Optimizing downhole data communication with at bit sensors and nodes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for transmitting data along a drill string, the method comprising:
- transmitting a first signal from a first node based on a first transmission setting while the first node is located at a first depth;
measuring an aspect of the first signal at a second node;
determining a second transmission setting based on the measurement of the measured aspect of the first signal;
advancing the drill string so that the second node is proximate to the first depth; and
transmitting a second signal at the second transmission setting from the second node while the second node is located proximate to the first depth.
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Abstract
Data is communicated from sensors at a downhole location near a drill bit to surface equipment. Communication to the surface equipment may be direct or may pass through a series of nodes. The nodes in some cases are intelligently reconfigured to achieve desired data rates, achieve power management goals, and/or compensate for failed nodes.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting data along a drill string, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first signal from a first node based on a first transmission setting while the first node is located at a first depth; measuring an aspect of the first signal at a second node; determining a second transmission setting based on the measurement of the measured aspect of the first signal; advancing the drill string so that the second node is proximate to the first depth; and transmitting a second signal at the second transmission setting from the second node while the second node is located proximate to the first depth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for transmitting data along a drill string, the system comprising:
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a first node operable to transmit signals positioned along the drill string, the first node in communication with one or more sensors, the first node configured to transmit a first signal based on a first transmission setting; a second node operable to transmit signals positioned along the drill string and spaced apart from the first node, the second node in communication with the first node, the second node configured to measure an aspect of the first signal transmitted by the first node while the first node is located at a first depth; and a controller configured to determine a second transmission setting based on the aspect of the first signal measured by the second node; wherein the second node is configured to transmit a second signal at the second transmission setting while the second node is located proximate to the first depth. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for transmitting data along a drill string, the system comprising:
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a first plurality of nodes operable to transmit signals positioned along the drill string, each one of the first plurality of nodes in communication with one or more sensors and configured to transmit a signal based on a transmission setting for the node; a second plurality of nodes operable to transmit signals positioned along the drill string, wherein each one of the second plurality of nodes is in communication with a corresponding one of the first plurality of nodes and is configured to measure an aspect of the signal transmitted by the corresponding one of the first plurality of nodes; and a controller configured to determine a transmission setting for each one of the second plurality of nodes based on the aspect of the signal measured by the node; wherein for each one of the second plurality of nodes, the node is configured to transmit a signal at the transmission setting for the node while the node is located proximate to a depth of the corresponding one of the first plurality of nodes when an aspect of the signal transmitted therefrom was measured. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification