Multiple distributed sensors along a drillstring
Systems and methods for downhole measurement and communications are disclosed. The system includes a communications medium, at least partially disposed in a drillpipe, a processor coupled to the communications medium, at least two sensor modules coupled to the communications medium, where at least one of the sensor modules is along a drillpipe, and at least one communications coupler to couple at least one sensor module to the communications medium.
1. A borehole analysis method, comprising:
measuring at two or more depths along a drillstring at least one property that is subject to perturbation, where at least one of the depths corresponds to the location of a drillpipe; and
recording a time when each property is measure at each depth; and
generating a property versus depth versus time profile based on the property measurements.
2. The borehole analysis method of claim 1 , where measuring at two or more depths along the drillstring at least one property that is subject to perturbation, comprises:
measuring at three or more depths along the drillstring at least one property that is subject to perturbation.
3. The borehole analysis method of claim 1 , where measuring at two or more depths along the drillstring at least one property that is subject to perturbation, comprises:
measuring at two or more depths the at least one property along the drillstring substantially simultaneously.
4. The borehole analysis method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a model of the borehole based, at least in part, on the property versus depth versus time profile.
5. The borehole analysis method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a downhole condition based, at least in part, on the property versus depth versus time profile.
6. The borehole analysis method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a downhole condition based, at least in part, on the property versus depth versus time profile.
7. The borehole analysis method of claim 1 , further comprising:
locating a downhole condition based, at least in part, on the property versus depth versus time profile.
8. The borehole analysis method of claim 1 , further comprising:
characterizing a downhole condition based, at least in part, on the property versus depth versus time profile.
9. The borehole analysis method of claim 1 , where the perturbation is a function of the drilling process.
10. The borehole analysis method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating the perturbation.
11. A computer program, disposed in a tangible medium, for analyzing a borehole, comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:
receive measurements corresponding to two or more depths along a drillstring of at least one property subject to perturbation, where at least one of the depths corresponds to the location of a drillpipe; and
receive a time when each property is measured at each depth; and
generate a property versus depth versus time profile based on the property measurements.
12. The computer program of claim 11 , where the executable instruction that cause the computer to receive measurements corresponding to two or more depths along a drillstring of at least one property subject to perturbation at, further cause the computer to:
receive measurements corresponding to three or more depths along a drillstring of at least one property subject to perturbation.
13. The computer program of claim 11 , where the measurements were taken substantially simultaneously.
14. The computer program of claim 11 , where the executable instructions further cause the computer to:
generate a model of the borehole based, at least in part, on the property versus depth versus time profile.
15. The computer program of claim 11 , where the executable instructions further cause the computer to:
detect a downhole condition based, at least in part, on the property versus depth versus time profile.
16. The computer program of claim 11 , where the executable instructions further cause the computer to:
identify a downhole condition based, at least in part, on the property versus depth versus time profile.
17. The computer program of claim 11 , where the executable instructions further cause the computer to:
locate a downhole condition based, at least in part, on the property versus depth versus time profile.
18. The computer program of claim 11 , where the executable instructions further cause the computer to:
characterize a downhole condition based, at least in part, on the property versus depth versus time profile.