Borehole Electromagnetic Telemetry System: Theory, Modeling, and Applications

This book explains the theory, numerical modeling, and applications of a borehole electromagnetic telemetry system used for wireless communication between the downhole tool and the surface control center during oilfield drilling.

The authors begin by introducing borehole electromagnetic telemetry and explaining each part of the system with schematics and illustrations. They describe the working principle and compare it with other borehole wireless communication methods, such as mud pulse telemetry.

They then address 2D and 3D electromagnetic telemetry modelling, listing previous 2D and 3D modeling methods and detailing the advantages and limitations, before discussing their recent work on a novel layered finite element method for 2D electromagnetic telemetry modelling, and on 3D electromagnetic modelling based on integral equation, thin wire kernel, and layered medium Green’s functions.

Lastly, the authors show applications of electromagnetic telemetry, including single well borehole wireless communication and cross well communication in pad drilling. This includes photos, figures, and field data from real oilfield jobs.

This book is a useful reference for drilling engineers, well logging tool research and development scientists and researchers, as well as for students in the areas of petroleum engineering and electrical engineering.

Jiefu Chen received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Duke University, Durham, NC, in 2010. He was a Staff Scientist with Advantage R&D Center, Weatherford International, Houston, TX, from March 2011 to August 2015. Since September 2015, he has been with the University of Houston, Houston, TX, where he is currently an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He has published more than 70 technical journal and conference papers on computational electromagnetics, subsurface wireless communication, and well logging.

Shubin Zeng received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, in 2013. Currently he is a Ph.D. student at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX. He has published more than 10 technical journal and conference papers on fast modelling of electromagnetic telemetry and resistivity logging.

Yueqin Huang received her Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Xiamen University, Xiamen, China, in 2011. She was an Assistant Professor with Xiamen University, Xiamen, China, from August 2011 to August 2012. Currently she is the Chief Scientist of Cyentech Consulting LLC, Cypress, TX. She has published more than 30 technical journal and conference papers on subsurface sensing and communication.