The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
May. 29, 1998
Denis P Biglin, Jr, Bethlehem, PA (US);
William E Turner, Bethlehem, PA (US);
Walter A Helm, Farmington, CT (US);
APS Technology, Inc., Cromwell, CT (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for communicating with a device downhole in a well, such as a bottom hole assembly in a drill string. Pressure pulses, such as those generated by the pistons of the mud pump, are transmitted through the drilling mud to a pressure pulsation sensor in the bottom hole assembly. The pressure pulsation sensor features a piezoceramic element that generates a varying voltage signal in response to the received pressure pulsations. The pressure pulsation sensor also has electronic components that allow it to analyze a characteristic of the pressure pulsations, such as their frequency. Based on its analysis of the pressure pulsations, the sensor can decipher a command from the surface, for example, that directs the steering of a steerable drill string, or that can determine whether the mud pumps are operating. If the mud pumps are not operating the sensor directs a microprocessor to reduce power to the bottom hole assembly electrical components, such as a measurement while drilling tool, thereby conserving battery power. The method and apparatus can also be used to control the operation of flow control valves in a multilateral well.