Abstract: Non-contacting means of measuring the material velocities of harmonic acoustic telemetry waves travelling along the wall of drillpipe, production tubing or coiled tubing are disclosed. Also disclosed are contacting means, enabling measurement of accelerations or material velocities associated with acoustic telemetry waves travelling along the wall of the tubing, utilizing as a detector either a wireless accelerometer system or an optical means, or both; these may also be applied to mud pulse telemetry, wherein the telemetry waves are carried via the drilling fluid, causing strain in the pipe wall that in turn causes wall deformation that can be directly or indirectly assessed by optical means. The present invention enables detection of telemetry wave detection in space-constrained situations. The invention also teaches a substantially contactless method of determining the time-based changes of the propagating telemetry waves.

Abstract: An acoustic isolator for use with tubular assemblies such as drillpipe or production tubing comprising an acoustic wave transmitter, the acoustic isolator comprising, in series, an odd integer ?/4 multiple tuning bar of first acoustic impedance adjacent the acoustic wave transmitter, an odd integer ?/4 multiple reflector tube of second acoustic impedance, and a snubber of third acoustic impedance, wherein there is an acoustic impedance mismatch between the odd integer ?/4 multiple tuning bar and the odd integer ?/4 multiple reflector tube and an acoustic impedance mismatch between the odd integer ?/4 multiple reflector tube and snubber, such that a “down” wave propagated toward the isolator is reflected back substantially in phase with an “up” wave propagated from the acoustic wave source away from the isolator.