US3790930A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telemetering system for oil wells
Assignee: AMERICAN PETROSCIENCE CORP
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Filing: 1971-02-08
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1991-02-08
Abstract
Abstract An acoustic communication method and system for transmitting information through a well bore drill string or other pipe by establishing in the pipe modulated torsional acoustic waves, preferably of zero order, which contain the information to be transmitted and travel from a signal transmitting station to a signal receiving station spaced along the pipe, and for demodulating the modulated waves arriving at the receiving station to recover the transmitted information. The modulated waves may be established in the pipe either by driving the pipe in torsional oscillation and modulating the resulting torsional waves in the pipe at the transmitting station or by launching modulated torsional waves through the pipe at the transmitting station. In its principal application, the invention is utilized to monitor selected well drilling parameters, such as temperature, formation pressure, formation porosity, drill string orientation, and/or to operate devices within the well bore. Primary advantages of the invention are reduced acoustic transmission losses from acoustic coupling to the drilling fluid and well bore wall and the ability to transmit information while drilling is in progress. According to the preferred practice of the invention, when monitoring drilling parameters, the torsional acoustic waves are launched downwardly through the drill string from the surface by exciting the upper end of the string in a zero order torsional acoustic oscillation at frequencies within the base band of the drill string acoustic transmission characteristics so as to minimize attenuation of the acoustic waves by the couplings between the drill string pipe sections. These torsional acoustic waves are modulated at a subsurface signal-transmitting station along the drill string and returned back through the string to a surface signal-receiving station where the modulated waves are demodulated to recover the transmitted information.
Inventors
- 👤 A Lamel
- 👤 W Squire
- 👤 H Whitehouse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H1/00; G01H1/10; E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/12; E21B47/14; E21B47/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of communicating information between signaltransmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a pipe having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining zero order torsional acoustic waves, said method comprising the steps of: generating a modulating signal containing the information to be transmitted; establishing in said pipe zero order torsional acoustic waves which are modulated according to a predetermined modulating mode by said modulating signal to contain the information to be transmitted and which travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through said intervening pipe length; and receiving said waves at said receiving station to recover said signal and its contained information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of communicating information between signaltransmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a pipe having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining zero order torsional acoustic waves, said method comprising the steps of: generating a modulating signal containing the information to be transmitted; establishing in said pipe zero order torsional acoustic waves which are modulated according to a predetermined modulating mode by said modulating signal to contain the information to be transmitted and which travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through said intervening pipe length; and receiving said waves at said receiving station to recover said signal and its contained information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The acoustic communication method according to claim 1 wherein: said pipe is a drill string suspended from a drilling platform.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The communication method according to claim 1 wherein: said pipe is a drill string suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform; at least one of said stations is located within said well bore; and said torsional acoustic waves are induced in said drill string by driving said drill string in torsional oscillation at frequencies within a selected range of frequencies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The acoustic communication method according to claim 1 wherein: said pipe is a drill string suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform; said transmitting station is located within said well bore and said receiving station is located above said transmitting station; and said torsional acoustic waves are established in said drill string by driving said string in torsional oscillation at frequencies within a selected range of acoustic frequencies to launch said acoustic waves upwardly through said drill string to said receiving station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
The acoustic communication method according to claim 1 wherein: said pipe is a drill string suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform; said drill string is composed of a number of pipe sections coupled end to end by intervening couplings; and the acoustic frequencies of said torsional acoustic waves are related to the nominal length of said drill string sections in a manner such that said drill string oscillates in at least one of its pass bands of torsional oscillation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The acoustic communication method according to claim 5 wherein: the acoustic frequencies of said torsional acoustic waves are related to the nominal length of said drill string sections in a manner such that said drill string oscillates in its base band of torsional oscillation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The acoustic communication method of claim 1 wherein: said pipe is a drill string suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform; said receiving station is located within said well bore; said transmitting station is located above said receiving station; and said signal is a command signal for effecting a selected function at said receiving station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
The acoustic communication method of claim 1 wherein: said pipe is a drill string suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform; said transmitting station is located within said well bore and said receiving station is located above said transmitting station; said communication method comprises the further step of transmitting command signals through said drill string to said transmitting station; and said modulated acoustic waves are established in said drill string in response to said command signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A communication system for communicating information between signal-transmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a pipe having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining zero order torsional acoustic waves, said system comprising: means for generating a modulating signal containing the information to be transmitted; means for establishing in said pipe zero order torsional acoustic waves which are modulated by said modulating signal to contain the information to be transmitted and which travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through said intervening pipe length; and receiving means coupled to said pipe at said receiving station for receiving said modulated waves to recover said signal and its contained information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
A communication system for communicating information between signal-transmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a pipe having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining zero order torsional acoustic waves, said system comprising: means for generating a modulating signal containing the information to be transmitted; means for establishing in said pipe zero order torsional acoustic waves which are modulated by said modulating signal to contain the information to be transmitted and which travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through said intervening pipe length; and receiving means coupled to said pipe at said receiving station for receiving said modulated waves to recover said signal and its contained information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An acoustic communication system according to claim 9 wherein: said pipe is a drill string suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform; and at least one of said stations is located within said well bore.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An acoustic communication system according to claim 10 wherein: said means for establishing said acoustic waves comprises a torsional wave transducer coupled to said drill string for inducing in said drill string torsional acoustic waves of zero order.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
A communication system according to claim 9 wherein: said pipe is a drill string suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform; said drill string is composed of a number of pipe sections coupled end to end by intervening couplings; and the acoustic frequencies of said torsional acoustic waves are related to the nominal length of said drill string sections in a manner such that said drill string oscillates in at least one of its pass bands of torsional oscillation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
An acoustic communication system according to claim 11 wherein: said drill string is composed of a number of pipe sections coupled end to end by intervening couplings; and said transducer is adapted to be driven to produce in said drill string torsional acoustic waves related to the nominal length of said drill string sections in a manner such that said drill string oscillates in at least one of its pass bands of torsional oscillation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
An acoustic communication system according to claim 13 wherein: said drill string is composed of a number of pipe sections coupled end to end by intervening tool joints; and the acoustic frequencies of said torsional acoustic waves are related to the nominal length of said drill string sections in the manner such that said drill string oscillates in its base-band of torsional oscillation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
An acoustic communication system according to claim 9 wherein: said pipe is a drill string suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform; said transmitting station is located within said well bore and said receiving station is located above said transmitting station; and said means for establishing said acoustic waves comprises an electrical transducer coupled to said drill string and adapted to be energized by an electrical driving signal to launch said acoustic waves upwardly through said drill string to said receiving station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
An acoustic communication system according to claim 9 wherein: said pipe comprises a drill string suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform; one of said stations is located within said well bore; said drill string includes a drilling kelly at the upper end of said string; and said means for receiving said acoustic waves comprise an electroacoustic transducer embodied in said kelly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An acoustic communication system according to claim 16 wherein: said transducer comprises a magnetostrictive transducer including a tubular magnetostrictive body of non-circular cross-section forming the body of said kelly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
71 words
An acoustic communication system according to claim 17 wherein: said Transducer includes field conductors to be energized by the incident acoustic waves; a swivel rotatably connected to the upper end of said kelly for attachment to a hoist in said drilling platform; an electrical cable extending from said swivel for connection to said receiving means; and rotary electrical contacts on said kelly and swivel electrically connecting said transducer conductors and cable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
An acoustic communication system according to claim 18 including: means on said swivel for conducting drilling mud to a chamber within said swivel; and said kelly having a central mud passage extending through said transducer body and communicating said chamber to the mud passage in said drill string.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
An acoustic communication system according to claim 9 wherein: said pipe is a drill string suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform; and said means for establishing said acoustic waves comprises an electroacoustic transducer having a tubular body coupled in and forming a section of said drill string.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
An acoustic communication system according to claim 20 wherein: said transducer body has a central mud passage forming a section of the drill string mud passage.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of communicating information between signal-transmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a drill pipe having a drill bit at the lower end thereof and having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining zero order torsional acoustic waves, said method comprising the steps of: generating an information signal representing and containing said information, and which is other than the acoustic vibration that occurs naturally in the drill pipe due to grinding of the drill bit on the hole bottom during the drilling operation; establishing in said drill pipe zero order torsional acoustic waves which represent said information signal and contain the information to be transmitted and which travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through said intervening pipe length; and receiving said waves at said receiving station and recovering therefrom said information signal and its contained information.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of communicating information between signal-transmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a drill pipe having a drill bit at the lower end thereof and having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining zero order torsional acoustic waves, said method comprising the steps of: generating an information signal representing and containing said information, and which is other than the acoustic vibration that occurs naturally in the drill pipe due to grinding of the drill bit on the hole bottom during the drilling operation; establishing in said drill pipe zero order torsional acoustic waves which represent said information signal and contain the information to be transmitted and which travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through said intervening pipe length; and receiving said waves at said receiving station and recovering therefrom said information signal and its contained information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
143 words
A communication system for communicating information between signal-transmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a drill pipe having a drill bit at the lower end thereof and having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining zero order torsional acoustic waves, said system comprising: means for generating an information signal representing and containing said information, and which is other than the acoustic vibration that occurs naturally in the drill pipe due to grinding of the drill bit on the hole bottom during the drilling operation; means for establishing in said pipe zero order torsional acoustic waves which represent said signal and contain the information to be transmitted and which travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through said intervening pipe length; and receiving means at said receiving station for receiving said waves and recovering therefrom said signal and its contained information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
143 words
A communication system for communicating information between signal-transmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a drill pipe having a drill bit at the lower end thereof and having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining zero order torsional acoustic waves, said system comprising: means for generating an information signal representing and containing said information, and which is other than the acoustic vibration that occurs naturally in the drill pipe due to grinding of the drill bit on the hole bottom during the drilling operation; means for establishing in said pipe zero order torsional acoustic waves which represent said signal and contain the information to be transmitted and which travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through said intervening pipe length; and receiving means at said receiving station for receiving said waves and recovering therefrom said signal and its contained information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |