Method for improved mud pulse telemetry

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) is the primary means for detecting said changes.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) is the sole means for detecting said changes.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein drilling mud pressure is not monitored to obtain said information.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said changes in the flow rate of said drilling mud are generated by a mud pulser positioned in said drill string, said changes in flow rate constituting mud pulse signals.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein a flow meter is used to monitor said flow rate and thereby detect said mud pulse signals.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein said flow meter is a magnetic flow meter.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 wherein a mud pump is used to flow said drilling mud through a mud flow line and into said drill string, said mud flow line being in fluid communication with said mud pump and said drill string, wherein a surge suppressor is positioned on said mud flow line between said mud pump and said drill string, and wherein said flow meter is positioned to monitor said flow rate in said mud flow line between said surge suppressor and said drilling string.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 wherein the mud pulse signals detected by said flow meter are processed to obtain said information.

Claim 11

An improved method for obtaining information from a wellbore as it is being drilled, said wellbore containing a drill string through which drilling mud is flowing, said drilling mud being pumped into said drilling through a mud flow line, said drill string having a plurality of instruments positioned proximate to the lower portions thereof, said instruments being capable of making measurements of downhole conditions and of creating signals indicative of said measurements, said drill string further having a mud pulser which is adapted to receive said signals from said instruments and to generate mud pulse signals indicative of said measurements, wherein the improvement comprises measuring the flow rate of said drilling mud proximate to the surface to receive said mud pulse signals.

Claim 12

An improved method for obtaining information from a wellbore as it is being drilled, said wellbore containing a drill string through which drilling mud is flowing, said drilling mud being pumped into said drilling through a mud flow line, said drill string having a plurality of instruments positioned proximate to the lower portions thereof, said instruments being capable of making measurements of downhole conditions and of creating signals indicative of said measurements, said drill string further having a mud pulser which is adapted to receive said signals from said instruments and to generate mud pulse signals indicative of said measurements, wherein the improvement comprises measuring the flow rate of said drilling mud proximate to the surface to receive said mud pulse signals.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 wherein the pressure of said drilling mud is not measured to receive said mud pulse signals.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11 wherein a surge suppressor is deployed on said mud flow line and wherein the flow rate through said mud flow line is measured between said surge suppressor and said drill string.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12 wherein a flow meter is used to measure said flow rate.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 wherein said flow meter is adapted to provide an output representative of the measured flow rate and wherein said output is processed to detect and decode said mud pulse signals and thereby obtain said information.