Wired Drill Pipe Joints With Isolated Communication Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drill pipe communication systems face challenges in maintaining isolated communication paths across joints, which can lead to interference between power and data/control signals, affecting the reliability and efficiency of downhole communication in well drilling operations.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a drill pipe system with pin and box end connectors that form isolated communication connections using first, second, and third communication contacts, allowing for separate and isolated communication paths between drill pipe sections, thereby preventing noise interference between power and data/control signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate communication connections are provided for power and data/control signals, then noise interference is reduced and communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidconnector complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication connection is segmented into separate communication paths: a first communication path for power signals and second/third communication paths for data and control signals. This segmentation isolates noisy power signals from sensitive data/control signals, preventing noise interference and improving communication reliability while maintaining a manageable connector structure through organized separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple communication paths are provided in parallel, then communication reliability and redundancy are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication redundancyVSAvoidconnector manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pin end connector and box end connector are designed as universal multi-functional components that can accommodate multiple communication paths (power, data, control) within a single connector assembly. The pin end connector includes multiple pins and the box end connector includes corresponding receptacles, allowing parallel communication paths to be manufactured as integrated units rather than separate components, thereby improving reliability through redundancy while simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2235317B1Communication connections for wired drill pipe joints for providing multiple communication paths
Publication Date: 2012.09.05 INTELLISERV INT HLDG LTD
  • EP2235317B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2235317B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2235317B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A drill pipe includes a pin end connector, a box end connector, a first communication connector having a plurality of first communication contacts and a second communication connector having a plurality of second communication contacts. The pin end connector is received by the box end connector to join sections of a drill pipe together. When the drill pipe sections are joined by the pin end and box end connectors, a plurality of isolated communication connections is formed between the first communication contacts and the second communication contacts.