Wired Drill Pipe Repeaters for Logging-While-Tripping Data Readout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current downhole data transmission systems face challenges during tripping operations, where drill strings are disconnected from the surface communication sub, leading to a loss of real-time data monitoring and potential borehole damage, and existing solutions are complex, mechanically cumbersome, and inefficient for automated high-speed pipe handling systems.
Innovation Solution
A downhole communication system that uses a network of repeaters to store and transmit logging-while-tripping data, allowing for real-time data collection and verification of communication functionality without physical access to the drill string, using a surface communication device to read out data from repeaters and verify segment functionality with access to only one end of the segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If drill string is disconnected during tripping operations, then pipe handling speed is improved, but real-time data monitoring is lost and borehole damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drill string is divided into segments with repeaters at intervals. Each repeater stores data locally, allowing the system to function in segments even when disconnected. This enables rapid tripping operations while maintaining data collection capability through distributed storage across multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Data is collected and stored in repeaters during the drilling operation before tripping begins. This preliminary data accumulation ensures that even when the drill string is disconnected during tripping, the data has already been captured and stored, eliminating the need for real-time monitoring during the disconnection period.
2Reliability
If traditional communication systems are used during tripping, then data transmission is maintained, but system complexity and mechanical burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication function is extracted from the continuous wired connection and implemented through discrete repeaters distributed along the drill string. Each repeater independently stores and can transmit data, eliminating the need for complex continuous communication systems during tripping operations while maintaining data availability.
Solution Approach 2:
Data is copied into multiple repeaters at different locations along the drill string. This creates redundant copies of the data that can be retrieved independently, eliminating the need for complex real-time communication infrastructure during tripping while ensuring data integrity and availability.
3Productivity
If drill string is tripped quickly, then productivity is improved, but borehole pressure drops and fluid suction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback about borehole conditions through the distributed repeaters that continue to collect data during tripping. This feedback mechanism allows monitoring of borehole pressure and conditions even during rapid tripping operations, enabling detection of harmful effects while maintaining high productivity.
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
Enables real-time data collection and timely data processing during tripping operations, reducing the risk of borehole damage and improving the efficiency of pipe handling by allowing for quick identification and replacement of faulty segments, thus optimizing the tripping process while maintaining borehole integrity.
Implementation Method 1
downhole communication equipment transmitting logging-while-tripping data to a plurality of repeaters
Implementation Method 2
Signals are communicated between pipe joints via electromagnetic resonance couplers
Data Source
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AI summary
A downhole communication system has a plurality of repeaters adapted to store segments of logging-while-tripping (LWT) data during tripping. The LWT data are transmitted to the repeaters during tripping and then read out from the repeaters at the surface. The segments and repeaters are read using one or more surface communication devices, such as a rack board, a stand verifier, a box cap, or a pin cap, each adapted to access and test segments of wired drill pipe each having one or more repeaters. The rack board includes an array of communication couplers that are each adapted to exchange signals with a pin coupler of a pipe segment. In turn, each communication coupler is connected with communication equipment adapted to process and display data stored in the one or more repeaters of the pipe segments during tripping. The stand verifier includes a communication coupler and is connected to communication equipment adapted to (1) verify the functionality of communication circuitry of the pipe segment before run-in and/or after trip-out, and/or (2) download after trip-out logging- while-tripping data stored in the one or more repeaters of the pipe segment during tripping, and/or (3) download parameters stored in the one or more repeaters of the pipe segment.