Abstract: A system for determining at least one of a lithology of a formation traversed by a borehole and an operational condition of a component of a drill string disposed in the borehole is disclosed. The system includes a drill string with a high speed wired pipe telemetry system for transmitting downhole measurements made by a sensor to a computer processing system in real time. The computer processing system is external to the drill string and includes a model that models operation of the drill string and/or a formation that is being drilled. The model receives the downhole measurements and surface measurements of a drilling parameter and provides as output detection of the lithology of the formation and/or the operational condition of the component.

Abstract: A system for estimating downhole parameters includes: at least one parameter sensor disposed along a downhole component and configured to measure a parameter of one or more of a borehole and an earth formation and generate parameter data; and a processor in operable communication with the at least one parameter sensor, the processor configured to receive the parameter data and deformation data relating to deformation of the downhole component. The processor is configured to: generate a mathematical model of the downhole component deformation in real time based on pre-selected geometrical data representing the downhole component and the received deformation data; estimate, in real time, an alignment of the at least one parameter sensor relative to at least one of another parameter sensor and a desired alignment; and in response to estimating a misalignment of the at least one parameter sensor, correct the parameter data based on the misalignment.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for displaying three-dimensional motion of a drill string in a borehole penetrating the earth to a user in real time. The apparatus includes: an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration in at least three directions; a strain sensor configured to measure strain or a bending moment at the drill string in two directions; a magnetometer and configured to measure an earth's magnetic field to determine rotational velocity of the drill string; a processor disposed at a surface of the earth and configured to receive the measurements from the accelerometer, the strain sensor, and the magnetometer and to process these measurements to estimate the three-dimensional motion of the drill string; a display configured to display the motion of the drill string to the user; and a high-speed telemetry system configured to transmit measurements from the accelerometer, the strain sensor, and the magnetometer to the processor in real time.

Abstract: A method of predicting behavior of a drilling assembly includes: generating a mathematical representation of a geometry of each of a plurality of components of a drilling assembly, the plurality of components including a plurality of cutters and one or more additional components configured to at least one of: support the plurality of cutters and operably connect the plurality of cutters to the drill string, the one or more additional components including a drill bit crown; simulating one or more operating conditions incident on the drilling assembly representation, and simulating an interaction between the plurality of components and an earth formation; and predicting physical responses of the drilling assembly representation to the one or more conditions.

Abstract: A method for estimating an inclination and azimuth at a bottom of a borehole includes forming a last survey point including a last inclination and a last azimuth; receiving at a computing device bending moment and at least one of a bending toolface measurement and a near bit inclination measurement from one or more sensors in the borehole; and forming the estimate by comparing possible dogleg severity (DLS) values with the bending moment value.

Abstract: A method for determining wellbore trajectory includes determining survey parameters in the wellbore; measuring force parameter(s) in the wellbore; and correcting the survey parameters using the measured force parameter(s). The downhole measured force parameters may include forces associated with an operation of a steering device such as an internal reaction force, and/or a bending moment. In variants, the method may include measuring a wellbore temperature; measuring a wellbore parameter in addition to the temperature; and correcting a survey parameter using the measured parameter and the measured temperature. These methods may include correcting survey parameters using measured wellbore diameters. Also, a processor in the wellbore may be programmed to perform the correction while in the wellbore and/or control a steering device using measurements provided by a sensor for measuring internal reaction forces.

Abstract: A method of operating a drill string includes receiving signals indicative of rotation of a bottom hole assembly (BHA) of the drill string; receiving signals indicative of the torque experience by the BHA; determining from the received signals an average slipping torque and a maximum sticking torque; determining a friction ratio based on the maximum sticking torque and the average slipping torque; and generating an indication that the friction ratio exceeds a limit.

Abstract: A downhole tool damage detection method includes transmitting ultrasonic energy through a downhole tool, receiving ultrasonic energy transmitting through the downhole tool, monitoring the received ultrasonic energy for changes over time and alerting that at least partial unthreading of a threaded connection in the downhole tool may exist in response to finding the changes.

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: Channel estimation and signal equalization is used in a mud-pulse telemetry system for uplink communication during drilling of wellbores.

Abstract: A method for creating a risk estimate for a tool includes creating a plurality of source patterns from tool data and maintenance data related to a plurality of tools. The method also includes creating a risk model from the plurality of source patterns, the risk model including a plurality of example stressors each having an associated risk value. The method also includes creating at least one stress pattern from tool data related to the tool and comparing the at least one stress pattern to the risk model to create a risk estimate for the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating at least one of a dynamic motion of a portion of interest of a drill string and a static parameter associated with the portion of interest, the apparatus having: a plurality of sensors operatively associated with the drill string at at least one location other than the portion of interest; and a processing system coupled to the plurality of sensors, the processing system configured to estimate at least one of the dynamic motion and the static parameter using a measurement from the plurality of sensors as input.

Abstract: A method for determining wellbore trajectory includes determining survey parameters in the wellbore; measuring force parameter(s) in the wellbore; and correcting the survey parameters using the measured force parameter(s). The downhole measured force parameters may include forces associated with an operation of a steering device such as an internal reaction force, and/or a bending moment. In variants, the method may include measuring a wellbore temperature; measuring a wellbore parameter in addition to the temperature; and correcting a survey parameter using the measured parameter and the measured temperature. These methods may include correcting survey parameters using measured wellbore diameters. Also, a processor in the wellbore may be programmed to perform the correction while in the wellbore and/or control a steering device using measurements provided by a sensor for measuring internal reaction forces.

Abstract: Pump noise in a mud-pulse telemetry system is reduced based on analysis of the frequency characteristics of the noise generated by one or more pumps. Least mean-squares filtering may be done. Alternatively, the frequency domain analysis of the pump frequencies is fine-tuned in the time domain and a synthetic timing signal is used for the filtering.

Abstract: A system for determining at least one of a lithology of a formation traversed by a borehole and an operational condition of a component of a drill string disposed in the borehole, the system including: a sensor for performing downhole measurements of a drilling parameter, the sensor being disposed at least one of at and in the drill string; a high speed wired pipe telemetry system for transmitting the downhole measurements in real time, a processor coupled to the telemetry system for receiving the measurements, the processor disposed external to the drill string; and a computer processing system coupled to the processor, the computer processing system comprising a model that receives the downhole measurements and surface measurements of a drilling parameter as input, the model providing as output at least one of the lithology of the formation and the operational condition of the component.

Abstract: A downhole tool damage detection method includes, transmitting ultrasonic energy through a downhole tool, receiving ultrasonic energy transmitting through the downhole tool, monitoring the received ultrasonic energy for changes over time, and alerting that damage in the downhole tool may exist in response to finding the changes.

Abstract: Separation of telemetry and noise signals in a telemetry system is accomplished by modeling the system as one in which two sources are operating simultaneously. Direct and indirect implementations by IIR and FIR filters are discussed.

Abstract: The transfer function of the communication channel in a mud pulse telemetry system is determined by sending a known signal through the channel and spectral analysis of the received signal. The known signal may be a chirp signal or a stepped frequency signal. Based on the determined transfer function, operating parameters of the pulser are adjusted.

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

Abstract: Pressure measurements are made using a pressure sensor in the proximity of the drillbit during drilling operations. A filtered version of the pressure measurements is provided to a pulser for a mud-pulse telemetry system so as to cancel pressure variations due to drilling noise while a telemetry signal is being sent. 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. 37 CFR 1.72(b).