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.

Abstract: A telemetry method transmits data by MP telemetry to a telemetry relay system which retransmits the data by EM telemetry. The method avoids the need to incorporate MP telemetry pressure transducers into rig equipment and permits telemetry from regions unfavourable for EM telemetry because of depth and/or characteristics surrounding formations.

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 opposing first and second ends, at least one electrical interconnection extending axially through the body and out of both 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 for predicting 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 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 fluid pressure pulse generator for a downhole telemetry tool comprising a stator and a rotor. The stator has a stator body and a plurality of radially extending stator projections spaced around the stator body, with adjacently spaced stator projections defining stator flow channels extending therebetween. The rotor has a rotor body and a plurality of radially extending rotor projections spaced around the rotor body, with adjacently spaced rotor projections defining rotor flow channels extending therebetween. The rotor projections are axially adjacent the stator projections. The rotor is rotatable relative to the stator and is configured to oscillate from an open flow position an equal span of clockwise and counter clockwise rotation to first and second restricted flow positions.

Abstract: A downhole system comprises a main sensor, such as a gamma sensor, and a backup sensor. The backup sensor may be of a different type from the main sensor. In some embodiments the backup sensor is a high reliability sensor that may have a different sensitivity from the main sensor. The system operates both the main and backup sensors and generates calibration data for the backup sensor. If the main sensor fails the calibration data may be applied to process data from the backup sensor to yield an estimate of the data that the main sensor would have yielded if it had remained operational. The calibration data may compensate for temperature variations and/or temporal drift, for example.

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 fluid pressure pulse generator comprises a stator having a body with a cylindrical bore and a fluid flow chamber comprising a lateral opening and an uphole axial inlet, and a rotor having a cylindrical body rotatably seated within the bore, a rotor head connected to the rotor body, and a fluid diverter comprising a fluid passage through the rotor body and a nozzle in the rotor head. A fluid passage has an opening on an outside surface of the rotor body and an outlet at an end of the rotor body. The nozzle has an inlet end communicable with a drilling fluid and an outlet end in fluid communication with the fluid opening. The flow area of the nozzle increases from the inlet to outlet end such that the velocity of the drilling fluid slows while from inlet to outlet end.

Abstract: An electromagnetic telemetry signal generating assembly comprises a first section of drill string, a second section of drill string, a gap sub configured to insulate the first section from the second section, and a power source configured to provide a first voltage to a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to drive a second voltage between the sections of drill string. The gap sub provides a gap of at least 12 inches (30 cm). The second voltage may be different than the first voltage.

Abstract: A fluid pressure pulse generator for a downhole telemetry tool comprising a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises a stator body and a plurality of radially extending stator projections spaced around the stator body, whereby adjacently spaced stator projections define stator flow channels extending therebetween. The rotor comprises a rotor body and a plurality of radially extending rotor projections spaced around the rotor body. The rotor projections are axially adjacent to the stator projections and the rotor is rotatable relative to the stator such that the rotor projections move in and out of fluid communication with the stator flow channels to create fluid pressure pulses in fluid flowing through the stator flow channels. The rotor projections may be positioned downhole of the stator projections and include a self-correction mechanism to move the rotor to an open flow position where the rotor projections are out of fluid communication with the stator flow channels if the telemetry tool fails.

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 measurement-while-drilling system is integrated into a mud motor. The measurement-while-drilling system includes sensors which may include inclination and tool face sensors, for example, located near to the drill bit. Data from the near bit sensors is transmitted by way of telemetry, for example, EM telemetry. The mud motor may include a rotating electrical coupling which provides good electrical productivity between an uphole coupling of the mud motor and the rotating mandrel. The EM telemetry transmitter may include an electrically-insulating gap integrated with the mandrel of the mud motor.

Abstract: A fluid pressure pulse generator comprises a stator with a body and cylindrical bore and a generally cylindrical rotor having uphole and downhole ends with different diameters to form an annular fluid barrier at the intersection of the two ends. An annular gap is formed between the rotor uphole end and stator body. The stator body and rotor body collectively have a fluid flow chamber comprising a lateral opening and an uphole axial inlet, and a downhole axial outlet and fluid diverter comprising a lateral opening in fluid communication with the axial outlet. The annular fluid barrier is in fluid communication with the fluid flow chamber or the fluid diverter. The rotor can be rotated such that the fluid diverter is movable in and out of fluid communication with the fluid flow chamber to create fluid pressure pulses.

Abstract: A fluid pressure pulse generator comprises a stator having a body and cylindrical bore and a rotor having a cylindrical body and cap. The diameter of the cylindrical body is smaller than that of the stator central bore such that an annular gap is formed therebetween. The cap has a base with a diameter larger than that of the rotor body, forming a protruding lip that covers at least a portion of the annular gap. The stator body and rotor body collectively have at least one fluid flow chamber comprising a lateral opening and an uphole axial inlet, and a downhole axial outlet and at least one fluid diverter comprising a lateral opening in fluid communication with the axial outlet. The rotor can rotate within the stator such that the fluid diverter moves in and out of fluid communication with the fluid flow chamber to create fluid pressure pulses.

Abstract: A fluid pressure pulse generator comprising a stator and rotor that can be used in measurement while drilling using mud pulse or pressure pulse telemetry is disclosed. The stator comprises a stator body with a circular opening therethrough and the rotor comprises a circular rotor body rotatably received in the circular opening of the stator body. One of the stator body or the rotor body comprises one or more than one fluid opening for flow of fluid therethrough and the other of the stator body or the rotor body comprises one or more than one full flow chamber. The rotor is rotatable between a full flow configuration whereby the full flow chamber and the fluid opening align so that fluid flows from the full flow chamber through the fluid opening, and a reduced flow configuration whereby the full flow chamber and the fluid opening are not aligned.

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 method and apparatus for joining first and second bodies coaxially together to resist relative axial and rotational movement between the bodies. A male portion of the first body is received in a complementary female portion of the second body, and the male and female portions are aligned axially on a common axis such that respective cooperating grooves in opposing cylindrical or tapered complementary surfaces of the male and female portions are aligned to form a plurality of passageways or a passageway having a plurality of passageway portions, between the opposing cylindrical or tapered complementary surfaces. At least two of the passageways or at least two of the passageway portions are disposed at different angles to the common axis.

Abstract: A drill string section receives an electronics package. A flow channel extends through an aperture in the electronics package. The flow channel carries a flow of drilling fluid through the drill string section. The flow channel is sealed to a body of the drill string section. The electronics package need not be pressure-rated.

Abstract: A drill string section includes one or two tool joints that are removable from a body. Tool joints with different thread configurations may be interchangeably used with the same body. The tool joints have a compact construction that can facilitate making the drill string section short. The body overlaps with threads of one or both of the tool joints. The drill string section has non-exclusive application between a mud motor and a drill bit.

Abstract: A jig and method useful for coupling and/or uncoupling drill string sections. In some embodiments, the jig comprises a body having an outer surface for engaging a torqueing tool and a cavity extending from a first end to a second end of the body and an engagement means at the first end of the body. The engagement means may be dimensioned to non-rotationally engage an outer surface of a first end of a drill string section and the cavity may be sized to fit about a drill string section.