Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Thomas Energy Services Inc.

Jason P MacInnis

John E Smaardyk

Robert Freedman

Christopher Edward Morriss

Don Thornton Macune

Richard W Oldigs

Joseph M Steiner, Jr

Mahendran S Relton

Jonathan J Falcon

John S Burrington

A method and apparatus for detecting ferrous changes passing axially through a cylindrical space. In one embodiment, the method comprises surrounding the cylindrical space with a nonmagnetic cylinder having an outer wall and a cylindrical axis; creating an alternating magnetic field in the cylindrical space, the magnetic field created by a rotatable permanent magnet; monitoring the magnetic field with magnetic flux sensors placed outside the outer walls; and detecting changes in the magnetic field as ferrous matter passes axially through the cylindrical space. In other embodiments, the apparatus identifies ferrous changes as the tool joints that connect a jointed tubing string as the tubing string is moved in or out of a well bore, or as the presence or absence of a coiled tubing string in the well bore.

Magnetic sensor system useful for detecting tool joints in a downhole tubing string

A system includes a wellbore tool disposed in a wellbore and a surface apparatus disposed at a surface of the wellbore. Prior to operating the tool to take an initial measurement, the wellbore tool is first calibrated to take into account magnetic junk which is magnetically attracted to and accumulated on a magnet housing of the tool. To calibrate the tool, a new tuning frequency, called the Larmor frequency, is determined, and the tool is tuned to the new Larmor frequency before taking an initial measurement. The wellbore tool and the surface apparatus each include a processing system. Each processing system includes a memory. A first part of a tuning frequency determination software is stored in the memory of the tool, and a second part of the frequency determination software is stored in the memory of the surface apparatus. To determine the tuning frequency, the processing system in the wellbore tool initiates execution of the first part of the tuning frequency determination software. Results from this first execution are transmitted uphole to the surface apparatus. The processing system in the surface apparatus then initiates execution of the second part of the tuning frequency determination software. When this second execution is complete, the new tuning frequency, known as the Larmor frequency, is determined. The wellbore tool is then tuned to the new Larmor frequency.

Method and apparatus for determining the in situ larmor frequency of a

NMR logging apparatus is provided which produces a strong, static and homogeneous magnetic field B.sub.0 in a Volume of an adjacent formation on one side of the tool to measure nuclear magnetic resonance characteristics thereof at two different depths of investigations. In the preferred embodiment, the tool has an RF antenna mounted on the outside of the metal body of the tool, directing focused oscillating magnetic fields B.sub.1 at said Volume to polarize or tip the magnetic moments of hydrogen nuclei of fluids within rock pores. The same antenna can be used to receive signals of proton precession in the Volume of interest immediately after transmission of the RF polarizing field B.sub.1. One of the NMR readings is employed to compensate for inaccuracies in the other NMR reading to provide an overall improved NMR log.

Borehole measurement of NMR characteristics of earth formation

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Jason P MacInnis