Abstract: Downhole equipment and surface equipment communicate wirelessly with each other. A signal wirelessly transmitted at a first frequency from a downhole controller disposed within a wellbore is received at a surface location. The received signal is demodulated to a demodulated digital value. The demodulated value is added to an end of a buffer string. The buffer string is processed to determine whether the buffer string contains a message that is valid. In response to determining that the buffer string contains the message that is valid, the message is decoded. A command signal is wirelessly transmitted at a second frequency different from the first frequency to the downhole controller to adjust a state of the downhole controller.

Abstract: Certain aspects and features relate to a system that efficiently determines optimal actuator set points to satisfy an objective in controlling equipment such as systems for drilling, production, completion or other operations associated with oil or gas production from a wellbore. A platform can receive data and also make use of and communicate with multiple algorithms asynchronously and efficiently to project automatic optimum set points for controllable parameters. Services can provide data over a real-time messaging bus and the data can be captured by an orchestrator that aggregates all data and calls a solver orchestrator to determine optimized parameters for a current state in time to send to control systems or display in a dashboard.

Abstract: A measurement while drilling system including a first module and a second module. The first module situated at a distal end of a drill string and including a downhole processor configured to determine that the drill string is one of on a drill plan and off the drill plan, and a downhole communication module communicatively coupled to the downhole processor to transmit signals. The second module situated at a proximal end of the drill string and including an uphole communication module configured to receive the signals. Where the downhole processor is configured to transmit non-compressed data if the drill string is off the drill plan and compressed data if the drill string is on the drill plan.

Abstract: A reconfigurable filter circuit has a first path including a transimpedance amplifier (TIA). The transimpedance amplifier has an input that receives an input current and an output that outputs a voltage. The reconfigurable filter circuit also includes a switchable feedback path. The switchable feedback path includes a first low-pass filter coupled to an output of the TIA. The switchable feedback path also includes a first switch to couple the feedback path to provide a feedback current to the first path resulting in a bandpass response in the output voltage when the switch is closed and a low-pass response in the output voltage when the switch is open.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling and communicating with one or more tools in a downhole tool string including a tractor, an auxiliary tractor tool, a logging tool, a safety sub, a release mechanism, a unit containing sensors for monitoring downhole conditions, a setting tool, and a perforating gun. Also provided are apparatus and methods for controlling and communicating with one or more perforating guns, release devices, and explosive devices in a string to be lowered into a wellbore. Control and communication are accomplished by sending signals from the surface to control switches in the control units on the tool, with redundant switches for safety, to state machines in the respective control units, “each state machine returning a signal verifying switch status to the surface. Control and power functions are accomplished with voltage of different polarities for safety.

Abstract: Enhanced symbol synchronization methods suitable for use in narrowband orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) telemetry systems. In at least some embodiments, a logging while drilling (LWD) tool assembly communicates with the surface using low frequency electromagnetic (EM) signals. The telemetry transmitter employs OFDM modulation to fully exploit the narrow range of available bandwidth, resulting in signals that have relatively long frames. At the surface a receiver digitizes the receive signal and applies an enhanced symbol synchronization technique to identify frame boundaries before demodulation is attempted. The enhanced symbol synchronization technique employs a pulse train filter to clean up a cyclic prefix correlation signal that otherwise behaves badly in the narrowband regime. The improved timing information from the enhanced symbol synchronization significantly reduces the error rate in the demodulated signal.

Abstract: A system for transmitting electric power into a bore hole, the system having an electric transmission line extending through the bore hole between an electric power source and a receiving station, wherein the receiving station includes frequency increasing means for increasing the frequency of the electric current supplied through the electric transmission line, voltage converter means for changing the voltage of the electric current supplied to it via the frequency increasing means, connecting means for supplying the frequency-increased electric current to the voltage converter means, and means for connecting an electric load to the receiving station.

Abstract: A system transmits a wireless power transmission from a bottom hole assembly of a drill string. The system has a downhole component having a wireless power transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit at least one wireless power transmission and a wireless power receiver adapted to receive the at least one wireless power transmission.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling and communicating with one or more tools in a downhole tool string including a tractor, an auxiliary tractor tool, a logging tool, a safety sub, a release mechanism, a unit containing sensors for monitoring downhole conditions, a setting tool, and a perforating gun. Also provided are apparatus and methods for controlling and communicating with one or more perforating guns, release devices, and explosive devices in a string to be lowered into a wellbore. Control and communication are accomplished by sending signals from the surface to control switches in the control units on the tool, with redundant switches for safety, to state machines in the respective control units, each state machine returning a signal verifying switch status to the surface. Control and power functions are accomplished with voltage of different polarities for safety.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for compressing a variety of signals, such as measured signals from a hydrocarbon operation, that may be stored and/or transmitted in compressed form. Segmentation tools and techniques are used to compress the signals. Segmentation techniques include breaking a signal into segments and representing the data samples of the signal as segment boundary points, which may reflect where changes occur in the signal, and segment parameters, which may be utilized to model the segmented data. Embodiments can be used in real-time or in batch modes. New data samples can influence previous segment boundary points and/or segment parameters in some cases. Systems may modify what has already been stored or displayed as a result in revising segmentation information based on analysis utilizing the new data samples. Embodiments may utilize different Bayesian analysis techniques including the use of prior probability distributions and maximum a posteriori analyses.

Abstract: A downhole tool system includes a first downhole tool and a second downhole tool. The first downhole tool includes a first controller operable to receive an actuation signal including a tone. The first controller actuates the first downhole tool if the tone is a first specified frequency and changes the first downhole tool to communicate the actuation signal to the second downhole tool if first downhole tool is not actuated in response to the actuation signal. A second downhole tool includes a second controller operable to receive the actuation signal. The second controller actuates the second downhole tool if the tone is a second specified frequency. The second frequency is different from the first frequency.

Abstract: A downhole tool system includes a first downhole tool and a second downhole tool. The first downhole tool includes a first controller operable to receive an actuation signal including a tone. The first controller actuates the first downhole tool if the tone is a first specified frequency and changes the first downhole tool to communicate the actuation signal to the second downhole tool if first downhole tool is not actuated in response to the actuation signal. A second downhole tool includes a second controller operable to receive the actuation signal. The second controller actuates the second downhole tool if the tone is a second specified frequency. The second frequency is different from the first frequency.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification tag device includes an antenna unit including a dielectric substrate that has two through holes extending from a first surface to a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first conductive layer disposed over the first surface of the dielectric substrate, a second conductive layer unit disposed over the second surface of the dielectric substrate and having opposite second conductive layers spaced apart from each other such that a spacer is formed between the second conductive layers, and two connecting conductors each disposed in a corresponding through hole in the dielectric substrate and interconnecting electrically a corresponding second conductive layer and the first conductive layer. A radio frequency identification module is disposed to span the spacer and is attached to the second conductive layer unit.

Abstract: Jointly designed channel coding and modulation are used in an uplink telemetry system for transmitting a message signal from a bottomhole location to a surface location. A constant envelope quadrature-quadrature phase-shift keying may be used.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus having an original base plate, a conveying unit which separates and conveys a bundle of original sheets sheet by sheet, a first image reading unit which reads image information from the one side of the original sheet, a second image reading unit which reads image information from the other side of the original sheet, and a detecting unit which detects image existence/non-existence information of each original sheet in a state that the bundle of original sheets is mounted on the original base plate, wherein the detecting unit includes an oscillating unit which oscillates an electromagnetic wave of 30 GHz to 100 THz and a receiving unit which receives a reflected wave of the electromagnetic wave reflected on each side of the sheet, thereby detecting the image existence/non-existence information of each original sheet based on the received electromagnetic wave information.

Abstract: A method of processing an image includes traversing pixels of an image in a single pass over the image. An inverting function is applied to the pixels. A recursive filter is applied to the inverted pixel values. The filter has parameters which are derived from previously traversed pixel values of the image. A pixel value is combined with a filter parameter for the pixel to provide a processed pixel value for a processed image.

Abstract: Borehole instruments are powered by AC instrument power transmitted on all three phases of a power cable concurrently carrying three phase motor power, the instrument power transmitted at a multiple of the motor power frequency and having a corresponding fraction of the motor power voltage, and received via a capacitive coupling sufficient to withstand high-voltage cable insulation testing. The phase-to-neutral motor power provides approximately the same power level to the borehole instruments if a phase shorts to ground.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for sensing a characteristic of a borehole. An exemplary apparatus includes a conductive pipe; an inlet, connected to the conductive pipe, for applying pulse to the conductive pipe; a resonant network device connected with the conductive pipe; and a transducer which is in operative communication with the resonant network device to measure a borehole characteristic, the transducer being configured to sense a modulated vibration frequency induced in the resonant network device when a pulse is applied to the inlet.

Abstract: Example wellbore telemetry systems and methods for transmitting signals between a surface unit and a downhole tool are disclosed. One example method transmits data between a downhole location in a wellbore and a surface location associated with the wellbore by measuring downhole data via at least one downhole component and generating a data frame containing at least a portion of the downhole data. The example method varies a telemetry bandwidth allocated to the at least one downhole component in response to the at least some of the downhole data corresponding to a special event and transmits the at least some of the downhole data to the surface location via the telemetry bandwidth allocated to the at least one downhole component.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an apparatus that includes a piezoelectric transducer to generate an acoustic signal that is to modulate along a mandrel, wherein the piezoelectric transducer includes at least one piezoelectric element and at least one electrode that is without non-permanent joints.

Abstract: Measurements made with at least two sensors (flow rate or pressure) during generation of a message concurrently with operation of a noise source are used to estimate a channel transfer function. The estimated transfer function is then used to attenuate pump noise in a mud pulse telemetry system. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an apparatus that includes a piezoelectric transducer to generate an acoustic signal that is to modulate along a mandrel, wherein the piezoelectric transducer includes at least one piezoelectric element and at least one electrode that is without non-permanent joints.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an apparatus that includes a piezoelectric transducer to generate an acoustic signal that is to modulate along a mandrel, wherein the piezoelectric transducer includes at least one piezoelectric element and at least one electrode that is without non-permanent joints.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting data through a transmission medium between surface and subsurface transceivers. A surface transceiver and a subsurface transceiver are each configured to selectively transmit over a plurality of transmission channels, each transmission channel having a range of frequencies within the total frequency bandwidth. The surface transceiver is adapted to initialize a channel to determine at least one parameter affecting the current maximum data rate for transmission of information through the channel using a given transmission methodology. At least one of the channels uses carrierless phase/amplitude (CAP) modulation for its transmission methodology. The surface transceiver and the subsurface transceiver adapt to cooperatively periodically test a channel by transmission of a calibration signal from the subsurface transceiver to the surface transceiver.

Abstract: Jointly designed channel coding and modulation are used in an uplink telemetry system for transmitting a message signal from a bottomhole location to a surface location. A constant envelope quadrature-quadrature phase-shift keying may be used.

Abstract: An AM-FM hybrid signal is created which may be used to communicate simultaneously with both RFID tags that receive AM signals and wireless devices that receive FM or PM signals. The AM-FM hybrid signal may be fed back into the system's receiver at the local oscillator in order to recover the RFID tag's FM response, thus enabling simultaneous reception and decoding of both RFID tag FM response and FM wireless device response.

Abstract: Token authorized node discovery between a plurality of store-and-forward nodes in a downhole networking environment and respective applications for data processing and communication are described herein.

Abstract: A system for communicating information in a borehole between tool assemblies in a tool string includes receiving an information signal and separating a first signal that may be a power and low speed signal. A second signal is separated and demodulated from the information signal. The first signal and second signal are transmit to electronic devices that process data from an earth formation. After the first and second signals are transmit to one or more electronic devices, the signals are modulated and/or filtered and then combined into the information signal. The first signal is at one frequency and the second signal is at a different frequency. The apparatus includes a main signal line that couples to a second signal line and third signal line in the tool assembly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for conserving battery energy used in transmitting signals carrying data from a downhole location, using a transmission system where a predetermined set of data is to be transmitted once during a predetermined period. The method can comprise the steps of: transmitting at least one signal during said period to transmit the set of data; selecting the time of transmission of said at least one signal; and representing at least some of the data to be transmitted in terms of the time of transmission of said at least one signal.

Abstract: A mud pulse landing assembly (10) which allows for the removal of the mud pulse generator (16) containing the mud pulse orifice (106), thus creating an unobstructed passageway for any tool or instrumentation that may need to be passed through the drill string. The retainer (14) of the mud pulse landing assembly also provides a universal mount for engaging alternate tools or instrumentation for use in analyzing the borehole geology. The retainer (14) is positioned between the mud pulse generator (16) and the landing sub body, so as to protect the retainer from the turbulent and abrasive mud flow, and to prevent obstruction of the area downstream of the compact muleshoe (60).

Abstract: Measurements made with dual sensors (flow rate or pressure) are used to attenuate pump noise in a mud pulse telemetry system.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an apparatus that includes a piezoelectric transducer to generate an acoustic signal that is to modulate along a mandrel, wherein the piezoelectric transducer includes at least one piezoelectric element and at least one electrode that is without non-permanent joints.

Abstract: A system for providing communication of information by modulating a magnetostatic field with a magnetostatic transmitter that modulates said magnetostatic field to contain the information and detecting the information in the modulated field at a distance with a magnetostatic detector that detects the modulated magnetic field containing the information.

Abstract: A mud-pulse telemetry tool includes a tool housing, a motor disposed in the tool housing, and a magnetic coupling coupled to the motor and having an inner shaft and an outer shaft. The tool may also include a stator coupled to the tool housing, a restrictor disposed proximate the stator and coupled to the magnetic coupling, so that the restrictor and the stator adapted to generate selected pulses in a drilling fluid when the restrictor is selectively rotated. The tool may also include a first anti-jam magnet coupled to the too housing, and an second anti-jam magnet disposed proximate the first anti-jam magnet and coupled to the inner shaft and/or the outer shaft, wherein at least one of the first anti-jam magnet and the second anti-jam magnet is an electromagnet, and wherein the first anti-jam magnet and the second anti-jam magnet are positioned with adjacent like poles.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating information between downhole equipment in a wellbore and surface equipment, comprising a first device disposed in a wellbore for receiving at least one first signal and transmitting at least one second signal. A surface device is used for receiving the at least one second signal and transmitting the at least one first signal. At least one repeater is disposed at a predetermined location in a wall of the wellbore for receiving and retransmitting the first signal and the second signal. A method for communicating information between downhole equipment in a wellbore and surface equipment, comprises deploying a tubular member in the wellbore, the tubular member having a transmitter disposed therein; disposing at least one signal repeater at a predetermined location in a wall of the wellbore; and transmitting a signal from the transmitter to a surface receiver through the at least one repeater.

Abstract: The invention includes a wireless communication circuit and a method of communicating with wireless signals that feature a tank circuit having an inductor connected in parallel with a capacitor circuit. The capacitor circuit includes a pair of capacitors coupled in series. Each of the capacitors is connected in common to ground and has a capacitive value associated. A feedback network is connected to selectively bias the tank circuit to produce a signal having an amplitude. The amplitude of the signal is a function of a ratio of the capacitive values associated with the capacitor circuit. The frequency of the signal is defined by the inductor and the capacitor circuit. The tank circuit is multifunctional in that it may be biased to function as a transmitter and a receiver.

Abstract: A power delivery system for a wireline tool includes two independent power transmission loops operating on a standard six-conductor cable. The two loops each connect directly to a respective terminals of a DC auxiliary power supply. Each loop also couples through a transformer to an AC instrument power supply. Another transformer for telemetry signals facilitates bidirectional communication between the downhole tool and an uphole computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are useful for decomposing a complex distribution of data by modeling the complex distribution as a sum of discrete simple distributions, and processing the simple distributions independently. The independent processing enables the complex distribution to be reconstructed without the simple distributions that are concluded to be spurious. The simple distributions preferably include one or more statistical distributions that are subject to being characterized by a reduced data set for efficient communication and reconstruction of the complex distribution. The modeling and processing steps preferably employ one or more evolutionary algorithms.

Abstract: A method and a downhole telemetry system a downhole telemetry system using discrete multitone modulation for transmitting a data stream over a plurality of transmission modes is provided. The downhole telemetry system includes a downhole transmitter, a cable, and a surface receiver. The downhole transmitter is configured to transmit the data stream over the plurality of transmission modes. The surface receiver is coupled to the downhole transmitter via the cable and is configured to combine signals from each of the plurality of transmission modes to obtain the data stream transmitted by the downhole receiver. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals over the plurality of transmission modes from a downhole package, and may further include combining the plurality of signals to form at least one data stream.

Abstract: An improved data telemetry system for multi-conductor wirelines to achieve satisfactory transmission of analog and digital signals with frequency content up to 100 kHz by assigning at least two conductors to a first terminal of a data transmittal means and to a first terminal of a data receiver means and connecting at least one additional conductor to a second terminal of a data transmittal means and to a second terminal of a data receiver means. Pairing conductors reduces attenuation and crosstalk and permits the signal to contain multiple frequency modulated carrier bands with individual channel bandwidths of up to 3 kHz or higher.

Abstract: An oscillating shear valve system for generating pressure fluctuations in a flowing drilling fluid comprising a stationary stator and an oscillating rotor, both with axial flow passages. The rotor oscillates in close proximity to the stator, at least partially blocking the flow through the stator and generating oscillating pressure pulses. The rotor passes through two zero speed positions during each cycle, facilitating rapid changes in signal phase, frequency, and/or amplitude facilitating enhanced, multivalent data encoding. The rotor is driven by a motorized gear drive. In one embodiment, a torsional spring is attached to the motor and the resulting spring mass system is designed to be near resonance at the desired pulse frequency. The system enables the use of multivalent encoding schemes for increasing data rates.

Abstract: A switchable bandwidth optical receiver is implemented in a front-end of the receiver in at least one of three ways. A switchable impedance may be provided at the input to a preamplifier of the front end, the preamplifier of the front-end may have a switchable impedance therein, and/or a switchable filter may be provided at an output of the preamplifier.

Abstract: The invention includes a wireless communication circuit and a method of communicating with wireless signals that feature a tank circuit having an inductor connected in parallel with a capacitor circuit. The capacitor circuit includes a pair of capacitors coupled in series. Each of the capacitors is connected in common to ground and has a capacitive value associated. A feedback network is connected to selectively bias the tank circuit to produce a signal having an amplitude. The amplitude of the signal is a function of a ratio of the capacitive values associated with the capacitor circuit. The frequency of the signal is defined by the inductor and the capacitor circuit. The tank circuit is multifunctional in that it may be biased to function as a transmitter and a receiver.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring wave energy into or out of a periodic structure having a characteristic wave impedance profile at a prime frequency, the characteristic wave impedance profile comprising a real portion and an imaginary portion, comprising: locating one or more energy transfer elements each having a wave impedance at the prime frequency approximately equal to the real portion of the characteristic wave impedance at one or more points on the periodic structure with the imaginary portion approximately equaling zero; and employing the one or more energy transfer elements to transfer wave energy into or out of the periodic structure. The energy transfer may be repeaters. Quarter-wave transformers can be provided at one or more points on the periodic structure with the imaginary portion approximately equaling zero to transmit waves across one or more discontinuities. A terminator can be employed for cancellation of waves.

Abstract: A method and a downhole telemetry system using discrete multitone modulation and adaptive filtering. The downhole telemetry system includes a downhole transmitter, a cable, and a surface receiver coupled to the downhole transmitter via the cable. The surface receiver adaptively filters noise from a signal received from the downhole transmitter. The method includes receiving a time-domain signal carrying desired information at specific frequencies and adaptively filtering at least a portion of the noise from the time-domain signal. The time-domain signal includes noise. The method may also include delaying the time-domain signal by a delay time to form a delayed time-domain signal, and adaptively filtering at least a portion of the periodic noise from the time-domain signal using the delayed time-domain signal.

Abstract: A downhole electromagnetic telemetry system with an increased data rate is provided. In one embodiment, a PSK data transmission system is used to transmit data in a downhole electromagnetic telemetry system for Measure While Drilling (MWD) applications. MWD applications suffer from data rates that are not well suited for the ever-increasing amount of data that needs to be transmitted. One method of increasing the data rate includes increasing the cater frequency, but this can cause undesirable signal attenuation and distortion. Conversely, decreasing the carrier frequency provides the reward of a stronger signal at the risk of aliasing, especially with wide bandwidth signals. A derivation predicts that the frequency may actually be decreased while increasing the number of phase states to achieve a higher data rate, without affecting the bandwidth. The described system and method may advantageously provide a robust, low-power electromagnetic telemetry system with an increased data rate.

Abstract: A communication protocol based upon the Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) protocol developed for telephone communications is used for two way transmission of data between a downhole logging device and a surface device. The total available bandwidth for a pair of conductors is determined by the length of the conductors and the choice of conductors (operational mode) of a conventional 7 conductor wireline. The available bandwidth is partitioned into channels with a bandwidth of 4.3125 kHz, each of the channels carrying a portion of the data. A contiguous subset of the channels is used for downward communication and another subset is used for upward communication. The bit loading is dynamically determined based upon monitoring of the noise level. Optionally, more than one mode of the 7 conductor wireline may be used.

Abstract: A downhole telemetry system having discrete multi-tone modulation and dynamic bandwidth allocation is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the downhole telemetry system comprises a surface transceiver, a cable, and a downhole transceiver coupled to the surface transceiver via the cable. The downhole transceiver communicates to the surface transceiver using discrete multi-tone (DMT) modulation to transmit telemetry information over a set of frequency subchannels allocated for uplink communications. The surface transceiver may likewise communicate to the downhole transceiver using DMT modulation to transmit information over a set of frequency subchannels allocated for downlink communications. The number of uplink and downlink communications subchannels is preferably variable and preferably can be changed depending on the operating mode of the system.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for isolating in a drillstring a device from acoustic noise by introducing between the device and a source of acoustic vibration an noise isolating apparatus, wherein the noise isolating apparatus has adjacent zones of different acoustic impedance. The zones are preferably created by zones of different thickness and designed such that noise suppression occurs in a predetermined range of acoustic frequencies. In a preferred application the apparatus and method is used in combination with drillstring telemetry.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for compressing a frame of data representing parameter values, a time at which each parameter value was recorded, and an orientation of a sensor at the time each parameter value was recorded. Generally the method includes performing a two-dimensional transform on the data in the orientation domain and in a domain related to the recording time. In one embodiment, the method includes calculating a logarithm of each parameter value. In one embodiment, the 2-D transform includes generating a Fourier transform of the logarithm of the parameter values in the azimuthal domain, generating a discrete cosine transform of the transform coefficients in the time domain. This embodiment includes quantizing the coefficients of the Fourier transform and the discrete cosine transform. One embodiment of the method is adapted to transmit resistivity measurements made by an LWD instrument in pressure modulation telemetry so that while-drilling images of a wellbore can be generated.