Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for communication with a downhole tool

US6308137A · kind A · utility

98Cited by
11References
55Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 28, 2000
Grant dateOct 23, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 28, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B43/14
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An apparatus for communication with a downhole tool includes uphole and downhole equipment. The uphole equipment includes a signal source (or array) coupled to a programmable triggering system and a precision clock. Optionally, the uphole equipment may include receivers for capturing reference signals near the source and may include telemetry equipment for receiving MWD signals from the downhole equipment. The downhole equipment includes one or more receivers, signal processing equipment, memory, and a precision clock. Optionally, the downhole equipment also includes MWD telemetry equipment for transmitting data to the surface. The methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, synchronizing the recordation of signals detected downhole with the firing of the signal source and processing the recorded signals to eliminate useless information. The methods of the invention present several techniques for true source signal recognition whereby actual signal information is extracted from the recordings of the receivers so that the ultimate stored data is compact and virtually 100% useful. This elimination of useless data conserves valuable telemetry time and/or enables longer o…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.