Embedded Systems

Downhole Instrumentation

Stripper Well Consortium Reseearch Grant – Taylor University

Under a research grant from the Stripper Well Consortium, Taylor University conducted research into the development of a low-cost well logging tool. One component of the tool was the development of a Geiger tube experiment to measure background radiation in the well bore. The prototype is shown below, and consisted of multiple Geiger tubes (center), high voltage bias electronics (right side) and an MSP430 microcontroller for data acquisition and communication (left side).

In April 2008 the experiement was tested in a cased well bore down to about 800 feet. The static fluid level was at about 250 feet. The plexiglass container held up well, and the the experiement and data were recovered. The pictures below show the tool before and after its trip down hole.

Instrumentation and Data Collection for Artificial Lift System

Stripper Well Consortium Research Grant – NOJAK Pumping Solutions (formerly Airlift Services International )

Under a grant from the Stripper Well Consortium, Airlift Services International, (NOJAK Pumping Solutions), sub-contracted Taylor University to build a down-hole data collection system to monitor system fluid and air pressure. The system performance data was used to determine how to increase overall system efficiencies and increase the depth of the system.

The picture below show the data module being lowered into an oil well in April of 2007.

The next image shows the recovered module. The bands and screws sealed the Plexiglas cover, protecting the electronics inside. The module was required to function, even if submerged in water or oil.

The two pressure transducers can be seen in the ends of the module. Lithium batteries, analog interface module, the MSP 430 microcontroller module and 2 Gb SD card module are shown from the disassembled module below. The microcontroller was programmed to acquire pressure, temperature and internal voltage data and store it on the SD card. Upon recovery the SD card data was transferred to a computer for analysis.

Seismic Vibrator Control System

Conoco, 1981-1985

Designed, built, programmed and tested digital feedback control system for hydraulic vibrator systems used for on-shore and offshore oil exploration at Conoco. This was the first time a completely digital feedback control system had been applied to these 3000psi hydraulic systems. U.S. Patent 4,857,919 was awarded for a novel digital method of acquiring servo-valve position information used in the feedback loop.