Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Daniel Francois Dorffer

Weijun Guo

Donald Leon Crawford

KwokShan Kwong

Michael S Bittar

Clive D Menezes

Jing Li

John Andrew Quirein

Larry Alan Jacobson

Jerome Allen Truax

Steve Zannoni

Clovis Satyro Bonavides

Orlando Dejesus

Natasa Mekic

Dongwon Lee

Jim Taylor Hill

Sushovon Singha Roy

Lawrence Charles Rose

Qingzhen Guo

Dalmo Massaru Wakabayashi

Christopher S McIlroy

Paul David Ringgenerg

Jerome A Truax

Various apparatus or methods are arranged to operate a tool downhole in a well, where the tool has a detection package operable to detect gamma rays. Deviation of energy spectra of detected gamma rays in each selected energy window of a set of selected energy windows with respect to reference energy spectra of the respective selected energy window can be detected. One or more properties of one or more regions around the tool can be determined from the deviations, the regions being between the tool and a source of the detected gamma rays in a formation around the well. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods having a gamma ray detection package can operate in a variety of applications.

Determination of near wellbore properties using natural gamma rays

Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to conduct neutron-neutron measurements and to evaluate quality of cement between a casing and a formation. A tool can include a neutron source, a far detector, and a near detector, where the far detector and the near detector detect neutrons in response to activation of the neutron source. Measured counts of the detected neutrons can be compared with respect to expected counts of neutrons. From one or more comparisons, the quality of the cement can be evaluated. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Cement evaluation with neutron-neutron measurement

In some embodiments, a method and apparatus, as well as an article, may operate to estimate a property of an earth formation by generating at least one shale model to represent an earth formation comprised of a non-zero percentage of shale. The shale model includes two curves to represent a relationship between a porosity parameter and a pulsed neutron measurement at two different corresponding percentages of gas saturation, respectively. A matrix model representing an earth formation with 0% shale is combined with one or more shale models to create a formation model. Measured pulsed neutron data is compared with the formation model to estimate a property of the earth formation. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Method to correct and pulsed neutron fan based interpretation for shale effects

Determining a value indicative of hydrogen index. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including obtaining an inelastic count rate and a capture count rate of a gamma detector for a particular borehole depth in a formation, calculating a ratio of an inelastic count rate to a capture count rate for the particular borehole depth, and determining a value indicative of hydrogen index based on the ratio of the inelastic count rate to the capture count rate for the particular borehole depth.

System and method of determining a value indicative of hydrogen index

An electromagnetic perforation device for well casings includes a coil disposed around a core carried by a mandrel. The device further includes a power supply coupled to a current supply device, which is coupled to said coil. A stabilizing member extends from the mandrel and spaced apart on the mandrel from the coil core. The electromagnetic performance device may be positioned in a well casing, and the current supply device may rapidly supply a current to the coil to created an electromagnetic field in the coil and simultaneously induces a magnetic field in the well casing. The coil, current, and well casing may be selected such that electromagnetic field and the magnetic field produce repulsive magnetic forces that are sufficient to overcome a yield strength of the well casing and perforate the well casing.

Milling well casing using electromagnetic pulse

A system and method to eliminate the need for a dummy run comprises a logging assembly to detect the position of one or more blow-out preventer ('BOP') rams and a hang off location. During a logging operation, the logging assembly logs the positions of the BOP rams and wear bushing. The logged positions are then used to determine the correct placement of the subsea test tree ('SSTT') in relation to its hanger. Thus, the need to perform a dummy run is eliminated because correct placement of the SSTT can be determined during routine logging operations.

Subsea dummy run elimination assembly and related method utilizing a logging assembly

Neutron activation measurement techniques may be used to evaluate various properties of a subterranean well structure. In an example implementation, a logging tool can be positioned within a wellbore, such that neutrons generated by a neutron source are directed towards well structure. In response to the neutrons, the well structure emits gamma rays. A portion of the gamma rays can be detected by a gamma detector. To enhance the well structure's response to neutron activation, the well structure can be constructed of materials that include one or more doping materials. The inclusion of these doping materials can increase the number of gamma rays that are emitted when neutrons are directed into the well structure, and these emitted gamma rays can be more easily identified based on their energy level.

Downhole evaluation with neutron activation measurement

A switch includes a spring. The switch further includes a collapsing element. The spring has a first state in which it is being held in tension by a restraining element and a second state in which it is not being held in tension because the restraining element has failed. The collapsing element is situated such that when sufficient power is applied to the collapsing element heat from the collapsing element will cause the restraining element to fail. The switch further includes a first contact coupled to the spring. The switch further includes a second contact coupled to the spring. The first contact and the second contact are separate from each other when the spring is in the first state. The first contact and the second contact are electrically connected to each other when the spring is in the second state.

Changing the state of a switch through the application of power

An apparatus includes a radiation source to output radiation after power is supplied. The apparatus also includes a power source to supply power. The apparatus includes an ambient-activated switch electrically coupled between the radiation source and the power source. The ambient-activated switch is to switch to an open position while a value for an ambient characteristic for the ambient-activated switch is at an ambient level for a surface of the Earth. The ambient-activated switch is to switch to a closed position while the value for the ambient characteristic for the ambient-activated switch is at a downhole ambient level, wherein the ambient-activated switch is to electrically couple the power source to the radiation source while in the closed position.

Ambient-activated switch for downhole operations

An electromagnetic perforation device for well casings includes a coil disposed around a core carried by a mandrel. The device further includes a power supply coupled to a current supply device, which is coupled to said coil. A stabilizing member extends from the mandrel and spaced apart on the mandrel from the coil core. The electromagnetic perforation device may be positioned in a well casing, and the current supply device may rapidly supply a current to the coil to created an electromagnetic field in the coil and simultaneously induces a magnetic field in the well casing. The coil, current, and well casing may be selected such that electromagnetic field and the magnetic field produce repulsive magnetic forces that are sufficient to overcome a yield strength of the well casing and perforate the well casing.

A through casing formation evaluation tool stringincluding a conveyance string, a sonic array tool, a pulsed neutron tooland one or more downhole memory modules. A method of through casing formation evaluation and casing and cementing integrity evaluation includes lowering a tool string into a cased wellbore; concurrently collecting data with the sonic array tool and pulsed neutron tool and transmitting at least a portion of the collected data via a conveyance string to a CPU located at the surface of the earth; storing a portion of the collected data in a memory module disposed in the tool string; removing the tool string from the wellbore; processing the collected data in the CPU to obtain selected rock property data about the one or more of the geologic formations and/or cement integrity.

Combined sonic/pulsed neutron cased hole logging tool

A through casing formation evaluation tool stringincluding a conveyance stringa sonic array toola pulsed neutron tooland one or more downhole memory modulesA method of through casing formation evaluation and casing and cementing integrity evaluation includes lowering a tool string into a cased wellbore; concurrently collecting data with the sonic array tool and pulsed neutron tool and transmitting at least a portion of the collected data via a conveyance string to a CPU located at the surface of the earth; storing a portion of the collected data in a memory module disposed in the tool string; removing the tool string from the wellbore; processing the collected data in the CPU to obtain selected rock property data about the one or more of the geologic formations and/or cement integrity.

Determining a value indicative of gas saturation of a formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: obtaining an inelastic count rate and a capture count rate of a gamma detector for a particular borehole depth; removing at least a portion of the chlorine response from the capture count rate, thereby creating a modified capture count rate; calculating a ratio of an inelastic count rate to the modified capture count rate for the particular borehole depth; determining a value indicative of gas saturation based on the ratio; and producing a plot of the value indicative of gas saturation as a function of borehole depth for a formation that the borehole at least partially penetrates.

Method and system of determining a value indicative of gas saturation of a formation

A cable includes a conductor. A plurality of inner armor wires is wrapped around the conductor. At least some of the plurality of inner armor wires have non-circular and non-rectangular cross-sectional shapes. A plurality of outer armor wires are wrapped around the inner armor wires. At least some of the plurality of outer armor wires have non-circular and non-rectangular cross-sectional shapes.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Daniel Francois Dorffer