Downhole Telemetry Signal Noise Estimation and Power Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electromagnetic telemetry signals in wellbore applications face noise interference from various sources, which affects signal-to-noise ratio and power consumption, and existing methods struggle to accurately estimate noise to optimize transmission parameters.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to configure transmission signals by receiving signals from downhole tools, separating telemetry and noise portions, estimating noise, and adjusting transmission configurations based on noise estimates to improve signal quality and reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the current method estimates noise by treating the uplink telemetry signal as noise, then the noise estimation process is simple, but frequency bands overlapping with the currently selected frequency band are minimized, reducing transmission reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise estimation processVSAvoidtransmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The received signal spectrum is segmented into telemetry signal components and noise components. The method separates the uplink telemetry signal spectrum from the total received signal spectrum, allowing independent analysis and estimation of noise in frequency bands not occupied by the telemetry signal, thereby avoiding minimization of overlapping frequency bands while maintaining a manageable estimation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The uplink telemetry signal spectrum is extracted from the total received signal spectrum. By removing the known telemetry signal components from the received signal, the method isolates the noise portion for accurate estimation without treating the telemetry signal itself as noise, thus preserving the integrity of overlapping frequency bands

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If uplink modulation parameters are adjusted to maximize signal-to-noise ratio, then transmission reliability improves, but power consumption at the transmitters increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the received signal spectrum, estimating noise levels, and using this information to optimize uplink modulation parameters. The noise estimate derived from frequency bands not occupied by the telemetry signal provides accurate feedback for adjusting transmission parameters, enabling the system to achieve reliable communication at optimized power levels rather than maximizing power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The method changes transmission parameters (modulation type, carrier frequency, bandwidth, bitrate, signal amplitude) based on accurate noise estimates. By adjusting these parameters according to actual noise conditions rather than using fixed high-power settings, the system achieves the desired signal-to-noise ratio while minimizing power consumption at the transmitters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If accurate noise estimation is performed by separating telemetry and noise portions, then transmission parameter optimization improves, but the complexity of signal processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise estimation accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The method performs preliminary action by characterizing the telemetry signal spectrum before noise estimation. By having advance knowledge of the telemetry signal's frequency occupation and characteristics, the system can efficiently separate and estimate noise without requiring complex iterative analysis during the measurement process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The method uses an intermediary approach by focusing noise estimation on frequency bands not occupied by the telemetry signal. This intermediary strategy avoids the complexity of directly separating and analyzing overlapping signal and noise components in the same frequency bands, simplifying the processing while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10844709B2Methods and systems for spectrum estimation for measure while drilling telemetry in a well system

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A method for configuring transmission signals is disclosed. The method includes receiving a signal from a downhole tool in a wellbore. The signal may include a telemetry portion and a noise portion. The method also includes reproducing the telemetry portion based at least partially on the signal. Further, the method includes subtracting the telemetry portion from the signal. The method includes estimating, based at least partially on the subtraction, the noise portion of the signal. The method also includes altering a transmission configuration of the downhole tool based at least partially on the noise portion of the signal.