Ultrasonic Borehole Diameter Verification During Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack a real-time measurement system for the final borehole diameter during and after underreaming in deep well drilling, leading to inaccurate and inefficient casing selection and placement due to the reliance on post-drilling caliper tools and inferred readings.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a drill string with an underreamer and a tool body equipped with an ultrasonic sensor and calibrating transducers that measures and verifies the borehole diameter in real-time, using mud flow properties for calibration, allowing continuous monitoring and stabilization of the drill string.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If post-drilling caliper tools are used to measure borehole diameter, then measurement can be performed, but real-time verification during drilling is not achieved and operational efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic sensor and calibration transducers are installed on the drill string before drilling begins, enabling real-time borehole diameter measurement during the drilling process rather than requiring post-drilling calibration. This preliminary setup allows continuous monitoring and verification of borehole dimensions as drilling progresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical caliper tools with an ultrasonic measurement system that uses acoustic waves to measure borehole diameter. This substitution enables real-time measurements during drilling operations, eliminating the need to stop drilling for mechanical caliper measurements and significantly reducing operational time loss.
2Length of moving object
If underreaming is performed to enlarge borehole diameter for deeper drilling, then depth capability is improved, but accurate verification of final diameter becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback on borehole diameter measurements during and after underreaming operations. The ultrasonic sensor continuously monitors diameter changes, and the calibration transducers adjust for variations in drilling mud properties, ensuring accurate verification of the final borehole diameter even after enlargement operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent compensates for changes in drilling mud properties (density, viscosity, acoustic velocity) that occur during underreaming by using calibration transducers that measure these parameters in real-time. This allows the system to adjust measurement calculations to maintain precision despite parameter changes in the drilling environment.
3Device complexity
If traditional drilling methods are used, then equipment complexity is low, but real-time borehole verification capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The drill string is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating both the traditional drilling functions and the ultrasonic measurement and calibration functions within the same system. The calibration transducers and ultrasonic sensor are integrated into existing drill string components, allowing the equipment to perform both drilling and real-time verification without requiring separate dedicated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system is self-calibrating using the drilling mud itself as the calibration medium. The calibration transducers utilize the circulating drilling mud to establish reference measurements, eliminating the need for external calibration equipment or separate calibration procedures. The system calibrates itself continuously during normal drilling operations.
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
Provides accurate and precise real-time measurement of the borehole diameter, reducing the need for separate caliper measurements and enhancing drilling efficiency by ensuring correct casing selection and minimizing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor means can be comprised of an ultrasonic transducer with adjustable signal amplitude so as to measure diameter of the borehole
Implementation Method 2
The means for calibrating interacts with this return mud flow line or with the mud through the drill string
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a system and method for measuring borehole conditions, in particular for verification of a final diameter of a borehole. The system includes a drill string with a drill bit and a drilling mud circulation device, an underreamer attached to the drill string above the drill bit, and a tool body attached to the drill string, having a sensor for detecting downhole conditions, such as borehole diameter. The tool body is mounted above the underreamer and has a diameter smaller than the underreamer and drill bit. The sensor can be an ultrasonic transducer with adjustable signal amplitude and can be fixed in positions along the tool body. The system may also include a calibrator for sensor data, and an auxiliary tool body with another sensor between the drill bit and the underreamer. The method of the present invention is use of the system for final borehole verification.