ADVANCED DRILL STRING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMPONENTS AND METHODS

摘要

A drill string communication system is described. An uphole transceiver can couple a signal onto the drill string at a power that is always greater that a selectable power for a downhole signal. Communication from a drill rig to an inground tool can be re-initiated using a maximum uphole transmit power of an uphole transceiver. A procedure can establish a new set of transmission parameters for a drill string signal to establish communication between the drill rig and the inground tool. The system can include a walkover locator that receives an active/inactive status-controlled electromagnetic locating signal. Responsive to a locating signal degradation, a reconfiguration command can modify the locating signal. The uphole transceiver and a downhole transceiver can automatically modify at least one parameter of a downhole signal. An uphole receiver can apply a compensation response to a transferred signal to compensate for a drill string channel transfer function.

主权项

1. A drill string communication system which utilizes a drill string, extending from a drill rig to an inground tool, as an electrical conductor to provide communication therebetween, said system comprising:
an uphole transceiver located at the drill rig including an uphole transmitter that couples an uphole signal onto the drill string at an uphole transmit power for transmission to the inground tool; and a downhole transceiver located downhole proximate to the inground tool including a downhole transmitter that couples a downhole signal onto the drill string at a downhole transmit power that is selectable within a downhole power transmit range for transmission to the drill rig on the drill string and said uphole transmit power is always greater than any selected downhole transmit power within said downhole power transmit range.