High-Speed Drillstring Telemetry Network Enables New Real-Time Drilling and Measurement Technologies

Abstract

A real-time, bi-directional, drill string telemetry network has been proven reliable over the course of seventeen field trial wells, including seven wells within the U.S. The network has demonstrated simultaneous upward and downward data rates of up to 57,000 bits per second, with reliability comparable to current mud pulse telemetry technology. The network utilizes unique inductive coupling coils and armored coaxial data cables embedded within premium double-shouldered drilling tubulars to provide high bandwidth telemetry without impacting drilling operations. U.S. field trials have included multiple vertical and directional gas wells drilled to depths exceeding 14,000 feet in the Arkoma region of southeastern Oklahoma. The drilling environment has involved extremely harsh vibrational conditions, including air hammer drilling and multiple jarring events. During these trials, a leading oilfield service company has deployed a number of different downhole measurement-while -drilling (MWD) tools interfaced directly to the drill string telemetry network. This interface allows real-time surface control and interrogation of the downhole tools and transmission of high-density, low-latency drilling dynamics, formation evaluation and directional MWD data at previously impossible speeds. In a recent well, the operator elected to eliminate their usual mud pulse transmission tool, utilizing the telemetry drill string network and compatible MWD tools as the primary downhole data source. This paper builds on prior publications and provides details of the latest field trials, including, for the first time, information on the development and performance of network enabled MWD tools. A summary of the mechanical and electrical design considerations associated with tool conversion is offered. Observations regarding mud-pulse and drill string telemetry performance, including operational differences, rig time impact, added value and deployment issues are provided. Finally, this paper provides details, and value propositions, of downhole measurement and drilling applications that are enabled by the availability of a reliable telemetry drill string network. Introduction Seven years of engineering and development, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, has produced the IntelliServ® network, a high-speed, bi-directional drill string telemetry system.[1] This network makes it possible to obtain large volumes of data from downhole tools and other measurement nodes along the drill string instantaneously - greatly expanding the quantity and quality of information available in ‘real-time’. The system's bi-directional architecture allows high-speed transmission of downhole data to the surface and commands from the surface to downhole devices simultaneously. Through a physical and electrical interface to the telemetry drill string, existing MWD/LWD/RSS tools can be made fully compatible with the network, allowing high band-width communication between all connected tools and a surface acquisition/control system. Drill String Network Technology Overview The drill string telemetry network comprises conventional drilling tubulars modified to incorporate a high speed, low loss data cable running the length of each joint. The cable terminates at unique, inductive coils that are installed in the pin nose and corresponding box shoulder of every connection and transmit data across each tool joint interface. Second-generation, double-shoulder connection configurations provide an ideal location for coil placement, with each coil installed in a protective groove in the secondary torque shoulder. Figure 1 illustrates a coil installed in the pin end of a drill pipe joint.

A review of mud pulse telemetry signal impairments modeling and suppression methods

“…The introduction of wired-pipe technology (WPT) was first tested in 2003 and commercially launched in 2006 (Ali et al 2008;Reeves et al 2006), offered the wider real-time bandwidth (Manning et al 2007), allowing reliable, bi-directional data transmission at speeds up to 57,600 bps (Hernandez et al 2008). The wired CTT technology hindered the conventional mud pulse and electromagnetic telemetry method bandwidth restriction and time lag, resulting into high speed data transmission systems.…”

The First Offshore Use of an Ultrahigh-Speed Drillstring Telemetry Network Involving a Full LWD Logging Suite and Rotary-Steerable Drilling System

“…2 Additional details of the underlying network technology may be found in SPE Paper 92477, "Intelligent Drill String Field Trials Demonstrate Technology Functionality", presented at the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, 2005. 2 Additional details of the underlying network technology may be found in SPE Paper 92477, "Intelligent Drill String Field Trials Demonstrate Technology Functionality", presented at the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, 2005.…”

A Summary Of Wired Drill Pipe Field Trials And Deployments In Bp

“…Early field trials of wired pipe were conducted on BP wells in Oklahoma (Reeves et al, 2006). The objective of these trials was to test the mechanical and network reliability of the system.…”

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The first use of wired pipe in BP was in early pre-commercial field trials in seven Oklahoma wells in 2004to 2005(Reeves et al, 2006. IntelliServ commercialized its networked drillstring or wired pipe with full connectivity to 3 rd party downhole tools in early 2007.

BP field trialed the commercial version of wired pipe with a comprehensive suite of BHI's Loging While Drilling (LWD) tools, Measurment while drilling (MWD) and AutoTrak rotary steerable on two Wamsutter (Wyoming) wells in 2007.

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“…The first use of wired pipe in BP was in early pre-commercial field trials in seven Oklahoma wells in 2004to 2005(Reeves et al, 2006. IntelliServ commercialized its networked drillstring or wired pipe with full connectivity to 3 rd party downhole tools in early 2007.…”