Seismic Prediction While Drilling-Bring Up Seismic Data II

In SPWD-BUSData II was an acoustic data communication system developed, built up and successfully tested. With diverse test measurements was the applicability of an acoustic data communication system integrated in rods shown. The project SPWD-BUSData II was funded from 1.6.2013 – 31.5.2015 by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany (FKZ 0325615).

Deep drilling technologies use MWD and LWD systems near the drill bit and generate a huge data amount. In regard to the growth of technology and a fast access of these sensitive data is also a fast and secure data communication necessary. The standard method mud pulse telemetry cannot transmit high data rates.

Within the project SPWD-BUSData  was shown the feasibility of a fast wireless and practicable data communication in the borehole. In this project was developed and built up a prototype system for unidirectional communication (downlink transmission) for the application of an acoustic communication system on a drill string. The usage of new actuators in combination with latest state of the art techniques from mobile communication has shown acoustic data communication along a drill string. Therefor were used magnetostrictive vibrators as acoustic sources with a high transmission power. These vibrators were developed in the project (S)PWD (Seismic Prediction While Drilling (Link zur Projektseite einfügen) for the seismic prediction in boreholes.

Aim of project SPWD-BUSData II was to develop further the knowledge of former project SPWD-BUSData. A practicable wireless method for a fast data communication (100 bit/s) with acoustic waves on a drill string and with channel-adaptive OFDM-technology was realized. The following steps were researched:

• Determination of theoretical constraints of an acoustic data communication along a drill string for a
  bidirectional usage with several actuators (source) and sensors (receiver), Multiple In Multiple Out - MIMO

• Improvement of signal quality by broad band linearization of the actuators

• Further development of the system concept for the use in data communication in both directions

• Development and installation of battery and generator usable communication modules for transmitting
   and receiving in boreholes up to 2000 m depth

• Transfer of a practicable uni-directional data communication from MWD to surface with integration in a
   raisebore rod of 12 7/8“

• Several measuring tests of receiver and transmitter modules at the drill rod test rig with functional
  demonstration

• Successful functional and data communication test of a short drill string with integrated SPWD-BUSData II
  raiseborerods at the drilling fluid test rig

• Not done: Integration in drill string of data communication and field test

These are the project partners:

• German Research Centre for Geosciences – GFZ: Erreger- und Erfassungssystem, Auswertetechnik, 
  Koordination des Verbunds
• Fraunhofer Heinrich-Herz-Institute - HHI: Entwicklung, Bau und Test des Kommunikationssystems, Kanalmessungen
• TU Bergakademie Freiberg – TUBAF: Grundlagen der Bohrtechnik, Anpassung des Systems an die Bohrerfordernisse
•  MICON GmbH & Co. KG: Konstruktion und Fertigung sowie Funktions- und Feldtest von Up- und Downlink-Feldmodul