METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMMUNICATING DATA THROUGH A PIPE

• US 20100008189A1
• Filed: 08/10/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Incorporated
• Inventors: Tingley, Robert D.
• Application Number:
  US12/538,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20100008189A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/82
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/16 through the drill string or casing , e.g. by torsional acoustic waves

Abstract

An acoustic telemetry system includes a piezoelectric stack at least partially disposed within a segment of pipe, and electrical circuitry for controlling the piezoelectric stack. In response to a signal from the electrical circuitry, the piezoelectric stack generates a plurality of acoustic signals for transmission through the pipe at different frequencies spanning multiple regions of a frequency response for the pipe.

Claims

1. :

A method for communicating data through a drill string in a drilling system, the drilling system (i) including a downhole unit and a surface unit, and (ii) extending from the downhole unit to the surface unit, the method comprising;

receiving an electrical signal comprising data indicative of at least one system parameter;

deriving a plurality of acoustic signals based on the electrical signal, each acoustic signal representing at least a portion of the data; and

transmitting the plurality of acoustic signals through the drill string at different frequencies spanning multiple regions of a frequency response for the drill string.

2. :

The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of acoustic signals are transmitted from the downhole unit towards the surface unit.

3. :

The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving, at the surface unit, at least a portion of the plurality of acoustic signals.

4. :

The method of claim 3, further comprising decoding the data from the received acoustic signals.

5. :

The method of claim 4 wherein decoding the data comprises selecting a subset of the received acoustic signals, each acoustic signal in the subset having an amplitude greater than a pre-determined value.

6. :

The method of claim 4, further comprising;

identifying a discrepancy in the decoded data; and

resolving the discrepancy with at least one of a majority rule decoding technique and a maximal ratio combining decoding technique.

7. :

The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring, at a segment of the drill string proximate to an origin for the transmission, at least one parameter of the plurality of transmitted acoustic signals.

8. :

The method of claim 7, further comprising;

comparing the measured parameter with an anticipated value therefor; and

adjusting at least one of the plurality of acoustic signals.

9. :

The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing a noise signal in the drill string at least one noise frequency, each acoustic signal of the plurality of acoustic signals being transmitted at a frequency different from the at least one noise frequency.

10. :

A method for noise cancellation during data communication through a pipe, the method comprising;

receiving an electrical signal;

deriving an acoustic signal based on the electrical signal;

sensing a noise signal in the pipe;

generating a corrective signal to counteract the noise signal; and

transmitting the acoustic signal and the corrective signal through the pipe.

11. :

The method of claim 10 wherein the acoustic signal and the corrective signal are each imparted to the pipe through a common transducer.

12. :

The method of claim 10 wherein the acoustic signal and the corrective signal are each imparted to the pipe through different transducers.

13-33. -33. (canceled)

34. :

A method for communicating data through a pipe, the method comprising;

receiving an electrical signal comprising data indicative of at least one parameter;

deriving a plurality of acoustic signals based on the electrical signal, each acoustic signal representing at least a portion of the data; and

transmitting the plurality of acoustic signals through the pipe at different frequencies spanning multiple regions of a frequency response for the pipe.

35. :

The method of claim 34, further comprising receiving at least a portion of the plurality of acoustic signals.

36. :

The method of claim 35, further comprising decoding the data from the received acoustic signals.

37. :

The method of claim 34, further comprising measuring, at a segment of the pipe proximate to an origin for the transmission, at least one parameter of the plurality of transmitted acoustic signals.

38. :

The method of claim 37, further comprising;

comparing the measured parameter with an anticipated value therefor; and

adjusting at least one of the plurality of acoustic signals.

39. :

The method of claim 34, further comprising sensing a noise signal in the pipe at least one noise frequency, each acoustic signal of the plurality of acoustic signals transmitted at a frequency different from the at least one noise frequency.