Wired Drill Pipe Telemetry for High-Rate Interference Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mud pulse telemetry systems for drilling operations face limitations such as slow communication, low data rates, and reliability issues, particularly in extended reach boreholes and underbalanced drilling conditions, which hinder effective interference testing for reservoir characterization.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wired drill pipe system using inductive couplers and conductive layers to reduce signal energy losses, enabling high-data-rate, bidirectional communication between downhole tools and the surface, and the use of wired drill pipe telemetry to transmit pressure measurements from downhole tools to the surface computing system for real-time analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mud pulse telemetry is used for communication while drilling, then data can be transmitted from downhole tools to the surface, but the data transmission rate is slow and reliability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical mud pulse telemetry system with an electromagnetic communication system using wired drill pipe. The drill pipe itself becomes the transmission medium through inductive coupling between surface and downhole, eliminating the limitations of mud pulse technology and achieving both high reliability and high data transmission rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary medium for data transmission. Instead of using mechanical pressure pulses in drilling fluid, the system uses electromagnetic induction through the conductive drill pipe to transmit signals bidirectionally between surface and downhole, resolving the contradiction between reliability and transmission rate
2Productivity
If wired drill pipe with inductive couplers is used, then data transmission rate and reliability are improved, but signal energy losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the electrical parameters of the drill pipe system by specifying conductive layers with appropriate conductivity values and thicknesses. By changing the electrical parameters (conductivity, impedance) of the drill pipe and coupler components, the system achieves high data transmission rates while minimizing signal energy losses through improved electrical characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structures for the drill pipe including conductive layers applied to the pipe surface. This composite approach combines the mechanical properties of the drill pipe with the electrical conductivity of applied layers, creating a system that efficiently transmits electromagnetic signals with reduced energy loss
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 enhances data transmission rates and reliability, allowing for more accurate and timely reservoir characterization and interference testing, even in challenging drilling environments, by minimizing signal losses and noise interference.
Implementation Method 1
The implementation of a wired drill pipe system using inductive couplers and conductive layers to reduce signal energy losses
Implementation Method 2
conductive layers to reduce signal energy losses
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus configured to perform an interference test while drilling, including the steps of computing a pressure history response at a monitoring well from a pulsing of a well remote to the monitoring well, determining a time interval and a location for conducting a pressure test along a monitoring well trajectory based on the computing of the pressure history response, initiating a pulsing of the well remote to the monitoring well, determining whether pressure data should be taken at the monitoring well, estimating a near wellbore pressure effect at the monitoring well if the pressure data is taken, adjusting a mud circulation flow rate in the monitoring well if the pressure data is taken, and measuring at least one pressure value at the monitoring well if the pressure data is taken.