Echo Shape Processing in NMR Wellbore Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data processing methods rely on assumptions about echo peak positions and noise phases, leading to inefficiencies when actual echo peaks shift or noise is not of constant phase, resulting in lost signals and improper processing.
Innovation Solution
The method involves acquiring and processing echo shapes using quadrature phase and nominal signal phase, computing echo shapes, defining noise filters, and integrating echo shape bins to enhance signal recognition and increase signal-to-noise ratio, employing matched filters in both time and frequency domains to effectively remove noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional phase alternating pairs method is used to remove noise, then noise identification is improved, but signal loss occurs when echo peaks shift from anticipated positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic echo peak tracking that adapts to actual echo peak positions rather than relying on fixed anticipated positions. The system continuously adjusts the signal retrieval window to coincide with the actual echo peak maximum, allowing the processing method to dynamically respond to varying echo characteristics and prevent signal loss while maintaining noise rejection capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of echo peak position from a fixed anticipated value to a dynamically determined actual value. By calculating the actual echo peak position based on received signals and adjusting the retrieval window accordingly, the system maintains accurate signal capture even when echo characteristics vary, resolving the contradiction between fixed noise filtering and variable signal positions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If alternating phase method is used to minimize noise error, then constant phase noise is reduced, but effectiveness decreases when noise phase changes over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that use the actual received echo signals to determine the optimal signal retrieval window position. By continuously monitoring actual echo peak positions and adjusting the processing parameters accordingly, the system provides feedback-driven adaptation that maintains effectiveness against both constant and varying noise phases, overcoming the limitation of fixed alternating phase methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary determination of actual echo peak positions before signal retrieval. By calculating and establishing the correct retrieval window position in advance based on actual echo characteristics, the system prepares the optimal processing configuration beforehand, ensuring accurate signal capture regardless of noise phase variations while maintaining the benefits of phase alternating noise reduction
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
This approach results in higher quality signal recognition and improved signal-to-noise ratios, with noise-matched filters providing a 15% reduction in noise-to-signal ratio in low-Q environments and maintaining accuracy within 3-5% of conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
Once activated, the nuclear magnetic resonance tool emits a signal or set of signals that penetrate the geological stratum and reflect off different features back to the tool
Implementation Method 2
using the filter to remove noise from the received signals
Data Source
AI summary
A method to process information from a wellbore tool is disclosed having steps of placing a wellbore nuclear magnetic resonance tool in a wellbore to a scan a geological formation, activating the nuclear magnetic resonance tool to send signals to and receive signals from the geological formation, acquiring the received signals from the geological formation wherein the received signals have an echo shape, storing the echo shape according to at least one of a quadrature phase and a nominal signal phase, computing an echo shape from all of the received signals, determining a presence of a noise from the received signals, defining a noise filter based upon the received signals from the nuclear magnetic resonance tool and using the filter to remove noise from the received signals.