US4689775A — Direct radiator system and methods for measuring …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 146 words

For use in conducting drilling operations employing a string of drill pipe extending from the earth's surface having a drilling means at the lower end and a column of drilling fluid within the drill string, a telemetering system comprising: a housing forming a portion of a drill string providing for the flow of drilling fluid therepast; means carried by said housing for detecting the magnitude of a downhole parameter and for producing a succession of electrical signals representing said magnitude; means carried by said housing for producing discrete code formatted increments of fluid pressure change in the drilling fluid column irrespective of the flow of drilling fluid in response to said electrical signals thereby producing pressure variations which are propagated to the earth's surface; and means at the earth's surface to detect such pressure variation and to provide a measure of the magnitude of said parameter.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 146 words

For use in conducting drilling operations employing a string of drill pipe extending from the earth's surface having a drilling means at the lower end and a column of drilling fluid within the drill string, a telemetering system comprising: a housing forming a portion of a drill string providing for the flow of drilling fluid therepast; means carried by said housing for detecting the magnitude of a downhole parameter and for producing a succession of electrical signals representing said magnitude; means carried by said housing for producing discrete code formatted increments of fluid pressure change in the drilling fluid column irrespective of the flow of drilling fluid in response to said electrical signals thereby producing pressure variations which are propagated to the earth's surface; and means at the earth's surface to detect such pressure variation and to provide a measure of the magnitude of said parameter.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 55 words

A telemetering system according to claim 1 wherein said housing is in the form of a tubular member of external diameter less than the internal diameter of the drill string in which the housing is positioned, and wherein said means for producing increments of pressure is a reciprocally actuated means positioned within said tubular member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

A telemetering system according to claim 2 wherein said reciprocally actuated means is a piston.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

A telemetering system according to claim 2 wherein said reciprocally actuated means is a diaphram.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

A telemetering system according to claim 2 wherein said reciprocal means is actuated by a solenoid means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 71 words

A telemetering system according to claim 1 wherein said housing is formed at least in part by an elongated tubular member of external diameter less than the internal diameter of the drill string in which the housing is positioned, the effective length of the tubular member being a selected fractional multiple of the wavelength of the major frequency component of the pressure (pulses) variations produced by said pressure increments producing means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

A telemetering system according to claim 6 wherein said fractional multiple defining the length of said tubular member is 1/4.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

A telemetering system according to claim 1 in which said housing is retrievable from within said string of drill pipe by means supported to a cable extending from the surface.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

A telemetering system according to claim 1 in which said housing is positionable at an operating location within said string of drill pipe by means supported to a cable extending from the surface, the cable being removable after the housing is positioned.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

A telemetering system according to claim 1 wherein said means for producing localized increments of fluid pressure changes in the column of drilling fluid includes means or producing shock waves.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 95 words

A telemetering system according to claim 1 wherein said means for producing increments of fluid pressure changes comprises: a displaceable member exposed to the column of drilling fluid and having first and second surfaces; means of rapidly displacing said member to create pressure increments at said first and second surfaces of opposite polarity; means of coupling said pressure increments at said first surface with said fluid column for transmission as pressure pulses to the earth's surface; and means of attenuating said pressure increments at said second surface to minimize interference with said transmitted pressure pulses.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

A telemetering system according to claim 11 wherein said means of attenuating said pressure increments includes a tubular attenuation member extending from said housing and communicating with said displaceable member second surface to receive pressure increment changes therefrom.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

A telemetering system according to claim 12 wherein said tubular member communicating with said displaceable member second surface is of a length equivalent to 1/4 the wavelength of the major frequency component of said first surface pressure increment changes.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

A telemetering system according to claim 11 wherein said means of attenuating said pressure increment changes at said second surface includes muffler means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

A telemetering system according to claim 11 wherein said means of attenuating said pressure increment changes at said second surface includes silencer means.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 176 words

A system for telemetering from the bottom of a borehole to the surface of the earth by borehole fluid pressure pulses irrespective of the flow of borehole fluid, comprising; (a) an electrically driven member located near the bottom of said borehole and immersed in said fluid; (b) means for displacing said member in a manner indicative of the value of a downhole parameter, each displacement generating first fluid pressure increments of one polarity on a first side of said member and second fluid pressure increments of opposite polarity on the opposite side of said member, said first and second pressure increments occurring in approximate time coincidence and tending to cause pressure increments cancellation effects, said first fluid pressure increments being transmitted directly to said borehole fluid; (c) fluid pressure increment delay means coupled to said second side to delay the time of transmission of said second pressure increments to said borehole fluid and thus to reduce said cancellation effects; and (d) means at the earth's surface to detect the pressure increments produced by said first side.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 176 words

A system for telemetering from the bottom of a borehole to the surface of the earth by borehole fluid pressure pulses irrespective of the flow of borehole fluid, comprising; (a) an electrically driven member located near the bottom of said borehole and immersed in said fluid; (b) means for displacing said member in a manner indicative of the value of a downhole parameter, each displacement generating first fluid pressure increments of one polarity on a first side of said member and second fluid pressure increments of opposite polarity on the opposite side of said member, said first and second pressure increments occurring in approximate time coincidence and tending to cause pressure increments cancellation effects, said first fluid pressure increments being transmitted directly to said borehole fluid; (c) fluid pressure increment delay means coupled to said second side to delay the time of transmission of said second pressure increments to said borehole fluid and thus to reduce said cancellation effects; and (d) means at the earth's surface to detect the pressure increments produced by said first side.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 120 words

A telemetering system for transmitting measurements from within a borehole to the earth's surface employing, as a transmitting medium, a drilling fluid column contained in a drill string, comprising: means carried by the drill string for detecting the magnitude of a downhole parameter and for producing an electrical signal representing said magnitude; self contained means independent of extraneous energy source carried by the drill string and irrespective of the flow of drilling fluid for producing code formatted fluid pressure changes in the drilling fluid column in response to said electrical signal, thereby producing pressure variations which are propagated; and means at the earth's surface to defect such pressure variations and to provide a measure of the magnitude of said parameter.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 120 words

A telemetering system for transmitting measurements from within a borehole to the earth's surface employing, as a transmitting medium, a drilling fluid column contained in a drill string, comprising: means carried by the drill string for detecting the magnitude of a downhole parameter and for producing an electrical signal representing said magnitude; self contained means independent of extraneous energy source carried by the drill string and irrespective of the flow of drilling fluid for producing code formatted fluid pressure changes in the drilling fluid column in response to said electrical signal, thereby producing pressure variations which are propagated; and means at the earth's surface to defect such pressure variations and to provide a measure of the magnitude of said parameter.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 53 words

A telemetering system according to claim 17 wherein the fluid column has a longitudinal axis and wherein said means of producing fluid pressure changes in the drilling fluid column includes: an impermeable member in communication with the fluid column; and means to rapidly move said impermeable member parallel the fluid column longitudinal axis.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 112 words

A telemetering system for transmitting measurements from within a borehole to the earth's surface employing, as a transmitting medium, a drilling fluid column contained in a drill string, comprising: means carried by the drill string for detecting the magnitude of a downhole parameter and for producing an electrical signal representing said magnitude; means carried by the drill string for producing discrete code formatted fluid pressure changes operational in both flowing and static drilling fluid in the column in response to said electrical signal, thereby producing pressure variations which are propagated; and means at the earth's surface to detect such pressure variations and to provide a measure of the magnitude of said parameter.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 112 words

A telemetering system for transmitting measurements from within a borehole to the earth's surface employing, as a transmitting medium, a drilling fluid column contained in a drill string, comprising: means carried by the drill string for detecting the magnitude of a downhole parameter and for producing an electrical signal representing said magnitude; means carried by the drill string for producing discrete code formatted fluid pressure changes operational in both flowing and static drilling fluid in the column in response to said electrical signal, thereby producing pressure variations which are propagated; and means at the earth's surface to detect such pressure variations and to provide a measure of the magnitude of said parameter.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 205 words

For use in conducting drilling operations employing a string of drill pipes, some of which may be drill collars, extending from the earth's surface having a drilling means at the lower end, and a column of drilling fluid within the drill string, a telemetering system using a housing positioned within said drill string, means carried by said housing for producing an electrical signal representing the magnitude of a downhole parameter, means carried by said housing for producing increments of fluid pressure change irrespective of the flow of drilling fluid in response to said electrical signal thereby producing pressure variations which are propagated in said column of drilling fluid, said system comprising: a displaceable member having a first surface coupled to said drilling fluid, said displaceable member having a second surface; means of rapidly displacing said member to create pressure increments at said first surface; means of communicating said pressure increments at said first surface with said fluid column for transmission as pressure variations to the earth's surface; means for substantially nullifying the coupling of said second surface to said drilling fluid; and means at the surface of the earth for detecting said pressure variations and for providing an indication of the value of said parameter.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 205 words

For use in conducting drilling operations employing a string of drill pipes, some of which may be drill collars, extending from the earth's surface having a drilling means at the lower end, and a column of drilling fluid within the drill string, a telemetering system using a housing positioned within said drill string, means carried by said housing for producing an electrical signal representing the magnitude of a downhole parameter, means carried by said housing for producing increments of fluid pressure change irrespective of the flow of drilling fluid in response to said electrical signal thereby producing pressure variations which are propagated in said column of drilling fluid, said system comprising: a displaceable member having a first surface coupled to said drilling fluid, said displaceable member having a second surface; means of rapidly displacing said member to create pressure increments at said first surface; means of communicating said pressure increments at said first surface with said fluid column for transmission as pressure variations to the earth's surface; means for substantially nullifying the coupling of said second surface to said drilling fluid; and means at the surface of the earth for detecting said pressure variations and for providing an indication of the value of said parameter.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 134 words

A system for telemetering from the bottom of a borehole to the surface of the earth by pressure waves in a borehole fluid column, irrespective of the flow of fluid in the column said system comprising: pulse generating means immersed in said fluid column, the pulse generating means having a movable member, said movable member having two sides; means for displacing said movable member in a manner indicative of a value of a downhole parameter; means for coupling one side of said movable member to said fluid column to produce pressure waves in said fluid column in response to pressure increments on one of said sides of said movable member; and means at the earth's surface to detect said pressure waves responsive to said pressure increments on said one side of said movable member.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 134 words

A system for telemetering from the bottom of a borehole to the surface of the earth by pressure waves in a borehole fluid column, irrespective of the flow of fluid in the column said system comprising: pulse generating means immersed in said fluid column, the pulse generating means having a movable member, said movable member having two sides; means for displacing said movable member in a manner indicative of a value of a downhole parameter; means for coupling one side of said movable member to said fluid column to produce pressure waves in said fluid column in response to pressure increments on one of said sides of said movable member; and means at the earth's surface to detect said pressure waves responsive to said pressure increments on said one side of said movable member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-08-24	1991-02-23	1991-08-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-08-24	1995-02-23	1995-08-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-08-24	1999-02-23	1999-08-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Direct radiator system and methods for measuring during drilling operations

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