Borehole Image Feature Extraction for Real-Time Telemetry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current borehole imaging technologies face challenges in transmitting high-quality image data from downhole to the surface in real-time, especially in LWD environments, due to large data volumes and limitations in data compression techniques, which can result in incomplete or inaccurate visual representations of the formation.

Innovation Solution

The method involves extracting image features downhole, representing them efficiently as coordinate points, and transmitting these feature data along with depth information to the surface using a wellbore telemetry system, allowing for real-time reconstruction and interpretation, while also sending a low-resolution version of the original image data for context and quality control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data compression techniques are used to reduce image data size for real-time transmission via MWD telemetry, then transmission capability is improved, but data quality and accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time transmission capabilityVSAvoidimage data quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential image features (bedding dip angle, dip direction, fracture orientation) from the complete image data set, transmitting only these extracted features to the surface rather than attempting to transmit all image data or relying solely on compression techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the image data processing into two parts: downhole extraction of critical features and parameters, and surface-level reconstruction of complete images using the transmitted feature data, allowing quality transmission within bandwidth constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If all image data is transmitted to the surface for reconstruction, then image quality is improved, but transmission time and data volume requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage data qualityVSAvoidtransmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary extraction of critical image features and parameters downhole before transmission, preparing only the essential data elements that are needed for accurate formation evaluation and image reconstruction at the surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If high compression ratios are applied to image data, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but data accuracy and completeness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoiddata accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the data representation parameters from complete pixel-based image data to extracted geometric and structural parameters (dip angles, dip directions, fracture orientations), fundamentally altering how the formation information is encoded for transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2227708B1Method and system for transmitting borehole image data

Publication Date: 2021.09.01 SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY BV

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Figure 4A

AI summary

A method of transmitting borehole image data from a borehole location to a remote location includes obtaining a set of image data describing formation surrounding a borehole using a logging tool at a selected depth or range of depths in the borehole, extracting one or more image features from the set of image data downhole, and transmitting a representation of the extracted image features to the surface.