Patent Application
20150061885
During subterranean drilling and completion operations, a pipe or other conduit is lowered into a borehole in an earth formation during or after drilling operations. Such pipes are generally configured as multiple pipe segments to form a “string”, such as a drill string or production string. As the string is lowered into the borehole, additional pipe segments are coupled to the string by various coupling mechanisms, such as threaded couplings.
Various power and/or communication signals may be transmitted through the pipe segments via a “wired pipe” configuration. Such configurations include electrical, optical or other conductors extending along the length of selected pipe segments. The conductors are operably connected between pipe segments by a variety of coupling configurations.
One such coupling configuration includes a threaded male-female configuration often referred to as a pin box connection. The pin box connection includes a male member, i.e., a “pin” that includes an exterior threaded portion, and a female member, i.e., a “box”, that includes an interior threaded portion and is configured to receive the pin in a threaded connection.
Some wired pipe configurations include a transmission device mounted on the tip of the pin as well as in the box end. The transmission device, or “coupler,” can transmit power, data or both to an adjacent coupler. The coupler in the pin end is typically connected via a coaxial cable to the coupler in the box end.
One feature of a wired pipe system is that in can transmit data from a “downhole” location to the surface rapidly and vice versa. A surface communication interface (referred to as surface communication sub herein) may be used to take a signal from or put a signal into the wired pipe.
Disclosed herein is a sub for a wired pipe system that includes a body including an outer surface and a pin end and a first transmission device located in or near the pin end. The sub also includes a communication collar that at least partially surrounds the outer surface and that is rotatable relative to the body, a second transmission device in electrical communication with the first transmission device and a transmission line that electrically connects the first and second communication devices and that passes at least partially through the body. The sub further includes a third transmission device located in the communication collar in communication with the second transmission device. In the disclosed sub, the first, second and third transmission devices are all of the same type.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed system, apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring to
For example, during drilling operations, drilling fluid or drilling “mud” is introduced into the string 12 from a source such as a mud tank or “pit” and is circulated under pressure through the string 12, for example via one or more mud pumps. The drilling fluid passes into the string 12 and is discharged at the bottom of the borehole through an opening in a drill bit located at the downhole end of the string 12. The drilling fluid circulates uphole between the string 12 and the borehole wall and is discharged into the mud tank or other location.
The string 12 may include at least one wired pipe segment 14 having an uphole end 18 and a downhole end 16. As described herein, “uphole” refers to a location near the point where the drilling started relative to a reference location when the segment 14 is disposed in a borehole, and “downhole” refers to a location away from the point where the drilling started along the borehole relative to the reference location. It shall be understood that the uphole end 18 could be below the downhole end 16 without departing from the scope of the disclosure herein.
At least an inner bore or other conduit 20 extends along the length of each segment 14 to allow drilling mud or other fluids to flow therethrough. A transmission line 22 is located within the wired segment 14 to provide protection for electrical, optical or other conductors to be disposed along the wired segment 14. In one embodiment, the transmission line 22 is a coaxial cable. In another embodiment, the transmission line 22 is formed of any manner of carrying power or data, including, for example, a twisted pair. In the case where the transmission line 22 is a coaxial cable it may include an inner conductor surrounded by a dielectric material. The coaxial cable may also include a shield layer that surrounds the dielectric. In one embodiment, the shield layer is electrically coupled to an outer conductor that may be formed, for example, by a rigid or semi-rigid tube of a conductive material.
The segment 14 includes a downhole connection 24 and an uphole connection 26. The segment 14 is configured so that the uphole connection 26 is positioned at an uphole location relative to the downhole connection 24. The downhole connectoin 24 includes a male coupling portion 28 having an exterior threaded section, and is referred to herein as a “pin end” 24. The uphole connection 26 includes a female coupling portion 30 having an interior threaded section, and is referred to herein as a “box end” 26.
The pin end 24 and the box end 26 are configured so that the pin end 24 of one wired pipe segment 14 can be disposed within the box end 26 of another wired pipe segment 14 to effect a fixed connection there between to connect the segment 14 with another adjacent segment 14 or other downhole component. In one embodiment, the exterior of the male coupling portion 28 and the interior of the female coupling portion 30 are tapered. Although the pin end 24 and the box end 26 are described has having threaded portions, the pin end 24 and the box end 26 may be configured to be coupled using any suitable mechanism, such as bolts or screws or an interference fit.
In one embodiment, the system 10 is operably connected to a downhole or surface processing unit which may act to control various components of the system 10, such as drilling, logging and production components or subs. Other components include machinery to raise or lower segments 14 and operably couple segments 14, and transmission devices. The downhole or surface processing unit may also collect and process data generated by the system 10 during drilling, production or other operations. Embodiments disclosed herein include a surface sub that can be used to allow for communication between the surface unit and communication network comprised of one or more of the wire pipe segments 14.
As described herein, “drillstring” or “string” refers to any structure or carrier suitable for lowering a tool through a borehole or connecting a drill bit to the surface, and is not limited to the structure and configuration described herein. For example, a string could be configured as a drillstring, hydrocarbon production string or formation evaluation string. The term “carrier” as used herein means any device, device component, combination of devices, media and/or member that may be used to convey, house, support or otherwise facilitate the use of another device, device component, combination of devices, media and/or member. Exemplary non-limiting carriers include drill strings of the coiled tube type, of the jointed pipe type and any combination or portion thereof. Other carrier examples include casing pipes, wirelines, wireline sondes, slickline sondes, drop shots, downhole subs, BHA's and drill strings.
Referring to
The illustrated surface sub 40 includes a main body 50 and a communication collar 52. The communication collar 52 and the main body 50 are configured such that they may rotate relative to one another. For example, in operation, the main body 50 may be rotated during a drilling operation while the communication collar 52 remains relatively stationary. As will be better understood from the below, this may allow for communication between the computing device 44 (or other surface unit) and the wired pipe segment 14/main body 50 as they rotate without causing the communication line 46 to be wrapped around the main body 50 or communication collar 52.
The main body 50 includes a box end 72 and a pin end 70 configured so that it can be disposed within the box end 26 of another wired pipe segment 14 to effect a fixed connection there between to connect main body 50 with segment 14. In one embodiment, the exterior of the pin end 70 and the interior of the box end 26 of an adjacent pipe segment 14 are tapered and may include interlocking threads on the tapered surfaces. Although the pin end 70 and the box end 26 are described has having threaded portions, the pin end 70 and the box end 26 may be configured to be coupled using any suitable mechanism, such as bolts or screws or an interference fit.
The main body 50 includes at least one transmission device 34 (also referred to as a “coupler” herein) disposed therein located at the pin end 70 and/or the box end 72 thereof.
In one embodiment, the transmission device 34 is configured to provide communication of at least one of data and power between surface sub 40 and segments 14 when the pin end 70 and the box end 26 are engaged. It shall be understood that the transmission device 34 could also be included in a repeater element or any other device disposed between the surface sub 40 and adjacent segment 14 (e.g., within the box end thereof). Regardless of the configuration, it shall be understood that each transmission device 34 can be connected to one or more transmission lines 22. The transmission device 34 can be any type of device capable transmitting signals across a connection between components in a wired pipe system. Examples include, without limitation, resonant couplers, inductive couplers, galvanic couplers and capacitive couplers. The transmission lines 22 serve to electrically connect the transmission device 34 to an outer surface 73 of the main body 50. The transmission lines 22 disclosed herein can all be of the same type or can be selected from different types. The types include, for example, a coaxial cable, a twisted pair, and a wire.
With reference now to
In one embodiment, an outer adapter 101 is fixedly coupled to the outer surface 73. It shall be understood that the outer adapter 101 could be omitted. The outer adapter 101 includes a transmission device 103 in electrical communication with the transmission device in the pin/box end of the main body 50. For instance, the transmission device 103 may be electrically connected to the transmission device in the pin/box end of the main body 50 by transmission line 22. As such, it shall be understood that the transmission line 22 illustrated in
It shall be understood that the outer adapter 101 could be omitted. In such a case, the transmission device 103 could be located at or near the outer surface 73. For instance, the transmission device 103 could be located in a groove formed in main body 50.
In one embodiment, the communication collar 52 at least partially surrounds the outer surface 73 and that is rotatable relative to the main body 50. The communication collar 52 includes a transmission device 131 that can communicate with the transmission device 103 as the two are rotated relative to one another (or when they are not rotating). The communication may be made via electric, resonant, inductive or galvanic coupling. In one embodiment, all of the transmission devices 34, 103 and 131 are of the same type. That is, if one of the devices is a resonant coupler, all of the transmission devices 34, 101 and 131 are resonant couplers.
A communication line 133 may carry signals to and from transmission device 131 though a collar body 107 to an output terminal 109. The output terminal 109 can either allow the communication line 133 to exit the communication collar 52 or may contain a wireless transmitter.
With further reference to
In support of the teachings herein, various analyses and/or analytical components may be used, including digital and/or analog systems. The system may have components such as a processor, storage media, memory, input, output, communications link (wired, wireless, pulsed mud, optical or other), user interfaces, software programs, signal processors (digital or analog) and other such components (such as resistors, capacitors, inductors and others) to provide for operation and analyses of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein in any of several manners well-appreciated in the art. It is considered that these teachings may be, but need not be, implemented in conjunction with a set of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, including memory (ROMs, RAMs), optical (CD-ROMs), or magnetic (disks, hard drives), or any other type that when executed causes a computer to implement the method of the present invention. These instructions may provide for equipment operation, control, data collection and analysis and other functions deemed relevant by a system designer, owner, user or other such personnel, in addition to the functions described in this disclosure.
One skilled in the art will recognize that the various components or technologies may provide certain necessary or beneficial functionality or features. Accordingly, these functions and features as may be needed in support of the appended claims and variations thereof, are recognized as being inherently included as a part of the teachings herein and a part of the invention disclosed.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to adapt a particular instrument, situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
