US 2004/0104797 A1 · DOWNHOLE DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

Abstract

A system for transmitting data through a string of downhole components. In one aspect, the system includes first and second magnetically conductive, electrically insulating elements at both ends of the component. Each element includes a first U-shaped trough with a bottom, first and second sides and an opening between the two sides. Electrically conducting coils are located in each trough. An electrical conductor connects the coils in each component. In operation, a varying current applied to a first coil in one component generates a varying magnetic field in the first magnetically conductive, electrically insulating element, which varying magnetic field is conducted to and thereby produces a varying magnetic field in the second magnetically conductive, electrically insulating element of a connected component, which magnetic field thereby generates a varying electrical current in the second coil in the connected component.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A plurality of drill pipes, each drill pipe comprising;

a first inductive coupler comprising an Archimedean coil inserted in a non-electrically conductive core, detachably assembled within a first groove in a first end of the drill pipe, and a second inductive coupler comprising a second Archimedean coil inserted in a second non-electrically conductive core, detachably assembled within a second groove in a second end of the drill pipe, the first and second inductive couplers in electrical communication;
wherein the first inductive coupler at the first end of one of the plurality of drill pipes is cooperatively arranged to be in magnetic, but not in electrical communication with the second inductive coupler at the second end of another of the plurality of drill pipes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Downhole data transmission system

Life of this patent

Downhole data transmission system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32