Azimuthal Weighted Average Formation Property Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current measurement systems for oil and gas exploration in well drilling lack precision and accuracy due to the challenging environment and limitations in data collection while drilling, particularly in determining formation and borehole properties with existing tools.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a measurement tool with sensors and electronics that calculates a weighted average of formation or borehole properties across azimuthal bins, using standoff measurements to enhance data accuracy and precision, allowing for real-time data collection and processing during drilling operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If measurements are taken at multiple azimuths during drilling, then measurement precision and accuracy are improved, but device complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system divides the borehole environment into multiple azimuthal bins (angular segments) around the wellbore. Each bin captures measurements from a specific directional sector, allowing the system to process complex 3D formation data by breaking it down into manageable 2D azimuthal slices. This segmentation enables precise characterization of anisotropic formations while maintaining systematic data organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces azimuthal angular dimension to traditional radial measurements. By measuring formation properties not just radially but also angularly around the borehole, the system transforms simple radial profiles into comprehensive 3D formation models. This additional dimensional information resolves ambiguities in anisotropic formations and improves measurement accuracy without requiring more complex physical sensors.
2Measurement precision
If standoff measurements are integrated into data processing, then data quality and precision are enhanced, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Standoff distance measurements serve as an intermediary parameter that mediates between raw sensor readings and formation property calculations. The standoff distance (distance from tool to borehole wall) acts as a correction factor that accounts for tool positioning variations. By introducing this intermediary measurement, the system can compensate for positioning errors and improve formation property accuracy without requiring fundamentally new processing algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using standoff measurements to continuously correct and refine formation property calculations. The measured standoff distances feed back into the processing algorithm to adjust for tool position variations, creating a self-correcting measurement system. This feedback mechanism improves data quality by automatically compensating for positioning errors while using standard processing workflows.
3Measurement precision
If weighted average calculations are performed across azimuthal bins, then measurement accuracy is improved, but computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by computing formation properties separately for each azimuthal bin rather than using a single bulk average. Each bin's formation property value is calculated with local weighting based on its specific azimuthal position and standoff characteristics. This localized approach preserves directional information in anisotropic formations while using computationally efficient bin-by-bin processing rather than complex full 3D simulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the measurement problem by changing from direct formation property measurement to weighted averaging of azimuthal bin values. By parameterizing the solution as a weighted sum of directional components, the system achieves accurate formation property estimation using simple arithmetic operations rather than complex iterative calculations, significantly reducing computational power requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, methods for forming the apparatus, and methods for operating the apparatus provide a value for a formation property or a borehole property from measurements obtained in a well. The value may be generated from determining a weighted average of the value for the formation property or the borehole property using both values corresponding to different azimuths and weights corresponding to different azimuths.