Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a vibration of a drill string, the apparatus including: a plurality of sensors in operable communication with the drill string; and a controller in operable communication with the plurality of sensors, the controller connectable to a drill string motivator and capable of outputting a signal to the drill string motivator to control the vibration of the drill string.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing communications between a first device disposed at a tubular and a second device, the tubular having tubular sections and being configured to be disposed in a borehole penetrating the earth, the apparatus including: a first optical coupler configured to be concentrically coupled to a first tubular section and configured to be in optical communication with the first device using a first optical transmission medium disposed at the first tubular section; and a second optical coupler configured to be concentrically coupled to a second tubular section and configured to be in optical communication with the second device using a second optical transmission medium disposed at the second tubular section; wherein the first optical coupler is configured to be perimetrically disposed about the second optical coupler to be in communication with the second optical coupler to provide the communications between the first device and the second device.

Abstract: A system for optimizing a rate-of-penetration of a drill string, the system including: a plurality of sensors in operable communication with the drill string; and a controller in operable communication with the plurality of sensors, the controller connectable to a drill string motivator and capable of outputting a signal to the drill string motivator for optimizing the rate-of-penetration of the drill string, the signal configured to provide at least one of weight on bit, an amount of speed to rotate the drill string, an amount of torque to be applied to the drill string, and an amount of mudflow to the drill string.

Abstract: A method for estimating a temperature within sub-surface materials traversed by a wellbore includes: obtaining temperature data from a plurality of measurements of temperature taken within the wellbore; calculating an overall heat transfer coefficient from the measurement data; calculating a geothermal gradient from the overall heat transfer coefficient; and using the geothermal gradient to estimate the temperature within the sub-surface materials. A system and a computer program product are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of detecting a downhole washout. The method includes, positioning a plurality of sensors along a downhole drillstring, communicatively coupling the plurality of sensors to a processor, and analyzing data sensed by the plurality of sensors with the processor for relationships indicative of a washout.

Abstract: A method for generating corrected geologic depth information is disclosed. The method includes: estimating a depth of each of a plurality of different locations along a length of a drillstring disposed in a borehole; measuring at least one environmental factor at each of the plurality of different locations and determining a deformation of the drillstring at each of the plurality of different locations from the measured environmental factor; and generating a non-linear model of the deformation along the length relative to a reference point. A system and computer program product for generating corrected geologic depth information is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for measuring a formation parameter, the system including: a formation parameter test device having: a structure capable of segregating a discrete volume including a formation interface surface within a well, and a parameter sensor in operable communication with the volume; a high bandwidth communications system in operable communication with the parameter sensor; and a processing unit in operable communication with the high bandwidth communications system and disposed remotely from the parameter sensor, the processing unit configured to receive parameter data.

Abstract: A system for performing a task in a borehole, the system including: a downhole tool configured for disposition into the borehole, the downhole tool also configured to perform the task; a processing unit disposed remote to the downhole tool, the processing unit configured for initiating a command signal; and a broadband communication system for coupling the downhole tool and the processing unit, the broadband communication system configured to transmit the command signal to the downhole tool to perform the task.

Abstract: A system for optimizing a mud-pulse telemetry system, the system including: a plurality of sensors distributed along a drill string adapted for being disposed in a borehole, each sensor configured to perform a measurement of a characteristic of at least one of mud in a column within the borehole and a mud-pulse telemetry signal propagating in the mud; and a processing unit for receiving the measurements, the processing unit comprising an algorithm to compile a data set from the measurements and to determine a parameter of the mud-pulse telemetry system using the data set to optimize the mud-pulse telemetry system. A method and a computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a vibration of a drill string, the apparatus including: a plurality of sensors in operable communication with the drill string; and a controller in operable communication with the plurality of sensors, the controller connectable to a drill string motivator and capable of outputting a signal to the drill string motivator to control the vibration of the drill string.

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: Disclosed herein is a method of locating and quantifying friction between a drillstring and a wellbore. The method includes, positioning a plurality of sensors within a wellbore, communicatively coupling the plurality of sensors, monitoring signals from the plurality of sensors, logging the sensed signals versus time versus depth of each of the plurality of sensors, locating at least one friction zone along the drillstring within the wellbore based on the logging and quantifying friction in the at least one friction zone based on the logging.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of detecting a downhole washout. The method includes, positioning a plurality of sensors along a downhole drillstring, communicatively coupling the plurality of sensors to a processor, and analyzing data sensed by the plurality of sensors with the processor for relationships indicative of a washout.

Abstract: A system, tool and method of communicating data between a wellbore and the surface are provided that include the features of transmitting data from a number of tools in the wellbore to the surface at a first data rate via a communication link in a tubing that supplies fluid under pressure, detecting occurrence of a fault relating to the data communication link is below a threshold, and switching transmission of least some of the data from the tools by generating pressure pulses through the fluid in the tubing at a second data rate that is lower than the first data rate.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating data between a downhole tool and a surface controller is provided that comprises a rotating drill string extending in a borehole and having a downhole telemetry module disposed proximate a bottom end thereof and transmitting a first signal across a telemetry channel. A surface telemetry module is disposed proximate a top end of the rotating drill string and is adapted to receive the first signal transmitted by the downhole telemetry module across the transmission channel. The surface telemetry module has a radio frequency transmitter disposed therein for transmitting a second signal related to the first signal. A stationary communication module has a radio frequency receiver adapted to receive the second signal.

Abstract: A system for drilling a well comprises a tubular member having a bottomhole assembly at a bottom end thereof disposed in a wellbore. A first sensor is disposed in the bottomhole assembly at a predetermined axial location for detecting bending in a first axis and generating a first bending signal in response thereto, where the first axis is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the bottomhole assembly. A second sensor is disposed in the bottomhole assembly at the predetermined axial location for detecting bending in a second axis and generating a second bending signal in response thereto, where the second axis is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. A processor receives the first bending signal and the second bending signal and relates the first bending signal and the second bending signal to a borehole curvature according to programmed instructions.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating data between a downhole tool and a surface controller is provided that comprises a rotating drill string extending in a borehole and having a downhole telemetry module disposed proximate a bottom end thereof and transmitting a first signal across a telemetry channel. A surface telemetry module is disposed proximate a top end of the rotating drill string and is adapted to receive the first signal transmitted by the downhole telemetry module across the transmission channel. The surface telemetry module has a radio frequency transmitter disposed therein for transmitting a second signal related to the first signal. A stationary communication module has a radio frequency receiver adapted to receive the second signal.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method which includes transmitting signals over a time period between a downhole location and a surface location during drilling of a wellbore; recording the time of each signal at the surface using a surface clock and the time of each signal downhole using a downhole clock; and correcting the downhole measurements using the recorded times.

Abstract: A system for transmitting information in a well comprises a tubular string disposed in the well and having a drilling fluid flowing therethrough. A pulser is disposed in the tubular string and transmits a pulse synchronization marker comprising a chirp signal. A surface controller, acting under programmed instructions, detects the chirp signal adjusts a signal decoding technique based on the detected chirp signal.

Abstract: A drilling control system provides, in one aspect, advisory actions for optimal drilling. Such a system or model utilizes downhole dynamics data and surface drilling parameters, to produce drilling models used to provide to a human operator with recommended drilling parameters for optimized performance. In another aspect, the output of the drilling control system is directly linked with rig instrumentation systems so as to provide a closed-loop automated drilling control system that optimizes drilling while taking into account the downhole dynamic behavior and surface parameters. The drilling models can be either static or dynamic. In one embodiment, the simulation of the drilling process uses neural networks to estimate some nonlinear function using the examples of input-output relations produced by the drilling process.