MWD Mud Pulse Theory Manual PDF

MUD PULSE MWD
THEORY MANUAL
Scientific Drilling
Nov. 2000
2000

MWD MUD PULSE MANUAL CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Tool Specifications........................................................

Specifications...............................................................
....... 1
Chapter 2 Tool Operation ..................................................
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.................... 6
Introduction..........................
Introduction ...................................................
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............... 7
Super or Golden
Golden EYE EYE ...............................................
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... 9
MWD Controller
Controller ................................................
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........... 13
Gamma ........................................................
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............... 16
Pulser Driver........................
Driver .................................................
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............... 19
Battery .................................................
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Power and Communication...........................
Communication..........................................
............... 25
Tool Block Diagram ..................................................
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... 26
Chapter 3 Pulser Operation....................................................
Operation...................................................................
............... 28
Overview..............................................
Overview......................................................................
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Detailed Description......................................
Description.....................................................
............... 30
Chapter 4 Surface System.................................................
System.....................................................................
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Overview..............................................
Overview......................................................................
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Standpipe
Standpipe Pressure Sensor
Sensor.....................
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.................... 38
Pump Position Sensor .................................................
................................................. 41
Depth Sensor................................................
Sensor...............................................................
............... 42
Rig Floor Display ..................................................
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....... 44
Tool Communication.....................................
Communication....................................................
............... 45
Surface System
System Hook Up..............................
Up.............................................
............... 46
Chapter 5 Detection Decoding......................
Decoding ...............................................
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............... 48
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Basics ........................................
........................................ 49
Mud Pulse Encoding
Encoding Scheme.......................
Scheme......................................
............... 60
Signal to Noise
Noise Ratio
Ratio ................................................
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... 69
Chapter 6 Talkdown Scheme .................................................
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............... 76
Chapter 7 Troubleshooting Flow Diagram........................................... 81
Company Confidential
© 2000 Scientific Drilling International – Revision Nov. 2000
Written by Mike Meadows Toucan Consultancy Inc. (Orig. release Jan. 2000)

TOOL SPECIFICATIONS CHAPTER 1
Contents
CONTENT
CONTENTS
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PRODUCT INFORMAT
INFORMATION
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TOOL SPECIFICAT
SPECIFICATION
ION IN PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM EN
ENGINEER
GINEER FORMAT................................
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COMPLETE SENSOR SPECIFI

SPECIFICATIONS
CATIONS ..........................
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UPDATE RATES....
RATES.................
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MAKE-UP TORQUE
TORQUES..............
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GAMMA SCALE FACTORS.........

FACTORS......................
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© 2000 Scientific Drilling International

Confidential
Product Information
Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 1 – Tool Specifications Page 2

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Confidential
Tool Specification in Petroleum Engineer Format
GENERAL
Tool
Tool OD av
avai
aila
labl
ble,
e, in 4 ¾, 6¼, 6 ½, 6 ¾, 8, 9 ½
Length, ft (tool OD)
Directional Only 16.8 (plus 4.0 pulser sub)
DIR + Gamma Ray 16.8 (plus 4.0 pulser sub)
Maximum dogleg severity

degrees/100ft (tool OD)
Sliding
Sliding (non-ro
(non-rotati
tating)
ng) 12(8
12(8"),
"), 20(6¾ "), 28(4 ¾" )
Rotating
Rota ting 7(8
7(8"),
"), 10(
10(6
6 ¾ "), 12(4 ¾" )
Equivalent
Equivalent bending stiffnes
stiffness
s 4.66 x 2.25 (4 ¾)
OD x ID, in (tool OD)
Maximum operating temperature 150° (302°)
Degrees C (degrees F)
Power Source Lithium Battery
Operating time, hours 150
Maximum working pressure, psi 20,000
Mud flow rate range
range,, gal/mi
gal/min
n 100 - 400 (4 ¾- 6 ½ )
(Tooll OD)
(Too 125 -1000
-1000 (6 ¾) 125-150
-1500
0 (8 - 9 ½ )
Lost circulation material Medium nut plug 40 lb/bbl,
maximum size and concentration consult field engineer
Surface mud screen required? Yes
Pressure drop, psi through tool
(tool OD) for water @250 gal/min 40
'@500 gal/min 50
'@1,000 gal/min 75
Pulsation damper required? Recommend charge to 30% of SPP
Transmission trigger Stop pumps, stop rotary, start pumps
Telemetry type Positive
Is tool wireline retrievable? No
Maximum bit pressure, psi No limit
Downlink: Mud flow Yes
Rotary Yes
Wireline Yes
Electromagnetic No
DIRECTIONAL
MTF/GTF switching, inclination degrees 5° increasing, 3°
Tool face update period, seconds 11.2 (fast), 14 secs normal
Survey time, seconds 150 (fast), 172 secs normal
Survey while drilling:
Sliding/Rotating? No/No
Directional measurement point, ft 14 from pulser bolts
Tool face accuracy, ± degrees 1.4
Azimuth accura
accuracy,
cy, ± degr
degrees
ees 0.25
Inclination accuracy, ± degrees 0.15

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Confidential
GAMMA RAY
Detector type Scintillation
Scintillati on
Measurements AAPI GR
Gamma measurement point, ft 10.3 from pulser bolts
Available Real tim
Available time?
e? Yes
Recorded? Yes
Spectral GR? No
OTHER
Vibration monitoring? Yes
Downhole weight on bit and torque? No
Other sensors available? Temperature
Electronic caliper? No
Complete Sensor Specifications
Transmitted EYE
Measurement Range Units Bits Resolution Accuracy
Inclination 0 - 180 Degrees 11 0.09 ± 0.15

Azimuth 0 - 360 Degrees 12 0.088 ± 0.25
Tool Face (survey) 0 - 360 Degrees 8 1.4 ± 0.15
Tool Face 0 - 360 Degrees 7 2.81 ± 0.15
Gamma 0 - 64 Counts 7 .5
H-Total 30 - 70 nanoTeslas 9 78
Temperature* 0 - 175 Degrees C 5 5.5c
Battery Voltage 17 - 21 Volts 3 .5v
Peak Vibration VIB 0 - 20 g 7 156mg
DIP -90 - 90 Degrees 10 .18
G-Total 984 – 1016 Mg 5 1mg
* average of Gt & Ht
Update Rates
12 Windows
Measurement Pulse Width 0.76 Pulse Width 1.0
Survey (plus 60 sec delay) 2 min 7 sec 2 min 48 sec
Tool Face 10.6 sec 14 sec
Tool Face with Gamma 21.3 sec 28 sec
Gamma 21.3 sec 28 sec

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Make-up Torques
Connection Pulser Sub Top Collar I/D Torque 4.5' Tong Arm 4' Tong Arm 3.5' Tong Arm
OD Inches Btm Inches ftlbs Line Pull lbs Line Pull lbs Line Pull lbs
Box
7-5/8 Regular 9-1/2 Pin 3-1/2 75,000 17,000 19,000 21,000
6-5/8 Regular 8 Box 3-1/2 45,000 10,000 11,000 13,000

Pin
Box
5-1/2 Full Hole 6-3/4 Pin 3-1/2 25,000 5,500 6,000 7,000
4-1/2 Extra Hole Box

(NC46) 6-1/2 Pin 2-13/16 22,000 5,000 5,500 6,000
4-1/2 Extra Hole Box

(NC46) 6-1/4 Pin 2-13/16 22,000 5,000 5,500 6,000
Box
3-1/2 IF 4-3/4 Box 2-13/16 10,000 2,000 2,500 3,000
Gamma Scale Factors
Collar Size Scale Factor
6-1/2 6.33
4-3/4 4.22

Revision Nov. 2000

TOOL OPERATION CHAPTER 2
CONTENTS
CONTENTS.............................................................................................................................................6
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION .......................
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EYE.........................................................................................................................................................9
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DIRECTIONAL SENSORS ...........
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SURVEYS ..........
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DETERMINING CORRECT SURVEYS ........... ......................
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EYE POWER AND COMMUNICATION ........... ......................
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MWD CONTROLLER
CONTROLLER .........................
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OVERVIEW..........
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FLOW ACCELEROMETER .....................
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TOOL OPERATION ..........
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MEMORY ..........
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VIBRATION DETECTOR ...........
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GAMMA ......................................................
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I NTRODUCTION ...........
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SENSOR DESCRIPTION ..........
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PULSER DRIVER..................................................................................................................................19
I NTRODUCTION ...........
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TIMED MODE ..........
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SMART MODE ...........
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BATTERY ...................................................
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OVERVIEW..........
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TEMPERATURE..........
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LOADING AND SHELF LIFE ...........
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BATTERY PACK WIRING ..........
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LIFE CYCLE ..........
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POWER AND COMMUNICATION.........................................................................................................25
TOOL BLOCK DIAGRAM ...........................

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DOWNHOLE TOOL OPERATION QUIZ................................................................................................27
© 2000 Scientific
Sc ientific Drilling International

Confidential
INTRODUCTION
The Mud Pulse MWD tool consists of six major sections:
1. Pulser Sub
2. Pulser
3. Pulser Driver
4. Battery
5. Controller and Gamma sensors
6. Directional sensors
Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 2 – Tool Operation Page 7

Revision Nov. 2000

Confidential
The pulser subs are similar

similar to standard ssteering
teering tool orienting ssubs.
ubs. They have been bored out to
accept the pulsers, and contain two bolts that are used to secure the tool to the BHA after
alignment of the tool toto the mud motor tool face. The pulser sits on a special sleeve called a
collar spacer, that in turn sits on a shoulder inside
inside the sub. The purpose of the collar spacer is to
ensure that the pulser is spaced exactly
exac tly at the right place for the orienting bolts.
The pulser contains a solenoid that drives a pilot valve, which controls the main poppet valve
that creates the positive mud pulses.
Currently there are three different pulser configurations that are optimized for four different flow
rate ranges. The four different pulsers are suitable
suitable for operation in six different pulser sub sizes
as shown in the chart below.
Pulser Sub Size Pulser Used Flow Rate Range

(inches) (GPM)
9-1/2 1000 GPM or 1500 GPM 125 to 1000 or 200 to 1500
8 1000 GPM or 1500 GPM 125 to 1000 or 200 to 1500
6-3/4 1000 GPM 125 to 1000
6-1/2 400 GPM 100 to 400
6-1/4
4-3/4 400
400 GPM
GPM 100
100 to
to 400
400
The pulser driver is an electronic module that controls the solenoid in the pulser.
The battery module contains high-energy batteries that power the whole downhole tool.
The directional and gamma sensors are housed in a barrel that also contains an MWD control
section. The directional and gamma sensors are identical units to thos
thosee used by Scientific
Drilling for steering
steering tool applications.
applications. Both the Super EYE and the Golden EYE sensors
sensors can be
used by the MWD Mud Pulse system.
The pulser driver, the battery, and the directional and gamma sensors are all housed in 1.75”
pressure barrels and connected together by centralizer modules. In addition to these modules, a
vibration isolator and a bull nose are
a re added to complete the probe assembly that hangs down
from the pulser. The centralizers provide sshock
hock and vibration damping and they can be
configured for use in different drill collar sizes.

Revision Nov. 2000

Confidential
SUPER OR GOLDEN EYE
Overview
The function of the EYE section is to:
1. Measure directional data

2. To communicate these measurements to the MWD
MWD controller and the surface
surface equipment
The three primary directional measurements provided are:
1. Azimuth – the directional orientation of the wellbore relative

relative to magnetic north.
2. Inclination – a measure of the deviation of the wellbore from vertical.
vertical.
3. Tool Face – Highside Tool
Tool Face (or gravity tool face) and Magnetic
Magnetic Tool Face.
Toolface is a term used in connection with deflection tools or steerable motors, and can be
expressed in two ways.
The place on a deflection tool, usually marked with a scribe line, that is positioned to a particular
orientation while drilling, to determine the future course of the wellbore.
The orientation, expressed as the direction either from north or from the topside of the hole, of
the navigation sub of a steerable motor.
Toolface orientation then is an angular measurement of the toolface of a deflection tool with
respect to either up (highside) or north (magnetic toolface).
Secondary or quality measurements are:
1. Total Magnetic Field, called H Totals

2. Total Gravity Field
3.
4. Magnetic Dip
Tool Temperature called Ht for magnetometer temperature and Gt for accelerometer
temperature.
Directional data is measured using three accelerometers, three magnetometers, and two
temperature sensors.
This block diagram shows the major parts of the EYE section.

Revision Nov. 2000

Confidential
To MWD Controller
9 Pin MDM Connector
RS-485
Power Processor
Signal Conditioning
Accelerometers Magnetometers
& Gtemp & Htemp
Directional Sensors
Accelerometers measure
measure acceleration. Gravity is an acceleration. If we attach a spring to a mass
and hold it vertically, it will stretch the
the spring. The amount of stretch will
will depend upon the
spring, the magnitude of thethe acceleration, and the mass. The Earth’s acceleration iiss called “g”.
If we could reverse the direction of g, the spring would compress by a similar amount.
amount. This is
the principle of the accelerometer.
accelerometer. Three accelerometers are used, each aligned at 90 degrees to
each other, and refereed to as the Gx, Gy, and Gz accelerometers.
Magnetometers measure
measure the intensity of the Eart
Earth’s
h’s magnetic field in
in a particular direction. A
magnetometer is a device consisting of two identical cores with a primary winding around each
core but in the opposite directions.
directions. A secondary winding twists
twists around both cores and the
primary winding. An excitation current produces a magnetic field in each core. These fields are
of equal intensity, but opposite orientation, and therefore cancel each other out such that no
voltage is induced in the secondary
secondary winding. When the magnetometer is placed placed in an external
magnetic field, which is aligned with the axis of the magnetometer, an unbalance occurs and a
voltage directly proportional to the external field is produced in the secondary winding.
A measurement of the voltage induced by the external field will provide a precise determination
of the direction and magnitude of the local magnetic field relative to the magnetometer’s
orientation in the borehole. Magnetic field intensity
intensity or strength is measured in micro Tesl
Teslas
as (ìT)
or nano Teslas (nT). A nano Teslas is sometimes
sometimes referred toto as a gamma.
Both accelerometers and magnetometers give voltage outputs that have to be corrected by
applying calibration coefficients.
coefficients. The calibration data corrects ffor
or span and bias errors, tthe
he effect
of temperature, alignment errors, and other slight imperfections in the manufacturing process.
The calibration data are stored in memory in the EYE tool, and updated every time the tool is
calibrated. A temperature sensor is required by the tool in
in order to apply some of tthese
hese
corrections when the tool is taking measurements in real time.

Revision Nov. 2000

Confidential
Surveys
Calculations for the survey values are made in the downhole tool.
Inclination calculation uses the three accelerometer sensors only.

Azimuth calculations use the three magnetometer sensors and the three accelerometer sensors.
Highside Tool Face calculations use the accelerometers
a ccelerometers only.
Magnetic Tool face calculations use both the accelerometer and magnetometer sensors.
Total Magnetic Field calculations use the three magnetometer sensors
Total Gravity Field calculations use the three accelerometer sensors
Magnetic Dip calculations use the three magnetometer sensors and the three accelerometer
sensors.
The downhole tool can transmit Tool Face data in three modes,
1. Permanently set to Highside Tool Face
2. Permanently set to Magnetic Tool Face
3. Automatically switch from
from Magnetic to Highside
Highside depending upon the inclination.
inclination.
The automatic tool face switching occurs when inclination increases to a value of 5 degrees, or
decreases to a value of 3 degrees.
Which sensors can be relied upon?

1. Inside casing, inclination
inclination below the
the crossover
crossover angle. There is magnetic interference and
therefore none of the data that uses
uses the magnetometers can be relied
relied upon. Since inclination
is below the crossover angle, highside tool faces are highly variable. No tool data are
useable.
2. Inside casing,
casing, inclination
inclination above the crossover
crossover angle. We can now use the data that uses the
accelerometers, i.e. inclination and highside tool faces.
3. H-Total bad. We can rely upon inclination and highside tool face
face but none of the
magnetometer data.
4. Total Gravity Field bad. Question all data.
Determining Correct Surveys
You need to be certain that your survey is correct bef

before
ore giving it to someone
someone else. Check the
following:
1. Are the Inclination and Azimuth readings what would be expected?

2. Was the
the last H-Total transmission
transmission correct? There are several programs
programs that can estimate a
value if your longitude and latitude is known.
3. Is the Total Gravity
Gravity Field correct? It should be around one, and consistent with previous
previous
surveys.
4. Have you entered the correct magnetic
magnetic and grid declinations?
declinations?

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Confidential
5. Is the temperature reading correct? A bad temperature

temperature sensor in the tool
tool will result in the
wrong calibration calculations and all data will be suspect.
6. Was the pipe moving when the survey
survey was taken?
7. Double-check the depth. The survey
survey calculation
calculation program must the correct
correct depth to yield
yield
correct section and dogleg results.
EYE Power and Communication
Direct communication with the EYE tool is possible at the surface or with an electric wireline
when downhole. The communication method is the samesame as that used by Scientifi
Scientificc Drilling’s
Steering tools, namely Frequency Shift Keying (FSK).
When communicating with the EYE using FSK, power is supplied by the surface system, and is
superimposed on the same wire as the communication line.
The EYE tool passes its data onto the MWD controller using a serial line called RS-485.
In order to save battery life, the EYE tool is only powered up when directional data is required.
The MWD controller is responsible for this power switching.

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Confidential
MWD CONTROLLER
Overview
The purpose of the MWD controller is to:
1. Control the
the acquisition of data from the EYE tool.
2. Measure natural gamma ray radiation
3. Control the timing
timing of data acquisition
acquisition and transmission
transmission by monitoring
monitoring the flow accelerometer
accelerometer
switch.
4. Format data for output to the pulser driver, which then controls the transmiss
transmission
ion of data to
to
the surface.
5. Adjust the pulse
pulse width and the data
data transmission
transmission sequence formats according to timed flow
on /off or rotation on/off sequences. This reprogramming of the tool from surface is ref referred
erred
to as Talkdown.
6. Measure the battery voltage, and shock and vibration that the tool is experiencing.
7. Store measured data in memory
memory for redundancy
redundancy and store diagnostic inform
information.
ation.
8. Provide a communication
communication link for use
use at the surface
surface to initialize
initialize and test the tool.
At the heart of the MWD controller is a microprocessor.

microprocessor. The software inside this microprocessor
microprocessor
performs the control functions listed
listed above.
The major elements of the controller are shown in this block diagram.
To Other Sections
)
e
t
i R e k
d h n c
i
e W W a
L l PMT/Gamma
s / P )
U D / e B
/
t E K D v d
o S E i
r e
N R
( F R
( D R
Memory 6 MB
(3 X 2MB)
FSK/Power Processor
Flow Accelerometer
RS-485
From Eye Section

Flow Accelerometer
The tool is designed to actuate the pulser when there is either, flow or rotation on the drill string.
The design uses an accelerometer
acce lerometer to detect the slight vibration on the tool caused by either flow
or rotation.tool
downhole This hasmode
to be proved to be very
switched reliable
reliable and
(talkdown) has string
by drill the added benefit
rotation of al
allowing
as well lowing
as the
by pump

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Confidential
pressure. A drawback of this design is that any movement of the tool will cause it to switch on
and start transmitting.
transmitting. This means that the tool will
will be consuming battery energy dur
during
ing trips,
and also increases the chances of unintentional talkdown changes.
One of the set points that the operator can adjust, is the level at which the flow accelerometer
activates the tool. Currently the optimum level is set to 0.050 volts.
The talkdown scheme is described in chapter 6.
Tool Operation
A simplified sequence of the tool operation is as follows:
1. Wait until flow accelerometer detects flow.

flow.
2. Wait for
for 60 seconds for the pumps to stabilize.
stabilize.
3. Transmit the survey data, inclination
inclination azimuth and tool face.
4. Transmit continuously tool
tool face and if selected gamma data.
5. Transmit status
status data (battery voltage, temperature, and H-total) at times programmed at
surface.
6. Stop transmitting
transmitting when flow accelerometer
accelerometer has detected
detected flow off for more than 30 seconds.
7. Measure next survey data 40 seconds after flow-off
flow-off initially
initially detected*.
8. Back to step one.
*An exception to this time is during talkdown, when the survey is taken 20 seconds after the
flow accelerometer has detected flow off.
Memory
The controller section has two types of memory:
1. 6
2. Volatile
of memory
MB of (data
(dateamemory
Non-volatile
Non-volatil is lost when
(datapower is removed).
is retained even when power is removed).
Recorded in the volatile memory is a record of the main activities of the tool with
with time. Most
surface communications to the tool are recorded such as pulse width changes, clearing of
memory etc. In addition, when the tool is operating the flow on and flflow
ow off times are recorded.
recorded.
In the main non-volatile memory, more diagnostic data is recorded such as flow accelerometer
ac celerometer
voltages. In the future, this memory will also be us
used
ed to store gamma ray and survey dat
data.
a.
The non-volatile memory does not wrap; i.e. when full, al

alll recording of data ceases. The non-
volatile memory stores
stores data in 3 Meg. The remaining 3 MB will be used for storing gamma
gamma data.

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Confidential
Vibration Detector
The MWD controller uses the raw output of the accelerometers to provide two measurements, a
peak vibration and an averaged vibration. The range for both measurements is 1 to 16.5 g in 1 g
increments.
The primary use of these measurements is to warn of possible excessive vibration on the BHA
and in particular, the relatively
relatively delicate MWD ttool.
ool. If high values are seen, some
some action must be
taken, such as changing the rotary rpm, or the weight on bit or both, until more normal values are
seen.

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Confidential
GAMMA
Introduction
The gamma ray sensor measures the naturally occurring gamma radiation in the formations.
Most naturally occurring radiation comes form potassium which is contained in clay minerals.
The gamma ray log is therefore
therefore useful for distinguishing
distinguishing shales from
from non-shales. Some gamma
radiation comes from uranium, (which is most often found in formations through which water
once flowed), or thorium, (which is found in various clay minerals).
The uses of the gamma ray log are:
1. Distinguish
Distinguish shales from non-shales
2. Estimate clay content
content in
in sands
sands and limestones
limestones
3. Correlation of real-time
real-time data with offset logs to determine geological location.
4. Picking casing and coring points.
There are two major limitations to the gamma ray sensor:
1. Gamma measurements are time dependent and are therefore less accurate at high ROPs.
2. The drill collar
collar absorbs gamma rays differently
differently to the housing
housing of a wireline
wireline tool, making
exact comparison of wireline and MWD gamma ray logs difficult.
Sensor Description
The gamma ray sensor consists of three components, a scintillation crystal, a PhotoMultiplier
Tube (PMT), and power and measurement electronics.
When gamma rays emitted by the formation pass within the crystal lattice, they impart their
energy to a cascade of secondary electrons,
electrons, which are finally tr
trapped
apped by impurity atoms. As the
electrons are trapped, visible or near-visible light is emitted.
emitted. This is called scintillation.
scintillation.
The light flashes are then detected by a PMT tube optically coupled to the crystal and
transformed into an electrical
electrical pulse. The PMT tube detects the visible
visible light from the crystal,
crystal, and
emits two secondary electrons.
electrons. This multiplying effect
effect of the original gamma rayray causes a much
stronger signal to be read by the counter.

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gamma ray
photocathode
Electrical
to counter pulses
NaI Crystal PMT

The sensitivity of the

the sensor changes when the tool is pl
placed
aced in different collar sizes. To
compensate for this there are several different calibration constants for each drill collar size.
These constants are called the Gamma Scale Factor, and are entered into Mfilt.
Two main problems can occur withwith the gamma sensor. The crystal may crack, causing
causing a marked
change in the sensitivity.
sensitivity. This is manifested
manifested by a drop in the gamma
gamma values on the
the log. After
long period of use and several heat cycles, such as the same tool used over a year or so, the
crystal structure
checks can degrade,
can help identify which this
and correct causes a gradual
gradual loss in sensit
problem. sensitivity.
ivity. Frequent calibration
calibration
Other factors that can affect the gamma response are:
1. Hole diameter, the larger the hole diameter,

diameter, the less
less sensitive
sensitive the response.
response.
2. Mud density, the denser the mud, the less sensitive
sensitive the response.
3. Mud additives, certain mud types such as potassium
potassium chloride polymers
polymers (KCL) can have an
effect on the response depending upon the levels of concentration.
The absolute radioactivity of a rock varies; however, the relative radioactivity of the rock types is
fairly constant.
The various gamma responses in certain rock formations can be seen in the diagram below.

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Gamma Ray Lithology Response

Gamma Counts per Second
low high
Sandstone - mostly SiO2 may be

contaminated with clays and
other K minerals
Siltstone - same as sandstone
Shale - clay minerals, abundant K
Salt - halite, normally pure NaCl,

no K contamination.
Salt - sylvite, KCL
Limestone - CaCO3 may be

contaminated with K minerals
Marine Shale - clay minerals, hot
Dolomite - CaMg (CaCO3) same

as limestone
Coal
Granite - large amounts of K, very

hot


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PULSER DRIVER
Introduction
The purpose of the pulser driver is to:
1. Accept pulse commands fromfrom the MWD

MWD Controller.
Controller.
2. Activate the solenoid in the pulser with a specific current
current profile.
3. Double the voltage from the battery pack to increase
increase the power to the solenoid.
solenoid.
4. Store current and voltage profiles in memory for diagnostic
diagnostic purposes.
The MWD controller simply outputs a signal, whenever it requires the driver to activate the
pulser. The width of this signal is the same time as the pulse width that the tool has been set at.
A functional block diagram of the driver section is shown below along with the pulser.
Wet Connector
R
P
W
/ ) Solenoid PULSER
K D
Tool
S E
F R
Ground
(
)
D
E
R
(
R
Driver Capacitors
W
PULSER DRIVER
P
/
K
S
F
Processor Memory 2MB
Drive Line
From MWD Controller

The energizing time for a solenoid to complete a given stroke is measured from the beginning of
the initial application of power to the seated or energized position.
position. For a given solenoid, this
time is dependent upon the load, duty cycle, input
input power, stroke, and tem
temperature.
perature. When a DC
voltage is applied across the solenoid coil, the current will rise to point (a) as shown on the graph
below.

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)
s
p
m
a
(
t
n
e
r
r
u
C
a b
Time (milliseconds)

This time delay, which occurs before the plunger motion, is a function of the inductance and
resistance of the coil,
coil, and the flux required to move tthe
he armature against the lload.
oad. An increase in
the magnetic force is created by closing the air gap as the plunger moves through the stroke,
causing a dip in the current
current trace. The low point at (b) indicates that the solenoid has complet
completed
ed
the stroke. The current trace then begins to rise to a steady
steady state current value.
If the load on the solenoid increases, more time is required to reach point (c), as shown by the
dotted line current trace.
If the load on the solenoid is larger than the solenoid can handle, then the current in the coil will
build to a steady state value and a dip in the trace will not occur since the plunger has not moved.
The driver circuitry provides the initial current for the solenoid to move and reach the steady
state current, and then switches down to a lower current to keep the solenoid energized for the
rest of the pulse duration. This lower current level is called the hold current, and has the real
benefit of minimizing the energy used from the batteries of the tool.
The driver operates in two modes, timed and smart mode.
Timed Mode
In timed mode, the driver provides two current profiles, a high current to crack ope
openn the pilot
the pilot valve open. The profile of the available current
valve, and a lower hold current to keep the
to the solenoid is shown below.

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)
A
m
(
t
n
e
r
r
u
C
1,000
300
Time determined by pulse width - on time
Min time >40<150

Max time >70<225 Time (milliseconds)
Typically set to
40 min, 150 max

The operator can select the minimum and maximum times that the initial current is provided to
the solenoid.
Smart Mode
In smart mode, the driver automatically controls

controls the current to the solenoid. Up to 1 amp is still
provided during the initial open period. However, this high current level is stopped once the
solenoid has reached the steady state
state level after the solenoi
solenoid
d has stopped moving. This results
results in
a significant current savings compared to the timed mode.
)
A
m
(
t
n
e
r
u
C
1,000
High current
stopped at this
point
300
Time determined by pulse width - on time
Time (milliseconds)


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The current required to drive

drive the solenoid is near tthe
he limit that the batteries
batteries are capable of. To
overcome this problem, energy is slowly stored in capacitors during pulse off times, and
discharged from the capacitors instead of directly from the batteries.
The memory in the driver module stores the current and voltage profiles of each pulse. If there is
a pulsing problem, this diagnostic data can be very useful in the determination of the problem.
The memory has a wrap feature,
feature, so only the most recent pr
profiles
ofiles are kept. The memory will
typically store about 24 hours worth of data.

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BATTERY
Overview
The battery pack consists of 6 lithium
lithium thionyl chloride, D
DD
D size cells connected in ser
series.
ies. The
cells have a lithium anode, a carbon cathode, and a thionyl chloride electrolyte.
Each cell has a nominal voltage of 3.6 volts. The six cells connected together
together therefore have a
combined nominal voltage of 21.6 volts
volts (6 x 3.6). The actual voltages are lower
lower than this due to
various effects discussed later.
The voltages in the downhole tool are

are normally measured with rrespect
espect to ground. Ground is
connected directly to the body of the tool through the pressure barrels.
Temperature
The maximum operating temperature of the battery pack is 300° F (150° C).

C). Above this
temperature, the cells may start to swell and become extremely dangerous.
The battery voltage will drop if the battery temperature

temperature is allowed to fall
fall below freezing. Once
the batteriesPrecautions
shortened. are re-warmed, thebe
should voltage
taken will recover,
ure thatbut
to ensure
ens thethe batteryar
batteries life
are may
e not have even
frozen, been during
transportation.
Loading and Shelf Life
New and unused batteries have a long shelf life of up to ten years.
Before a newly built battery

battery pack can be used it must be acti
activated
vated or loaded down. When
loaded, the voltages in new batteries
batteries will be well bel
below
ow the nominal voltage. This is because the
electrolytic reaction within each cell is slowed down by a passivation layer of lithium chloride
crystals around the anode.
Loading down is performed by connecting a 75 ohm resistor across the positive and negative of
the battery pack. As current flows tthrough
hrough the load resistor, the passivation layer
layer is broken
down, the electrolytic reaction speeds up and the voltage gradually rises to the nominal operating
level. This process isis often referred
referred to as de-passivating.
de-passivating. The time taken for the voltage to build
back up to a steady value depends upon the remaining capacity, and the temperature cycle
history of the batteries.
Before handling these batteries, you must read and understand the SDI Safety Procedures.

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Battery Pack Wiring
Each cell in the battery pack has a diode connected to it to avoid the possibility of one or more of
the other cells sourcing
sourcing current into its
itself.
elf. The battery pack also has a 5 amp protective
protective fuse, and
a final protective diode. There will be a small volt
voltage
age drop across the diode, which wiwill
ll further
reduce the nominal voltage from 21.6 to about 21 volts.
Fuse 5A
Life Cycle
s
t
l
o
V
21
Voltage drops if batteries freeze,

rises again on warming
Loading brings
voltage up Voltage drops
quickly at end
of life
About 150 hours depending on data rate
Time in Hours


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POWER AND COMMUNICATION
There are several options that

that the operator can set that customizes the service tto
o be provided. In
order to configure the tool for these various options, a method of communicating with the tool is
required. Scientific Drilling
Drilling uses the same method of communication
communication as used by their wireline
wireline
tools, namely Frequency Shift Keying (FSK).
To save battery power in the tool, an external power source is superimposed on the FSK
communication line.
This external power and communication is made through the “wet connect” at the top of the
pulser.
A zener diode is used to isolate the battery power, when external power via the surface system is
available. The diagram below shows the general power arrangement in the tool.
21 volts FSK/PWR (RED)
Choke
Fuse 5A
MWD 22 volts from MSI

TOOL
22 volt
Zener
Diode
Communication between the microprocessors in the MWD controller and the EYE tool is via an
RS-432 serial line, running at 9600 baud.

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TOOL BLOCK DIAGRAM
For a complete overview of the down hole tool, the following diagram will be useful:
MWD TOOL BLOCK DIAGRAM

Wet Connector
R
W )
Solenoid PULSER
P
/ D Tool
K E
S R Ground
F (
Red/wht
Red/blk
Red
)
D
E
R
( Driver Capacitors
R PULSER DRIVER
W
P
/ Red - FSK/Power
K
S Red/black - Solenoid Drive Line
F Red/white - not used
Processor Memory 2MB
Centralizer
Spring Assy
7 4 9 Pin MDM 8 3 9 5 1 2 6
Fuse 5A
)
e
t
i R e k
d h c
n a
e W W i
L l
BATTERY
s /
U D / )
P
D e B
/
t E K E v d
i
o S R r e
N R
( F ( D R
7 4 9 Pin MDM 8 3 5 6 9 2 1
Tool Connector
Ground Chassis Assy
Centralizer
e k
c
n a
i
L l PMT/Gamma
e B
/
i
v
r d
e
D R
Memory 6 MB
(3 X 2MB)
FSK/Power Processor MWD CONTROLLER
Flow Accelerometer
RS-485
9 Pin MDM Connector
RS-485
Power Processor EYE DIRECTIONAL SENSOR
Signal Conditioning
Accelerometers Magnetometers
& Gtemp & Htemp M.M.
1/14/20

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DOWNHOLE TOOL OPERATION QUIZ
1. What nominal voltages are

are provided by the whole battery pack and by a ssingle
ingle cell?
2. What is the minimum

minimum time that the tool can w
withstand
ithstand no flow or movement
movement without shutting
down?
3. What is the
the purpose of battery loading?
5. You are checking a tool in the slips after a bit-tri

bit-trip
p and can hear the pulser clicking at the usual
rate, despite no flow. What would you suspect is wrong?
wrong?
6. List seven steps

steps to determine if a survey is correct.
7. Name four possible

possible sources of magnetic interference.
interference.
8. Where are the directional sensor

sensor calibration factors
factors stored?
9. The driller takes a survey using the BHA described below. The bit is at a measured depth of
10,112 ft. What is the
the depth of the
the survey?
Bit 1.00 Crossover 1.24 Stabilizer 3.12 Crossover 1.68 NMDC 30.24
Pulser sub 4.75 Monel 30.11
10. After a few hours of drilling ahead, the directional driller

driller starts to question your surveys.
The last H-Total reading
reading is nearly 25% higher than alalll the previous values. What can you tell
him?

Revision Nov. 2000

PULSER CHAPTER 3
CONTENTS
CONTENT
CONTENTS
S ......................
.................................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
...................
........ 28
OVERVIEW....................... ............. ............. .............. ............. ............. ............. ............. .............. ............. ......... 29
PULSER PRINCIPLE
PRINCIPLE - SIMPLE........
SIMPLE........ ............. ............. ............. ............. .............. ............. ............. ............. ..... 29
PULSER PRINCIPLE
PRINCIPLE - DETAILED
DETAILED ............. ............. ............. ............. ............. .............. ............. ............. ....... 30
FILTER SCREEN..................... ............. ............. ............. ............. .............. ............. ............. ............. ............. ... 34

Confidential
OVERVIEW
The type of pulser used in the Mud Pulse MWD tool, is a positive one. At its most basic, the
pulser consists of a valve that, when actuated, restricts
restricts some of the mud flowing down the drill
string. A pressure gauge at the surface will see this temporary restriction
restriction as a positive going
pressure pulse.
Mud
e
r Positive
u
s going pulses
s
e
r
p
e
p
i
p
Valve d
n
a
t
S
time
Actuator
PULSER PRINCIPLE - SIMPLE
The pulser consists of two major sections,

sections, a power valve and a pilot valve ass
assembly.
embly. The main
poppet shaft is attached to a power spring that always acts to try to close the valve. Therefore,
with no flow on the tool, the poppet valve will be in the closed position.
The three diagrams below show a very simplified representation of the pulser operation.
The first drawing shows the situation with no flow through the pulser.
The second drawing shows what happens when there is flow through the pulser, but the actuator
is not creating a pulse. The pressure of the drilling
drilling fluid pushes the driving
driving piston down against
the spring, which pulls the main poppet down, allowing mud to flow.
Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 3 – Pulser Page 29

Mike Meadows Jan 2000

Confidential
NO FLOW FLOW FLOW

NO PULSE OFF PULSE ON PULSE
Phigh
Phigh
Main
Poppet
Valve
Main
Orifice
Plow small area
Plower
Driving
Piston large area
Main
Spring
Phigh Phigh -Plower
Pilot Valve
Assembly Plower
The third drawing shows the status when the tool needs to create a pulse, and the pilot valve is
opened.
Through the poppet assembly is a small bore that links the pressure at the top of the pulser, to the
back of the driving piston. The cross sectional area of this piston is larger tthan
han the cross
sectional area of the poppet valve seat. With the pilot valve open, the same pressure acr across
oss the
main valve is acting on the back of the piston. Force is pressure
pressure x area, and because the area on
the piston is larger than the area on poppet seat, the piston assembly will move upward.
PULSER PRINCIPLE - DETAILED
The pulser has two very

ve ry useful features:
1. Controls the
the pulse height
height to be nearly constant over a very wide flow range.
2. Very little
little power is required to operate the pulser,
pulser, only about 10 watts.
watts.
A more detailed look at the pulser operation is required to understand how these two features
work. Each of the three
three conditions will be described.


Confidential
NO FLOW No Flow, No Pulse

NO PULSE
The actuator assembly consists of a
solenoid, pilot valve, relief valve,
and a pressure compensator.
The pressure compensator contains

a spring that is changed out for the
three different pulser flow ranges.
Main
Poppet
Valve
The solenoid and pressure
compensator is housed in a pressure
compensated chamber that is oil
Main filled. A floating piston
Orifice compensates for temperature,
pressure, and displacement changes.
Driving
Piston
Main
Spring
Pilot Valve
Relief valve
Pilot Valve
Assembly
Assemb ly
Floating Piston
Compensator
Solenoid Oil chamber


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FLOW Flow and Off Pulse

NO PULSE
1. When the pumps are started, thethe pressure pushes the
P1 poppet down against the main spring (black arrows).
mud flow mud flow
2. Flow across the main orifice
orifice results
results in a small pressure
drop across the main valve.
3. The pressure on both sides
sides of the driving piston is the
same - P2.
4. There is no flow through the main poppet and pilot valve
assemblies.
P2
P2<P1
P2
P1
P2
P2
Solenoid


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Flow and On Pulse

FLOW
ON PULSE 1. When the solenoid is is activated, the pilot valves opens, and
mud flow the relief valve closes.
2. This applies the same pressure drop drop that is
is across the main
mud flow P1 mud flow
valve, to the back of the driving piston.
3. The pressure
pressure area of the driving piston is larger than the
area of the main
main valve. Therefore the piston
piston will move up
and the main poppet valve will move to the close position.
4. There is now flow through the the main poppet and pilot
valve assemblies.
5. With no pressure control, the the main valve would move to
the hard close position. However, the relief
relief valve is
spring loaded to maintain a pressure that is defined by the
valve area and the
the spring force. Once this control
control
pressure is reached, the valve will begin to open to bypass
pilot flow so that the control pressure
pressure is maintained at a
near constant pressure
pressure over a wide flow range.
range. This in
turn, produces a constant force on the driving piston that
P2 pushes the poppet closed to produce a near constant
pressure drop across the main valve.
P2<P 1
P1
P1
P1
P2
Solenoid


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FILTER SCREEN
A filter screen is incorporated into the main valve to prevent mud particles from blocking the
pilot valve assembly. The filter intake screen assembly is si
situated
tuated at the top of the main valve.
If the screen itself becomes plugged, the tool will not pulse.
Filter screen
To prevent the filter screen from becoming caked, the pulser should be flushed with water before
being removed from the pulser sub.


SURFACE SYSTEM CHAPTER 4
CONTENTS
CONTENT
CONTENTS
S ...........
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
...................
........ 35
SURFACE SYSTEM OVERVIE

OVERVIEW
W ...........................
............. ...........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
...........................
...........................
......................
......... 36
STANDPIPE
STANDPIPE PRESSURE......................
PRESSURE......... ..........................
..........................
..........................
...........................
...........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
................
... 38
PUMP POSITION SENSOR.................................

SENSOR.................... ..........................
...........................
...........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
...........................
.............. 41
DEPTH
DEPTH SENS
SENSOR..................
OR.............................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
...............
.... 42
RIG FLOOR DISPLAY.........

DISPLAY.......................
...........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
...........................
...........................
..........................
..........................
..................
..... 44
TOOL COMM
COMMUNIC
UNICATI
ATION
ON ...........
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
...............
.... 45
SURFACE SYSTEM HOOK UP..

UP...............
..........................
...........................
...........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
...........................
.........................
........... 46
SURFACE SYSTEM QUIZ .........................

............ ...........................
...........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
...........................
...........................
......................
......... 47
© Scientific Drilling International 2000

Confidential
SURFACE SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The main function of the surface system is to convert pressure pulses to directional data.
Inputs: Outputs:
Standpipe pressure Inc, Azi, Toolface, Htot
Surface System
Pump position Gamma
Depth Vibration
In more detail, the surface system:
1. Provides signal conditioning for the Input sensors

Standpipe Pressure
Pump Position Sensor (for noise subtraction)
Depth Encoder (for gamma depth)
MWD Tool Memory
2. Detects Pulses by
Removing dcunwanted
Filtering out pressure component
frequencies
Subtracting pump noise
Correlating pressure transitions to pulse transitions
3. Decodes the pulse data into final measured parameters
4. Stores data
data into files
5. Outputs data to:

Rig Floor Display (RFD)
Computer Screen
Printer
Plotter
The two major components of the surface system are the Multi System Interface (MSI) and a
laptop PC.
All of the signal conditioning

conditioning functions are car
carried
ried out by the MSI. The MSI is basically
basically a
computer with various specialized boards to perform data acquisition and output control
functions.
The main functions of the MSI are therefore:
1. Power and measure

measure the signal
signal transmitted
transmitted by the
the downhole tool from the standpipe
transducer and pass this onto the PC
2. Power and measure the pump position transducer and pass this onto the PC
Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 4 – Surface System Page 36

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Confidential
3. Power and measure

measure the depth encoder and pass this onto the PC
4. Output processed
processed information from the PC to the rig floor display
5. Provide direct communication to the tool for setup and retrieving memory data
Standpipe Pressure Multi System Interface Rig Floor Display

Pump Position MSI Depth Display
Depth Encoder
Tool Memory
Laptop PC Printer/Plotter

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STANDPIPE PRESSURE
The standpipe pressure sensor

sensor operates in a simi
similar
lar manner to a strain gauge. It contains voltage
regulator circuits, current
current measurement, and precision detecti
detection
on circuits. The pressure in the
standpipe causes a diaphragm to deflect.
deflect. This deflection is detected
detected by a semiconductor bridge
and amplifier. The bridge amplifier outputs
outputs to a current control circuit
circuit that sends the output
signals to the MSI.
The transducer has an operating range of 10 to 40 volts dc, but is supplied with approximately 24
volts dc from the MSI.
MSI. The standpipe sensor outputs
outputs a current of between
between 4 and 20 mA to the
MSI, which represents 0 to 3,000 psi or 0 to 5,000 psi depe
depending
nding upon which transducer you are
using.
This 4-20 mA signal is converted to a voltage of 0 to 10 volts before being digitized by the
Analog to Digital Converter in the MSI.
24
20
)
s
p 16
m
A
m
(
t
12
n
e
r
r
u 8
C
0
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000
Pressure (psi)
3,000 psi Sensor 5,000 psi Sensor
The chart above shows the relationship between pressure and current output for each of the two
sensors used.
To determine the current output for a particular pressure use the following equation
Current (in mA) = (16/ pressure range x pressure) + 4
For example, what is the current output when the standpipe pressure is 2,500 psi. when using a
5,000 psi sensor?
Current (in mA) = (16/5,000 x 2,500) + 4
The answer is 12 mA

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The diagram below shows the complete routing of the standpipe pressure signal and will be
useful for troubleshooting.
Standpipe Pressure Signal Routing
Pressure Sensor Assy Readout Cable MWD Y Cable Multi System Interface
A A A A
B B B B A A
C C C C B B
Standpipe
D D D D C C
Pressure
Sensor E E E E D D
F F F F E E
Red
G G G G F F
4-20 mA Black
G G
H H H H
H H
Male Female Male Female
8 pin 8 pin 8 pin 8 pin J J
K K
L L
Male Female
11 pin 11 pin
Current to
Voltage
A
B
Analog to Digital
C Converter
For Pump Position Sensor
D
E
F
G Processor
H
Female
8 pin
Serial Output
Troubleshooting:
1. Unplug readout cable
cables
s at Y Connector and confirm
confirm voltage
across H&L and K&L are approx.
approx. 24 volts. If not, swap out MSI
boxes
2. If voltages OK, check cables all the way up to pressure Laptop Computer
transducer (across G&H)
3. Short pins G&H at female connec

connector
tor that transducer pplugs
lugs
into. Mfilt should show about 3,000 or 5,000 psi. If not, replace
replace
transducer.

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Confidential
The pressure transducer and the pump position sensor can be plugged into either of the two Y
connectors.
The transducer should be installed as close to the main mudflow as possible, and the transducer
body parallel to the ground.
The pressure transducer has zero and span adjustment capabilit

capability.
y. When back at the shop,
connect the sensor to an MSI, and adjust the zero by turning the zero screw on the sensor while
watching the Mfilt screen.
screen. Attach an Enerpac to the transducer and carefully pressure up ttoo
either 3,000 or 5,000 psi as appropriate.
appropriate. Adjust the span screw until
until the Mfilt screen
screen reads 3,000
or 5,000 psi.
Do not press or touch the diaphragm as you may damage or alter its calibration.

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PUMP POSITION SENSOR
The purpose of the pump position sensor is to measure the motion of the pump piston shaft in
order to determine a pressure
pressure signature of the pump nois
noise.
e. This signature is tthen
hen subtracted form
the raw standpipe pressure
pressure and usually all that will
will remain is the MWD
MWD pulses. A secondary
purpose of this sensor is to measure the stroke
stroke rate of the pump.
The sensor consists of a single chip accelerometer

acce lerometer and signal conditioning circuitry mounted on a
printed circuit board. The sensor assembly is mounted on one of the piston shafts on the pump.
The accelerometer outputs a voltage
voltage that is proportional to tthe
he vibration on the shaft. Circuitry
inside the sensor covert this voltage to a 4-20 mA signal. If the pump is running, the output of
the sensor will
will be a sine wave. The frequency of this sine wave will be the the pump stroke rate.
The surface system uses this signal to remove the noise due to the pump.
By telling the surface equipment the barrels per stroke for the pump, the flow rate in gallons per
minute can be computed and displayed.
The diagram below shows the complete routing of the pump position signal and will be useful
for troubleshooting.
Pump Position Signal Routing
MWD Y Cable Multi System Interface
A
B A A
C B B
D C C
E D D
F E E
G F F
For Standpipe Sensor H G G
H H
Female
8 pin J J
K K
L L
Male Female
11 pin 11 pin
Current to
Voltage
Pump Position Sensor Readout Cable
A A A A
White
4-20 mA signal P1 B B B B
Blue Analog to Digital
-12 volts P4 C C C C Converter
Red
+12 volts P2 D D D D
Black
ground P3 E E E E
Green
F F F F
G G G G Processor
H H H H
Male Female Female Male

8 pin 8 pin 8 pin 8 pin
Serial Output
Troubleshooting:
1. Unplug Y Connector at MSI and confirm voltage across E&C
and E&D is approx. -12 volts, and +12. If not, swap out MSI Laptop Computer
boxes.
2. If voltage OK, check cables all the way up to pressure

transducer (E&C and E&D).
3. If voltages at female connector that transducer plugs

plugs into
are correct then replace sensor.


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DEPTH SENSOR
The depth sensor monitors the position of the kelly indirectly by measuring the movement of the
cable connected to the rig’s Geolograph.
The actual transducer is an optical shaft encoder that translates rotary shaft movement to a series
of square waves. The shaft encoder is attached
attached to the bushing of a wheel that is connected to the
Geolograph cable.
Geolograph Cable
Shaft Encoder Wheel
The sensor requires between 5 and 24 volts for its supply voltage. The MSI actually supplies
12volts.
The sensor outputs the following signal to the MSI.

1 Cycle
90º
A

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By counting the number of pulses and the frequency of the two signals, it is possible to compute
the distance and speed moved by the sensor wheel and therefore the position of the kelly.
Direction of movement, depth increasing or decreasing, is determined by measuring the phase
shift between the two signals.
By entering a calibration factor of 133.3 counts per foot into the Mlink software, each turn of the
wheel, will result in
in 3 feet of depth change. For metric operation, enter 437.4 counts per meter.
In addition to the sensor, a local display of depth and rate of penetration can be connected to the
MSI.
The diagram below shows the complete routing of the depth encoder signal and will be useful for
troubleshooting.
Depth Encoder Signal Routing
Multi System Interface

A Optional
B 2nd
C Local
D Display
E
Local Display F
A A
B B
Pigtail
C C Local Display
D D
E E
F F
Male Female
6 pin 6 pin
Optical Shaft Depth Cable Encoder Adapter
Encoder
A
A A A A A A
B
B B B B B B
Not Used
C C C C C C
Power V+
D D D D D D
Not Used
E E E E E E
Ground
F F F F F F
Shield
G G G G
Male Female
6 pin 6 pin Processor
Male Female Male Female
7 pin 7 pin 7 pin 7 pin
Encoder
Serial Output
Troubleshooting:
1. Unplug adapter cables at MSI Connector and confirm
voltage across D&F is approx. 12 volts. If not, swap out MSI
boxes
2. If voltage is OK, use back-up sensor to test each cable by Laptop Computer
rotating the wheel one turn and noting a three foot change in
the depth display.
3. If all cables check out, replace depth sensor.
sensor.

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RIG FLOOR DISPLAY
The rig floor display consists of a circular Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) divided into 120
segments and 2 alphanumeric LCD displays
displays of 8 characters each. Each segment on the circular
display represents 3 degrees
degrees of Tool Face data. Data is transmitted
transmitted to the display via a standard
standard
RS-232 serial interface. The minimum input voltage
voltage is 7.5 volts with a minimum
minimum current of 20
mA.
When first powered up, the rig floor display runs through a self-test.
1. All the digits of the alphanumeric displays are sequenced from 0 to 9.
2. Each segment of the circular display is
is sequentially
sequentially turned on
3. Each segment of the circular display is
is sequentially
sequentially turned off
4. The internal firmware version
version number is shown on the alphanumeric
alphanumeric displays
This self-test
self-test takes about six seconds. The display is then ready to receive and di
display
splay data.
The display requires three lines,

lines, supply voltage, RS-232 serial data, and ground. The serial data
is sent at 1200 baud, eight data bits, no parity and one stop bit (8N1).
The display is not currently certified for Intrinsically Safe use.

Rig Floor Display Signal Routing
Rig Floor Display Readout Cable Optional Splitter Cable Multi System Interface
A Intercom 2
B Intercom 3
C Intercom 1
RS-232 RS-232
A A A A A A
Intercom1 Intercom1
B B Not Used
B B B B
Not Used
C C C C C C
D D
Power V+
D D Power V+ D D
Ground Ground
E E Not Used
E E E E
Not Used
F F Intercom 2 F F Intercom 2 F F
G G G G G G
Intercom 3 Intercom 3
H H H H H H
male female
fe male female male female
Troubleshooting:
1. Unplug display on the drill floor, and
reconnect to check
check the self-test sequence.
sequence. If
A
fails test, replace display. Processor
Intercom1 B
2. Unplug readout cable
cabless at splitter or MSI C
and confirm voltage across D&E is approx. D
7.5 volts, and serial line has approx. -8.4 Ground E
Serial Input
volts. If not, swap out MSI boxes. F
Intercom 2 G
3. If voltages OK, use ba
back-up
ck-up display to Intercom 3 H
test the cables each in turn up to the drill
female
floor.
Laptop Computer


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TOOL COMMUNICATION
Direct communication with the tool through the wet connect is facilitated by using a technique
called Frequency Shift Keying (FSK).
FSK modulation sends digital signals over a power line by using two or more separate
frequencies that are in a fairly narrow
narrow band. This is the technique used by modems to connect
computers via telephone lines.
Two distinct frequencies

frequencies represent binary 1s and 0s.
0s. The center frequency is 1820 KHz.
To reduce the number of wires and connectors, the supply power is superimposed with the
communication signal.
This diagram shows the two frequencies superimposed on top of the dc power line.
22 volts
0 volts

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SURF
SURFAC
ACE
E SYST
SYSTEM
EM HOOK
HOOK UP
Conn
Connec
ecti
ting
ng the
the syst
system
em is st
stra
raig
ight
htfo
forw
rwar
ard.
d. The
The diag
diagra
ram
m be
belo
low
w show
showss al
alll th
thee co
conn
nnec
ecti
tion
onss to be made
made..
IPL751 Mud Puls

ulse MWD
MWD InstInstru
rume
ment
ntaation
ion
and Surf
Surfaace Equi
quipme
pment
3
3
26
17 6
16
10
15
10
25
18
5 SPI UP/DW
UP/DWN
N Load
Load
13
ENCODER MWD AUX COMPUTER POWER
13A-E TRANSMIT
Mu l t iSy s t em I n t er f a ce
7
RECEIVE
LINEIN
REMOTE TOOLSUPPLY 115/230
WIRELINE
DISPLAYS
12
24
14
8
10
11
21
9
20
19
22 23
Mu
Mud
d Pu
Puls
lse
e Theo
Theory
ry Ma
Manu
nual
al Ch
Chap
apte
terr 4 - Su
Surf
rfac
ace
e Syst
System
em Page
Page 46
Revision
Revision No
Nov.
v. 2000
Confidential
SURFACE SYSTEM QUIZ
1. What is the normal voltage on the pressure transducer line?
2. What is the normal range of currents on the pressure transducer line?
3. How many turns on the depth sensor wheel will be required to display an additional 9 feet?
4. What is the normal voltage supplied to the pump position sensor?
5. What is the normal range of currents on the pump position line?
6. The computer screen does not show the correct strokes per minute, what do you suspect is the
problem?
7. What safety precaution would you take before installing or removing a pressure transducer?
8. What safety precautions would you observe while installing the pump position sensor?
9. If your laptop is reading zero psi with the pumps running, what actions would you take?
10. What is the normal voltage supplied to the depth-tracking sensor?
11. Convert the following, 1536 psi on a 5,000 psi transducer to mA, and 9.33 mA. to psi using a
3,000 psi transducer.
12. What is the normal voltage supplied to the rig floor display?

Revision Nov. 2000

DETECTION DECODING CHAPTER 5
CONTENTS
CONTENT
CONTENTS
S ...........
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........ 48
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BASICS ..........................
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..... 49
CHARACTERISTI
HARACTERISTICS CS OF A SIGNAL ..........
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TIME DOMAIN AND FREQUENCY DOMAIN .......... .....................
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FOURIER ’S EXPANSION...........
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FILTERS ...........
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TIME CONSTANTS ..........
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MUD PULSE ENCODIN
ENCODING
G SCHEME...........................
SCHEME.............. ..........................
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SURVEY DATA ..........
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MAIN SYNC ..........
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SUB SYNC ...........
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DATA FORMATS ...........
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UPDATE TIMES ...........
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DETECTION DECODING...........
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PUMP SUBTRACTION ..........
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CORRELATION DETECTOR ...........
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SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO............
RATIO ..........................
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SIGNAL STRENGTH ...........
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NOISE STRENGTH ...........
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DETECTION
DETECTION DECODING QUIZ...............
QUIZ.. ...........................
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Confidential
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BASICS
Characteristics of a signal
A signal is any physical parameter that changes with time. The real world is full of many
differentand
signals, kinds of signals.signals.
mechanical There
signal are electrical
s. The signals,
beat of one’s heartradio signals,
produces press
pressure
ignalure
a ssignal signals,
which thermal
doctors
measure and call the pulse.
pulse. Speaking into a telephone creates acoustic and electri
electrical
cal signals that
carry sound from one telephone to another
another through miles of connected wi wires.
res. The pulsing of the
mud pulse valve produces a signal by creating changes in the standpipe pressure.
The rate and magnitude of the changes in the physical parameter give the signal its
characteristics. Two main categories
categories of signals
signals exist:
exist: periodic signals and aperiodic signals.
signals. A
periodic signal is a signal that repeats itself
itself regularly and exactly over a specific interval of time.
A sine wave, as shown below, is is the simplest example
example of a periodic signal. Another periodic
signal is a square
square wave. The square pulses in the the sync sequence of a mud pulse mes
message
sage are
periodic signals. An aperiodic signal, however, is a totally random non-repeating signal. A truly
aperiodic signal will never repeat itself.
Square Wave
Sine Wave
Period Period
As mentioned, periodic signals

signals repeat regularly at determi
determinable
nable intervals. The time duration for
a signal to complete a full repetition or cycle of an up pulse and down pulse (or a down and up
pulse) is called its period.
period. The measure of how many cycles occur in a specific block of time is
its frequency. Frequency is expressed mathematically
mathematically in units of cycles
cycles per second or Hertz and
is equivalent to the inverse of the signal’s period.
Frequency (Hertz) = # of cycles / time (seconds)

Frequency (Hertz) = 1 /
1 / period
period of the signal (time to complete one cycle)
A signal’s amplitude
amplitude describes the strengt
strength
h or energy within a signal. The amplitude of a mud
pulse signal is the height of the pressure pulse.
Periodic signals are

are often described in terms
terms of their amplitude and frequency.
frequency. A standard wall
outlet in the U.S. provides a periodic A.C. voltage signal that has a frequency of 60 Hz and
amplitude of 120 Volts. In the UK the outlet signal
signal is 240 Volt periodic
periodic signal at 50 Hz.
Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 5 – Detection Decoding Page 49

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This figure shows a sine wave with a period of 5 seconds and a frequency of 0.2 Hertz.
Time Domain
e
d
u
t
i
l
p
m
A
Period T = 5 seconds
Frequency = 1/T = 1/5 = 0.2 Hz

Pulse width is the time for one half of a signal’s period.

period. The period is the total time for the full
up and down pulse. There are two pulse wi widths
dths currently in use
use by the Mud Pulse MWD tool tool,,
0.8 and 1.0 seconds.

To calculate the frequency of these pulse widths use the following equation:
Frequency = 1/pulse width x 2
For example, for 0.8 pulse widths,
Frequency = 1/0.8 x 2 = 0.625
For a 1 second pulse width, the frequency is 0.5 Hz
Time Domain and Frequency Domain
Recall that any physical parameter

parameter that changes produces a signal. This signal can be expressed
graphically in either the time domain or the frequency domain.
In the time domain a signal is drawn as a change in the amplitude of the physical parameter
versus time. This is the domain used to draw the pulse data on the Mfilt screen.
In the frequency domain a signal is portrayed as a change in energy versus frequency where the
graph produced is referred
referred to as a Power Spectral Densit
Density y (PSD) plot. The frequency domain is
simply a different perspective to view the characteristics
characteristics of a signal. All the information found
in the time domain also exists in a frequency domain representation, only the way we view it has
changed.

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The diagram below shows a sine wave with a period of five seconds and a frequency of 0.2 Hertz
in both the time and the frequency domains.
Time Domain
e
d y
u
t g
r
i
l
p e
n
m E
A
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 Frequency

(Hz)
Period T = 5 seconds
Frequency = 1/T = 1/5 = 0.2 Hz

To understand the importance of analyzing signals in both the time and the frequency domains,
let us first consider
consider a relationship established
established by Fourier over one hundred years ago. Fourier
proved that any signal that exists in nature can be uniquely expressed as the sum of sine (and/or
cosine) waves of different frequencies and amplitudes.
Simply put, this concept means that any signal, no matter how random, can be created by adding
specific sinusoidal signals together and conversely, that same signal can be broken down and
represented as the sum of its sinusoidal parts.
parts. This allows us to take a signal, like the standpipe
pressure signal, and break it down by frequency into its individual components for analysis.
For instance, the total change in pressure observed in the standpipe has many different sources.
The mud pulse valve, the mud pumps, the drillpipe rotation, and bit torque all produce vibrations
that combine to create the total standpipe pressure signal transmitted to the decoder. This raw
data signal is sorted in the frequency domain into its different components.
Then the decoder isolates the part of the signal that contains the mud pulse data and discards the
rest.
This chart is a time

time domain plot of the raw signal.
signal. The time domain plot demonstrates
demonstrates the
amplitude and shape of the signal.
signal. What you can not see is the various
various frequencies that form the
signal.

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The next chart, however, is the same standpipe pressure signal shown in the frequency domain.
This figure shows the frequencies from 0.1Hz to 10Hz that form the signal, as well as, the energy
contained in each frequency.

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Fourier’s Expansion
To help understand Fourier’s theorem, that any signal can be expressed as the sum of a series of
sine (and/or cosine) waves, let

let us take the example of a square
square wave signal. Fourier states that a
square wave of a known frequency, say 0.2 Hz, can be created by summing together sine waves
in the following expansion series.
0.2Hz square wave = sin(0.2kt) + 1/3 sin(3x0.2kt) + 1/5 sin(5x0.2kt) + 1/7 sin(7x0.2kt) + ...
where:
k = 2ð
t = time
All periodic waveforms consist of a fundamental frequency and its harmonically related
components. The expansion above starts with
with a sine wave that has the sam
samee frequency as the
square wave. This frequency is the lowest and strongest
strongest frequency component in the signal and
it is called the fundamental frequency. Added to the fundamental are successively
successively higher
frequency sine waves that are odd integral
integral multiples of tthe
he fundamental frequency. These sine
waves at the odd integral multiples are termed the odd harmonics of the signal.
The next diagram illustrates the step by step addition of the components in the Fourier expansion
of a square wave. As each higher harmonic is added, note that the shape of the ssignal
ignal is brought
closer and closer to a square wave.

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If the expansion were continued to infinity, the shape of the signal would approach a perfect
square wave.
The next diagram illustrates

illustrates an ideal square wave in
in the time and frequency domains
domains.. Note that
the number of harmonic frequencies that form the square wave continue into infinity.
Time Domain
e
d y
u
t g
r
i
l
p
m e
n
E
A
1 3 5 Frequency
T T T (Hz)
Period T
Frequency = 1/T

The decoder isolates the frequencies that are part of the mud pulse by invoking one or more
filters.

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Filters
Filters are signal processing tools that are designed in the frequency domain and work in the time
domain, filters isolate and act on a specific range of frequencies within a signal by applying a
varying gain to all the frequencies
frequencies of a signal. The gain applied may be either great
greater
er or less
than one depending on the filter’s
filter’s function and design. A gain greater than one is referred to as
amplification whereas a gain less than one is called
called attenuation. Applying a gain of one or
greater than one to some frequencies in a signal results in those frequencies being passed (saved)
by the filter. Applying a gain of less than one to the remainder of the frequencies in the same
signal results in those frequencies being
being rejected by the filter. The signal that remains after the
filter is the sum of all the frequencies that have been passed.
The following text lists several categories of filters and a general description of their function.
The filters are described graphically by plotting the gain they apply verses frequency.
Lowpass Filter
A lowpass filter passes the lower frequencies within a signal while rejecting the higher
frequencies. The filter usually achieves this
this by attenuating the higher frequenci
frequencies.
es.
e Signals rejected

z
i
Signals passed
S
l
a
n
g
i
S
Low Pass Filter
Low High
Frequency

Highpass Filter
A highpass filter passes the higher frequencies within a signal while rejecting the lower
frequencies. The filter usually achieves
achieves this by attenuating the lower ffrequencies.
requencies.

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e Signals rejected Signals passed

z
i
S
l
a
n
g
i
S
High Pass Filter
Low High
Frequency

Bandpass Filter
A bandpass filter passes a specific range or band of frequencies within the signal while rejecting
the frequencies within the
the signal that arc outside tthe
he band. The filter usually achieves this goal
by attenuating the frequencies outside the band. This passed band of frequencies is called the
passband.
e
z
i Signals rejected Signals passed Signals rejected
S
l
a
n
g
i
S
Band Pass Filter
Low High
Frequency

Notch filters
Notch filters isolate

isolate a much narrower band or notch of frequencies within the signal. They then
act by either amplifying or attenuating the frequency within the notch.

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Time Constants
A Time Constant (TC) is defined as the time it takes for any system to reach about 60% of its
final steady state value.
If an input to a system, is a square wave, then the rise and fall characteristics of the output will be
determined by the time constant of the filter. For this example, the time constant of the system is
1.0 second.
Input
110
100
90
80
e 70
r
u 60
s
s 50
e
r
P 40
30
20
10
0
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1
100
Time

The shape of the system output to the rising edge will look like,
Rising
110
100
90
80
e
r 70
u 60
s
s 50
e
r
P 40
30
20
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Time constant Time
and the shape of the falling output will look like:

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Falling
110
100
90
80
e 70
r
u 60
s
s 50
e
r
P 40
30
20
10
0
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Time constant Time
The time constant for this particular system

system is 1.0 second. It takes 1 second for the output to rise
to 63% of its final value, and 1 second to drop from 100 psi to 37 psi (a 63% drop).
The drawing below shows the effect of increasing the time constants.
Increaing time
constant
The diagram below shows the response of a system with a slow time constant, to a narrow square
input pulse. The output signal never reaches
reaches the height of the input signal.
signal.

Revision Nov. 2000
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Confidential
This shows two important factors to remember:
1. Systems or filters
filters with
with longer time constants
constants give smaller
smaller pulses because
because it takes longer
longer for
pressure transitions to reach steady state.
2. The faster the data rate the smaller the
the pulse height.
height. This is because it is time constant
dependent and at faster data rates, the pressure has less time to reach steady state value.

Revision Nov. 2000
Confidential
MUD PULSE ENCODING SCHEME
The tool typically transmits the following data sequences:
Directional Only Directional Gamma

Tool Face (Auto, HS or M) Tool Face (Auto, HS or M)
Main Sync Main Sync
Survey Sub Sync Survey Sub Sync
Survey Data Survey Data
Main Sync Main Sync
Sub Sync Gamma
Tool Face Tool Face 9 Word

sequence
Tool Face Gamma
Tool Face 8 Word Tool Face

sequence
Tool Face Gamma
Tool Face Tool Face
Tool Face Gamma
Tool Face
Periodic Messages
(Time Starts @ Beginning of Survey)
VIB Inc. /Az.
Main Sync Main Sync
STAT sub sync Inc./Az. Sub Sync
Tool Status Data
Data
Data
The transmission system is very flexible and many of the transmitted items can be customized.
The sequences shown above represent defaults in use at the time of writing.
All transmissions (words) are 14 pulse widths long.

Revision Nov. 2000
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Survey Data
The survey takes 12 transmissions

transmissions (words) the format is shown below.
below. Inclination and azimuth
require two words each because greater accuracy is required for these values.
12 words
Main sync
Sur sync
Word 1
Word 2 Word 3
Word 4
Word 5
Word 6

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
INC (11 bits) bits)

Azimuth (12 bits) Tool Face BATV GTotal
12 words

Word 7
Word 8
Word 9
Word 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
DIP HTotal Temp I H V Checkson
The status bits are defined as:

I = Tool Face Mode 0 is HS, 1 is MTF
H = H-Total beyond limit
V = Vibration beyond limit.
Main Sync
The main sync fulfills two functions, to keep track of
o f the start of a transmission and also to
impart information
information as to what type of tool faces will follow. So there are two types of main
sync, a high side sync and a magnetic tool face sync.
The two main sync patterns are:
HTF
3 2 1
3 4 1
MTF 3 2 1.5
4 2 1.5
Sub Sync
A sub sync is primarily used to tell the surface
surface system what type(s) of data will follow. There
are 8 different sub syncs:
GYSUR - for Gyro Survey

MSUR - for Magnetic Survey
Inc./Az. - for Inclination and Azimuth with pumps on.

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GYTF_Gamma – for Gyro Tool Face with Gamma
GYTF - for Gyro
Gyro Tool Face
MTF - for Magnetic Tool Face
HTF - for High Side Tool Face
HTF_GAMMA - for Gamma
MTF_GAMMA - for Gamma combined combined with vibration
vibration
VIBS - for vibration data, average and maximum
ERR - for error messages
HTOT is a special sync for a magnetic ranging product.
GAMMA - for Gamma only
RANGE - for Ranging
Data Formats
128 unique patterns of pulses are available for each data word tr
transmission.
ansmission. Each of these
patterns represents a number for the data value being transmitted.
These 128 patterns have been carefully chosen for maximum probability of successful decoding.
One rule adopted in picking the patterns was that the off time after a pulse must be at least as
long as the on-time of the
the pulse. This reduces the chances of pulses
pulses running into each other, and
disturbing the clock tracking routines.
The tool can transmit eleven different

different data items.
items. These are shown below along with tthe
he range
of values.
Measurement Range Units

Inclination 0 – 180 Degrees
Azimuth 0 – 360 Degrees
Tool Face (in survey) 0 – 360 Degrees
Tool Face 0 – 360 Degrees
Gamma Raw 0 – 64 Counts
H-Total 30k – 70,000 nanoTeslas
Temperature* 0 - 175 Degrees C
Battery Voltage 17 - 21 Volts
Peak Vibration 0 - 20 g
The table below shows the number of words (14 pulse widths each) and the number of bits used
to transmit each data item.

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Data Item Words Bits

Inclination 2 11
Azimuth 2 12
Tool Face (in survey) 1 8
Tool Face 1 7
Gamma 1 7
H-Total 1 9
Temperature 1 5
Battery Voltage 1 3
Peak Vibration 1 7
The transmitted resolution for each measurement can be calculated by
#bits
Resolution = Range ÷ 2
For example, the resolution for normal tool face is

7
=360/2 = 360/128 = 2.81
The transmitted resolution for all the measurements is shown below.
Transmitted EYE
Measurement Range Units Bits Resolution Accuracy
Inclination 0 - 180 Degrees 11 0.09 ± 0.15
Azimuth 0 - 360 Degrees 12 0.088 ± 0.25
Tool Face (survey) 0 - 360 Degrees 8 1.4 ± 0.15
Tool Face 0 - 360 Degrees 7 2.81 ± 0.15
Gamma 0 - 64 Counts 7 .5
H-Total 30k – 70,000 nanoTeslas 9 78
Temperature* 0 - 175 Degrees C 5 0.996
Battery Voltage 17 - 21 Volts 3 .5v
Peak Vibration 0 - 20 g 7 156mg
DIP -90 – 90 Degrees 10 .18
G-Total 984 – 1016 Mg 5 1mg

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Update Times
The data update times are easy

easy to calculate. Since tool face data are one word
word long, and one
word is 14 pulse
pulse widths, the
the update rate for ½second pulses is 14 x 0.5 = 7 seconds. For 1
second pulse widths, the update rate is 14 seconds.
The transmission time for a survey is 8 words x 14 pulse widths.

widths. For ½second
½second pulse widths this
results in 56 seconds, for 1 second pulse widths, a transmission time of 1 minute 52 seconds.
Measurement Pulse Width 0.76 Pulse Width 1.0

Survey 2 min 7 sec 2 min 48 sec
Tool Face 10.6 sec 14 sec
Tool Face with Gamma 21.3 sec 28 sec
Gamma 21.3 sec 28 sec

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Detection Decoding
This diagram provides an overview of the signal detection and decoding process.
Detector Decoder Principle

Detector Decoder Principle
Raw A/D Input
Remove DC
component
Pump
Subtraction
Low pass
Filter
Sync
Detector
Matched Filter
Match Patterns
Data
Decode

Digital pressure data is provided by the MSI to the decoding program called Mfilt.
Mfilt. The first step
is to remove the high background pressure.
pressure. A pump subtraction routine removes
removes the signals
caused by the mud pumps. A low pass filter
filter is then used to remove
remove the remaining high

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frequency noise from the signal.
signal. Finally a matched filter
filter,, or correlation filter,
filter, performs the main
main
task of identifying pulses and decoding the data.
Pump Subtraction
The pump subtraction routine runs

runs at two different rates. The downhole tool does not transmit
transmit
any pulses for the first
first 60 seconds after
after the pumps have been turned on. This provides an
opportunity for the surface system to measure the signature of the pumps without the
complication of having pulses present.
The user can make three adjustments to the pump subtraction routine; the low and upper bound
pump periods and the graph adaptation time constant. The pump periods give the software an
initial guess as to the periods of the pump noise. The two numbers should be kept to a ratio of
four. For example, if the low bound is set to
to 0.3, the upper bound should be set to 1.2. Setting
the upper bound pump period to zero effectively turns off pump subtraction.
Sometimes the pump subtraction can do more harm than good, especially with a pump that has
poor speed control. The graph adaptation time constant is the update time for the pump
subtraction routine after
after the tool has started
started pulsing. The long default of 70 seconds is usually
sufficient to allow for slowly changing pump characteristics.
Correlation Detector
The next stage is the correlation

correlation or matched filter det
detector.
ector. Correlation detection is similar to
decoding by eye, and is accomplished by matching the pulse shapes received, with the ideal
shapes for the 128 patterns
patterns of ones and zeros,
zeros, and determining a best fit. The correlation
detector displays a measure of how close a fit it has found and shows it as a percentage.
The program automatically adjusts

adjusts three set points after detection has started.
started. They are the lower
and upper bound pulse time constants and the RMS amplitude. The default values will will suffice
for most jobs running at 1 second pulse widths.

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Detector Decoder Settings

Raw A/D Input
Remove DC
Mean Cancellation TC = 4.00
component
Lower Bound Pump Period = 0.3

Pump Upper Bound Pump Period = 2.5
Subtraction
Graph Adaptation TC = 70
Low pass Freq (rel.corner) = 1.00

Filter Damping Ratio = 1.00
TC 4 Activation Calc. = 2.0
Lower Bound TC = 0.500
Upper Bound TC = 1.500

Matched Downslope Time = 0.100
Filter
Time for Upslope = 0.050
Expected Sync ID (0=None) = 0
Amplitude (RMS) = 5.000

Data
Fraction Rand/Rand+Sys = 0.500
Decode
Base RMS Noise/Signal = 0.80
TC Signal Loss = 10.0
Delay to Comm Start = 4
Lower TC Lock 2 Synch = 1.0

The Mfilt quick guide shows the values that all of the parameters should be set to at the start of a
run.

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Mfilt Quick Guide

1. Pulses
Program automatically changes this value, start job at 1/2 pulse width Lower Bound TC = 0.500
Program automatically changes this value, start job with 1-1/2 pulse width Upper Bound TC = 1.500
Not for wellsite use Downslope Time = 0.100
Not for wellsite use Time for Upslope = 0.050
2. Noise Filter
Low pass filter settings Adjust to remove noise,

noise, start at 1.00 Freq (rel.corner) = 1.00
relative to pulse width Leave at 1.00 Damping Ratio = 1.00
Removes the changes in baseline pump pressure Mean Cancellation TC = 4.00
Lower Bound Pump Period = 0.3

Pump subtraction
Set to 0.0 if not installed Upper Bound Pump Period = 2.5
Set high enough to allow pump(s) to stabilize, lower when shallow testing Activation Amplitude = 500.0
Low pass filter TC determines if pressure high sufficient for pulsing, leave at 2.0 TC 4 Activation Calc. = 2.0
Pump signature update time, leave at 70 seconds Graph Adaptation TC = 70
For removing pulse echoes, set to -100 to disable, call office if echoes Value to Clip to (PSI) = -300
3. Calculations
Enter Offset Toolface between pulser and EYE Offset for Toolface = 000.00
Enter longitude, East is negative (North America) E.Longitude = 200.00

Enter latitude, North of equator is positive (North America) Latitude = -123.0
Enter altitude in feet above sea level Altitude (ft) = 34.0
Leave as is Interference along Axis = 1000
Leave as is Cross-axis Interference = 100

Terms used for
Leave as is Horiz Fld. Uncertainty = 100
azimuth correction
Leave as is Vert Fld. Uncertainty = 100
Leave as is Total Fld. Uncertainty = 100

For 6.5” collars, use 6.33 Gamma Scale Factor = 1.00
Enter value shown on well plan chart (positive for most of North America) Mag field Declination = XX.X
4. Sync/Decode
Change only if sync problems (20004 for HTF, 20006 for MTF) Expected Sync ID (0=None) = 0
Program automatically changes this value, start at 5 Amplitude (RMS) = 5.000
Not for wellsite use Fraction Rand/Rand+Sys = 0.500

Start at 0.8, increase if sync problems to 1.2max, decrease if false syncs Base RMS Noise/Signal = 0.80
Time program waits before declaring signal lost, and stops looking for pulses? TC Signal Loss = 10.0
Time after program starts before searching for sync, leave at 4 Delay to Comm Start = 4
Time program waits before declaring best pattern match, set to 1 - 1.5 pw Lower TC Lock 2 Synch = 1.0
5. Initialization
Reads all values from file filter1m.ini Load
Stores all values into file filter1m.ini Write

M.M.
Loads all values from file filter1m.ini Defaults 1/20/00

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SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO
For successful MWD data decoding, we want to maximize our signal to noise ratio.
Signal to noise ratio = Signal strength

Noise strength
Signal Strength
The MWD signal strength

strength is the pulse height of the signal measured at tthe
he standpipe. Two
factors, the initial size of the pulse at the transmitter and the damping (reduction) the pulses
suffer along its path,
path, determine the pulse height seen at the transducer. Therefore to improve the
pulse height, you must either increase the initial pulse size at the pulser, or reduce the amount of
dampening, or both.
Signal Strength at the Pulser

The pulse height in the SDI
SDI tool is self-regulating
self-regulating and keeps a fixed pulse height.
height. Therefore,
nothing needs to be done by the field hand to increase the pulse height.
Damping Factors
Another way to increase the pulse height is to reduce the influence of the damping factors that
act upon the signal. The damping factors are any phys
physical
ical parameters that rob energy from all or
part of the signal. The first step in reducing these influences is tto
o identify them. You must be
aware of the sources of signal damping and alert for any adjustments that might be made to
improve decoding. Depth, mud weight, viscosity, pulsation
pulsation dampeners, flow rest
restrictors,
rictors, mud
motors, and mud aeration are all sources that can steal energy from our signal.
Frequency
The smaller the pulse width
width (faster tool frequency),
frequency), the smaller the pulse height.
height. In marginal
decoding conditions, the largest pulse width will produce the best decoding.
Depth
Obviously the longer the path the signal
signal must travel, tthe
he more energy it will lose.
lose. However this
influence by itself it has less effect on the signal than one might expect.
Valve Obstruction
Self-explanatory, use of pipe screens can reduce the occurrence.
Air in Mud
Gas or air in the mud will
will severely attenuate our pulses. This can occur when the pre-charger on
the pump fails and there is not enough hydrostatic head on the suction side of the mud pump.

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Gas or air in the mud can be recognized by a severe unexplained reduction of the pulse height
with the high frequency (narrow pulse width) pulses smaller than the low frequency (wide pulse
width) pulses.
During the initial Sync pattern, it is possible to determine if some form of damping is acting
upon the signal. Look for reduced pulse height in in the narrow pulses compar
compared
ed to the wide pulse
widths.
Pulsation Dampeners
The mud pumps create a surging flow rate that rises and falls periodically with the action of their
pistons. The standpipe pressure sees this rise
rise and fall in the flow rate as a sinusoidal change in
pressure at either the stroke frequency and the piston frequency (number of pistons X the stroke
rate). To smooth out and to reduce the pressure
pressure fluctuations, pulsat
pulsation
ion dampeners (also called
accumulators or desurgers) are attached
attached to the discharge side of the mud pumps. Their purpose
is to reduce the mechanical vibrations and fatigue failures of the pump components such as
valves, fluid cylinders, pipe and fittings.
The dampers consist of large metal spheres attached directly to the discharge line of the mud
pumps. In the upper portion of the sphere, there is a flexible bladder, which is filled
filled with
nitrogen at a set pressure.
pressure. This bladder is exposed to
to the lower portion of the dampener to the
surging flow and it works to absorb and stabilize the
the changing flow and pressure. It functions
much like a pressure shock absorber or capacitor as it attempts to damp out any sudden changes
in flow rate or pressure.

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The main
created byproblem
MWD toolsthat the pulsation
in the dampener
same manner creates
as pump for us is
pressure that it treats
changes the pressure
i.e. it smoothes pulse
them out.
Often the amount of energy taken by the pulsation dampener is not significant enough to cause
decoding problems. However, when small pulse height is already a problem, it iiss important to
properly set the pre-charge on the pulsation dampener. Under marginal decoding conditions,
success of the job can hinge on a properly adjusted pulsation dampener.
Rule of thumb: The pulsation dampener pre-charge should be set to 1/4 to 1/3 of the standpipe
pressure e.g. with a standpipe pressure of 3,000 psi, the dampeners should be charged to
between 750 and 1,000 psi.
Two dampeners act as very efficient pulse dampeners, especially if only one pump is in use and
the other pump, with its dampener, is not isolated.
If only one pump is being used, always isolate the other pump.
Suction Pulsation Stabilizers
Without suction stabilization,

stabilization, pumps cannot function smoothly or efficiently.
efficiently. In extreme
decoding problems, it is worth having the rig crew check the operation of the suction stabilizers,
especially on rigs where there is little drop down from the mud pits to the pumps.
Pressure Transducer
The position of the transducer in the flow system can be significant in low signal to noise
conditions. Try to position
position the transducer as close to the
the main flow as possible. Avoid being at
the end of a side pipe that has several valves and other transducers.
Always try to position

position the transducer horizontally.
horizontally. This is a compromise
compromise that reduces the chance
of mud cake building up, and reduces the
the chance of trapping air. Including a bleed valve in the
transducer assembly, and pre-packing with grease, are useful improvements.
Finally, try to reduce the number of 90-degree bends in the run to the transducer.

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Noise Strength
It is imperative
imperative that the field hand knows the frequency
frequency that tool is operating.
operating. The frequency of
other noise sources, only become significant when they become close to the tool frequency.
Pulse Width Tool Frequency

(secs) (Hz)
0.8 0.625
1.0 0.5
Pump Noise
Normally with a mud pump in good condition two signals will exist in the standpipe due to the
mud pumps. The first and weaker signal will be at the overall stroke rate or drive
drive rate of the
pump. The second, and stronger signal, will be at the piston frequency. For example a single
acting triplex pump at 55 spm, will create a signal at
55 spm X 3 pistons per stroke/ 60 seconds = 2.75 Hz

Most of the time, these frequencies are well above the tool frequency, and are removed by the
low pass filter.
Many problems with a pump can cause problems such as bad valves, unbalanced chambers,
malfunctioning prechargers,
prechargers, cavitation, and seal failures.
failures. An alert MWD hand can often spot a
problem developing well before the motorman notices. Having hard copies of pump noise
signatures before and after a problem develops can really help to convince a toolpusher to have
someone check out a suspect pump.
If two pumps are being used at different stroke rates, it is possible to create a beat frequency.
This occurs at a frequency that
that is the difference between
between the stroke rates of the two pumps. If
two triplex pumps are operating at 60 spm and 50 spm, a low frequency beat signal might be
seen at either of the following frequencies:
(50 spm - 60 spm)/60 secs = 0.167 Hz or

(50 spm - 60 spm) X 3 pistons/60 secs = 0.5 Hz
The tables below show a selection of possible pump frequencies.

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 5 Detection Decoding Page 72
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Single Triplex Pump
SPM Frequency Piston Frequency

(Hz) (Hz)
20 0.33 1
30 0.50 1.5
40 0.67 2
50 0.83 2.5
60 1.00 3
70 1.17 3.5
80 1.33 4
90 1.50 4.5
100 1.67 5
110 1.83 5.5
120 2.00 6
Two Triplex Pumps
Delta SPM Frequency Piston Frequency

(Hz) (Hz)
2 0.03 0.1
3 0.05 0.15
4 0.07 0.2
5 0.08 0.25
10 0.17 0.5
15 0.25 0.75
20 0.33 1
25 0.42 1.25
30 0.50 1.5
Torque Noise
The easiest way to identify torque noise is to look for noise that disappears as soon as drillpipe
rotation stops. Toque noise can exist
exist on or off
off bottom depending upon the source. If the cutting
cutting
action of the bit is the main source of torque, then it should disappear as the bit is pulled off
bottom even before rotation is stopped. However, if the stabilizer configurati
configuration
on is supplying
significant torque then the interference will not disappear until rotation is stopped, regardless of
bit location.
Torque noise is formation

formation related. Harder rock formations,
formations, high angles, PDC bits, and packed
assemblies all increase
increase the chances of suffering from
from torque noise. The frequency is often
between 0.1 to 0.3 Hz.
What can be done? The first attempt is to try

try to filter it out with a high pass filter
filter,, being careful
not to filter out the pulses. The next step is to try to alter the drilling paramet
parameters
ers to move the
frequency away from the MWD MWD signals, or to reduce
reduce the level of the torque noise.
noise. Changes in
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WOB and rpm will have the biggest
biggest effect. Try decreasing the WOB and and increasing the rpm.
Another possibility is to reprogram the tool to a faster data rate in order to move away from the
noise frequency. If none of these changes work,
work, then the only remedy is to perpersuade
suade the
company man to change the BHA; rock bit instead of PDC, undergauge stabilizers, etc.
Mud Motor Noise

The frequency of the mud motor noise can be determined if three properties of the motor are
known.
1. The number of lobes

2. The rpm for each gpm
3. The minimum on flow rate
Frequency = (Flow rate – min flow on) X rpm/gpm X # of lobes

60
Usually mud motor noise is much higher than the tool frequency and can be ignored.
Stalling of the mud motor will cause a loss of sync. The motor stalls when the resistance
resistance to
rotation exerted by the formation on the bit is greater than the maximum torque the motor can
produce. When this occurs, the standpipe pressure increases suddenly as the rotor in the motor
stalls and the mud flow forces a breakdown in the rotor to stator seal in the motor.
motor. Drilling with
too much WOB causes motor stalls because the resistance to the bit increases with an increase in
WOB. Drilling with a constant
constant differential pressure
pressure will give the best decoding conditions.
In addition to actually stalling,

stalling, poor drilling practices
practices can cause decoding problems. If the driller
fails to keep a relatively constant WOB, abrupt changes in the standpipe pressure will be seen.
The driller needs to avoid the practice of slacking off on the pipe and allowing the motor to drill
off the weight. If there is an automatic driller on the rig, then try to persuade them to use it, iif,
f,
and only if, it has been adjusted
adjusted correctly. The automatic driller
driller usually makes very small
small
changes on the brake, which allows the decoding software to maintain sync.
Swab/Surge
Swab and surge effects are sudden changes in the standpipe pressure that occur when the pipe is
abruptly worked up and down. Moving the pipe suddenly will caus causee a sharp increase in press
pressure
ure
and abruptly lifting the pipe will cause a sharp drop in pressure. If there is an automatic driller
on the rig, then try to persuade them to use it, if, and only if, it has been adjusted correctly. The
automatic driller usually makes very small changes on the brake, which allows the decoding
software to maintain sync.
Electrical Noise
This occurs due to pick up from
from cables adjacent to the standpi
standpipe
pe cable. SDI uses shielded cables,
cables,
so this should not be a problem.
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DETECTION DECODING QUIZ
1. What is the frequency when using a pulse width of 0.8 seconds?
2. Gas or air in the mud severely reduces our signal. Will the effect of air in the mud be greater
or smaller on the wider pulses than the normal pulses (e.g. the 3 pulse width pulses of the main
sync)?
3. What is the recommended pulsation dampener charge?
4. What are the frequencies of the pump noise for two tri
triplex
plex pumps operating at 60 sspm?
pm? What
would be the beat frequency if one pump were slowed to 40 spm?
5. When is it important to bleed the pressure transducer?
6. What setting on Mfilt would you change to turn off pump subtraction?
7. What is the update rate for tool face when also transmitting gamma ray?
8. How long after the pumps are started does it take to obtain a survey?
9. On the Mfilt screen, what does the correlation number mean?
10. You are having trouble detecting data and the directional driller is getting impatient with the
loss of tool
tool faces. You are on 0.5 second pulse widths.
widths. What can you do to improve tthe he
situation?
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TALKDOWN SCHEME CHAPTER 6
CONTENTS
CONTENT
CONTENTS
S ......................
.................................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
...................
........ 76
OVERVIEW....................... ............. ............. .............. ............. ............. ............. ............. .............. ............. ......... 77
TALKDOWN MESSAGES...............
MESSAGES............... .............. ............. ............. ............. ............. .............. ............. ............. ....... 77
USER DEFINED TALKDOWN

TALKDOWN MESSA
MESSAGES...................
GES................... .............. ............. ............. ............. ............. .............. 78
PULSE
PULSE WID
WIDTH
TH ......................
.................................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
.............
.. 79
INCLINATION
INCLINATION MESSAGE SWITCH
SWITCHING......
ING...... ............. ............. ............. .............. ............. ............. ............. ..... 80
TALKDOWN
TALKDOWN PATTERNS
PATTERNS ............. ............. .............. ............. ............. ............. ............. .............. ............. ......... 80
© 2000Scientific Drilling International

Confidential
OVERVIEW
Talkdown is the method by which transmission

transmission modes of the downhole tool can be remotely
modified from the surface.
Communication down to the tool is accomplished by the flow accelerometer and the MWD
controller. The controller constantly looks for specific patterns
patterns of on and off times measured
measured by
the accelerometer. When a match is found, the tool sswitches
witches to a different
different mode of operation.
TALKDOWN MESSAGES
There are several mode options, currently

currently 10 different ones
ones.. What these modes do is gover
governed
ned
by a “talkdown table”. Two of these modes are fixed, while the remaining eight can be
configured by the operator before
before running the tool downhole. The modes are referred tto
o as
“talkdown messages”.
A talkdown table is a simple text file that can be viewed and changed by any text editor.
This extract from the talkdown table lists the 10 different messages.
[**************************************************************************]
[ POPPET Talkdown Table Created 01/06/00 12:30:12 ]
[**************************************************************************]
[ Talkdown Message Structure ]
[ ======================================================================== ]
[ TDMess1 - Survey then Auto Tool Face (System Defined) ]
[ TDMess2 - Toggle Pulse Width (System Defined) ]
[ TDMess3 - User defined message 1 ]
[ TDMess10- User defined message 8 ]
[--------------------------------------------------------------------------]
Talkdown Messages 1 and 2 are the hard coded ones.
Message 1 sets the tool to transmit a survey on pressure up, and then continuous tool faces that
automatically switch from magnetic to highside depending upon the inclination taken during the
survey. In addition, every
every 15 minutes, a tool status sequence will be transmitted up. The tool
status sequence is H-Total, battery voltage and the tool temperature.
Message 2 sets the data

data rate of the tool by changing tthe
he pulse width from high to low. The actual
values for the pulse width can be changed, but only by creating a new talkdown table and storing
it in both the downhole tool and the
the surface equipment. At the time of writing,
writing, the two default
pulse widths are set to 0.8 and 1.0 seconds.
Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 6 – Talkdown Scheme Page 77
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USER DEFINED TALKDOWN MESSAGES
The User Defined messages must be configured by creating a new ttalkdown

alkdown table. This extract
shows the format for creating your own user messages.
[ ======================================================================== ]
[ User Message Definition Area ]
[ ]
[ Definitions: <Msg> = <MsgType>[-<MsgType>...] ]
[ ]
[ Message Format: <Msg>[,<time>][;]<Msg>[;]<Msg>[,<delay>,...]
<Msg>[,<time>][;]<Msg>[; ]<Msg>[,<delay>,...] ]
[ \____________/ \___/ \_________________/ ]
[ | | | ]
[ Sent Once Sent Continuously Sent Periodically ]
[ ]
[ Where: <time> = Time to wait in minutes before sending Msg again, ]
[ even if the pumps cycle before <time> has elapsed. ]
[ <delay> = Delay in minutes for periodic message ]
[ ; = Mmessage section separator ]
[ <MsgType> = Defined in table below... ]
[ ]
[ ============================== <MsgType> =============================== ]
[ AutoTF - Gamma
Gam Auto Toolface
Counts MSur - H-Total
HTOT MagneticMessage
Survey ]
[ HsTF - Highside Toolface IncAz - Inclination and Azimuth ]
[ MTF - Magnetic Toolface Vib - Vibration ]
[ GyroTF - Gyro Tool GySur - Gyro Survey ]
[ GMSur - Gyro-Magnetic Survey Range - Ranging Message ]
[ ======================================================================== ]
[ Example1: ]
[ TDMsg3 = MSur; HsTF-Gam; IncAz,15 ]
[ In this example, send the survey once each time pumps are cycled ]
[ followed by high-side tool-face continuously. Every 15 minutes send ]
[ the inclination and azimuth. ]
[ ]
[ Example2: ]
[ TDMsg3 = GySur,15; GyroTF-Gam; Vib,10 ]
[ Send the gyro survey once, but only if 15 minutes have passed since the ]
[ last gyro survey was sent. Then send both gyro tool-face and gamma ]
[ continuously. Send vibrations every 10 minutes. ]
[ ]
Another important example is = Msur; AutoTF-Gam; Vib,10
This will cause the tool to transmit auto tool faces and gamma data (standard resolution), along
with tool vibration data every 10 minutes.
It is prudent to test any talkdown messages you create, with a simulator box at the surface, before
ever running it downhole. Some messages just do not work, even though they obey all the rrules,
ules,
for example,
Msur; Gam; Vib,15
Sends up a sequence of one magnetic tool face and then a STOP sub synch.
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This is the area of the

the talkdown table where the user talkdown messages are changed. Note the
absence of square brackets in the lines that can be changed.
[**************************************************************************]
[ Message Definition ]
[ TDMsg1 = MSur; AutoTF;Vib,15 >>> REFERENCE ONLY, System Defined ]
[ TDMsg2 = (Pulse Width Toggle) >>> REFERENCE ONLY, System Defined ]
TDMsg3 = GSur; GyroTF-Gam; Vib,15
TDMsg4 = MSur; MTF-Gam;Vib,15
TDMsg5 = MSur; AutoTF;Vib,15
Occasionally the tool may be accidentally

accidentally switched to another tal
talkdown
kdown mode. This could
happen during tripping in the hole.
hole. If you are sure that you onl
only
y wish to transmit
transmit one particular
message sequence, then you should adjust the talkdown table so that all the user messages are the
same. This will reduce the
the odds of your having to perform
perform talkdowns to switch
switch to tool back to
the desired message format.
It is possible to
to disable talkdown completely. This is done in Mlink.
PULSE WIDTH
The pulse width section of the talkdown table is shown below:
[--------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[Pulse Width Settings for Toggle between Low and High (Seconds)]
PulseWidthLow = 0.80
PulseWidthHigh = 1.00
TDPulseWidth = 30
[--------------------------------------------------------------------------]
This is where the absolute

absolute pulse widths may be changed. If you do want to change th thee pulse
width, you have to pick a number that
that is divisible
divisible by 0.02. A pulse width of 0.75 will
will not work,
the nearest number that will work is 0.76.
In addition to the pulse widths concerning data rate, the window size for the patterns of on and
off times can also
also be changed. It is set to 30 seconds
seconds in the above example, and there
there must be a
good reason to have to change it.
Revision Nov. 2000
Confidential
INCLINATION MESSAGE SWITCHING
[ Inclination Message Switching ]

[ ======================================================================== ]
[ Inclination message switching allows the operator to switch between two ]
[ messages based on the current inclination. When the inclination of a ]
[ survey is above the GyroToMagIncl TDMsg3 will be sent. When below, ]
[ is
[ TDMsg4
seenwill be sent.
in either This
TDMsg3 orfeature
TDMsg4 is
(oronly enabled when a Gyro message
both). ]
]
[ ]
GyroToMagIncl = 10.00
TALKDOWN PATTERNS
The actual patterns for on and off times are hard coded and are also shown in the talkdown table:
[--------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[ _____________________________________________________
_________________________ _______________________________________
___________ ]
[ _______| Come up in Default Mode ]
[ ]
[
[ |_______
30sec | 30sec |_______
30sec | 30sec | 30sec | 30sec |_______
30sec | Msg 01 ] ]
[ _______| |_______| |_______________________| |________ ]
[ ]
[ _______ _______ _______ Msg 02 ]
[ _______| |_______| |_______________| |________________ ]
[ ]
[ _______ _______ _______________ Msg 03 ]
[ _______| |_______| |_______________| |________ ]
[ ]
[ _______ _______ _______ Msg 04 ]
[ _______| |_______| |_______| |________________________ ]
[ ]
[ _______ _______ _______________ Msg 05 ]
[ _______| |_______| |_______| |________________ ]
[ ]
[ _______ _______ _______________________ Msg 06 ]
[ _______| |_______| |_______| |________ ]
[ ]
[ _______ _______________ _______ Msg 07 ]
[ _______| |_______| |_______________| |________ ]
[ ]
[ _______ _______________ _______ Msg 08 ]
[ _______| |_______| |_______| |________________ ]
[ ]
[ _______ _______________ _______________ Msg 09 ]
[ _______| |_______| |_______| |________ ]
[ ]
[ _______ _______________________ _______ Msg 10 ]
[ _______| |_______| |_______| |________ ]
[ ]
Revision Nov. 2000
Confidential
For example, to change from user message 3 (or any other message), to the default message 1,
The pumps and the rotary table must be off for at least 30 seconds before starting the talkdown
cycles.
1. Turn on the
the pumps and/or rotate the drillstring for 30 seconds.
2. Turn off the pumps and/or stop
stop rotating for 30 seconds.
3. Turn on the pumps and/or
and/or rotate the drillstring
drillstring for 30 seconds.
4. Turn off the pumps and/or stop
stop rotating for 90 seconds.
5. Turn on the
the pumps and/or rotate the drillstring for 30 seconds.
6. Turn off the pumps and/or
and/or stop rotating for greater than 45 seconds.
7. Turn on the pumps and the first
first survey will
will be transmitted
transmitted in 60 seconds.
seconds.
Revision Nov. 2000
TROUBLESHOOTING CHAPTER 7
CONTENTS
CONTENT
CONTENTS
S ......................
.................................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
...................
........ 81
OVERVIEW....................... ............. ............. .............. ............. ............. ............. ............. .............. ............. ......... 82
TROUBLESHOOTING
TROUBLESHOOTING CABLES............... .............. ............. ............. ............. ............. .............. ............. ......... 83
FINDING AN OPEN CIRCUIT..........

.....................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
...................
........ 83
ISOLATION & CONTINUITY ..........
.....................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
...................
........ 83
TROUBLESHOOTING
TROUBLESHOOTING CHART ............ ............. ............. .............. ............. ............. ............. ............. .............. 85
© 2000Scientific Drilling International

Confidential
OVERVIEW
A major difference between an average MWD operator and a top hand, is in their ability to
troubleshoot problems quickly
quickly and efficiently. The two old adages “an ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure”, and “if it
it ain’t broke don’t ffix
ix it”, both apply to MWD systems. Do as
much testing and checking out of your tools and equipment as possible before running in the
hole. Check the mud
mud pumps and dampener settings,
settings, be firm on you transducer location. Keep a
good eye and ear on activities around the rig for any actions that may cause you a problem such
as mixing of mud additives, traffic
traffic around your cables, broken de-sander etc. However, once the
system is in the hole and working, do not fiddle with anything!
The first step in fault finding is to decide where to begin investigations.

investigations. Sometimes this is
obvious, but on other occasions, a little
little detective work wi
will
ll be necessary. The field operator who
makes a dozen haphazard adjustments or replacements may be successful in fixing a problem,
but he will be none the wiser if the problem recurs and he may well have spent more time and
money than was necessary.
necessary. A calm and logical approach is more satisfacto
satisfactory
ry in the long run.
run. A
good understanding of how the MWD tool and software works will really help.
Some general points to remember:
• Always take into account any warning signs or abnormalities that may have been noticed
before the problem. For example, have the vibration readings been slowly increasing? Has
anyone been talking about lost returns?
• Verify the fault.

fault. Be sure that you know what the
the symptoms are before star
starting
ting to
troubleshoot, and especially before calling the office for help.
• Don’t overlook the

the obvious. For example, have they just switched
switched pumps?
• Cure the disease not the symptom.

symptom. Don’t adjust the decoder settings
settings when the pressure
transducer just needs bleeding.
• Don’t take anything for granted. Just because the office

office sent you a “new” part do not assum
assumee
that it works or that it is configured the same way the rest of your kit is, check it out yourself.
Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 7 – Troubleshooting Page 82
Confidential
TROUBLESHOOTING CABLES
Most electronic and electrical

electrical faults are due to wiring
wiring and connectors. You should know how to
use a multimeter.
Finding an Open Circuit

Testing with a voltmeter.
1. Set the meter to handle 24 volts dc.
2. Starting at the MSI, disconnect the appropriate cable and test the voltage across the power
lines. If no voltage is
is present, replace
replace the MSI.
3. If the voltage
voltage was good in step two, reconnect
reconnect the cable to the MSI, and work your way up to
the next connector. Test the power lines again. If no voltage
voltage here, then you have found the
bad cable/connector. The open circuit is somewhere between the connector in your hand and
the last connector that passed the test.
Using the MSI for Standpipe Pressure Cables.

1. For circuits that
that use 4-20 mA,
mA, a direct short circuit will read maximum
maximum values e.g. for the
standpipe pressure sensor 3,000 or 5,000-psi.
5,000-psi. Unplug the Y connector at the MSI and use a
paper clip to short the appropriate pins. The mfilt screen should show maximum pressur
pressure,
e, if
it doesn’t, replace the MSI.
2. Reconnect the Y connector and unplug the readout cable going to the pressure sensor. Use
the paper clip again. If full pressure
pressure is not seen, the problem
problem is in the Y cable.
3. Repeat this test
test all the way up to the sensor until you isolate the problem.
Isolation & Continuity
Testing for isolation and continuity is done with the multimeter set to the ohms position.
Isolation testing is for finding shorts and continuity testing for finding short opens.
Isolation
1. Disconnect both ends of the cable.
2. Set the multimeter to the maximum ohms setting.
setting.
3. Measure thethe resistance
resistance across the all combinations of pins.
4. The resistance
resistance should read
read the maximum
maximum reading on the meter, usually Meg ohms.
5. If the meter shows any resistances
resistances less than 1 meg ohm, there is a short in the line. A dead
short will read close to zero ohms, and a partial short will read a higher resistance.
Confidential
Continuity
1. Normally this
this test is performed with
with both ends of the
the cable within reach of the meter’s
meter’s leads.
If you can not connect both meter leads to both ends of the cable, you will have to use a
jumper such as a paper clip.
2. Touch the leads to the same pins at each end of the cable, i.e., pin A to pin A. If you used a
jumper, touch the leads across A and B on the connector without the jumper. The resistance
of a 200 foot cable is about 5 ohms.
Confidential
TROUBLESHOOTING CHART
Detection Troubleshooting Transducer Problem
YES
NO
Short G & H at Transducer
Start Cable Problem
Full scale pressure?
NO YES
NO YES NO
Short MWD G & H on MSI
Does Mfilt see pressure? Are the pumps
pumps on? MSI Problem
Full scale pressure?
YES
NO
NO Surge pipe, rotate, cycle
Are pulses visible? Are pulses visible on Rig Floor? pumps drill a few feet etc.
YES YES
Check transducer, bleed,

valve position etc
YES Any pulses visible?
NO NO
Set correct pulse width Is pulse width correct?
Any changes to
to mud recently? YES Circulate until
YES eg viscosity, LCM flushed through
NO
Some form of damping is present, Talkdown Enabled?
check: Has PW switched?
Downhole Tool Failure
Pumps are isolated Set all Mfilt settings to

No open surface valves
Transducer location default Check with office before
No trapped air in transducer declaring failure
Dampeners are charged correctly
YES Are pulses small
small &
Motor hand to check pumps
Pumps jacking off (air lock, fluid rounded?
starvation) NO
YES
Problem Found?
Check:
NO YES Pumps near tool NO
Noisy signal? Filter Freq set to pulse width.
frequency? Try
Change tool pulse width YES lower setting, 0.1 increments
to highest NO
Identify noise source:
Change strokes and/or
liner, or install pump Bit torque
position sensor. Mud motor status
If using 1 pump, try Weight on bit
swapping pumps RPM near pulse frequency
Pump noise, eg valve springs
Try: YES
Activation amplitude
amplitude sufficient Syncs Problems? Problem Found?
Turning off pump subtraction
Changing Expected Sync ID NO NO
Increase Base Noise/signal
Change tool pulse width
to highest/different
highest/different
YES
Detection OK off Some form of drilling problem is
bottom? present, check:
NO
Bit torque
Mud motor status
Set Upper & Lower Weight on bit
Bound TC to 1/2 & 1-1/2 RPM near pulse frequency
pulse width
Problem Found?
NO
Check with office for

other ideas
M.M.
Jan 2000

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MUD PULSE MWD

MWD MUD PULSE MANUAL CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Tool Specifications........................................................

TOOL SPECIFICATIONS CHAPTER 1

COMPLETE SENSOR SPECIFI

GAMMA SCALE FACTORS.........

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 1 – Tool Specifications Page 2

Tool Specification in Petroleum Engineer Format

Maximum dogleg severity

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 1 – Tool Specifications Page 3

Complete Sensor Specifications

Inclination 0 - 180 Degrees 11 0.09 ± 0.15

* average of Gt & Ht

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 1 – Tool Specifications Page 4

6-5/8 Regular 8 Box 3-1/2 45,000 10,000 11,000 13,000

4-1/2 Extra Hole Box

4-1/2 Extra Hole Box

Gamma Scale Factors

Collar Size Scale Factor

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 1 – Tool Specifications Page 5

TOOL OPERATION CHAPTER 2

TOOL BLOCK DIAGRAM ...........................

DOWNHOLE TOOL OPERATION QUIZ................................................................................................27

The Mud Pulse MWD tool consists of six major sections:

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 2 – Tool Operation Page 7

The pulser subs are similar

Pulser Sub Size Pulser Used Flow Rate Range

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 2 – Tool Operation Page 8

SUPER OR GOLDEN EYE

The function of the EYE section is to:

1. Measure directional data

The three primary directional measurements provided are:

1. Azimuth – the directional orientation of the wellbore relative

Secondary or quality measurements are:

1. Total Magnetic Field, called H Totals

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 2 – Tool Operation Page 9

9 Pin MDM Connector

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 2 – Tool Operation Page 10

Inclination calculation uses the three accelerometer sensors only.

Which sensors can be relied upon?

Determining Correct Surveys

You need to be certain that your survey is correct bef

1. Are the Inclination and Azimuth readings what would be expected?

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 2 – Tool Operation Page 11

5. Is the temperature reading correct? A bad temperature

EYE Power and Communication

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 2 – Tool Operation Page 12

The purpose of the MWD controller is to:

At the heart of the MWD controller is a microprocessor.

From Eye Section

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 2 – Tool Operation Page 13

The talkdown scheme is described in chapter 6.

A simplified sequence of the tool operation is as follows:

1. Wait until flow accelerometer detects flow.

The controller section has two types of memory:

The non-volatile memory does not wrap; i.e. when full, al

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 2 – Tool Operation Page 14

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 2 – Tool Operation Page 15

The uses of the gamma ray log are:

There are two major limitations to the gamma ray sensor:

Mud Pulse Theory Manual Chapter 2 – Tool Operation Page 16

NaI Crystal PMT

The sensitivity of the