Abstract: A method for making a conduit for transmitting signals along its length includes forming one or more grooves in at least one of the inner and outer walls of a tubular body that extend substantially to a communicative coupler, and securing one or more conductive wires within the one or more grooves. A conduit for transmitting signals along its length in a borehole environment includes one or more conductive wires extending through and being secured within one or more grooves of a tubular body, the one or more conductive wires in signal communication with a communicative coupler so as to establish one or more wired links. The conduit may include a means for securing the one or more conductive wires within the one or more grooves.

Abstract: A method for making a conduit for transmitting signals along its length includes forming one or more grooves in at least one of the inner and outer walls of a tubular body that extend substantially to a communicative coupler, and securing one or more conductive wires within the one or more grooves. A conduit for transmitting signals along its length in a borehole environment includes one or more conductive wires extending through and being secured within one or more grooves of a tubular body, the one or more conductive wires in signal communication with a communicative coupler so as to establish one or more wired links. The conduit may include a means for securing the one or more conductive wires within the one or more grooves.

Abstract: An expandable tubular sleeve having utility for lining a downhole tubular member includes a tubular body having a portion that is predisposed to initiate expansion thereof under the application of internal fluid pressure. The predisposed portion of the body may be a plastically-deformed portion formed, e.g., by application of mechanical force to a wall of the body. The predisposed portion of the body may be defined by a portion of the body having reduced wall thickness. The reduced wall thickness may be achieved, e.g., by reinforcing the wall thickness everywhere except the predisposed portion. The predisposed portion of the body may be formed by modifying the material properties of the body, e.g., by localized heat treatment. The sleeve and related apparatuses and methods are useful for securing and protecting a cable having one or more insulated conductive wires for transmission of signals between locations downhole and at the surface.

Abstract: A wired drill pipe for a drill string of a downhole tool positioned in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is provided. The wired drill pipe includes a drill pipe, a cable and a wire retainer. The drill pipe has a slot at each end thereof. The slots are adapted to receive at least one transformer. The drill pipe has an inner surface defining a passage for the flow of mud therethrough. The cable extends from the transformer into the passage of the drill pipe. The wire retainer is positioned on the inner surface of the drill pipe. The wire retainer is adapted to secure the cable therein.

Abstract: A wired drill pipe segment includes a tubular body having an axial bore, a box end disposed at a first end of the tubular body having a first core material disposed in the box end, a pin end disposed at a second end of the tubular body having a second core material disposed in the pin end, a first coil winding wound around at least a portion of the first core material and a second coil winding wound around at least a portion of the first core material, a third coil winding wound around at least a portion of the second core material and a fourth coil winding wound around at least a portion of the second core material, a first conductor connected to the first coil winding and the third coil winding and extending through the tubular body, and a second conductor connected to the second coil winding and the fourth coil winding and extending through the tubular body.

Abstract: An expandable tubular sleeve having utility for lining a downhole tubular member includes a tubular body having a portion that is predisposed to initiate expansion thereof under the application of internal fluid pressure. The predisposed portion of the body may be a plastically-deformed portion formed, e.g., by application of mechanical force to a wall of the body. The predisposed portion of the body may be defined by a portion of the body having reduced wall thickness. The reduced wall thickness may be achieved, e.g., by reinforcing the wall thickness everywhere except the predisposed portion. The predisposed portion of the body may be formed by modifying the material properties of the body, e.g., by localized heat treatment. The sleeve and related apparatuses and methods are useful for securing and protecting a cable having one or more insulated conductive wires for transmission of signals between locations downhole and at the surface.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a cuttings bed that includes a drill bit, a drillstring and a cuttings bed detector. The cuttings bed detector is positioned uphole of the drill bit. The method includes the steps of positioning a drill bit downhole, and positioning a cuttings bed detector uphole of the drill bit.

Abstract: An expandable tubular sleeve having utility for lining a downhole tubular member includes a tubular body having a portion that is predisposed to initiate expansion thereof under the application of internal fluid pressure. The predisposed portion of the body may be a plastically-deformed portion formed, e.g., by application of mechanical force to a wall of the body. The predisposed portion of the body may be defined by a portion of the body having reduced wall thickness. The reduced wall thickness may be achieved, e.g., by reinforcing the wall thickness everywhere except the predisposed portion. The predisposed portion of the body may be formed by modifying the material properties of the body, e.g., by localized heat treatment. The sleeve and related apparatuses and methods are useful for securing and protecting a cable having one or more insulated conductive wires for transmission of signals between locations downhole and at the surface.

Abstract: A wired drill pipe telemetry system includes a surface computer; and a drill string telemetry link comprising a plurality of wired drill pipes each having a telemetry section, at least one of the plurality of wired drill pipes having a diagnostic module electrically coupling the telemetry section and wherein the diagnostic module includes a line interface adapted to interface with a wired drill pipe telemetry section; a transceiver adapted to communicate signals between the wired drill pipe telemetry section and the diagnostic module; and a controller operatively connected with the transceiver and adapted to control the transceiver.

Abstract: A cabled communication link for a drill string includes spaced apart adapter subs within the drill string and a cable connecting the adapter subs for communication of a signal therebetween. The cabled communication link may be drill pipe joints are interconnected within the drill string between adapter subs to form a piped communication link, whereby the cabled communication link establishes a pathway to the piped communication link for transmitting a signal through the drill string. The cabled communication link may also be in a non-wired section of the drill string is disposed between adapter subs, whereby the cabled communication link establishes a pathway for transmitting a signal through the non-wired section of the drill string. Inductive couplings are preferably used for communication across the adapter subs and wired drill pipe joints. Another aspect of the cabled communication employs wireless transceivers at or near the surface of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for performing diagnostics on a wired drill pipe telemetry system of a downhole drilling system is provided. The method includes passing a signal through a plurality of drill pipe in the wired drill pipe (WDP) telemetry system, receiving the signal from the WDP telemetry system, measuring parameters of the received signal and comparing characteristics of the received signal parameters against a known reference to identify variations therein whereby a fault in the wired drill pipe telemetry system is identified. The signal, in the form of a waveform or a pulse, is passed through the WDP telemetry system. The impedance and/or time delay of the received signal is measured. By analyzing variations, such as resonance and/or reflections in the signal, the existence and/or location of a fault in the WDP telemetry system may be determined.

Abstract: A first flux-loop inductive coupler element electrically couples with a second flux-loop inductive coupler element. The first flux-loop inductive coupler element comprises a first ring-like core having high magnetic permeability and a conical-section annular first face transverse to the plane of the first core. The first face has a first annular groove separating a first conical-section larger-diameter face and a first conical-section smaller-diameter face. A first coil is wound within the annular groove. The first and second cores form a low-reluctance closed magnetic path around the first coil and a second coil of the second flux-loop inductive coupler element. A first current-loop inductive coupler element electrically couples with a second current-loop inductive coupler element.

Abstract: A wired drill pipe telemetry system includes a surface computer; and a drill string telemetry link comprising a plurality of wired drill pipes each having a telemetry section, at least one of the plurality of wired drill pipes having a diagnostic module electrically coupling the telemetry section and wherein the diagnostic module includes a line interface adapted to interface with a wired drill pipe telemetry section; a transceiver adapted to communicate signals between the wired drill pipe telemetry section and the diagnostic module; and a controller operatively connected with the transceiver and adapted to control the transceiver.

Abstract: A robust, low-loss wired pipe joint is provided for service as a component of a wired pipe string for transmitting measurement data to a surface station from locations in a borehole in oil well drilling and oil well operations. Conductive layers reduce signal energy losses over the length of the drill string by reducing resistive losses and flux losses at each inductive coupler. The wired pipe joint is robust in that it remains operational in the presence of gaps in the conductive layer. A wired pipe joint includes an elongate tubular shank having an axial bore, a threaded box-end, and a threaded pin end.

Abstract: A robust, low-loss wired pipe joint is provided for service as a component of a wired pipe string for transmitting measurement data to a surface station from locations in a borehole in oil well drilling and oil well operations. Conductive layers reduce signal energy losses over the length of the drill string by reducing resistive losses and flux losses at each inductive coupler. The wired pipe joint is robust in that it remains operational in the presence of gaps in the conductive layer. A wired pipe joint includes an elongate tubular shank having an axial bore, a threaded box-end, and a threaded pin end.

Abstract: A first flux-loop inductive coupler element electrically couples with a second flux-loop inductive coupler element. The first flux-loop inductive coupler element comprises a first ring-like core having high magnetic permeability and a conical-section annular first face transverse to the plane of the first core. The first face has a first annular groove separating a first conical-section larger-diameter face and a first conical-section smaller-diameter face. A first coil is wound within the annular groove. The first and second cores form a low-reluctance closed magnetic path around the first coil and a second coil of the second flux-loop inductive coupler element.

Abstract: A downhole tool (12) connected to the lower end of a coiled tubing string (14). A wireline cable (16) extends downwardly through the coiled tubing string (14) and through the center of the tool (12) to define an annulus between the cable (16) and the outer housing (66). Annular valves (98, 100) control annulus fluid flow. A clamping device (26) releasably secures the wireline cable (16). The disconnect for the downhole tool (12) comprises an electrically activated fluid pressure mechanism for releasing disconnect dogs or latches (116, FIG. 1H) carried by an upper tool portion (12A) and releasably securing a lower tool portion (12B). The fluid actuated mechanism is activated by an electrical solenoid valve (124) to permit actuation of a disconnect piston (148) by communicating pressurized hydraulic fluid in a reservoir (168) through fluid passages 170, 158 to a piston fluid chamber (156).

Abstract: A cable is injected into a length of coiled tubing disposed on a reel by an apparatus and method which includes attaching a small diameter pipe to the end of the coiled tubing, feeding the cable into the opposite end of the pipe through a seal and pumping a liquid into the annular space defined by the cable and the pipe at sufficient pressure and flow rate so that fluid drag on the cable overcomes the frictional force of the cable passing through the seal to inject the cable through the entire length of the coiled tubing. This method avoids the prior expensive practice of deploying coiled tubing in a straight line, either horizontally or vertically in order to feed cable through the tubing.

Abstract: A cable is injected into a length of coiled tubing disposed on a reel by an apparatus and method which includes attaching a small diameter pipe to the end of the coiled tubing, feeding the cable into the opposite end of the pipe through a seal and pumping a liquid into the annular space defined by the cable and the pipe at sufficient pressure and flow rate so that fluid drag on the cable overcomes the frictional force of the cable passing through the seal to inject the cable through the entire length of the coiled tubing. This method avoids the prior expensive practice of deploying coiled tubing in a straight line, either horizontally or vertically in order to feed cable through the tubing.

Abstract: A sonde for acquiring seismic signals in a borehole, the sonde comprising: a detector module (30) enclosing at least one seismic sensor (G); an elongate body (21) having a lateral cavity (22) suitable for receiving the detector module (30); a resislient suspension (40, 50) connecting said module to said body; and an anchor member (12, 13) disposed on the opposite side of said body to the side in which said cavity is disposed. The sonde is characterized by the fact that the resilient suspension exerts a force on said module suitable for displacing it out from the cavity and for pressing it against the wall of the borehole so as to couple it to said wall, together with means (41, 43, 51, 53, 60) which are provided to retract the module into said cavity against the force exerted by the resilient suspension.