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GB2180124A - Method and apparatus for communicating with downhole measurement-while-drilling equipment when said equipment is on the surface - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for communicating with downhole measurement-while-drilling equipment when said equipment is on the surface Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2180124A
GB2180124A GB08618194A GB8618194A GB2180124A GB 2180124 A GB2180124 A GB 2180124A GB 08618194 A GB08618194 A GB 08618194A GB 8618194 A GB8618194 A GB 8618194A GB 2180124 A GB2180124 A GB 2180124A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
equipment
transmitter
data
receiver
electrode
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08618194A
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GB8618194D0 (en
GB2180124B (en
Inventor
Francis Leigh Davison
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NL Industries Inc
Original Assignee
NL Industries Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NL Industries Inc filed Critical NL Industries Inc
Publication of GB8618194D0 publication Critical patent/GB8618194D0/en
Publication of GB2180124A publication Critical patent/GB2180124A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2180124B publication Critical patent/GB2180124B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B47/00Survey of boreholes or wells
    • E21B47/26Storing data down-hole, e.g. in a memory or on a record carrier

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geophysics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)

Abstract

In a well drilling/logging system, measured values taken by a down-well measuring unit at a drill bit end are fed to a data storage means in the unit. The measuring unit also includes a transmitter/receiver and is brought to the earth's surface to transmit the stored data conductively or inductively to a surface transmitter/receiver unit for analysis. The surface unit is arranged also to transmit instructions to be read into the measuring unit storage means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for communicating with downhole measurement-while-drilling equipment when said equipment is on the surface The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus which is used in conjunction with down hole measurement-while-drilling equipment es- tablish communication therewith while the equipment-commonly known as a sub - is on the surface.
Recent developments in measurement-whiledrilling equipment has produced technological changes in that the down hole equipment is able to accumulate a substantial amount of information, such as detailed descriptions of the various strata through which the drill is passing. Much ofthis information is extremely important, but not essential tothe on-going drilling operation. The drilling oper ation would require all ofthe details ofthe drill bit orientation, so asto correct the advancing boring operation and would be less concerned with the actual strata being penetrated. Thus, the usual telemetry that is provided, either with a mud pulsing system or hard wired system would give priority to the boring information and store the more detailed information concerning the various strata.Other known downhole equipment only records formation data forsubsequent recovery and evaluation. It is then possible to recover any stored information when the downhole equipment is periodically returned to the surface for bit replacement.
Prior systems for recovery of the stored data have employed direct electrical connections, which re quireanapertureto beformed inthewall ofthe downholeequipmentsub. Having an aperture inthe wall ofthe sub creates the problem of weakening the structure creating the possibility offracturing the sub with the possible resulting loss of the down hole equipment requiring an expensive fishing recovery operation. Other prior art systems have required breaking open of the drill string, at the surface, to either recover recording means itself or gain access totherecording madewhiledownhole.
Measurement-while-drilling resistivity sensors are generallytransmitters and receivers of either the current (conduction) type or induction type. Current type sensors include electrodes which are mounted on the surface of the sub for injecting and receiving cur rentdirectly into andfrom the drilling mud andformation immediately adjacent to the sub. Induction type sensors include antenna coils on the surface ofthe sub for inducing and detecting currents into and from the surrounding drilling fluid and formation.
An object ofthe present invention is to make it possibleto provide a method and apparatusforcommunicating with a measurement-while-drilling sub when the down hole equipment is at the surface and without the need of special connections through a bore or port in the sub. The present invention aims to eliminate this additional port providing a safer, more reliable and easily operated system.
The present invention employs either electrodes or antenna coils to provide an electrical connection between data accumulation and storage circuits within the instrument sub and a data storage and pro cessing device at the surface. The present invention connectsorcouplesa surface deployed transmitter and receiver with the measurement-while-drilling re sistivity sensor receiver and transmitter, respectively, preferably while the instrument sub is at the surface, for example during changing of the drilling bit.The surface deployed transmitter and re ceivercoupled to the sub circuits have the capability of sending operating commands to the measurement-while-drilling sub and receiving from the sub data collected while the sub was downhole. The cir- cuits within the measurement-while-drilling tool must permit data stored within the sub to be transmitted through the electrode/antenna by temporarily disconnecting or blocking the electrode/antenna from its normal operating circuitry (or limiting such operation) to allowtransmittal ofthe stored data. For example, the surface equipment may activate a switching mechanism to temporarily perm it the re sistivitydevicetofunction as a data transmitting system instead of a resistivity measuring (data accumulation) system.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: The single Figure shows a schematic section through atypical instru ment su b of a downhole assembly atthe surface and coupled to communication equipment in accordance with the present inven- tion.
The single Figure schematically illustrates the present invention as it would be used in conjunction with a known down hole measurement-while-drilling instrumentation package. The equipment sub 10 is formed of high strength steel and has an axial bore 12 and an annular cavity 14 in which are placed a transmitter 16, a receiver 18, an electrode/antenna array 20 and a data storage 22. It should be here noted that the present invention will applyto any type of downhole equipment having a transmitter and a receiver operating at any frequency with the primary purpose of gathering borehole information. If the equipment is an electrical sensor, then it can be of a conductive or inductive type, and if it is, then, the conductive type requires electrodes and the inductive type requires antenna.The electrode/antenna array 20 is accordingly mounted at or on the sub's surface with eithera single arrayfortransmitting and receiving or with separate sections for transmitting and receiving. It would be noted that the present invention would also applyto acoustical equipment in the sonic range or any other type of measurement equip- ment operating in any frequency range with appropriate transmitting and receiving means mounted on the sub.
The operation ofthe measurement-while-drilling equipment is quite conventional with the information being gathered while the equipment is operating down hole and, in appropriate cases, only that data which is necessary to the boring operation being transmittedtothe surface. The remaining information, such as strata configurations, would be placed into the storage for readout at a subsequenttime.
The down hole equipment could also be a system which would only record while downhole, with all data being recovered when the instrument sub is at the surface.
Asurface communicatorshown generally at 24 includes a transmitter 26, a receiver 28, and surface circuits 30 for data acquisistion and system control. The surfacecommunicator24 must be compatiblewith the down hole equipment so that if the downhole equipment is of the inductivetype, the surface equipment would likewise be of the inductive type. The transmitter 26 and receiver 28 ofthe communicator 24, forthe inductive example, would be placed within transmitting range of the equipment sub 10 when the sub is at the surface,for example when the down hole equipment had been returned to the surface for bit replacement. In a conduction orcurrenttypesystem, there would have to be electrical contact between the electrodes as shown in the drawing.While the equipment sub is at the surface, and without being detached from the drill string orwithoutthe sub 10 being especially penetrated, the surface com munica- tor 24 is brought to a position where the electrode/ antenna of the transmitter 26 and receiver 28 can contact or be coupled to the receiver and transmitter electrode/antenna array 20 ofthe equipment sub 10.
The surface equipment would then instructthe downholeequipmentbythetransmitter26sending instructions through array 20 and the receiver 18for the data storage 22 to read out and transmit the stored information through the transmitter 16 and the array 20, the information being received by receiver 28 and sentto the circuits 30 where the data will be stored and/or processed accordingly. Once the data transmission has been completed, it is possible to either reprogram or instruct the downhole equipment by transmitting the appropriate information from the surface circuits 30 through thetransmitter 26 to the array 20, the receiver 18 and into the data storage 22.The type of information that could bestored would include instructions forthe data measuring/acquisition system of the sub 10 regarding anticipated drilling speed and direction or perhaps an expected profile ofthe geology ofthe area being bored so asto enable a comparison between the actual and the predicted geology. Also, selections from a menu of measurements that can be made could be loaded into data storage 22.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention would include a sonde mounted within the bore of a sub by appropriate means, such as spider web brackets. The sonde would include data storage and resistivity sensor electronics with the bore mounted sensor electronics connected to sub mounted sensor antenna means. The operation would be the same as described above with compatible surface equipment being coupled to the sensor antenna meansto transmit instructions and receive data collected from down hole.
The present invention could also be used in recovering data in any instance where data is collected and stored in a sealed container, and it is desirous to maintain the sealed condition ofthe container. For example, recovering flow rate data from a pipeline by the present invention would avoid downtime and possible environmentally damaging spills. Other exampleswould include recovering data concerning activity within a nuclear cell ortemperature/pressure conditions within a container housing hazardous materials.
The above-described apparatus normally operate in the radio frequency range. The present invention could also be used with sonic equipment bysubstitution of appropriate sensors.
The foregoing disclosure and description ofthe invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the method steps as well as in the details ofthe illustrated apparatus may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (22)

1. Amethodforcommunicating between surface equipment and a downhole measurement-whiledrilling assembly having a transmitter and a receiver, both connected to information storage, and electrode/antenna array means, while said assembly is at the surface, comprising the steps of: placing within contact/transmitting range of said electrode/antenna array means compatible electrode/antenna array means of said surface equipment; and communicating directly from data acquisition means ofthe surface equipment to the downhole equipment to transmit information to and receive data from said information storage.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein information transmitted from said surface equipment includes instructionsfortheassemblyinformation storage to transmit data contained in said information storage.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein information transmitted from said surface equipment includes instructions to be stored in said assembly information storage pertaining to further workofthe assembly in a downhole environment.
4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said electrode/antenna array means are conductive.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said electrode/antenna array means are inductive.
6. An apparatus for communicating with a downhole measurement-while-drilling assembly, while said assembly is located at the surface, said assembly including a transmitter and a receiver both connected to data storage means and to an electrode/antenna array means, said apparatus comprising: a transmitter and a receiver having a compatible electrode/antenna array positionable within transmitting range ofthe electrode/sensor array means of said assembly, and data acquisition and system control means connected to said transmitter and receiver whereby in structions can be sent by said surfacetransmitterto said assembly receiver instructing transmission of information from said data storage means through said assemblytransmitterto the surface receiverfor analysis by said data acquisition and system control means and instructions for the downhole equipment can likewise be transmitted to be stored in said data storage means.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said instructions include data regarding down hole operations when said assembly is returned to a downhole environment.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said data includes drilling instructions.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said data includes expected geological profile information.
10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9wherein said assembly comprises a sonde having a transmitter, a receiver and data storage means contained therein.
11. A method for communicating with measurement equipmentforming a portion of closed assemblywithout opening said assembly, said equipment including a transmitter, a receiver, information storage and electrode/antenna array means mounted atoron the surface of said assemblycom- prising the steps of: placing within transmitting range of said electrode/antenna array means of said equipmentcompatible readout electrode/antenna array means of data acquisition means; and communicating directly between said data acquisition means and said equipmenttotransmitand receive data to and from said information storage.
12. A method according to claim 11 wherein information transmitted from said data acquisition means include instructionsforthe information storage to transmit data contained in said storage.
13. A method according to claim 11 orclaim 12 wherein information transmitted from said data acquisition means includes instructions to be stored in said equipment information storage pertaining to the further data to be gathered.
14. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein said electrode/antenna array means are conductive.
15. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 13wherein said electrode/antenna array means are inductive.
16. An apparatusforcommunicating with measurement equipment in a closed assembly without opening the assembly, said equipment including a transmitter, a receiver, data storage means, and an antenna/electrode array means, said apparatus comprising: transmitter means and receiver means positionable to within transmitting range of the antenna/ electrode array means of said equipment; and data acquisition and system control means connected to said transmitter means and said receiver means whereby instructions can be sent by said transmitter means to said equipment receiver instructing transmission of information from said data storage means through said equipment transmitter to the receiver means for analysis by said data acquisition and system control means and instructions for the equipment can likewise be transmitted by said transmitter for storage in said data storage means.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said instructions include data regarding future operations.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said data includes operating parameters.
19. An apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said transmitter means and receiver means operate in a sonicfrequency range.
20. An apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said transmitter means and receiver means operate in a radio frequency range.
21. A method for communicating between surface equipment and a measurement-while-drilling assembly, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
22. Apparatus for communicating between surface equipment and a measurement-while-drilling assembly, substantial iy as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB8618194A 1985-09-09 1986-07-25 Method and apparatus for communicating with measurment equipment Expired - Lifetime GB2180124B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US77414485A 1985-09-09 1985-09-09

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8618194D0 GB8618194D0 (en) 1986-09-03
GB2180124A true GB2180124A (en) 1987-03-18
GB2180124B GB2180124B (en) 1990-04-18

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GB8618194A Expired - Lifetime GB2180124B (en) 1985-09-09 1986-07-25 Method and apparatus for communicating with measurment equipment

Country Status (5)

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CA (1) CA1242244A (en)
DE (1) DE3630674A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2587059A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2180124B (en)
NL (1) NL8602271A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2222844A (en) * 1988-09-20 1990-03-21 Teleco Oilfield Services Inc Method and apparatus for remote signal entry into measurement while drilling system
GB2247904A (en) * 1990-09-13 1992-03-18 Axl Systems Ltd Identifying metal articles
GB2371580A (en) * 1999-12-21 2002-07-31 Halliburton Energy Serv Inc Data dump probe for a borehole logging tool
GB2411917A (en) * 2004-03-09 2005-09-14 Ryan Energy Tech Retrieval of stored data via a MWD tool antenna
GB2425792A (en) * 2005-05-06 2006-11-08 Schlumberger Holdings Downhole tool with removable memory
WO2019119083A1 (en) * 2017-12-18 2019-06-27 Insfor - Innovative Solutions For Robotics Ltda.- Me Operational system for launching, managing and controlling a robot autonomous unit (rau) for operations in oil and gas wells and method of well logging

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10044594A1 (en) * 2000-09-08 2002-04-04 Zueblin Ag Method for energizing and retrieving data from deep bore holes uses radio transmission through the wall of the boring column

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3713334A (en) * 1971-01-25 1973-01-30 R Vann Downhole recorder device for logging boreholes
EP0056872A1 (en) * 1981-01-22 1982-08-04 Kisojiban Consultants Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for surveying ground
GB2154395A (en) * 1984-01-31 1985-09-04 Sony Corp Cordless telephone
GB2159372A (en) * 1984-04-20 1985-11-27 Sony Corp Cordless telephone
EP0185138A2 (en) * 1984-11-16 1986-06-25 Robert Bosch Gmbh Radio network for the transmission of information between one pair of a plurality of paired radio stations

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3713334A (en) * 1971-01-25 1973-01-30 R Vann Downhole recorder device for logging boreholes
EP0056872A1 (en) * 1981-01-22 1982-08-04 Kisojiban Consultants Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for surveying ground
GB2154395A (en) * 1984-01-31 1985-09-04 Sony Corp Cordless telephone
GB2159372A (en) * 1984-04-20 1985-11-27 Sony Corp Cordless telephone
EP0185138A2 (en) * 1984-11-16 1986-06-25 Robert Bosch Gmbh Radio network for the transmission of information between one pair of a plurality of paired radio stations

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
WO 85/02738 *

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2222844A (en) * 1988-09-20 1990-03-21 Teleco Oilfield Services Inc Method and apparatus for remote signal entry into measurement while drilling system
GB2222844B (en) * 1988-09-20 1992-08-12 Teleco Oilfield Services Inc Method and apparatus for remote signal entry into measurement while drilling system
GB2247904A (en) * 1990-09-13 1992-03-18 Axl Systems Ltd Identifying metal articles
AU772354B2 (en) * 1999-12-21 2004-04-22 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Logging device data dump probe
GB2371580B (en) * 1999-12-21 2002-12-04 Halliburton Energy Serv Inc Logging device data dump probe
GB2358206B (en) * 1999-12-21 2003-03-12 Halliburton Energy Serv Inc Logging device data dump probe
GB2380510A (en) * 1999-12-21 2003-04-09 Halliburton Energy Serv Inc Wireless data transfer from a downhole logging tool
GB2380510B (en) * 1999-12-21 2003-05-28 Halliburton Energy Serv Inc Logging device data dump probe
GB2371580A (en) * 1999-12-21 2002-07-31 Halliburton Energy Serv Inc Data dump probe for a borehole logging tool
US6831571B2 (en) 1999-12-21 2004-12-14 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Logging device data dump probe
GB2411917A (en) * 2004-03-09 2005-09-14 Ryan Energy Tech Retrieval of stored data via a MWD tool antenna
GB2411917B (en) * 2004-03-09 2008-03-12 Ryan Energy Tech High speed data communication protocol for use with EM data telemetry antennae
GB2425792A (en) * 2005-05-06 2006-11-08 Schlumberger Holdings Downhole tool with removable memory
WO2019119083A1 (en) * 2017-12-18 2019-06-27 Insfor - Innovative Solutions For Robotics Ltda.- Me Operational system for launching, managing and controlling a robot autonomous unit (rau) for operations in oil and gas wells and method of well logging
GB2583217A (en) * 2017-12-18 2020-10-21 Insfor Innovative Solutions For Robotics Ltda Operational system for launching, managing and controlling a robot autonomous unit (RAU) for operations in oil and gas wells and method of well logging
GB2583217B (en) * 2017-12-18 2022-01-26 Insfor Innovative Solutions For Robotics Ltda Operational system for launching, managing and controlling a robot autonomous unit (RAU) for operations in oil and gas wells and method of well logging

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL8602271A (en) 1987-04-01
CA1242244A (en) 1988-09-20
GB8618194D0 (en) 1986-09-03
GB2180124B (en) 1990-04-18
DE3630674A1 (en) 1987-03-12
FR2587059A1 (en) 1987-03-13

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732 Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19950725