Patent ID: 7518528

Claim:
A short-hop wireless communication apparatus-for use in a borehole to transmit data from a lower location below a mud motor or other mechanical obstruction to an upper location above said mud motor or other mechanical obstruction, said apparatus being suitable for use with either mud pulse or electrical conduction-based well apparatus surface communication links, said short-hop wireless communication apparatus comprising: a) a lower recessed insulated conductive electrode element at a lower location, said element including an insulation supported band conductive electrode received and supported inwardly relative to the outer surface of a drill string sub at a lower location below a bit rotating mud driven motor carried by the string, said electrode having an outer surface directly and openly exposed to the well fluid, b) an upper insulating gap or insulated type conductive electrode element at an upper location, c) first transmission means at said lower location to transmit information from said lower location to said upper location, d) receiving means at said upper location to receive information transmitted from said lower location, e) second transmission means at said upper location to transmit information from said upper location to said lower location, f) receiving means at said lower location to receive information transmitted from said upper location to said lower location, and g) electrical connection means at said upper location between it and a nearby or co-located terminal of a mud pulse or electrical conduction-based surface communication link, allowing communication between said upper location and a surface location, and h) there being electrical power supplies, sensors, recording and control means, for operative connection to transmission means, receiving means and electrical connection means.