WO2023283105A1

WO2023283105A1 - Downhole antenna system for use with a measurement while drilling downhole tool

Info

Publication number: WO2023283105A1
Application number: PCT/US2022/035820
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenneth Miller; David Erdos; Abraham Erdos
Original assignee: Erdos Miller, Inc
Priority date: 2021-07-09
Filing date: 2022-06-30
Publication date: 2023-01-12

Abstract

In one embodiment, a downhole antenna system is disclosed. The downhole antenna system includes a housing comprising one or more electrode pairs, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from a measurement while drilling (MWD) downhole tool, the downhole antenna system is disposed within a first wellbore and the MWD downhole tool is disposed within a second wellbore, the downhole antenna system is electrically coupled to a wireline, and the downhole antenna system is configured to transmit the electromagnetic signal to a surface processor.

Description

DOWNHOLE ANTENNA SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A MEASUREMENT WHILE

DRILLING DOWNHOLE TOOL

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent

Application. No. 63/220,240, filed July 9, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to measurement-while-drilling (MWD) data and, in particular, to a downhole antenna system used to communicate with a MWD downhole tool.

BACKGROUND

[0003] An electromagnetic MWD transmitter may send downhole measurements through an electromagnetic signal from a downhole transmitter antenna built into the MWD downhole tool. The electromagnetic signal may be conventionally received on surface with a ground rod that is driven into the ground as one electrode and the casing of the well currentiy being drilled as the second electrode.

SUMMARY

[0004] In one embodiment, a downhole antenna system is disclosed. The downhole antenna system includes a housing comprising one or more electrode pairs, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from a measurement while drilling (MWD) downhole tool, the downhole antenna system is disposed within a first wellbore and the MWD downhole tool is disposed within a second wellbore, the downhole antenna system is electrically coupled to a wireline, and the downhole antenna system is configured to transmit the electromagnetic signal to a surface processor.

[0005] In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at one or more electrode pairs, an electromagnetic signal from a measurement while drilling (MWD) downhole tool, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are included in a housing of a downhole antenna system disposed in a first wellbore, and the MWD downhole tool is disposed in a second wellbore separate from the first wellbore. The method also includes converting the electromagnetic signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and transmitting, via a downhole processor, the digital signal to a surface processor.

[0006] In one embodiment, a system is disclosed. The system includes a downhole antenna system comprising a housing, one or more electrode pairs included in the housing, and a controller sub-system. The controller sub-system comprises one or more electronic components configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from the one or more electrode pairs, the one or more electrode pairs receive the electromagnetic signal from a measurement while drilling (MWD) downhole tool, and the downhole antenna system is disposed within a first wellbore and the MWD downhole tool is disposed within a second wellbore separate from the first wellbore.

[0007] In one embodiment, a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium may store instructions that, when executed, cause a processing device to perform any of the methods, operations, and/ or functions described herein.

[0008] In one embodiment, a system may include a memory device storing instructions, and a processing device communicatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device may execute the instructions to perform any of the methods, operations, and/ or functions described herein.

[0009] Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of 'a', 'an', and 'the' include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0010] Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The terms “transmit,” “receive,” and “communicate,” as well as derivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/ or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof, means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, or the like. The term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation. Such a controller may be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and/ or firmware. The functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. The phrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used, and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least one of: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C.

[0011] Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed from computer readable program code and embodied in a computer readable medium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or more computer programs, software components, sets of instructions, procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or a portion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computer readable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code” includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code, and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes any type of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), solid state drives (SSDs), flash, or any other type of memory. A “non- transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired, wireless, optical, or other communication links that transport transitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computer readable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored and media where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as a rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

[0012] The terms “surface processor” and “surface computing device” may be used interchangeably herein.

[0013] The terms “MWD downhole tool” and “tool drillstring” may be used interchangeably herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a MWD system in a well sending data to a MWD data acquisition system, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a tool drill string, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a system including a downhole antenna system in a wellbore separate from a wellbore including a MWD downhole tool, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of components of a downhole antenna system, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a diagram of configurations of a downhole antenna system, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a MWD downhole tool including a gap sub, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a method of using a downhole antenna system, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates an example computer system according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] FIGS. 1 through 7, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of this disclosure are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0024] How well an electromagnetic MWD system works may depend on the resistivity and electrical properties of formation and rock that is being drilled and can vary from region to region. A conventional system includes a passive downhole antenna that is lowered into an adjacent wellbore to a wellbore including a MWD downhole tool. The passive downhole antenna allows the receiving antenna to be located closer to the transmitter of the MWD downhole tool. However, the distance between the passive downhole antenna and an electrode at the surface (e.g., surface rod) may be substantial and/ or prone to enable errors in the data communicated from the antenna to the electrode at the surface.

[0025] Accordingly, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a downhole antenna system including a digitization system may be located in a wellbore adjacent to a wellbore including a MWD downhole tool. Such a technique may eliminate resistive losses in a wireline that are inherent to a passive antenna system, in addition to allowing multiple downhole antenna configurations to be utilized simultaneously. Such an embodiment may also eliminate a major source of interference on surface, which is the electrical noise from the rig that can be substantial. Sometimes the rig is so noisy electrically that it is very difficult to decode a received signal while drilling, and electromagnetic signals can only be received while the rig is not drilling. A technical benefit of the disclosed embodiments may include attaining a significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with the downhole antenna system including amplification/digitization circuits being located much closer to a transmitter than with conventional systems.

[0026] Additionally, the disclosed embodiments may enable a possibility for downlink communications. For example, sending data from a surface processor to the electromagnetic MWD downhole tool. The disclosed downhole antenna system may also include a power amplifier and a downlink transmitter that may enable much faster downlinks to the electromagnetic MWD downhole tool, thereby enabling overall much higher bidirectional communication to the electromagnetic MWD downhole tool.

[0027] Certain wirelines may include 8-conductors available, two of these conductors may be used for power and data to the active downhole antenna system. The remaining conductors may be used to bring the electrical connections of the receiving antennas (e.g., electrode pairs) to surface for additional digitization and processing of the signals if needed. In some embodiments, the downhole transmitter antenna for downlink may also have its conductors brought to surface if more power is available on surface or if the signal generation on surface is more convenient.

[0028] Techniques for a downhole antenna system are disclosed.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows the MWD data acquisition system 100 as placed next to an oil rig. The

MWD data acquisition system 100 includes at least one data reception device. In some embodiments, there may be more than one data reception device. The data reception device may include various components, such as an analog data reception circuit configured to receive analog MWD data from an MWD tool 109, an analog- to-digital conversion circuit configured to convert the analog MWD data to digital MWD data, a data transmission circuit configured to transmit analog and/or digital data to a surface computing device 118. In some embodiments, the surface computing device 118 may be local or remote from the MWD data acquisition system 100. For example, the MWD data acquisition system 100 may be locally communicatively connected, via a cable 120, to the surface computing device 118 or the MWD data acquisition system 100 may be remotely communicatively coupled, via a network 135, to the surface computing device 118. In some embodiments, the MWD data acquisition system 100 may be included as a component of the surface computing device 118. In some embodiments, the MWD data acquisition system 100 may include or be coupled to a component (e.g., pressure transducer) configured to receive the data sent from the MWD tool 109. In some embodiments, the MWD data acquisition system 100 is configured to transmit digital data to a surface computing device 118 via the cable 120 using, for example, one of the following cable and communication standards: RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, Ethernet, USB, or CAN bus. Network 135 may be a public network (e.g., connected to the Internet via wired (Ethernet) or wireless (WiFi)), a private network (e.g., a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)), or a combination thereof. Network 135 may also comprise a node or nodes on the Internet of Things (IoT).

[0030] The MWD tool 109 may be programmed with information such as which measurements to take and which data to transmit back to the surface. The MWD tool 12 may include a downhole processor (e.g., telemetry controller). Communicating data between the downhole processor (e.g., telemetry controller) and a surface processor (e.g., included in the surface computing device 118) may be performed using various types of telemetry. For example, mud pulse (MP) telemetry and/or electromagnetic (EM) telemetry.

[0031] In some embodiments, a cloud-based computing system 116 may be communicatively coupled, via the network 135, to the surface computing device 118 and/or the MWD data acquisition system 100. Each of the components included in the cloud-based computing system 116, the surface computing device 118, and/or the MWD data acquisition system 100 may include one or more processing devices, memory devices, and/ or network interface cards. The network interface cards may enable communication via a wireless protocol for transmitting data over short distances, such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, NFC, etc. Additionally, the network interface cards may enable communicating data over long distances.

[0032] The surface computing device 118 may be any suitable computing device, such as a laptop, tablet, smartphone, or computer. The surface computing device 118 may include a display capable of presenting a user interface of an application. The application may be implemented in computer instructions stored on the one or more memory devices of the surface computing device 118 and executable by the one or more processing devices of the surface computing device 118. The application may present various user interfaces that present various measurements received from the MWD tool 109. The surface computing device 118 may also include instructions stored on the one or more memory devices that, when executed by the one or more processing devices of the surface computing device 118, perform operations of any of the methods described herein.

[0033] In some embodiments, the cloud-based computing system 116 may include one or more servers 128 that form a distributed computing architecture. The servers 128 may be a rackmount server, a router computer, a personal computer, a portable digital assistant, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a camera, a video camera, a netbook, a desktop computer, a media center, any other device capable of functioning as a server, or any combination of the above. Each of the servers 128 may include one or more processing devices, memory devices, data storage, and/ or network interface cards. The servers 128 may be in communication with one another via any suitable communication protocol. The servers 128 may execute an artificial intelligence (AI) engine 140 that uses one or more machine learning models 132 to perform at least one of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0034] The cloud-based computing system 128 may also include a database 150 that stores data, knowledge, and data structures used to perform various embodiments. For example, the database 150 may store a corpus of measurements (e.g., azimuth, wellbore characteristics, etc.), settings (e.g., pulse overdrive percentages, survey baud rates, sliding baud rates, high-resolution M- Ary encoding enable/disable setting, etc.), and various parameters (e.g., condition of the tool drill string, condition of the formation, condition of the weather, condition of a telemetry channel, etc.), and results that indicate which settings provided desired outcomes for which parameters. The data stored in the database 150 may represent training data, in some embodiments. The training data may be used to train the machine learning models 132.

[0035] In some embodiments the cloud-based computing system 116 may include a training engine 130 capable of generating the one or more machine learning models 132. The machine learning models 132 may be trained to receive MWD data and perform control actions (e.g., changing direction of drilling, pull the drill bit off bottom, place on the drill bit on bottom, change an operating parameter of the drill bit, change an operating parameter of the MWD tool 109, etc.) [0036] The training engine 130 may be a rackmount server, a router computer, a personal computer, a portable digital assistant, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a netbook, a desktop computer, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, any other desired computing device, or any combination of the above. The training engine 130 may be cloud-based, be a real-time software platform, include privacy software or protocols, and/or include security software or protocols.

[0037] To generate the one or more machine learning models 132, the training engine 130 may train the one or more machine learning models 132. The training engine 130 may use a base training dataset and labels that classify any suitable combination of the dataset.

[0038] The one or more machine learning models 132 may refer to model artifacts created by the training engine 130 using training data that includes training inputs and corresponding target outputs. The training engine 130 may find patterns in the training data wherein such patterns map the training input to the target output and generate the machine learning models 132 that capture these patterns. Although depicted separately from the server 128, in some embodiments, the training engine 130 may reside on server 128. Further, in some embodiments, the artificial intelligence engine 140, the database 150, and/or the training engine 130 may reside on the computing device 102. [0039] The one or more machine learning models 132 may comprise, e.g., a single level of linear or non-linear operations (e.g., a support vector machine (SVM)) or the machine learning models 132 may be a deep network, i.e., a machine learning model comprising multiple levels of non-linear operations. Examples of deep networks are neural networks, including generative adversarial networks, convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks with one or more hidden layers, and fully connected neural networks (e.g., each neuron may transmit its output signal to the input of the remaining neurons, as well as to itself). For example, the machine learning model may include numerous layers and/ or hidden layers that perform calculations (e.g., dot products) using various neurons. In some embodiments, one or more of the machine learning models 132 may be long short-term memory (LSTM), which is an artificial recurrent neural network architecture that uses feedback connections. It can not only process single data points, but also entire sequences of data (e.g., a signal of MWD telemetry data).

[0040] FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a tool drill string 22, according to embodiments of the disclosure. The system 10 includes the borehole drill string 22 and a rig for drilling a well borehole (e.g., wellbore) 26 through earth 28 and into a formation 30. After the well borehole 26 has been drilled, fluids such as water, oil, and gas can be extracted from the formation 30. In some embodiments, the rig is situated on a platform that is on or above water for drilling into the ocean floor.

[0041] In one example, the rig (not depicted) includes a derrick, a derrick floor, a rotary table, and the drill string 22. The drill string 22 includes a drill pipe 38 and a drilling assembly 40 attached to the distal end of the drill pipe 38 at the distal end of the drill string 22.

[0042] The drilling assembly 40 includes a drill bit 42 at the bottom of the drilling assembly

40 for drilling the well borehole 26.

[0043] A fluidic medium, such as drilling mud 44, is used by the system for drilling the well borehole 26. The fluidic medium circulates through the drill string 22 and back to the fluidic medium source, which is usually at the surface 201. In embodiments, drilling mud is drawn from a mud pit and circulated by a mud pump through a mud supply line and into a swivel. The drilling mud flows down through an axial central bore in the drill string 22 and through jets (not shown) in the lower face of the drill bit 42. Borehole fluid 54, which contains drilling mud, formation cuttings, and formation fluid, flows back up through the annular space between the outer surface of the drill string 22 and the inner surface of the well borehole 26 to be returned to the mud pit through a mud return line. A filter (not shown) can be used to separate formation cuttings from the drilling mud before the drilling mud is returned to the mud pit. In some embodiments, the drill string 22 has a downhole drill motor 58, such as a mud motor, for rotating the drill bit 42.

[0044] In embodiments, the system 10 includes a first module 60 and a second module 62 that are configured to communicate with one another, such as with the first module 60 situated downhole in the well borehole 26 and the second module 62 at the surface. In embodiments, the system 10 includes the first module 60 situated at the distal end of the drill pipe 38 and the drill string 22, and the second module 62 attached to the drill rig 24 at the proximal end of the drill string 22 at the surface. In embodiments, the first module 60 is configured to communicate with the device 14, such as through a wired connection or wirelessly. [0045] The first module 60 includes a downhole processor 64 (e.g., telemetry controller) and a pulser 66, such as a mud pulse valve, communicatively coupled, such as by wire or wirelessly, to the downhole processor 64 (e.g., telemetry controller). The telemetry controller 64 is communicatively coupled to the pulser 66. The pulser 66 is configured to provide a pressure pulse in the fluidic medium in the drill string 22, such as the drilling mud. The MWD tool 14 is communicatively coupled to the MWD data acquisition system 100, the surface computing device 118, and as shown in FIG. 2B, a downhole antenna system 200 disposed in a second wellbore 202. [0046] In some embodiments, the pressure pulse is an acoustic signal and the pulser 66 is configured to provide an acoustic signal that is transmitted to the surface through one or more transmission pathways. These pathways can include the fluidic medium in the drill string 22, the material such as metal that the pipe is made of, and one or more other separate pipes or pieces of the drill string 22, where the acoustic signal can be transmitted through passageways of the separate pipes or through the material of the separate pipes or pieces of the drill string 22. In embodiments, the MWD data acquisition system 100 and/or the surface computing device 118 may include an acoustic signal sensor configured to receive the acoustic signal and communicatively coupled, such as by wire or wirelessly, to the surface processor.

[0047] Each of the downhole processor 64 and the surface processor is a computing machine that includes memory that stores executable code that can be executed by the computing machine to perform processes and functions of the system. In embodiments, the computing machine is one or more of a computer, a microprocessor, and a micro- controller, or the computing machine includes multiples of a computer, a microprocessor, and/or a micro-controller. In embodiments, the memory is one or more of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), and non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, battery-backed RAM, read only memory (ROM), varieties of programmable read only memory (PROM), and disk storage. Also, in embodiments, each of the first module 60 and the second module 62 includes one or more power supplies for providing power to the module.

[0048] The MWD downhole tool 109 may operate in an electromagnetic (EM) telemetry mode. The EM telemetry mode enables data transmission without a continuous fluid column, providing an alternative to negative and positive pulse systems. An EM telemetry system used by the MWD downhole tool 109 may refer to a system that applies a differential voltage, positive and negative voltage, across an insulative gap 502 in the drill string, as depicted in FIG. 5. The differential voltage causes current to flow through the formation creating equipotential lines that can be detected by sensors at the surface and/or antennas (e.g., electrode pairs) of the downhole antenna system 200 (which may be much closer in proximity to the MWD downhole tool 109, and therefore, receive a higher quality electromagnetic signal. Due to the formation dependence, EM communication can be hindered by particularly high and low conductivity environments, thus the disclosed embodiments using the downhole antenna system 200 can alleviate noise or signal attenuation in an electromagnetic signal by placing the downhole antenna system 200 closer to the MWD downhole 109 such that the electromagnetic signal does not have to travel through as much formation as when traveling to the surface processor 118.

[0049] As depicted, an electrical connection 504 and 506 are included on a respective side of the gap 500 in a gap sub 502. The gap sub 502 may provide electrical isolation from two ends of a drill pipe. The isolation allows a differential voltage to be applied between the two sides of the gap sub 502 and an electromagnetic field may be emitted from the gap sub 502 through the formation. The MWD downhole tool 109 may provide a modulated voltage/ current across the gap sub 502 to send data (e.g., measurements) via an electromagnetic signal. The downhole antenna system 200 may include one or more electrode pairs that are configured to retrieve the electromagnetic signal created by the MWD downhole tool 109. As further depicted in FIG. 5, a drill collar and drill pipe may be included above the MWD downhole tool 109 and the drill collar and mud motor may be included below the MWD downhole tool 109 and above the drill bit 42.

[0050] FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a system including a downhole antenna system 200 in a wellbore 202 separate from a wellbore 204 including a MWD downhole tool 109, according to embodiments of the disclosure. As depicted, a drilling rig 208 is located above surface and is drilling the wellbore 204. The MWD downhole tool 109 is disposed within the wellbore 204 and may transmit electromagnetic signals representing any suitable data (e.g., formation measurements, tool measurements, sensor measurements, etc.). In some embodiments, the data acquisition system 100 may receive the electromagnetic signals directly from the MWD downhole tool 109. However, due to various circumstances (e.g., rock formation, drilling state, weather, etc.), it may be desirable to increase the signal to noise ratio and data throughput by transmitting the electromagnetic signal to the downhole antenna system 200 directly, which may process the electromagnetic signal upon receipt and transmit a processed (e.g., digital) signal to the MWD data acquisition system 100 and/or surface processor 118.

[0051] In some embodiments, the downhole antenna system 200 may receive the electromagnetic signal in an analog form, convert the analog signal to a digital signal, and transmit the digital signal to the data acquisition system 100 and/or the surface processor 118. The downhole antenna system 200 may be disposed or located in a wellbore 202 separate from the wellbore 204 in which the MWD downhole tool 109 is disposed or located. The MWD downhole tool 109 may use a transmitter to transmit the electromagnetic signal. The downhole antenna system 200 may use one or more electrode pairs (e.g., antennas) to receive the electromagnetic signal and transmit the electromagnetic signal to digitization components (e.g., an analog to digital converter, a downhole processor, etc.).

[0052] The downhole antenna system 200 may be electrically and/ or communicatively coupled to a wireline 205 that is connected to a wireline truck 206 at the surface. In some embodiments, the downhole antenna system 200 and the MWD downhole tool 109 may be configured for unidirectional or bidirectional communication. That is, in some embodiments, the downhole antenna system 200 may include a transmitter capable of receiving signals from and/ or transmitting signals to the MWD downhole tool 109. For example, the downhole antenna system 200 may receive a downlink message including a control instruction from the surface processor 118 and may transmit the control instruction to the MWD downhole tool 109. The control instruction may cause an operating parameter of the MWD downhole tool 109 to change (e.g., perform certain measurements at a certain frequency or periodicity, etc.).

[0053] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of components of a downhole antenna system 200, according to embodiments of the disclosure. As depicted, the downhole antenna system 200 may include a controller sub-system 300. The downhole antenna system 200 may also include one or more electrode pairs 302 (e.g., RX Antenna 1 may include a positive receive electrode and a negative receive electrode, RX Antenna 2 may include a positive receive electrode and a negative receive electrode, TX Antenna may include a positive transmit electrode and a negative transmit electrode, etc.). The one or more electrode pairs 302 may be configured to receive the electromagnetic signal transmitted by the MWD downhole tool 109 and to determine a voltage differential of the electromagnetic signal received at a positive receive electrode and a negative receive electrode. The one or more electrode pairs 302 may be electrically and/ or communicatively coupled to analog front end components 304 (e.g., Analog Front End 1, Analog Front End 2, . . . Analog Front End N) included in the controller sub-system 300. Based on the received electromagnetic signal, the one or more electrode pairs 302 may transmit an analog signal to the analog front end components 304. Various configurations of the controller sub-system 300 and the one or more electrode pairs 302 are depicted in FIG. 4. The analog front end components 304 may be electrically and/ or communicatively coupled to an analog to digital converted (ADC) 306 configured to convert analog signals to digital signals. Further, the ADC 306 is electrically and/or communicatively coupled to the downhole processor 308. [0054] The downhole processor 308 may be a computing machine that includes memory that stores executable code that can be executed by the computing machine to perform processes and functions of the system. In embodiments, the computing machine is one or more of a computer, a microprocessor, and a micro- controller, or the computing machine includes multiples of a computer, a microprocessor, and/or a micro-controller. In embodiments, the memory is one or more of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), and non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, battery-backed RAM, read only memory (ROM), varieties of programmable read only memory (PROM), and disk storage.

[0055] The downhole processor 308 may receive the digital signal from the ADC 306 and may perform one or more processing operations on the digital signal (e.g., error correction, noise filtering, etc.). To that end, the downhole processor 308 may execute one or more trained machine learning models 132 trained to perform the processing operations. One advantage of including digitization components (e.g., analog front end components 304, ADC 306, and/ or downhole processor 308) in a housing that includes or is near the one or more electrode pairs 302 in the downhole antenna system 200 is it reduces chance for noise in the electromagnetic signal, increases signal to noise ratio, reduces chance for error in the data of the electromagnetic signal, and may improve throughput of data while drilling operations are being performed in a wellbore. The downhole processor 308 may transmit the digital signal to a downhole wireline modem 312 to be transmitted via a wireline to a surface wireline modem 314. The surface wireline modem 314 may be electrically and/ or communicatively coupled to the surface processor 118 and may transmit the digital signal and/or analog signal to the surface processor 118. The surface processor 118 may process the received digital and/or analog signal and present various reports based on measurements in data included in the signal and/ or perform various control actions.

[0056] For example, in some embodiments, based on the data in the received signal, the surface processor 118 may determine (e.g., via a trained machine learning model 132) to transmit a downlink message including a control instruction to change an operating parameter of the MWD downhole tool 109 or the tool drill string 22. The downlink message may be transmitted to the surface wireline modem 314, which may relay the downlink message to a surface downlink unit (transmitter output) 316. The surface downlink unit 316 may transmit, via the wireline, the downlink message to the downhole wireline modem 312. The downhole wireline modem 312 may transmit the downlink message to the downhole processor 308, which relays the downlink message to a digital to analog converter (DAC) 318. The DAC 318 converts the downlink message from a digital signal to an analog signal and transmits the analog signal to a power amplifier 320. The power amplifier 320 may increase amplitude of the analog signal and the analog signal may be transmitted by the TX Antenna as an electromagnetic signal to be received by the MWD downhole tool 109. When the MWD downhole tool 109 receives the analog signal, the analog signal may be processed (e.g., digitized) and the control instruction may be executed by a downhole processor of the MWD downhole tool 109 to change an operating parameter (e.g., cause a sensor to take measurements at a different rate, periodicity, frequency, etc.) and/ or cause the tool drill string 22 to change an operating parameter (e.g., cause the drill bit to change drilling direction, etc.).

[0057] In some embodiments, a surface power supply 322 may provide power to one or more of the electrical components depicted in FIG. 3. For example, the surface power supply 322 may provide power to the surface wireline modem 314, the surface processor 118, the surface data acquisition system 100, the surface downlink unit 316, or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, via the wireline, the surface power supply 322 may provide power to one or more of the electrical components located downhole. For example, the surface power supply 322 may provide power to the downhole wireline modem 312, the controller sub-system 300 (e.g., the downhole processor 308, the ADC 306, the analog front end components 304, the DAC 318, and/ or the power amplifier 320), and/ or the one or more electrode pairs 302.

[0058] In some embodiments, the analog signal received at the controller sub-system 300 may be transmitted without being converted to a digital signal. In such an embodiment, the surface data acquisition system 100 may receive the analog signal and perform digitization operations on the analog signal. That is, an ADC of the surface data acquisition system may convert the analog signal to a digital signal.

[0059] FIG. 4 is a diagram of configurations 402, 404, 406, and 408 of a downhole antenna system 200, according to embodiments of the disclosure. As depicted in a first configuration 402, the controller sub-system 300 (e.g., Active Downhole Antenna Housing) may include the electrical components as described with reference to FIG. 3. The controller sub-system 300 and the one or more electrode pairs 302 are included within a housing of a single module 401. The one or more electrode pairs 302 may be electrically isolated from the housing of the single module 401. The one or more electrode pairs may be configured to collect or emit electromagnetic charge or signals. The electrodes may be electrical conductors. The downhole antenna system 200 is electrically, physically, and/ or communicatively coupled to a wireline, such that the downhole antenna system 200 may be disposed within a wellbore next to and separate from a wellbore that is being drilled by a tool drill string 22. [0060] The wireline also is atached to a downhole tractor 400. Sometimes a lateral portion of a well can be very long, and it may be difficult to “push” the downhole antenna system 200 in the lateral section. In such an instance, the downhole tractor 400 may be connected to the end of the wireline to pull the wireline into the hole. The downhole tractor 400 may be powered electrically from the wireline, but may also be hydraulically powered. The downhole tractor 400 may aid in long lateral sections and may enable maintaining the downhole antenna system 200 lined up with the electromagnetic MWD downhole tool 109 so that they are as close as possible to each other, maximizing the data rate and the signal to noise ratio. The downhole tractor 400 may use electrically powered drive mechanisms and modular drive sections that may provide traction force.

[0061] As depicted in a second configuration 404, the controller sub-system 300 (e.g.,

Active Downhole Antenna Housing (Primary Module with Electronics)) may include the electrical components as described with reference to FIG. 3. The controller sub-system 300 and the negative electrodes (e.g., receive and transmit) are included within a housing of a primary module 403. The positive electrodes (e.g., receive and transmit) are included within a second housing of a secondary module 405. The positive and negative electrodes may be electrically isolated from their respective housings housing of their respective modules. The secondary module 405 is disposed on the wireline at a range of 10 to 2000 feet from the primary module 300. The one or more electrode pairs may be configured to collect or emit electromagnetic charge or signals. The downhole tractor 400 is also connected to the wireline to enable moving the downhole antenna system 200 as desired.

[0062] As depicted in a second configuration 406, the controller sub-system 300 (e.g.,

Active Downhole Antenna Housing (Primary Module with Electronics)) may include the electrical components as described with reference to FIG. 3. The controller sub-system 300 and the positive electrodes (e.g., receive and transmit) are included within a housing of a primary module 409. The negative electrodes (e.g., receive and transmit) are included within a second housing of a secondary module 407. The positive and negative electrodes may be electrically isolated from their respective housings housing of their respective modules. The primary module 409 is disposed on the wireline at a range of 10 to 2000 feet from the secondary module 407. The one or more electrode pairs may be configured to collect or emit electromagnetic charge or signals. The downhole tractor 400 is also connected to the wireline to enable moving the downhole antenna system 200 as desired.

[0063] As depicted in a second configuration 408, the controller sub-system 300 (e.g.,

Active Downhole Antenna Housing (Primary Module with Electronics)) may include the electrical components as described with reference to FIG. 3. The controller sub-system 300 may be included within a housing of a first module 413, the negative electrodes may be included within a housing of a primary module 415, and the positive electrodes may be included within a housing of a secondary module 411. The first module 413 may be connected to the wireline between the secondary module 411 and the primary module 415. In some embodiments, the first module 413 may be 10 to 2000 feet apart from the secondary module 411 on the wireline and may be 10 to 2000 feet apart from the primary module 415 on the wireline. The one or more electrode pairs may be configured to collect or emit electromagnetic charge or signals. The downhole tractor 400 is also connected to the wireline to enable moving the downhole antenna system 200 as desired.

[0064] FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 of using a downhole antenna system, according to embodiments of the disclosure. The method 600 is performed by processing logic that may include hardware (circuitry, dedicated logic, etc.), software (such as is run on a general-purpose computer system or a dedicated machine), or a combination of both. The method 600 and/ or each of its individual functions, routines, subroutines, or operations may be performed by one or more processors of a computing device (e.g., any component of FIGS. 1-5, such as downhole processor 308, server 128 executing the artificial intelligence engine 140, surface computing device 118, etc.).

In certain implementations, the method 600 may be performed by a single processing thread. Alternatively, the method 600 may be performed by two or more processing threads, each thread implementing one or more individual functions, routines, subroutines, or operations of the methods. [0065] For simplicity of explanation, the method 600 is depicted and described as a series of operations. Flowever, operations in accordance with this disclosure can occur in various orders and/ or concurrently, and/ or with other operations not presented and described herein. For example, the operations depicted in the method 600 may occur in combination with any other operation of any other method disclosed herein. Furthermore, not all illustrated operations may be required to implement the method 600 in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. In addition, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that the method 600 could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states via a state diagram or events.

[0066] At 602, an electromagnetic signal may be received at one or more electrode pairs.

The electromagnetic signal may be received from a measurement while drilling (MWD) downhole tool. The one or more electrode pairs may be included in a housing of a downhole antenna system disposed within a first wellbore. The MWD downhole tool may be disposed in a second wellbore separate from the first wellbore. The downhole antenna system may be moved in the first wellbore such that the downhole antenna system is located closely proximate to the MWD downhole tool in the second wellbore. In some embodiments, a tractor may be controlled (e.g., via the wireline or a hydraulic system) to pull the downhole antenna system through a portion of the first wellbore. [0067] At 604, various electrical components (e.g., digitization system) of the downhole antenna system may convert the electromagnetic signal from an analog to a digital signal. For example, an analog to digital converter (ADC) may receive the analog electromagnetic signal and convert it to a digital electromagnetic signal.

[0068] At 606, a downhole processor 302 may transmit the digital signal to a surface processor 118 via the wireline. In some embodiments, the downhole processor 302 may transmit the digital signal to a downhole wireline modem 312 that is electrically and/ or communicatively coupled to the controller sub-system 300.

[0069] In some embodiments the downhole antenna system may include the controller sub system 300 that includes one or more analog front end components electrically and/ or communicatively coupled to one or more electrode pairs and electrically and/ or communicatively coupled to an analog to digital converted (ADC). In some embodiments, the ADC converts the electromagnetic signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and the controller sub-system 300 includes a downhole processor 302 configured to transmit the digital signal to the surface processor 118 via the wireline.

[0070] In some embodiments, the one or more electrode pairs are configured to weigh the downhole antenna system down to vertically traverse the first wellbore. In some embodiments, the downhole processor 302 may be electrically and/ or communicatively coupled to a downhole wireline mode 312 that is configured to transmit the digital signal to the surface processor 118 via the wireline. In some embodiments, the one or more electrode pairs may be electrically isolated form the housing of the downhole antenna system. The one or more electrode pairs may be electrically isolated using a non-conductive epoxy or ceramic layer to electrically isolate the different positions of the one or more electrode pairs.

[0071] FIG. 7 shows an example computer system 700 which can perform any one or more of the methods described herein, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In one example, computer system 700 may correspond to the surface computing device 118 (e.g., user computing device), the downhole antenna system 200, the downhole processor 308, one or more servers 128 of the cloud-based computing system 116, the training engine 130, the MWD data acquisition system 100, the MWD tool 12, the pulser 66, or any suitable component of FIGS. 1-5. The computer system 700 may be capable of executing an application that presents any of the user interfaces described herein, training the one or more machine learning models 132, and/or executing the one or more machine learning models 132 of FIGURE 1. The computer system may be connected (e.g., networked) to other computer systems in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. The computer system may operate in the capacity of a server in a client-server network environment. The computer system may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a wearable (e.g., wristband), a set-top box (STB), a personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a camera, a video camera, or any device capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that device. Further, while only a single computer system is illustrated, the term “computer” shall also be taken to include any collection of computers that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

[0072] The computer system 700 includes a processing device 702, a main memory 704 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid state drives (SSDs), dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)), a static memory 706 (e.g., flash memory, solid state drives (SSDs), static random access memory (SRAM)), and a data storage device 708, which communicate with each other via a bus 710.

[0073] Processing device 702 represents one or more general-purpose processing devices such as a microprocessor, central processing unit, or the like. More particularly, the processing device 702 may be a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, very long instruction word (VLPW) microprocessor, or a processor implementing other instruction sets or processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. The processing device 702 may also be one or more special-purpose processing devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system on a chip, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), network processor, or the like. The processing device 702 is configured to execute instructions for performing any of the operations and steps discussed herein. [0074] The computer system 700 may further include a network interface device 712. The computer system 700 also may include a video display 714 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light- emitting diode (LED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a quantum LED, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a shadow mask CRT, an aperture grille CRT, a monochrome CRT), one or more input devices 716 (e.g., a keyboard and/or a mouse), and one or more speakers 718 (e.g., a speaker). In one illustrative example, the video display 714 and the input device(s) 716 may be combined into a single component or device (e.g., an LCD touch screen).

[0075] The data storage device 716 may include a computer-readable medium 720 on which the instructions 722 embodying any one or more of the methods, operations, or functions described herein is stored. The instructions 722 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 704 and/or within the processing device 702 during execution thereof by the computer system 700. As such, the main memory 704 and the processing device 702 also constitute computer- readable media. The instructions 722 may further be transmitted or received over a network 135 via the network interface device 712.

[0076] While the computer-readable storage medium 720 is shown in the illustrative examples to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/ or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable storage medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure. The term “computer-readable storage medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical media, and magnetic media.

[0077] Consistent with the above disclosure, the examples of systems and method enumerated in the following clauses are specifically contemplated and are intended as a non-limiting set of examples.

[0078] Clause 1. A downhole antenna system comprising:

[0079] a housing comprising one or more electrode pairs, wherein:

[0080] the one or more electrode pairs are configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from a measurement while drilling (MWD) downhole tool,

[0081] the downhole antenna system is disposed within a first wellbore and the MWD downhole tool is disposed within a second wellbore,

[0082] the downhole antenna system is electrically coupled to a wireline, and

[0083] the downhole antenna system is configured to transmit the electromagnetic signal to a surface processor.

[0084] Clause 2. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, comprising a controller sub-system, wherein the controller sub-system comprises one or more analog front end components electrically coupled to the one or more electrode pairs and electrically coupled to an analog to digital converted (ADC) .

[0085] Clause 3. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, wherein the

ADC converts the electromagnetic signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and the controller sub-system comprises a downhole processor configured to transmit the digital signal to a surface processor via a wireline.

[0086] Clause 4. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are configured to weigh the downhole antenna system down to vertically traverse the first wellbore.

[0087] Clause 5. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, wherein the downhole processor is electrically coupled to a downhole wireline modem configured to transmit the digital signal to the surface processor via the wireline.

[0088] Clause 6. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are electrically isolated from the housing.

[0089] Clause 7. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, comprising a tractor electrically coupled to the downhole antenna system and configured to move the downhole antenna system in the first wellbore.

[0090] Clause 8. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, wherein the tractor moves the downhole antenna system in the first wellbore based on a position of the MWD downhole tool in the second wellbore.

[0091] Clause 9. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are included in a single module.

[0092] Clause 10. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are included in different modules.

[0093] Clause 11. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more electrode pairs and electronic components are included in a single module.

[0094] Clause 12. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more electrode pairs and electronic components are included in separate modules.

[0095] Clause 13. The downhole antenna system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more electrode pairs comprise:

[0096] a first positive electrode and a first negative electrode,

[0097] a second positive electrode and a second negative electrode, and

[0098] a positive transmitter and a negative transmitter.

[0099] Clause 14. A method comprising:

[0100] receiving, at one or more electrode pairs, an electromagnetic signal from a measurement while drilling (MWD) downhole tool, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are included in a housing of a downhole antenna system disposed in a first wellbore, and the MWD downhole tool is disposed in a second wellbore separate from the first wellbore;

[0101] converting the electromagnetic signal from an analog signal to a digital signal; and

[0102] transmitting, via a downhole processor, the digital signal to a surface processor.

[0103] Clause 15. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the downhole antenna system comprises a controller sub-system, wherein the controller sub-system comprises one or more analog front end components electrically coupled to the one or more electrode pairs and electrically coupled to an analog to digital converted (ADC).

[0104] Clause 16. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the ADC converts the electromagnetic signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and the controller sub-system comprises a downhole processor configured to transmit the digital signal to a surface processor via a wireline.

[0105] Clause 17. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are configured to weigh the downhole antenna system down to vertically traverse the first wellbore.

[0106] Clause 18. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the downhole processor is electrically coupled to a downhole wireline modem configured to transmit the digital signal to the surface processor via the wireline.

[0107] Clause 19. The method of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are electrically isolated from the housing.

[0108] Clause 20. A system comprising:

[0109] a downhole antenna system comprising:

[0110] a housing;

[0111] one or more electrode pairs included in the housing; and

[0112] a controller sub-system, wherein:

[0113] the controller sub-system comprises one or more electronic components configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from the one or more electrode pairs,

[0114] the one or more electrode pairs receive the electromagnetic signal from a measurement while drilling (MWD) downhole tool, and

[0115] the downhole antenna system is disposed within a first wellbore and the MWD downhole tool is disposed within a second wellbore separate from the first wellbore.

Claims

CLAIMS: What is claimed is:

1. A downhole antenna system comprising: a housing comprising one or more electrode pairs, wherein: the one or more electrode pairs are configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from a measurement while drilling (MWD) downhole tool, the downhole antenna system is disposed within a first wellbore and the MWD downhole tool is disposed within a second wellbore, the downhole antenna system is electrically coupled to a wireline, and the downhole antenna system is configured to transmit the electromagnetic signal to a surface processor.

2. The downhole antenna system of claim 1, comprising a controller sub-system, wherein the controller sub-system comprises one or more analog front end components electrically coupled to the one or more electrode pairs and electrically coupled to an analog to digital converted (ADC) .

3. The downhole antenna system of claim 2, wherein the ADC converts the electromagnetic signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and the controller sub-system comprises a downhole processor configured to transmit the digital signal to a surface processor via a wireline.

4. The downhole antenna system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are configured to weigh the downhole antenna system down to vertically traverse the first wellbore.

5. The downhole antenna system of claim 3, wherein the downhole processor is electrically coupled to a downhole wireline modem configured to transmit the digital signal to the surface processor via the wireline.

6. The downhole antenna system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are electrically isolated from the housing

7. The downhole antenna system of claim 1, comprising a tractor electrically coupled to the downhole antenna system and configured to move the downhole antenna system in the first wellbore.

8. The downhole antenna system of claim 7, wherein the tractor moves the downhole antenna system in the first wellbore based on a position of the MWD downhole tool in the second wellbore.

9. The downhole antenna system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are included in a single module.

10. The downhole antenna system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are included in different modules.

11. The downhole antenna system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrode pairs and electronic components are included in a single module.

12. The downhole antenna system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrode pairs and electronic components are included in separate modules.

13. The downhole antenna system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrode pairs comprise: a first positive receive electrode and a first negative receive electrode, a second positive receive electrode and a second negative receive electrode, and a positive transmitter electrode and a negative transmitter electrode.

14. A method comprising: receiving, at one or more electrode pairs, an electromagnetic signal from a measurement while drilling (MWD) downhole tool, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are included in a housing of a downhole antenna system disposed in a first wellbore, and the MWD downhole tool is disposed in a second wellbore separate from the first wellbore; converting the electromagnetic signal from an analog signal to a digital signal; and transmitting, via a downhole processor, the digital signal to a surface processor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the downhole antenna system comprises a controller sub system, wherein the controller sub-system comprises one or more analog front end components electrically coupled to the one or more electrode pairs and electrically coupled to an analog to digital converted (ADC).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the ADC converts the electromagnetic signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and the controller sub-system comprises a downhole processor configured to transmit the digital signal to a surface processor via a wireline.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are configured to weigh the downhole antenna system down to vertically traverse the first wellbore.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the downhole processor is electrically coupled to a downhole wireline modem configured to transmit the digital signal to the surface processor via the wireline.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more electrode pairs are electrically isolated from the housing.

20. A system comprising: a downhole antenna system comprising: a housing; one or more electrode pairs; and a controller sub-system, wherein: the controller sub-system comprises one or more electronic components configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from the one or more electrode pairs, the one or more electrode pairs receive the electromagnetic signal from a measurement while drilling (MWD) downhole tool, and the downhole antenna system is disposed within a first wellbore and the MWD downhole tool is disposed within a second wellbore separate from the first wellbore.