Patent ID: 6414905
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: E21B,G01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for communicating a coded message in a wellbore between a transmission node and a reception node, through a communication pathway extending there between, comprising:(a) a transmission apparatus, at said transmission node, which is in communication with said communication pathway, for generating at least a portion of said coded message; (b) wherein said coded message is composed of a plurality of message segments wherein each of said plurality of message segments includes a relatively unique transmission attribute which distinguishes each of said plurality of message segments from other unrelated wellbore events; (c) wherein said coded message is defined by operator-selectable coded message attributes of: (1) number of consecutive message segments; and (2) time between consecutive message segments; (d) a reception apparatus, at said reception node, for said coded message, said reception apparatus including a plurality of power-consuming electrical components; (e) a signal attribute monitoring circuit for monitoring substantially continuously for said relatively unique transmission attribute; and (f) wherein during a communication mode of operation at least a portion of said power-consuming electrical components of said reception apparatus are maintained in an off condition until said relatively unique transmission attribute is detected by said signal attribute monitoring circuit.