US 2016/0010449 A1 · FLUID PRESSURE PULSE GENERATING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING SAME

Abstract

A fluid pressure pulse generating apparatus including a pulser assembly and a fluid pressure pulse generator and methods of using the fluid pressure pulse generating apparatus. The pulser assembly comprises a motor, a sensor for detecting rotation of the motor, a driveshaft rotationally coupled to the motor, and processing and motor control equipment communicative with the motor and the sensor. The fluid pressure pulse generator is coupled with the driveshaft. The sensor provides an indication of the amount of rotation of the motor and this information can be processed by the processing and motor control equipment to determine the position of the driveshaft and to control rotation of the driveshaft based on a predetermined rotational relationship between the driveshaft and the motor.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A fluid pressure pulse generating apparatus comprising:

(a) a pulser assembly comprising:
a motor;
a sensor for detecting rotation of the motor;
a driveshaft rotationally coupled to the motor;
and processing and motor control equipment communicative with the motor and the sensor;
and
(b) a fluid pressure pulse generator coupled with the driveshaft.

4 more elements

A method for determining driveshaft position in a fluid pressure pulse generating apparatus comprising:

a pulser assembly comprising:
a motor;
a driveshaft rotationally coupled to the motor;
a sensor for detecting rotation of the motor;
and processing and motor control equipment communicative with the motor and the sensor;
and
a fluid pressure pulse generator coupled with the driveshaft;
the method comprising:
(a) measuring output signals generated by rotation of the motor and detected by the sensor whereby a known number of output signals are generated per revolution of the motor;
(b) determining the amount of rotation of the driveshaft from the measured output signals based on the known number of output signals generated per revolution of the motor and a predetermined rotational relationship between the motor and the driveshaft, whereby each output signal represents a set amount of rotation of the driveshaft;
and
(c) determining the driveshaft position from the determined amount of rotation of the driveshaft.

9 more elements

A method of controlling driveshaft rotation in a fluid pressure pulse generating apparatus comprising:

a pulser assembly comprising:
a motor;
a driveshaft rotationally coupled to the motor;
a sensor for detecting rotation of the motor;
and
processing and motor control equipment communicative with the motor and the sensor;
and
a fluid pressure pulse generator coupled with the driveshaft;
the method comprising:
(a) rotating the motor to rotate the driveshaft from a first position to a second position;
(b) monitoring output signals generated by rotation of the motor and detected by the sensor whereby a known number of output signals are generated per revolution of the motor;
(c) determining when the driveshaft has reached the second position from the monitored output signals based on the known number of output signals generated per revolution of the motor and a predetermined rotational relationship between the motor and the driveshaft, whereby each motor output signal represents a set amount of rotation of the driveshaft;
and
(d) stopping rotation of the motor when the driveshaft has reached the second position.

11 more elements

A method of calibrating a fluid pressure pulse generator of a fluid pulse generating apparatus comprising:

a pulser assembly comprising:
a motor;
a driveshaft rotationally coupled to the motor;
a sensor for detecting rotation of the motor;
processing and motor control equipment communicative with the motor and the sensor;
and a mechanical stop sub-assembly comprising:
a collar fixedly coupled to the motor and at least one indexer protruding from a side of the driveshaft, the collar comprising an angular movement restrictor window with a central window segment which axially and rotatably receives the driveshaft, and an indexing window segment in communication with the central window segment and which receives the indexer, the indexing window segment having an angular span across which the indexer can be oscillated by the driveshaft;
and
the fluid pressure pulse generator comprising a stator, and a rotor fixedly attached to the driveshaft such that the angular span of the indexing window segment defines the angular range of the rotor's angular movement relative to the stator;
the method comprising:
(a) rotating the motor to rotate the driveshaft and oscillate the indexer across the angular span of the indexing window segment;
(b) measuring output signals generated by rotation of the motor and detected by the sensor as the indexer oscillates across the angular span, whereby a known number of output signals are generated per revolution of the motor;
(c) determining the number of output signals detected per oscillation of the indexer across the angular span;
(d) calculating the number of output signals that need to be generated by rotation of the motor to rotate the driveshaft from a first position where the indexer is at an edge of the indexing window segment to a calibration position within the angular span from the number of motor output signals detected per oscillation of the indexer across the angular span;
(e) rotating the motor to rotate the driveshaft from the first position to the calibration position and counting output signals generated by rotation of the motor and detected by the sensor during rotation of the driveshaft from the first position to the calibration position;
and
(f) stopping rotation of the motor when the number of output signals counted equals the calculated number of output signals.

14 more elements

A method of controlling timing of pressure pulses in a fluid pressure pulse generating apparatus comprising:

a pulser assembly comprising:
a motor;
a driveshaft rotationally coupled to the motor;
a sensor for detecting rotation of the motor;
and processing and motor control equipment communicative with the motor and the sensor;
and
a fluid pressure pulse generator comprising a stator, and a rotor rotationally coupled to the driveshaft whereby rotation of the driveshaft rotates the rotor to flow a drilling fluid in a full flow configuration to produce no pressure pulse and a reduced flow configuration to produce a pressure pulse,
the method comprising:
(a) rotating the motor to rotate the driveshaft to transition the rotor from the full flow configuration to the reduced flow configuration and from the reduced flow configuration to the full flow configuration to generate pressure pulses;
(b) monitoring output signals generated by rotation of the motor and detected by the sensor whereby a known number of output signals are generated per revolution of the motor;
(c) determining the amount of rotation of the driveshaft from the monitored output signals based on the known number of output signals generated per revolution of the motor and a predetermined rotational relationship between the motor and the driveshaft, whereby each motor output signal represents a set amount of rotation of the driveshaft;
(d) determining the rotor position from the amount of rotation of the driveshaft based on a predetermined rotational relationship between the driveshaft and the rotor;
(e) determining completion of transition of the rotor from the full flow configuration to the reduced flow configuration or from the reduced flow configuration to the full flow configuration from the determined rotor position;
and
(d) controlling timing of the generated pressure pulses based on the determined completion of transition of the rotor, whereby the next rotor transition is controlled to occur after the previous rotor transition is complete.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluid pressure pulse generating apparatus and method of using same

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Fluid pressure pulse generating apparatus and method of using same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims41