In-slips acoustic reception

Abstract

Systems and methods that enable acoustic communications through a drill pipe even when the drill pipe is being held in floor slips. In one embodiment, multiple self-contained acoustic receivers are positioned at different locations on a drilling rig to receive acoustic telemetry signals from a downhole tool through various acoustic channels. The acoustic receivers may have components (e.g., vibration sensor, microprocessor, wireless transmitter, magnet) encased in a translucent encapsulant, which avoids exposed components that could otherwise create a spark in the hazardous drilling rig environment. Acoustic telemetry signals are communicated through the drill pipe and rig structure to the different acoustic receivers and the acoustic receivers communicate data corresponding to the received acoustic signals to a central processor that can process the signals to generate acoustic telemetry data that has a greater signal-to-noise ratio than the signals received by the individual acoustic receivers.