Abstract:
Apparatuses and methods are described such as for aligning downhole measurements. Apparatuses and methods include an arrangement of at least two tilted transmitters and at least one tilted receiver along a longitudinal axis of the tool. A first and second plurality of azimuthal measurements are processed to provide a first and a second plurality of higher order mode signals configured to be time shifted.
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Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence
10200 BELLAIRE BOULEVARD 77072,HOUSTON, TEXAS 770772 UNITED STATE OF AMERICA(U.S.A)
Inventors
1. WU Hsu Hsiang
7338 HUDSON GROVE LANE, SUGAR LAND,TX 77479 UNITED STATE OF AMERICA(U.S.A)
2. DONDERICI Burkay
3121 BUFFALO SPEEDWAY#8305,HOUSTON TEXAS 77098,UNITED STATE OF AMERICA(U.S.A)
Specification
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ALIGNING DOWNHOLE
MEASUREMENTS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to systems having well
logging capability.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In drilling wells for oil and gas exploration, understanding the
structure and properties of the geological formation surrounding a borehole
provides information to aid such exploration. Further, during drilling operations
determining a depth of the borehole assembly (BHA) can be an important factor.
The usefulness of such measurements can be related to the precision or quality
of the measurement, so as to derive accurate formation information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment an apparatus
having a processing unit and a tool to determine properties downhole in a well,
according to various embodiments.
[0004] FIG. 2 illustrates a tool having a tilted antenna design
configuration such that multi-component measurements can be taken at any non
zero tilt angle for a transmitter and a receiver, according to various
embodiments.
[0005] FIG. 3 illustrates a tool having an asymmetric antenna
configuration, according to various embodiments.
[0006] FIG. 4 illustrates a plot of exemplary amplitude field responses of
the tool of FIG. 3, according to various embodiments.
[0007] FIG. 5 illustrates a plot of the amplitude field responses of FIG. 5
after a depth shift mechanism has been applied, according to various
embodiments.
[0008] FIG. 6 illustrates a plot of the exemplary amplitude responses of
FIG. 4 in the time-domain, according to various embodiments.
[0009] FIG. 7 illustrates a drill bit depth plot in the time domain,
according to various embodiments.
[0010] FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate a plot of the amplitude time-domain field
responses of FIG. 6 after a time-domain shift mechanism has been applied,
according to various embodiments.
[0011] FIGS. 9A-9B illustrate inversion comparison plots of FIG. 5 and
FIG. 7, according to various embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 10 illustrates a module example of a tool having a tilted
antenna design configuration, according to various embodiments.
[0013] FIG. 11 illustrates a method of measuring aligning a plurality of
downhole electromagnetic measurements, according to various embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example system having
a processing unit and a tool to align measurements, according to various
embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 13 illustrates generally an example of a drilling apparatus,
such as including a measure-while-drilling (MWD) or log-while-drilling (LWD)
capability.
[0016] FIG. 14 illustrates generally an example of a wireline logging
apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying
drawings that show, by way of illustration and not limitation, various
embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are
described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice these
and other embodiments. Other embodiments may be utilized, and structural,
logical, and electrical changes may be made to these embodiments. The various
embodiments are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can
be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense.
[0018] Apparatus and methods are described, such as for aligning
downhole signals, including real-time electromagnetic measurements. A tool
having at least two tilted transmitters and at least one tilted receiver in
communication with the at least two tilted transmitters, configuration can
transmit and receive multiple signals in real-time. The tool can further be
configured such that a fixed physical separation between the tilted transmitter
and tilted receiver of each antenna set is selected for all antenna sets, as well as
each tilted antenna set is a known distance from other antenna sets, wherein an
antenna set includes at least one tilted transmitter and at least one tilted receiver.
In an example, one tilted antenna set with a tilted transmitter and a tilted receiver
can be a known distance from a depth measurement device, such as a depth
measurement device at a drill bit. In addition, the antenna set can be a known
distance from another antenna set with a tilted transmitter and a tilted receiver.
[0019] The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that a
problem to be solved can include current methods of measuring formation
properties or depth during drilling operations, such as by a device at or near a
drill bit, that introduce error, particularly in real-time. For example, a tool
having a tilted antenna design can provide real-time signals, such as amplitude,
which can then be manipulated in time-domain so as to provide an accurate
formation property measurement or a depth measurement in real-time, as
compared to previous methods.
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of an apparatus
100 having a processing unit 1 0 and a tool 105 to determine properties
downhole in a well 102, such as a depth of the tool 105 in the well 102. Tool
105 has an arrangement of transmitters and receivers 110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-
1), 110-N to operate in conjunction with processing unit 120 to take real-time
signals from the transmitters and receivers 110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N to
determine the depth of the 105. Equivalent, similar, or identical control and
processing of arrangements of transmitters and receivers, as disclosed in various
embodiments herein, provide a mechanism for these arrangements to align
signals of the transmitters and receivers 110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N, such
as in the time-domain. Although FIG.l shows multiple transmitters and
receivers, in an example the tool 105 can include at least two transmitters and
one receiver, such that the one receiver can provide multiple signals (e.g., from
the at least two transmitters).
[0021] In an embodiment, an arrangement of transmitters and receivers
110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N can operate in conjunction with processing
unit 120 to provide a depth measurement correlating a position of a first
transmitter 110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N and a position of a second
transmitter 110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N. Transmitters and receivers 110-
1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N can be oriented with respect to longitudinal axis
107 of tool 105. Each of the transmitters and receivers 110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-
1), 110-N can be tilted with respect to longitudinal axis 107. For example, each
of the transmitters and receivers 110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N can be tilted
with respect to longitudinal axis 107, such as an angle non-parallel to the
longitudinal axis 107 (e.g., not 0 degrees). Each sensor element (i.e.,
transmitters and receivers) in arrangement of transmitters and receivers 110-1,
110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N can be realized as a coil element, a tilted coil
element, a wire element, a toroidal element, a solenoid element, an electrode
type element, a transducer, or other appropriate electromagnetic based sensor.
The selected sensors may operate in various frequency ranges.
[0022] In an embodiment, an arrangement of transmitters and receivers
110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N can operate in conjunction with a processing
unit 120 to provide a depth measurement correlating a position of a first
transmitter 110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N and a position of a second
transmitter 110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N in time domain so as to adjust
(e.g., correct) real-time depth, higher order mode, or formation property
measurements between two or more bottom hole assembly (BHA) positions. In
such an embodiment, the apparatus can provide a more accurate depth
measurement or formation property measurement for field operators, such as in
real-time.
[0023] Processing unit 120 provides signals to selectively or continually
activate transmitters and acquire measurement signals at the arrangement of
transmitters and receivers 110-1, 110-2 . . . 110-(N-1), 110-N. The processing
unit 120 can be located downhole, such as at the tool 105 or drill bit. In an
example, the processing unit 120 can be at a surface. Processing unit 120 can
control activation of the transmitters of tool 105 and can acquire and process
signals received from the receivers and transmitters in tool 105 in real-time. In
such examples, "real-time" includes common delays associated with transmitting
signals from the well 102 to the processing unit 120, such as material or physical
property delay attributes. As discussed herein, signals or measurements include
electromagnetic measurements.
[0024] Processing unit 1 0 can be located at the surface of well 102
operably in communication with tool 105 via a communication mechanism.
Such a communication mechanism can be realized as a communication vehicle
that is standard for well operations. Processing unit 120 can be distributed along
the mechanism by which tool 105 is placed downhole in well 102. Processing
unit 120 can be integrated with tool 105 such that processing unit 120 is operable
downhole in well 102. Processing unit 120 can be distributed along tool 105 or
along a structure that delivers tool 105 downhole.
[0025] In various embodiments, a processing methodology operatively
aligns real-time signals without a dedicated depth measurement sensor. The tool
105 can be used as a measurements-while-drilling (MWD) tool such as a
logging-while-drilling (LWD) tool. In addition, the tool 105 can be adapted as a
wireline tool.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a logging tool 200 (e.g., antenna) with a tilted
antenna design. The antenna 200 can be equipped in a rotating LWD or wireline
tool. While firing the transmitter antenna 204, the signal measured received at
the titled receiver 202 of Figure 2 can be expressed in terms of the signal voltage
V . Voltage responses of azimuthal signals at the tilted receiver 202 in response
to a firing of a tilted transmitter 204 can be given by Eq. (1), expressed as:
nί b = [ - -C ) cos 2b +( sin 2b]+ [(C„ + Cxz cos b +
{Cz y + Cy z ) sin/?] + ( +-f + - ) = V
d bM + VsingM + Vcon (1)
where,
r^xx Yxx sin 6 sin ; r xy sin 6 sin 9r
r
ry = y x sin sin 6 r^yy = y y sin sin ;r 'yz
r = vzx cos 6t sin 6 r = y cos 6t cos 9r r
and where,
V
d bM = f - -C ) cos 2b + sin 2b
single ) = z x + Cx z COS b + ( y + Cy z ) Sin /?
const
[0027] Further, where b is the tool azimuth, t is the tilt angle of the
transmitter related to the z-axis 201, Q is the tilt angle of the receiver related to
the z-axis direction, V is a complex value representing the signal amplitude and
phase shift measured by the receiver j orientated in x-, y-, or z-directional dipole
in response to the firing of the transmitter i orientated in x-, y-, or z-directional
dipole. Consequently, nine different coupling components can be obtained as
shown in the equations above.
[0028] As shown in Eq. (1), by applying a sinusoidal fitting function or
Fourier transform, the azimuthal signals can be decoupled into three distinct
signals V d0 bie( ), V Smgie( ), and V COnst, that presents a sinusoidal wave with
double periods, a sinusoidal wave with a single period, and a constant signal
with respect to the tool 200 azimuth angle b per rotation, respectively, wherein
V o bie( ) and V Si gie( ) can generally be considered higher order mode signals.
The double sinusoidal response, V d0 bie( ), can be expressed as:
sin 2b ] sin 9t sin 6r =
^double s 6t sin Q cos(2/? - /¾) (2)
[0029] Therefore, given the same formation model, the same operating
frequency and the same spacing between the transmitters and receiver antenna,
the amplitude A 0 bie is constant to any tilt angle for the transmitter and for the
receiver as long as the tilt angle is not zero. This can further been seen by FIGS.
4-8, where A d0 bie is relatively constant for a given measurement when a depth
shift or time shift is taken into account, as described herein.
[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a tool 302 including an asymmetric antenna
configuration, according to various embodiments. The tool 302 includes two
transmitter antennas Tu 304-1 and T n 304-2. Further, the tool 302 includes two
receiver antennas Rup 306-1 and R n 306-2. The transmitters 304-1, 304-2 and
receivers 306-1, 306-2 are tilted relative to a longitudinal axis 300 of the tool
302. For example, angles 310, 312, 314, 316 can be any non-zero angle with
respect to the longitudinal axis 300, such as 45°. The configuration in FIG. 3 is
merely shown for ease of description and should not be taken as limiting. For
example, as described with respect to FIG. 10, the tool can include at least two
modules where each module is equipped with one transmitter and one receiver.
According to the principle of reciprocity, one should expect that one antenna
may be applied as a transmitter in one implementation and as a receiver at
another. The configurations of transmitters-receivers antenna system disclosed
herein can be interchangeable (e.g., transmitters can be used as receivers and
receivers can be used as transmitters).
[0031] The first transmitter antenna 304-1 can be disposed longitudinally
above (e.g., in the positive z-direction) the second transmitter antenna 304-2.
The first receiver antenna 306-1 and the second receiver antenna 306-2 can be
defined longitudinal distance 318 disposed from one another. Further, the
receiver antennas 306-1, 306-2 can be arranged equidistant along the
longitudinal axis 300 on either side of a reference location, such as center line C,
which is at a midpoint between the two receiver antennas 306-1, 306-2. The first
receiver antenna 306-1 can be disposed between the first transmitter antenna
304-1 and the second receiver antenna 306-2. A first longitudinal distance 322-
1 from the first transmitter antenna 304-1 to the second receiver antenna 306-2
can be equal to a second longitudinal distance 322-2 from the second transmitter
antenna 304-2 to the first receiver antenna 306-1. For example, the first
transmitter antenna 304-1 can be disposed in the positive z-direction from the
first receiver antenna 306-1 a distance 320-1. The second transmitter antenna
304-2 can be disposed in the negative z-direction from the second receiver
antenna 306-2 a distance 320-2. In an example, the distances 320-1 and 320-2
are equal.
[0032] Further, the tool 302 can include a first and second reference
point 305-1 and 305-2, wherein the first reference point 305-1 is associated with
the first transmitter 304-1 and the first receiver 306-1 and the second reference
point 305-2 is associated with the second transmitter 304-2 and the second
receiver 306-2. In general, as described herein, a reference point is defined as a
center point of a transmitter and a receiver set where the measurement is
associated. For example, the first reference point 305-1 can be a center point
between the first transmitter 304-1 and the first receiver 306-1, such as half the
distance 320-1.
[0033] In an example, the tool 302 can include a processing unit (not
shown) configured to control activation of the transmitter and receiver antennas
and to process signals associated with the transmitters and receivers in
accordance with the various methods described herein.
[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates a plot 400 of the amplitude Adouble of field
responses from the tool 302 of FIG. 3 that have been post-process manipulated
to provide a given depth for each response. As described herein, depth refers to
the measured depth of the borehole, as opposed to the true value depth (TVD),
which is perpendicular to a horizontal plane, such as the surface. The postprocess
manipulated responses received at the upper receiver R p 306-1 in
response to the upper transmitter Tup 304-1 are shown as line 402 and the postprocess
manipulated responses received at the lower receiver R 306-2 in
response to from the lower transmitter T n 304-2 are shown 404. As described
herein, post-process includes a time after a drilling operation, such as LWD or
MWD described herein (e.g., not real-time). Real-time can include a time during
a drilling operation, such as LWD or MWD as described herein. The depth in
feet is plotted on the y-axis and the amplitude A o ble in volts is plotted on the xaxis.
[0035] FIG. 4 provides exemplary calculated A o ble values for a 28 inch
distance between Tup 304-1 and R p 306-1 (e.g., 320-1) and between T n 304-2
and Rdn 306-2 (e.g., 320-2), and for an 8 inch distance 318 between R 306-1
and Rdn 306-2, although embodiments are no so limited. As described herein,
the distances 320-1 and 320-2 can be any known distance, such as about 8 inches
to about 50 feet based on different operating frequencies and various
applications. As described herein, the distance 322 must be known to accurately
correlate the responses received at R p 306-1 from T p 304-1 (e.g., T p - R )
with those received at n 306-2 from Tdn 304-2 (e.g., Tdn - Rdn). That is, in
order to process the plurality of azimuthal measurements, using Eqs. (1) and (2),
associated with both Tup - Rup and T n - n the tool should meet the
configuration description herein.
[0036] As can be seen in FIG. 4, depth delay from the responses of the
lower transmitter 304-2 received at R
Documents
Application Documents
#
Name
Date
1
201617013888-IntimationOfGrant13-05-2021.pdf
2021-05-13
1
201617013888-Others-(21-04-2016)..pdf
2016-04-21
2
201617013888-Form-5-(21-04-2016).pdf
2016-04-21
2
201617013888-PatentCertificate13-05-2021.pdf
2021-05-13
3
201617013888-PETITION UNDER RULE 137 [06-11-2019(online)].pdf