Reliable wired-pipe data transmission system

A signal and/or power coupling element for exchanging communications signals and/or power between drill string components and/or between elements of said drill string components, comprising:

• a first electromagnetic coupler mounted on a first of said components or elements and adapted to provide resonant coupling;
• and
• a second electromagnetic coupler mounted on a second of said components or elements and adapted to provide resonant coupling;
• wherein said communications signals and/or power are exchanged between said components or elements by electromagnetic resonant coupling between said first and second electromagnetic couplers, said electromagnetic resonant coupling occurring at frequencies within the VHF or UHF bands between 30 MHz and 3 GHz.

A method of providing communications along a drill string of downhole components comprising a plurality of interconnected downhole components having rotary connections, comprising the steps of:

• generating high-frequency signals having information modulated thereon;
• providing a plurality of signal repeaters spaced along said drill string of downhole components;
• providing at least one downhole component having:
• a first end containing a pin electromagnetic coupler adapted to provide resonant coupling, said first end mechanically interconnecting with an end of a first adjacent downhole component containing a box electromagnetic coupler,
• a second end containing a box electromagnetic coupler adapted to provide resonant coupling, said second end mechanically interconnecting with an end of a second adjacent downhole component containing a pin electromagnetic coupler, and
• at least one conductor connecting the pin electromagnetic coupler in the first end to the box electromagnetic coupler in the second end through said downhole components so as to form at least one data path between said pin electromagnetic coupler and said box electromagnetic coupler;
• electromagnetically coupling said high-frequency signals from one of said first and second adjacent downhole components to said downhole component and/or to said signal repeater through said pin and/or box electromagnetic couplers by means of electromagnetic resonant coupling;
• transmitting said high-frequency signals through said at least one data path of said downhole component to the other end of said downhole component;
• and
• electromagnetically coupling said high-frequency signals from said other end of said downhole component and/or from one of said signal repeaters to the other of said first and second adjacent downhole components through said pin and/or box electromagnetic couplers by means of electromagnetic resonant coupling, said electromagnetic resonant coupling occurring at frequencies within the VHF or UHF bands between 30 MHz and 3 GHz.

A method of exchanging signals and/or power between drill string components and/or elements of said drill string components, comprising the steps of:

• generating high-frequency signals having information modulated thereon and/or generating high-frequency power;
• providing a first electromagnetic coupler adapted to provide resonant coupling, said first coupler being mounted on or in a first component or element;
• providing a second electromagnetic coupler adapted to provide resonant coupling, said second coupler being mounted on or in a second component or element;
• and
• electromagnetically coupling said high-frequency signals and/or said high-frequency power from said first electromagnetic coupler to said second electromagnetic coupler by means of electromagnetic resonant coupling between said first and second electromagnetic couplers, said electromagnetic resonant coupling occurring at frequencies within the VHF or UHF bands between 30 MHz and 3 GHz.