Ge Oil & Gas Logging Services, Inc.

General Electric Company

Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Baker Hughes Corporation

Intelligent Robotic Corporation

Donald Kenney Steinman

John Edward Smaardyk

Russel Hertzog

Meena Ganesh

Michael Lexa

Larry Alan Jacobson

John Brandon Laflen

Hugh E Hall, Jr

James E Meisner

Mehrzad Mahdavi

Jean-Remy Olesen

Neil De Guzman

Lawrence Lafferty

Chad Lafferty

George C Summerfield

A method implemented using one or more computer processors for estimating the density of a material in an annular space includes receiving detector data representative of scattered photons resulting from interaction of a material in an annular space with radiation from a radiation source and detected by a plurality of radiation detectors. The technique further includes performing a set of Monte Carlo simulations. The method further includes performing a principal component analysis on the set of Monte Carlo simulations to generate a principal component analysis model of the detector data. The method also includes estimating the density of the material at one or more locations within the annular space based upon the principal component analysis model and the detector data.

System and method for estimating material density

A system for generating eccentering corrected response includes a logging tool configured to examine a material filled in an annular space to generate a tool response. The material is filled in an annular space formed by an outer conduit and an inner conduit disposed in the outer conduit. The logging tool is disposed in an inner conduit. The tool response includes scattered gamma ray photon counts distorted by a radial shift of the logging tool. The system includes a data transmission device coupled to a plurality of detectors and configured to transmit data detected by the plurality of detectors. The system also includes a computer processor linked to the data transmission device and configured to receive the tool response. The computer processor is configured to process the tool response and generate an eccentered corrected response by correcting effects of the radial shift in the tool response using eccentering correction technique.

System and method for eccentering correction

Monitoring scattered gamma rays is used to identify substances disposed between coaxial tubulars disposed in a subterranean wellbore. Gamma rays are strategically directed from within an inner most tubular and into the annulus, some of the gamma rays scatter from the substance between the tubulars and are detected with detectors set a designated axial distance from the gamma ray source. Gamma rays also scatter from fluid within the tubular, a ratio of the gamma rays detected that scatter from the fluid in the tubular and from the substance can be used to determine the substance.

Method and apparatus for interrogating a subterranean annulus

Substances on or adjacent a tubular disposed in a subterranean wellbore can be detected and/or their presence identified by monitoring gamma rays scattered from the substances. The substances include deposits on a sidewall of the tubular and liquid contained in the tubular. Examples of the deposits include asphaltenes, paraffins, scale, sand, and the like. Gamma rays are strategically directed from a tool disposed within the tubular and to adjacent a sidewall of the tubular. Some of the gamma rays scatter from the substances adjacent the tubular and are detected with detectors set a designated axial distance from the gamma ray source.

Method for inspecting a subterranean tubular

Fractures at a wellbore wall and in a region surrounding a wellbore wall can be detected by monitoring gamma rays scattered from the fractures. Gamma rays are strategically directed from a tool disposed within the wellbore and to the wall and/or the region. Some of the gamma rays scatter from the fractures and are detected with detectors set a designated axial distance from the gamma ray source. In addition to identifying the presence of the fractures, the location and size of the fractures is also estimated. Based on the location and disposition of the fractures, perforations are formed in the formation to provide communication between the fractures and the wellbore.

Method for detecting fractures and perforations in a subterranean formation

An autonomous robot performs maintenance and repair activities in oil and gas wells, and in pipelines. The robot uses the well and pipeline fluids to provide most of the energy required for the its mobility, and to charge a turbine from which it may recharge batteries or power a motor for additional propulsion. A control system of associated systems controls the robot, enabling the robot to share plans and goals, situations, and solution processes with wells, pipelines, and external control systems. The control system includes decision aids in a series of knowledge bases that contain the expertise in appropriate fields to provide intelligent behavior to the control system. The intelligent behavior of the control system enables real time maintenance management of wells and pipelines, through actively collecting information, goal-driven system, reasoning at multiple levels, context sensitive communication, activity performing, and estimation of the operators' intent.

Apparatus and method for an autonomous robotic system for performing activities in a well

The present invention relates generally to increasing the accuracy of MWD nuclear based measurement systems. Specifically, the present invention provides a secondary measurement system for determining the tool displacement from the bore-hole wall for calculated compensation of nuclear measurement data.

Stand-off compensation for nuclear MWD measurement

A borehole logging method for determining thermal neutron decay characteristics of a formation surrounding the borehole, comprises the following steps. The formation surrounding the borehole is irradiated from a location within the borehole with a burst of neutrons and indications of the concentration of the diffusing thermal neutrons are detected in at least three time gates following the burst of neutrons. Corresponding count rate signals in response to the detected neutrons are produced. Thereafter, the count rate signals are combined in a predetermined manner to separate a characteristic of the thermal neutron decay rate of the formation from associated neutron diffusion characteristics which are monotonically decreasing with time. The steps of irradiating, detecting and combining are then repeated at different depth locations within the borehole and a recording of the rate of decay of thermal neutrons as a function of borehole depth is produced.

Thermal decay time logging method

Methods for measuring thermal neutron decay characteristics of earth formations include the steps of irradiating an earth formation with a discrete burst of fast neutrons, detecting indications of thermal neutron concentration in the formation during a sequence of discrete time gates, determining the zeroth order moment of the indications during the sequence of discrete time gates, and determining the first order moment of the indications during the sequence of discrete time gates, in order to obtain the desired thermal neutron decay characteristic of the earth formation.

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Missouri City, TX, United States of America

Donald Kenney Steinman