SPLIT-COIL, REDUNDANT ANNULAR COUPLER FOR WIRED DOWNHOLE TELEMETRY

• US 20100175890A1
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntelliServ, LLC (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IntelliServ, LLC (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bray, Jeff, Bartholomew, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/378
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/0285 characterised by electrically insulating elements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/042 Threaded
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B

Abstract

An annular coupler for transmitting data across a tool joint may include a first coupler segment spanning a first portion of the circumference of the annular coupler. The annular coupler may further include a second coupler segment, electrically insulated from the first coupler segment, which spans a second portion of the circumference of the annular coupler. In selected aspects, the first and second portions do not overlap one another along the circumference. In certain aspects, the first and second coupler segments each span about fifty percent of the circumference of the annular coupler. Thus, each coupler segment may make up roughly half of the annular coupler.

Claims

1. An annular coupler for transmitting data across a tool joint, the annular coupler being characterized by a circumference, the annular coupler comprising:

a first coupler segment spanning a first portion of the circumference of the annular coupler; and

a second coupler segment, electrically insulated from the first coupler segment, spanning a second portion of the circumference of the annular coupler.

2. The annular coupler of claim 1, wherein the first portion does not overlap the second portion.

3. The annular coupler of claim 2, wherein the first portion comprises about fifty percent of the circumference of the annular coupler and the second portion comprises about the other fifty percent of the circumference of the annular coupler.

4. The annular coupler of claim 1, wherein the first coupler segment is connected to a first transmission line and the second coupler segment is connected to a second transmission line.

5. The annular coupler of claim 1, wherein the first and second coupler segments are configured to transmit data in the form of magnetic signals.

6. The annular coupler of claim 1, wherein the first and second coupler segments are configured to transmit data in the form of electrical signals.

7. The annular coupler of claim 1, wherein the first and second coupler segments comprise conductive coils inserted into an electrically-insulating, magnetically conductive material.

8. The annular coupler of claim 7, wherein the electrically-insulating, magnetically conductive material is a ferrite material.

9. A downhole tool comprising:

an annular coupler installed in one of a primary and secondary shoulder of the downhole tool, the annular coupler being characterized by a circumference, the annular coupler comprising;

a first coupler segment spanning a first portion of the circumference of the annular coupler; and

a second coupler segment, electrically insulated from the first coupler segment, spanning a second portion of the circumference of the annular coupler.

10. The downhole tool of claim 9, wherein the downhole tool is selected from the group consisting of a section of drill pipe, heavyweight drill pipe, a drill collar, a crossover, a mud motor, a stabilizer, a hole opener, a sub-assembly, an under-reamer, a drilling jar, and a drilling shock absorber.

11. The downhole tool of claim 9, wherein the first portion does not overlap the second portion.

12. The downhole tool of claim 11, wherein the first portion comprises about fifty percent of the circumference of the annular coupler and the second portion comprises about the other fifty percent of the circumference of the annular coupler.

13. The downhole tool of claim 9, wherein the first coupler segment is connected to a first transmission line incorporated into the downhole tool and the second coupler segment is connected to a second transmission line incorporated into the downhole tool.

14. The downhole tool of claim 9, wherein the first and second coupler segments are configured to transmit data in the form of magnetic signals.

15. The downhole tool of claim 9, wherein the first and second coupler segments are configured to transmit data in the form of electrical signals.

16. The downhole tool of claim 9, wherein the first and second coupler segments comprise conductive coils inserted into electrically-insulating, magnetically conductive materials.

17. The downhole tool of claim 16, wherein the electrically-insulating, magnetically conductive materials are ferrite materials.

18. A method for transmitting data across a tool joint, the method comprising:

installing an annular coupler in one of a primary and secondary shoulder of a downhole tool, the annular coupler being characterized by a circumference, wherein installing an annular coupler comprises;

installing a first coupler segment spanning a first portion of the circumference of the annular coupler; and

installing a second coupler segment, electrically isolated from the first coupler segment, spanning a second portion of the circumference of the annular coupler.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first portion comprises about fifty percent of the circumference of the annular coupler and the second portion comprises about the other fifty percent of the circumference of the annular coupler.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising connecting the first coupler segment to a first transmission line and the second coupler segment to a second transmission line.