Abstract: A vehicle for detecting fields relevant to the suitability of a location for EM telemetry reception. The vehicle may include a magnetometer, a voltage monitoring system and position sensors. A wireless transmitter may transmit readings from the meters, monitoring systems and/or sensors to a receiver. The vehicle may include equipment for inserting or removing ground conductors for use in receiving electromagnetic telemetry signals. The vehicle may be driven or may drive itself autonomously. The vehicle may obtain measurements of magnetic field and/or potential differences at spaced apart locations along a path. Data obtained by the vehicle may be analyzed to identify hot spots. After selecting hot spots, the vehicle may be configured to insert ground conductors at selected locations within the hot spots. After installing ground rods, the vehicle may be configured to continuously monitor the area to maintain an optimum configuration of ground conductors.

Abstract: A pressure measurement apparatus for a downhole measurement-while-drilling tool comprises a feed through connector and a pressure transducer. The feed through connector comprises a body with a first end and an opposite second end, at least one electrical interconnection extending axially through the body and out of the first and second ends, and a pressure transducer receptacle in the first end and a communications bore extending from the receptacle to the second end. The pressure transducer is seated in the receptacle such that a pressure at the first end can be measured, and comprises at least one electrical contact that extends from the pressure transducer through the communication bore and out of the second end. The pressure transducer can take pressure measurements used to predict wear of a primary seal in a motor subassembly of the tool, detect a pressure-related battery failure event, and control operation of a dual pulse height fluid pressure pulse generator.

Abstract: A downhole system has a plurality of telemetry systems and a control system configured to obtain information from one or more sensors and transmit that information on one or more of the plurality of telemetry systems. The configuration of a controller may be changed so as to change which information is transmitted on a given telemetry system and how the information is to be transmitted on the given telemetry system.

Abstract: A component mounting apparatus for holding a rigid component in a downhole bore or a downhole collar based application includes a first body including first and second parallel spaced apart component holders disposed in a first common plane and a first support connecting the component holders together. The first and second parallel spaced apart component holders are operable to receive and grip a rigid component between the first and second parallel spaced apart component holders. Various component mounting assemblies and configurations may be realized using the component mounting apparatus described. The component mounting apparatus and various mounting assemblies may be used to mount a printed circuit board in a cylindrical enclosure or tubular housing, for example.

Abstract: A method for using a downhole probe. The method comprises providing a probe, at least one vertical cross section of the probe having an area of at least pi inches squared. The method further comprises inserting the probe into a bore of a drill collar and passing a drilling fluid through the bore of drill collar at a flow velocity of less than 41 feet per second.

Abstract: An assembly for receiving telemetry signals from downhole equipment is located at a top end of a drill string above a drill rig floor. The assembly may be configured to receive multiple types of telemetry signals, for example, two or more of electromagnetic telemetry, mud pulse telemetry and drill string acoustic telemetry signals. The assembly may comprise a cap comprising a coupling and an end separated by an electrically-insulating gap region. The end of the cap may be connected to a grounding system for the drill rig.

Abstract: A range of apparatus and methods for providing local and long range data telemetry within a wellbore is described. These apparatus and methods may be combined in a wide variety of ways. In some embodiments data is transmitted across a gap in a drill string using signals of a higher frequency for which an electrical impedance of the gap or of a filter connected across the gap is low. Low-frequency EM telemetry signals may be applied across the gap. The gap and any filter connected across the gap present a high impedance to the low-frequency EM telemetry signals. The described technology may be applied for transferring sensor readings between downhole electrical packages. In some embodiments sensors are electrically connected across electrically insulating gaps in the drill string.

Abstract: Apparatuses, devices, and methods of initializing an electronic device such as a wrist-worn device are provided. An optical input device may read the display of the wrist-worn device to obtain input corresponding to a pairing token presented at the display. An optical input processor may process the input to identify the pairing token. The pairing token may be provided to the wrist-worn device during a handshake process in order to establish a wireless communications session with the wrist-worn device. An initialization process may be performed via the wireless communication session. The initialization process may initialize the wrist-worn device such that a user may operate the wrist-worn device following the initialization process.

Abstract: Adjustment of the angle of a bent sub or other steering feature in a drill string relative to a reference angle of a downhole sensor is facilitated by a rotatable coupling between the bent sub and the sensor. The rotatable coupling may be rotated to align the high side with a reference indicium and locked at the set angle. Rows of ceramic balls retained in circumferential channels may be provided to permit rotation while carrying tensile and compressional forces. Calibration of the sensor is facilitated and opportunities for certain measurement errors are eliminated. An embodiment provides a mechanism for locking the rotatable coupling at a desired angle. The embodiment comprises a ring with teeth that engage a downhole portion of the coupling and depressions that engage an uphole portion of the coupling.

Abstract: A downhole probe is adapted to be supported in drill string sections having different internal diameters with the use of a set of interchangeable centralizers. Each centralizer is dimensioned to snugly receive the downhole probe and to bear against the bore wall of a drill-string section. Interchangeable axial supports such as spiders may also be provided in a set. The downhole probe may comprise a slick body. As drilling progresses the downhole probe may be adapted to be received in drill string sections of varying diameters.

Abstract: A wireless communications system for a downhole drilling operation comprises surface communications equipment and a downhole telemetry tool. The surface communications equipment comprises a surface EM communications module with an EM downlink transmitter configured to transmit an EM downlink transmission at a frequency between 0.01 Hz and 0.1 Hz. The downhole telemetry tool is mountable to a drill string and has a downhole electromagnetic (EM) communications unit with an EM downlink receiver configured to receive the EM downlink transmission. The downhole EM communications unit can further comprise an EM uplink transmitter configured to transmit an EM uplink transmission at a frequency greater than 0.5 Hz, in which case the surface EM communications module further comprises an EM uplink receiver configured to receive the EM uplink transmission.

Abstract: A downhole system has a plurality of telemetry systems and a control system configured to obtain information from one or more sensors and transmit that information on one or more of the plurality of telemetry systems. The configuration of a controller may be changed so as to change which information is transmitted on a given telemetry system and how the information is to be transmitted on the given telemetry system.

Abstract: An insulating collar for a gap sub assembly for electromagnetic (EM) telemetry used in downhole drilling is disclosed. The gap sub assembly comprises a female member comprising a female mating section and a male member comprising a male mating section and a gap section. The male mating section is matingly received within the female mating section and electrically isolated therefrom. The insulating collar is positioned on the gap section. The collar is made up of a framework with a plurality of discrete bodies spaced about the framework and a portion of each of the discrete bodies protrudes above the framework. Either the framework or the discrete bodies are made of an electrical insulator material to electrically isolate one end of the collar from the other end of the collar. The collar therefore electrically isolates the male member from the female member and the male member, female member and insulating collar function as the “gap sub” for EM telemetry.

Abstract: An assembly for receiving telemetry signals from downhole equipment is located at a top end of a drill string above a drill rig floor. The assembly may be configured to receive multiple types of telemetry signals, for example, two or more of electromagnetic telemetry, mud pulse telemetry and drill string acoustic telemetry signals. The assembly may comprise a cap comprising a coupling and an end separated by an electrically-insulating gap region. The end of the cap may be connected to a grounding system for the drill rig.

Abstract: An assembly for use in subsurface drilling includes a downhole probe supported in a drill string section by centralizing features that are integral with the drill string section. A bore wall of the drill string section is fluted to provide inward contact points that support the downhole probe. The downhole probe may be supported for substantially its entire length. A vibration damping and/or electrically insulating material may optionally be provided between the downhole probe and the drill string section.

Abstract: A downhole system has a plurality of telemetry systems and a control system configured to obtain information from one or more sensors and transmit that information on one or more of the plurality of telemetry systems. The configuration of a controller may be changed so as to change which information is transmitted on a given telemetry system and how the information is to be transmitted on the given telemetry system.

Abstract: A telemetry system useful in drilling operations receives and displays telemetry data. The telemetry system also determines and displays information regarding the status of the telemetry transmission. The telemetry system may display which data will be updated next, when the update is expected to be complete, and how reliable is the currently displayed data. The system can facilitate efficient drilling operations.

Abstract: A vehicle for detecting fields relevant to the suitability of a location for EM telemetry reception. The vehicle may include a magnetometer, a voltage monitoring system and position sensors. A wireless transmitter may transmit readings from the meters, monitoring systems and/or sensors to a receiver. The vehicle may include equipment for inserting or removing ground conductors for use in receiving electromagnetic telemetry signals. The vehicle may be driven or may drive itself autonomously. The vehicle may obtain measurements of magnetic field and/or potential differences at spaced apart locations along a path. Data obtained by the vehicle may be analyzed to identify hot spots. After selecting hot spots, the vehicle may be configured to insert ground conductors at selected locations within the hot spots. After installing ground rods, the vehicle may be configured to continuously monitor the area to maintain an optimum configuration of ground conductors.

Abstract: An assembly for use in subsurface drilling includes a downhole probe supported by a locking mechanism with a bore of a drill string section. The probe comprises a first spider and a second spider at the uphole and downhole sections of the probe. The locking mechanism secures the probes in the bore against axial and rotational movement relative the drill string section.

Abstract: Data is communicated from sensors at a downhole location near a drill bit to surface equipment. Communication to the surface equipment may be direct or may pass through a series of nodes. The nodes in some cases are intelligently reconfigured to achieve desired data rates, achieve power management goals, and/or compensate for failed nodes.