Generating fluid telemetry

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9416592-B2
Application number	US-201313969723-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2013
Priority date	Jul 23, 2009
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

A downhole tool includes a tool body, stator, and rotor. The tool body is aligned along a tool centerline and includes an aperture therethrough operable to pass a fluid to an exterior of the body. The stator is fixed relative to the tool body and includes a fluid flow restriction operable to pass at least a portion of the fluid from an interior of the stator to the exterior of the body at an adjustable flow rate. The rotor is disposed within the tool body and rotatable relative to the stator and includes an exhaust port selectively aligned with at least one aperture through the tool body by rotation of the rotor relative to the stator. The exhaust port is operable to pass at least a portion of the fluid from an interior of the rotor to the exterior of the body when aligned with the aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A downhole tool comprising:
a tool body aligned longitudinally along a centerline of the tool, the tool body comprising at least one aperture there through that is operable to pass a fluid to an exterior of the body;
a stator fixed relative to the tool body and comprising a first fluid flow restriction that is operable to pass at least a portion of the fluid from an interior of the stator to the exterior of the body at an adjustable flow rate, the stator comprising an outer radial surface; and
a rotor disposed within the tool body and rotatable relative to the stator such that a fluid interface is defined between the rotor and stator, the rotor comprising an inner radial surface and at least one exhaust port selectively aligned with at least one aperture through the tool body by rotation of the rotor relative to the stator, the exhaust port operable to pass at least a portion of the fluid from an interior of the rotor to the aperture and to the exterior of the body when aligned with the aperture, the fluid interface defined between the inner radial surface of the rotor and the outer radial surface of the stator and comprising a fluid bypass between the rotor and the stator that comprises a second fluid flow restriction;
wherein the inner radial surface of the rotor and the outer radial surface of the stator are adjacent and parallel along the centerline of the tool.

2. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid flow restriction comprises at least one valve disposed at an outlet of the stator, the valve receiving the fluid passing through the stator.

3. The downhole tool of claim 2 , wherein the valve comprises one of a knife valve, a needle valve, or a gate valve.

4. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the stator is disposed in the interior of the rotor.

5. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the fluid interface comprises at least one of:
a turbine configured to receive the fluid therethrough and rotate the rotor relative to the stator; or
a lobed interface configured to receive the fluid therethrough and rotate the rotor relative to the stator.

6. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the fluid interface is configured to receive the fluid therethrough to rotate the rotor relative to the stator at an adjustable angular speed.

7. The downhole tool of claim 6 , further comprising a controller, the controller operable to adjust the angular speed by throttling the first fluid flow restriction to vary a flow rate of fluid.

8. The downhole tool of claim 1 , further comprising a clutch configured to adjust an angular speed of the rotor relative to the stator based on a received signal indicative of a measured drilling value.

9. The downhole tool of claim 8 , wherein the clutch is configured to adjust the rotor between a first angular speed and a second angular speed, the first angular speed substantially equal to zero revolutions per minute, the second angular speed greater than the first angular speed.

10. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool receives the fluid from a terranean surface, the fluid passing to the exterior of the tool body from at least one of the first fluid flow restriction, the second fluid flow restriction, or the aperture, and returned to the terranean surface in an annulus between the downhole tool and a wellbore.

11. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein at least one of selective alignment of the exhaust port with the aperture and adjustment of the flow rate generates varying amplitudes of a pressure of the fluid.

12. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the second fluid flow restriction comprises one or more outlets in a downhole portion of the stator.

13. The downhole tool of claim 12 , further comprising an adjustable valve disposed in at least one of the one or more outlets.

14. A method for generating mud pulse telemetry comprising:
receiving a fluid from a terranean surface at a downhole tool comprising a tool body aligned longitudinally along a centerline of the tool;
directing a portion of the fluid through an interior of the tool body and through a fluid interface between an inner radial surface of a rotor and an outer radial surface of a stator disposed within the tool body, the fluid interface comprising a first fluid flow restriction, and wherein the inner radial surface of the rotor and the outer radial surface of the stator are adjacent and parallel along the centerline of the tool;
adjusting a rotation of the rotor to align at least one exhaust port through the rotor with a corresponding aperture through the tool body to direct at least a portion of the fluid from the interior of the tool body to an exterior of the tool body;
directing a portion of the fluid through the stator to an outlet of the stator, the outlet comprising a second fluid flow restriction; and
adjusting the second fluid flow restriction to vary passage of at least a portion of the fluid from the interior of the tool body to the exterior of the tool body from the outlet.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising passing at least a portion of the fluid between the rotor and stator to generate rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising adjusting an amplitude of pressure of the fluid received from the terranean surface based at least in part on adjusting rotation of the rotor to align at least one exhaust port through the rotor with a corresponding aperture through the tool body.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising adjusting an amplitude of pressure of the fluid received from the terranean surface based at least in part on adjusting the second fluid flow restriction to allow at least a portion of the fluid to pass to the exterior of the tool body from the outlet.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising adjusting an amplitude of pressure of the fluid received from the terranean surface based at least in part on adjusting the first fluid flow restriction to allow at least a portion of the fluid to pass to the exterior of the tool body from the fluid interface.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising adjusting a frequency of pressure of the fluid received from the terranean surface based at least in part on one or more of:
adjusting rotation of the rotor to align at least one exhaust port through the rotor with a corresponding aperture through the tool body to direct at least a portion of the fluid to an exterior of the tool body from the interior of the tool body;
adjusting the second fluid flow restriction to allow at least a portion of the fluid to pass to the exterior of the tool body from the outlet comprises; or
adjusting the first fluid flow restriction to allow at least a portion of the fluid to pass to the exterior of the tool body from the fluid interface.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving at least one signal indicative of a measured drilling value; and
adjusting, based on the at least one signal, at least one of rotation of the rotor, the first fluid flow restriction, or the second fluid flow restriction.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein adjusting, based on the at least one signal, at least one of rotation of the rotor, the first fluid flow restriction, or the second fluid flow restriction comprises adjusting a pressure of the fluid received from the terranean surface, the method further comprising:
measuring, adjacent the terranean surface, the adjusted pressure of the fluid; and
determining t

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Sitka Mark A

Classifications

• E21B47/24

  by positive mud pulses using a flow restricting valve within the drill pipe · CPC title

• E21B4/02 Primary

  Fluid rotary type drives · CPC title

• E21B47/18

  through the well fluid {, e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry} · 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

• E21B47/182

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic