Transducer for downhole drilling components

• US 7,053,788 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntelliServ, LLC (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intelliserv, Inc. (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, David R, Fox, Joe R
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US10/453,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 340/854.3, 340/854.8, 336/132, 336/90, 336/105, 174/98, 439/577, 439/194, 439/190, 439/191, 367/83, 285/328, 285/333, 285/332.4
• US Class Current: 340/854.4
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/0285 characterised by electrically insulating elements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency

Abstract

A robust transmission element for transmitting information between downhole tools, such as sections of drill pipe, in the presence of hostile environmental conditions, such as heat, dirt, rocks, mud, fluids, lubricants, and the like. The transmission element maintains reliable connectivity between transmission elements, thereby providing an uninterrupted flow of information between drill string components. A transmission element is mounted within a recess proximate a mating surface of a downhole drilling component, such as a section of drill pipe. The transmission element may include an annular housing forming a trough, an electrical conductor disposed within the trough, and an MCEI material disposed between the annular housing and the electrical conductor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting data between downhole tools, the apparatus comprising:

an annular housing having a circumference, the annular housing forming a first trough around the circumference thereof;

at least one electrical conductor disposed within the first trough; and

a MCEI material disposed between the first trough and the electrical conductor, preventing direct physical contact therebetween.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the MCEI material conforms to the first trough; and

a second trough is formed in the MCEI material to accommodate the at least one electrical conductor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MCEI material is comprised of a plurality of MCEI segments positioned around the circumference of the first trough.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the annular housing is formed to retain the MCEI segments in substantially fixed positions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MCEI material comprises a ferrite.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first trough is formed to include at least one retaining shoulder; and

the MCEI material is formed to include a corresponding shoulder to engage the retaining shoulder, preventing the MCEI material from exiting the first trough.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductor is electrically insulated.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductor comprises a plurality of conductive strands coiled around the circumference.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the annular housing is characterized by an exterior surface; and

the exterior surface is formed to reside in an annular recess in a substrate.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the exterior surface is formed to include at least one locking shoulder; and

the locking shoulder is configured to engage at least one corresponding shoulder within the annular recess.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the annular housing is formed to reside in the annular recess substantially flush with the surface of the substrate.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the MCEI segments are formed to reside in the first trough substantially flush with at least one of the annular housing and the substrate.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a biasing member located between at least one of the annular recess and the annular housing, and the annular housing and the MCEI material.

14. An apparatus for transmitting data between downhole tools, the apparatus comprising:

an annular housing having a circumference, the annular housing having a substantially U-shaped cross-section around the circumference thereof;

an MCEI material located within the annular housing, the MCEI material having a substantially U-shaped cross-section substantially conforming to the inside of the annular housing; and

at least one electrical conductor disposed within the U-shape cross-section of the MCEI material.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the MCEI material is comprised of a plurality of MCEI segments positioned around the circumference of the annular housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the annular housing is formed to retain the MCEI segments in substantially fixed positions.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the MCEI material comprises a ferrite.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the interior of the annular housing is formed to include at least one retaining shoulder; and

the MCEI material is formed to include a corresponding shoulder to engage the retaining shoulder, preventing the MCEI material from exiting the annular housing.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one conductor comprises a plurality of conductive strands coiled around the circumference.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the annular housing is characterized by an exterior surface; and

the exterior surface is formed to reside in an annular recess in a substrate.