From rssfeeds@jmason.org Mon Oct 7 12:05:05 2002 Return-Path: Delivered-To: yyyy@localhost.example.com Received: from localhost (jalapeno [127.0.0.1]) by jmason.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B648E16F70 for ; Mon, 7 Oct 2002 12:03:40 +0100 (IST) Received: from jalapeno [127.0.0.1] by localhost with IMAP (fetchmail-5.9.0) for jm@localhost (single-drop); Mon, 07 Oct 2002 12:03:40 +0100 (IST) Received: from dogma.slashnull.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by dogma.slashnull.org (8.11.6/8.11.6) with ESMTP id g9780NK23227 for ; Mon, 7 Oct 2002 09:00:23 +0100 Message-Id: <200210070800.g9780NK23227@dogma.slashnull.org> To: yyyy@example.com From: boingboing Subject: 1Mb/s through mud Date: Mon, 07 Oct 2002 08:00:22 -0000 Content-Type: text/plain; encoding=utf-8 X-Spam-Status: No, hits=-916.3 required=5.0 tests=AWL,T_NONSENSE_FROM_40_50 version=2.50-cvs X-Spam-Level: URL: http://boingboing.net/#85531633 Date: Not supplied The DoE has announced a high-speed data-transfer that runs on drillpipe, through "a 4-inch diameter steel pipe immersed in electrically conductive mud at pressures up to 1000 atmospheres, temperatures up to 150 deg C, and with vibrational accelerations of hundreds of g's:" Now, with a high-speed, bi-directional communications link, a drilling system's azimuth, inclination, pressure, temperature, loads and vibration, along with information on rock characteristics near the drill bit, can be evaluated almost instantly. Also, because of the ability to send high-speed data through the drill pipe, technologies once thought unobtainable – such as collecting seismic data at the drill bit – may now be possible. With high-resolution seismic data collected "ahead of the bit," operators could steer the drill bit more precisely toward oil- and gas-bearing sweet spots and away from less productive areas. This will enhance the efficiency of oil and gas wells and reduce the number of wells needed to produce a reservoir. Link[1] Discuss[2] (_via /.[3]_) [1] http://www.fossil.energy.gov/techline/tl_intellipipe.shtml [2] http://www.quicktopic.com/boing/H/VRj5gZXZSGT [3] http://slashdot.org