Xact Downhole Telemetry, Inc.

Xact Dowhole Telemetry Inc.

Baker Hughes Canada Company

James M Neff

Paul L Camwell

Douglas S Drumheller

Derek W Logan

John Godfrey McRory

David D Whalen

John G Mcrory

Non-contacting means of measuring the material velocities of harmonic acoustic telemetry waves travelling along the wall of drillpipe, production tubing or coiled tubing are disclosed. Also disclosed are contacting means, enabling measurement of accelerations or material velocities associated with acoustic telemetry waves travelling along the wall of the tubing, utilizing as a detector either a wireless accelerometer system or an optical means, or both; these may also be applied to mud pulse telemetry, wherein the telemetry waves are carried via the drilling fluid, causing strain in the pipe wall that in turn causes wall deformation that can be directly or indirectly assessed by optical means. The present invention enables detection of telemetry wave detection in space-constrained situations. The invention also teaches a substantially contactless method of determining the time-based changes of the propagating telemetry waves. A final benefit of the present invention is that it demonstrates a particularly simple contacting means of directly measuring wall movements in live coiled tubing drilling environments.

Telemetry wave detection apparatus and method

A system and method of closed loop control whereby groupings of surface sonic transmitters disposed along the planned path of a well send sonic wave energy to a downhole sonic receiver (or alternatively a downhole sonic transmitter signalling to grouping of surface sonic receivers) in a manner that facilitates the downhole positioning of the well. Subsequent offset well positioning, relative to the first well, may be achieved in a similar manner.

System and method for accurate wellbore placement

A method is provided which transmits information using a plurality of data transmission nodes situated along a drill string. In this method, a first node obtains a transmission status of a second node. When the transmission status of the second node indicates that the second node meets a selected performance threshold, information is sent from the first node to the second node. When the transmission status of the second node indicates that the second node does not meet its performance threshold, then the first node obtains a transmission status of a third node. When the transmission status of the third node indicates that the third node meets a selected performance threshold, information is transmitted from the first node to the third node for relaying along the drill string.

Drill string telemetry methods and apparatus

A method for enhancing downhole telemetry performance comprising enhancing a signal in order to offset signal-to-noise ratio reduction with increasing measured depth, wherein the signal is modified at specified measured depths which are inferred from acoustic wave velocity determination.

Telemetry transmitter optimization using time domain reflectometry

A method whereby a downhole drilling transmission device that communicates to the surface automatically modifies its transmission parameters in order that it substantially improves its ability to adequately communicate with a surface receiver despite increasing signal attenuation between the two as the length of drillpipe increases. This utilizes a simple measure of localized downhole pressure that then relies upon a look-up table or similar that provides a correspondence between said pressure and measured depth. Such a look-up table or similar can be readily built by incorporating appropriate features of the planned well such as drilling fluid flow rate, drilling fluid density, drilling fluid viscosity, well profile, bottom hole assembly component geometry, drillpipe geometry, and indications as to whether the fluid is flowing or stationary. Upon determining the measured depth the tool then can attempt to modify or augment appropriate telemetry parameters in order to keep the signal received at surface within required parameters, thus offsetting the degradation due to increasing attenuation.

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Okotoks, Canada

James M Neff