Method for transmitting downhole data in a reduced time

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Abstract of the Disclosure, A tool face orientation of a directional drill bit within a borehole is efficiently communicated to the well surface by communicating only changes in the tool face orientation. In the first embodiment after the entire tool face orientation is measured and transmitted uphole and, thereafter changes of the tool face orientation as measured with respect to the center of spatially fixed sectorial ranges are transmitted uphole. The magnitude of the changes relative to the center of a fixed sectorial range being, smaller than the range of the entire tool face orientation allow the subsequent transmission to be made using words of shorter length. Alternatively, the …