-resolution smart sensor for distributed data acquisition in oil and gas production wells. The transducer miniaturization is investigated with a full 3D computer model previously developed by the authors to assess the impact of intrinsic losses and various geometrical features on transducer performance. Over the last decades there has been a trend toward size reduction of high-resolution pressure transducer. The implemented model provides insight into the evolution of high-resolution pressure transducers from Hewlett-Packard™ to Quartzdyne™ and beyond. Distributed measurement in production oil wells in extreme harsh environment, such as found in the pre-salt layer, is an unsolved problem. The industry move toward electrified wells offers an opportunity for application of smart sensor technology and power line communications to achieve distributed high-resolution data acquisition.