Method and system for downhole clock having compensation

A method, comprising:

• maintaining a crystal-based oscillator at a predetermined temperature range;
• compensating for the crystal-based oscillator's long-term aging characteristics;
• providing time information for downhole measurements based on the crystal-based oscillator's frequency of oscillation;
• maintaining the crystal-based oscillator at the predetermined temperature above expected downhole temperatures;
• maintaining the crystal-based oscillator at the predetermined temperature when not in user;
• and
• wherein the crystal-based oscillator is a single-mode oscillator.

A method, comprising:

• maintaining a crystal-based oscillator at a predetermined temperature range;
• compensating for the crystal-based oscillator's long-term aging characteristics according to an algortihm;
• providing time information for downhole measurements based on the crystal-based oscillator's frequency of oscillation;
• determining the algorithm prior to deploying the crystal downhole by comparing the crystal's long-term aging characteristics to a more accurate clock source;
• and
• wherein the crystal-based oscillator is a single-mode oscillator.

A downhole tool, comprising:

• a tool body having a receiver, the tool body adapted to be coupled within a drill string;
• a microprocessor coupled to the receiver;
• a single-mode oscillator coupled to the microprocessor;
• a temperature sensor coupled to the oscillator;
• and
• a temperature regulator coupled to the oscillator and the temperature sensor;
• wherein the oscillator is maintained within a predetermined temperature range by the temperature regulator, and wherein the microprocessor executes an algorithm that compensates for the oscillator's long-term frequency deviation.

A downhole clock source, comprising:

• means for providing a single-mode oscillating signal having a frequency, wherein the signal is used to create a downhole time source;
• means for regulating said means for providing a single-mode oscillating signal within a predetermined temperature range;
• and
• means for compensating the downhole time source according to a frequency aging characteristics of the means for providing a single-mode oscillating signal.

A method, comprising:

• maintaining a crystal-based oscillator at a predetermined temperature range;
• compensating for the crystal-based oscillator's long-term aging characteristics;
• providing time information for measurements based on the crystal-based oscillator's frequency of oscillation;
• maintaining the crystal-based oscillator at the predetermined temperature above expected temperatures;
• maintaining the crystal-based oscillator at the predetermined temperature when not in use;
• and
• wherein the crystal-based oscillator is a single-mode oscillator.

A method, comprising:

• maintaining a crystal-based oscillator at a predetermined temperature range;
• compensating for the crystal-based oscillator's long-term aging characteristics according to an algorithm;
• providing time information for measurements based on the crystal-based oscillator's frequency of oscillation;
• determining the algorithm prior to utilizing the crystal-based oscillator by comparing the crystal's long-term aging characteristics to a more accurate clock source;
• and
• wherein the crystal-based oscillator is a single-mode oscillator.

A downhole clock source, comprising:

• a single-mode oscillator including a crystal, wherein the oscillator provides a frequency for deriving a downhole time value;
• a temperature regulator, wherein the regulator maintains the oscillator at a predetermined temperature range;
• and
• wherein the time value is compensated to account for the crystal's long-term aging characteristics.