This invention relates generally to signal processing in the context of geological exploration and, more specifically, to determining the transient electromagnetic response of a region of an earth formation.
Electromagnetic investigation tools are often used to take measurements at points along the length of a borehole in an earth formation. In many instances, the tools are attached to or associated with a support structure such as a mandrel, bar, shaft, spindle, housing, cable or wire line. For example, in measuring while drilling (MWD) applications, also known as logging while drilling (LWD) applications, measurement tools may be attached to a high strength support structure that supports a drill bit as the drill bit forms a borehole. The high strength structure can cause the formation response measurements to be disrupted as the high strength structure is typically formed from an electrically conductive material, such as steel or another metal. Therefore, it is desirable to have a system and method that facilitate the removal or reduction of the contribution of the support structure to the measurement so as to reveal information that is provided by a formation response signal.
The various embodiments of the present invention overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a system and method for determining an electromagnetic response from a region in an earth formation. Raw response signals are measured with receivers at different offset distances from one or more transmitters. The receivers are electromagnetically coupled to the one or more transmitters by a support structure. The raw signals are adjusted according to an exemplary method to provide an adjusted signal where the effect of the support structure on the raw response signals is removed or reduced. The adjusted signal can be interpreted to determine information that is masked in the raw response signals. In other words, the adjusted signal reflects the electromagnetic response from the region of the earth formation.
An exemplary method for determining an electromagnetic response from a region in an earth formation is now described. A measurement tool is conveyed into a borehole formed in the earth formation. The measurement tool can include multiple transmitters and multiple receivers. For example, the measurement tool can include a transmitter, a first receiver, and a second receiver, each positioned on or near an electrically conductive support structure. Here, the first receiver is positioned at a first distance from the transmitter and the second receiver is positioned at a second distance from the transmitter. One of the first receiver and the second receiver can be selected as a primary receiver and the other receiver can be selected as a secondary receiver, as described herein.
Once the measurement tool is positioned in the borehole, a source signal is transmitted from the transmitter. The source signal incites a first raw signal in the first receiver and a second raw signal in the second receiver. A data acquisition unit measures the first raw signal and the second raw signal and the raw signals are stored in a memory of a computing unit. The raw response signals exhibit an effect from the support structure coupling the transmitters to the receivers such that in a masked time interval the raw response signals do not reflect formation response signals.
The computing unit includes a processor unit that calculates an adjusted signal by determining a first function of the first raw signal, a second function of the second raw signal, a third function of the first distance, and a fourth function of the second distance. The third function and the fourth function relate the first function and the second function. The computing unit then modifies at least one of the first function and the second function according to the relationship between the third function and the fourth function and subtracts one of the resulting first and second functions from the other of the resulting first and second functions.
According to one aspect of the disclosure, the first function is the first raw signal, the second function is the second raw signal, the third function is the inverse of the first distance cubed, and the fourth function is the inverse of the second distance cubed.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the first function is the first raw signal, the second function is the second raw signal, the third function is the average of the first raw signal over the masked time interval, and the fourth function is a the average of the second raw signal over the masked time interval.
In certain of the exemplary methods, a first reference signal and a second reference signal are respectively obtained at the first distance and the second distance in a reference medium having a resistivity that is higher than that of the region in the earth formation. For example, the reference medium can have a resistivity that is at least ten times that of the earth formation.
The computing unit can include memory that stores the first reference signal and the second reference signal.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the first function is the first raw signal, the second function is the second raw signal, the third function is the first reference signal, and the fourth function is the second reference signal.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the first function is a first calibrated signal that is determined by subtracting the first reference signal from the first raw signal, the second function is a second calibrated signal that is determined by subtracting the second reference signal from the second raw signal, the third function is the first distance, and the fourth function is the second distance.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the first function is a first calibrated signal that is determined by subtracting the first reference signal from the first raw signal, the second function is a second calibrated signal that is determined by subtracting the second reference signal from the second raw signal, the third function is the average of the first calibrated signal over the masked time interval, and the fourth function is the average of the second calibrated signal over the masked time interval.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the first function is a first calibrated signal that is determined by subtracting the first reference signal from the first raw signal, the second function is a second calibrated signal that is determined by subtracting the second reference signal from the second raw signal, the third function is the cube root of the first reference signal, and the fourth function is the cube root of the second reference signal.
The adjusted signal can be interpreted to determine information about the formation that is masked by the raw response signals. For example, the number of layers present in the region in the formation may be determined by calculating the slope of the adjusted signal in the masked time interval.
It is envisaged that the method can be performed by the system where computer executable instructions are contained on a computer readable medium. For example, a processor unit of the computing unit can execute the instructions.
The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the aspects and features of the present invention, which should be construed to be merely illustrative of various potential applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by combining various aspects of the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components, systems, materials, or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
Systems and methods are described herein in the context of determining a transient electromagnetic response in a region of an earth formation. The electromagnetic formation response can be interpreted to determine characteristics of the formation, such as the resistivity or conductivity of regions of the formation and the locations of boundaries. However, it is envisaged that the systems and methods taught herein can be applied to other environments and other parameters.
Referring to
To drill borehole 12, a drill bit 16 is positioned at the end of a series of tubular elements, referred to as a drill string 18. Drill bit 16 can be directed by a steering system 20, such as a rotatable steering system or a sliding steering system. In certain applications, measurements facilitate directing drill bit 16, for example, toward a hydrocarbon fluid reservoir.
System 10 includes a measurement tool 24 that is generally described as an array of transmitters and receivers and a corresponding support structure. In the illustrated embodiment, the support structure is a part of drill string 18. The support structure provides a foundation to which the transmitters and receivers are attached or otherwise houses the array. Hereinafter, the support structure will be described as a mandrel 32. However, the support structure could be any number of structures for supporting and positioning the array including a cable, housing, drill string element, combinations thereof, and the like.
Illustrated measurement tool 24 includes a transmitter 26, a first receiver 28, and a second receiver 30 that are each positioned along the length of mandrel 32. As best shown in
Generally described, a measurement tool includes a primary receiver and one or more secondary receivers. Various amounts of the responses from the secondary receivers are used to adjust the response of the primary receiver so as to minimize or reduce the mandrel effect, that is, the response due to electromagnetic coupling of transmitters and receivers by a mandrel or support structure. In other words, an adjusted signal can be the sum of the response of a primary receiver and responses of the secondary receivers where the responses of the secondary receivers are scaled, altered, or modified according to certain relationships.
In an exemplary embodiment described herein, first receiver 28 is selected as the primary receiver and second receiver 30 is selected as the secondary receiver. The formulations of adjusted signals reflect this selection. However, in alternative embodiments, second receiver 30 may be selected as the primary receiver and first receiver 28 may be selected as the secondary receiver.
System 10 further includes a data acquisition unit 40 and a computing unit 50. Data acquisition unit 40 controls output of transmitter 26 and collects the response at receivers 28, 30. The response and/or data representative thereof are provided to computing unit 50 to be processed according to the adjustment methods described herein. Computing unit 50 includes computer components including a data acquisition unit interface 52, an operator interface 54, a processor unit 56, a memory 58 for storing information, and a bus 60 that couples various system components including memory 58 to processor unit 56.
Computing unit 50 can be positioned at the surface or at a remote location such that information collected by measurement tool 24 while in borehole 12 is readily available. For example, a telemetry system can connect measurement tool 24, data acquisition unit 40, and computing unit 50. In alternative embodiments, data acquisition unit 40 and/or computing unit 50 is combined with or integral to measurement tool 24 and processes signals while in borehole 12.
An exemplary method of measuring an electromagnetic response of a region of formation 14 is now described. The response is measured with measurement tool 24. A transient electromagnetic (TEM) response is useful, for example, in deep reading electromagnetic (DEM) well logging applications to identify the boundaries and properties of layers of a region of a formation 14 at relatively large distances from borehole 12.
To begin, data acquisition unit 40 causes a current to flow through transmitter 26 so as to generate a magnetic field. The source signal or input to transmitter 26 may vary. According to an exemplary method, current is passed through transmitter 26 for a time that is long enough to induce a substantially stable magnetic field. This magnetic field permeates both the region of formation 14 and mandrel 32.
Then, the current is abruptly shut off and the changing magnetic fields of the region of formation 14 and mandrel 32 induce currents in receivers 28, 30. Signals that are measured at receivers 28, 30 over time are termed raw response signals Vraw. Raw response signals Vraw include contributions from both the region of formation 14 and mandrel 32. Raw response signals Vraw may be subjected to one or more operations such as noise suppression, pre-amplification, filtering, or transformation, prior to or as part of a method of adjusting the raw response signal.
In any event, mandrel 32 electromagnetically couples transmitter 26 to receivers 28, 30 so as to mask the electromagnetic response of the region of formation 14.
Referring to
Referring to
Raw response signal Vraw and formation response signal Vf illustrated in
In each case, the contribution of mandrel 32 to raw response signal Vraw causes raw response signal Vraw to deviate from formation response signal Vf. Mandrel 32 contributes to raw response signal Vraw during a time interval that is referred to as a masked time interval M. For example, masked time interval M may be approximately 10−5s<t<10−2s.
At sufficiently late time, formation response signal Vf decays essentially as t−5/2 (when plotted on a double logarithmic graph). During masked time interval M, raw response signal Vraw decays substantially as t−1/2. After the mandrel contribution dies out, raw response signal Vraw decays essentially as t−5/2 and reflects formation response signal Vf. Raw response signal Vraw may also reflect formation response signal Vf at times before masked time interval M depending on the resistivity of the formation.
During masked time interval M, it is difficult to interpret raw response signal Vraw, as raw response signal Vraw does not reflect formation response signal Vf. Adjustment methods can be applied to raw response signals Vraw to reduce the contribution of mandrel 32. Resulting adjusted signals Vadj better reflect formation response signals Vf or provide information about formation 14 that is present in the masked time interval M. Adjusted signals Vadj can be analyzed to facilitate determining the parameters of a model of formation 14, for example, the number of layers of formation 14. Generally, adjusted signals Vadj can be determined based on a relationship between raw response signals Vraw or between raw response signals Vraw and reference signals Vref.
Reference signals Vref that are used in certain methods of adjusting are now described. Reference signals Vref are measured by receivers 28, 30 in a test environment. Typically, reference signals Vref are collected to calibrate measurement tool 24 and are stored in memory 58. One example of a test environment is a substantially homogeneous reference medium that has a resistivity that is high relative to the resistivity of a region of formation 14 from which an electromagnetic response is to be determined. For example, the resistivity of a suitable test environment can be at least ten times greater than the resistivity of the region of formation 14. An example of a widely used test environment is air.
Reference signals Vref are collected in the same manner as raw response signals Vraw with the difference being that reference signals Vref are collected in a test environment and raw response signals Vraw are collected in a region of formation 14. Where the resistivity of the test environment is relatively high, the contribution of mandrel 32 to reference signal Vref is relatively high compared to the contribution of the test environment. Thus, reference signal Vref approximates the mandrel contribution.
Generally, the measurement tool that is used to obtain reference signals Vref is the same that is used to measure raw response signals Vraw. Here, TR offset distances L1, L2 are the same in both the test environment and formation 14 to provide a relationship between reference signals Vref and raw signals Vraw that have the same offset. In alternative embodiments, reference signals Vref measured by one measurement tool can be used to adjust raw response signals Vraw measured by another measurement tool. For example, this may be acceptable where the different measurement tools have substantially equivalent conductive structures and arrays. In either case, reference signals Vref and raw response signals Vraw that have the same offset can be related.
A calibrated signal Vcal that relates raw response signal Vraw and reference signal Vref is now described. Calibrated signal Vcal is given by
V
cal(t)=Vraw(t)−Vref(t).
Referring to
Certain of the methods of adjusting are based on a relationship between raw response signals at different offset distances along the length of mandrel 32. These methods are termed “raw signal adjustment methods.” Other of the methods of adjusting are based on a relationship between calibrated signals at different offset distances along the length of mandrel 32. These methods are termed “calibrated signal adjustment methods.”
Relationships between raw response signals Vraw at different offset distances L1, L2 and corresponding raw signal adjustment methods are now described. Raw response signal Vraw measured by one of receivers 28, 30 depends not only on the resistivity of mandrel 32 and mandrel 32 geometry (e.g., diameter), but also strongly on TR offset distance L1, L2. Raw response signal Vraw is nearly independent of the TR offset distance L1, L2 if there is no mandrel 32. A combination of raw response signals Vraw measured at multiple TR offset distances L1, L2 can be used to reduce the mandrel effect and better reflect formation response signal Vf.
A first relationship between raw response signals Vraw measured at TR offset distances L1, L2 is now described. For large offsets, by comparing raw response signals Vraw measured at different TR offset distances L1, L2, it is observed that raw response signal Vraw is approximately inversely proportional to the cube of TR offset distance L1, L2. Thus, a large offset approximation of the relationship between raw response signal Vraw at first offset distance L1 and raw response signal Vraw at second offset distance L2 is given by
As this relationship relates the contributions of mandrel 32 at different offsets L1, L2 but does not proportionally or directly relate the contributions of formation 14 at different offsets L1, L2, first adjusted signal Vadj,1 can be determined whereby the first relationship is used to cancel out much of the mandrel contribution and better reflect formation response signal Vf. First adjusted signal Vadj,1 is given by
For smaller TR offset distances L1, L2, the first relationship described above is less applicable. A second adjusted signal Vadj,2 can be given by
V
adj,2(t,L1,L2)=Vraw(t,L1)−Padj,2(L1,L2)Vraw(t,L2)
where modifying function Padj,2(L1,L2) represents an observed or experimentally determined relationship found by analyzing the ratio of raw response signal Vraw at first offset distance L1 to raw response signal Vraw at second offset distance L2. For example, modifying function Padj,2(L1,L2) can be determined by taking the average of the ratio over masked time interval M. In alternative embodiments, modifying function Padj,2(L,,L2) is also a function of time.
The first relationship described above is equally applicable to reference signals Vref at different offset distances L1, L2. Accordingly, a third relationship between reference signals Vref at offset distances L1, L2 and raw response signals Vraw at the same offset distances L1, L2 is given by
This third relationship can similarly be used to provide a third adjusted signal Vadj,3 that cancels out much of the mandrel contribution and reflects a formation signal. Third adjusted signal Vadj,3 is given by
Relationships between calibrated signals Vcal at different offset distances L1, L2 and corresponding calibrated signal adjustment methods are now described. For large offset distances, it is observed that calibrated signal Vcal is approximately inversely proportional to offset distance L1, L2. For large offset distance, a fourth relationship between calibrated signal Vcal at first offset distance L1 and calibrated signal Vcal at second offset distance L2 is given by
A fourth adjusted signal Vadj,4 that incorporates the fourth relationship is given by
Similar to the second adjusted signal Vadj,2 above, a fifth adjusted signal Vadj,6 can accordingly be given by
V
adj,5(t,L1,L2)=Vcal(t,L1)−Padj,5(L1,L2)Vcal(t,L2)
where modifying function Padh,5(L1,L2) represents an observed or experimentally determined relationship found by analyzing the ratio of calibrated signal Vcal at first offset distance L1 to calibrated signal Vcal at second offset distance L2.
Based on a relationship between first adjusted signal Vadj,1 and third adjusted signal Vadj,3, a sixth adjusted signal Vadj,6 can be similarly related to the fourth adjusted signal Vadj,4. Sixth adjusted signal Vadj,6 is given by
A generalized adjustment signal Vadj that encompasses each adjustment signals Vadj is given by
where f1 is a function of raw response signal Vraw at offset distance L1, f2 is a function of raw response signal Vraw at offset distance L2, f3 is a function of first distance L1, and f4 is a function of second distance L2. With respect to the adjusted signals described above, functions f1, f2 may be raw response signals Vraw or calibrated signals Vcal and functions f3, f4 may be offset distances L1, L2, reference signals Vref, raw response signals Vraw, and variations thereof raised to an exponent. In any event, functions f3, f4 relate functions f1, f2 to one another.
Functions f3, f4 can be constant functions of offset distances L1, L2, respectively, or functions of both time and offset distances L1, L2, respectively.
Referring again to
In general, during masked time interval M, raw response signals Vraw decay essentially as t−1/2, calibrated signals Vraw decay essentially as t−3/2, adjusted raw response signals Vraw decay essentially as t−3/2, and adjusted calibrated response signals Vcal decay essentially as t−5/2. For calibrated signals Vcal and adjusted signals Vadj, the mandrel contribution is particularly difficult to reduce toward the end of masked time interval M where deviations from a substantially constant decay are observed. The signals Vcal, Vadj may not provide useful information at this time although they can provide useful information at other times within and outside of masked time interval M.
Within masked time interval M, adjusted response signal Vadj reflects formation response signal Vf better than calibrated signal Vcal. To illustrate this, referring first to
The difference between calibrated signals C2, C4 due to the different regions N1, N2 is mainly observed in the form of a shift of the overall response. As this difference is similar to the difference that is observed between calibrated signals C1, C2 due to the difference in resistivity R2, R3 in the same region N1, it is difficult to determine whether calibrated signal C4 represents heterogeneous region N2 or homogeneous region N1. In other words, the calibrated signal C3, C4 of heterogeneous region N2 may be wrongly interpreted as that of homogeneous region N1.
In the case of
Referring to
Here, the adjusted signals A3, A4 measured in heterogeneous regions N2 transition from the adjusted signals A1, A2 measured in homogeneous region N1 thereby clearly delineating the presence of a second layer. When measurement tool 24 is located in more a conductive layer, adjusted signal A3 is more difficult to distinguish from adjusted signal A1.
Without prior knowledge of region N1, N2 in which raw response signal Vraw is determined, raw response signal Vraw can be adjusted according to methods of adjusting described herein to provide adjusted response signal Vadj. Adjusted response signal Vadj at different points along the length of borehole 12 can be compared to one another to gain information about the formation 14 that is present in masked time interval M of each. For example, at one point along the length of the borehole, masked time interval M of adjusted response signal Vadj may have a certain slope in a substantially homogeneous region and, at another point along the length of borehole, masked time interval M of adjusted response signal Vadj may have a slope that transitions from that of the other adjusted response signal Vadj thereby indicating the presence of at least a second layer.
As the contribution of mandrel 32 has not been removed from adjusted signal Vadj toward the end of the masked time interval M, transitions from a constant slope line near this time may not delineate the presence of an additional layer.
The law does not require and it is economically prohibitive to illustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present disclosure. Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/US09/34849 | 2/23/2009 | WO | 00 | 10/19/2010 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61031116 | Feb 2008 | US |