Systems and methods for detecting drillstring loads

摘要

A drilling system comprises a drillstring including a dill bit, a bottomhole assembly coupled to the drill bit, and a plurality of interconnected tubular members coupled to the bottomhole assembly. A first tubular member includes a communication link having a first annular inductive coupler element disposed in an annular recess in a first end, a second annular inductive coupler element disposed in an annular recess in a second end, and a cable coupling the first annular inductive coupler element to the second annular inductive coupler element. In addition, the drilling system comprises a first signal level determination unit disposed in the drillstring and configured to determine a level of a first signal communicated from the second inductive coupler element. Further, the drilling system comprises an axial load determination unit configured to determine an axial load at the first signal level determination unit based on the level of the first signal.

主权项

1. A drilling system for drilling a borehole in an earthen formation, comprising:
a drillstring having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end; wherein the drillstring includes a dill bit at the second end, a bottomhole assembly coupled to the drill bit, and a plurality of interconnected tubular members coupled to the bottomhole assembly; wherein each tubular member has a first end and a second end opposite the first end; wherein a first tubular member of the plurality of tubular members includes a communication link having a first annular inductive coupler element disposed in an annular recess in the first end of the first tubular member, a second annular inductive coupler element disposed in an annular recess in the second end of the first tubular member, and a cable coupling the first annular inductive coupler element to the second annular inductive coupler element; wherein the second end of the first tubular member is threadably coupled to an axially adjacent tubular member at a threaded tool joint; a first signal level determination unit disposed in the drillstring, wherein the signal level determination unit is configured to determine a level of a first signal communicated from the second inductive coupler element; and an axial load determination unit configured to determine an axial load at the threaded tool joint based on the level of the first signal determined by the first signal level determination unit.