Abstract:
A system includes at least one processing unit and a bottomhole assembly (BHA) that includes or communicates with the at least one processing unit. The BHA includes at least one drilling component and at least one acoustic transducer to convert drilling noise into one or more electrical signals. The at least one processing unit analyzes the one or more electrical signals or related data to categorize different components of the drilling noise as rock contact noise and mechanical noise. The at least one processing unit derives a data log, a plan, or a control signal based on the categorized drilling noise components.
Abstract:
An innovative apparatus and computer implemented methods to obtain values for a set of scalars corresponding to each force and displacement, which may be obtained from acoustical signals captured by sensors of a drill bit while drilling, in a material of known mechanical properties, such as a cement from casing the well, such that the application and use of the scalars in relation to measurements of the mechanics while drilling, such as the acceleration of the bit and motion of the bit captured by sensors such as accelerometers, allow for absolute values of mechanical rock properties to be obtained in rock formations, being drilled through, with otherwise unknown mechanical properties prior to drilling.
Abstract:
A method for performing a seismic investigation during subterranean drilling operations includes connecting a bottom hole assembly to a drill string. The bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit and a vibration damper. The drill string is lowered into a borehole and rotated to drill the borehole to a greater length with the drill bit. An actual vibration generated by the bottom hole assembly is measured with a control system and the actual vibration is compared to a target seismic vibration range. When the actual vibration is outside of the target seismic vibration range, the dampening coefficient of the vibration damper is changed.
Abstract:
Methods of identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An example of such a method includes connecting a downhole sensor subassembly (104) between a drill bit (101) and a drill string (117), operably coupling acoustic sensors (102) to a downhole data interface (103), and operably coupling a surface computer (124) to the downhole data interface (103), The method can also include receiving raw acoustic sensor data generated real-time as a result of rotational contact of the drill bit (101) with rock during drilling, transforming the raw data into the frequency domain, filtering the transformed data, and deriving a plurality of acoustic characteristics (114) from the filtered data (301), This can be performed by a petrophysical properties (115) analyzing program (112) stored in memory (122) of the computer (124). The method can also include deriving petrophysical properties (115) from the filtered data (301) utilizing a petrophysical properties evaluation algorithm (303) employable to predict one or more petrophysical properties (115) of rock undergoing drilling.
Abstract:
Determining a type of annular material in a wellbore comprises measuring an acoustic noise of one or more reference materials and thereby generating a corresponding one or more acoustic profiles, monitoring the annular material with an acoustic sensor positioned in the wellbore and thereby obtaining an acoustic response of the annular material, comparing the acoustic response with the one or more acoustic profiles using a processor communicably coupled to the acoustic sensor, and characterizing the annular material based on the comparison of the acoustic response and the one or more acoustic profiles.
Abstract:
Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to estimate properties of rock, drill bit, or a combination thereof associated with a drilling operation. The properties can include, but are not limited to, rock chip size, drill bit dullness, drilling efficiency, or a combination selected from rock chip size, drill bit dullness, and drilling efficiency. The estimate may be accomplished from correlating detected acoustic emission with detected electromagnetic emissions. In various embodiments, formation brittleness may be determined. The various estimates may be used to direct a drilling operation. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
Abstract:
A method for determining the seismic signature of a drill bit acting as a seismic source while drilling. The method comprises the steps of recording compressional and shear waves generated by the drill bit by using at least one three- component sensor; separating recorded waves by decomposing data into three components; determining time delay between compressional waves and fast and slow moving shear waves on each component by measuring arrival times on said sensor as well as polarization of the waves; combining determined time delays and polarization of waves for determining the location of the seismic source, and determining the seismic signature by combining recorded data and the determined location of the seismic source.
Abstract:
A method for performing a seismic investigation during subterranean drilling operations includes connecting a bottom hole assembly to a drill string. The bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit and a vibration damper. The drill string is lowered into a borehole and rotated to drill the borehole to a greater length with the drill bit. An actual vibration generated by the bottom hole assembly is measured with a control system and the actual vibration is compared to a target seismic vibration range. When the actual vibration is outside of the target seismic vibration range, the dampening coefficient of the vibration damper is changed.
Abstract:
A wireline interface sub includes a wireline-interface-sub housing mechanically coupleable to a wireline and a wireline-interface module electrically coupleable to the wireline. A first tandem sub includes a first-tandem-sub housing mechanically coupled to the wireline-interface-sub housing, a first-tandem-sub-upside transceiver wirelessly coupled to the wireline-interface module, and a first-tandem-sub-downside transceiver electrically coupled to the first-tandem-sub-upside transceiver. A first gun sub includes a first-gun-sub housing mechanically coupled to the first-tandem-sub housing, a first-gun-sub transceiver wirelessly coupled to the first-tandem-sub-downside transceiver, and a first-gun-sub detonator coupled to, and triggerable by, the first-gun-sub transceiver.