Apparatus and methods for communicating downhole data
AssigneeWell Resolutions Technology
InventorsTsili WANG, Borislav J. TCHAKAROV
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tool for communicating data between multiple locations downhole includes a tool body, a first antenna including at least one electrode disposed within a wall and electrically insulated from the tool body, and an electronic circuit configured to generate an encoded electrical signal and propagate the encoded signal through the electrode into a medium surrounding the tool, and a second antenna coupled to the tool body, and an electronic circuit configured to receive an electrical signal induced by the second antenna.
Claims20
A tool for communicating data between multiple locations downhole, the tool comprising:
- a tool body;
- a first antenna comprising at least one electrode disposed within a wall and electrically insulated from the tool body, and an electronic circuit configured to generate an encoded electrical signal and propagate the encoded signal through the electrode into a medium surrounding the tool;
- and
- a second antenna coupled to the tool body, and an electronic circuit configured to receive an electrical signal induced by the second antenna.
A downhole data communication system disposed in a drillstring, the system comprising:
- a transmitting antenna coupled to the drillstring comprising:
- an electrode electrically insulated from the drillstring;
- an electronic driving circuit for generating an electrical signal;
- a first metal wire connecting the driving circuit to the electrode, wherein the first metal wire does not contact the drillstring;
- and
- a second metal wire connecting the driving circuit to the drillstring, wherein the second metal wire does not contact the electrode;
- and
- a receiving antenna coupled to the drillstring comprising:
- an electrode electrically insulated from the drillstring;
- an electronic receiving circuit for receiving an electrical potential difference between the electrode and the drillstring;
- a first metal wire connecting the receiving circuit to the electrode, wherein the first metal wire does not contact the drillstring;
- and
- a second metal wire connecting the receiving circuit to the drillstring, wherein the second metal wire does not contact the electrode.
A method of communicating data between multiple locations downhole, the method comprising:
- providing a tool body comprising an electrode-based transmitting antenna coupled with an electronic circuit at a first location, and a receiving antenna coupled with an electronic circuit at a second location;
- encoding a signal comprising data to be transmitted in the electronic circuit of the transmitting antenna;
- driving the encoded signal to the electrode-based transmitting antenna;
- transmitting the encoded signal through a medium surrounding the tool body;
- receiving the encoded signal at the receiving antenna;
- and
- decoding the signal to recover transmitted data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.