Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
367035000 | Borehole or casing condition | 83 |
20090003130 | System for Measuring Stress in Downhole Tubulars - An apparatus for evaluating the possibility of casing failure in a borehole measures azimuthal changes in a property responsive to azimuthal changes in axial stress. The measurements may be of acoustic velocity, magnetic permeability, and Barkhausen noise. | 01-01-2009 |
20090059720 | METHOD FOR DETECTING GAS INFLUX IN WELLBORES AND ITS APPLICATION TO IDENTIFYING GAS BEARING FORMATIONS - A method for identifying gas in a wellbore includes imparting acoustic energy into the wellbore at a first selected position and detecting the acoustic energy at a second position in the wellbore spaced apart from the first position. Acoustic velocity of fluid in the wellbore from the detected acoustic energy. Presence of gas in the fluid is determined from the velocity. | 03-05-2009 |
20090073806 | Method and Apparatus for Generating Acoustic Signals with a Single Mode of Propagation - A method and apparatus for generating an acoustic signal having a single mode of propagation along borehole walls. The method includes generating an n-pole (monopole, dipole, quadrupole, and so on) acoustic signal and calculating the tool position and borehole shape from the signals received at one or more receivers. If the tool contains matched sources and balanced receivers, is in the center of the borehole, and the borehole is circular, the pure, single mode acoustic signal will propagate along the borehole walls with a single mode of propagation. If the acoustic signal traveling along borehole walls does not have a single mode of propagation, the signal's amplitudes and time delays are adjusted to produce a second acoustic signal. The second acoustic signal's amplitudes and time delays are further adjusted until the signal traveling along the borehole walls has a single mode of propagation. | 03-19-2009 |
20090086575 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOGGING FOAM CEMENT IN CASED BOREHOLES - An acoustic logging system that measures distribution of foam cement and other material in a casing-borehole annulus. The distribution is preferably displayed as map. A borehole tool utilizes at least one acoustic transducer with a known frequency response and mounted on a rotating scanning head that is pointed essentially perpendicular to the borehole wall. The response of the transducer is used to measure an original impedance map of material within the borehole-casing annulus. A fast Fourier transform is used to generate a FFT map from the data comprising the original impedance map. The original impedance map is then combined with the FFT map using logic rules to obtain a final impedance map that is indicative of material within the casing-borehole annulus. | 04-02-2009 |
20090109794 | IN-SITU DETERMINATION OF YIELD STRESS STATE OF EARTH FORMATIONS - Determination of in-situ rock yield stress state of a geological formation surrounding a borehole includes determining a profile for each of an axial effective, a radial effective, and a hoop effective stress within at least one axial plane containing a borehole axis. A predicted radial shear response radial profile is calculated from the effective stresses within the at least one axial plane. A measurement-based estimate of a shear response radial profile within the at least one axial plane is determined from measured data. A maximum radial distance at which a difference between the predicted and measurement-based shear response radial profiles is identified within the at least one axial plane as being greater than a difference threshold. The respective axial, radial, and hoop stresses, are determined at the identified maximum radial distance. The identified stresses are indicative of an in-situ yield stress state of the rock. | 04-30-2009 |
20090168596 | METHOD FOR SONIC INDICATION OF FORMATION POROSITY AND LITHOLOGY - A method for estimating formation porosity and lithology on a real time basis during a logging while drilling operation using measured values of formation attenuation attributes for compression and/or shear. | 07-02-2009 |
20090168597 | METHOD FOR SONIC INDICATION OF VOIDS IN CASING CEMENT - A method for determining on a real time logging while drilling (LWD) basis the top of cement location between casing transition zones in a borehole using at least one sonic attributes of coherent energy, attenuation and slowness as a function of at least one of depth and time. | 07-02-2009 |
20090168598 | METHOD FOR PERMEABLE ZONE DETECTION - A method for estimating formation permeability from measured sonic wave Stoneley attributes and particularly the Stoneley attributes of slowness (DTst) and attenuation (ATTst), taking into consideration the existence of a heavy walled drill collar at the end of the drill string and the relative lack of borehole mud cake during a drilling operation. In the subject LWD application a real-time qualitative indication for fracture and permeable zones is estimated from Stoneley measurements. This information is useful to a driller to make important timely decisions about drilling and completion programs. | 07-02-2009 |
20090168599 | IDENTIFYING THE Q-FACTOR USING MICROSEISMIC EVENT GENERATED S-CODA WAVES - A method and system model of the formation and rock matrices in a well site. A microseismic event from a hydraulic fracture in a well bore is recorded at a monitoring well site. The S-coda wave window of the microseismic event is identified. Q-factors for a set of frequencies within the S-coda wave window are then identified. | 07-02-2009 |
20090180350 | RESONANCE METHOD OF RADIAL OSCILLATIONS FOR MEASURING PERMEABILITY OF ROCK FORMATIONS - A method for determining permeability of a porous medium of a formation, the method including: placing a logging instrument into a borehole that traverses the porous medium, the borehole filled with a borehole fluid; measuring a pressure, p | 07-16-2009 |
20090196120 | Downhole Measurements of Mud Acoustic Velocity - One or more acoustic transducers are used to measure ultrasonic velocities in the mud in the interior channel of a drill collar. Corrections may be applied for temperature and/or fine grain drill cuttings to get the ultrasonic velocity in the annulus between the drill collar and the borehole wall. The latter velocity may be used for caliper measurements and for correcting measurements made by formation evaluation sensors. | 08-06-2009 |
20090213689 | ULTRASONIC LOGGING METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CALIBRATING MEASURES OF ACOUSTIC IMPEDANCE OF CEMENT AND OTHER MATERIALS BEHIND CASING - Methods and apparatus for in situ, continuous, automatic, and real-time acoustic impedance calibration of a transducer in an acoustic logging system. By taking the frequency characteristics of the ultrasonic transducer which are present in the internal casing reflection and convolving them with the frequency characteristics of the casing being logged, a theoretical model is created with a theoretical acoustic impedance fluid producing a theoretical free pipe signal at each measure point. The measured signal is then compared to the theoretical free pipe signal thereby yielding a calibrated acoustic impedance value for at each measure point. The only model employed is in the theoretical calculation of spectrum characteristics of free pipe. | 08-27-2009 |
20090213690 | Composite Transducer for Downhole Ultrasonic Imaging and Caliper Measurement - A transducer assembly for downhole imaging includes a 1-3 Piezoelectric composite transducer of high Q ceramic rods in a polymer matrix. The assembly also includes a Teflon® window, a fluid-filled cavity adjacent to the window, and impedance matching material between the composite transducer and the fluid. The transducer is positioned to reduce the reverberation time. | 08-27-2009 |
20090219784 | Method and Apparatus for Investigating a Borehole with a Caliper - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a caliper and method for mapping the dimensions and topography of a formation such as the sidewall of a borehole. Examples of formations in which embodiments of the invention can be used include, but are not limited to, an oil, gas, pile borehole or barrette that has been drilled or excavated into the earth. | 09-03-2009 |
20090231954 | Micro-Annulus Detection Using Lamb Waves - A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for identifying a micro-annulus outside a casing in a cemented wellbore. The attenuation of a Lamb wave and a compressional wave is used to determine a presence of a micro-annulus between the casing and the cement. | 09-17-2009 |
20090310441 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A BEAM OF ACOUSTIC ENERGY FROM A BOREHOLE, AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - A compact array of transducers is employed as a downhole instrument for acoustic investigation of the surrounding rock formation. The array is operable to generate simultaneously a first acoustic beam signal at a first frequency and a second acoustic beam signal at a second frequency different than the first frequency. These two signals can be oriented through an azimuthal rotation of the array and an inclination rotation using control of the relative phases of the signals from the transmitter elements or electromechanical linkage. Due to the non-linearity of the formation, the first and the second acoustic beam signal mix into the rock formation where they combine into a collimated third signal that propagates in the formation along the same direction than the first and second signals and has a frequency equal to the difference of the first and the second acoustic signals. The third signal is received either within the same borehole, after reflection, or another borehole, after transmission, and analyzed to determine information about rock formation. Recording of the third signal generated along several azimuthal and inclination directions also provides 3D images of the formation, information about 3D distribution of rock formation and fluid properties and an indication of the dynamic acoustic non-linearity of the formation. | 12-17-2009 |
20100097887 | Active Noise Cancellation Through the Use of Magnetic Coupling - Passive suppression of casing signals is used to improve the ability to measure formation velocities. Passive suppression includes the use of a magnet slidably coupled to the casing. | 04-22-2010 |
20100118648 | EMAT Acoustic Signal Measurement Using Modulated Gaussian Wavelet and Hilbert Demodulation - Casing signals generated by an EMAT in a borehole are processed using one or more band-limited Gaussian filters. By using the Hilbert transform, an envelope of the filtered signals is determined and amplitudes and arrival times of individual arrivals are estimated. These can be used to estimate casing and cement properties. | 05-13-2010 |
20100118649 | Method and Apparatus for Echo-Peak Detection for Circumferential Borehole Image Logging - Signals from an acoustic transducer used in a borehole include overlapping, ringing reflections from the casing walls, voids in the cement and the formation. By using the Hilbert transform, an envelope of the signals is determined and individual echoes are detected by using a Gauss-Laplace operator. | 05-13-2010 |
20100128562 | Anisotropic Parameter Determination - A walkaway VSP survey is carried out using a receiver array. First arrivals to a plurality of receivers are picked and used to estimate a normal-moveout (NMO) velocity. Using the NMO velocity and vertical velocities estimated from the VSP data, two anisotropy parameters are estimated for each of the layers. The anisotropy parameters may then be used to process surface seismic data to give a stacked image in true depth and for the interpretation purposes. For multi-azimuthal walkaway or 3D VSP data, we determine two VTI parameters ε and δ for multi-azimuth vertical planes. Then we determine five anisotropic interval parameters that describe P-wave kinematics for orthorhombic layers. These orthorhombic parameters may then be used to process surface seismic data to give a stacked image in true depth and for the interpretation purposes. | 05-27-2010 |
20100226206 | Tool For Locating and Plugging Lateral Wellbores - A tool used for treating and/or maintaining a wellbore that includes acoustic transducers for locating a lateral wellbore that intersects a primary wellbore. The tool includes a sensor to sense water and/or gas, and if the water and/or gas enters the primary wellbore from a lateral wellbore, the lateral to primary intersection can be identified by correlating information from the sensor and acoustic transducers. If needed, the tool can be used to plug the water and/or gas supplying lateral wellbore. The tool may include a bendable sub portion for orienting a portion of the tool for insertion into the lateral wellbore and a plug section for plugging the lateral wellbore after insertion therein. | 09-09-2010 |
20100232259 | FRACTURE CLUSTERS IDENTIFICATION - Method for identifying one or more fracture clusters in a formation surrounding a reservoir. In one implementation, the method may include generating a P to S image, comparing the P to S image to one or more images from a borehole, and identifying one or more fracture clusters using the P to S image and the borehole images. | 09-16-2010 |
20100265796 | Televiewer Image Wood-Grain Reduction Techniques - Measurements made by a transducer assembly for downhole imaging are affected by reverberations between the transducer and the window on the outside of the assembly. The reverberations result in a stationary noise on the image. Hardware solutions to improve signal-to-noise ratio includes using a composite transducer, adjusting the distance between the transducer and the window. SNR can also be improved by processing techniques that include stacking, fitting a sinusoid to the reverberation, by envelope peak detection, and by applying a notch filter. | 10-21-2010 |
20100315901 | Sending a Seismic Trace to Surface After a Vertical Seismic Profiling While Drilling Measurement - A system, method and computer-readable medium for acquiring seismic data, which includes activating a seismic source at a surface location; defining a seismic trace of a seismic wave received at a downhole location on a bottomhole assembly in a borehole in response to the activation of the seismic source; compressing the seismic trace; and recording the compressed seismic trace to a storage medium. | 12-16-2010 |
20110080806 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GEOTHERMAL ACOUSTIC INTERFACE - Systems and methods for subterranean imaging and logging are herein disclosed. In one embodiment, a subterranean tool for logging and imaging a subterranean well is provided. The subterranean tool includes a tool body, at least one transducer arranged within the tool body and an acoustic window coupled to the transducer. | 04-07-2011 |
20110134720 | METHOD OF USING DIPOLE COMPRESSIONAL DATA TO DETERMINE PROPERTIES OF A SUBTERRANEAN STRUCTURE - To determine properties of a subterranean structure, information relating to dipole compressional data is collected based on measurements by a logging tool in a borehole. The information relating to the dipole compressional data is analyzed in multiple dimensions (e.g., multiple borehole axial planes) to determine the properties of the subterranean structure through which the borehole extends. | 06-09-2011 |
20110141846 | MICROSEISMIC FRACTURE MAPPING USING SEISMIC SOURCE TIMING MEASUREMENTS FOR VELOCITY CALIBRATION - A system and method for micro seismic fracture mapping using seismic source timing measurements for velocity calibration ( | 06-16-2011 |
20110141847 | Method and Apparatus for Measuring Pore Pressure Beyond the Casing - Acoustic waves from a controllable downhole acoustic source in a cased borehole are focused into a region of an earth formation. A hydrophone is used to monitor acoustic signals for onset of cavitation. The estimated pressure from the source in the focus region provides an estimate of formation pore pressure. | 06-16-2011 |
20110188346 | METHOD FOR DETECTING AND LOCATING FLUID INGRESS IN A WELLBORE - A method for detecting fluid ingress in a wellbore, and if detected, obtaining an indication of where along said wellbore said fluid ingress is occurring. Acoustic sensing means, adapted to sense individual acoustic signals from a plurality of corresponding locations along said wellbore, are analyzed to determine if there exists a common acoustic component in acoustic signals generated from proximate locations in said wellbore. If so, the acoustic signal having the common acoustic component which appears earliest in phase, by virtue of such acoustic signal's corresponding location in the wellbore, determines the location in the wellbore of likely fluid ingress. In a preferred embodiment the acoustic sensing means comprises a fibre optic cable extending substantially the length of the wellbore, or alternatively a plurality of microphones situated at various locations along the wellbore comprising substantially the length of the wellbore. | 08-04-2011 |
20110205841 | Acoustic Transducer with a Backing Containing Unidirectional Fibers and Methods of Making and Using Same - The disclosure, in one aspect, provides an apparatus that includes an acoustic transducer and a backing in contact with a side of the transducer. The backing includes substantially unidirectional fibers in a matrix of a material that has high shear wave acoustic attenuation. The fibers contact the side of the transducer at an angle configured to convert substantially all of the compressional waves that enter the backing for the transducer into shear waves, which shear waves are then attenuated by the matrix of the backing material. | 08-25-2011 |
20110222369 | Acoustic Transducer with a Liquid-Filled Porous Medium Backing and Methods of Making and Using Same - In one aspect, the disclosure provides an apparatus that includes an acoustic transducer, and a backing coupled to the transducer, wherein the backing includes solid grains with fluid between the grains. | 09-15-2011 |
20110228637 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LOGGING THE FLUID DEPTH IN A WELLBORE - In a method for logging the location of a fluid depth in a wellbore, an acoustic event is allowed to take place in a specific manner at the ground surface. This acoustic event generates pressure waves. The pressure waves travel in the wellbore downward. The pressure waves traveling in the wellbore are reflected at least also at the fluid depth. At the ground surface, the pressure waves traveling there out of the wellbore are picked up and the time of travel since the acoustic event is measured. The picked-up and measured pressure waves are analyzed and, together with the associated time of travel, the location of the fluid depth is deduced. The acoustic event generates a signal pattern having a predetermined, time-variable frequency spectrum. The signal pattern is emitted as vibration event into the wellbore, travels downward, and is reflected. At the ground surface, the picked-up signals originating from the wellbore are analyzed. During the analysis, vibration events that do not correlate with the emitted signal pattern are filtered out. From the vibration events that are among the picked-up signals and correlate with the emitted signal pattern and from the time of travel since the radiation of the signal pattern, the location of the fluid depth is deduced. | 09-22-2011 |
20110242936 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO IDENTIFY LAYER BOUNDARIES IN SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS - Methods and apparatus to identify layer boundaries in subterranean formations are described. An example method of identifying a layer boundary of a subterranean formation includes transmitting an acoustic signal from a transmitter into a borehole of the subterranean formation and receiving the acoustic signal at a receiver coupled to the downhole tool and spaced from the transmitter. Additionally, the example method includes logging an energy value associated with the acoustic signal received by the receiver as the downhole tool is moved in the borehole and identifying a change in the logged energy value associated with an impedance change in the subterranean formation to identify the layer boundary. | 10-06-2011 |
20110261647 | Resistivity Measurement Through Metal Casing Using Magnetic Field and Magnetoacoustic Phenomena - Measurements of acoustic velocities are made through a case borehole in the absence and presence of an applied magnetic field. A formation resistivity parameter may be estimated from differences in the acoustic velocities. | 10-27-2011 |
20110280103 | SONIC/ACOUSTIC MONITORING USING OPTICAL DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING - Methods and apparatus for performing sonic well logging within a wellbore based on optical Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) are provided. A sonic well logging system based on DAS may be capable of producing the functional equivalent of tens, hundreds, or even thousands of acoustic sensors. In this manner, the emplacement of the sonic well logging system based on DAS may not be nearly as complex or expensive as emplacing a sonic well logging system based on traditional methods. Furthermore, multiplexing may be simpler, downhole electronics need not be used, and the sonic well logging system may be used in extreme, high temperature environments. | 11-17-2011 |
20110317518 | METHOD FOR COMBINED ACTIVE SOURCE AND PASSIVE SEISMIC IMAGING FOR SUBSURFACE FLUID MOVEMENT MAPPING AND FORMATION CHARACTERIZATION - A method for characterizing fluid pumping effects on a subsurface formation includes (a) during pumping of fluid into the subsurface formation, detecting passive seismic signals related to fractures created in the subsurface formation. (b) A place of origin of the passive seismic signals is determined. (c) A seismic energy source is actuated for a plurality of actuations and an output thereof is beam steered toward the place of origin. (d) At least one acoustic property is determined for the place of origin using signals detected as a result of the plurality of actuations. The detected signals are beam steered toward the place of origin and are stacked over the plurality of actuations. (a), (b), (c) and (d) are repeated until the pumping is completed. | 12-29-2011 |
20120044783 | ACOUSTIC WAVEFORM STACKING USING AZIMUTHAL AND/OR STANDOFF BINNING - A method for making acoustic logging measurements includes grouping received acoustic waveforms into one of a plurality of groups, each group being representative of a measured borehole condition (e.g., a range of measured standoff values and/or a range of measured azimuth angles). The waveforms stored in at least one of the groups are stacked so as to obtain an averaged waveform. The averaged waveform may be further processed, for example, via a semblance algorithm to obtain at least one acoustic wave slowness. | 02-23-2012 |
20120069705 | EMAT Acoustic Signal Measurement Using Modulated Gaussian Wavelet and Hilbert Demodulation - Casing signals generated by an EMAT in a borehole are processed using at least two orthogonal band-limited filters. The band-limited filters may include Gaussian or Cauchy Wavelet filters. By using the Hilbert transform, an envelope of the filtered signals is determined and amplitudes and arrival times of individual arrivals are estimated. These can be used to estimate casing and cement properties. | 03-22-2012 |
20120075952 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR IMAGING OF NON-LINEAR AND LINEAR PROPERTIES OF FORMATIONS SURROUNDING A BOREHOLE - In some aspects of the disclosure, a method and an apparatus is disclosed for investigating material surrounding the borehole. The method includes generating within a borehole an intermittent low frequency vibration that propagates as a tube wave longitudinally to the borehole and induces a nonlinear response in one or more features in the material that are substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the borehole; generating within the borehole a sequence of high frequency pulses directed such that they travel longitudinally to the borehole within the surrounding material; and receiving, at one or more receivers positionable in the borehole, a signal that includes components from the low frequency vibration and the sequence of high frequency pulses during intermittent generation of the low frequency vibration, to investigate the material surrounding the borehole. | 03-29-2012 |
20120075953 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING A CEMENTED BOREHOLE CASING - A method of evaluating a cased borehole in an earth formation includes: emitting at least one acoustic signal into the borehole via an acoustic source and detecting a return acoustic signal via an acoustic sensor, the borehole including a casing and a casing support material disposed between the casing and a borehole wall; emitting a neutron flux via a neutron source into the borehole and detecting a radiation signal via a radiation detector, the radiation signal including induced gamma radiation resulting from neutron interactions; and identifying a casing support material characteristic based on the return acoustic signal and the radiation signal. | 03-29-2012 |
20120092960 | MONITORING USING DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING (DAS) TECHNOLOGY - Methods and systems are provided for performing acoustic sensing by utilizing distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) along a length of a conduit, such that the sensing is performed with the functional equivalent of tens, hundreds, or thousands of sensors. Utilizing DAS in this manner may cut down the time in performing acoustic sensing, which, therefore, may make acoustic sensing more practical and cost effective and may enable applications that were previously cost prohibitive with discrete acoustic sensors. | 04-19-2012 |
20120170406 | Early Kick Detection in an Oil and Gas Well - An apparatus, method and compute-readable medium for detecting a gas influx event in a borehole fluid during a drilling operation is disclosed. A measurement of an acoustic velocity of the borehole fluid is obtained at an acoustic sensor disposed in a borehole. A measurement of temperature of the borehole fluid is obtained at a temperature sensor disposed in the borehole. A process compares the measurement of the acoustic velocity of the borehole fluid to the measurement of the temperature of the borehole fluid to detect the gas influx event. | 07-05-2012 |
20120176862 | Method and Device to Measure Perforation Tunnel Dimensions - A method of logging a perforation tunnel and associated features of the perforation tunnel can include the following features. A logging device including an ultrasonic transducer is located downhole into a well. The well has a casing. The ultrasonic transducer has a focal point that is a distance from the ultrasonic transducer so as to be behind the inner face of the casing. An ultrasonic signal is projected from the ultrasonic transducer. A reflection of the ultrasonic signal is reflected from an internal portion of the perforation tunnel, the perforation tunnel extending through the casing and into formation. A transit time is measured between transmission and reception of the ultrasonic signal. A position of the ultrasonic transducer corresponding to the ultrasonic transmission and reception of the reflected signal is determined. | 07-12-2012 |
20120224455 | RESONANCE METHOD FOR MEASURING THE ELECTROACOUSTIC CONSTANT AND PERMEABILITY OF ROCK FORMATIONS - Disclosed is a method for estimating a property of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole. The method includes: transmitting acoustic waves into the formation from an acoustic source disposed in the borehole and away from a wall of the borehole; generating radial acoustic eigenwaves within a space between the wall of the borehole and the acoustic source using the transmitted acoustic waves; receiving an acoustic signal with an acoustic receiver disposed at the wall of the borehole; sensing an electric field signal with an electric field sensor disposed at the wall of the borehole; and estimating the property using the received acoustic signal and the sensed electric field signal. | 09-06-2012 |
20120250459 | METHODS FOR SEISMIC FRACTURE PARAMETER ESTIMATION AND GAS FILLED FRACTURE IDENTIFICATION FROM VERTICAL WELL LOG DATA - Methods for fracture characterization of unconventional formations are provided. Synthetic seismic fracture responses can be generated based on the derived fracture parameters. The synthetic seismic fracture responses may then be used to derive optimum seismic data acquisition geometry for fracture characterization. These methods of determining the seismic data acquisition geometry are advantageous over conventional methods in that these methods are more reliable and cheaper than existing empirical methods, particularly as applied to fractured unconventional formations. Moreover, these methods allow fracture parameters to be derived from limited but common well log data. Certain embodiments additionally contemplate determining the presence of gas filled fractures. These characterizations and evaluations of unconventional formations are useful for, among other things, determining optimal producing intervals and optimal drilling locations. These methods can eliminate the use of costly image logs and core data. These methods ultimately translate to more efficient seismic imaging and more optimal hydrocarbon production. | 10-04-2012 |
20130058193 | Apparatus and Method for Measuring the Acoustic Impedance of Wellbore Fluids - An ultrasonic scanner tool employs a transducer that excites a target plate at a known distance from the transducer. One side of the target plate forms a chamber that in operation is filled with wellbore fluid. On the other side of the target plate, a chamber is formed containing a vacuum or a fluid with a significantly lower acoustic impedance than the wellbore fluid and the target plate, allowing an improved measurement of the acoustic impedance of the wellbore fluid. | 03-07-2013 |
20130070561 | Measurement of Permeability in Borehole in the Presence of Mudcake - The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for evaluating a porous earth formation. The method may include: generating an acoustic wave in a borehole fluid; measuring an attenuation of the acoustic wave; and estimating a permeability of an earth formation acoustically coupled to the borehole fluid using the estimated attenuation and a theoretical attenuation. The method may also include estimating a theoretical attenuation for the borehole fluid using acoustic properties of the borehole fluid. The apparatus for performing the method may include: an acoustic source, an acoustic sensor, and a processor configured to estimate the attenuation of an acoustic wave generated by the acoustic source. | 03-21-2013 |
20130094325 | LOOK-AHEAD SEISMIC WHILE DRILLING - A method of evaluating a formation of interest, comprises collecting a data set comprising signals received at a plurality of receivers signals from a source on a bottom-hole assembly at a position in a borehole, processing the data set so as to create a virtual trace received at a virtual receiver located at the source position, and using the virtual trace to generate an image or measurement containing information about the formation of interest. The source may or may not be a drill bit and the data can be collected at several different source positions. | 04-18-2013 |
20130114377 | Systems and Methods to Discriminate Annular Heavy Fluids From Cement - A cement bond logging method for wells containing heavy mud and cement is provided. Acoustic logging tool data from a well having material in the annular space between the casing and the formation is analyzed to map relationships between waveform amplitude, acoustic impedance, and impedance derivative of the material. Map zones representing fully bonded well regions and partially bonded well regions are identified. An image is generated from the log data corresponding to the identified map zones. A cement bond logging system including a memory having cement bond logging software and a processor coupled to the memory to execute the software is also provided. | 05-09-2013 |
20130155812 | Using Higher Order Harmonics to Determine Acoustic Impedance of Material Behind Borehole Casings - An acoustic logging tool emits a wideband acoustic pulse toward an inside surface of a borehole casing and an acoustic response is received. The acoustic response is analyzed at one or more higher order harmonics of the thickness mode resonance of the casing to determine the acoustic impedance of the material behind the casing. | 06-20-2013 |
20130188452 | ASSESSING STRESS STRAIN AND FLUID PRESSURE IN STRATA SURROUNDING A BOREHOLE BASED ON BOREHOLE CASING RESONANCE - A method of determining a physical property of subsurface strata surrounding a borehole. The physical property includes any one or more of stress, strain of fluid pressure of the subsurface strata. The borehole includes a borehole liner having an interior wall. A pair of sensor modules separated by a known distance are clamped to the interior wall of the borehole liner. The clamping induces an acoustic discontinuity in the borehole liner such that a P-wave propagating longitudinally within the borehole liner is at least partially reflected. A respective sensor of each sensor module detecting P-waves propagating in the liner and generating a corresponding sensor output signal indicative of the detected P-waves. A respective sensor output signal from each sensor module is analyzed to detect a resonance in a section of the borehole liner between the sensors. A fundamental frequency of the detected resonance is determined and analyzed to determine the physical property. | 07-25-2013 |
20130215715 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ESTIMATE A PROPERTY IN A BOREHOLE - An apparatus for estimating a first property in a borehole penetrating the earth is described. The apparatus includes a carrier configured to be conveyed through the borehole. The apparatus also includes a first sensor disposed at the carrier and configured to perform a first measurement of the first property, the first sensor having a first direction of sensitivity; a second sensor disposed at the carrier and configured to perform a second measurement of a second property, the second sensor having a second direction of sensitivity; and a processor configured to receive the first and second measurements and to correct the first measurement using the second measurement in order to estimate the first property. | 08-22-2013 |
20130286778 | REFLECTIVE ECHO TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING USING ACOUSTIC BEAMS - An inspection system includes a plurality of acoustic beamformers, where each of the plurality of acoustic beamformers including a plurality of acoustic transmitter elements. The system also includes at least one controller configured for causing each of the plurality of acoustic beamformers to generate an acoustic beam directed to a point in a volume of interest during a first time. Based on a reflected wave intensity detected at a plurality of acoustic receiver elements, an image of the volume of interest can be generated. | 10-31-2013 |
20130315032 | Methods and Systems for Deploying Seismic Devices - Methods and systems for acoustically determining reservoir parameters of subterranean formations. A tool comprising at least one seismic source or seismic receiver mounted thereon; a conveyance configured for movement of the acoustic tool in a borehole traversing the subterranean formations; and a source retainer configured or designed for permanent deployment in the borehole to removably retain the acoustic tool in the borehole. The source retainer when deployed provides acoustic coupling with the borehole and removably retains the acoustic tool in the borehole so that, over multiple deployments, the acoustic tool is repeatedly deployed at the same predetermined location and orientation relative to the subterranean formation, and with the same acoustic coupling to the borehole. | 11-28-2013 |
20130343159 | Determining Location Information of Microseismic Events During Hydraulic Fracturing - A method of determining locations of microseismic events caused by a hydrofracking process is disclosed. The method includes: measuring audio signals using an array of geophones deployed in a monitoring well during hydraulic fracturing; modifying the audio signals according to a predefined nonlinear distortion operator to generate a modified audio signal, wherein the modified audio signal has audible components in a predefined frequency range beyond a cutoff frequency defined by a sampling rate of the respective measured audio signals; and playing the modified audio signals through a stereo or multi-channel speaker system, wherein a user of the stereo or multi-channel speaker system is able to determine the locations of the microseismic events from listening to the modified audio signals. | 12-26-2013 |
20140036628 | Subsurface Monitoring Using Distributed Acoustic Sensors - This application relates to methods and apparatus for geophysical monitoring within wellbores. The method involves interrogating an optical fibre ( | 02-06-2014 |
20140056101 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SONIC WAVE MEASUREMENTS USING AN ACOUSTIC BEAM SOURCE - A method and system for investigating structure near a borehole are described herein. The method includes generating an acoustic beam by an acoustic source; directing at one or more azimuthal angles the acoustic beam towards a selected location in a vicinity of a borehole; receiving at one or more receivers an acoustic signal, the acoustic signal originating from a reflection or a refraction of the acoustic wave by a material at the selected location; and analyzing the received acoustic signal to characterize features of the material around the borehole. | 02-27-2014 |
20140064028 | DETECTION OF SEISMIC SIGNALS USING FIBER OPTIC DISTRIBUTED SENSORS - A fiber optic distributed vibration system for detecting seismic signals in an earth formation is provided. The system includes a fiber optic cable deployed in a borehole that extends into the earth formation and which is configured to react along its length to a seismic wave incident on the fiber optic cable from outside the borehole. An optical source launches an optical signal into the fiber optic cable while the seismic wave is incident thereon. A receiver detects coherent Rayleigh noise (CRN) produced in response to the optical signal. A processing circuit processes the detected CRN signal to determine characteristics of the earth formation. | 03-06-2014 |
20140126325 | ENHANCED SEISMIC SURVEYING - Embodiments of the present invention help in the processing and interpretation of seismic survey data, by correlating or otherwise comparing or associating seismic data obtained from a seismic survey with flow information obtained from a well or borehole in the surveyed area. In particular, embodiments of the present invention allow for flow data representing a flow profile along a well that is being monitored by a distributed acoustic sensor to be determined, such that regions of higher flow in the well can be determined. For example, in the production zone the well will be perforated to allow oil to enter the well, but it has not previously been possible to determine accurately where in the production zone the oil is entering the well. However, by determining a flow rate profile along the well using the i)AS then this provides information as to where in the perforated production zone oil is entering the well, and hence the location of oil bearing sands. This location can then be combined or otherwise correlated, used, or associated with petroleum reservoir location information obtained from the seismic survey, to improve the confidence and/or accuracy in the determined petroleum reservoir location. | 05-08-2014 |
20140160889 | System for Measuring Shear Stress in Downhole Tubulars - An apparatus for evaluating the possibility of casing failure in a borehole measures azimuthal changes in a property responsive to azimuthal changes in axial stress. The measurements may be of acoustic velocity, magnetic permeability, and Barkhausen noise. | 06-12-2014 |
20140160890 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING SHEAR WAVE ANISOTROPY IN A VERTICALLY TRANSVERSELY ISOTROPIC FORMATION - A system and method for determining shear wave anisotropy in a vertically transversely isotropic formation is disclosed. The method includes generating a broad band Stoneley wave and a broad band dipole flexural wave. The broad band Stoneley wave and a broad band dipole flexural wave may be generated at a logging tool located within a wellbore. The method also includes receiving at the logging tool first data corresponding to the broad band Stoneley wave and second data corresponding to the broad band dipole flexural wave. The method also includes determining a vertical shear wave constant, c66, by at least applying an inversion algorithm to the first data and the second data. | 06-12-2014 |
20140177388 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACOUSTIC IMAGING USING A TRANSDUCER ARRAY - An apparatus for acoustic imaging includes an array with a number of acoustic transducers. Each acoustic transducer transmits and receives acoustic signals. The apparatus also includes a control unit that is coupled to the array and selectively powers a number of acoustic transducers based upon standoff distance between the array and an object-of-interest (e.g., a borehole wall). In some embodiments, the control unit also varies the frequency of acoustic signals transmitted from the array using the standoff distance between the array and the object-of-interest. | 06-26-2014 |
20140177389 | Use of Lamb and SH Attenuations to Estimate Cement Vp and Vs in Cased Borehole - A method of determining properties of a bonding material disposed outside of a casing in a borehole includes at least two of the following three pairs of operations: (1) inducing an acoustic wave in the casing, and measuring attenuation of the acoustic wave, by pulse-echo or other cement bond logging measurement; (2) inducing an SH wave in the casing, and measuring attenuation of the SH wave; and (3) inducing a Lamb wave in the casing, and measuring attenuation of the Lamb wave. (2) and/or (3) may be performed by an electromagnetic acoustic transducer. The method further includes determining the shear velocity or shear impedance and the compressional velocity or compressional impedance of the bonding material based on appropriate ones of the measurements. The bonding material may be cement. | 06-26-2014 |
20140192619 | TORSIONAL WAVE LOGGING - A method for torsional wave logging in a borehole of a subterranean formation. The method includes obtaining a torsional wave measurement of the borehole, wherein the torsional wave measurement represents characteristics of a torsional wave propagating within a cylindrical layered structure associated with the borehole, wherein the cylindrical layered structure comprises the subterranean formation and a completion of the borehole, analyzing, by a computer processor, the torsional wave measurement to generate a quality measure of the completion, and displaying the quality measure of the completion. | 07-10-2014 |
20140301164 | ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - In some embodiments, apparatus and systems, as well as method and articles, may operate to launch acoustic waves along a first acoustic path length from an acoustic transducer toward an axis of rotation, to impinge on a first front surface of a target substantially fixed with respect to the axis, and to receive a reflection of the acoustic waves from the first front surface at the acoustic transducer. After rotating the acoustic transducer about the axis along a substantially circular path, additional activities may include launching acoustic waves along a second acoustic path length, different from the first acoustic path length, from the acoustic transducer toward the axis to impinge on a second front surface of the target, and receiving a reflection of the acoustic waves from the second front surface at the acoustic transducer. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 10-09-2014 |
20140321240 | ELASTOGRAPHY FOR CEMENT INTEGRITY INSPECTION - A method for examining integrity of cement in a wellbore includes deploying an ultrasound transducer within a wellbore. One or more reference ultrasound images of the cement within the wellbore are acquired. A pushing pulse is emitted from the ultrasound transducer to elicit a displacement of the cement within the wellbore. A sequence of ultrasound images is acquired, over time, depicting the displacement of the cement within the wellbore elicited by the pushing pulse. A strain tensor map is generated from a difference between the one or more reference ultrasound images and the acquired sequence of ultrasound images. A degree of integrity of the cement within the wellbore is determined based on the generated strain tensor map. | 10-30-2014 |
20150029823 | Systems and Methods for Identifying Sanding in Production Wells Using Time-Lapse Sonic Data - Systems and methods for identifying sanding in production wells using time-lapse sonic data. Formation anisotropy can be characterized in terms of shear moduli in a vertical wellbore, e.g., vertical shear moduli C | 01-29-2015 |
20150049585 | ACOUSTIC LOGGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS EMPLOYING MULTI-MODE INVERSION FOR ANISOTROPY AND SHEAR SLOWNESS - Acoustic logging systems and methods are provided with multi-mode inversion for at least vertical shear slowness and shear anisotropy. At least some method embodiments acquire waveforms for multiple acoustic wave modes as a function of tool position in a borehole, derive position-dependent mode dispersion curves from the waveforms, match the derived dispersion curves with parameterized dispersion curves to determine a vertical shear slowness and a shear anisotropy as a function of position, and displaying a borehole log that represents at least one of the vertical shear slowness and the shear anisotropy as a function of position. The objective function employed for the inversion is evaluated across multiple wave propagation modes and mud slownesses and may employ an adaptive, frequency-dependent weighting based on distance between the derived dispersion curves and the parameterized dispersion curves. | 02-19-2015 |
20150331134 | DECOMPOSING FULL-WAVEFORM SONIC DATA INTO PROPAGATING WAVES FOR CHARACTERIZING A WELLBORE AND ITS IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS - A method for estimating parameters of a propagating wave field, such as the direction of propagation in 3D space of an acoustic wave from borehole-acoustic data. The estimation technique uses phase delays between recordings made by the individual receivers related to a plane wave travelling across the receiver array. The estimated plane waves include the wave field generated directly by the acoustic source, as well as refracted and reflected components of these fields. The technique can be used with overlapping wave fields. This will provide significant improvements in the quality of formation properties estimated from full-waveform data that are obtained either from wireline or from while-drilling sonic data. The inventive method enables characterization of abnormalities outside multiple casing strings where acoustic signals are transmitted from a source located inside said multiple casing string. | 11-19-2015 |
20150361790 | METHOD FOR REVEALING ANOMALOUS DISCONTINUITY INTERFACES IN PORE PRESSURES IN NON-DRILLED GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS AND A SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING IT - A method for revealing anomalous discontinuity interfaces in pore pressures in non-drilled geological formations and an implementing system. The method includes generating, by an electroacoustic transducer, first pressure sound waves and receiving a reflected signal of such first pressure sound waves generated by at least one discontinuity interface due to passage from first to second different geological formations situated successively along an emission direction of the electroacoustic transducer; calculating speed of the first pressure sound waves generated and distance between the electroacoustic transducer and the at least one discontinuity interface; generating, by the electroacoustic transducer, second pressure sound waves and revealing the electrical impedance induced at terminals of the electroacoustic transducer; estimating, based on the electrical impedance revealed, plural parameters characteristic of the first and second geological formation; estimating pressure of the second geological formation based on the sound speed and distance calculated and the plural characteristic parameters estimated. | 12-17-2015 |
20150369939 | Determining A Quantitative Bond Using Signal Attenuation - A technique facilitates determination of a quantitative bond between a pipe and adjacent materials, e.g. between a wellbore casing and adjacent cement. The quantitative bond is established via acoustic measurements related to signal attenuation. Additionally, the acoustic measurements may be conducted with a sonic tool during a wellbore operation, e.g. during a drilling operation. The methodology enables use of signal attenuation in a manner which facilitates determination of bond index coverage up to a high percentage, e.g. 100 percent. | 12-24-2015 |
20150378040 | SOURCELESS DENSITY DETERMINATION APPARATUS, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS - In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to determine a compressional velocity (CV) of a geological formation, to determine a reflection coefficient (RC) associated with the geological formation, and to determine a density of the geological formation based on the CV and the RC. The CV and RC may be determined from values associated with sonic and ultrasonic velocity measurements. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are described. | 12-31-2015 |
20160018549 | REMOVING RING DOWN EFFECTS FROM SONIC WAVEFORMS - An illustrative acoustic range finding method including deploying a tool downhole, transmitting a first acoustic waveform with a transmitting acoustic transducer of the tool, receiving a second acoustic waveform with a receiving acoustic transducer of the tool, removing a deterministic waveform from the second acoustic waveform to obtain an echo waveform, and deriving a measurement from said echo waveform. | 01-21-2016 |
20160061021 | Cement Evaluation - Systems and methods for evaluating a cement installation are provided. In one example, the cement may be evaluated using an objective indicator or index calculated from acoustic measurements. In another example, the cement may be evaluated in an integrated cement evaluation that integrates data relevant to cement obtained from a variety of previous operations used to drill and complete the well. | 03-03-2016 |
20160109605 | Fast Model Based Inversion of Acoustic Impedance of Annulus Behind Casing - Techniques involve obtaining acoustic data from an acoustic logging tool, where the acoustic data includes waves reflected from the casing, the annular fill material, the formation, and/or interfaces between any of the casing, the annular fill material, and the formation. A crude casing thickness, tool position (e.g., eccentering), mud sound velocity may be estimated using the acoustic data. Techniques also involve computing a model spectra and an estimated casing thickness using a forward model and based on a crude casing thickness, an initial mud acoustic impedance, and an initial annular acoustic impedance, estimating a specular signal using the model spectra and the acoustic data in a first time window, computing a calibrated model signal using the estimated specular signal and computed model spectra, computing a misfit of the computed calibrated model signal and acoustic data in a second time window comprising the initial time window, and computing a correction update to one or more of the estimated casing thickness an estimated apparent annular acoustic impedance and an estimated mud acoustic impedance, based on the misfit. Techniques involve iteratively estimating the model spectra and the Jacobian curve, computing the specular signal, computing the misfit, and computing the update until the update is below a threshold. Outputs may include one or more of a casing thickness, an apparent acoustic impedance of the annular fill material, and the acoustic impedance of mud. | 04-21-2016 |
20160116621 | System and Method of Detecting Well Integrity Failure - Embodiments of a method for detecting well integrity failure are disclosed herein. In general, embodiments of the method utilize seismic signals for detection. In particular, embodiments of the method may use recording of passive or active seismic signals. Further details and advantages of various embodiments of the method are described in more detail in the application. | 04-28-2016 |
20160131799 | Electroseismic Surveying in Exploration and Production Environments - Systems, methods, and computer programs for monitoring a drilling operation in a subterranean formation include receiving, from a first sensor array, one or more seismic signals caused, at least in part, by the drilling operation in the subterranean formation; receiving, from the first sensor array, one or more electromagnetic signals generated by an electroseismic or seismoelectric conversion of the one or more seismic signals caused, at least in part, by the drilling operation in the subterranean formation; and determining a property of one or more of the drillstring and the subterranean formation based, at least in part, on the seismic signals and the corresponding electromagnetic signals received from the first sensor array. The first sensor array is arranged to monitor the drilling operation. | 05-12-2016 |
20160146964 | MONITORING MATRIX ACIDIZING OPERATIONS - An acoustic logging tool is disposed in a wellbore during an acidizing operation. Measurements are made using the acoustic logging tool on a region of a formation penetrated by the wellbore and being subjected to the acidizing operation. An acoustic anisotropic property of the formation is inferred at one or more depths of investigation within the region using the measurements, and a wormhole porosity and/or an orientation of one or more wormholes resulting from the acidizing operation is determined. Acidizing operation management decisions may be made based on the determined wormhole porosity and/or orientations of the wormholes. An acidizing operation management decision may be to maintain, increase, or decrease an acid injection rate. Measurements made may include the velocity of an acoustic wave propagating through the formation and the acoustic anisotropic properties of fast waves and slow waves. The acoustic anisotropic properties of the formation generally depend on rock stiffness. | 05-26-2016 |
20160170082 | Downhole Acoustic Wave Sensing with Optical Fiber | 06-16-2016 |
20160170083 | Seismic Sensing with Optical Fiber | 06-16-2016 |
20160178778 | METHOD OF ACOUSTIC WELL LOGGING | 06-23-2016 |
20180024265 | RHODONEA CELL ACOUSTIC HYPERLENS FOR THRU-CASING ULTRASONIC SENSORS | 01-25-2018 |
20190146114 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING STONELEY WAVES FOR BOTTOM-HOLE PROXIMITY DETECTION | 05-16-2019 |