Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data to and from a downhole tool
First Claim
1. A system for transceiving data between downhole tools located on a drill string, said system comprising:
- a drill string comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a length;
a first cable substantially retained by a central bore of said drill string to transmit a signal carrying first information between said proximal end and said distal end over a first portion of said length, said first portion of said length comprising a plurality of downhole tools, wherein said plurality of downhole tools are not configured to convey said signal along their lengths;
a first transmission element coupled to said first cable to convert said signal to a magnetic field;
a second transmission element proximate said first transmission element to receive said magnetic field and convert said magnetic field into a second signal carrying said first information;
a second cable coupled to said second transmission element and substantially retained by a central bore of said drill string to transmit said second signal between said proximal end and said distal end over a second portion of said length, said second portion of said length comprising a plurality of downhole tools, wherein said plurality of downhole tools are not configured to convey said signal along their lengths;
each of said first and said second transmission elements comprises;
a housing comprising a ring having a substantially U-shaped trough;
said ring further comprising circumferential ridges integrated into an outer surface of said ring to enhance connection of said ring into one of the downhole tools;
a magnetically conductive trough disposed within said housing;
an electrically conductive coil disposed within said trough; and
a connector coupled to said cable and to at least one of said conductive element and said housing.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transmission line network system for transmitting and/or receiving data from a downhole tool. The invention is achieved by providing one or more transceiving elements, preferably rings, at either end of a downhole tool. A conduit containing a coaxial cable capable of communicating an electrical signal is attached to the transceiving element and extends through a central bore of the downhole tool and through the central bore of any tool intermediate the first transceiving element and a second transceiving element. Upon receiving an electrical signal from the cable, the second transceiving element may convert such signal to a magnetic field. The magnetic field may be detected by a third transceiving element in close proximity to the second transceiving element. In this manner, many different tools may be included in a downhole transmission network without requiring substantial modification, if any, of any particular tool.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A system for transceiving data between downhole tools located on a drill string, said system comprising:
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a drill string comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a length; a first cable substantially retained by a central bore of said drill string to transmit a signal carrying first information between said proximal end and said distal end over a first portion of said length, said first portion of said length comprising a plurality of downhole tools, wherein said plurality of downhole tools are not configured to convey said signal along their lengths; a first transmission element coupled to said first cable to convert said signal to a magnetic field; a second transmission element proximate said first transmission element to receive said magnetic field and convert said magnetic field into a second signal carrying said first information; a second cable coupled to said second transmission element and substantially retained by a central bore of said drill string to transmit said second signal between said proximal end and said distal end over a second portion of said length, said second portion of said length comprising a plurality of downhole tools, wherein said plurality of downhole tools are not configured to convey said signal along their lengths; each of said first and said second transmission elements comprises; a housing comprising a ring having a substantially U-shaped trough; said ring further comprising circumferential ridges integrated into an outer surface of said ring to enhance connection of said ring into one of the downhole tools; a magnetically conductive trough disposed within said housing; an electrically conductive coil disposed within said trough; and a connector coupled to said cable and to at least one of said conductive element and said housing. - 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, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for transceiving data between downhole tools located on a drill string, said system comprising:
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a drill string comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a length; a first cable substantially retained by a central bore of said drill string to transmit a signal carrying first information between said proximal end and said distal end over a first portion of said length, said first portion of said length comprising a plurality of downhole tools, wherein said plurality of downhole tools are not configured to convey said signal along their lengths; a first transmission element coupled to said first cable to convert said signal to a magnetic field; a second transmission element proximate said first transmission element to receive said magnetic field and convert said magnetic field into a second signal carrying said first information; a second cable coupled to said second transmission element and substantially retained by a central bore of said drill string to transmit said second signal between said proximal end and said distal end over a second portion of said length, said second portion of said length comprising a plurality of downhole tools, wherein said plurality of downhole tools are not configured to convey said signal along their lengths; each of said first and said second transmission elements comprises; a housing; a magnetically conductive trough disposed within said housing; an electrically conductive coil disposed within said trough; and a connector coupled to said cable and to said conductive element and said housing wherein said connector further comprises a first contact and a second contact. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A data transmission network for transceiving information between downhole tools located on a drill string, the data transmission network comprising:
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a first downhole tool having a first proximal end, a first distal end and a first central bore; a second downhole tool having a second proximal end, a second distal end and a second central bore; at least one intermediate downhole tool not configured to convey a signal along its length, wherein each said at least one intermediate downhole tool is located intermediate said first downhole tool and said second downhole tool, each said at least one intermediate downhole tool having an intermediate central bore, an intermediate proximal end and an intermediate distal end; a first cable to transceive a first electrical signal carrying first information between ground level and said first downhole tool, wherein a portion of said first cable is disposed within said first central bore; a second cable to transceive a second electrical signal carrying said first information between one of said at least one intermediate downhole tool and said second downhole tool, wherein a portion of said second cable is disposed within said intermediate central bore; a first transmission element mounted proximate said first distal end and coupled to said first cable to transduce said first electrical signal to a magnetic signal; and a second transmission element mounted proximate said intermediate proximal end and coupled to said second cable to transduce said magnetic signal to said second electrical signal and to transceive said second electrical signal along said second cable wherein each of said first and said second transmission elements comprises; a housing; a magnetically conductive trough disposed within said housing; an electrically conductive coil disposed within said trough; and a connector coupled to said cable and to at least one of said conductive coil and said housing, said housing further comprises a ring having a substantially U-shaped trough and further comprising circumferential ridges integrated into an outer surface of said ring to facilitate retention of said ring by at least one of said first downhole tool and said second downhole tool. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A data transmission network for transceiving information between downhole tools located on a drill string, the data transmission network comprising:
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a first downhole tool having a first proximal end, a first distal end and a first central bore; a second downhole tool having a second proximal end, a second distal end and a second central bore; at least one intermediate downhole tool not configured to convey a signal along its length, wherein each said at least one intermediate downhole tool is located intermediate said first downhole tool and said second downhole tool, each said at least one intermediate downhole tool having an intermediate central bore, an intermediate proximal end and an intermediate distal end; a first cable to transceive a first electrical signal carrying first information between ground level and said first downhole tool, wherein a portion of said first cable is disposed within said first central bore; a second cable to transceive a second electrical signal carrying said first information between one of said at least one intermediate downhole tool and said second downhole tool, wherein a portion of said second cable is disposed within said intermediate central bore; a first transmission element mounted proximate said first distal end and coupled to said first cable to transduce said first electrical signal to a magnetic signal; and a second transmission element mounted proximate said intermediate proximal end and coupled to said second cable to transduce said magnetic signal to said second electrical signal and to transceive said second electrical signal along said second cable wherein each of said first and said second transmission elements comprises; a housing; a magnetically conductive trough disposed within said housing; an electrically conductive coil disposed within said trough; and a connector coupled to said cable and to said conductive coil and said housing, and wherein said connector further comprises a first contact and a second contact. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67)
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Specification