Acoustic coupler for downhole logging while drilling applications

Abstract

A deviated or horizontal wellbore is drilled in a geologic formation with a multiphase fluid including a gas by a rotating drill bit positioned at a downhole end of a drill string. Portions of the gas are released into the wellbore during the drilling. During the drilling, soundwaves are emitted into the geologic formation from within the wellbore by a set of acoustic emitters attached to the drill string. The received reflected soundwaves are transmitted by the set of solid acoustic couplers to a set of acoustic sensors contacting the solid acoustic couplers. The reflected soundwaves are received by the acoustic sensors. Rock properties of the geologic formation are determined based on the less attenuated reflected soundwaves transmitted to the acoustic sensors by the solid acoustic couplers. A drilling direction of the wellbore is adjusted based on the determined rock properties.