Borehole flow modulator and inverted seismic source generating system
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01V-001/137
E21B-047/18
출원번호
US-0582447
(2010-03-02)
등록번호
US-10001573
(2018-06-19)
국제출원번호
PCT/US2010/025895
(2010-03-02)
§371/§102 date
20120903
(20120903)
국제공개번호
WO2011/109014
(2011-09-09)
발명자
/ 주소
Kusko, David John
Vecseri, Gabor
Lerner, Daniel Maurice
출원인 / 주소
Teledrill, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
ePatentManager.com
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
15
초록▼
The present invention relates to the vertical seismic profiling (VSP) of geological formations in which profiling is used to obtain information for performing precise interpretations of geophysical seismic data and better understanding of geophysical information. The disclosure involves using a soun
The present invention relates to the vertical seismic profiling (VSP) of geological formations in which profiling is used to obtain information for performing precise interpretations of geophysical seismic data and better understanding of geophysical information. The disclosure involves using a sound source for generating primary and secondary seismic pulses within well boreholes. The seismic profiling system obtains information regarding a geological formation traversed by a borehole with controllable downhole seismic pulse generators with drill string tool(s). The tool(s) have contact with and are coupled to the formation. A seismic pulsing device (SPD) is attached to a portion of the drill string and a valve controller is used to control opening and closing the valve causing high amplitude short duration ultra wide band pressure pulses, generating primary seismic waves sent into surrounding geological formations. This generates secondary seismic waves received that can be detected by geophones or similar devices.
대표청구항▼
1. A seismic profiling system that obtains information regarding a geological formation traversed by a borehole having drilling fluid therein, said system comprising: one or more controllable downhole seismic pulse generator(s) (SPG) further comprising drill string tool(s), said drill string tool(s)
1. A seismic profiling system that obtains information regarding a geological formation traversed by a borehole having drilling fluid therein, said system comprising: one or more controllable downhole seismic pulse generator(s) (SPG) further comprising drill string tool(s), said drill string tool(s) coupled to said formation, a seismic pulsing device attached to a portion of a drill string of said drill string tool(s) wherein said pulsing device comprises a fluid modulator with an actuator that drives a valve, and a valve controller to control said valve such that when said valve is initially in an open position, flow of the a drilling fluid passes through said seismic pulse generator such that a seismic signal is generated when one or more valves that generate seismic pulses is initially closed and subsequently opened such that operation of said valves create a primary wave and simultaneously create a secondary wave wherein as said drilling fluid in a main valve pressure chamber increases, a main valve moves downward along a pilot flow tube toward a main flow orifice and a main valve seat such that movement of said main valve allows maintenance of constant pressure under volumetric expansion wherein said seismic signal comprises said primary wave and said secondary wave transmitted through said drilling fluid uphole as well as through a drill collar. 2. The seismic profiling system of claim 1, wherein said primary wave comprises a positive initial pressure pulse and a subsequent negative pressure pulse above said valve and wherein said secondary wave comprises a negative initial pressure pulse with a subsequent positive pressure pulse below said valve and an amplitude of said primary wave and said secondary wave is determined by a length of time that said valves are opened and closed; frequency of opening and closing said valves; and speed at which said valves are opened or closed thereby providing said seismic signal capable of creating a pressure pulse of at least 200 pounds per square inch. 3. The seismic profiling system of claim 2, wherein a mechanical advantage is accomplished by closing an inner valve that engages said actuator causing closing of an inner flow channel and redirecting drilling fluid into a valve housing such that when said valve closes said drilling fluid is sealed off from below said SPG, thus creating a seismic wave. 4. The seismic profiling system of claim 3, wherein said primary wave and said secondary wave is generated from downhole, while drilling, propagates in all directions depending on location within said formation, thereby providing a signal resolution that precisely defines and locates said formation. 5. The seismic profiling system of claim 2, comprising one or more geophones, hydrophones or seismic sensing devices for receiving seismic waves, located in all of the following locations; on or near a surface of said formation, within said borehole, and/or nearby boreholes, and/or on said drill string; a recording device for recording signals received by said geophones, hydrophones, or seismic sensing devices, and; an analysis system for analyzing said primary and secondary seismic waves. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said actuator is a motor, a solenoid, a torquer, a piezoelectric drive, a magnetostrictive drive, hydraulic drive, or a pneumatic drive. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said valve controller is connected to said actuator and wherein said valve controller through said actuator is equipped with electro-mechanical capability that opens and closes said valve within desired intervals, rates, and amplitudes. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said system provides seismic pressure pulses of a desired and specific amplitude and frequency and width such that control of a flow modulator produces said primary and secondary seismic waves. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein said pulse amplitude, frequency, and width are developed by seismic pressure pulses wherein said seismic pressure pulses developed are greater than 500 psi and wherein said flow modulator is closed within 50-150 milliseconds. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein said flow modulator is held open for no less than 50 milliseconds and up to 5 seconds. 11. The system of claim 8, wherein said flow modulator resides in an annular area of drilling fluid and comprises a flow diverter as a basis for an upper flow channel and wherein said flow diverter comprises a main flow orifice that is a passageway in fluid communication between said upper flow channel and a middle flow channel and a main valve seat, wherein said main valve seat provides an interfacial area for the main valve when said main valve is in a closed position such that a main valve face contacts, closes, and seals a main flow orifice, thereby stopping fluid communication between said upper flow channel and said middle flow channel. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein when closing said main valve, a pilot valve is urged by a controller to move upward, restricting the flow of drilling fluid through said pilot orifice and wherein a pilot valve face contacts said pilot valve seat, closing said pilot orifice, stopping the flow of drilling fluid through said pilot orifice, forcing some of said drilling fluid into a pilot flow exit passage and diverting some drilling fluid into a pilot flow channel and then further into a main valve pressure port(s) which allows for filling a main valve pressure chamber. 13. The system of claim 8, wherein when said main valve moves downward to ensure that a main valve face initiates contact with said main valve seat said main flow orifice is closed, thereby stopping drilling fluid flow between said upper flow channel and said middle flow channel. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein when contact between said main valve face and said valve seat occurs all drilling fluid is stopped within said flow modulator and thereby creating a primary pressure pulse. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said primary pressure pulse and a subsequent primary seismic shock are sensed, recorded and analyzed via seismic sensing and monitoring instrumentation. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein increased pressure within a drill collar straightens an entire drill string and, with an uphole drill string secured, forces a downhole drill string into rockface. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein said flow modulator and said controller provides for an open time which indicates the amount of time said flow modulator remains in the open position and an associated dwell time, rise time, and fall time. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein said flow modulator valve is adjusted to ensure obtaining independent control of initial and subsequent waves by controlling pulse generation in order that said initial waves are increased in size when said valve is closed rapidly and said subsequent waves are increased in size when said valve is opened rapidly. 19. The system of claim 1 wherein a decoupling tool is employed within said drill string to decouple said pulsing device from any other device positioned above or below said pulsing device. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein a sensor is used to sense said seismic signal, seismic waves or waveform or waveforms at or near a surface of said borehole for correlation utilizing a reference signal for initial identification of the initial and subsequent seismic waves and assists the analysis system to improve overall signal to noise ratios. 21. The system of claim 1, wherein when a main valve is in an open position said open position allows drilling fluid to flow into and through a pilot flow channel, pilot orifice, a pilot flow exit passage and into a lower flow channel such that said main valve is held in the open position by the force of a main valve return spring. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein simultaneously said drilling fluid also flows into an upper flow channel formed by a flow diverter, past a main flow orifice into a middle flow channel and allows fluid to continue to a lower flow channel and then into a bottom of a wellbore such that a main valve pressure chamber pressure is lower than the pressure of said drilling fluid and a main valve return spring allows continued fluid communication with said main flow orifice, said upper flow channel and said middle flow channel. 23. An apparatus, in combination with a measurement while drilling (MWD) device, for generating pressure pulses in a drilling fluid comprising: a flow modulation device longitudinally positioned within a drill collar flow channel such that drilling fluid flows through said drill collar through a main flow orifice proceeded by a main ring valve body; said main ring valve body comprising; a pilot flow tube with a pilot flow channel, pilot valve, pilot orifice, and a main valve body axially and centrally located therein, and; a linearly moveable main ring valve axially located and in interference with and external to said main ring valve body, wherein said apparatus forms a main valve pressure chamber in fluid communication with said pilot flow channel through a main valve pressure port, and; wherein said pilot valve is urged to close against said pilot orifice thereby stopping flow of said drilling fluid within said pilot flow channel such that said drilling fluid fills said main valve pressure chamber axially urging said ring valve against said main ring valve body closing off said main flow orifice resulting in stopping said drilling fluid flow, thereby generating and transmitting a primary pressure pulse.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (15)
Choi,Dang Woo, Apparatus and method for establishing network using network interface.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.