ACOUSTIC DATALINK USEFUL IN DOWNHOLE APPLICATIONS

1 . In a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) for subterranean drilling oriented such that downhole is towards a drill bit and uphole is away from the drill bit, a method for telemetering data from a Remote Data Source (RDS), the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a Bottom Mounted Mud Pulser in the BHA;

(b) providing a Main Processing Unit (MPU) and an acoustic sensor uphole from the BMMP;

(c) providing an RDS downhole from the BMMP, wherein the RDS is configured to generate RDS data;

(d) encoding the RDS data into a corresponding first encoded RDS data signal;

(e) translating the first encoded RDS data signal into a corresponding acoustic RDS data signal;

(f) causing the acoustic RDS data signal to follow an acoustic pathway at least partially uphole to the acoustic sensor;

(g) causing the acoustic sensor to translate the acoustic RDS data signal into a second encoded RDS data signal;

(h) causing the MPU to decode the second encoded RDS data signal into RDS data and send said decoded RDS data to the BMMP; and

(i) causing the BMMP to telemeter RDS data received from the MPU in at least an uphole direction.

2 . The method of claim 1 , in which selected ones of the MPU and the BMMP are retrievable.

3 . The method of claim 1 , in which the first and second encoded RDS data signals are substantially the same.

4 . The method of claim 1 , in which a Universal Bottom Hole Orientation (UBHO) sub is in the acoustic pathway.

5 . The method of claim 1 , in which the RDS is configured to generate RDS data at the RDS.

6 . The method of claim 1 , in which step (e) is performed downhole from the RDS.

7 . The method of claim 1 , in which the RDS is selected from at least one of the group consisting of:

(1) a Diagnostics While Drilling tool;

(2) a Logging While Drilling tool;

(3) a Measurement While Drilling tool;

(4) a Dynamics While Drilling tool;

(5) a Rotary Steerable System; and

(6) a smart motor.

8 . The method of claim 1 , in which step (e) includes amplifying the acoustic signal.

9 . In a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) for subterranean drilling oriented such that downhole is towards a drill hit and uphole is away from the drill hit, a method for telemetering data from a Remote Data Source (RDS), the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a Bottom Mounted Mud Pulser (BMMP) in the BHA;

(b) providing a Main Processing Unit (MPU) and an acoustic sensor uphole in the BHA from the BMMP;

(c) providing an RDS downhole from the BMMP, wherein the RDS is configured to generate RDS data at the RDS;

(d) providing a piezoelectric translator downhole from the BMMP;

(e) encoding the RDS data into a corresponding first encoded RDS data signal;

(f) causing the piezoelectric translator to translate the first encoded RDS data signal into a corresponding acoustic RDS data signal;

(g) causing the acoustic RDS data signal to follow an acoustic pathway at least partially uphole to the acoustic sensor;

(h) causing the acoustic sensor to translate the acoustic RDS data signal into a second encoded RDS data signal;

(i) causing the MPU to decode the second encoded RDS data signal into RDS data and send said decoded RDS data to the BMMP; and

(j) causing the BMMP to telemeter RDS data received from the MPU, wherein said telemetry by the BMMP is in at least an uphole direction.

10 . The method of claim 9 , in which selected ones of the MPU and the BMMP are retrievable.

11 . The method of claim 9 , in which the first and second encoded RDS data signals are substantially the same.

12 . The method of claim 9 , in which the piezoelectric translator is downhole from the RDS.

13 . The method of claim 9 , in which a Universal Bottom Hole Orientation (UBHO) sub is in the acoustic pathway.

14 . The method of claim 9 , in which the RDS is selected from at least one of the group consisting of:

(1) a Diagnostics While Drilling tool;

(2) a Logging While Drilling tool;

(3) a Measurement While Drilling tool;

(4) a Dynamics While Drilling tool;

(5) a Rotary Steerable System; and

(6) a smart motor.

15 . The method of claim 9 , in which step (f) includes causing a reactive mass to amplify the acoustic signal

16 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) for subterranean drilling oriented such that downhole is towards a drill bit and uphole is away from the drill bit, the BHA comprising:

a Bottom Mounted Mud Pulser (BMMP);

a Main Processing Unit (MPU) positioned an acoustic sensor positioned uphole from the BMMP;

an RDS downhole positioned downhole from the BMW, wherein the RDS is configured to generate RDS data;

a piezoelectric translator positioned downhole from the BMMP, wherein the piezoelectric translator is configured to translate a first encoded RDS data signal into a corresponding acoustic RDS data signal;

an acoustic pathway traveling at least partially uphole from the piezoelectric translator to the acoustic sensor;

wherein the acoustic pathway is configured to carry the acoustic RDS data signal to the acoustic sensor;

wherein the acoustic sensor is configured to translate the acoustic RDS data signal into a second encoded RDS data signal;

wherein the MPU is configured to decode the second encoded RDS data signal into RDS data and send said decoded RDS data to the BMMP; and

wherein the BMMP is configured to telemeter RDS data received from the MPU in at least an uphole direction.

17 . The BHA of claim 16 , in which selected ones of the MPU and the BMW are retrievable.

18 . The BHA of claim 16 , in which the first and second encoded RDS data signals are substantially the same.

19 . The BHA of claim 16 , in which the piezoelectric translator is positioned downhole from the RDS.

20 . The BHA of claim 16 , in which a Universal Bottom Hole Orientation (UBHO) sub is positioned in the acoustic pathway.

21 . The BHA of claim 16 , in which the RDS is configured to generate RDS data at the RDS.

22 . The BHA of claim 16 , in which the RDS is selected from at least one of the group consisting of:

(1) a Diagnostics While Drilling tool;

(2) a Logging While Drilling tool;

(3) a Measurement While Drilling tool;

(4) a Dynamics While Drilling tool;

(5) a Rotary Steerable System; and

(6) a smart motor.

23 . The BHA of claim 16 , further comprising a reactive mass, wherein the reactive mass is configured to amplify the acoustic RDS data signal after translation by the piezoelectric translator.