Filtering and detection of telemetry

1. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of waveforms comprising encoded telemetry data, the receiving further comprising receiving the encoded telemetry data transmitted by way of drilling fluid in a drilling string;

detecting a first set of outputs from the encoded telemetry data using a first set of filtering and detection parameters;

detecting a second set of outputs from the encoded telemetry data using a second set of filtering and detection parameters, at least some of the second set of filtering and detection parameters different from the first set of filtering and detection parameters, and the detecting the second set of outputs substantially concurrent with detecting the first set of outputs; and

merging the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs to produce decoded telemetry data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein merging the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs further comprises:

combining portions of the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs to produce a combined set of outputs; and

using the combined set of outputs to produce decoded telemetry data.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein merging the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs further comprises:

using the first set of outputs to produce a first set of decoded telemetry data;

using the second set of outputs to produce a second set of decoded telemetry data; and

sending one of the first set of decoded telemetry data and the second set of decoded telemetry data for further processing.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein merging the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs further comprises:

combining portions of the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs to produce a combined set of outputs; and

using the combined set of outputs to produce a third set of decoded telemetry data; and

wherein sending further comprises sending one of the first set of decoded telemetry, the second set of decoded telemetry data, and the third set of decoded telemetry data for further processing.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

determining whether the first set of decoded telemetry data and the second set of decoded telemetry data are consistent;

applying selection criteria to determine a possibly coffect set of decoded telemetry data if the first and second sets of decoded telemetry data are not consistent; and

sending the possibly correct set of decoded telemetry data for further processing.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

computing performance statistics for the first set of filtering and detection parameters;

computing performance statistics for the second set of filtering and detection parameters; and

adapting at least one parameter value of the first and second sets of filtering and detection parameters responsive to the computed performance statistics.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein adapting the values further comprises adapting the at least one parameter value automatically.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

detecting a third set of outputs from the encoded telemetry data using a third set of filtering and parameters; and

computing performance statistics for the third set of filtering and detection parameters;

and wherein adapting at least one parameter value further comprises:

determining which of the sets of filtering and detection parameters has better performance statistics;

changing the second set of filtering and detection parameters to match the filter and detection parameters with the better performance statistics; and

changing the first and third sets of filtering and detection parameters to differ from each other, and from the second set of filtering and detection parameters.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the adapting is performed by a neural network.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

setting parameter values of the first and second sets of filtering and detection parameters, at least some of the parameter values differing in each set.

11. A telemetry system comprising:

a bottomhole assembly that transmits encoded telemetry data to the surface by way of drilling fluid in a drilling string;

at least one sensing device that detects the encoded telemetry data; and

a surface system coupled to the at least one sensing device, the surface system acquires the encoded telemetry detected by the at least one sensing device, and

the surface system

detects a first set of outputs from the encoded telemetry data using a first set of filtering and detection parameters,

detects a second set of outputs from the encoded telemetry data using a second set of filtering and detection parameters, at least some of the second set of filtering and detection parameters different from the first set of filtering and detection parameters, and the detecting the second set of outputs substantially concurrent with detecting the first set of outputs, and

merges the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs to produce decoded telemetry data.

12. The telemetry system of claim 11 wherein the surface system further comprises a plurality of computer systems, a first computer system of the plurality of computer systems executing a first detection engine comprising the first set of filtering and detection parameters and a second computer system of the plurality of computer systems executing a second detection engine comprising the second set of filtering and detection parameters.

13. The telemetry system of claim 11 wherein the surface system comprises a plurality of detection engines on the same computer system, each software program detects attributes of the encoded telemetry data, a first detection engine of the plurality of detection engines comprising the first set of filtering and detection parameters and a second detection engine of the plurality of detection engines comprising the second set of filtering and detection parameters.

14. The telemetry system of claim 11 , wherein when the surface system merges the first and second set of outputs, the surface system

combines portions of the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs to produce a combined set of outputs, and

uses the combined set of outputs to produce decoded telemetry data.

15. The telemetry system of claim 11 , wherein when the surface system merges the first and second set of outputs, the surface system

uses the first set of outputs to produce a first set of decoded telemetry data;

uses the second set of outputs to produce a second set of decoded telemetry data; and

sends one of the first set of decoded telemetry and the second set of decoded telemetry data for further processing.

16. The telemetry system of claim 15 , wherein when the surface system merges the first and second set of outputs, the surface system

combines portions of the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs to produce a combined set of outputs; and

uses the combined set of outputs to produce a third set of decoded telemetry data; and

the surface system further sends one of the first set of decoded telemetry, or the second set of decoded telemetry data, or the third set of decoded telemetry data for further processing.

17. The telemetry system of claim 15 , wherein the surface system further

determines whether the first set of decoded telemetry data and the second set of decoded telemetry data are consistent;

applies selection criteria to determine a possibly correct set of decoded telemetry data if the first and second sets of decoded telemetry data are not consistent; and

sends the possibly correct set of decoded telemetry data for further processing.

18. The telemetry system of claim 11 , wherein the surface system further

computes performance statistics for the first set of filtering and detection parameters;

computes performance statistics for the second set of filtering and detection parameters; and

adapts at least one parameter value of the first and second sets of filtering and detection parameters responsive to the computed performance statistics.

19. The telemetry system of claim 18 , wherein the surface system further adapts the at least one parameter value automatically.

20. The telemetry system of claim 18 , wherein the surface system further:

detects a third set of outputs from the encoded telemetry data using a third set of filtering and parameters; and

computes performance statistics for the third set of filtering and detection parameters; and the surface system further adapts at least one parameter value, when the surface system adapts, the surface system:

determines which of the sets of filtering and detection parameters has better performance statistics;

changes the second set of filtering and detection parameters to match the filter and detection parameters with the better performance statistics; and

changes the first and third sets of filtering and detection parameters to differ from each other, and from the second set of filtering and detection parameters.

21. The telemetry system of claim 18 , wherein the surface system further adapts at least one parameter using a neural network.

22. The telemetry system of claim 11 , wherein the surface system further sets parameter values of the first and second sets of filtering and detection parameters, at least some of the parameter values differing in each set.

23. A computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed in a telemetry system, cause the telemetry system to:

receive a plurality of waveforms comprising encoded telemetry data, the encoded telemetry data transmitted by way of drilling fluid in a drilling string;

detect a first set of outputs from the encoded telemetry data using a first set of filtering and detection parameters;

detect a second set of outputs from the encoded telemetry data using a second set of filtering and detection parameters, at least some of the second set of filtering and detection parameters different from the first set of filtering and detection parameters, and the telemetry system detects the second set of outputs substantially concurrent with the first set of outputs; and

merge the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs to produce decoded telemetry data.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein when the telemetry system merges, the program causes the telemetry system to

combine portions of the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs to produce a combined set of outputs; and

use the combined set of outputs to produce decoded telemetry data.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein when the telemetry system merges, the program causes the telemetry system to

use the first set of outputs to produce a first set of decoded telemetry data;

use the second set of outputs to produce a second set of decoded telemetry data; and

send one of the first set of decoded telemetry data and the second set of decoded telemetry data for further processing.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 , wherein when the telemetry system merges, the program causes the telemetry system to

combine portions of the first set of outputs and the second set of outputs to produce a combined set of outputs; and

use the combined set of outputs to produce a third set of decoded telemetry data; and

when the telemetry system sends, the program causes the telemetry system to send one of the first set of decoded telemetry, the second set of decoded telemetry data, and the third set of decoded telemetry data for further processing.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 , wherein when the telemetry system merges, the program causes the telemetry system to

determine whether the first set of decoded telemetry data and the second set of decoded telemetry data are consistent;

apply selection criteria to determine a possibly correct set of decoded telemetry data if the first and second sets of decoded telemetry data are not consistent; and

send the possibly coffect set of decoded telemetry data for further processing.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein the program further causes the telemetry system to:

compute performance statistics for the first set of filtering and detection parameters;

compute performance statistics for the second set of filtering and detection parameters; and

adapt at least one parameter value of the first and second sets of filtering and detection parameters responsive to the computed performance statistics.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 , wherein when the telemetry system adapts, the program causes the telemetry system to adapt the at least one parameter value automatically.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 , wherein the program further causes the telemetry system to:

detect a third set of outputs from the encoded telemetry data using a third set of filtering and parameters; and

compute performance statistics for the third set of filtering and detection parameters; and when the telemetry system adapts, the program causes the telemetry system to determine which of the sets of filtering and detection parameters has better performance statistics;

change the second set of filtering and detection parameters to match the filter and detection parameters with the better performance statistics; and

change the first and third sets of filtering and detection parameters to differ from each other, and from the second set of filtering and detection parameters.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 , wherein when the telemetry system adapts, the program causes the telemetry system to comprise a neural network.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the program further causes the telemetry system to set parameter values of the first and second sets of filtering and detection parameters, at least some of the parameter values differing in each set.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving further comprising receiving the encoded telemetry data transmitted by inducing pressure pulses in the drilling fluid in the drilling string.

34. The telemetry system of claim 11 wherein the at least one sensing device detects the encoded telemetry data transmitted by pressure pulses induced in the drilling fluid in the drilling string.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein when the telemetry system receives, the program causes the telemetry system to receive the encoded telemetry data transmitted by pressure pulses induced in the drilling fluid in the drilling string.