Remote Digitization of Electromagnetic Telemetry Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromagnetic (EM) signal recovery technologies in wellbore drilling are hindered by uncorrelated electrical noise from high-power drilling equipment, which complicates the placement of ground stakes and reduces signal quality due to the limitations of lengthy cables and interference from nearby electrical sources.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a remote digitizing transmitter and a local synthesis receiver that wirelessly communicate to replace the need for lengthy cables, allowing ground stakes to be placed farther away from noise sources, with the remote transmitter measuring electric potential and converting it into a digital signal for wireless transmission to the local receiver, which converts it back into an analog signal for transmission to the surface receiver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If ground stakes are positioned farther from noise sources to improve signal quality, then electrical noise interference is reduced, but cable length requirements increase and placement becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless electromagnetic communication system. The remote transmitter converts the analog signal from the ground stakes into a digital signal and transmits it wirelessly to the local receiver, eliminating the need for lengthy physical cables to connect ground stakes to the surface receiver. This substitution of mechanical connection with wireless communication resolves the contradiction by allowing ground stakes to be positioned farther from noise sources without being constrained by cable length.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ground stakes are positioned farther from noise sources to improve signal quality, then electrical noise interference is reduced, but placement complexity and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication system eliminates the need for physical cable deployment, which was the complex mechanical process of dragging thousands of feet of cables through various terrains and avoiding obstacles. The remote transmitter unit simplifies the system to a portable device that can be easily positioned near ground stakes without requiring extensive cable management infrastructure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ground stakes are positioned farther from noise sources to improve signal quality, then electrical noise interference is reduced, but the system requires additional equipment and infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote transmitter unit with analog-to-digital conversion and wireless transmission capabilities, along with a local receiver unit. This additional infrastructure enables the system to operate without lengthy cables, allowing ground stakes to be positioned away from noise sources while maintaining signal integrity through wireless communication rather than physical cable connections.
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 configuration enhances signal quality by allowing more flexible placement of ground stakes, reducing noise interference, and maintaining a consistent phase shift through GPS time-stamping, thereby improving the reliability of EM signal recovery over longer distances.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting, by the remote transmitter, the digital signal wirelessly to the local receiver
Implementation Method 2
a downhole transmitter that encodes binary information from the downhole sensor into a modulated sinusoidal signal, then drives current representing that signal into the formation. The resulting electromagnetic (EM) field propagates through the earth in all directions.
Implementation Method 3
The component of the field that reaches the surface can be detected by measuring the electric potential between two points on surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A digitizing apparatus for transmitting electromagnetic telemetry signals to facilitate drilling operations comprises a local receiver and one or more remote transmitters. A method uses the remote transmitter to measure an electric potential between a pair of ground stakes that are positioned at some distance away from the local receiver. The local receiver is coupled to a surface receiver that is located at or near a drilling rig. The remote transmitter converts the electric potential into a digital signal and transmits the digital signal wirelessly to the local receiver. The local receiver then converts the digital signal into an analog signal that is provided to the surface receiver for processing. The remote transmitter and local receiver may comprise GPS clocks to synchronize the signals to maintain a constant phase shift.