Annular Ring Transceiver for Short-Hop Telemetry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing short-hop telemetry systems in the oil and gas industry face challenges due to high torques, stresses, and rotation rates, making it difficult to install tool bus wires between the drill bit and the bottomhole assembly, leading to complex and expensive solutions.
Innovation Solution
A short-hop communications system using a surface gap over an annular cavity with high magnetic permeability material, eliminating the need for vulnerable antenna coil windings by electromagnetically coupling a toroid antenna to the tool surface, providing a simpler and more reliable alternative.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional toroid transceivers with antenna coil windings are used, then electromagnetic coupling is achieved, but the system becomes complex and expensive due to vulnerability to high torques, stresses, and rotation rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vulnerable antenna coil windings from the system by replacing them with a solid block of high magnetic permeability material. This removal eliminates the complexity and reliability issues associated with traditional coil structures while maintaining the essential electromagnetic coupling function through the magnetic properties of the solid material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the magnetic parameters of the transceiver by using material with high magnetic permeability (mu) instead of traditional coil windings. This parameter change allows the solid material to function as an effective magnetic antenna, achieving the required electromagnetic coupling without the mechanical vulnerabilities of wire-based structures.
2Ease of operation
If tool bus wires are installed between drill bit and bottomhole assembly, then data communication is enabled, but installation becomes difficult due to high torques, stresses, and rotation rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire-based tool bus system with an electromagnetic field-based communication system. By using high magnetic permeability material to create a magnetic antenna, the system enables data communication without requiring physical wire installation through the high-stress mud motor and steering assembly, thereby improving both ease of installation and reliability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If high magnetic permeability material is used in annular cavity, then electromagnetic coupling efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transceiver into distinct functional components: the high magnetic permeability material block, the coil assembly, and the housing structure. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and tested separately, then assembled together, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining the electromagnetic coupling efficiency provided by the high mu material.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables efficient data communication between at-bit sensors and the wired tool bus, reducing assembly and maintenance costs while maintaining sensitivity and structural advantages, offering a more reliable solution than traditional toroid transceivers.
Implementation Method 1
positioning material having high magnetic permeability in the annular cavity
Implementation Method 2
an annular cavity that is electromagnetically coupled to an external tool surface by a surface gap that encircles the tool body
Data Source
AI summary
A method of forming a short-hop communications transceiver includes creating, in a conductive tool body, an annular cavity that is electromagnetically coupled to an external tool surface by a surface gap that encircles the tool body. The method further includes positioning material having high magnetic permeability in the annular cavity. The method further includes coupling electrical leads from an electronics module to opposite sides of the surface gap. The method further includes operating the electronics module to perform short-hop telemetry by driving or sensing a voltage signal across the surface gap.