Time synchronization in units at different locations
First Claim
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1. A method of synchronizing units of a formation evaluation/drilling operation evaluation system, comprising:
- determining a time delay associated with a communications link between a master unit and a slave unit of the formation evaluation/drilling operation evaluation system, wherein the master unit has a master time clock that provides universal time; and
using the time delay associated with the communications link to enable synchronization of time provided by a slave time clock in the slave unit to the universal time;
wherein the master unit and slave unit are part of a transmitter tool in a cross-well survey system, the method further comprising;
providing a receiver tool in the cross-well survey system, wherein the receiver tool has a second master unit and a second slave unit;
determining a time delay associated with a second communications link between the second master unit and the second slave unit, wherein the second master unit has a second master time clock that provides universal time; and
using the time delay associated with the second communications link to enable synchronization of time provided by a second slave time clock in the second slave unit to the universal time provided by the second master time clock.
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Abstract
To synchronize units of a formation evaluation/drilling operation evaluation system, a time delay associated with a communications link between a master unit and a slave unit of the formation evaluation/drilling operation evaluation system is determined. The master unit has a master time clock that provides universal time. The time delay associated with the communications link is used to enable synchronization of time provided by a slave time clock in the slave unit to the universal time.
33 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of synchronizing units of a formation evaluation/drilling operation evaluation system, comprising:
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determining a time delay associated with a communications link between a master unit and a slave unit of the formation evaluation/drilling operation evaluation system, wherein the master unit has a master time clock that provides universal time; and using the time delay associated with the communications link to enable synchronization of time provided by a slave time clock in the slave unit to the universal time; wherein the master unit and slave unit are part of a transmitter tool in a cross-well survey system, the method further comprising; providing a receiver tool in the cross-well survey system, wherein the receiver tool has a second master unit and a second slave unit; determining a time delay associated with a second communications link between the second master unit and the second slave unit, wherein the second master unit has a second master time clock that provides universal time; and using the time delay associated with the second communications link to enable synchronization of time provided by a second slave time clock in the second slave unit to the universal time provided by the second master time clock. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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a tool to perform an operation in a well or with respect to a subterranean structure, wherein the tool comprises; a master unit having a master time clock to provide universal time; a slave unit having a slave time clock; a communications link connecting the master unit and the slave unit; synchronization logic to determine a time delay of the communications link, wherein the time delay enables a time provided by the slave time clock to be synchronized to the universal time; wherein the master unit and slave unit are part of a transmitter tool in a cross-well survey system, the method further comprising; providing a receiver tool in the cross-well survey system, wherein the receiver tool has a second master unit and a second slave unit; determining a time delay associated with a second communications link between the second master unit and the second slave unit, wherein the second master unit has a second master time clock that provides universal time; and using the time delay associated with the second communications link to enable synchronization of time provided by a second slave time clock in the second slave unit to the universal time provided by the second master time clock. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification