Power saving telemetry systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10718207-B2
Application number	US-201816185157-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2018
Priority date	Nov 9, 2018
Publication date	Jul 21, 2020
Grant date	Jul 21, 2020

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are described herein for transmission of measurement while drilling (MWD) data from a MWD tool to a receiver. Such apparatuses, methods, and systems may modify MWD data to allow for transmission of the modified MWD data in a manner that conserves electrical power of the MWD tool. For example, the MWD data can be modified to allow for effectively slower transmission of the data while adhering to existing transmission settings. Such a technique allows for MWD data to be conveyed in an electrically efficient manner, reducing maintenance and recharging requirements of the MWD tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a measurement while drilling (MWD) sensor; and
an MWD communicator communicatively coupled to the MWD sensor, synchronized to a rig communicator to provide data to the rig communicator according to transmission settings, and configured to:
receive MWD data from the MWD sensor, wherein the MWD data comprises a plurality of data bits;
determine that a transmission time for providing the MWD data from the MWD communicator to the rig communicator, according to the transmission settings, is less than an allowable timeframe;
modify the MWD data by inserting time between symbols (TBS) between the plurality of data bits such that the transmission time, according to the transmission settings, for providing the MWD data is increased, wherein the TBS causes a delay of at least 5 seconds between the plurality of data bits; and
transmit the MWD data from the MWD communicator to the rig communicator according to the modifications increasing the transmission time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the TBS comprises one or more spaces and/or blanks.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the increased transmission time is less than the allowable timeframe.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the TBS is shorter than a de-synchronization timeframe between the MWD communicator and the rig communicator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the MWD sensor and the MWD communicator are disposed on a downhole drilling tool.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising the rig communicator.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the rig communicator is disposed on a surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission settings are changeable via a settings update received from the rig communicator, and wherein the MWD communicator is configured to modify the MWD data to increase the transmission time in response to not receiving the settings update for a threshold time period.

9. A method comprising:
receiving measurement while drilling (MWD) data from a MWD sensor with a MWD communicator, wherein the MWD data comprises a plurality of data bits;
determining that the MWD data will be provided from the MWD communicator to a rig communicator synchronized with the MWD communicator in a first time amount;
determining that the first time amount is less than an allowable time amount;
modifying the MWD data by inserting time between symbols (TBS) between the plurality of data bits such that the MWD data will be provided from the MWD communicator to the rig communicator in a second time amount greater than the first time amount, wherein the TBS causes a delay of at least 5 seconds; and
transmitting the MWD data from the MWD communicator to the rig communicator in the second time amount according to the modifications.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the TBS comprises one or more spaces, blanks, or both.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second time amount is less than the allowable time amount.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second time amount is substantially equal to the allowable time amount.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the TBS is configured to avoid de-synchronization between the MWD communicator and the rig communicator.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the MWD communicator is disposed on a downhole drilling tool.

15. A system comprising:
a drilling rig comprising a rig communicator;
a drilling tool coupled to the drilling rig and comprising at least one measurement while drilling (MWD) sensor; and
a MWD communicator communicatively coupled to the MWD sensor, synchronized to the rig communicator to provide data to the rig communicator according to transmission settings, and configured to:
receive MWD data from the MWD sensor, wherein the MWD data comprises a plurality of data bits;
determine that a first transmission time for providing the MWD data from the MWD communicator to the rig communicator, according to the transmission settings, is less than an allowable timeframe;
modify the MWD data by inserting time between symbols (TBS) between the plurality of data bits such that, according to the transmission settings, providing the MWD data is within a second transmission time greater than the first transmission time, wherein the TBS causes a delay of at least 5 seconds between the plurality of data bits; and
transmit the modified MWD data from the MWD communicator to the rig communicator.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the rig communicator and the MWD communicator are configured to include matching transmission settings for the MWD communicator to provide data to the rig communicator.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the transmission settings are changeable via a settings update communicated from the rig communicator to the MWD communicator.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the MWD communicator is configured to modify the MWD data in response to not receiving the settings update for a threshold time period.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the TBS comprises one or more spaces, blanks, or both.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second transmission time is less than the allowable timeframe.

Assignees

• Nabors Drilling Tech Usa Inc

Inventors

• Gajic Bosko
• Batke Keith

Classifications

• E21B47/13 Primary

  by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency · CPC title