Abstract: In a method for preparing a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), the PCBA has a base circuit board having a plurality of electronic components installed thereon. First, the surface of the PCBA is cleaned with a cleaner. After cleaning, the staking material is applied around the plurality of electronic components around the circumference of the plurality of electronic components. After applying the staking material, the PCBA with the staking material is cured and inspected.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a downhole drilling system, which comprises a downhole motor, a universal-joint assembly comprising 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: 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 downhole drilling tool has a deep-reading logging tool, a near-bit resistivity tool, and a gamma ray detector. Formation information logged using the deep-reading logging tool is used to build a preliminary stratigraphic model with a relatively low resolution. The preliminary stratigraphic model is further refined using data logged using the near-bit resistivity tool and/or the gamma ray detector to obtain a refined stratigraphic model with a higher resolution. The model is used to guide geosteering to achieve better well placement and trajectory control.

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: A printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) for downhole applications has a printed circuit board (PCB) and a plurality of electronic components installed on the PCB. The PCB comprises a polyimide substrate, a lead-free surface finish, a plurality of traces, a plurality of surface mount pads, and a plurality of VIAs. The ratio between the width of one of the plurality of surface mount pads to the width of the trace connected thereto is 2 or less.

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: A printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) for downhole applications has a printed circuit board (PCB) and a plurality of electronic components installed on the PCB. The PCB comprises a polyimide substrate, a lead-free surface finish, a plurality of traces, a plurality of surface mount pads, and a plurality of VIAs. The ratio between the width of one of the plurality of surface mount pads to the width of the trace connected thereto is 2 or less.

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: In a method for preparing a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), the PCBA has a base circuit board having a plurality of electronic components installed thereon. First, the surface of the PCBA is cleaned with a cleaner. After cleaning, the staking material is applied around the plurality of electronic components around the circumference of the plurality of electronic components. After applying the staking material, the PCBA with the staking material is cured and inspected.

Abstract: A downhole drilling tool that has a deep-reading logging tool, a near-bit resistivity tool, and a gamma ray detector. Formation information logged using the deep-reading logging tool is used to build a preliminary stratigraphic model with a relatively low resolution. The preliminary stratigraphic model is further refined using data logged using the near-bit resistivity tool and/or the gamma ray detector to obtain a refined stratigraphic model with a higher resolution. The model is used to guide geosteering to achieve better well placement and trajectory control.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides the printed circuit board assembly suitable for operating downhole at high temperatures. The printed circuit board assembly has a ceramic circuit board with a plurality of chips installed on it. At least one of the chips has an aluminum nitride or a silicon nitride substrate. In some of the chips, aluminum nitride is used as the oxide layer in a Si-on-Insulator configuration. In other chips, integrated circuits are fabricated on a substrate made from aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or sapphire.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a drilling system that comprises a drilling rig, a device box having a plurality of sensors monitoring operating parameters of the drilling rig, an OPC UA server receiving data from the plurality of the sensors, and an OPC UA client in communication with the OPC UA server. The OPC UA client has a client library between the client application layer and the client SDK layer, which converts a client application to an OPC UA operation.

Abstract: A downhole drilling tool has a deep-reading logging tool, a near-bit resistivity tool, and a gamma ray detector. Formation information logged using the deep-reading logging tool is used to build a preliminary stratigraphic model with a relatively low resolution. The preliminary stratigraphic model is further refined using data logged using the near-bit resistivity tool and/or the gamma ray detector to obtain a refined stratigraphic model with a higher resolution. The model is used to guide geosteering to achieve better well placement and trajectory control.

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: A managed pressure drilling (MPD) system employs reliability models such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Ishikawa diagram, Pareto chart, Reliability Block Diagram (RBD) in assessing and optimizing the system reliability. The MPD drilling system is suitable for offshore drilling operations.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a downhole drilling tool that has a deep-reading logging tool, a near-bit resistivity tool, and a gamma ray detector. Formation information logged using the deep-reading logging tool is used to build a preliminary stratigraphic model with a relatively low resolution. The preliminary stratigraphic model is further refined using data logged using the near-bit resistivity tool and/or the gamma ray detector to obtain a refined stratigraphic model with a higher resolution. The model is used to guide geosteering to achieve better well placement and trajectory control.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a downhole drilling system, which comprises a downhole motor, a universal-joint assembly comprising 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: The present disclosure provides a drilling system that comprises a drilling rig, a device box having a plurality of sensors monitoring operating parameters of the drilling rig, an OPC UA server receiving data from the plurality of the sensors, and an OPC UA client in communication with the OPC UA server. The OPC UA client has a client library between the client application layer and the client SDK layer, which converts a client application to an OPC UA operation.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for determining a lifespan of an electronic component in a downhole environment is disclosed. A first wear-out model is created that is related to a selected electronic component. A physical condition of the selected electronic component is examined at a selected examination time. The physical condition is generally due to the downhole environment in which the electronic component is disposed. A second wear-out model for the selected electronic component is created from the first wear-out model and the examined physical condition of the selected electronic component.