Smart lower end
AssigneeReme, L.L.C.
InventorsBRAD MUNOZ, Benjamin Jennings, Abraham Erdos, David Erdos, Kenneth Miller, Joshua Carter, James Mathieson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A smart lower end system that can detect multiple events and failures during the generation of pressure pulses by a pulser is disclosed. Pulser failures may occur if the pilot valve fails to fully close or open, if the signal shaft fails to move and close pilot valve orifice, or if movement of the pilot valve or signal shaft is restricted. The components of the smart lower end system may cycle between sleep and wake states to allow for low power operation.
Claims30
A pulser to generate pressure pulses for mud telemetry, the pulser comprising:
- a hydraulically actuated valve that restricts flow and creates pressure spikes;
- a pilot valve that controls the actuation of the hydraulically actuated valve;
- a signal shaft comprising a magnet, the signal shaft configured to move due to the pressure difference;
- and
- a lower end comprising a linear position sensor configured to measure the axial movement of the signal shaft.
A method of confirming the operation of a hydraulically actuated valve in a pulser, the method comprising:
- measuring a change in magnetic field using a linear position sensor, wherein the change in magnetic field is caused by movement of a magnet attached to a signal shaft that causes a hydraulically actuated valve to restrict flow and create pressure spikes.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions stored thereon configured to cause one or more processing units located within a pulser to:
- measure a change in magnetic field using a magnetometer, wherein the change in magnetic field is caused by movement of a magnet attached to a signal shaft that causes a hydraulically actuated valve to restrict flow and create pressure spikes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.