Mud Hammer With Electromagnetic Pulse Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mud hammer technologies are limited in generating controlled pressure pulses for effective drill cutting removal and downhole power generation, which hampers efficient drilling operations and data telemetry in subterranean hydrocarbon recovery.
Innovation Solution
A mud hammer design incorporating a magnetically controlled movable member that generates drilling fluid pulses through electromagnetic interactions, allowing for variable magnetic fields to alter the motion and encoding of pulses for data transmission and power generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional spring-biased piston mechanism is used to generate pressure pulses, then the mud hammer can operate autonomously to dislodge drill cuttings, but it cannot generate controlled pulses for data telemetry or power generation
Solution Approach 1:
The mud hammer device is designed to perform multiple functions: it generates pressure pulses for drilling assistance, encodes data through controlled pulse patterns for telemetry, and can drive power generation turbines. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making a single device adaptable to various operational needs including drilling, communication, and power generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static spring-biased piston to a dynamic electromagnetically controlled movable member. The electromagnetic actuator allows real-time adjustment of pulse frequency, amplitude, and timing based on operational requirements, enabling the device to switch between drilling assistance mode, data telemetry mode, and power generation mode.
2Productivity
If drilling fluid flow is disrupted to generate pressure pulses for cuttings removal, then drilling efficiency improves, but control over pulse characteristics is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional purely mechanical spring-biased piston system is replaced with an electromagnetically controlled movable member. This substitution allows electronic control of the piston motion through electromagnetic actuators, providing precise control over pulse frequency, amplitude, and timing while maintaining the mechanical action needed to disrupt drilling fluid flow for cuttings removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic adjustment of pulse parameters (frequency, amplitude, duration) by controlling the electromagnetic actuator. This allows optimization of pulse characteristics for different operational modes: high-frequency pulses for drilling assistance, coded pulse patterns for data telemetry, and controlled pulse sequences for power generation, resolving the limitation of fixed pulse characteristics.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electromagnetic components are added to enable data telemetry and power generation, then device versatility improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single unified device: the movable member serves both as the drilling assistance pulse generator and the electromagnetic actuator for data telemetry. The same pressure pulses that clear cuttings are also used to encode data by varying frequency and amplitude. Additionally, the pulsing action drives power generation turbines. This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate devices for each function.
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
Enhances drilling efficiency by effectively dislodging drill cuttings and reducing friction, while enabling reliable data telemetry and power supply for downhole electronics, improving the overall efficiency and economy of drilling operations.
Implementation Method 1
A coil is located near the hammer. A power source is connected to energize the coil to generate a variable magnetic field at the magnet.
Implementation Method 2
A magnet is coupled to the hammer. A power source is connected to energize the coil to generate a variable magnetic field at the magnet.
Data Source
AI summary
A mud hammer is driven by the flow of drilling fluid to generate pressure pulses. Timing and/or amplitude of the pulses are altered to encode data by applying electromagnetic forces to a movable member of the mud hammer. In an example embodiment the movable member carries one or more magnets and electromagnetic forces are applied to the movable member by one or more electromagnets. The mud hammer may also generate electrical power that may be applied to charge batteries and/or drive downhole electrical apparatus.