Method and apparatus enhanced acoustic mud pulse telemetry
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsBenjamin Peter Jeffryes, Keith Alan Moriarty, Sandra Denisse Reyes
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Abstract
A method and system for telemetry through a drilling fluid during drilling is disclosed. A reflector (110) is positioned downstream from the drilling mud pumps (80) and causes reflected pressure waves having the same pressure polarity as incident pressure waves traveling upwards. At least one pressure sensor (92) is positioned below the reflector (110) to sense pressure in the drilling fluid. The reflector can be a fixed orifice plate or an adjustable aperture.
Claims31
A borehole communication system for telemetry through a drilling fluid comprising:
- a drilling fluid source configured to supply drilling fluid under pressure through a conduit towards a drill bit;
- a pulser in the borehole configured to generate pressure pulses in the drilling fluid corresponding to a predetermined pattern;
- a reflector positioned downstream from the drilling fluid source dimensioned so as to cause in response to an incident pressure wave travelling from the pulser towards the surface, a reflected pressure wave having the same pressure polarity as the incident pressure wave;
- and
- a pressure sensor positioned downstream of the reflector adapted to sense pressure in the drilling fluid and generate electrical signals corresponding to the sensed pressure.
A method for detecting telemetry signals travelling from a downhole source towards the surface through a drilling fluid comprising the steps of:
- reflecting incident pressure waves in the drilling fluid travelling towards the surface, thereby generating reflected pressure waves having the same pressure polarity as the incident pressure waves;
- and
- sensing the pressure of the drilling fluid at a location downstream of where the reflections are generated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.