Wideband Modeling of the Mud-Pulse Communications Channel

This letter presents a transfer function model for the mud pulse wireless pressure wave communications technique used for telemetry in oil and gas drilling. Using distributed transmission line theory and the fluid analogs for transmission line components, this model utilizes wireless circuit design analysis to predict the attenuation and reflections expected for the signals received over a mud pulse communications link. This is the first model to fully characterize the frequency selective nature of the mud pulse channel by accounting for the effect of pipe joints and the nature of the equipment terminating the ends of the drill string.

Automated summary

This letter presents a transfer function model for the mud pulse wireless pressure wave communications technique used for telemetry in oil and gas drilling. The model utilizes wireless circuit design analysis to predict the attenuation and reflections expected for the signals received over a mud pulse communications link, fully characterizing the frequency selective nature of the mud pulse channel by accounting for the effect of pipe joints and the nature of the equipment terminating the ends of the drill string.