Babelfish

PowerDrive communicates with the rest of the BHA through an RF transmitting antenna in its control unit, broadcasting real-time data continuously while the antenna is powered. The Babelfish receiver is mounted within the MWD string to pick up that transmission.

When the signal at the receiver sits clear of background noise, Babelfish decodes and digitizes the data and provides it to the MWD tool, which sends it to surface alongside its own measurements. The result is steering and tool-status information available to the directional driller while the well is being drilled, rather than after the run.

Babelfish also records to memory, so a run can be reviewed afterwards where real-time transmission was interrupted — useful for diagnosing communication problems downhole.