U.S. patent number RE32,463 [Application Number 06/092,087] was granted by the patent office on 1987-07-28 for method of and apparatus for telemetering information from a point in a well borehole to the earth's surface.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Norton Christensen, Inc.. Invention is credited to Clifford L. Ainsworth, Clifford H. Leach, John H. Westlake.
United States Patent |
RE32,463 |
Westlake , et al. |
July 28, 1987 |
Method of and apparatus for telemetering information from a point
in a well borehole to the earth's surface
Abstract
Down-hole information from rotary well drilling operations is
transmitted to a surface or remote location by the venting of
drilling fluid from the interior of the drill stem into the bore
hole annulus in a binary coded decimal format. A valve is caused to
operate by the digital output of one or more down-hole transducers
thus releasing and restoring the drilling fluid pressure in the
desired sequence. A "sub" contains the necessary electronics, power
supply and a motorized valve assembly. Commands from the surface to
transmit information from any one of the transducers are
transmitted by means of sequential pulses in a binary coded decimal
format, in the drilling fluid pressure are provided by the operator
by deliberately decreasing and then increasing the surface pump
pressure in a sequence to which the applicable down-hole actuating
means is responsive.
Inventors: |
Westlake; John H. (Calgary,
CA), Leach; Clifford H. (Penticton, CA),
Ainsworth; Clifford L. (Calgary, CA) |
Assignee: |
Norton Christensen, Inc. (Salt
Lake City, UT)
|
Family
ID: |
9878758 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/092,087 |
Filed: |
November 6, 1979 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
664745 |
Mar 8, 1976 |
04078620 |
Mar 14, 1978 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 10, 1975 [GB] |
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09787/75 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
175/48;
367/83 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
47/18 (20130101); E21B 47/22 (20200501) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
47/12 (20060101); E21B 47/18 (20060101); E21C
007/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;175/40,45,48,50
;367/83,84,85 ;73/151,153 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leppink; James A.
Assistant Examiner: Kisliuk; Bruce M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Banner, Birch, McKie &
Beckett
Claims
What we claim as our invention is: .[.
1. A method of telemetering information from a point in a well
bore-hole, to the earth's surface utilizing the drilling fluid pump
pressure comprising the steps of detecting the information
required, translating and transmitting said information into
digital signals, decreasing and then increasing the pump pressure
by venting the drilling fluid in a binary coded decimal format, by
said digital signals, remotely detecting said decreases and
increases of drilling fluid pump pressure and then decoding and
displaying the results of said increases and decreases of said
drilling fluid pump pressure and hence the information detected,
said translation and transmitting of the information being
initiated by the additional step of first decreasing and then
increasing the drilling fluid pump pressure at the surface in a
predetermined sequence..]. .[.2. In a well drilling rig which
includes a hollow drill string assembly within a bore-hole thereby
defining a bore-hole annulus, a rotatable bit on the lower end of
said hollow drill string, drill fluid restrictive nozzles in said
bit, a drilling fluid circulation system including a pump and a
source of drilling fluid, and conduit means operatively connecting
said pump to said source of drilling fluid and to said hollow drill
string; the improvement comprising in combination a down-hole
assembly installed within the associated drill string, means to
convey the associated drilling fluid under pressure, through said
assembly, a motorized valve within said assembly operatively
connected between said means to convey associated drilling fluid
through said assembly and the associated bore-hole annulus when the
valve is open and to shut off said last mentioned means when said
valve is closed, at least one information responsive transducer
operatively connected to said assembly, electronic means in said
assembly to translate information received by said transducer, into
means to open and close said valve in a binary coded decimal
sequence thereby decreasing and increasing the drilling fluid
pressure in said predetermined sequence, means remote from said
assembly to detect said decreases and increases in drilling fluid
pressure and means to decode and display said detected decreases
and increases in drilling fluid pressure, and a source of
electrical power for said assembly..]. .[.3. The assembly according
to claim 2 which includes a rate of pressure change switch
operatively connected to said motorized valve whereby said valve
only operates responsive to a decrease and increase in pressure if
the pressure of the drilling fluid changes a predetermined amount
in a fixed time or period..]. .[.4. The assembly according to claim
2 in which the assembly includes a cylindrical casing, a drilling
fluid conduit extending through said casing, an annular cavity
defined between said conduit and said casing, said conduit being
offset through part of said casing, said casing including an
electronic holding section within said cavity, an
electro-mechanical holding section within said cavity adjacent said
offset, and a power supply holding section within said cavity, and
means to seal off said cavities one from the other, said casing
being adjacently connected within said drill string..]. .[.5. The
assembly according to claim 2 in which said electronic means in
said assembly translates information received by said transducer
into digital signals for opening and closing said valve..]. .[.6.
The assembly according to claim 5 which includes remote input means
operatively connected to said drilling fluid circulation system to
decrease and then increase the associated pump pressure in a
sequence to which said means to open and close said valve is
responsive thereby initiating the operation of said valve to signal
information received from said transducer within said assembly, to
said means to decode and display said detected decreases
and increases in said drilling fluid pump pressure..]. .[.7. The
assembly according to claim 5 in which the assembly includes a
cylindrical casing, a drilling fluid conduit extending through said
casing, an annular cavity defined between said conduit and said
casing, said conduit being offset through part of said casing, said
casing including an electronic holding section within said cavity,
an electromechanical holding section within said cavity adjacent
said offset, and a power supply holding section within said cavity,
and means to seal off said cavities one from the other, said casing
being adjacently connected within said drill string..]. .[.8. The
assembly according to claim 3 in which the assembly includes a
cylindrical casing, a drilling fluid conduit extending through said
casing, an annular cavity defined between said conduit and said
casing, said conduit being offset through part of said casing, said
casing including an electronic holding section within said cavity,
an electromechanical holding section within said cavity adjacent
said offset, and a power supply holding section within said cavity
and means to seal off said cavities one from the other, said casing
being adjacently connected within said drll string..]. .[.9. The
assembly according to claim 5 which includes said means remote from
said assembly comprising a pressure-to-voltage transducer
operatively connected to said conduit means between said pump and
said hollow drill string, electronic means to receive and decode
signals from said pressure-to-voltage transducer, operatively
connected to said transducer and readout means operatively
connected to said electronic means..]. .[.10. The assembly
according to claim 9 which includes remote input means operatively
connected to said drilling fluid circulation system to decrease and
then increase the associated pump pressure in a sequence to which
said means to open and close said valve is responsive thereby
initiating the operation of said valve to signal information
received from said transducer within said assembly, to said means
to decode and display said detected decreases and increases in said
drilling fluid pump pressure..]. .[.11. The assembly according to
claim 2 which includes said means remote from said assembly
comprising a pressure-to-voltage transducer operatively connected
to said conduit means between said pump and said hollow drill
string, electronic means to receive and decode signals from said
pressure-to-voltage transducer, operatively connected to said
transducer and read-out means operatively connected to said
electronic means..]. .[.12. The assembly according to claim 11
which includes remote input means operatively connected to said
drilling fluid circulation system to decrease and then increase the
associated pump pressure in a sequence to which said means to open
and close said valve is responsive thereby initiating the operation
of said valve to signal information received from said transducer
within said assembly, to said means to decode and display said
detected decreases and increases in said drilling fluid pump
pressure..]. .[.13. The assembly according to claim 2 which
includes remote input means operatively connected to said drilling
fluid circulation system to decrease and then increase the
associated pump pressure in a sequence to which said means to open
and close said valve is responsive thereby initiating the operation
of said valve to signal information received from said transducer
within said assembly, to said means to decode and display said
detected decreases and increases in said drilling fluid pump
pressure..]. .[.14. The assembly according to claim 13 in which the
assembly includes a cylindrical casing, a drilling fluid conduit
extending through said casing, an annular cavity defined between
said conduit and said casing, said conduit being offset through
part of said casing, said casing including an electronic holding
section within said cavity, an electro-mechanical holding section
within said cavity adjacent said offset, and a power supply holding
section within said cavity, and means to seal off said cavities one
from the other, said casing being adjacently connected within said
drill string..].
.[.15. An information and transmitting assembly for rotary oil well
drilling string comprising in combination a cylindrical casing, a
drilling fluid conduit extending through said casing, an annular
cavity defined between said conduit and said casing, said conduit
being offset through part of said casing, a down-hole assembly
installed within said casing, a motorized valve within said casing
adjacent said offset, said valve being operatively connected
between said conduit and the exterior of said casing when said
valve is open and shutting off the connection between said conduit
and the exterior of said casing, when said valve is closed, at
least one information responsive transducer within said casing,
electronic means in said casing to translate information received
by said transducer into means to open and close said valve in a
binary coded decimal system thereby decreasing and increasing the
drilling fluid pressure within said conduit, means remote from said
casing to detect decreases and increases in drilling fluid pressure
and means to decode and display said detected decreases and
increases in drilling fluid pressures and a source of electrical
power within said casing..]. .[.16. The assembly according to claim
15 which includes remote input means operatively connected to said
drilling fluid circulation system to decrease and then increase the
associated pump pressure in a sequence to which said means to open
and close said valve is responsive thereby initiating the operation
of said valve to signal information received from said transducer
within said assembly, to said means to decode and display said
detected decreases and increases in said drilling fluid pump
pressure..]. .[.17. The assembly according to claim 15 which
includes a rate of pressure change switch operatively connected to
said motorized valve whereby said valve only operates responsive to
a decrease and increase in pressure if the pressure of the drilling
fluid changes a predetermined amount in a fixed time or period..].
.[.18. The assembly according to claim 15 in which the assembly
includes a cylindrical casing, a drilling fluid conduit extending
through said casing, an annular cavity defined between said conduit
and said casing, said conduit being offset through part of said
casing, said casing including an electronic holding section within
said cavity, an electromechanical holding section within said
cavity adjacent said offset, and a power supply holding section
within said cavity, and means to seal off said cavities one from
the other, said casing being adjacently connected within said drill
string..]. .[.19. The assembly according to claim 15 in which said
electronic means in said assembly translates information received
by said transducer, into digital signals for opening
and closing said valve..]. .[.20. The assembly according to claim
19 which includes remote input means operatively connected to said
drilling fluid circulation system to decreae and then increase the
associated pump pressure in a sequence to which said means to open
and close said valve is responsive thereby initiating the operation
of said valve to signal information received from said transducer
within said assembly, to said means to decode and display said
detected decreaes and increases in said drilling fluid pump
pressure..]. .[.21. The assembly according to claim 19 which
includes said means remote from said assembly comprising a
pressure-to-voltage transducer operatively connected to said
conduit means between said pump and said hollow drill string,
electronic means to receive and decode signals from said
pressure-to-voltage transducer, operatively connected to said
transducer and read-out means operatively connected to said
electronic means..]. .[.22. The assembly according to claim 21
which includes remote input means operatively connected to said
drilling fluid circulation system to decrease and then increase the
associated pump pressure in a sequence to which said means to open
and close said valve is responsive thereby initiating the operation
of said valve to signal information received from said transducer
within said assembly, to said means to decode and display said
detected decreases and increases in said drilling fluid pump
pressure..]. .[.23. The assembly according to claim 15 which
includes said means remote from said assembly comprising a
pressure-to-voltage transducer operatively connected to said
conduit means between said pump and said hollow drill string,
electronic means to receive and decode signals from said
pressure-to-voltage transducer, operatively connected to said
transducer and read-out means operatively connected to said
electronic means..]. .[.24. The assembly according to claim 23
which includes remote input means operatively connected to said
drilling fluid circulation system to decrease and then increase the
associated pump pressure in a sequence to which said means to open
and close said valve is responsive thereby initiating the operation
of said valve to signal information received from said transducer
within said assembly, to said means to decode and display said
detected decreases
and increases in said drilling fluid pump pressure..]. .Iadd.25. A
method of telemetering information from a point in a well borehole
to the earth'surface by utilizing a drill string extending into the
borehole, and thereby defining a borehole annulus, a drill bit on
one end of the drill string having at least one restrictive nozzle
therein, a drilling fluid pump connected to the other end of the
drill string, an assembly connected in the drill string and having
an unobstructed passage therethrough, a bypass passageway in the
assembly directly communicating the unobstructed passage to the
borehole annulus and a motorized valve in said bypass passageway,
the method comprising the steps of continuously pumping drilling
fluid under pressure through the drill string, through the
unobstructed flow passage and out through the drill bit nozzle,
detecting at a point in the borehole the information to be
telemetered, translating and transmitting said information into
digital signals, using said digital signals in operating said valve
to plurally decrease and increase the fluid pressure in the
drilling string by plurally opening and closing the valve in the
bypass passageway in a coded decimal format thereby venting a
portion of the drilling fluid directly into the borehole annulus
and bypassing the drill bit nozzle with said portion of fluid while
maintaining continuous unobstructed drilling fluid flow through the
assembly and continuous flow through the drill bit nozzle,
detecting the decreases and increases in the drilling fluid
pressure while continuously circulating the drilling fluid and
decoding and displaying at the surface the results of the decreases
and increases in drilling fluid pump pressure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26.
In a well drilling system which includes a hollow drill string
within a borehole thereby defining a borehole annulus, a drill bit
on one end of said hollow drill string, at least one drilling fluid
restrictive nozzle in said bit, a drilling fluid circulation system
including a surface pump and a source of drilling fluid, and
conduit means operatively connecting said pump to said source of
drilling fluid and to the other end of said hollow drill string;
the improvement comprising in combination, a down-hole assembly
having means connecting the assembly in the drill string, a
continuous unobstructed passage through said assembly in
communication with said drill string, a bypass passageway in said
assembly directly communicating the unobstructed passage in the
assembly to the borehole annulus and bypassing said drill bit
nozzle, a motorized valve in the bypass passageway for controlling
fluid flow directly to the associated borehole annulus when the
valve is open and to shut off said last mentioned flow when said
valve is closed, at least one information responsive transducer
operatively connected to said assembly, means in said assembly to
translate information received by said transducer into means to
plurally open and close said valve in a coded decimal sequence
thereby plurally decreasing and increasing the drilling fluid
pressure in said sequence, means remote from said assembly to
detect said decreases and increases in drilling fluid pressure,
means operatively connected to said detecting means to decode said
detected decreases and increases in drilling fluid pressure and
means at the surface to display the decoded information. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rotary
well drilling operations and provides the means for transmitting
desired down-hole imformation to the surface by causing the
drilling rig pump pressure to depart from its normal level in
sympathy with digital signals derived at a down-hole location. This
is accomplished by the venting of drilling fluid from the interior
of the drill stem into the borehole annulus in a binary coded
decimal format, by means of a valve that is caused to operate by
the digital output of one or more down-hole transducers.
In exploring for crude oil and natural gas, it is the present
practice to drill wells into the earth using a "rotary" drilling
technique. Under these circumstances, the drilling apparatus
includes means whereby a drill string (consisting of a number of
sections of hollow pipe and having a drill bit connected to the
lower end) is caused to rotate, while the amount of axial force
applied to the bit is carefully controlled.
While the well is being drilled, it is common practice to circulate
drilling fluid (some mixtures of which are colloquially known as
"mud") down through the hollow drill string, through restrictive
nozzles in the bit, and back to the earth's surface through the
annulus of the borehole. Upon reaching the earth's surface, the
drilling fluid (containing the cuttings from the drill bit) is
allowed to flow through a screening device into a series of tanks
from which it is recirculated through the borehole. Besides
providing the vehicle whereby cuttings are returned to the surface,
the drilling fluid acts to cool and lubricate the drill bit and the
exterior of the drill string. Also the drilling fluid prvides a
back pressure in the hole to more or less contain natural gas that
may be encountered during the drilling process.
For the fluid to provide the required cleaning and cooling action
with respect to the drill bit, the bit is constructed to include a
number of nozzles (typically three) through which the fluid is
forced at relatively high pressures. To accommodate the need for
such drilling fluid pressures, the drilling apparatus includes
pumps, piping, and the required swivel joint to permit the entry of
the fluid into the rotating drill string.
It has become increasingly apparent to the producers of crude oil
and natural gas, that means must be found to increase the
efficiency of drilling operations in order to offset sharply rising
costs. In part, the increased costs are due to the need to explore
in geographical areas that are more and more remote from the
markets for petroleum products.
Those skilled in the art of drilling wells recognize that the
efficiency would improve significantly if some means could be found
whereby they are advised of conditions at the bottom of the hole
while drilling is in progress. For example, the bit may encounter a
sloped sub-surface formation causing it to depart from the vertical
and commence drilling at an angle. Or if excessive weight is
inadvertently applied to the bit, the drill string will bend, again
causing the hole to depart from the vertical. If the bore-hole is
allowed to progress at an angle with respect to the vertical, the
"target" zone may be missed altogether, and the drill string will
be exposed to excessive wear due to the tangential rubbing action
at the point of hole curvature.
To determine whether or not the bore-hole has departed from the
vertical, it is the present practice to periodically stop drilling
while a "survey" is conducted. Typically, a survey is carried out
by lowering a recording inclinometer (EG: one in which the position
of pendulum is photographed) down the interior of the drill string
on electrically conducting wires.
Alternatively, an instrument responsive to inclination and
triggered by a clockwork mechanism may be dropped into the drill
string and recovered later. The former technique is expensive and
time consuming, and necessitates the stopping of fluid
circulation--which emphasizes the possibility of the drill string
becoming stuck in the hole. The latter technique will only provide
information considerably after the fact, and if the instrument
happened to encounter an obstruction en route to the bottom of the
hole, the clockwork mechanism may have triggered the recording too
soon, thereby providing seriously misleading information.
To facilitate further research into well drilling operations, it
would be useful to have other information (EG: temperature,
pressure, weight on bit, etc.) telemetered from the bottom of the
hole while wells are being drilled. This information would be used
to more accurately predict the performance of various types of
bits, the likelihood of encountering a gas bearing formation, the
optimization of table RPM and weight on the bit to achieve maximum
penetration rate, the mixture of mud that should be used, and the
like.
Clearly, then, an instrument that will effect the transmission of
down-hole information to the earth's surface, dependably, without
the use of wire lines, would provide drillers with the means to
significantly improve the efficiency of their operations.
Numerous attempts have been made to build a device that will
provide wireless transmission from a down-hole location to the
earth's surface. For example, various systems based upon the
transmission of acoustical waves through the steel drill string or
through the drilling fluid have been described in the prior art.
However, such factors as the attenuation of the signals by the
drill string immersed in the drilling fluid, bubbles in the
drilling fluid, the ambient noise in the drilling apparatus, the
hostility of the down-hole environment (with respect to
temperature, pressure, and vibration), the transfer of energy from
transducers into the transmission medium, the need for transducers
into the transmission medium, the need for relatively large amounts
of electrical power in the down-hole apparatus, and the need for
"rugged simplicity," have, insofar as the applicants are aware,
precluded the reduction of such prior art to actual use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the broad object of the present invention to solve problems
encountered in the prior art with respect to the transmission of
information from a point in a well bore-hole to the earth's
surface. This is accomplished by means of a down-hole valve
assembly that permits drilling fluid to exit from the interior of
the drill string and enter the bore-hole annulus, such that the
pressure applied to the drilling fluid by the surface pumps will
experience a significant decrease each time the valve is
opened.
Transmission of information from the down-hole location is effected
by selectively opening and closing the valve in sympathy with
logical ones and zeroes that are obtained electronically from
sub-surface transducers. At the earth's surface, the transmitted
information is received by electronically detecting the variations
in pump pressure caused by the opening and closing of the downhole
valve. Therefore, under conditions of dynamic drilling fluid
circulation, information is transmitted from a down-hole location
to the earth's surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide means whereby
the down-hole instrumentation and valve assembly can be actuated on
command from the surface. If the driller wishes to interrogate a
sub-surface transducer that is included as an input means to the
present apparatus, he can do so by deliberately decreasing and then
increasing the surface pump pressure in a sequence to which the
applicable down-hole actuating means is responsive.
With the foregoing objects in view, and other such objects and
advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to
which this invention relates as this specification proceeds,
.[.my.]. .Iadd.our .Iaddend.invention consists essentially in the
arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more
particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic view showing the rotary drilling
technique, including the sub-surface instrumentation and
transmitting "sub" of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the surface electronic circuitry.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation of the instrumentation and
transmitting "sub".
FIG. 4 is a cross section substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG.
3.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic view showing the interior of
the instrumentation and transmitting "sub" and taken substantially
long the line 5--5 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of the voltage analog of pump pressue vs time
as detected by the surface receiving apparatus with the down-hole
valve closed.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of the voltage analog of pump pressure vs time
as detected by the surface receiving apparatus with the down-hole
valve opened, and closed.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1,
there is shown therein a simplified sketch of the apparatus used in
a conventional rotary drilling rig. The drill string collectively
designated 10, consists of a drill bit 11 affixed to the lower end,
one or more drill collars 12, having a greater weight and greater
mean diameter than the sections of drill pipe 13, and a "kelly" 14
having a polygon cross section.
A rotary table 15 includes a centrally located polygon shaped hole
(not illustrated) to loosely accommodate the kelly 14, such that
rotational movement of the table 15 causes the kelly 14, and hence
the entire drill string 10, to rotate. The drill collars 12 are
included to increase the weight of the drill string, such that the
overall center of gravity of the drill string is located towards
the bottom end.
The top end of the kelly 14 is connected to a swivel joint 16
which, in turn, is connected to a supporting hook 17. The hook is
affixed to the travelling block of a "block and tackle" assembly
(not illustrated) whereby the drill string 10 may be raised and
lowered by means of a rig's draw-works. The swivel joint 16 permits
the drill string to rotate while the hook 17 remains fixed; it also
affords a means whereby drilling fluid can be injected into the
interior of the drill string from a flexible mud stand-pipe 18.
The drilling fluid (mud) circulation system consists of one or more
pumps (not illustrated) used to force the mud through the
stand-pipe 18, through the interior of the drill string 10, through
restrictive nozzles 11A in the drill bit 11, through the annulus
19, back to the earth's surface, and through a mud output flow line
20 into a series of tanks (not illustrated). The input of the pump
is effected by means of a suction line into one of the mud tanks
(not illustrated) thereby completing the circulatory system. All of
the foregoing apparatus is conventional.
FIG. 1 shows the down-hole assembly or "sub" portion 21 of the
present invention as it may be installed in the drill string 10
(typically) above the drill bit, and containing the electronic,
electrical, and mechanical devices hereinafter to be described.
In FIG. 2, there is shown an arrangement of electronic circuitry
that is part of the present invention and is located in some
convenient place in the "on surface" rig's quarters. This circuitry
operates in conjunction with the down-hole apparatus to receive,
decode and read-out the information that is telemetered from the
sub-surface location. Also, the surface installation includes a
means of electronically interpreting the variations in pump
pressure so as to facilitate the interrogation of the down-hole
apparatus.
In particular, 22A is a "pressure to Voltage" transducer, well
known in the art, that provides an output voltage having a
magnitude that is predictably related to the pressure of the
drilling fluid in the piping between the pump and the swivel joint
16. The analog signal indicative of pump pressure is processed by
the pressure transducer electronics 22B for subsequent
receive/decode treatment 22C and presentation in analog and/or
digital formats in such devices as strip chart recorders and
in-line digital displays 22D. The interrogation module 22E is
typically located within the range of vision of the driller while
he is operating the rig's controls. This interrogation module
presents the driller with a visual indication of the ON/OFF pumping
events he is to follow in order to interrogate the down-hole
detection and transmission means. Typically, the interrogation
module 22E will respond to the output of the pressure transducer
22A such that in a series of six lamps (not illustrated), the first
is illuminated when the pump pressure decreases an amount
consistent with the sensitivity of the down-hole pressure detecting
means. Observing that the first lamp is lit, the driller
re-energizes the motor driving the pump, and the subsequent
pressure increase is detected by the transducer 22A. When said
pressure increases an amount consistent with the down-hole system's
upper pressure response point, the second lamp in the interrogation
module's series is automatically illuminated, advising the driller
that the interrogation sequence requires him to again cause a
pressure decrease by de-activating the pump. By responding to the
ON/OFF commands of the lamps within a predetermined time period
(typically 30 seconds) the driller has created a series of pressure
variations or "pulses" to which the down-hole instrumentation is
responsive. This constitutes the remote input means operatively
connected to the drilling fluid circulation system to decrease and
then increase the associated pump pressure in a sequence to which
said means to open and close said valve is responsive, and referred
to in some of the claims. The result of such interrogation is to
activate an asynchronous down-hole detection/transmission apparatus
such that the magnitude of the selected sub-surface parameter is
reported to the surface by the means herein described. As the
circuitry for the lamp is well known, it is not deemed necessary to
illustrate same. Furthermore other indicating devices could be
used.
In FIG. 3, there is shown an exterior view of the down-hole
instrumentation and transmitting "sub" 21 of the present invention,
and in FIG. 5 there is shown an interior view (section 5--5) of the
"sub".
Referring now to FIG. 5, the drilling fluid flows downward through
the wash-pipe 23 that has an offset section 23A for the purpose of
providing space for the electro/mechanical sub-systems of the
present invention.
The down-hole instrumentation is in a quiescent state until it is
actuated by a command from the surface as previously described. The
means whereby the down-hole instrumentation is responsive to the
"command" pressure variations includes a rate of pressure change
(dp/dt) switch 24 contained in an electro/mechanical cavity 30,
with associated electronic circuitry contained in an annular
electronic cavity 25. The (dp/dt) switch 24 is responsive to the
time rate of change of drilling fluid pressure. This switch, which
is conventional, will operate if, and only if, the pressure of the
drilling fluid changes a predetermined amount in a fixed time
interval.
Having accepted the activating command from the surface, the
down-hole instrumentation will carry out, automatically, the
following sequence:
(a) Energize a transducer (EG: Temperature to voltage) contained in
the transducer housing 26.
(b) Convert the voltage analog (the output of the transducer) to a
digital word, in which binary 1's and 0's are identified by
discrete voltage levels. This digital word is then temporarily
stored in a shift register (not illustrated) in the electronic
cavity 25.
(c) In a timing sequence consistent with the practicality of the
system, serialize the digital word by applying clock pulses to the
shift register.
(d) By means of buffering and power amplifiers, (not illustrated)
use the serial digital word to activate the motor of the
motor/valve 27, whereby a portion of the drilling fluid is
permitted to exit from the wash-pipe 23 and enter the annulus 19
without having passed through the restrictive nozzles in the drill
bit 11. Because the valve is actuated by the digital word derived
from the transducer, the releasing of the drilling fluid from the
wash-pipe to the annulus will occur in a sequence of GO/NO-GO
events indicative of the physical measurement made by the
transducer.
The electrical power required to carry out the foregoing operations
is provided (typically) by a battery of dry cells (not illustrated)
contained in the annular power supply cavity 28. Electrical cabling
29 is used to interconnect the various components and devices
constituting the instrumentation package. The three functional
cavities 25, 28 and 30 are separated by means of seals 31 and 32.
Alternatively, it is preferable that these cavities or components
are each a self-contained module having closed ends, and screw
threadably connected together to form the complete "sub" 21, in
order to isolate the cavities from one another in the event that a
seal 31 ruptures for example, as the drilling fluid would damage or
destroy the electronics and/or power supply.
In the event that a plurality of down-hole measurements are to be
made, the apparatus is expandable to include sampling and
multiplexing circuitry (well known in the electronics art) such
that a series of identifiable digital words, each word reflecting
the output of a specific measurement transducer, may be used to
activate the valve 27 in a sequential manner as previously
described.
Having established that the present apparatus will, on command from
the surface; cause a portion of the drilling fluid to be
sequentially released from the interior of the drill string 10 into
the annulus 19 in such a way as to digitally conform to the
measurement of physical quantities in a down-hole location, we now
proceed to a description of the means whereby the said digital
information is transmitted to the earth's surface and there
received and displayed.
In FIG. 6 there is shown a plot that is typical of PUMP PRESSURE vs
TIME as experienced in normal well drilling operations. The average
pump pressure is shown to be 1000 psi, with cyclic variations above
and below this value caused by the reciprocating motion of the
piston in the pump. As previously mentioned, this pressure is
applied to overcome the resistance offered by the nozzles in the
drill bit 11.
In FIG. 7 there is shown a plot of the reaction of pump pressure
when the down-hole valve 27 of the present invention is opened.
Assuming that there are three nozzles 11A (of equal size) in the
drill bit 11, and that the valve controlled path affords a drilling
fluid throughput (from the wash-pipe 23 to the annulus 19) that is
equivalent to one of the bit nozzles, then the opening of the valve
27 will cause a net 25% decrease in pump pressure. In FIG. 7 the
opening of the valve commences at t=5 seconds and requires
approximately 1 second to open fully. Commencing at t=6 seconds,
then, the average pump pressure is seen to be 750 psi. At t=8
seconds the valve starts to close, and is completely closed at t=9
seconds, at which time the pump pressure returns to its original
average value of 1000 psi. At t=12 seconds the sequence is
repeated. In each of the two cases, the valve is fully open for a
total of 2 seconds.
The timing of the valve opening and closing events will be
influenced by various factors and is therefore made variable in
this apparatus. For example, a particular drillng rig may include a
surge suppressor in the drilling fluid circulating system, and this
compressed air device will tend to integrate the pressure waves
that form the basis for the present communications medium. To
overcome this effect, the down-hole valve is caused to remain open
for a period that compensates for the time constant of the
integrating surge suppressor, and may, as a result, require a
slightly longer time to transmit a given digital word.
In the present invention, a pressure to voltage transducer 22A is
installed in the pipe 18A between the pump and stand-pipe 18. The
object of this transducer is to provide, on a continual basis, a
voltage that is analogous to the pressure applied to the drilling
fluid by the rig's pump. The voltage output of this transducer is
automatically monitored by electronics circuitry 22B such that
significant pressure decreases, caused by the opening of the
down-hole valve 27 are detected.
Operating in conjunction with the transducer electronics there is a
surface "RECEIVER" 22C as shown in FIG. 2. This receiver contains
electronics circuitry that will establish, by means of timing
pulses, the validity of the information as reported by the pressure
transducer 22A. If the information is valid, it will be processed
by the receiver 22C and subsequently transferred to a "read-out"
means 22D in a format that is meaningful to the rig operator.
To summarize the present invention, a measurement of one or more
down-hole parameters is made and digitized; the digital word is
used to release drilling fluid from the interior of the drill
string to the annulus in a sequence conforming to the digital word;
the resulting decrease in pump pressure is detected at the earth's
surface, and presented to the rig operator in a meaningful way.
Since various modifications can be made in our invention as
hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different
embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims
without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that
all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
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