Schlumberger Technology Corporation

James C Mayes

Jacques J Orban

Kai Hsu

Peter D Wraight

Shu-Kong Chang

Thomas J Plona

Dominique Dion

Sergio Kostek

Lionel Beneteau

Onur Ozen

Gordon Lane McDaniel

Jean-Pierre Masson

Curtis J Randall

Mario A Araya

Richard Edward Thorp

Thierry Leroy

Lionel Pin

A device and method provide for cooling of a system having an energy source, one or more devices that actively consume energy, and one or more devices that generate heat. The device may include one or more thermoelectric coolers ('TECs') in conductive engagement with at least one of the heat-generating devices, and an energy diverter for diverting at least a portion of the energy from the energy source that is not consumed by the active energy-consuming devices to the TECs.

Cooling apparatus and method

A downhole recorder system for use with a downhole assembly to be lowered into a borehole comprises at least one recorder uniquely associated to a determined sub-assembly of the downhole assembly. The at least one recorder allows to store operating data related to the determined sub-assembly. The stored operating data are extractable at least when the determined sub-assembly is disassembled from the downhole assembly.

Downhole recorder system

A while drilling system and method for determining annular pressure while drilling is provided. The system is positioned in a drilling tool suspended from a drilling rig via a drill string. The system includes at least one drill collar, a while drilling tool and at least one external sensor. The drill collar has a tubular sidewall defining a passage therein for the flow of drilling mud therethrough. The while drilling tool is supported in the passage of the at least one drill collar and selectively retrievable therefrom. The external sensor is positioned in the sidewall of the drill collar and isolated from the passage. The sensor is exposed to the wellbore for measurement thereof and adapted to wirelessly communicate with the while drilling tool. The system is preferably adapted for use in high temperature and pressure environments.

While drilling system and method

A while drilling system and method for determining downhole parameters is provided. The system includes a retrievable while drilling tool positionable in a downhole drilling tool, a sensor chassis and at least one sensor. The while drilling tool is positionable in the downhole drilling tool and has a first communication coupler at an end thereof. The sensor chassis is supported in the drilling tool. The sensor chassis has a second communication coupler at an end thereof for operative connection with the first communication coupler. The sensor is positioned in the chassis and is adapted to measure internal and/or external parameters of the drilling tool. The sensor is operatively connected to the while drilling tool via the communication coupler for communication therebetween. The sensor may be positioned in the while drilling tool and retrievable with the drilling tool. Preferably, the system is operable in high temperature and high pressure conditions.

The present invention is directed to sonic logging while drilling. A transmitter and at least one receiver are mounted on a drill collar for performing sonic investigations of the formation traversed by a borehole. It has been discovered that a drill collar has a natural stop band or notch where acoustic energy propagating in this frequency range is severely attenuated. Thus, to reduce drill collar acoustic coupling, the transmitter is operated within this natural stop band of the drill collar. An imperforate stop band filter is also included between the transmitter and receiver to enhance the natural stop band. The transmitter is mounted transverse to the longitudinal axis of the drill collar, and is preferably mounted within means that reduce drill collar acoustic coupling. The transmitter preferably includes a material whose acoustic response is more favorable along its longitudinal axis relative to its radial axis, thereby directing the acoustic energy into the formation rather than the surrounding drill collar. Received acoustic energy waveforms are electronically processed to reliably detect, in the presence of drilling noise, those acoustic signals which are produced by the transmitter and transmitted through the formation.

Method of sonic logging while drilling a borehole traversing an earth

Pulse echo apparatus and methods are disclosed for measuring characteristics of a borehole while it is being drilled. A component of a bottomhole assembly, preferably a drilling collar, is provided with one or more ultra-sonic transceivers. A pulse echo sensor of the transceiver is preferably placed in a stabilizer fin of the collar, but may also be placed in the wall of the collar, preferably close to a stabilizing fin. Electronic processing and control circuitry for the pulse-echo sensor is provided in an electronic module placed within such collar. Such pulse echo apparatus, which preferably includes two diametrically opposed transceivers, generates signals from which standoff from a borehole wall may be determined. A method and apparatus are provided for measuring standoff and borehole diameter in the presence of drilling cuttings entrained in the drilling fluid. In a preferred embodiment, such signals are assessed by the electronic processing and control circuitry to determine if gas has entered borehole. Three methods and apparatus are provided for such gas entry determination. The first relies on measurement of sonic impedance of the drilling fluid by assessing the amplitude of an echo from an interface between the drilling fluid and a delay-line placed outwardly of a ceramic sensor. The second relies on measurement of drilling fluid attenuation of a borehole wall echo. The third relies on measurement of the phase of oscillations of echoes to identify large gas bubble entries. The pulse-echo sensor includes a sensor stack including a backing element, a piezo-electric ceramic disk, and a delay-line.

Ultrasonic measurement apparatus

Ultrasonic measurement apparatus and method

Pulse echo apparatus and methods are disclosed for measuring characteristics of a borehole while it is being drilled. A component of a bottomhole assembly, preferably a drilling collar, is provided with one or more ultra-sonic transceivers. A pulse echo sensor of the transceiver is preferably placed in a stabilizer fin of the collar, but may also be placed in the wall of the collar, preferably close to a stabilizing fin. Electronic processing and control circuitry for the pulse-echo sensor is provided in an electronic module placed within such collar. Such pulse echo apparatus, which preferably includes two diametrically opposed transceivers, generates signals from which standoff from a borehole wall may be determined. A method and apparatus are provided for measuring standoff and borehole diameter in the presence of drilling cuttings entrained in the drilling fluid. In a preferred embodiment, such signals are assessed by the electronic processing and control circuity to determine if gas has entered borehole. Three methods and apparatus are provided for such gas entry determination. The first relies on measurement of sonic impedance of the drilling fluid by assessing the amplitude of an echo from an interface between the drilling fluid and a delay-line placed outwardly of a ceramic sensor. The second relies on measurement of drilling fluid attenuation of a borehole wall echo. The third relies on measurement of the phase of oscillations of echoes to identify large gas bubbles entries. The pulse-echo sensor includes a sensor stack including a backing element, a piezo-electric ceramic disk, and a delay-line.

Video systems and methods for determining the length of objects to be inserted in a wellbore, and for summing the lengths to obtain an accurate determination of the depth at which a bottomhole assembly is located at any given time. The video systems and methods of the present invention are also used in conjunction with hookload and traveling block location information to determine bottomhole assembly depth while drilling, or tripping-in or tripping out of a well. Also disclosed is a method of accurately determining the transition a drillstring undergoes and its associated movement when passing from in-slips to out-of-slips.

Growing community of inventors

Sugar Land, TX, United States of America

James C Mayes