Abstract: A drilling system that includes a mud pump disposed on an earth surface and a drill string with a bottom hole assembly (BHA) in a borehole. The drilling system can be controlled by turning the mud pump ON or OFF according to a pre-determined sequence so that the mud flow in the borehole fluctuates between high and low. The mud pulser in the bottom hole assembly senses the fluctuation in the mud flow and generates a binary signal accordingly. The mud pulser further sends the binary signal to a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool in the bottom hole assembly. The binary signal executes one or more firmware in the MWD tool.

Abstract: A method for controlling a MWD tool in a bottom hole assembly in a borehole includes the steps of installing a plurality of firmware in the MWD tool, turning a mud pump on an earth surface ON or OFF according to a pre-determined sequence; determining a mud flow in the borehole to be ON or OFF so as to form a binary signal; and sending the binary signal to the MWD tool. The plurality of firmware are pre-programmed to perform a plurality of tasks while the binary signal executes one of the plurality of firmware in the MWD tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and storing sensor data for an oil drilling system is disclosed. The apparatus for collecting and storing sensor data may include a drill string including a bottom whole assembly which includes a drill bit and a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) assembly; a master board including a master board micro controller unit (MCU) in the MWD assembly; a plurality of sensor boards to sense and collect sensor data; a removable central storage unit, including a central storage unit MCU in the MWD assembly, to store sensor data collected by the plurality of sensor boards; and an internal bus coupled to the master board, the plurality of sensor boards, and the removable central storage unit to carry sensor data from the plurality of sensor boards to the removable central storage unit for storage by the removable central storage unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for traveling between an earth surface and a wellbore in an earth formation contains an instrument sub, a thruster for generating a motive force, and a power source that provides power to the instrument sub and the thruster. The instrument sub contains well logging instruments. The instrument sub, the thruster, and the power source are connected to form or are disposed in a substantially tubular body. The apparatus further contains a buoyance-generating device.

Abstract: A method and a system implementing the method, are disclosed for computing magnetic interferences in measurement while drilling operations, using the retrieved lateral, and axial magnetic interferences of the measurement while drilling downhole tool system. With the disclosed method and system of implementing the method, it can be determined whether the source of the magnetic interference is from the measurement while drilling downhole tool system lateral direction or its axial direction. When magnetic field strength is abnormal, the lateral and axial magnetic interferences are monitored, and then compared against their values before the abnormal magnetic field strength. This way the direction of the magnetic interference is analyzed to eliminate or judge the cause of the interference, and properly guide the measurement while drilling downhole tool system towards its reservoir or well location.

Abstract: A pulser for generating pressure pulses propagating through a column of drilling fluid in the drill string to the surface during drilling. The pulser may include a screen in the surface of a tubular housing to permit mud from the mud stream to enter into the pulser; an adjustable servo valve configured to receive the mud and including a removable servo poppet and a removable servo orifice member positioned in the tubular housing, wherein the adjustable servo valve is configured to allow the removable servo poppet and the removable servo orifice member to be replaced by another removable servo poppet and another removable servo orifice member to alter an inner diameter of an orifice of the adjustable servo valve to accommodate drilling conditions to increase a performance of the pulser generating pressure pulses for the mud stream returning to the surface.

Abstract: A data sampling and collection system in an oil drilling system includes a data acquirer installed in the measurement sub to transmit a sampling collector identification signal to one of a plurality of sampling collectors coupled to the data acquirer. Each sampling collector includes a sensor and a plurality of random access memory (RAM) pages to store sensor data received from the sensor. When one of the sampling collectors receives the enable signal from the data acquirer, a current RAM page currently receiving sensor data from the sensor continues to receive sensor data without interruption and an immediately preceding RAM page storing a last completed page of received sensor data is transmitted from the one sampling collector to a memory of the data acquirer and from there to a surface computing system. As such, recent data is retrieved and transmitted for processing without interrupting the continuous collection of sensor data.

Abstract: A method for assessing reliability of an electronic component under downhole vibration conditions include designing a set of vibration test conditions and conduct failure analysis. The vibration test conditions include the natural vibration frequency, the overstress limit of the test vehicle, and the step stress profile for testing the test vehicle. The failure analysis of the failed electronic component includes the step of measuring an electrical resistance of the failed electronic component without a vibration load. When the electrical resistance of the failed electronic component remains large, the failed electronic component is cross-sectioned. Finally, the cross-sectioned electronic component is examined to identify a failure mode.

Abstract: A downhole drilling system for reducing impact of vibration comprises a drill string having a bottom hole assembly (BHA) and a controller configured to control the downhole drilling system. The BHA includes a measurement sub configured to measure one or more of lateral, torsional, and axial vibrations. In this system, the controller controls the downhole drilling system based on a drilling environmental profile including drilling parameters of one or more of the lateral, torsional, and axial vibrations and further based on a vibration mode and a vibration level of the one or more of the lateral, torsional, and axial vibrations determined from the drilling environmental profile.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and storing sensor data for an oil drilling system is disclosed. The apparatus for collecting and storing sensor data may include a drill string including a bottom whole assembly which includes a drill bit and a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) assembly; a master board including a master board micro controller unit (MCU) in the MWD assembly; a plurality of sensor boards to sense and collect sensor data; a removable central storage unit, including a central storage unit MCU in the MWD assembly, to store sensor data collected by the plurality of sensor boards; and an internal bus coupled to the master board, the plurality of sensor boards, and the removable central storage unit to carry sensor data from the plurality of sensor boards to the removable central storage unit for storage by the removable central storage unit.

Abstract: A downhole drilling system has a downhole motor, a universal-joint assembly having an upper universal joint and a lower universal and a connecting rod connecting the upper universal joint and the lower universal joint, and a measurement sub. The measurement sub is disposed about the connecting rod and the connecting rod extends through the measurement sub in a longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for traveling between an earth surface and a wellbore in an earth formation contains an instrument sub, a thruster for generating a motive force, and a power source that provides power to the instrument sub and the thruster. The instrument sub contains well logging instruments. The instrument sub, the thruster, and the power source are connected to form or are disposed in a substantially tubular body. The apparatus further contains a buoyance-generating device.

Abstract: A method for controlling a MWD tool in a bottom hole assembly in a borehole includes the steps of installing a plurality of firmware in the MWD tool, turning a mud pump on an earth surface ON or OFF according to a pre-determined sequence; determining a mud flow in the borehole to be ON or OFF so as to form a binary signal; and sending the binary signal to the MWD tool. The plurality of firmware are pre-programmed to perform a plurality of tasks while the binary signal executes one of the plurality of firmware in the MWD tool.

Abstract: A drilling system that includes a mud pump disposed on an earth surface and a drill string with a bottom hole assembly (BHA) in a borehole. The drilling system can be controlled by turning the mud pump ON or OFF according to a pre-determined sequence so that the mud flow in the borehole fluctuates between high and low. The mud pulser in the bottom hole assembly senses the fluctuation in the mud flow and generates a binary signal accordingly. The mud pulser further sends the binary signal to a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool in the bottom hole assembly. The binary signal executes one or more firmware in the MWD tool.

Abstract: A data sampling and collection system in an oil drilling system includes a data acquirer installed in the measurement sub to transmit a sampling collector identification signal to one of a plurality of sampling collectors coupled to the data acquirer. Each sampling collector includes a sensor and a plurality of random access memory (RAM) pages to store sensor data received from the sensor. When one of the sampling collectors receives the enable signal from the data acquirer, a current RAM page currently receiving sensor data from the sensor continues to receive sensor data without interruption and an immediately preceding RAM page storing a last completed page of received sensor data is transmitted from the one sampling collector to a memory of the data acquirer and from there to a surface computing system. As such, recent data is retrieved and transmitted for processing without interrupting the continuous collection of sensor data.

Abstract: A downhole drilling system for reducing effects of overheating comprises a drill string having one or more drill pipes interconnected therebetween, a bottom hole assembly (BHA) connected to a distal end of the drill string, and a controller. The BHA comprises a drill bit disposed at an end portion of the BHA, a downhole motor to rotate the drill bit, a drill collar, in which a centrally disposed passage is formed and drilling mud is supplied to the drill bit through the centrally disposed passage, a measurement instrument disposed in the drill collar to obtain drilling environmental profile and communicating with the controller, and a cooling sub disposed in or on the drill collar or the measurement instrument.

Abstract: A method for operating a drilling system that has a mud pump disposed on an earth surface and a drill string with a bottom hole assembly (BHA) in a borehole. The method involves turning the mud pump ON or OFF according to a pre-determined sequence so that the mud flow in the borehole fluctuates between high and low. The mud pulser in the bottom hole assembly senses the fluctuation in the mud flow and generates a binary signal accordingly. The mud pulser further sends the binary signal to a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool in the bottom hole assembly. The binary signal executes one or more firmware in the MWD tool.

Abstract: A drill bit has a bit body that has a cutting structure mounted on a base section. The cutting structure has a plurality of roller cones, a plurality of fixed blades, or both. The base section has a plurality of pad that are extendable from a circumference of the base section. The base section is connected to a threaded pin connectable with a lower end of a drill string.

Abstract: A downhole drilling system for reducing effects of overheating comprises a drill string having one or more drill pipes interconnected therebetween, a bottom hole assembly (BHA) connected to a distal end of the drill string, and a controller. The BHA comprises a drill bit disposed at an end portion of the BHA, a downhole motor to rotate the drill bit, a drill collar, in which a centrally disposed passage is formed and drilling mud is supplied to the drill bit through the centrally disposed passage, a measurement instrument disposed in the drill collar to obtain drilling environmental profile and communicating with the controller, and a cooling sub disposed in or on the drill collar or the measurement instrument.

Abstract: A downhole drilling system for reducing impact of vibration comprises a drill string having a bottom hole assembly (BHA) and a controller configured to control the downhole drilling system. The BHA includes a measurement sub configured to measure one or more of lateral, torsional, and axial vibrations. In this system, the controller controls the downhole drilling system based on a drilling environmental profile including drilling parameters of one or more of the lateral, torsional, and axial vibrations and further based on a vibration mode and a vibration level of the one or more of the lateral, torsional, and axial vibrations determined from the drilling environmental profile.