# US 10,771,326 B2 · Method and system for performing operations using communications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,771,326 B2 - Document ID: US10771326B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/139,414 - Filed: 2018-09-24 - Published: 2019-04-18 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-13 - Assignees: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Applicants: Yibing Zhang; H. Alan Wolf; Limin Song; Scott W. Clawson; Katie M. Walker - Inventors: Yibing Zhang; H. Alan Wolf; Limin Song; Scott W. Clawson; Katie M. Walker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10771326B2 ## CPC - H04L 41/0803: Configuration setting - E21B 47/017: Protecting measuring instruments - E21B 47/14: using acoustic waves - E21B 47/16: through the drill string or casing {, e.g. by torsional acoustic waves} - E21B 47/26: Storing data down-hole, e.g. in a memory or on a record carrier - H04B 3/46: Monitoring; Testing - H04L 27/10: Frequency-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using frequency-shift keying (H04L27/32 takes precedence) - H04L 41/145: {involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network} - H04L 43/12: Network monitoring probes - H04L 43/50: Testing arrangements - H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom - H04Q 2209/30: using a wired architecture - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract A method and system are described for communicating within a system, which may be along tubular members. The method includes constructing a communication network for tubular member, such as a wellbore accessing a subsurface region or a pipeline, and using the communication network in hydrocarbon operations, such as hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of communicating data among a plurality of communication nodes, the method comprising: obtaining data for a system; creating a communication network based on the obtained data, wherein the communication network includes a plurality of communication nodes, wherein the creation of the communication network comprises selecting one of one or more frequency bands, one or more individual tones, one or more coding methods, and any combination thereof; profiling the communication network in a testing unit to obtain diagnostic telemetry data; configuring the communication network at least partially based on the diagnostic telemetry data; installing the communication network associated with the system into a wellbore; communicating between the plurality of communication nodes in the wellbore, based on multiple frequency shift keying (MFSK) telemetry, to perform operations for the system, the MFSK telemetry using a number of tones; and adjusting frequencies used in the MFSK telemetry by dividing a range of possible reception frequencies into a number of sections; combining similar reception frequencies into one of the number of sections, thereby forming a combined frequency in each of the number of sections, wherein all frequencies within each combined frequency is classified as a single frequency; determining whether each combined frequency satisfies a signal strength threshold; and selecting a number of combined frequencies that satisfy the signal strength equal to the number of tones used by the MFSK telemetry; the method further comprising: i) monitoring the communication network for an event; ii) modifying the communication network if the event is detected; iii) continuing the communicating between the plurality of communication nodes if the event is not detected; and repeating steps i) to iii) until the hydrocarbon operations are complete. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting frequencies used in the multiple frequency shift keying telemetry based on the profiling in the testing unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting frequencies used in multiple frequency shift keying telemetry comprises adjusting amplitudes of exchanged signals between a pair of communication nodes in the plurality of communication nodes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting frequencies used in multiple frequency shift keying telemetry comprises adjusting signal strength of exchanged signals between a pair of communication nodes in the plurality of communication nodes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining measurements from one or more of the plurality of communication nodes, wherein the plurality of communication nodes are disposed along one or more tubular members; and performing hydrocarbon operations with the obtained measurements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the profiling of the communication network in the testing unit comprises disposing each of the plurality of communication nodes along one of one or more test tubular members in the testing unit and the plurality of communication nodes are spaced apart along the one or more test tubular members at a distance of at least one foot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the profiling of the communication network in the testing unit comprises disposing each of the plurality of communication nodes along a test tubular member in the testing unit and spaced apart along the test tubular member at a distance in a range between 1 foot and 20 feet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the profiling of the communication network in the testing unit comprises disposing each of the plurality of communication nodes along a test tubular member in the testing unit and spaced apart along the test tubular member at a distance in a range between 2.5 feet and 5 feet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating between the plurality of communication nodes comprises exchanging low-frequency signals that are less than or equal to (≤)20 kilohertz. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating between the plurality of communication nodes comprises exchanging low-frequency signals that are in the range between 100 hertz and 20 kilohertz. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating between the plurality of communication nodes comprises exchanging high-frequency signals that are greater than (>) 20 kilohertz. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating between the plurality of communication nodes comprises exchanging high-frequency signals that are in the range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 1 megahertz. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a first set of the plurality of communication nodes are disposed in unmonitored sections of a wellbore and a second set of the plurality of communication nodes are disposed in monitored sections of the wellbore. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the event is a failure of the communication network to operate properly along the one or more tubular members. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the event is detection of a change in an acoustic environment along the one or more tubular members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the event is the lapsing of a time period without successfully decoding a received communication. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the one or more coding methods if the event is detected. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying the communication network further comprises dynamically adjusting one of operation frequency bands, digital coding methods, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data is associated with equipment installed within the wellbore and the configuration of the wellbore equipment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of one or more coding methods further comprises determining a set of clock ticks for communication between communication nodes. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the coding method comprises performing frequency combining with two or more clock ticks per tone in communication between communication nodes. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprises adjusting the configuration of the communication nodes in the communication network at least partially based on the acoustic media to change the one or more frequency bands. ### Claim 23 A system for modeling communications between a plurality of communication nodes along one or more tubular members, the system comprising: a testing unit comprising: a housing with an interior region formed by the housing; one or more tubular members disposed within the housing; and a communication network disposed within the housing, wherein each of a plurality of communication nodes are disposed along the one or more tubular members and spaced apart along the one or more tubular members at a distance greater than one foot, each of the plurality of communication nodes being configured to exchange data using multiple frequency shift keying (MFSK) telemetry, and wherein the communication network is established by selecting one of one or more frequency bands, one or more individual tones, one or more coding methods, and any combination thereof; wherein frequencies used in the MFSK telemetry are configured to be adjusted by dividing a range of possible reception frequencies into a number of sections; combining similar reception frequencies into one of the number of sections, thereby forming a combined frequency in each of the number of sections, wherein all frequencies within each combined frequency is classified as a single frequency; determining whether each combined frequency satisfies a signal strength threshold; and selecting a number of combined frequencies that satisfy the signal strength equal to the number of tones used by the MFSK telemetry; and wherein each of the plurality of communication nodes are configured to: i) monitor the communication network for an event; ii) modify the communication network if the event is detected; and iii) provide a notification if the event is detected. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the communication network in the testing unit comprises each of the plurality of communication nodes are disposed along the one or more tubular members and the plurality of communication nodes are spaced apart along the one or more tubular members at a distance of at least one foot. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the communication network in the testing unit comprises each of the plurality of communication nodes are disposed along the one or more tubular members and the plurality of communication nodes are spaced apart along the one or more tubular members at a distance in a range between 2.5 feet and 5 feet. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of communication nodes are configured to exchange low-frequency signals that are less than or equal to (≤)20 kilohertz. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of communication nodes are configured to exchange low-frequency signals that are in the range between 100 hertz and 20 kilohertz. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of communication nodes are configured to exchange high-frequency signals that are greater than (>) 20 kilohertz. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of communication nodes are configured to exchange high-frequency signals that are in the range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 1 megahertz. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the selection of one or more coding methods further comprises determining a set of clock ticks for communication between communication nodes. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The system of claim 30, wherein the coding method comprises performing frequency combining with two or more clock ticks per tone in communication between communication nodes. ### Claim 32 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, further comprises adjusting the configuration of the communication nodes in the communication network at least partially based on the acoustic media to change the one or more frequency bands. ### Claim 33 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein each of the communication nodes may be configured to perform frequency combining with two or more clock ticks per tone. ### Claim 34 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the test unit comprises: a housing with an interior region formed by the housing; the one or more tubular members disposed within the housing; and the communication network disposed within the housing. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying the communication network further comprises adjusting frequencies used in the MFSK telemetry by dividing a range of possible reception frequencies into a number of sections; combining similar reception frequencies into one of the number of sections, thereby forming a combined frequency in each of the number of sections, wherein all frequencies within each combined frequency is classified as a single frequency; determining whether each combined frequency satisfies a signal strength threshold; selecting a number of combined frequencies that satisfy the signal strength equal to the number of tones used by the MFSK telemetry; and using the selected number of combined frequencies in the MFSK telemetry. ### Claim 36 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein communication network is configured to be modified by adjusting frequencies used in the MFSK telemetry by dividing a range of possible reception frequencies into a number of sections; combining similar reception frequencies into one of the number of sections, thereby forming a combined frequency in each of the number of sections, wherein all frequencies within each combined frequency is classified as a single frequency; determining whether each combined frequency satisfies a signal strength threshold; selecting a number of combined frequencies that satisfy the signal strength equal to the number of tones used by the MFSK telemetry; and using the selected number of combined frequencies in the MFSK telemetry.