Ultrasonic Riser Communication via Drill String Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic communication systems for wellbore operations require direct contact with fluids in a riser and blowout preventer, leading to costly modifications, long installation times, and structural compromises, as well as issues with multipath interference.
Innovation Solution
A system employing an internal ultrasonic module within the riser and an external ultrasonic module outside the riser, using ultrasonic waves to communicate sensor and control information without direct contact with the fluid, utilizing a communication path through the drill string and riser, and employing multiple modulation formats and carrier frequencies to minimize interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acoustic transducers are placed in direct contact with fluids in the riser and blowout preventer, then communication reliability is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates and installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the drill string as an intermediary medium for ultrasonic wave transmission. Instead of placing transducers directly in fluid contact with the riser, the system couples transducers to the drill string, which acts as a solid medium to conduct ultrasonic signals. This eliminates the need to perforate or modify the riser structure while maintaining reliable communication through the drill string-conduit interface.
2Reliability
If the riser is perforated to ensure direct contact with acoustic transducers, then communication reliability is improved, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drill string serves as an intermediary that eliminates the need for riser perforation. By coupling ultrasonic transducers to the drill string rather than requiring direct access to riser fluids, the system avoids time-consuming modification work on the riser structure while maintaining reliable signal transmission through the solid drill string medium.
3Ease of operation
If ultrasonic waves propagate through fluid in the riser, then communication is enabled, but multipath interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fluid-based acoustic wave propagation with solid-based ultrasonic wave transmission through the drill string. By substituting the propagation medium from fluid (prone to multipath interference due to reflections off riser walls and fluid interfaces) to solid (drill string), the system eliminates multipath interference while maintaining communication capability through direct mechanical coupling.
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 solution reduces the need for costly modifications to the riser and blowout preventer, minimizes multipath interference, and enables efficient communication of sensor and control information, thereby reducing installation times and maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the EUM comprises a first ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the riser
Implementation Method 2
a processing unit operatively connected to the ultrasonic transducer. The processing unit may be configured to detect, using the ultrasonic transducer, a first set of ultrasonic acoustic waves
Implementation Method 3
The IUM and the EUM may exchange information between one another using sets of ultrasonic acoustic waves that propagate along a communication path comprising the drill string and the riser
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A communication system employed during wellbore operations, such as during drilling, cementing, fracturing, or other wellbore operations, which utilizes ultrasound (i.e., acoustic waves characterized by ultrasonic frequencies) to communicate sensor and/or control information from inside a riser and/or blowout preventer (BOP) to outside the riser/BOP, and/or vice versa. More specifically, the communication system may include an internal ultrasonic module (IUM) residing inside the riser/BOP and acoustically coupled to a drill string and/or a centralizer also inside the riser/BOP. The communication system may further include an external ultrasonic module (EUM) residing outside the riser/BOP and acoustically coupled to the riser/BOP. The ultrasound may traverse from the IUM to the EUM, and vice versa, using a communication path that may include propagation of the ultrasound through the drill string, the centralizer, and the riser/BOP without traversal through fluids contained within a fluid column enclosed by the riser/BOP.