Acoustic telemetry study to improve drilling data

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · JPT, Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5984727

Scientists at Sandia Natl. Laboratories hope to master a technique to improve measurement-while-drilling information rates 100-fold. These researchers are advancing acoustic telemetry--the transmission of data by means of sound waves along drillpipe from deep within a well--at a new surface-simulation facility in Albuquerque, NM, after years of unsuccessful, short-term studies by many private companies. The existing data-transmission system, called mud pulse, constricts drilling fluid with a downhole valve to send a series of pulses similar to a Morse code to provide information about the bit location. But mud pulse delivers data at low rates--about one data bit per second. Acoustic telemetry could dramatically improve those rates. The basic idea of acoustic telemetry is to produce a sound wave at the bottom of a well and allow the wave to run up the drillpipe to the surface. The hardware, or transducer, emitting the wave must produce sounds with wavelengths that can negotiate the long drill string. The wavelengths also must be compatible with power supplies available deep in the well. At the surface, data can be extracted form the sound waves to complete the transmission.

• OSTI ID: 5984727
• Journal Information: JPT, Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States), Journal Name: JPT, Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States) Vol. 45:11; ISSN 0149-2136; ISSN JPTJAM
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440400* -- Well Logging Instrumentation
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
COMMUNICATIONS
DATA TRANSMISSION
DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
DESIGN
MWD SYSTEMS
SOUND WAVES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TELEMETRY