Data Transmission In Drilling Operation Environments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018010448-A1
Application number	US-201715708457-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 19, 2017
Priority date	Dec 14, 2010
Publication date	Jan 11, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to transmit a data signal along a transmission line extending lengthwise along a drill string, the transmission line comprising an outer conductive path provided by a tubular wall of a drill pipe that extends along the drill string; and an internal conductive path extending along an interior passage that is bounded by a radially inner cylindrical surface of the drill pipe and along which drilling fluid is conveyed, the inner conductive path being substantially insulated from the outer conductive path. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are described.

First claim

1 - 33 . (canceled)

34 . A system comprising:
a drill string that extends along at least part of a wellbore, the drill string comprising drill pipe sections that are connected together end-to-end in series, with each drill pipe section having a tubular wall that is of electrically conductive material and that defines an interior passage extending along the drill string to convey drilling fluid, the drill string providing a signal transmission line that comprises: an outer conductive path formed by the tubular walls of the drill pipe sections, and an internal conductive path extending along the interior passage, the internal conductive path being substantially electrically insulated from the outer conductive path, with each one of the drill pipe sections comprising a conductor segment, wherein at least part of the internal conductive path comprises the conductor segment, the conductor segment comprising:
a first electrode proximate one end of the one of the drill pipe sections,
a second electrode proximate an opposite end of the one of the drill pipe sections, and
a conductive strip electrically connecting the first and second electrodes, with a width of the conductive strip being larger than a width of either the first electrode or the second electrode, wherein the width is measured along a longitudinal direction of the drill string, and a length of the conductive strip being smaller than a length of either the first electrode or the second electrode, wherein the length is measured around a circumference of the drill string; and
a transmitter coupled to the transmission line to transmit a data signal along the transmission line.

35 . The system of claim 34 , wherein at least part of the internal conductive path comprises the drilling fluid in the interior passage.

36 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the drill string includes a dielectric insulator located radially between the interior passage and the tubular wall of each of the drill pipe sections to provide electrical insulation between the internal conductive path and the outer conductive path.

37 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the conductor segments are arranged end-to-end in series to provide a segmented structural conductor extending along multiple drill pipe sections, and wherein the segmented structural conductor has a plurality of gaps at respective drill pipe section joints, at least part of each conductor segment being exposed to drilling fluid in the interior passage at the respective gaps, to propagate electrical current between adjacent ones of the conductor segments through the drilling fluid.

38 . The system of claim 37 , wherein at least some drill pipe sections each include a protection layer that covers part of the respective conductor segment to protect the covered part of the respective conductor segment from exposure to drilling fluid in the interior passage, the first and second electrodes being exposed to the drilling fluid to facilitate propagation of current through the respective one of the gaps between adjacent ones of the first and second electrodes through the drilling fluid.

39 . The system of claim 37 , wherein the drilling fluid is a non-conductive fluid with a conductive material added to the non-conductive fluid to enable passage of electrical current through the drilling fluid.

40 . The system of claim 39 , wherein the conductive material is selected from a group consisting of metallic powder, carbon black, and short carbon fibers.

41 . The system of claim 39 , wherein the conductive material includes fibers with each fiber being greater than 0.125 inches long and greater than 8 microns in diameter.

42 . The system of claim 39 , wherein the conductive material includes fibers, and wherein the fibers are coated with material that improves electrical contact between the fibers.

43 . A method for transmitting data in a drilling installation that comprises a drill string extending along at least part of a wellbore, the drill string including drill pipe sections with each drill pipe section including a tubular wall, the method comprising:
transmitting a data signal along a transmission line extending lengthwise along the drill string, the transmission line comprising: an outer conductive path formed by the tubular walls of the drill pipe sections, and an internal conductive path extending along an interior passage of the drill string, the internal conductive path being substantially electrically insulated from the outer conductive path, with each one of the drill pipe sections comprising a conductor segment, wherein at least part of the internal conductive path comprises the conductor segments, with each one of the conductor segments comprising:
a first electrode proximate one end of the one of the drill pipe sections,
a second electrode proximate an opposite end of the one of the drill pipe sections, and
a conductive strip electrically connecting the first and second electrodes, with a width of the conductive strip being larger than a width of either the first electrode or the second electrode, wherein the width is measured along a longitudinal direction of the drill string, and a length of the conductive strip being smaller than a length of either the first electrode or the second electrode, wherein the length is measured around a circumference of the drill string.

44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the internal conductive path includes drilling fluid in the drill pipe, transmission of the data signal comprising propagating signal current through the drilling fluid as primary conductor of the internal conductive path.

45 . The method of claim 43 , wherein transmitting the data signal along the transmission line includes propagating signal current in the internal conductive path through a structural conductor that includes the conductor segments arranged end-to-end in series, the structural conductor extending lengthwise along the drill string.

46 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the transmitting the data signal along the transmission line includes propagating signal current along the structural conductor in the internal conductive path.

47 . The method of claim 43 , wherein transmitting the data signal along the transmission line includes propagating a signal current between adjacent ones of the first and second electrodes in the internal conductive path through a drilling fluid, to bridge electrical gaps that separate the adjacent ones of the first and second electrodes.

48 . The method of claim 47 , wherein propagating the signal current through the drilling fluid comprises exposing only the first and second electrodes to the drilling fluid, and portions of the conductor segments between the electrodes, which include the conductive strips, being covered from exposure to the drilling fluid.

49 . The method of claim 43 , wherein each one of the conductor segments comprise a coated layer of conductive material.

50 . The method of claim 43 , further comprising an operation of attaching tubular liners of dielectric material to respective drill pipe sections, the conductor segments being carried on a radially inner surface of respective ones of the tubular liners.

51 . Segmented drill pipe that, when coupled together as two or more drill pipe sections, provides an outer conductive path and an inner conductive path to form a hybrid signal propagation path for an electrical signal,
the outer conductive path comprising conductive material of a tubular wall of each one of the drill pipe sections, and the inner conductive path co

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Hay Richard Thomas

Classifications

• E21B17/003 Primary

  with electrically conducting or insulating means (E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B47/12

  Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling · CPC title

• E21B17/0285

  characterised by electrically insulating elements · CPC title

• E21B47/122 Primary

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E21B17/028

  Electrical or electro-magnetic connections · CPC title