Magnetic Gasket for Wired Drill Pipe Inductive Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inductive coupling in wired drill pipes used for hydrocarbon recovery experiences significant signal loss and unreliable transmission due to magnetic flux leakage and erratic connections, especially over multiple connections, which hampers real-time data and power transmission during drilling operations.
Innovation Solution
A gasket with magnetic and electrically insulating properties is positioned between sections of wired drill pipes to minimize magnetic flux leakage, ensuring efficient energy transmission by completing the magnetic circuit between inductive coils and maintaining signal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If inductive coupling is used for communication and power transmission between drill pipe sections, then wireless data and power transfer is enabled, but magnetic flux leakage causes significant signal loss and unreliable transmission
Solution Approach 1:
A gasket material is introduced as an intermediary component between drill pipe sections with inductive couplers. The gasket provides magnetic shielding properties that redirect magnetic flux through a controlled path, preventing flux leakage that causes signal loss while maintaining the wireless inductive coupling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket material changes the magnetic field parameters by providing a high permeability path that concentrates and directs magnetic flux. This alters the magnetic circuit characteristics, reducing flux leakage into surrounding areas and improving signal transmission reliability between inductive couplers.
2Length of stationary object
If multiple drill pipe sections are connected in series for long-distance transmission, then coverage is extended, but signal loss accumulates and transmission becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket acts as a magnetic flux mediator at each connection point between drill pipe sections. By providing a controlled high-permeability path for magnetic flux, it prevents flux leakage at each interface, thereby preventing cumulative signal loss that would occur over multiple connections in series.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket ensures continuous and consistent magnetic coupling between inductive couplers across multiple drill pipe sections. By maintaining stable magnetic flux paths at each connection, it enables reliable signal transmission throughout the entire long-distance drill pipe assembly without interruption or significant loss.
3Power
If inductive coils are positioned close together for efficient coupling, then energy transmission is improved, but connection reliability becomes erratic due to manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket material provides a high permeability path that compensates for variations in coil spacing caused by manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations. By concentrating and directing magnetic flux through the gasket, it maintains efficient energy transmission even when coil proximity varies, thereby improving connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket serves as a magnetic intermediary that stabilizes the magnetic coupling between inductive coils. It provides a consistent high-permeability path that reduces sensitivity to positioning variations, ensuring stable and reliable energy transmission despite assembly tolerances.
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
The solution significantly reduces signal loss and ensures reliable communication and power transmission by maintaining close proximity of inductive coils, enhancing the efficiency of data and power transfer between drill pipe sections, even over long distances.
Implementation Method 1
A gasket 620 is positioned between two sections of wired drill pipe 602, 604 to reduce magnetic flux leakage for the magnetic flux of an inductive coupling between the two ends of the wired drill pipe
Implementation Method 2
inductive coupling between wired drill pipe
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises a gasket configured for positioning between an end of a first drill pipe and an end of a second drill pipe, wherein the end of the first drill pipe includes an inductive coil ring and the end of the second drill pipe includes an inductive coil ring. The gasket includes an outer ring that is comprised of an elastic magnetic material that is essentially nonconductive. The outer ring has a diameter that is greater than the diameters of the inductive coil rings. The gasket includes an inner ring that is comprised of an elastic magnetic material that is essentially nonconductive. The inner ring has a diameter that is smaller than the diameters of the inductive coil rings, wherein the gasket is to be positioned such that the outer ring and the inner ring are outside and inside, respectively, the diameters of the inductive coil rings.