Method and apparatus for recording and using down hole sensor and diagnostic events in measurement while drilling
OwnerRobert Paul Deereinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing a downhole measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool with diagnostic capability by including one or more printed circuit boards to the tool with firmware processors that internally record significant system diagnostic events that can be time correlated with known tool operational problems. The concept includes firmware protocol to enable transfer all of the recorded data to an external software analysis program after the MWD tool is removed from a drilling run.
Claims20
A downhole measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool with diagnostic capability comprising:
- a. directional sensors;
- b. electronics processing capability;
- c. a mud pulse telemetry assembly;
- and
- d. a power source;
- wherein said downhole measurement-while-drilling tool records and transmits measured MWD recorded events to a surface recording and display system;
- and
- wherein said measurement-while-drilling tool comprises one or more printed circuit boards with firmware processors that internally record significant system diagnostic events that can be time correlated with known tool operational problems.
A method for providing downhole measurement-while-drilling diagnostics from a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool comprising the steps of:
- a. measuring and storing in memory time-stamped MWD directional sensor data during a downhole drilling run;
- b. measuring and storing in memory time-stamped event diagnostic data during a downhole drilling run;
- c. transferring both MWD directional sensor data and event diagnostic data to a software analysis program upon return of the MWD tool to the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.