Downhole NMR Tool for Real-Time Drilling Mud and Formation Measurement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for measuring drilling mud properties during wellbore drilling operations are slow, inaccurate, and potentially hazardous, leading to delayed corrections and reduced drilling efficiency, as they rely on processes like retorting which take hours and use dangerous chemicals.

Innovation Solution

Employing a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement tool that emits radiofrequency energy to excite protons in both formation and drilling mud volumes, allowing for real-time, simultaneous measurement of both formation and drilling mud properties using a single tool, with the ability to transmit data to a computing device for immediate feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional retorting methods are used to measure drilling mud properties, then measurements can be obtained, but the process is slow (taking hours) and uses dangerous chemicals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling mud properties measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/chemical retorting methods with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. The NMR tool uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses to excite hydrogen nuclei in drilling mud, detecting signals that provide information about fluid properties. This substitution eliminates the need for time-consuming chemical retorting processes while providing real-time measurements of drilling mud properties such as oil-to-water ratio, viscosity, and fluid composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the measurement parameters from chemical analysis (retorting) to physical property detection (NMR relaxation times and signal intensities). By measuring T1 and T2 relaxation times of hydrogen nuclei in different fluid phases, the system can distinguish between oil and water components in drilling mud, providing rapid compositional analysis without chemical processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If traditional retorting methods are used to measure drilling mud properties, then measurements can be obtained, but dangerous chemicals are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling mud properties measurement accuracyVSAvoiddangerous chemicals

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If a single NMR tool is used to measure both formation and drilling mud properties, then device complexity is reduced, but frequency separation is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement tool complexityVSAvoidfrequency separation requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different operational characteristics to different parts of the NMR measurement process. The tool uses distinct radiofrequency pulse sequences and analysis methods tailored to each measurement target: formation fluids (with longer relaxation times) versus drilling mud fluids (with shorter relaxation times). This allows a single tool to differentiate between formation and mud signals based on their unique NMR response characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement process is segmented into separate acquisition and analysis phases for formation and drilling mud properties. The tool alternates between measuring formation NMR signals and drilling mud NMR signals, then separately processes each dataset using appropriate inversion algorithms and relaxation time analysis. This segmentation enables accurate measurement of both targets without cross-contamination of signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables safer, more accurate, and real-time monitoring of drilling mud properties, improving drilling efficiency by providing immediate feedback for optimizing drilling fluid composition and reducing the risk of fluid loss or excessive viscosity.

Implementation Method 1

measuring, using a nuclear magnetic resonance, a plurality of nuclear magnetic resonance responses corresponding to a first frequency and a second frequency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNuclear magnetic resonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS11891888B2Measuring formation properties and drilling mud properties using nuclear magnetic resonance in a wellbore

Publication Date: 2024.02.06 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A measurement tool may be positioned downhole in a wellbore for measuring formation properties and drilling mud properties during a drilling operation. The measurement tool may include a body and an antenna. The body may include magnets for generating a magnetic field and a transmitter for transmitting a radiofrequency pulse. The antenna may be positioned proximate to the body to measure properties using nuclear magnetic resonant frequencies. The antenna may measure formation properties in a first volume of a formation using a first frequency. The antenna may measure drilling mud properties in a second volume in a borehole using a second frequency.