US4001773A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic telemetry system for oil wells utilizing self generated noise
Assignee: AMERICAN PETROSCIENCE CORP
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Filing: 1975-07-28
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Granted: 1977-01-04
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Expires: 1995-07-28
Abstract
Abstract An acoustic communication method and system are disclosed for transmitting information through a well-bore drill string by using the acoustic noise inherently generated in the drill string by drilling operations as a "carrier" propagated therealong to be modulated by the information to be transmitted. In the drilling of wells, the action of the drill tool on the bottom of the bore hole creates acoustic noise within the drill string. Other suitable sources of "noise" are often present during "drilling operations", as broadly defined, even while bore drilling, as such, is suspended. This noise usually consists both of wide-band continuous acoustic energy and of narrow spectral lines of acoustic energy and is usually present in a variety of acoustic modes such as longitudinal and torsional acoustic waves. The detailed characteristic of this acoustic noise depends on the type of drill tool used, the drilling speed and the type of formation being drilled. When this inherently generated noise is modulated by an information containing signal at a signal-transmitting station, acoustic communication of information is possible while drilling is in progress, or, in some cases, while drilling as such is suspended. The communication occurs between the transmitting station and a signal-receiving station spaced along the drill string, using the intervening length of drill string between the signal-transmitting and signal-receiving stations as an acoustic transmission channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur E. Lamel
- 👤 William D. Squire
- 👤 Harper J. Whitehouse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:05
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/12; E21B47/14; E21B47/16; G; G01; G01H; G01H1/00; G01H1/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
In a well drilling system, a method of communicating information between signal-transmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a drill string having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining acoustic waves within the substance of the string, comprising the steps of: utilizing, for the communication of said information, acoustic waves that are already present in the drill string solely as an inherent consequence of conducting drilling operations in said system and which can propagate along said drill string, within the substance thereof, at least between said transmitting and receiving stations; generating a modulating signal containing the information to be transmitted; modulating said acoustic waves in said drill string at said transmitting station by said modulating signal according to a predetermined modulating mode to contain the information to be transmitted, all in such manner that resulting modulated acoustic waves then travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through the substance of the drill string; and receiving said modulated waves at said receiving station to recover said signal and its contained information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a well drilling system, a method of communicating information between signal-transmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a drill string having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining acoustic waves within the substance of the string, comprising the steps of: utilizing, for the communication of said information, acoustic waves that are already present in the drill string solely as an inherent consequence of conducting drilling operations in said system and which can propagate along said drill string, within the substance thereof, at least between said transmitting and receiving stations; generating a modulating signal containing the information to be transmitted; modulating said acoustic waves in said drill string at said transmitting station by said modulating signal according to a predetermined modulating mode to contain the information to be transmitted, all in such manner that resulting modulated acoustic waves then travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through the substance of the drill string; and receiving said modulated waves at said receiving station to recover said signal and its contained information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: at least part of said drill string is suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
104 words
A method of communicating information according to claim 1, wherein: said drill string has a drill bit at its lower end, and said acoustic waves utilized for said communication of information are already present in said drill string as an inherent consequence of driving said drill string in its drilling motion while said drill bit is in contact with the bottom of said bore, thereby creating said acoustic waves in said drill string by virtue of the stresses induced in said string by the drilling action of said bit, said waves travelling upwardly through said drill string from said bit to said transmitting station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said acoustic waves utilized for said communication of information are zero order torsional waves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 wherein: said transmitting station is located within said well bore and said receiving station is above said transmitting station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5, including the step of locating said transmitting station in the vicinity of the drill bit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said acoustic waves utilized for said communication of information are already present in said drill string as an inherent consequence of driving said drill string in its drilling motion by machinery which inherently produces acoustic waves in the drill string.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said drilling system includes a fluid driven turbine at the lower portion of the drill string, and drilling means at the lower end of the drill string driven by said turbine, comprising: driving said turbine by circulation fluid conveyed to it down the drill string, and thereby producing in said drill string said acoustic waves to be modulated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the turbine is suspended from the drill string and arranged to turn on a transverse axis when said turbine is driven by said circulation fluid, and said drilling means is turned on said axis by said turbine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the turbine is within the lower portion of the drill string, and includes a circulation fluid-driven rotor turning on a substantially longitudinal axis of the drill string, and said drilling means is a bit driven by said turbine and turning on said axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a well drilling system, a communication system for communicating information between signal-transmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a drill string having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining acoustic waves within the substance of the string, comprising: means for utilizing, for the communication of said information, acoustic waves that are already present in the drill string solely as an inherent consequence of conducting drilling operations in said well drilling system and which can propagate along said drill string, within the substance thereof, at least between said transmitting and receiving stations, said means including; means for generating a modulating signal containing the information to be transmitted; means for modulating said acoustic waves in said drill string at said transmitting station by said modulating signal according to a predetermined modulating mode to contain the information to be transmitted, all in such manner that resulting modulated acoustic waves travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through the substance of the drill string; and means for receiving said modulated waves at said receiving station to recover said signal and its contained information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a well drilling system, a communication system for communicating information between signal-transmitting and signal-receiving stations spaced along a drill string having an intervening length between said stations capable of sustaining acoustic waves within the substance of the string, comprising: means for utilizing, for the communication of said information, acoustic waves that are already present in the drill string solely as an inherent consequence of conducting drilling operations in said well drilling system and which can propagate along said drill string, within the substance thereof, at least between said transmitting and receiving stations, said means including; means for generating a modulating signal containing the information to be transmitted; means for modulating said acoustic waves in said drill string at said transmitting station by said modulating signal according to a predetermined modulating mode to contain the information to be transmitted, all in such manner that resulting modulated acoustic waves travel from said transmitting station to said receiving station through the substance of the drill string; and means for receiving said modulated waves at said receiving station to recover said signal and its contained information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The communication system according to claim 11 wherein: at least part of said drill string is suspended within a well bore from a drilling platform.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
A system to claim 11, wherein: said drill string has a drill bit at its lower end, and said acoustic waves utilized for communicating information by said means are present as an inherent consequence of movement of said drill bit in engagement with the bottom of said bore as said drill string is driven in its drilling motion, all in a manner to create in said drill string acoustic waves due to the stresses induced in said string by the drilling action of said bit, said waves travelling upwardly through said drill string to said transmitting station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 11, wherein: said acoustic waves utilized for communicating information by said means are zero order torsional acoustic waves.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 12, wherein: said transmitting station is within said well bore and said receiving station is above said transmitting station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 15, wherein: said transmitting station is in the vicinity of the drill bit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The well drilling system according to claim 11, including means for driving said drill string in its drilling motion, including machinery that is an inherent component of said driving means and which incidentally produces said acoustic waves in the drill string.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
The well drilling system according to claim 11, including a fluid-driven turbine at the lower portion of the drill string, drilling means at the lower end of the drill string driven by said turbine, said drilling means operating when rotated to produce in the drill string said acoustic waves to be modulated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system according to claim 18, wherein the turbine is suspended from the drill string and arranged to turn on an axis transverse of said string and said drilling means is turned on said axes by said turbine when said turbine is driven by said circulation fluid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system according to claim 18, wherein: said turbine is within the lower portion of the drill string, and includes a fluid-driven rotor turning on a substantially longitudinal axis of the drill string, and said drilling means is a bit driven by said turbine and turning on a substantially longitudinal axis of the drill string.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-04 | 1980-07-05 | 1981-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-04 | 1984-07-05 | 1985-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-04 | 1988-07-05 | 1989-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |