Drilling Mud to Become a Data Carrier for Subsurface Information
Drilling Mud Transformed into a Real-Time Data Channel by Perm Polytechnic Researchers
A team of scientists from Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNRPU) has developed a groundbreaking technology that turns drilling mud into a data transmission channel, enabling the transfer of real-time information from deep within oil wells. This innovation has been integrated into a high-tech well construction system, the university announced.
Morse Code-Inspired Pulses from the Depths
To ensure efficient drilling, it is critical to precisely control the trajectory of downhole tools—especially when the distance between the surface and the target reservoir spans several kilometers. Traditional communication systems face major limitations: cables are prone to tangling and breaking, radio waves cannot penetrate rock layers, and acoustic signals are drowned out by equipment noise.
The new solution employs a pulsator, a mechanical “disc” attached to the drill string. This device interrupts the drilling mud flow at specific frequencies, creating hydraulic impulses—similar to Morse code. These pulses are then converted into binary code (0s and 1s). Each impulse serves as a signal that encodes real-time drilling parameters such as pressure fluctuations or tool trajectory.
Highly sensitive surface sensors detect these subtle pressure variations, while custom software filters noise and decodes the data, providing a 3D real-time model of the drilling path on the operator’s screen. This software was also developed in-house by Perm Polytechnic.
“This technology transforms ordinary drilling mud into a high-tech communications channel,” said Alexander Melekhin, Associate Professor at the Department of Oil and Gas Technologies at PNRPU. “Its key advantages are universality and reliability.”
Reliable, Cost-Effective Deep Communication
The system operates at depths of up to 3,000 meters, ensuring stable signal transmission even under high vibration and acoustic interference. It requires no drilling interruptions or specialized equipment beyond what is already used in the well, making it twice as cost-effective as foreign analogs.
The solution is currently undergoing field testing at oilfields in the Perm region. Developers say it may significantly reduce drilling risks and financial losses while improving precision in complex well construction.
This breakthrough builds on previous work by PNRPU, which developed a smart directional drilling system based on fiber-optic gyroscopes, capable of autonomously adjusting the borehole trajectory and transmitting real-time reservoir data to surface teams.
