167 results about "Formation evaluation" patented technology

A caliper tool used on a drilling tubular and having extensible members that remain decoupled with respect to the borehole wall during caliper measurements and while the extensible members are extended to allow movement in and through the borehole. A processor processes known and measured information to determine the size and shape of the borehole. Formation evaluation instruments may be included to allow formation evaluation substantially simultaneously with the caliper measurements.

A downhole fluid pump including a pump chamber, and a piston disposed in the pump chamber so that the piston will move in one selected from a charge stroke and a discharge stroke when the piston is exposed to a differential pressure. The downhole fluid pump may form part of a formation evaluation while drilling tool.

A downhole formation fluid pumping and a sampling apparatus are disclosed that may form part of a formation evaluation while drilling tool or part of a tool pipe string. The operation of the pump is optimized based upon parameters generated from formation pressure test data as well as tool system data thereby ensuring optimum performance of the pump at higher speeds and with greater dependability. New pump designs for fluid sampling apparatuses for use in MWD systems are also disclosed.

A minimum volume apparatus and method is provided including a tool for obtaining at least one parameter of interest of a subterranean formation in-situ, the tool comprising a carrier member, a selectively extendable member mounted on the carrier for isolating a portion of annulus, a port exposable to formation fluid in the isolated annulus space, a piston integrally disposed within the extendable member for urging the fluid into the port, and a sensor operatively associated with the port for detecting at least one parameter of interest of the fluid.

The present disclosure relates to a method to determine a formation property of a subsurface formation. A downhole logging tool having two or more antennas, at least two of the antennas having a transversely-sensitive element and an axially-sensitive element is provided. Azimuthally-sensitive measurements are obtained using the antennas of the downhole logging tool. The measurements are fitted to a Fourier series having Fourier coefficients that include channel gains, if any. A DC component, a first harmonic component, and a second harmonic component are determined from the Fourier series, a measurement type is determined using the DC component, the first harmonic component, and / or the second harmonic component, and the formation property of the subsurface formation is determined using the determined measurement type.

Many reservoirs of interest include heavy oil. In such reservoirs, parti at normal temperatures, many instruments commonly used for formation evaluation may not be able to distinguish between heavy oil and bound water in the formation. Passive or active heating is used to elevate the temperature of the fluids in the formation. At elevated temperatures, distinguishing between heavy oil and bound water is easier. Of particular interest is the increase in the resolvability of the transverse relaxation time T2 of NMR spin echo measurements. Additionally, the dielectric constant and the loss tangents of water and heavy oil show different temperature and frequency dependence.

A probe assembly samples fluid from a wellbore penetrating a subsurface formation having a virgin fluid therein beyond a layer of contaminated fluid surrounding the wellbore. The probe assembly includes a probe body extendable from a downhole tool, and a packer carried by the probe body and having a distal surface adapted for sealingly engaging the wellbore. The packer has an outer and inner periphery, with the inner periphery being defined by a bore through the packer. The packer is further equipped with channel(s) formed in the distal surface and arranged to define an annular cleanup intake intermediate the inner and outer peripheries. The passageway(s) extend(s) through the packer for conducting virgin fluid and / or contaminated fluid between the channel(s). A sampling tube is sealingly disposed in the bore of the packer for conducting virgin fluid to a second inlet in the probe body and the downhole tool.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for conveying power and / or data signal along a wellbore bottomhole assembly (BHA) having a steering unit, a bidirectional data communication and power (“BCPM”) unit, a sensor sub, a formation evaluation sub, stabilizers. A power and / or data transmission line enables power transfer and two-way data exchange among these BHA components. In one embodiment, a drilling motor includes a transmission unit that transmits power and / or data between modules adjacent the motor via conductive elements in the rotor and / or the stator. A power / data transfer device is adapted to transfer power and / or data between the rotating and non-rotating sections of the transmission unit. The tooling and equipment making up the BHA can be formed as interchangeable modules. Each module can includes electrical and data communication connectors at each of their respective ends so that power and data can be transferred between adjacent modules via modular threaded connections.

A method of evaluating a fluid from a subterranean formation drawn into a downhole tool positioned in a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation is provided. The method involves drawing fluid from a formation into an evaluation flowline, drawing fluid from a formation into a cleanup flowline, measuring a property of the fluid in the evaluation flowline and detecting stabilization of the property of the fluid in the evaluation flowline. Fluid properties in a combined flowline may be generated from the evaluation and cleanup flowlines. The fluid properties of the combined flowline may be used to project future evaluation flowline fluid properties. Contamination levels for a given fluid property of a given flowline may also be determined.

A method of measuring characteristics of a geologic formation, using the time, energy and spatial spectra of gamma rays induced by an accelerator, which allows (i) the measurement of the photoelectric absorption (Pe) factor of the formation using a gamma-ray spectrum detected from gamma rays induced in the formation, (ii) the calculation of a neutron porosity of the formation using the gamma-ray spectrum, and (iii) the determination of a bulk density of the formation using the spectroscopic measurements. The Pe factor may be inferred by directly mapping the spectroscopic measurements. The porosity may be calculated by relating the gamma-ray spectrum to a hydrogen content of the formation. The density may be determined by computing a gamma diffusion length of the formation based on the gamma-ray spectrum. In addition to these measurements, the resistivity of the formation and its spontaneous potential may also be measured using an electromagnetic induction system.

A formation evaluation system for a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. The formation evaluation system is provided with a downhole tool and a sensor. The downhole tool is positionable in the wellbore. The downhole tool has a downhole electromagnetic unit for communication with a surface electromagnetic unit. The sensor determines at least one wellsite parameter from the electromagnetic signal. The downhole tool and the surface electromagnetic unit are adapted to pass electromagnetic signals there between. The electromagnetic signals pass through the subterranean formation whereby the sensor determines the at least one wellsite parameter from the electromagnetic signal.

Methods and apparatuses for evaluating a fluid from a subterranean formation of a wellsite via a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation are provided. The apparatus relates to a downhole tool having a probe with at least two intakes for receiving fluid from the subterranean formation. The downhole tool is configured according to a wellsite set up. The method involves positioning the downhole tool in the wellbore of the wellsite, drawing fluid into the downhole tool via the at least two intakes, monitoring at least one wellsite parameter via at least one sensor of the wellsite and automatically adjusting the wellsite setup based on the wellsite parameters.

A method for determining spatial distribution of properties of the Earth's subsurface includes obtaining seismic data over a survey area of the Earth's subsurface. Controlled source electromagnetic survey data are obtained over substantially the same survey area. An initial model of the Earth's subsurface for each of the seismic data and the electromagnetic data is generated. Further data may include gravity, magnetics, seismics any type and borehole data. Each model is optimized on at least one model parameter. Consistency is determined between the models; and the at least one model parameter is adjusted and the optimizing and determining consistency are repeated until the models are consistent. Constraints are successively derived from the data sets and also cross checked against reservoir data where available.

Measurements made by a formation evaluation sensor downhole are processed to produce an image and a bitstream characterizing the image is transmitted uphole. The parameters used in the downhole processing are dynamically alterable.

A minimum volume apparatus and method is provided including a tool for obtaining at least one parameter of interest of a subterranean formation in-situ, the tool comprising a carrier member, a selectively extendable member mounted on the carrier for isolating a portion of annulus, a port exposable to formation fluid in the isolated annulus space, a piston integrally disposed within the extendable member for urging the fluid into the port, and a sensor operatively associated with the port for detecting at least one parameter of interest of the fluid.

A viscometer-densimeter for a down hole tool positionable in a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation is described. The formation contains at least one fluid therein. The down hole tool is adapted to convey at least a portion of the fluid to the viscometer-densimeter. The viscometer-densimeter comprises a sensor unit, and at least one magnet. The sensor unit is positionable within the down hole tool and comprises at least two spatially disposed connectors and a wire suspended in tension between the at least two connectors such that the wire is available for interaction with the fluid when the viscometer-densimeter is positioned within the down hole tool and the down hole tool is positioned within the subterranean formation and receives the fluid from the subterranean formation. The connectors and the wire are constructed so as to provide a frequency oscillator.

A downhole fluid pump including a pump chamber, and a piston disposed in the pump chamber so that the piston will move in one selected from a charge stroke and a discharge stroke when the piston is exposed to a differential pressure. The downhole fluid pump may form part of a formation evaluation while drilling tool.

Electrocrushing drills and methods for operating electrocrushing drills. Electrocrushing drill bits comprise one or more high voltage electrodes surrounded by a ground or current return structure, which can be a ring or a comprise rod shaped electrodes. Openings in the rim of the current return structure facilitate removal of drilling debris and bubbles created by the electrocrushing process out from the bottom face of the bit and up the wellbore. The high voltage electrodes can be arranged in a circle. The current return structure may partially cover the bottom face of the drill bit, thereby enclosing the high voltage electrodes in openings that may be sector shaped. The drill may comprise one or more conducting loops, in each of which pulsed current creates a pulsed magnetic field. The loops can be oriented in particular directions to provide a pulsed magnetic field with the desired configuration and orientation in space. The formation ahead of the drill can then be evaluated with the appropriate sensors.

A drill bit having a bit body includes one or more acoustic sensors that are configured to detect elastic waves when the drill bit is used for drilling a wellbore. The acoustic sensor may be configured to detect a sonic signature associated with a failure event. In further arrangements, the acoustic sensors may be configured to receive signals from a controlled acoustic source.

A formation fluid evaluation system (800) interconnected within a tubular string (818) for operation in a wellbore (802) having multiple zones (806, 808, 810). The evaluation system (800) includes a set of straddle packers (820, 822) that is operable to sequentially isolate the multiple zones (806, 808, 810). A test valve (824) is disposed between the straddle packers (820, 822). A fluid unloading assembly (828) is positioned uphole of the straddle packers (820, 822). The fluid unloading assembly (828) is operable to draw fluid (834) from the isolated zone (808) into the tubular string (818) through the test valve (824) in response to the circulation of a drive fluid down the tubular string (818). A formation evaluation instrument (836) is disposed within the tubular string (818) and determines a characteristic of the fluid (834) received from the isolated zone (808).

This invention provides a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) downhole assembly for use in drilling boreholes which utilizes directional formation evaluation devices on a rotating assembly in conjunction with toolface orientation sensors. The data from the toolface orientation sensors are analyzed by a processor and toolface angle measurements are determined at defined intervals. Formation evaluation sensors operate substantially independently of the toolface orientation sensors and measurements of the formation evaluation sensors are analyzed in combination with the determined toolface angle to obtain formation parameters.

Techniques for reduced contamination formation evaluation are provided. The techniques relate to drawing fluid into a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation having a virgin fluid and a contaminated fluid therein. Fluid is drawn into at least two inlets for receiving the fluids from the formation. At least one evaluation flowline is fluidly connected to at least one of the inlets for passage of the virgin fluid into the downhole tool. At least one cleanup flowline is fluidly connected to the inlets for passage of the contaminated fluid into the downhole tool. At least one fluid circuit is fluidly connected to the evaluation flowline and / or cleanup flowlines for selectively drawing fluid therein. At least one fluid connector is provided for selectively establishing a fluid connection between the flowlines. At least one sensor is provided for measuring downhole parameters in one of the flowlines. Fluid may be selectively pumped through the flowlines to reduce the contamination in the evaluation flowline.

Evaluating a formation by lowering a downhole tool in a wellbore penetrating the formation, injecting a fluid into the formation at an injection zone via the downhole tool, and using a formation evaluation sensor to perform a measurement at each of a plurality of locations in the wellbore each proximate the injection zone. At least two of the plurality of measurements are compared, and a formation property is determined based on the comparison.

This invention provides a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) downhole assembly for use in drilling boreholes which utilizes directional formation evaluation devices on a rotating assembly in conjunction with toolface orientation sensors. The data from the toolface orientation sensors are analyzed by a processor and toolface angle measurements are determined at defined intervals. Formation evaluation sensors operate substantially independently of the toolface orientation sensors and measurements of the formation evaluation sensors are analyzed in combination with the determined toolface angle to obtain formation parameters.

A drill bit made according to one embodiment includes a source configured to induce radiation into a formation during drilling of a wellbore and a sensor in the drill bit configured to detect radiation from the formation responsive to the radiation induced by the source. The drill bit may further include a circuit configured to process signals received from the sensor to estimate a property of the formation.

Measurements made by a formation evaluation sensor downhole are processed to produce an image and a bitstream characterizing the image is transmitted uphole. The parameters used in the downhole processing are dynamically alterable.

A method for formation logging includes acquiring measurements of neutron-induced signals having azimuthal information using a neutron tool; processing the measurements into a plurality of azimuthal sector data for each acquisition interval; and deriving a selected parameter from the plurality of azimuthal sector data. A logging tool includes a housing adapted to move in a borehole; a circuitry having memories for storing neutron-induced measurements; a neutron source disposed in the housing; and at least one detector bank disposed in the housing spaced apart from the neutron source, wherein each of the at least one detector bank comprises at least one detector disposed around a periphery of the housing such that the at least one detector is more sensitive to signals from an azimuthal direction, and wherein count rates detected by each of the at least one detector are separately stored in the memories.

The present invention incorporates the use of geophysical, geological and formation evaluation data to develop synthetic stratigraphic columns based on depositional rules and sedimentary stacking patterns. The present invention utilizes dynamic assignment and matching whereby the synthetic columns can be easily conformed throughout the reservation characterization process as geological data becomes available.

The invention discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle autonomous formation evaluation index and model prediction control (MPC) formation control method and belongs to the technical field of flight control. According to the method, a definition relevant to unmanned aerial vehicle autonomous formation, a computing method of the collision prevention probability of unmanned aerial vehicle autonomous formation and an unmanned aerial vehicle autonomous formation evaluation index are provided, and the MPC formation control method applicable to unmanned aerial vehicles is provided. The method solves the problem how to give out the collision prevention quantitative index which should be followed by design of an autonomous formation flight control system when it is known that the unmanned aerial vehicle autonomous formation scale is M, the average expectation distance between unmanned aerial vehicles in formation is dr, and the collision probability of the whole formation is required to be smaller than Pc. The method provides a quantitative index basis for engineering design of the unmanned aerial vehicle autonomous formation control system, and the collision problem the unmanned aerial vehicles in dense formation is solved.

A formation evaluation tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is provided. The formation evaluation tool includes a cooling system adapted to pass a cooling fluid near electronics in the formation evaluation tool whereby heat is dissipated therefrom, the electronics has at least one gauge, a fluid communication device having an inlet adapted to receive the formation fluid and a flowline operatively connected to the fluid communication device and the gauge for placing the formation fluid in fluid communication therewith whereby properties of the formation fluid are determined. The formation evaluation tool may also be provided with a plurality of sample chambers operatively connected to the flowline for collecting at least a portion of the formation fluid and a pressure compensator in fluid communication with the wellbore and operatively connected to the plurality of sample chambers for applying pressure to the sample chambers whereby pressure is balanced therebetween.