Drill Sound Spectral Subtraction for Cleaner Lithology Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drill sounds recorded during drilling operations are contaminated by environmental noises and drilling operation factors, making it difficult to extract accurate lithological information.
Innovation Solution
A method involving dummy drilling to record environmental noise, followed by deducting this noise from real drilling sounds using spectral subtraction, to produce clean drilling acoustic signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If acoustic sensors are used to record drill sounds during drilling operations, then lithological information can be extracted, but the recorded signals are contaminated by environmental noises and drilling operation factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting dummy drilling operations before actual drilling to record environmental noise profiles. These pre-recorded noise profiles are then used to process and clean the acoustic signals during actual drilling operations, removing environmental contamination while preserving lithological information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful environmental noise into a beneficial resource by recording it during dummy drilling operations. The recorded environmental noise is then used to create correction profiles that are subtracted from the actual drilling signals, transforming the contamination into a tool for signal cleaning and enhancement.
2Measurement precision
If acoustic sensors are positioned on drive shaft or drill string to capture drill sounds, then real-time lithology data can be obtained, but the signals are affected by drill string rotation rate and other drilling operation factors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary recording of acoustic signals during dummy drilling operations where the drill bit is not engaged with formation. This allows capture of signals contaminated only by drilling operation factors such as drill string rotation, which can then be used to create correction profiles for removing these factors from actual drilling signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the drilling operation factor contamination by recording acoustic signals during dummy drilling. This copy serves as a reference profile that can be subtracted from the actual drilling signals, effectively removing the harmful drilling operation factor interference while preserving the true lithological signal.
3Measurement precision
If environmental noise is recorded during dummy drilling to clean acoustic signals, then signal quality improves, but drilling time is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by conducting dummy drilling for only the necessary duration to capture sufficient environmental noise profiles, rather than performing extensive dummy drilling. The goal is to obtain adequate noise correction data with minimal time investment, balancing signal quality improvement with time efficiency.
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
The method effectively minimizes drilling environmental effects, providing clean acoustic signals that better reflect lithological properties for enhanced geo-steering and rock boundary detection.
Implementation Method 1
One or more acoustic sensors may be positioned on the drive shaft, or the top drive, or the drill string. The one or more acoustic sensors is configured to record and transmit drilling acoustic signals during a dummy drilling operation and a real drilling operation.
Implementation Method 2
The computer system processes the drilling acoustic signals during the dummy drilling operation and the real drilling operation to minimize a drilling environmental effect by deducting a drilling environmental noise from the drilling acoustic signals to calculate clean drilling acoustic signals.
Data Source
AI summary
A well site may include a wellbore extending into a subsurface formation and a drilling rig with a top drive and a drive shaft to rotate a drill string extending into the wellbore. The drill string includes a drill bit at an end distal to the drilling rig to cut rock of the subsurface formation to form the wellbore. Acoustic sensors may be positioned on the drive shaft, or the top drive, or the drill string. The acoustic sensors are configured to record and transmit drilling acoustic signals during a dummy drilling operation and a real drilling operation. A computer system may be in communication with the acoustic sensors. The computer system processes the drilling acoustic signals during the dummy drilling operation and the real drilling operation to minimize a drilling environmental effect by deducting a drilling environmental noise from the drilling acoustic signals to calculate clean drilling acoustic signals.