Design of a Multi-Node Data Acquisition System for Logging-While-Drilling Acoustic Logging Instruments Based on FPGA

The logging-while-drilling (LWD) acoustic logging instrument is pivotal in unconventional oil and gas exploration, and in providing real-time assessments of subsurface formations. The acquisition system, a core component of the LWD acoustic logging suite, is tasked with capturing, transmitting, and processing acoustic signals from the formation, which directly affects the accuracy and timeliness of the logging data. Recognizing the constraints of current LWD acquisition systems, including limited data collection capabilities and inadequate precision, this study introduces an FPGA-based multi-node data acquisition system for LWD acoustic logging. This system increases sampling density and data accuracy, leading to a more comprehensive collection of formation information. The multi-node acquisition system is composed primarily of a main control circuit board and several acquisition circuit boards, all connected via an RS485 bus. The Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is utilized to develop the acquisition circuit board’s firmware, offering adjustable control over parameters, such as the AD7380’s operational mode, sampling rate, and depth, facilitating real-time and concurrent acquisition and storage of formation acoustic signals. The main control board communicates with the acquisition boards via the RS485 bus, issuing commands to enable autonomous data collection and transfer from each board, thus enhancing the system’s reliability and scalability. Experimental results confirm the system’s capacity to efficiently capture waveform signals and upload them in real-time, underscoring its dependability and timeliness. The findings suggest that the system is capable of high-speed, real-time acquisition and processing of acoustic signals, offering robust technical support for the continued application of LWD acoustic logging instruments.