Patent Application
20250059881
The present invention relates to the orientation of core samples retrieved from the subsoil in geological and mining exploration. In particular, the invention relates to a device and system for determining the orientation of any geological structure present based on core samples extracted from drilling relative to the underground environment or subsoil from which said core samples have been obtained. More particularly, the invention provides an efficient way for detecting, recording, and storing data related to the moment of breakage of a core sample during drilling operations.
One of the main purposes of mineral and geotechnical exploration is the acquisition of geological information, which can be obtained from the extraction of core samples. The main information parameters to obtain includes the orientation of any geological structure present in the extracted rock core. Depending on the objective of the project, mining or geotechnical, it moves forward with the interpretation of the data obtained.
There are mineral deposits that have a structural control associated with economically exploitable areas of interest. Other projects focused on infrastructure, may require structural information to complement the characterisation of the rock mass and make safe designs for the works in progress.
In this sense, various solutions have been provided in the state of the art to determine the characteristics of the geological structure of the soil through the orientation of the core samples obtained during exploration. One of these solutions is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,584,055 B2 which provides a core orientation device designed for use in a core drill and includes mechanisms to capture, process, and store information about its physical orientation during drilling. It uses sensors to generate signals related to its orientation, which are processed into usable data. This data is stored in a memory unit and can be accessed later through an interface to provide information on the device's orientation at a specific time, ensuring accurate tracking of the core's position throughout the drilling process.
Other alternatives for core orientation are reflected in patent application U.S. Patent Application Publication 2012/037421 A1 which discloses a core sample orientation system comprising a first portion in the form of a downhole unit adapted to be connected to a core tube of a core drill and a second portion comprising a control unit. The downhole unit is adapted for cooperation with a core tube for recording data relating to the orientation of the core tube, and the control unit is adapted to cooperate with the downhole unit to receive and process orientation data from the downhole unit and provide an indication of the orientation of a core sample within the core tube at a time prior to separation of the core sample from the underground environment from which it was obtained. The downhole unit is configured to cooperate with the control unit to establish an operative connection therebetween. More particularly, the downhole unit and the control unit are configured to provide a coupling for releasably connecting them together in a manner allowing selective rotation therebetween. The coupling comprises a combination of magnetic coupling and mechanical coupling.
The disclosure of the referred patent documents reveals that in both cases it continuously stores data at fixed intervals (e.g., every minute), which could lead to memory exhaustion or the need for manual memory management. As a result, older or redundant data may be unnecessarily retained, consuming memory resources. Besides, the data are recorded at fixed intervals, e.g., one minute, which may result in missed critical data points, especially during events of interest, such as core sample separation from the subsoil. Further, disclosure uses memory that may be volatile, meaning that in case of power loss or system failure, data, especially the critical core sample separation event, could be lost.
Another disadvantage of the aforementioned patent documents is that it is necessary to open the core tube to couple the second portion in which the control unit is located in order to download the data on the orientation of the core sample. Therefore, this process requires several steps that increase the operating times and the fatigue of the operators/users.
Likewise, given the structural configuration of the core sample orientation system of the referenced patent application it is necessary to provide a downhole unit based on the diameter of the core pipe to which it is to be coupled that is, one downhole unit per core tube diameter. This means the system is not very flexible to adapt to the different diameters of existing pipes at the sites.
Therefore, there is a latent need to provide a device/system for orienting core samples that get over all the previously discussed advantages.
In order to meet the needs previously discussed, the present invention provides a device for orienting core samples relative to the position thereof with respect to the subsoil before being extracted, said device being intended to remain coupled during operation in a core bit, that is, in the bit used to drill and extract the core sample from the subsoil. The proposed device is more efficient, reliable, and adaptive, ensuring crucial data is retained without overburdening memory resources, and also enables an easier transmission to an external device of the data related with orientation of the core sample orientation in regard the prior art.
Preferably, the proposed device comprises a body or tubular body couplable to the inner tube and/or head assembly of a core bit. This tubular body may be a single piece type, being manufactured with sufficiently resistant materials to withstand the stresses of well drilling, as well as to protect the components housed therein and which will be described hereinafter.
Preferably, within the tubular body there is housed a detector configured to detect a breaking or split of the core sample from the subsoil, and also configured to detect an orientation of the inner tube and/or sample provided/caught/placed in the inner tube. In a preferred embodiment, the detector comprises at least a triaxial accelerometer configured to record the vibrations and/or movements of the core bit and/or the drill head, wherein the breaking of the core sample is recorded when the data of the vibrations and/or movements of the core bit are beyond a preset value. In this regard,
Preferably, in another embodiment, the detector comprises of a set of triaxial accelerometers arranged mutually orthogonal to each other. In this way, the device of the invention is also capable of orienting the sample based on the gravity vector, carrying out the measurement of the gravitational vector. Alternatively, in the detector, there is a triaxial accelerometer for recording the vibrations and/or movements of the core bit and/or the drill head, and there is a set of triaxial accelerometers arranged mutually orthogonal to each other for orienting the core sample. In another alternative, in the set of set of triaxial accelerometers, all or either of the triaxial accelerometers is further configured to record the vibrations and/or movements of the core bit and/or the drill head.
Alternatively, the detector may include a set of micromechanical gyroscopes arranged mutually orthogonal to each other. Even more preferably, the detector comprises a set of triaxial accelerometers arranged mutually orthogonal to each other and a set of micromechanical gyroscopes arranged mutually orthogonal to each other. With the different configurations of the detector, it is possible to obtain the orientation of the core sample based on the gravity vector, carrying out the measurement of the gravitational vector and/or with respect to the true north of the extracted.
To receive and process the data from the detector relating to the breaking of the core sample and the orientation of the inner tube and/or the core sample placed in the inner tube, the device comprises an electronic control unit arranged in the tubular body, such electronic control unit is further configured to control the detector, to store the data of the breaking of the core sample and to wirelessly transmit said breaking data and the orientation data. Advantageously, storing by electronic control unit the data of the precise moment when core breakage occurs, ensures that the geological data of the subsoil captured during drilling is correctly recorded.
Preferably, the electronic control unit comprises a circular buffer configured to record the data related with the breaking of the core sample and a non-volatile memory configured to store said data. In this regard, the cyclic buffer enhances the continuous recording of recent orientation data, while non-volatile memory provides critical assurance that the core separation event is preserved under all circumstances.
According to this, more preferably, the circular buffer has an adjustable frequency to record the data, wherein the frequency is adjusted among the range of 1 Hz a 0.2 Hz. By allowing the frequency to oscillate between 1 Hz and 0.2 Hz, the device is capable of optimize its storage according to the rate at which data needs to be handled. Further, the cyclic buffer with adjustable frequency ensures no critical data of breaking of the core is lost, as it can hold onto data long enough for processing even during low-frequency operations.
Further, the electronic control unit comprises an internal clock to record the moment of core breaking from the subsoil. Upon detecting the destruction event, the device sets the time on the internal clock and store it for later display and analysis of the orientation of the core. Advantageously, the provision of an internal clock eliminates the need for external time synchronization, making more reliable the data obtained of the core orientation.
In another embodiment, the electronic control unit comprises communication means configured for the wireless transmission of the breaking and orientation data by means of high-speed BLUETOOTH® protocol using high-speed BLUETOOTH® protocol connections has the advantage that it is not necessary to remove the orientation device of the present invention from the inner tube of the core bit to obtain the orientation mark of the core sample. Therefore, the accuracy is maintained and the efficiency in collecting the core orientation data is increased. Furthermore, the fact that no piece of the device is disassembled to collect orientation data adds reliability and quality control, making the process auditable.
Moreover, to couple the device of the invention for orienting the core samples, it comprises an inner tube adapter configured to couple the tubular body to the inner tube, and also comprises a head adapter configured to couple the tubular body to the head assembly. These adapters have been designed with the idea of maintaining the same dimension for the tubular body despite the different pipe diameters, that is, it is the inner tube adapter or the head adapter that, as its name indicates, is adapted to the diameter of the pipe in question. Therefore, each of these adapters comprises one end couplable to the tubular body and another end couplable to the inner tube or head assembly. In this sense, each device can have a kit of both inner tube adapters and head adapters to use the appropriate adapter according to the diameter of the pipe.
As mentioned, the orientation device of the invention is intended to transmit the obtained data of the breaking of the core sample and its orientation wirelessly via high-speed Bluetooth protocol therefore, as part of a system for orienting core samples relative to its position with respect to the subsoil before being extracted, the orientation device can be wirelessly paired by means of said high-speed Bluetooth protocol with a portable communication device, such as a Smartphone, Tablet or similar, in which the orientation data is received, the same is processed, and finally said orientation data of the extracted core sample is presented to a user.
As mentioned in previous lines, one of the advantages of the present invention is that it is not necessary to disconnect the orientation device from the inner tube or the head assembly to obtain the orientation data of the core sample, which lead to decreased operation time and less fatigue on the part of users.
Another noteworthy advantage is that the use of the device for orienting core samples of the invention does not modify or reduce the capacity of the pumping equipment since it has a valve intended for, in the event that the internal valve that is equipped in the head assembly is not operable or bypassed, maintaining normal functionality of said equipment.
The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which should be considered by way of illustration and not limitation, wherein:
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in the form of examples to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present teachings can be implemented without such details.
According to a particular embodiment, as shown in
Each of these adapters (3) (4) comprises one end (31) (41) that can be coupled to the tubular body (2) and another end (32) (42) that can be coupled to the inner tube or to the head assembly. In this sense, each device (1) can have a kit or series of inner tube adapters (3) and head adapters (4) to use the appropriate adapter according to the diameter of the pipe.
Furthermore, the device (1) comprises a detector (9) arranged in the tubular body (2), the detector (9) is configured to detect a breaking of the core sample from the subsoil, i.e., the moment when the core sample is separated from the subsoil, and is also configured to detect an orientation of the inner tube and/or of the core sample disposed in the inner tube. In the preferred embodiment, the detector (9) comprises a set of three triaxial accelerometers arranged mutually orthogonal to each other, said set of triaxial accelerometers being configured to orient the core sample by means of measuring the gravity vector, and also, to record the vibrations and/or movements of the core bit, wherein the breaking of the core sample is recorded when the data of the vibrations and/or movements of the core bit are beyond a preset value that may associated with an event, e.g., the cessation of drilling. In any case the event may be indicative of an imminent core breakage. It is important to highlight that either or all of the triaxial accelerometers of the set is configured for the record of the vibrations and/or movements of the core bit. Alternatively, there is a set of three triaxial accelerometers arranged mutually orthogonal to each other to detect the orientation of the inner tube and/or of the core sample disposed in the inner tube, and at least a triaxial accelerometer, apart from the set, to record the vibrations and/or movements of the core bit.
Alternatively, this detector (9) comprises of a set of three gyroscopes, preferably MEMS, arranged mutually orthogonal to each other, by means of which it is possible to obtain the orientation with respect to true north of the extracted core sample.
In other embodiments, the detector (9) comprises of a set of three triaxial accelerometers arranged mutually orthogonal to each other and a set of three micromechanical gyroscopes arranged mutually orthogonal to each other. The different configurations of the detector (9) make it possible to determine the orientation of the core sample as it was located in the subsoil before being extracted, and at the same time, recording the precise moment where the core sample has broken from the subsoil, where this orientation data is exported for the geological analysis of the terrain.
The device (1) comprises an electronic control unit (10), ECU (10) hereinafter, arranged in the tubular body (2) configured to control the detector (9) and for receiving and processing data thereof relating to the breaking of the core sample and the orientation of the inner tube and/or the core sample placed in the inner tube, and to the wirelessly transmitting of the data, wherein the ECU (10) is also configured to store the data of the breaking of the core sample for further processing.
Preferably, the ECU (10) comprises a circular buffer configured to record the data related with the breaking of the core sample and a non-volatile memory configured to store said data. More particularly, the circular buffer has an adjustable frequency among the range of 1 Hz a 0.2 Hz to record the data.
Further, the ECU (10) comprises communication means (not shown) which, among others, comprise an antenna (not shown) for high-speed Bluetooth transmission to a suitable external terminal, such as, for example, a portable communication device (8) which is configured to establish wireless communication via high-speed Bluetooth protocol with the device (1), receive the data from the latter, process such data and present the orientation data of the extracted core sample to a user. So, once the head assembly and inner tube have been removed, without disassembling any element, orientation data of the core sample can be transmitted by establishing a high-speed Bluetooth wireless connection between the device (1) and the portable communication device (8).
As can be seen in
Likewise, the tubular body (2) comprises at least one opening (5), in particular at least a circular through hole carried out in the tubular body (2), provided for the transmission of the wireless connection signal via the communication means arranged inside said tubular body (2).
In preferred embodiments, the ECU (10) is provided with processing means, configured to process the measurements made by the detector (9) and obtain the orientation data of the core sample associated with the exact time when the core sample has been taken from the subsoil, wherein the portable communication device (8) may be a simple mean for the user to be able to view the orientation data, or, alternatively, when the device has been retrieved from the head assembly, the raw measurements or orientation data are transmitted directly to the portable communication device (8) which would be provided with processing means and software capable of processing the data received, obtaining the orientation of the extracted core sample and presenting it to the user.
As seen in
Furthermore, the ECU (10) alternatively comprises temperature detector, for example, a thermocouple, infrared sensor, a thermographic camera, or similar sensors, configured to measure the temperature of the bottom of the well, this data being relevant in some reservoirs or fields.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| U202131925 | Sep 2021 | ES | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part application of and claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 17/955,257 filed Sep. 28, 2022, which is pending and is which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. U.S. Ser. No. 17/955,257 claims priority under 35 U.SC. 119 to Spanish Utility Model U202131925 filed Sep. 29, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17955257 | Sep 2022 | US |
| Child | 18940630 | US |
