U.S. patent number RE30,246 [Application Number 05/836,328] was granted by the patent office on 1980-04-01 for methods and apparatus for driving a means in a drill string while drilling.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Texaco Inc.. Invention is credited to William R. McEvers, Jr., Albert P. Richter, Jr..
United States Patent |
RE30,246 |
Richter, Jr. , et
al. |
April 1, 1980 |
Methods and apparatus for driving a means in a drill string while
drilling
Abstract
.[.A method and at least one mechanism for carrying out the
method is disclosed. A method of (1) generating time modulated
torque pulses by engaging and disengaging a mud turbine driven
rotating torque generator in the bottom of a wellbore, and (2)
monitoring the top of the drill string for the torque pulses
therein may be practiced by a mud driven turbine inertial wheel for
being momentarily and precisely braked or decelerated relative to a
drill collar on the lower end of a drill string in a wellbore while
drilling for generating the time modulated torque pulses in the
drill string for being monitored at the surface. Mechanical,
electrical, and fluid operated brakes and a mud turbine driven
motor are disclosed for providing power to a motor at the bottom of
the drill string or for being intermittently braked rapidly for
generating the torque pulses..]. .Iadd. Methods and apparatuses for
driving a means, as a power generator in a drill string while
drilling, in a well are disclosed. One method comprises (1)
circulating drilling mud internally of the drill string, (2)
rotating a turbine in the drill string with the circulating
drilling mud, (3) driving the power generator in the drill string
with the mud driven turbine, and (4) powering a modulated torque
pulse generator control system with the power generator for
generating modulated torque pulses in the drill string. A
transmission system for driving a modulated pulse generator means
while drilling comprises (1) mud driven turbine means including a
cylindrically shaped turbine having inwardly extending vanes for
receiving and having drilling mud circulating therethrough, and (2)
the mud driven cylindrical turbine means being responsive to the
circulating drilling mud for powering the modulated pulse generator
means while drilling. .Iaddend.
Inventors: |
Richter, Jr.; Albert P.
(Houston, TX), McEvers, Jr.; William R. (Bellaire, TX) |
Assignee: |
Texaco Inc. (White Plains,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
26966353 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/836,328 |
Filed: |
September 26, 1977 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
363784 |
May 24, 1973 |
3837223 |
|
|
|
290676 |
Sep 20, 1972 |
3820389 |
|
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Reissue of: |
469147 |
May 13, 1974 |
03908770 |
Sep 30, 1975 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
175/65; 175/107;
175/93; 367/83; 73/152.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
4/00 (20130101); E21B 4/02 (20130101); E21B
47/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
47/16 (20060101); E21B 47/12 (20060101); E21B
4/02 (20060101); E21B 4/00 (20060101); E21C
007/08 (); E21B 003/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/18LD,18NC
;175/40,45,50,60,65,93,107,104 ;73/151,152 ;116/137 ;324/1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leppink; James A.
Assistant Examiner: Favreau; Richard E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ries; Carl G. Whaley; Thomas H.
Nichols; Theron H.
Parent Case Text
This is a division of application Ser. No. 363,784, filed May 24,
1973, now U.S. Pat. No. .[.3,837,233.]. .Iadd.3,837,223
.Iaddend.and is a continuation-in-part of our invention entitled
"Method and apparatuses for transmission of data from drill bit in
well while drilling", Ser. No. 290,676, filed .[.Aug..].
.Iadd.Sept. .Iaddend.20, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,389.
Claims
We claim:
1. A method for driving .Iadd.an electrical .Iaddend.generator in
the lower end of a drill string while drilling for powering a
control system in the drill string .Iadd.for controlling a torque
pulse generator for generating modulated torque pulses in the drill
string .Iaddend.comprising the steps of,
(a) circulating drilling mud internally of the drill string upper
end to the drill string lower end,
.Iadd.(b) flowing the drilling mud internally of a vaned turbine
wheel in the drill string, .Iaddend.
.[.b.]. .Iadd.(c) .Iaddend.rotating .[.a.]. .Iadd.the
.Iaddend.vaned turbine wheel in the drill string by action of the
downwardly circulating drilling mud .[.and.]. .Iadd.internally of
the vaned turbine wheel, .Iaddend.
.Iadd.(d) controlling the modulated torque pulse generator with a
control system, .Iaddend.
.[.(c).]. .Iadd.(e) .Iaddend.driving .[.a.]. .Iadd.the electrical
.Iaddend.generator in the drill string with the .Iadd.internal
.Iaddend.mud driven rotating vaned turbine wheel, and
.[.(d).]. .Iadd.(f) .Iaddend.generating electricity with said
.Iadd.electrical .Iaddend.generator for powering the
.Iadd.modulated torque pulse generator .Iaddend.control system
.Iadd.while drilling.Iaddend..
2. A transmission cycle for driving a .Iadd.power
.Iaddend.generator in the lower end of a drill string for powering
a control system in the drill string while drilling .Iadd.for
controlling a torque pulse generator for generating modulated
torque pulses in the drill string .Iaddend.comprising,
(a) pump means for circulating drilling mud from the upper end of
the drill string downwardly to the drill string lower end while
drilling,
.Iadd.(b) turbine wheel means in the drill string lower end having
drilling mud circulating internally thereof, .Iaddend.
.[.(b).]. .Iadd.(c) said .Iaddend.mud driven turbine wheel means
.[.in the drill string lower end.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.connected
to a .Iadd.power .Iaddend.generator in said drill string lower
end,
.[.(c).]. .Iadd.(d) .Iaddend.said mud driven turbine wheel means
being responsive to said downwardly circulating mud .[.in the drill
string.]. .Iadd.therethrough .Iaddend.while drilling for driving
said .Iadd.power .Iaddend.generator,
.[.(d).]. .Iadd.(e) .Iaddend.a .Iadd.modulated torque pulse
generator .Iaddend.control system mounted in the drill string,
and
.[.(e).]. .Iadd.(f) .Iaddend.said .Iadd.power .Iaddend.generator
being responsive to said mud driven turbine wheel means .Iadd.with
said drilling mud circulating therethrough .Iaddend.for powering
said .Iadd.modulated torque pulse generator .Iaddend.control system
.Iadd.while drilling.Iaddend.. .Iadd.
3. A method for driving a power generator in a drill string while
drilling for powering a control system in the drill string for
controlling a torque pulse generator for generating modulated
torque pulses in the drill string comprising the steps of,
(a) circulating drilling mud internally of the drill string,
(b) flowing the circulating drilling mud internally of a vaned
turbine wheel in the drill string,
(c) rotating the vaned turbine wheel in the drill string with the
circulating drilling mud therein,
(d) driving the power generator in the drill string with the
internal mud driven vane turbine wheel, and
(e) powering a torque pulse generator control system while drilling
with the power generator for generating modulated torque pulses in
the drill string. .Iaddend. .Iadd.4. A method as recited in claim 3
wherein the method comprises the additional steps,
(a) rotating the turbine with inwardly extending vanes on the
internal surface thereof, and
(b) circulating the drilling mud internally of the vaned turbine
for driving the power generator for powering the torque pulse
generator
control system. .Iaddend. .Iadd.5. A transmission system for
driving a torque pulse generator means for generating modulated
torque pulses in a drill string while drilling comprising,
(a) pump means for circulating drilling mud through a mud driven
turbine means in a drill string while drilling, wherein,
(b) said mud driven turbine means comprises a cylinder rotatably
mounted in the drill string,
(c) inwardly extending vanes on the internal surface of said
cylinder,
(d) torque pulse generator means in said drill string,
(e) said pump means being means for circulating drilling mud
through said cylinder while drilling for rotating said cylinder for
powering said torque pulse generator means for generating modulated
torque pulses in the drill string,
(f) said mud driven turbine means being responsive to said
circulating drilling mud while drilling for driving said torque
pulse generator means for generating the modulated torque pulses in
said drill string. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. A method for driving a torque
pulse generator means for generating modulated torque pulses in a
drill string while drilling comprising the steps of,
(a) circulating drilling mud through the drill string,
(b) flowing the drilling mud internally of a vaned turbine means in
the drill string,
(c) rotating turbine means in the drill string with the circulating
drilling mud, and
(d) powering the torque pulse generator means with the rotating
vane turbine means for generating modulated torque pulses in the
drill string
while drilling. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. A method for driving a pulse
generator system in a well while drilling comprising the steps
of,
(a) rotating a cylindrically shaped turbine rotor with inwardly
extending vanes on the internal surface of the cylinder,
(b) circulating drilling mud internally of the cylindrical
turbine,
(c) contacting the inwardly extending vanes of the cylindrical
turbine with the circulating drilling mud as the drilling mud
circulates through the cylindrical turbine for rotating the
turbine, and
(d) driving the pulse generator system by rotation of the
cylindrical turbine while drilling. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A
transmission system for driving a modulated pulse generator control
system means in a drill string while drilling in a well
comprising,
(a) mud driven turbine means including a cylindrical shaped turbine
having inwardly extending vanes,
(b) said cylindrical shaped turbine means inwardly extending vanes
having drilling mud circulating internally thereof, and
(c) said mud driven cylindrical turbine means with the inwardly
extending vanes being responsive to said circulating drilling mud
for powering said modulated pulse generator control system means
while drilling. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.9. A transmission system for driving a pulse generator means
for generating modulated pulses in a drill string while drilling in
a well comprising,
(a) pump means for circulating drilling mud through a drill string
while drilling,
(b) mud driven turbine means for a power generator means in the
drill string,
(c) said mud driven turbine rotor means comprising a cylindrically
shaped turbine having inwardly extending vanes for receiving and
having drilling mud circulating internally of said cylindrical
turbine,
(d) said mud driven cylindrical turbine means with said inwardly
extending vanes being responsive to said circulating drilling mud
therethrough while drilling for driving said power generator
means,
(e) pulse generator means in the drill string, and
(f) said power generator means being responsive to said mud driven
cylindrical turbine means for powering said pulse generator means
while drilling. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
While drilling wells such as wells for the recovery of petroleum
from subsurface petroleum containing formations, there are many
measurements which are desired by people doing the drilling for
determining the lithology being encountered as the wellbore
progresses deeper and deeper into the earth. The usual practice
today during the drilling of oil and gas wells is to interrupt the
drilling operation periodically, to pull the entire drill string
from the wellbore, and to run logging tools down into the wellbore
for determining the types of earth formations which have been
penetrated by the wellbore and the characteristics of such
formation layers indicative of the presence of petroleum deposits
prior to running the entire drill string back into the wellbore. As
the well gets deeper and deeper, the time required for the removal
and rerunning of this drill string, known in the industry as a
trip, becomes greater and greater. Some wells are so deep as to
require 24 hours to make a trip, plus many additional hours for the
running of a logging tool into the formation. Further it has long
been realized that it would be highly desirable to perform certain
basic logging operations during the course of the drilling
operation, and to transmit such information back up to the surface
either periodically or continually. If this were possible, it would
permit a complete record of the subsurface lithology to be
accumulated as the drilling proceeds and would not necessitate the
delay of drilling operations for the running of logs.
Thus it would be very advantageous, during drilling operations of a
wellbore, to possess a signal system for the transmission of
information from the area of the bottom of the wellbore near the
drill bit to the surface using the most convenient continuous
communications line available, the drill string, as the
communication medium. For many types of information, the signal
does not have to be transmitted continuously during drilling, but
can be transmitted at certain intervals. Exemplary information that
is needed very urgently at the surface during drilling are borehole
deviation, information from drilling tests stored in a memory unit
or a warning signal, as a pressure difference detected and stored
when drilling through a gas zone. Thus during drilling it would be
desirious to obtain this information as soon as possible.
While prior signal transmission systems comprise modulation of mud
pressure or mud flow by a variable valve in the mud conduit in the
bottom of the drill pipe, etc., as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,930,137;
3,327,527; or 3,345,867; these systems are not reliable due to
possible sticking of the valve because of the solids in the mud or
due to failure of the valve because of the abrasion thereof by the
mud per se. Another prior but different data transmissions system
comprises a controllable wellbore wall engaging means extending
transversely from the sides of the drill stem for momentarily
increasing the drag or torque in the drill pipe while rotating the
drill pipe for sending torque pulses to the surface through the
drill string. This latter system, invented by Jack H. Park, is
disclosed in patent application Ser. No. 279,899 filed Aug. 11,
1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,136 by Assignee of record. Others, as
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,375, have detected the mechanical
characteristics of rocks being drilled by comparing the vertical
vibrations and axial movement of the drilling assembly for
comparison with known rock properties and apparently any resultant
torsional accelerations as the drill bits roll over and grind up
the rocks.
Another similar but different torque signal transmission system is
disclosed by the instant inventors in their above-identified
co-pending parent patent application which utilizes pure inertial
devices which are detachably connected to and brought up to speed
by the rotating drill string, the drill string being stopped or
slowed momentarily and braking action applied to the rotating
inertial device. The inertial torque signal applied to the drill
string at the bit is transmitted through the drill string to the
surface and detected by a torque meter. This system requires
stopping or slowing of the drill string rotary speed to produce a
relative rotary speed between the inertia device and drill string.
While this system is useful for transmitting some types of
information, it is also desirable to have a continuous transmission
system that will send signals to the surface continuously during
the drilling operations with no stops or slowdowns of the rotating
drill string.
Further, a new apparatus for driving a motor or generator in the
lower end of the drill string comprising a mud driven turbine wheel
is disclosed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a
reliable method for transmission of data from the bottom of a
wellbore to the top while drilling.
Another primary object of this invention is to provide a data
transmission system utilizing a rotating torque pulse generator
that may be braked relative to the drill string for precise
interruption of torque forces therein without slowing down rotation
of the drill string when drilling for transmitting torque pulses
for detection at the top of the drill string.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a data
transmission system utilizing a mud turbine driven rotating
inertial wheel that is decelerated relative to the drill string
with a mechanical clutch while drilling.
Another object of this invention is to provide a data transmission
system utilizing a rotating torque pulse generator that is
decelerated relative to the drill string with a magnetic actuated
clutch while drilling.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a data
transmission system utilizing a rotating inertial wheel that is
braked relative to the drill string with a fluid operated clutch
while drilling.
A further object of this invention is to provide a mud driven
source of power in the lower end of the drill string for operating
a motor or generator therein.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a mud driven
turbine wheel torque pulse generating means in a drill string for
transmitting data relative to torque pulses in the lower end of the
drill string for traveling up through the drill string to a torque
pulse monitor at the top of the well.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a data
transmission system for continuous transmission of data from the
bottom of a wellbore without slowing down of the drill string while
drilling which is easy to operate, is of simple configuration, is
economical to build and assemble, and is of greater efficiency for
generating time modulated torque signals from the lower end of a
rotating drill string deep in a well to the surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings diagrammatically illustrate by way of example, not by
way of limitation, three forms or mechanisms for carrying out the
methods of the invention wherein like reference numerals have been
employed to indicate similar parts in the several views in
which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical view of the invention when
incorporated in an oil or gas well being drilled;
FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical enlarged sectional view of the
invention as mounted in a drill collar of the drill string of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is another modification of FIG. 2 having an electrically
operated clutch illustrated schematically in section; and
FIG. 4 is another modification of FIG. 2 having a fluid operated
clutch illustrated schematically in section.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention disclosed herein, the scope of which being defined in
the appended claims, is not limited in its application to the
details of construction and arrangements of parts shown and
described for carrying out the disclosed methods, since the
invention is capable of other embodiments for carrying out other
methods and of being practiced or carried out in various other
ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or
terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and
not of limitation. Further, many modifications and variations of
the invention as hereinbefore set forth will occur to those skilled
in the art. Therefore, all such modifications and variations which
are within the spirit and scope of the invention herein are
included and only such limitations should be imposed as are
indicated in the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS FOR DRIVING MOTOR AT BOTTOM OF DRILL
STRING
FIG. 1, a schematic vertical view of an oil or gas well drilling
rig, at the bottom of which is a drill collar 10 for containing the
apparatus for driving a motor or generator in the lower end of the
drill string.
FIG. 2, an enlarged schematic vertical sectional view of a portion
of the drill collar 10a with a mud turbine driven wheel 20 for
driving motor-generator 21 mounted between the drill collar 10a and
the turbine wheel 20. Mud turbine wheel 20 has turbine blades
22a-22d. The substantially steady flow of drilling mud down the
drill string internally of the drill collar 10 during drilling
.Iadd.from a conventional mud pump 39, FIG. 1, .Iaddend.is
sufficient to cause high speed rotation of motor-generator 21 for
generating more than adequate electric current for driving
practically any motor or system desired in the drill string.
DESCRIPTION OF THE .[.METHOD.]. .Iadd.METHODS .Iaddend.
.[.A method is set forth for transmitting data from the bottom of a
drill string in a wellbore during drilling thereof to the top of
the wellbore comprising the steps of,.].
.[.1. generating data by measuring preselected subsurface
parameters,.].
.[.2. generating torque pulses relative to the data by
intermittently braking a mud turbine driven rotating torque pulse
generator in a drill collar preferably on the lower end of the
drill string at the bottom of the wellbore, and.].
.[.3. monitoring the top of the drill string for the torque pulses
therein..].
.[.For greater details, the second step may comprise:.].
.[.1. interrupting the turning of a mud turbine driven rotating
inertial wheel on a drill string during drilling by momentarily
braking the mud turbine driven rotating inertial wheel to generate
torque pulses in the drill string relative to the data..].
.[.The second step may be modified further as by:.].
.[.1. braking a mud turbine driven rotating inertial wheel on the
lower end of a rotating drill string, and.].
.[.2. controlling the braking of the mud turbine driven rotating
inertial wheel relative to the drill string for generating the
precise torque pulses in the drill string relative to the
data..].
.[.More details of the third step of the basic method
comprise:.].
.[.1. monitoring the time modulation between the torque pulses in
the drill string..].
.[.The torque pulses may be either positive or negative..].
.[.Further details of the third basic step comprise:.].
.[.1. monitoring the time modulation of either the length of the
time between the pulses, the length of the pulse, or the number of
pulses in the drill string due to intermittent braking of the mud
turbine driven rotating torque pulse generator relative to the
drill collar..].
.Iadd.Methods are set forth for driving a means in a drill string
while drilling as a pulse generator system comprises the following
steps:
(1) rotating a cylindrically shaped turbine with inwardly extending
vanes on the internal surface of the cylinder,
(2) circulating drilling mud internally of the cylindrical
turbine,
(3) contacting the inwardly extending vanes of the cylindrical
turbine with the circulating drilling mud as the drilling mud
circulates through the cylindrical turbine for rotating the
turbine, and
(4) driving the pulse generator system by rotation of the
cylindrical turbine while drilling.
Another method for driving a torque pulse generator means for
generating modulated torque pulses in a drill string while drilling
comprises the following steps:
(1) circulating drilling mud through the drill string,
(2) rotating turbine means in the drill string with the circulating
drilling mud, and
(3) powering the torque pulse generator means with the rotating
turbine means for generating modulated torque pulses in the drill
string while drilling.
An apparatus for driving an electrical generator in the lower end
of a drill string while drilling for powering a control system in
the drill string for controlling a torque pulse generator for
generating modulated torque pulses in the drill string
comprises:
(1) pump means for circulating drilling mud from the upper end of
the drill string downwardly to the drill string lower end while
drilling,
(2) mud driven turbine wheel means in the drill string lower end
connected to a power generator in said drill string lower end,
(3) said mud driven turbine wheel means being responsive to said
downwardly circulating mud in the drill string while drilling for
driving said power generator,
(4) a modulated torque pulse generator control system mounted in
the drill string, and
(5) said power generator being responsive to said mud driven
turbine wheel means for powering said modulated torque pulse
generator control system while drilling. .Iaddend.
DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUSES OR SYSTEMS OF DATA TRANSMISSION FROM A
WELLBORE .Iadd.AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING A MEANS IN A DRILL STRING
.Iaddend.WHILE DRILLING
The drawings disclose several embodiments of the invention for
carrying out or practicing the above described method for
transmitting intelligence from the bottom of a wellbore of
conditions at the bottom to the surface, either while drilling is
in progress or during a lull in drilling.
FIG. 1, in greater detail discloses schematically a system for
carrying out the basic method of data transmission from a wellbore
during drilling operations.
In a drilling rig 11, FIG. 1, a suitable motor .[.12.]. .Iadd.not
shown, .Iaddend.drives a rotary table 14 with a sensitive torque
meter 13 connected there-between. A drill string 15 in wellbore 16
has a kelly 17 rotated at its upper end by the rotary table 14 and
has interconnected thereto drill pipes 18, measurement and
instrumentation module 25, drill collar 10, and a drill bit 19. A
conventional drilling mud pump may be incorporated with motor 12 or
preferably may be separate therefrom for circulating the mud
through the drill string 15.
EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 2
A feature of the invention is the mud turbine driven rotatable
torque pulse generators or inertial wheels, as wheel or cylinder 22
of FIG. 2, having conventional mechanical brakes, such as but not
limited to brake shoe type brakes 23a, controlled by a conventional
brake controller 24 for being intermittently actuated or braked
while drilling for varying the torque generated in the drill collar
10a and the drill string by the braked or decelerated inertial
wheel or cylinder 22 for generating torque pulses timed or
proportional to the wellbore information desired to be transmitted
from control system 24. Control system 24 is powered by the
generator 21 and its mud driven turbine wheel or cylinder 20 having
the propeller blades or vanes 22a-22d described above.
Controller 24 and measurement and instrumentation module 25 include
temperature, pressure, weight on the bit, and of other logging
parameters such as SP (self potential) or resistivity for operating
the brake 23a off and on for generating intermittent torque pulses
time modulated in proporation to the data transmitted, such as but
not limited to a conventional logging pulse generator. The
measurement and instrumentation module 25, FIG. 1, is connected
with wire 26, FIG. 2, to the controller 24 for generating data by
measuring preselected subsurface parameters. Likewise, the
controller may incorporate therein any suitable downhole tape
recorder system as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,566,597.
These torque variations or torque pulses generated in the lower end
of the drill string by the intermittent braking or decelerating of
the rotating inertial wheel 22 relative to the drill collar 10a in
drill string 15 in precisely timed intervals representing well
bottom data from the controller 24 are transmitted up through the
drill string, through the rotary table 14 to the sensitive torque
meter 13 where the data is received. This torque meter is any
suitable torque meter, such as but not limited to the Texaco Torque
Meter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,367 by Dr. H. A.
Rundell.
While only one inertial wheel 22, FIG. 2, and its attendant
operating parts as the conventional clutch or brake 23a, etc., all
positioned in a torque pulse generating module portion of drill
collar 10a, FIG. 1, are illustrated for simplicity and clarity of
disclosure, several inertial wheels are preferred to be controlled
by the single controller 24, FIG. 2.
Mud turbine driven rotatable torque pulse generator or rotating
inertial wheel or cylinder 22, FIG. 2, is rotatably mounted in
bearings 27a and 27b in drill collar 10a and protected from the
drilling mud in the center of the drill collar, if so desired, by a
protective sleeve (not shown). An exemplary protective sleeve is
illustrated in our above-identified co-pending parent patent
application. The clutch or brake mechanism 23a having conventional
brake shoes similar to automobile mechanical wheel brakes is
controlled by the controller 24 so that during drilling and
particularly when the drilling mud is circulated down internally of
the drill string, rotating the turbine wheels or cylinders, passing
through the drill bit and returning in the annular space around the
drill string to the surface, the clutch or brake mechanism 23a may
intermittently decelerate or engage and disengage the spinning
wheel 22 relative to the spinning drill collar 10a to produce a
series of opposite or positive torque forces in the drill collar
for detection at the surface by the torque meter. Accordingly,
vanes 22a-22d are preferably angularly set to rotate the turbine
driven inertial wheel 22 in a direction opposite to the direction
of rotation of the drill string for maximum relative motion between
the two for increased range of braking action.
Thus in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the mud turbine driven rotatable
torque pulse generator or inertial wheel is usually freely turning
relative to the spinning drill collar and accordingly may be
decelerated at any moment to generate positive torque pulses in the
drill string 15.
In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the conventional motor-generator device
21 .Iadd.is .Iaddend.connected between the drill collar 10a and the
inertial wheel 20 with a stator on one element, as on the drill
collar 10a and a rotor on the other element, as the inertial wheel
20. In operation, with several inertial wheels and
motor-generators, some are connected with conventional electrical
connections to generate electricity for storage thereof at the
controller 24 with relative movement between the inertial wheels
and the drill collar.
In operation of the modification of FIG. 2, as the mud turbine
driven rotatable torque pulse generating inertial wheel or cylinder
22 is freely spinning, at the proper preset time, the brake for
each of the several inertial wheels, if more than one wheel is
utillized, is engaged at the precise moment to transmit the coded,
time modulated torque pulses to the surface torque meter for
transmission of live information or information that has been
stored in the controller and measurement and instrumentation module
for transmission when called for.
Further, the embodiment of FIG. 2 may be operated by the controller
24 for precisely controlling the individual braking of at least two
inertial wheels for generating two torque pulses with the time
therebetween being relative to, or equal to a function of, the
measured parameter, as temperature of the formation, for
example.
MODIFICATION OF FIG. 3
FIG. 3 discloses another modification of the embodiment of FIG. 2
wherein a magnetic clutch or brake 23b is substituted for the brake
23a of FIG. 2. Inertial wheel 22, one of several inertial wheels,
if so desired, is rotatably mounted in drill collar 10b similar to
the embodiment of FIG. 2. Inertial wheel 22 has annular flanges 28
and 29 integral therewith and surrounded by a suitable magnetic
particle fluid or powder 30 which is solidified by an electrical
coil internally of brake 23b and connected by wire 31 to and
controlled by a controller (not shown) similar to that of FIG. 2.
Mud propeller blades or vanes 40a-40d rotate inertial wheel 22
relative to drill collar 10b.
In operation of the magnetic particle brake operated inertial wheel
22 of FIG. 3, with the magnetic particles declutched and lying
loosely, the mud turbine driven inertial wheel is allowed to rotate
at the desired high speed. Then at the preselected time, the clutch
or brake 23b is engaged or solidified momentarily or intermittently
to suddenly engage the inertial wheels in precise succession to
generate the time modulated torque pulses up the drill string to
the torque meter 13, FIG. 1, for transmission of data from the area
of the bottom of the well to the top in an efficient manner.
Likewise, this modification may be operated in various methods as
suggested for the modification of FIG. 2.
MODIFICATION OF FIG. 4
FIG. 4 illustrates another modification of the rotating torque
pulse generator of FIG. 2 in the form of hydraulic brakes 23c
connected with hydraulic lines 32 to a suitable hydraulic source
for braking the inertial wheels 22 for generating precisely timed
torque pulses in the drill collar 10c, FIG. 4, of the drill string.
The inertial wheel 22 illustrated has an annular flange 33 integral
with the outer surface thereof for operating with the two hydraulic
brakes 23c. Each brake comprises a piston 34 operable in a cylinder
35 connected to the high pressure hydraulic fluid line 32 similar
to controller 24 of FIG. 2. Piston 34 has conventional sealing
O-rings 36, a friction wear pad or surface 37 on the outer end of
the piston for pressing against the top side of flange 33.Iadd.,
and a tension spring 38 connected between the inner end of the
piston and the cylinder for maintaining the brakes free and
unlocked when the hydraulic lines are unpressurized. The hydraulic
brakes 23c for working against the lower side of the flange 33
.Iaddend.is similar to that above and may have a shield, if so
desired, for protecting the inertial wheel 22 from the mud
internally of the drill string as utilized and illustrated in our
above-identified copending patent. Mud driven turbine blades or
vanes 41a-41c rotate inertial wheel or cylinder 22 relative to
drill collar 10c.
Thus in operation of the hydraulic brakes 23c of FIG. 4, with the
hydraulic pressure line depressurized, the mud turbine driven
inertial wheel or cylinder 22 is allowed to rotate at the desired
speed. At the preselected time, the hydraulic brakes 23c are
actuated or pressurized to momentarily or intermittently suddenly
engage the friction pads 37 with both sides of flange 33 of each of
the inertial wheels to generate torque pulses up the drill string
to the torque meter at the surface for transmission of data from
the bottom of the well to the top. Likewise, this modification may
be operated in the various other methods set forth in regard to the
operation of the modification of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
In the latter torque pulse generators of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, while
it is preferred that a motor-generator like 20 of the embodiment of
FIG. 2 be utilized to power the controllers and instruments in
each, storage batteries may be used if so desired.
Obviously other methods may be utilized for transmission of signals
with the embodiments of either FIGS. 2, 3, or 4 than those listed
above, depending on the particular information desired to be
transmitted.
Accordingly, it will be seen that while drilling is in progress,
the disclosed methods and several data transmission systems will
transmit information from the bottom of a wellbore to the surface
and will operate in a manner which meets each of the objects set
forth hereinbefore.
While only a few methods of the invention and several mechanisms
for carrying out the methods have been disclosed, it will be
evident that various other methods and modifications are possible
in the arrangement and construction of the disclosed methods and
data transmission systems without departing from the scope of the
invention and it is accordingly desired to comprehend within the
purview of this invention such modifications as may be considered
to fall within the scope of the appended claims.
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