US 7,730,968 B2 · Apparatus for wellbore communication

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for communicating between surface equipment and downhole equipment. One embodiment of the invention provides a wellhead assembly that allows electrical power and signals to pass into and out of the well during drilling operations, without removing the valve structure above the wellhead. Another embodiment of the invention provides an electromagnetic casing antenna system for two-way communication with downhole tools. Another embodiment of the invention provides an antenna module for a resistivity sub that effectively controls and seals the primary/secondary interface gap.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of drilling a wellbore extending from a surface of the earth, comprising:

running a drill string into the wellbore, through an open bore of a tubular string, the tubular string comprising:
a valve member moveable between an open position and a closed position where the valve member substantially seals a first portion of the tubular string bore from a second portion of the tubular string bore, and
an antenna in wired communication with the surface;
drilling the wellbore using the drill string;
while drilling:
measuring a pressure using a measurement tool disposed in the drill string,
wirelessly transmitting the pressure measurement to the antenna;
and
transmitting the pressure measurement from the antenna to the surface.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/193,917Filed 19 Aug 2008 · continuation

Priority

5 Nov 2002

Published

US 2008/0302524 A111 Dec 2008

Granted

8 Jun 2010

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

E21B 47/12
Survey of boreholes or wells: means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the…
E21B 33/0407
Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads: with a suspended electrical cable
E21B 34/16
Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells: control means therefor being outside the borehole
E21B 47/01
Survey of boreholes or wells: devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring…

Family

Application10/288,229Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Nov 2002

Application60/485,816Us provisional application · filed 9 Jul 2003

Application10/888,554Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Jul 2004

US 2008/0302524 A1Pre-grant publication · published 11 Dec 2008

US 7,413,018 B2Parent of this continuation

US 7,350,590 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part

Application10/888,554Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2004/0084189 A1Published application

US 2005/0056419 A1Published application

US 2007/0256829 A9Published application

US 7,730,968 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Apparatus for wellbore communication

Life of this patent

Apparatus for wellbore communication

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16