Acoustic Impedance Matched Drill Pipe Joints for Wideband Telemetry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic telemetry in drilling operations suffers from signal reflection and transmission loss due to acoustic impedance mismatches at drill pipe joints, leading to frequency stopbands and passbands that drift with thermal variations, limiting reliable data transmission.
Innovation Solution
The use of acoustic impedance matched drill pipe joint sections and non-periodic drillstring designs, along with anti-phase structure configurations, to reduce or eliminate reflections and stopbands, ensuring reliable acoustic signal transmission across a wide frequency band.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional drill pipe joint sections are used, then acoustic impedance mismatch occurs at joints, but signal reflection and transmission loss increase, leading to frequency stopbands and passbands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the acoustic impedance parameter of the drill pipe joint section by modifying material composition or structural design to match the acoustic impedance of adjacent drill pipe sections, thereby eliminating impedance mismatch and reducing signal reflection and transmission loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates acoustic homogeneity across the drill pipe assembly by ensuring that the joint section has uniform acoustic impedance with the connected pipe sections, eliminating discontinuities that cause signal reflection and transmission loss
2Reliability
If acoustic impedance matched drill pipe joint sections are used, then signal reflection is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves acoustic impedance matching through controlled changes in material properties or geometric parameters of the joint section, balancing the need for reduced signal reflection with acceptable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures in the drill pipe joint section to achieve the desired acoustic impedance matching, combining different materials or structural configurations to optimize acoustic performance while managing complexity
3Ease of manufacture
If periodic drillstring structure is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but frequency stopbands and passbands are formed, limiting transmission channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric or non-periodic variations in the drillstring structure, such as varying joint section positions or acoustic impedance values along the drillstring, to eliminate the formation of frequency stopbands and passbands while maintaining manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the drillstring into segments with different acoustic impedance characteristics or lengths, creating a non-periodic structure that prevents the formation of frequency stopbands and passbands, thereby expanding available transmission channels
4Temperature
If drill pipe length and surrounding acoustic impedance vary with temperature, then thermal expansion occurs, but frequency stopbands and passbands drift, reducing transmission stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent accounts for thermal expansion effects by designing the drill pipe joint sections with compensated dimensions or materials that maintain acoustic impedance matching across a range of temperatures, preventing frequency passband drift
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the drill pipe system with acoustic impedance parameters that remain stable across temperature variations, using materials or structures whose acoustic properties do not change significantly with temperature, thereby maintaining frequency passband stability
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 approach enhances the reliability and stability of acoustic data transmission from the downhole environment to the surface by minimizing signal loss and maintaining consistent transmission channels despite thermal and mechanical strains.
Implementation Method 1
acoustic impedance matched drill pipe joint sections... to reduce or eliminate reflections
Implementation Method 2
anti-phase structure configurations, to reduce or eliminate reflections
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a drillstring includes a plurality of drill pipe sections that are coupled together by a drill pipe joint section structure. The drill pipe sections and the drill pipe joint section structure are acoustically impedance matched. In another example, the drill pipe sections comprise a plurality of different pipe lengths, those lengths being different than a length of the drill pipe joint section structure. A drillstring is constructed of these different lengths of drill pipe and drill pipe joint section structures in a non-periodic manner or random sequence. In another example, the drill pipe sections and drill pipe joint section structure comprise materials having substantially similar acoustic properties.