US3906435A

US3906435A - Oil well telemetering system with torsional transducer

Info

Publication number: US3906435A
Application number: US396400A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur E Lamel; William D Squire; Harper J Whitehouse
Original assignee: AMERICAN PETROSCIENCE CORP
Current assignee: AMERICAN PETROSCIENCE CORP
Priority date: 1971-02-08
Filing date: 1973-09-12
Publication date: 1975-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-16

Abstract

Zero order torsional acoustic waves are the preferred means for acoustic communication in well drilling systems. Electroacoustic transducers for such systems which operate at base band must be of a size comparable with a length of drill pipe. The use of cross-field magnetostrictive transducers is preferred as these transducers can be made an integral part of the drill string since they are rugged and self-supporting. When waves are launched from the well platform or received there the transducer may be made an integral part of the kelly. If the waves are either generated or modulated down-hole near the bit, the transducers can be made an integral part of the drill string or collars. In either case, efficient transduction of zero order torsional waves is assured by the use of crossed magnetic fields, e.g., circumferential and longitudinal, one of which may be a bias field, and of which either or both may be used as signal fields; the latter case particularly for use as a modulator.

Description

United States Patent 1 Lamel et al.

[451 Sept. 16, 1975 1 OIL WELL TELENIEI'ERING SYSTEM [73] Assignee: American Petroscience Corporation, Bakersfield, Calif.

[22] Filed: Sept. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 396,400

Related 0.8. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 113,147, Feb. 8, 1971, Pat, No.

[52] US. Cl. 340/18 NC; 340/18 LD; 340/155 SW, 175/50 [51] Int. Cl G0lv 1/40 [58] FieldofSearch 181/15 RM, 15 AG; 340/18 LD,18 NC, 17, 11, 15.5 SW; 175/40, 50; 73/70.] C; 310/26, D10. 1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,858,108 10/1958 Wise et a1 340/18 LD 3,115,774 12/1963 KOlb n 340/18 LD 3,262,094 7/1966 Camp 340/1 1 3,588,804 6/1971 Fort 340/18 NC 3,634,742 1/1972 EdSOn 310/26 3,793,632 2/1974 Still 340/18 LD FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 865,963 4/1961 United Kingdom 310/26 R 3/1960 United Kingdom 310/26 R OTHER PUBLICATIONS Kreuzfelles,"

Rust et al., Linearmagnetostrictive 1952, pp. 132-135, Acustica, Vol. 2.

Primary Examiner-Maynard R. Wilbur Assistant Examiner-N. Moskowitz Attorney, Agent, or FirmForrest .l. Lilly [57] ABSTRACT Zero order torsional acoustic waves are the preferred means for acoustic communication in well drilling systems. Electroacoustic transducers for such systems which operate at base band must be of a size comparable with a length of drill pipe. The use of cross-field magnetostrictive transducers is preferred as these transducers can be made an integral part of the drill string since they are rugged and self-supporting. When waves are launched from the well platform or received there the transducer may be made an integral part of the kelly. If the waves are either generated or modulated down-hole near the bit, the transducers can be made an integral part of the drill string or collars. In either case, efficient transduction of zero order torsional waves is assured by the use of crossed magnetic fields, e.g., circumferential and longitudinal, one of which may be a bias field, and of which either or both may be used as signal fields; the latter case particularly for use as a modulator.

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Cam/00c TOR 60/4 raw/M446 OIL WELL TELEMETERING SYSTEM WITH TORSIONAL TRANSDUCER RELATED APPLlCATlON This application is a division of our parent application, Ser. No. ll3,l47, filed Feb. 8, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,790,930 and entitled Telemetering System for Oil Wells."

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the art of transmitting telemetric and control information through a hollow well bore drill string or other pipe. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved acoustic communication method and system for the purpose described wherein the information carrier is provided by torsional acoustic waves preferably of zero order.

2. Description of the Prior Art When drilling a well bore, it is desirable, if not essential, to monitor selected drilling parameters in the vicinity of the drill bit for the purpose of providing the drilling operator with sufficient information to properly control the drilling operation. Among the drilling parameters which provide valuable information to the drilling operator are temperature, formation pressure, formation porosity, and others. In slant drilling operations, such as off-shore drilling of multiple wells from a single platform or island, an additional drilling parameter which provides extremely valuable, if not essential information to the drilling operator, is drill string orientation.

The prior art relating to well drilling is replete with a vast assortment of acoustic communication techniques for transmitting information through a drill string. Simply stated, such communication techniques involve propagation through the drill string from one position or station to another of modulated acoustic waves containing the information to be transmitted, and demodulation of the modulated waves at another position or station along the drill string to recover the transmitted information. In the present disclosure, the station from which the modulated acoustic waves propagate is referred to as a signal-transmitting station. The position at which the modulated waves are demodulated to recover the transmitted information is referred to as a signal-receiving station.

The prior acoustic communication systems for transmitting information through a drill string are deficient in that they utilize relatively inefficient modes of acoustic wave propagation and thus achieve, at best, only marginal information transmission. In this regard, it is significant to note that most published patents in the field use such descriptors as vibrations, sound, acoustic waves, and the like, to describe the acoustic information carrier, and do not specifically define the exact mode of acoustic wave propagation. Those patents which do describe a specific form of acoustic wave propagation utilize either longitudinal or flexural vibration modes. These latter vibration modes, however, are ill suited for use in transmitting information through a drill string owing to the large transmission losses which occur as a result of acoustic coupling of the drill string to the drilling fluid and the wall of the well bore.

Because of these large transmission losses, the patented drill string communication systems are at best capable of operation only in a manner wherein the acoustic waves are modulated and launched upwardly through the drill string from a signal-transmitting sta tion at the lower end of the string to a signal receiving station at the surface. This manner of operation requires installation of the acoustic wave transducer and its electronic driving circuitry within the lower end of the drill string. Accordingly, the transducer and circuitry must be designed to fit the envelope of the drill string and to survive the hostile environment existing within the lower end of the well bore during drilling. In addition, servicing and replacement of the transducer and its circuitry requires removal of the entire drill string from, and subsequent lowering of the entire drill string into, the well bore.

Our parent US Pat. No. 3,790,930, of which this is a division, discloses an improved acoustic communication method and system of the class described whose primary application involves transmission of telemetric and control information through a drill string suspended within a well bore from a surface drilling platform. According to the disclosure in said patent, modulated acoustic waves containing the information to be transmitted are propagated through the drill string from the signal transmitting station to the signal receiving station, and the modulated waves arriving at the re ceiving station are demodulated to recover the transmitted information. It is significant to note here that the generic invention contemplates within its scope two different methods of establishing the modulated acoustic waves within the drill string. According to one method, acoustic waves are first established in the drill string and these waves are modulated at the signal transmitting station by exciting an acoustic wave modulator in the drill string with a modulating signal representing the information to be transmitted. According to the other method, modulated acoustic waves contain ing the information to be transmitted are generated in the drill string at the signal transmitting station by exciting an acoustic wave generator or transducer in the drill string with a driving signal which is modulated to represent the information to be transmitted. Accordingly, it will be understood that within the context of the present disclosure, terms such as modulate," modulation, cover both modulation of existing acoustic waves in the drill string and generation or launching of modulated acoustic waves into the drill string for the purpose of establishing in the drill string modulated acoustic waves containing the information to be transmitted.

Telemetric signals transmitted through the drill string may represent selected drilling parameters in the vicinity of the drill bit, such as temperature, formation pressure, formation porosity, drill string orientation, and others. In this case, modulation occurs at a subsurface signal-transmitting station adjacent the lower end of the drill string with telemetric signals from sensors responsive to the selected drilling parameters to be monitored. Control signals transmitted through the drill string may be utilized to operate, from a station on the drilling platform, devices within the well bore, such as signal transmitters located at sub-surface stations along the drill string.

One important aspect of the invention is concerned with the form of acoustic waves which are employed to transmit information. According to this aspect, the pre fcrrcd waves are first of all torsional acoustic waves. Such torsional acoustic waves are superior to all other acoustic waves, such as longitudinal and flexural, for information transmission through a drill string in that they couple less acoustic energy into the drilling fluid and wall of the well bore and thus permit efficient signal transmission through a greater length of drill string. in its broader scope, the invention contemplates the use of any torsional acoustic waves which may be launched through a drill string and modulated to transmit information through the string as broadly referred to hereinabove. However, the preferred waves are torsional acoustic waves of zero order, that is, torsional acoustic waves characterized by pure rotation of the drill string about its central axis. Such zero order torsional waves are non-dispersive, i.e., the velocity of the waves is independent of their frequency. while most other acoustic wave forms are dispersive. Nondispersive wave propagation through a drill string is highly desirable, and often essential to rapid signal transmission through the string for the reason that dispersion smears the information signals modulated on the waves.

Another important aspect of the invention as disclosed in the aforesaid parent patent involves the direc tion or torsional wave propagation through the drill string. According to this aspect of the generic invention, the torsional acoustic waves may be launched downwardly through the drill string from the surface or upwardly through the drill string from the lower end of the string. in the preferred practice of the invention involving transmission of telemetric signals representing selected drilling parameters, the torsional acoustic waves are launched downwardly through the drill string top-side, e.g., from the surface drilling platform to a subsurface signal-transmitting station at the lower end of the drill string. The waves arriving at the lower transmitting station are modu!ated with the telemetric signals to be monitored and returned back through the drill string to a signal receiving station at the drilling platform where the modulated waves are demodulated to recover the tramsmitted signals. This method of wave propagation is permitted because of the above described reduction in acoustic transmission losses which results from the use of torsional acoustic waves, particularly torsional waves of zero order whose frequencies lie within the base band of the drill string acoustic transmission characteristics. Such a propataion method is preferred for the reason that the torsional wave generator, comprising a transducer and its electronic driving circuitry, may be located out of the well bore at the drilling platform. The torsional wave generator is thereby isolated from the hostile environment in the well bore and is readily accessible for repair and servicing without removal of the drill string. Also, the drill string envelope imposes no constraint on the size and arrangement of the generator. However, it is considered to be within the scope of the invention to launch the torsional waves upwardly through the drill string from a subsurface signal-transmitting station.

In those applications involving transmission of control signals through the drill string from a signaltransmitting station at the drilling platform to a subsurface signal-receiving station along the drill string. the torsional waves are preferably launched downwardly through the drill string from the surface. Here again, however, it is considered to be within the scope of the invention to launch waves upwardly through the drill string from its lower end, modulate the waves at the surface signal-transmitting station with the control signals to be transmitted, and return the modulated waves back downwardly through the drill string to the subsurface signal-receiving station.

A further important aspect of the invention is concerned with the actual generation of the torsional acoustic waves within the drill string. According to this aspect, the invention contemplates two different methods of acoustic wave generation. One method involves utilization of the torsional acoustic waves which are inherently produced in a rotating drill string during a drilling operation. ln this regard, it is well-known that a drill string cutting bit, in the process of cutting into an earth formation, generates large quantities of noise which are transmitted along the drill string. Since the cutting motion is primarily a turning or twisting motion, a large component of this noise is torsional in character, i.e., consists of torsional acoustic waves. Such torsional waves are composed of relatively broadband components and narrow spectral lines or frequency bands generated by the teeth of a cutting bit and the gears in the mechanical drill string drive. The rotation generated torsional waves can be modulated at the bottom of the drill string in a manner to effectively transmit upwardly through the string selected torsional wave components representing information signals. These signals may be detected at the surface to recover the transmitted information. The specific process is further disclosed and claimed in a continuing application to be filed later.

The preferred method of acoustic wave generation contemplated by the invention involves the use of a transducer, preferably a cross-field magnetostrictive transducer, energized by an electrical driving signal of the proper frequencies to drive the drill string in torsional acoustic oscillation in a manner to produce in the string torsional acoustic waves preferably torsional waves of zero order.

In this latter regard, a further important aspect of the invention is concerned with a novel crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer for the present drill string communication system. This transducer may be utilized as a torsional acoustic wave generator for the drill string, an acoustic signal transmitter, and/or an acoustic signal receiver. A major advantage of the transducer resides in its self-supporting construction which permits the transducer to form a load bearing part of the drill string. One transducer disclosed herein, for example, is embodied directly in the drilling kellyv Another advantage of our transducer resides in its ability to drive the drill string in its base band of torsional acoustic transmission. In this band, the acoustic attenuation or acoustic transmission losses produced by the drill string are minimized. This reduction of the acoustic transmission losses in the drill string, along with the earlier mentioned reduction in transmission losses resulting from the use of torsional waves, enable operation of the present communication system in its preferred operating manner, referred to earlier. It will be recalled that in this preferred operating manner, the torsional acoustic waves are launched downwardly through the drill string from the surface, modulated at the subsurface signaltransmitting station with the telemetric signals to be monitored, and then returned back to the surface sigmil-receiving station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates well bore drilling apparatus embodying a drill string communication system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of the rotary table kelly and hoist of the drilling apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the drilling kelly illustrating a magnetostrictive transducer embodied in the kelly;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged section taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6-6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section through an inertial modulator embodied in the communication system;

FIG. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of the drill string communication system;

FIGS. 1 l l3 are diagrams of the well bore transducer modulator electronics of the communication system;

FIG. 13A is a diagram of the acoustic transmission characteristics of a drill string;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of the top side transducer electronics of the communication system;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of the top side transducer electronics of a modified drill string communication system having separate acoustic wave launching and receiving transducers;

FIG. 16 illustrates a modified crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer according to the invention;

FIG. 17 is a section taken on line l7I7 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a section taken on line l8l8 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 diagrammatically illustrates a modified drill string communication system according to the invention, wherein modulated torsional acoustic waves are launched upwardly from the lower end of the drill string;

FIG. 20 is a diagram of the surface receiving electronics of the communication system of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 illustrates a further modified crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer according to the invention;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged section taken on line 22-22 in FIG. 21 with the field coil omitted for clarity; and

FIG. 23 illustrates a further modified magnetostrictive transducer according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIGS. 1-14, there is illustrated a communication system 10 according to the invention for transmitting information through a subsurface pipe 12 from a signal-transmitting station 14 to a signalreceiving station 16 through an intervening length I7 of the pipe which is capable of sustaining torsional acoustic oscillations. The communication system in cludes wave generating means 18 for inducing in the pipe 12 torsional acoustic waves, means 20 at the signal-transmitting station I4 for modulating the waves with a modulating signal representing the information to be transmitted, and receiving means 24 at the signalreceiving station 16 for demodulating the modulated waves to recover the transmitted information. The par (ill ticular embodiment of the invention selected for illustration represents the primary application of the communication system. In this case, the pipe 12 is a drill string suspended within a well bore 26 from a surface drilling platform 28. The communication system is utilized to transmit signals along the drill string between the transmitting and receiving stations. These transmitted signals may be either control signals for operating, from the drilling platform, a device within the well bore, or telemetric signals representing selected drilling parameters to be monitored at the platform.

The drilling platform 28 is conventional and hence need not be described in elaborate detail. Suffice it to say that the platform has a derrick 30 mounted on a floor 32 and supporting a hoist 34. Hoist 34 includes a traveling block 36 supported by a cable 38 and carrying a swivel 40. This swivel provides a rotatable connection between the traveling block and the drilling kelly 42 at the upper end of the drill string 12. Kelly 42 extends downwardly through a rotary table 44 on the derrick floor 32 and through the well casing 46 and a blow-out preventer 48 sealed to the wall of the well bore as at 49. The upper end of the drill string 12 proper is connected to the lower end of the kelly. The hoist 34 and rotary table 44 are powered by a draw works 50. A drilling fluid circulation pump 52 delivers drilling fluid or mud under pressure from a mud pit S4 or other fluid reservoir to the swivel 40 through a mud hose 56. The mud flows downwardly through the kelly 42 and the drill string 12 and finally returns to the surface through the well bore, about the outside of the drill string, and then through blow-out preventer 48. The mud flows from the blow-out preventer back to the reservoir through a return line 58.

Drill string 12 is composed of individual drill pipe sections of usually uniform length joined end to end by couplings 62 which are commonly referred to as tool joints. In some cases the drill string may contain additional sections, known as drill collars. Each drill string section 60 normally has a length of approximately 30 feet. Drill collar 63 and a drill bit or cutter 64 are coupled to the lower end of the drill string.

In operation of the illustrated drilling rig, the rotary table 44 is driven in rotation by the draw works 50 to drive the kelly 42 and hence the drill string 12, in its rotary drilling motion. The hoist 34 is operated to support a portion of the drill string weight, such as to maintain the proper drilling pressure on the cutter 64. The mud pump 52 is operated to provide continuous circulation of drilling mud through the well bore to lubricate the Cutter and remove debris from the well bore.

The particular acoustic communication system 10 of the invention which has been selected for illustration in FIGS. 1-14 is designed for monitoring selected drilling parameters in the vicinity of the drill bit in order to provide the drilling operator with sufficient information to effectively control the drilling operation. As noted earlier, typical drilling parameters which provide valuable information to the drilling operator are temperature. formation pressure, formation porosity, drill string orientation, and others. In this case. the signal transmitting station 14 is located at the lower end of the drill string 12, and the signal-receiving station 16 is located at the drilling platform 28. Sensors 65 are shown mounted within the drill collar 63 to sense the drilling parameters to be monitored. These sensors are connected to the modulating means 20 and provide signals representing the monitored drilling parameters. The modulating means processes the sensor output signals to provide a modulating or telemetric signal containing information representing all of the monitored drilling parameters and modules the acoustic waves induced in the drill string 12 by the wave generating means 18 with the telemetric signal. The modulated waves travel up the string to the surface signal'receiving station 16 where the waves are demodulated by the receiving means 24 to recover the transmitted drilling parameter information.

In certain of its aspects the generic invention disclosed in parent US. Pat. No. 3,790,930 contemplates the use of any acoustic waves capable of modulation by the telemetric signal to be transmitted and capable of propagation through the drill string 12 with sufficiently small acoustic loss and dispersion over the length of the drill string to provide efficient signal reception at the signal receiving station 16. In this regard, it is significant to recall that torsional acoustic waves, however, are superior to all other acoustic wave forms, such as longitudinal and flexural for acoustic signal transmission through a drill string, since torsional waves couple less acoustic energy into the drilling fluid and the wall of the well bore. According to the preferred practice of the invention, especially for depths of which communication becomes difficult, or otherwise impossible, the torsional waves used for signal transmission are torsional acoustic waves of zero order. Such waves are characterized by pure rotation of each transverse section of the drill string within an advancing wave front about the longitudinal axis of the string. The major advantage of such zero order torsional waves resides in the fact that they are non-dispersive. Most other acoustic modes of propagation are dispersive. Non-dispersive torsional wave propagation is desirable, and essential to rapid efficient signal transmission through a drill string, since dispersion smears the transmitted signal along the string and renders difficult recovery of the signal at the signal receiving station.

The frequency of the torsional waves is also an important factor in efficient signal transmission through the drill string 12 in that the couplings 62 which join the drill string pipe sections 60 acoustically load the string and the mud about the string attenuates higher frequencies of acoustic oscillation. The jointed string thus tends to pass lower acoustic frequencies with less attenuation than higher frequencies, due to the frequency dependent attenuation of the mud, while the couplings 62 introduce zeros of transmission as shown in FIG. 13A. According to the preferred practice of the invention, the frequency of the torsional acoustic waves employed for signal transmission is selected to effect wave propagation through the drill string in its base band of transmission. This is the band from zero frequency to the first zero of transmissiomf... In this band, the mud produces minimum attenuation of the waves and thus permits maximum signal transmission through the string. However, in its broader scope, the invention contemplates acoustic wave propagation through the drill string in its higher pass bands so long as suitable signal reception is possible at the signal receiving station. As will appear from the later description, operation of the present drill string communication system in the base band is permitted by a unique crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer of the invention capable of inducing in the string torsional acoustic waves of the relatively low frequency required for such base band operation. The preferred torsional wave launching means for launching the torsional acoustic waves through the drill string 12 is a torsional acoustic wave generator including a crossedfield magnetostric tive transducer. An important feature of the invention in this regard resides in novel crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer configurations which may be utilized to launch the waves through the drill string as well as to modulate the waves and receive the modulated waves. A unique feature of these transducers is their rugged self-supporting construction which permits the transducers to form an integral load supporting element of the rotating drill string system. The drill string communication system in FIGS. 1-14, for example, employs a crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer which is embodied in and forms a load bearing part of the kelly 42. It should be noted that by employing a bias field coincident with rather than crossed with the signal field, a transducer for launching or receiving longitudinal acoustic waves results, with the same attributes as just mentioned, and is also considered within the scope of the invention. An alternative method of acoustic wave generation contemplated by the invention involves utilization of the torsional waves or torsional noise inherently produced in a rotating drill string.

The earlier discussed reduction in acoustic transmission losses resulting from utilization, in the present drill string communication system, of torsional acoustic waves, particularly zero order torsional waves within the base band frequency range of the drill string 12, together with the self-supporting construction of the present magnetostrictive transducers permits various types of acoustic wave communication through the drill string. When monitoring drilling parameters, such as those mentioned earlier, the preferred method of communication involves launching the waves downwardly through the drill string from the surface to the subsurface signal-transmitting station 14. The waves are modulated at this station with the telemetric signal representing the drilling parameters to be monitored and returned upwardly through the drill string to the surface signal receiving station 16. A primary advantage of this communication method resides in the fact that the torsional wave generating transducer may be located out of the well bore. The transducer is then isolated from the hostile environment in the well bore, is readily accessible for servicing and repair without removal of the drill string, and is free of the design constraints imposed by the drill string envelope.

The drill string communication system illustrated in FIGS. 1-14 employs this preferred method of acoustic communication. Referring now in greater detail to this communication system, the means 18 for inducing torsional acoustic waves in the drill string 12 comprises a torsional acoustic wave generator which is embodied in the drilling kelly 42 and which includes a lower crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer 66 according to the invention, and an upper torque reaction stub 70, as shown in FIG. 3. The transducer and torque reaction stub have

tubular bodies

72, 76, respectively, rigidly joined end to end in any convenient way. These tubular bodies have a uniform, non-circular, usually square, cross section matching that of a conventional drilling kelly and together constitute the drilling kelly 42.

The lower end of the kelly 42, that is. the lower end of transducer body 72, is coupled to the upper end of the drill string 12 by a tool joint 78. Swivel 40 is rotatably coupled to an extension 79 at the upper end of the kelly, that is, to the upper end of the upper reaction stub body 76. As shown in FIGS. ll4, this swivel has an inverted cup-like housing 80 receiving the upper end of the stub body extension 79. The housing is attached to the extension by a pair of combined radial and thrust bearings 82. A seal ring 84 provides a liquid tight seal between the housing and extension. The kelly 42 is thus restrained against longitudinal movement but is free to rotate relative to the swivel housing 80. At the upper end of the housing is a lifting bail 86 by which the housing and hence the kelly 42 and drill string 12, are suspended from the travelling block 36 of hoist 34.

The mud hose 56 connects to the swivel housing 80 and opens to the interior housing chamber 88 above the seal 84. Extending centrally through the kelly 42 is a mud passage 90 through which drilling mud entering the chamber 88 through the mud hose 56 flows to the central mud passage in the drill string 12.

As noted above, the torsional wave transducer 66 is a crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer. Transducers of this general class are known in the art. Such a transducer requires an elongated element of body of magnetostrictive material and means for establishing two magnetic fields within the body. One field is an axial field whose field lines extend longitudinally through the body. The other field is a transverse field whose field lines extend circumferentially through the body. One field is commonly referred to as a bias field and the other as a signal field. Either field may serve as the bias field and the other field as the signal field. The

interaction of the bias and signal fields produces a torsional strain in the body which may be caused to fluctuate in such a way as to induce torsional oscillations in the body by varying, at the proper frequency, either or both the bias and signal fields. In this mode, the transducer is either a torsional wave generator or modulator, i.e., signal transmitter. The transducer is also capable of operating in an acoustic signal receiving mode. Thus a torsional strain within the transducer body with only one of the transducer fields present induces in the other field conductors a voltage, at the conductor terminals, proportional to the rate of strain. The communication system of FIGS. l-l4 employs the magnetostrictive transducer 66 as both a torsional wave genera tor and a signal receiver.

In such a crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer, the fields in the longitudinal and circumferential directions may be established in various ways. For example, the field in the circumferential direction may be established by passing a current longitudinally through the transducer body or through a conductor within the body. The field in the longitudinal direction may be established by passing a current through a coil surrounding the body. Alternatively, either field may be established by constructing the transducer body of a magnetically remanent magnetostrictive material which is permanently magnetized in the proper direction. The field in the longitudinal direction may also be established by permanent magnets along the transducer.

Suitable materials for the body of a transducer designed for such remanent operation are iron-cobalt alloys. such as 50-50 iron cobalt, or ternary iron-cobalt alloys, such as 2V Permandure containing approximately 497! iron, 49 cobalt and 2% vanadium, or nickel-cobalt alloys such as Ni204 containing approximately 4% cobalt and 96% nickel. Also suitable are iron-nickel-cobalt alloys, including multi-element alloys based on the iron-nickel-cobalt complex as are many alloys consisting of one of the magnetic elements iron-nickel-cobalt in combination with non-magnetic elements such as an alloy consisting of approximately 12% aluminum and 88% iron. For non-remanent transducer operation, the transducer body may be constructed of nickel or any of the magnetostrictive alloys of nickel and iron commonly called permalloys, such as 505O nickel iron, or some of the more complex alloys such as NiSpan C, containing nickel, iron, titanium, and chromium.

It is significant to note here that in the present drill string communication applications, the mechanical properties of, the transducer body also enter into the selection of the magnetostrictive material for the body. Foremost among these mechanical properties are machinability, tensile strength, effect of tensile stress on the magnetostrictive characteristics, electrical conductivity, and others.

The crossedfield magnetostrictive transducer 66 embodied in the well drilling apparatus of FIGS. ll4 is designed for remanent operation. To this end the transducer body 72 has a major central portion 72? constructed of a magnetically remanent magnetostrictive material. In this instance the material is biased with a remanent field in the longitudinal direction.

Fixed to and extending the full length of the kelly mud passage 90 is a sleeve 94 of copper or the like which provides an inner signal-field conductor of the transducer. Fixed within channels 96 in the four sides of and extending the full length of the kelly 42 are strips 98 of copper or the like which provide outer signalfield conductors of the transducer. These outer conductors are electrically insulated from the transducer body 72 by electrical insulation 100. The lower ends of the inner and

outer conductors

94, 98 are electrically connected at 102. The upper ends of the conductors are electrically connected to the leads of a cable 104 through collector rings 106 surrounding the upper end of the kelly 42 and collector brushes I08 carried by the swivel housing 80. The upper collector ring is assured good electrical contact to the inner conductor by means of copper rivets 107. The lower collector ring is in direct electrical contact with the outer conductors.

As will be explained in more detail presently, a driving signal is applied to the transducer signal-

field conductors

94, 98, through the cable I04. This driving signal produces in the conductors a fluctuating current which induces in the transducer body 72F a circumferential magnetic signal field that interacts with the longitudinal remanent bias field of the body to produce an alternating torsional strain in the body. Such alternating torsional strain, in turn, propagates as a torsional wave downwardly through the drill string 12 to the subsurface signal transmitting station l4. The torsional waves are modulated at the signal transmitting station with a telemetric signal representing the drilling parameters to be monitored and returned upwardly through the drill string to the surface, in the manner to be explained presently. These modulated waves are received by the transducer 66 and then demodulated to recover the transmitted signal.

It will be recalled from the earlier description that the invention, in its broader aspects, contemplates any torsional acoustic waves capable of propagation through the drill string 12 and capable of modulation by the telemetric signal to be monitored to achieve effective signal transmission from the subsurface signal transmitting station 14 to the surface signal receiving station 16.

It will be further recalled, however, that the preferred waves are torsional acoustic waves of zero order and of the proper frequency to effect wave propagation through the drill string 12 in its base band. In this latter regard, attention is directed to FIG. 13A. This figure depicts the relationship between a quantity T, representing the relative transmission of torsional acoustic wave propagation through a drill string, and the frequency f of the torsional waves expressed in units of the quantity f,,. This latter quantity is the torsional wave frequency at which the transmission quantity T first becomes zero. The frequency quantity f, is related to the velocity of torsional wave propagation through the drill string and a distance d, (the effective acoustic distance between the drill string couplings 62) by the following equation.

As indicated in FIG. 13A, the base band of torsional wave propation through the drill string 12 occurs in the region betweenf= O and f=f,,. From this it will be un derstood that propagation of the torsional acoustic waves of the invention through the drill string 12 is accomplished by exciting the transducer 66 with a driving signal having frequency components such that iff is the frequency of a component, then For a standard drill string composed of 30 foot pipe sections and conventional tool joint couplings 62, j}, is on the order of 80 Hz.

Returning again to the torsional wave transducer 66. the transducer body 72 will be recalled to have a torque reaction stub 70 which provides an acoustic reaction termination at the upper end of the transducer. While this upper reaction stub or termination may conceivably be designed to serve as an absorbing termination, the particular termination shown is assumed to be a re flecting termination.

The theory of reflecting terminations is well understood and hence need not be explained in great detail, Suffice it to say that the correct length of a reflecting termination depends on the nature of the reflections occurring at the upper end of the termination. For example, if the upper end of the termination is open, with no acoustic connection to any structure, the end consti tutes a node for torque and an antinode for torsional displacement. In this case, the optimum termination length is an odd number of quarter wave lengths of the acoustic waves to be reflected. On the other hand, if the end of the termination is acoustically rigid, that is, anchored to a very large mass with an acoustic impe dance large relative to that of the transducer and termination, the end of the termination is an antinode for torque and a node for torsional displacement. In this case, the optimum termination length is an even number of quarter wave lengths of the acoustic waves to be reflected. For intermediate cases, the termination must (ill have an intermediate length determined by the acoustic conditions at the end of the termination. Obviously, the torque reaction stub or termination represents such an intermediate case and must be dimensioned accordingly.

It will be understood from the description to this point that the transducer 66 is excited with a driving signal of the proper frequencies to launch torsional acoustic waves of zero order downwardly through the drill string 12 in the base band of the drill string. The manner in which this driving signal is generated will be explained presently. Suffice it to say here that the driving signal is applied to the transducer through the cable 104, collector brushes 108, collector rings 106 and the upper rivets 107. The waves are modulated at the subsurface signal transrnitting station 14 by the modulating means 20 and returned to the signal receiving station 14, to provide at the receiving station modulated waves containing information representing the drilling parameters to be monitored.

It will be immediately evident to those versed in the art that a variety of acoustic wave modulating means 20 may be employed in the present drill string communication system. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate an inertial modulator for the system. This inertial modulator has a central tube or pipe 110. Surrounding the upper end of the modulator pipe 110 is a relatively massive inertial cylinder 118. Inertial cylinder 118 is rotatably supported on and restrained against movement along the pipe 1 10 by combined radial and thrust bearings 120. Seals 122 seal the ends of cylinder to the pipe. Between its ends, the inertial cylinder 118 is internally enlarged to define an annular chamber 124 between the cylinder and the pipe I10. This chamber is filled with a magnetic fluid 126, such as a mixture of oil and powdered iron. Contained in four uniformly spaced longitudinal slots 128 in the portion of the modulator pipe 110 within the chamber 124 is a drive coil 130. As shown best in FIG. 8, the conductors of the drive coil extend lengthwise of the slots 128. Moreover, as indicated by the and signs in the figure, the drive coil is wound in such a way that when a voltage is impressed across the coil, current flows in one direction through the conductors in two diametrically opposed slots and in the opposite direction through the conductors in the remaining two diametrically opposed slots.

It will now be understood that the modulator structure described thus far constitutes, in effect, an electro magnetic clutch. Thus, when the drive coil 130 is deenergized, the pipe 110 and inertial cylinder 118 are capable of relatively free relative rotation. Energizing of the drive coil produces a magnetic coupling between the pipe and cylinder which resists relative rotation of the pipe and cylinder with a torque proportional to the current flow through the drive coil.

Surrounding and fixed to the modulator pipe I10 below the inertial cylinder I18 is an annular circuit housing 132 containing the driving circuit 134 for the modulator drive coil 130. The drive coil is connected to the output of the circuit through leads I35. Modulator driving circuit 134 will be described shortly.

Between the modulator 20 and the drill collar 63 is a lower reactance termination 136. This reactance termination comprises a section of drill pipe or a pipe collar of the proper mass and length to constitute a reflecting termination for the torsional acoustic waves launched downwardly through the drill string l2 by the topside transducer 66. The earlier discussion relative to the topside reflecting termination 70 applies with equal force to the termination 136. The modulator pipe 110 and lower termination are connected end to end in the drill string 12 by conventional tool joints. In this regard, it will be observed that the latter pipe and termination transmit drilling torque to the drilling cutter 64 and support the weight of the drill string below and thus must be designed to have sufficient torsional and tensile strength to withstand these loads. Extending through the pipes are mud passages which form a continuation of the drill string mud passage.

As noted earlier, it is desirable or necessary during a drilling operation to monitor several different drilling parameters in the vicinity of the drilling cutter 64. Some of these parameters were listed in the earlier description and thus need not be repeated here. Suffice it to say that the sensors 65 are selected and arranged within the drill collar 63 to be responsive to the particular drilling parameters to be monitored. In this regard, it is significant to note that sensors for this purpose are well-known and available on the commerical market. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to describe the sensors except to say that each sensor produces an electrical output representing its respective drilling parameter. The several sensors 65 are electrically connected through leads 146 to the input of the modulator driving circuit 134.

The modulator driving circuit 134 will be explained presently. Suffice it to say here that the circuit effectively combines the several outputs from the drilling parameter sensors 65 and produces a telemetric signal containing information representing all the drilling parameters. This telemetric signal is processed to produce a corresponding modulator driving signal which is applied to the modulator drive coil 130 and produces a corresponding fluctuating magnetic coupling between the inner pipe 110 and outer inertial cylinder 118 of the modulator 20. As a consequence the torsional acoustic waves propagating downwardly through the drill string 12 and the modulator pipe 110 to the lower reaction termination 136 and then reflected from the termination unwardly through the pipe and drill string are modulated to contain information representing the drilling parameters being monitored. Thus, an increase in the magnitude of the modulator driving signal produces a corresponding increase in the magnetic coupling between the modulator pipe and inertial cylinder, thereby increasing the effective torsional mass of the pipe and retarding the phase as well as altering the amplitude of the waves when traveling through the modulator. Similarly, a decrease in the magnitude of the driving signal produces a corresponding reduction in the magnetic coupling between the modulator pipe and inertial cylinder, thereby reducing the effective torsional mass or movement of the pipe and advancing the phase as well as altering the amplitude of the waves then traveling through the modulator.

The modulated waves travel upwardly through the drill string l2 to the surface signal receiving station 16. These modulated waves produce a corresponding fluctuating torsional strain in the magnetostrictive body 72 of the transducer 66, thereby inducing in the transducer field conductors 94, 98 a fluctuating voltage containing information representing the transmitted telemetric signal. As explained below, the voltage signal from the transducer is processed by a combined turns ducer driving-receiving circuit at the surface to recover the transmitted information representing the drilling parameters being monitored.

A variety of torsional acoustic modulators, other than the inertial modulator described above, may be employed in the present drill string acoustic communication system. By way of example, a crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer similar to the top side transducer 66 may be employed as a modulator. In this regard, attention is directed to FIGS. 16-18 illustrating a modified magnetostrictive transducer 66b according to the invention which may be utilized as a modulator. This same transducer configuration may be utilized to launch modulated torsional acoustic waves through the drill string, as will be described in connection with the communication system of FIGS. 19 and 20.

Turning now to FIG. 11 there is illustrated the general arrangement of the modulator driving circuit 134 which is contained in the modulator circuit housing 132. As noted, this circuit converts the outputs from the drilling parameter sensors 65 to a coded driving sig nal for the modulator 20. This driving circuit includes a power source (not shown), such as a battery, an encoder 148 and modulator driving circuitry 150. The encoder is connected to the drilling parameter sensors 65 to receive the several sensor outputs and processes these outputs to produce a telemetric signal containing information representing all of the sensor outputs. This telemetric signal is applied to the driving circuit 150 which processes the signal in such a way as to produce a modulated driving signal for the modulator drive coil 130.

The driving circuit 134 may utilize various signal processing techniques for converting the outputs from the drilling parameter sensors 65 to a suitable driving signal for the inertial modulator 20 or for a crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer when employed as a modulator. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate possible signal processing techniques for this purpose. These illustrated signal processing techniques are well-known and understood so that an elaborate description of the same is unnecessary.

Suffice it to say that FIG. 12 is a binary phase coded system wherein the encoder 148 is a binary digital encoder for converting the analog outputs from the sensors 65 to a binary digital signal containing information representing the outputs of all the sensors. The mod ulator driving circuit 150 is a power amplifier which amplifies this binary digital signal to the proper strength for driving the modulator 20. FIG. 13 is a frequency shift keyed system suitable for use with a magnetostrictive transducer as will be explained presently in connection with communication system 10b (FIGS. 19 and 20). In this case, the encoder 148 is a digital encoder which converts the outputs of the sensors 65 to a digital frequency shift keying signal containing information representing all of the sensor outputs. The modulator driving circuit 150 includes a frequency shift keyer 150a which converts the encoder output to a frequency shifted transducer driving signal and a power amplifier 15017 for amplifying the signal to the proper strength for driving the transducer.

Considering now the system of FIG. 10, there is con nected to the topside transducer 66 a driving and re ceiving electronic system, comprising means 154 (FIG. 14) for separating the driving signal to and the information signal from the transducer. The means I54 shown in FIG. 14 is a hybridjunction having one branch connected to the

transducer field conductors

94, 98. A second branch of the hybrid is connected to a transducer driving circuit 156 including a high power drive source 158. Connected to the third branch of the hybrid is a transducer receiving circuit 160 including an amplifier 162, phase detector 164, digital decoder 166, and an output display or recorder 168. The reference input of the phase detector 164 is connected to the source 158 through an attenuator 170.

The operation of transducer 66 and driving and receiving circuit 152 will be immediately evident to those versed in the art. Thus, the hybrid junction 154 feeds the high power driving signal from the source 158 to the

transducer field conductors

94, 98 to drive the transducer to launch the earlier described torsional acoustic waves downwardly through the drill string 12. At the subsurface signal transmitting means station 14, these waves are modulated to contain the information representing the telemetric signal to be transmitted and are returned upwardly through drill string 12. These modulated waves produce a fluctuating torsional strain in the transducer body 72 and thereby a corresponding fluctuating voltage signal in the

transducer field conductors

94, 98. The hybrid junction 154 feeds this voltage signal to the receiving circuit 160. This signal is amplified by amplifier 162 and its phase is compared to the phase of the transducer driving signal in the phase detector 164 to provide an output representing the telemetric signal. The digital decoder 166 reduces the output of the phase detector to discrete output signals representing the various monitored drilling parameters. These output signals are then displayed or recorded as drilling parameter information by the display or recorder 168.

In some applications it may be desirable or essential to employ separate transducers at the surface for launching the torsional acoustic waves downwardly through the drill string 12 to the subsurface signal transmitting station 14 and receiving the modulated waves returning to the surface. FIG. 15 illustrates such a dual tranducer communication system a. In this system. the single transducer 66 in FIGS. 114 is replaced by launch and receive

transducers

66L, 66R coupled end to end at the upper end of the drill string. The launch transducer has a driving circuit 170 comprising a low power source 172 connected through a power amplifier 174 to the

field conductors

94, 98 of the transducer. The receiving transducer has a receiving circuit 176 connected to the

field conductors

94, 98 of the transducer. This circuit includes a blanking circuit 178, phase detector 180, digital decoder 182, and output display or recorder 184. A pulse keyer 186 is connected to the amplifier 174 and blanking circuit 178, phase detector 180 is connected through an attenuator 188 to the source 172.

The operation of communication system 10a (FIG. is similar to that of communication system 10, except that the driving and receiving circuits 170, 176 are activated alternatively by the pulse keyer 186. During the intermittent transducer driving modes of the system 10a. the pulse keyer conditions the launch amplifier 174 to feed an amplified signal to the launch transducer 66L and conditions the blanking circuit 178 to block the output of the receiver transducer 66R. Under these conditions the launch transducer 66L is driven by the amplified driving signal from the source 172 to launch torsional acoustic waves downwardly through the drill string 12. During the intervening transducer receiving modes of the system, the pulse keyer 186 conditions the launch amplifier 174 to block signal transmission to the launch transducer 66L and conditions the blanking circuit 178 to pass the output of the receiver transducer 66R. Under these conditions, the fluctuation voltage signal induced in the receiving transducer 66R by the returning modulated waves is fed to the receiving circuit 176 to produce a display or recording of the drilling parameter information being monitored.

The present drill string communication systems described to this point employ the preferred mode of wave propagation from the surface to the subsurface signal transmitting station and return of the modulated acoustic waves to the surface. The reasons why this mode of propagation can be employed and its advantages were explained earlier and need not be repeated here. In some applications, it may be desirable or necessary to employ the alternate mode of wave propagation referred to earlier, i.e., launching of the modulated waves directly from the subsurface signal transmitting station 14. FIGS. 19 and 20 diagrammatically illustrate a drill string communication system 10!) which employs this alternate propagation mode.

Communication system 10b is identical to system 10 except for the replacement of the modulator 20 by the crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer 66b of FIGS. 1618 and modification of the transducer driving and receiving electronics. Turning first to FIGS. 16-18, it will be seen that the subsurface transducer 66b is similar to the topside transducer 66 and differs from the latter in that transducer 66b is inverted and includes a circuit housing 190 surrounding the lower end of the transducer body 72. Within this housing is the electronic circuitry 192 for processing the outputs of the drilling parameter sensors to produce a modulated transducer driving signal containing information representing the drilling parameters being monitored. Also the outer transducer field conductor 98 is a copper sleeve, rather than bars fitting in slots in the transducer body as in the topside transducer 66. Transducer 66b may employ such an outer conductor sleeve, of course, since it is not required to couple to the driving torque of the rotary table 44, as with the topside transducer.

During operation of the drill string communication system 10b of FIGS. 19, 20, the lower well bore trans ducer 66b is driven by the modulated driving signal from its driving circuitry 192 to launch upwardly through the drill string 12 modulated torsional acoustic waves containing information representing the drilling parameters being monitored. These modulated waves induce in the

field conductors

94, 98 of the topside transducer 66 a fluctuating voltage which is processed to recover the drilling parameter information.

The electronic driver 192 for the lower well bore transducer 66b may embody circuitry similar to that of FIG. 13, described earlier, for converting the output signals from the drilling parameter sensors 65 to a mod ulated transducer driving signal. In the case of transducer 6611. however. it will be understood that the driving circuitry will include a power source capable of producing the energy required to induce in the drill string the desired acoustic torsional waves. Such a power source may comprise a battery connected to a charging generator driven by mud flow through the drill string. FIG. 20 illustrates the receiving circuit 198 for the topside transducer 66. The operation of this receiving circuit will be obvious to those versed in the frequency shift keying systems.

At this point, it is significant to recall that the well bore transducer 66b of FIGS. l6l8 may be employed as a modulator in a communication system which utilizes the preferred mode of wave propagation discussed in connection with FIGS. 1-14. In this regard, it will be understood that the communication system 10b of FIGS. 19, may be operated in this preferred propagation mode by utilizing the well bore transducer 66b as a modulator only and replacing the topside receiving circuit 198 with a combined transducer drivingreceiving circuit such as shown at 152 of FIGS. 10 and 14 for operating the topside transducer 66 to launch torsional waves downwardly through the drill string and receive the returning modulated waves.

The communication systems described to this point are designed primarily for relatively continuous monitoring of selected drilling parameters. It should be noted in this regard that in some drilling applications it may be possible to communicate effectively through the drill string 12 while drilling is actually in progress, i.e., while the string is being driven by the rotary table 44. In other cases, effective communication may require cessation of the drilling operation and release of the rotary table gripping jaws from the drill string.

FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate a modified crossed-field magnetostrictive transducer 300 which may be employed in the invention. In this transducer, the longitudinal field is established by current flow through a coil 302 about the transducer body 304 rather than by magnetic remanence in the body. The circumferential field is established by current flow through longitudinal con ductors 305 on the body. Alternatively. the circumferential field may be established by the use ofa remanent transducer body which has a permanent field in the circumferential direction. As noted earlier, either the longitudinal field or the circumferential field of the transducer may be employed as the bias field and the re maining field as the signal field, or both fields may be used as signal fields. The transducer of FIG. 23, is like that of FIGS. 21 and 22, except that the longitudinal field is established by permanent magnets 307.

In relatively large transducers, such as are required for the present drill string communication applications, however, the inductance of the longitudinal field coil 302 and the corresponding time constant of the coil circuit may be so large that the frequency response of the transducer may be too low. In this case, it is necessary to use the longitudinal field of the coil as a bias field and the circumferential field of the longitudinal transducer conductors as the signal field. Moreover, when the longitudinal field of the coil 302 is employed the signal field, the transducer body 304 must be longitudinally slotted at 306 to prevent the signal field from inducing circumferential eddy currents in the body. When used in a drill string communication system, the body slot is sealed against mud leakage in any convenient way. This slot preferably extends only the length of the central magnetostrictive portion of the body to preserve the strength of its joints. In this case, high reluctance buffer sections 308 may be placed between the slotted body portion and tool joints to permit the longitudinal field to leak out to prevent eddy currents in the drill string and torque reaction stub. These buffer sections may be longitudinally slotted for the same reason as the body. When the circumferential field is employed as the signal field, the body slot is not required since the eddy circuits flow lengthwise of the transducer body and become negligible due to the long path length through the body.

The discussion to this point has been concerned with transducer operation only in a mode wherein the bias field is constant and the signal field is varied to launch torsional acoustic waves through the drill string 12 and modulate acoustic waves with drilling parameter information. However, the invention contemplates within its scope modulation of both fields. The transducer then becomes a multiplier wherein the instantaneous torque produced in the transducer body is the product of the bias and signal field amplitudes. This multiplier operating mode is particularly useful when the transducer is used as a modulator.

Those versed in the art will understand at this point that the drill string in the various disclosed inventive embodiments constitutes an acoustic transmission line and that the various elements in the drill string, such as tool joints, acoustic wave generator and modulator, and the like, constitute perturbations in the string at which occur a complex action of partial reflection and partial transmission of the acoustic waves traveling through the drill string. However, it can be demonstrated by well-known mathematical transmission line analysis techniques that during operation of the present well bore communication system, the several acoustic wave reflections and transmissions result in transmsission from the signal transmitting station to the signal receiving station of net or resultant modulated acoustic waves containing information representing the signal impressed on the modulator or transducer at the transmitting station and hence also representing the drilling parameter or other information to be transmitted. These net or resultant modulated acoustic waves are demodulated at the signal receiving station in the manner heretofore explained to recover the transmitted information.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that various changes in the detailed construction and arrangement of the parts constituting the telemetering system for oil wells of the present invention may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is considered to be illustrative of, rather than limitative upon, the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. In an acoustic communication system for use in well drilling equipment, the combination of:

a drill string inclusive of a drill pipe, said drill string being adapted to the propagation along its length of zero order torsional acoustic waves within its substance, and

an electroacoustic transducer for transducing between an electrical signal and zero order torsional acoustic waves propagating along the length of said drill string within the substance of said drill pipe. said transducer embodying a member connected into and functioning mechanically and acoustically as part of said drill string,

said transducer member including a field-strain element adapted to experience a torsional mechanical strain in the presence of a magnetic field, and, conversely, a magnetic field in the present of a torsional mechanical strain, and

signal field means magnetically coupled to said fieldstrain element, all in such manner and arrangement as to transduce between a magnetic signal field and zero order torsional acoustic waves within the substance of said field-strain element and said drill pipe.

2. In an acoustic communication system for use in well drilling equipment, the combination of:

an electroacoustic transducer for transducing between an electrical signal and zero order torsional acoustic waves propagating along the length of said drill string within the substance of said drill pipe, said transducer including a member connected into and functioning mechanically and acoustically as part of said drill string,

said transducer member including a magnetostrictive element provided with a magnetic bias field and adapted to experience a torsional mechanical strain in the presence ofa magnetic field, and, conversely, a magnetic field in the presence of a torsional mechanical strain, and

signal field means magnetically coupled to said magnetostrictive element, all in such manner and arrangement as to transduce between a magnetic signal field and zero order torsional acoustic waves within the substance of said magnetostrictive element and said drill pipe,

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein:

said transducer member includes at least in part a tubular body coupled into said drill string,

said tubular body comprising also, at least in part.

said magnetostrictive element,

in an arrangement wherein said signal field is orthogonal to said magnetic bias field, one of said fields being directed longitudinally of said tubular body within the substance of said magnetostrictive element and the other of said fields being directed circumferentially of said tubular body within the substance of said magnetostrictive element.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein:

said signal field is directed circumferentially of said tubular body within the substance of said magnetostrictive element, and

said bias field is established longitudinally of said tubular body within the substance of said magnetostrictive element.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein:

said signal field means comprises electrical conduc tors extending lengthwise of said body in inductively coupled relation to said magnetostrictive element, to transduce between an electrical signal in said conductors and a circumferential magnetic signal field and thereby a ze ro order torsional strain in said magnetostrictive element.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein;

said signal field means comprises conductors extending longitudinally both internally and externally of said tubular body, connected in such manner to transduce between an electrical signal in said conductors and a circumferential magnetic signal field and thereby zero order torsional strain in said magnetostrictive element.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein:

said conductors comprise an internal tubular conductor fixed within said tubular body, external conductors fixed to the outside of said body, means electrically connecting said internal and external conductors at one end, and electrical terminals electrically connected to the other ends of said internal and external conductors for connecting to external cireuitry.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein:

said conductors comprise an internal tubular conductor fixed within said tubular body, an external tubular conductor fixed to the outside of said body, means electrically connecting said internal and external conductors at one end, and electrical terminals electrically connected to the other ends of said internal and external conductors for connecting to circuitry external to said element.

9. A system according to claim 3, including:

a mechanical coupling on at least one end of said tubular body for coupling said body in the well bore drill string.

10. The system according to claim 3, wherein:

said tubular body has a longitudinal passage for the fiow of drilling mud, and

said tubular body is adapted to constitute a load bearing part of said drill string.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein:

said tubular body embodies also a kelly for the drill string and has a non-circular external transverse cross-section.

12. A system according to claim 10, including:

a mechanical coupling on at least one end of said tubular body for mechanically coupling said tubular body in the well bore drill string,

a swivel rotatable on the end of said tubular body remote from said mechanical coupling, conductor windings for at least one of said fields on said tubular body, and means on said swivel and body for electrically coupling said transducer field conductors to external circuitry.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein:

said tubular body provides a section of drill pipe for use as an integral part of said drill string, and said body has a circular external cross-section concentric with said drill pipe.

14. A system according to claim 3, wherein:

said bias field is provided by permanent magnetic means.

15. A system according to claim 3, wherein:

said bias field is afforded by magnetic remanence in said magnetostrictive element.

[6. A system according to claim 14, wherein:

said permanent magnetic means comprises perma nent magnets disposed in magnetically coupled relation to said magnctostrictive element to induce in it a magnetic bias field.

17. A system according to claim 3, including:

bias field conductor means disposed in inductively coupled relation to said magnetostrictive element for producing said magnetic bias field, said bias field conductor means being energizable by an electrical current to establish a bias field in said magnetostrictive element.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein:

said bias field conductor means is energized concurrently with said signal field.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein:

said bias field conductor means is energized with direct current (DC).

20. A system according to claim 17, wherein:

said bias field conductor means is energized with a fluctuating current with a direct current (DC) component.

21. A system according to claim 3, wherein:

said signal field is directed longitudinally of said tubular body within the substance of said magnetostn'ctive element, and

said bias field means establishes a magnetic bias field directed circumferentially of said tubular body within the substance of said magnetostrictive element.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein:

said signal field means comprises electrical conduc tors circumferentially encircling said body in inductively coupled relation to said magnetostrictive element to transduce between an electrical signal in said conductors and a longitudinal magnetic signal field and thereby a zero order torsional strain in said magnetostrictive element.

23. A transducer according to claim 22. wherein:

said conductors comprise a coil encircling said body.

24. A system according to claim 21, wherein:

longitudinal slots are incorporated in at least a portion of said member to reduce circumferential eddy currents.

25. A system according to claim 2], wherein:

tubular bodies of large magnetic reluctance arc juxtaposed to ends of the magnetostrictive part of said transducer to reduce coupling of the magnetic signal field and thereby to reduce circumferential eddy currents in parts of said transducer-drill string combination other than said magnetostrictive part.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein:

said large reluctance bodies are slotted longitudinally to reduce circumferential eddy currents in said bodies.

27. A system according to claim 24, wherein:

said longitudinal slots are sealed to prevent leakage of the drilling mud from within said tubular body.

28. A system according to claim 3, wherein:

an acoustic termination is juxtaposed to one end of said body to provide a terminating acoustic impedance for efficient transduction.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein:

said termination is a reflecting termination that reflects acoustic energy.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein:

said termination is a torque reaction stub.

31. A system according to claim 28, wherein:

said termination is an absorbing termination that absorbs acoustic energy.

32. A system according to claim 28, wherein:

said termination is both a reflecting and absorbing termination.

33. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said signal field means comprises electrical conductors disposed in inductively coupled relation to said field-strain element, and adapted to transduce between an electrical signal in said conductors and a magnetic signal field and thereby a zero order torsional strain in said field-strain element.

34. A system according to claim 3, wherein:

said tubular body is composed at least in part of an electrically conductive material and said signal field means comprises the electrically conducting part of said body in combination with external conductors forming an electric circuit to transduce be tween an electrical signal in said circuit and a circumferential magnetic field and thereby zero order torsional strain in said magnetostrictive element.

Claims

1. In an acoustic communication system for use in well drilling equipment, the combination of: a drill string inclusive of a drill pipe, said drill string being adapted to the propagation along its length of zero order torsional acoustic waves within its substance, and an electroacoustic transducer for transducing between an electrical signal and zero order torsional acoustic waves propagating along the length of said drill string within the substance of said drill pipe, said transducer embodying a member connected into and functioning mechanically and acoustically as part of said drill string, said transducer member including a field-strain element adapted to experience a torsional mechanical strain in the presence of a magnetic field, and, conversely, a magnetic field in the present of a torsional mechanical strain, and signal field means magnetically coupled to said field-strain element, all in such manner and arrangement as to transduce between a magnetic signal field and zero order torsional acoustic waves within the substance of said field-strain element and said drill pipe.

2. In an acoustic communication system for use in well drilling equipment, the combination of: a drill string inclusive of a drill pipe, said drill string being adapted to the propagation along its length of zero order torsional acoustic waves within its substance, and an electroacoustic transducer for transducing between an electrical signal and zero order torsional acoustic waves propagating along the length of said drill string within the substance of said drill pipe, said transducer including a member connected into and functioning mechanically and acoustically as part of said drill string, said transducer member including a magnetostrictive element provided with a magnetic bias field and adapted to experience a torsional mechanical strain in the presence of a magnetic field, and, conversely, a magnetic field in the presence of a torsional mechanical strain, and signal field means magnetically coupled to said magnetostrictive element, all in such manner and arrangement as to transduce between a magnetic signal field and zero order torsional acoustic waves within the substance of said magnetostrictive element and said drill pipe.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein: said transducer member includes at least in part a tubular body coupled into said drill string, said tubular body comprising also, at least in part, said magnetostrictive element, in an arrangement wherein said signal field is orthogonal to said magnetic bias field, one of said fields being directed longitudinally of said tubular body within the substance of said magnetostrictive element and the other of said fields being directed circumferentially of said tubular body within the substance of said magnetostrictive element.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein: said signal field is directed circumferentially of said tubular body within the substance of said magnetostrictive element, and said bias field is established longitudinally of said tubular body within the substance of said magnetostrictive element.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein: said signal field means comprises electrical conductors extending lengthwise of said body in inductively coupled relation to said magnetostrictive element, to transduce between an elecTrical signal in said conductors and a circumferential magnetic signal field and thereby a zero order torsional strain in said magnetostrictive element.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein: said signal field means comprises conductors extending longitudinally both internally and externally of said tubular body, connected in such manner to transduce between an electrical signal in said conductors and a circumferential magnetic signal field and thereby zero order torsional strain in said magnetostrictive element.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein: said conductors comprise an internal tubular conductor fixed within said tubular body, external conductors fixed to the outside of said body, means electrically connecting said internal and external conductors at one end, and electrical terminals electrically connected to the other ends of said internal and external conductors for connecting to external circuitry.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein: said conductors comprise an internal tubular conductor fixed within said tubular body, an external tubular conductor fixed to the outside of said body, means electrically connecting said internal and external conductors at one end, and electrical terminals electrically connected to the other ends of said internal and external conductors for connecting to circuitry external to said element.

9. A system according to claim 3, including: a mechanical coupling on at least one end of said tubular body for coupling said body in the well bore drill string.

10. The system according to claim 3, wherein: said tubular body has a longitudinal passage for the flow of drilling mud, and said tubular body is adapted to constitute a load bearing part of said drill string.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein: said tubular body embodies also a kelly for the drill string and has a non-circular external transverse cross-section.

12. A system according to claim 10, including: a mechanical coupling on at least one end of said tubular body for mechanically coupling said tubular body in the well bore drill string, a swivel rotatable on the end of said tubular body remote from said mechanical coupling, conductor windings for at least one of said fields on said tubular body, and means on said swivel and body for electrically coupling said transducer field conductors to external circuitry.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein: said tubular body provides a section of drill pipe for use as an integral part of said drill string, and said body has a circular external cross-section concentric with said drill pipe.

14. A system according to claim 3, wherein: said bias field is provided by permanent magnetic means.

15. A system according to claim 3, wherein: said bias field is afforded by magnetic remanence in said magnetostrictive element.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein: said permanent magnetic means comprises permanent magnets disposed in magnetically coupled relation to said magnetostrictive element to induce in it a magnetic bias field.

17. A system according to claim 3, including: bias field conductor means disposed in inductively coupled relation to said magnetostrictive element for producing said magnetic bias field, said bias field conductor means being energizable by an electrical current to establish a bias field in said magnetostrictive element.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein: said bias field conductor means is energized concurrently with said signal field.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein: said bias field conductor means is energized with direct current (D.C.).

20. A system according to claim 17, wherein: said bias field conductor means is energized with a fluctuating current with a direct current (D.C.) component.

21. A system according to claim 3, wherein: said signal field is directed longitudinally of said tubular body within the substaNce of said magnetostrictive element, and said bias field means establishes a magnetic bias field directed circumferentially of said tubular body within the substance of said magnetostrictive element.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein: said signal field means comprises electrical conductors circumferentially encircling said body in inductively coupled relation to said magnetostrictive element to transduce between an electrical signal in said conductors and a longitudinal magnetic signal field and thereby a zero order torsional strain in said magnetostrictive element.

23. A transducer according to claim 22, wherein: said conductors comprise a coil encircling said body.

24. A system according to claim 21, wherein: longitudinal slots are incorporated in at least a portion of said member to reduce circumferential eddy currents.

25. A system according to claim 21, wherein: tubular bodies of large magnetic reluctance are juxtaposed to ends of the magnetostrictive part of said transducer to reduce coupling of the magnetic signal field and thereby to reduce circumferential eddy currents in parts of said transducer-drill string combination other than said magnetostrictive part.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein: said large reluctance bodies are slotted longitudinally to reduce circumferential eddy currents in said bodies.

27. A system according to claim 24, wherein: said longitudinal slots are sealed to prevent leakage of the drilling mud from within said tubular body.

28. A system according to claim 3, wherein: an acoustic termination is juxtaposed to one end of said body to provide a terminating acoustic impedance for efficient transduction.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein: said termination is a reflecting termination that reflects acoustic energy.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein: said termination is a torque reaction stub.

31. A system according to claim 28, wherein: said termination is an absorbing termination that absorbs acoustic energy.

32. A system according to claim 28, wherein: said termination is both a reflecting and absorbing termination.

33. A system according to claim 1, wherein: said signal field means comprises electrical conductors disposed in inductively coupled relation to said field-strain element, and adapted to transduce between an electrical signal in said conductors and a magnetic signal field and thereby a zero order torsional strain in said field-strain element.

34. A system according to claim 3, wherein: said tubular body is composed at least in part of an electrically conductive material and said signal field means comprises the electrically conducting part of said body in combination with external conductors forming an electric circuit to transduce between an electrical signal in said circuit and a circumferential magnetic field and thereby zero order torsional strain in said magnetostrictive element.