Patent ID: 9702245
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: E21B

Claim:
1. A communication method, comprising: connecting at least one sensor and a local power source to a controller, the at least one sensor being configured to estimate a selected parameter; programming at least one predetermined pattern based on the selected parameter into the controller; positioning the at least one sensor, the controller, and the local power source along a bottomhole assembly; conveying the bottomhole assembly into a wellbore; generating power at the bottomhole assembly using a generator energized by a drilling fluid flowing at at least a threshold flow rate value; reducing the flow rate of the drilling fluid below the threshold value to terminate the generation of power at the bottomhole assembly; energizing the at least one sensor and the controller using power stored in the local power source only after the flow of the drilling fluid has been reduced below the threshold flow rate value; generating the at least one predetermined pattern in the wellbore; detecting the at least one predetermined pattern using the at least one sensor and the controller; and transmitting a signal using the controller in response to the detected at least one predetermined pattern.