IP Library Granted Patent US 9,945,181
Granted Patent B2
US 9,945,181 · App. 14/424,106 · Granted Apr 17, 2018

System and method for detecting drilling events using an opto-analytical device

Inventors: Michael T. Pelletier (Houston, TX); Robert P. Freese (Pittsboro, NC); Gary E. Weaver (Conroe, TX); Shilin Chen (Montgomery, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
E21B7/00E21B3/00E21B10/42E21B10/602E21B12/02E21B47/01E21B49/003E21B49/005
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,945,181
App. No.
14/424,106
Granted
Apr 17, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool. The method further includes receiving electromagnetic radiation at an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool. The method also includes determining a drilling characteristic based on the received electromagnetic radiation, and detecting an event associated with drilling the wellbore based on the determined drilling characteristic.

Claims (52)

1. A method for drilling a wellbore, comprising:

drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool;

receiving, at an integrated computational element of an opto-analytical device within the drilling tool, electromagnetic radiation directed from a source of the electromagnetic radiation by a channel formed in the drilling tool;

transmitting a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using the integrated computational element;

determining a drilling characteristic associated with drilling the wellbore based on an intensity of the transmitted portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using a processing unit of the opto-analytical device; and

detecting an event associated with drilling the wellbore based on the determined drilling characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying drilling the wellbore based on the detected event.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising emitting electromagnetic radiation from the drilling tool, wherein the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from the emitted electromagnetic radiation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from heat of the drilling tool.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drilling characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a temperature of the formation, a temperature of the drilling tool, a temperature of fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, a porosity of the formation, a density of the formation, a chemical composition of the formation, a chemical composition of fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, a pH of the fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, and a material state of the formation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the event associated with drilling the wellbore comprises detecting a presence of a natural gas reservoir based on a determination of a concentration of natural gas.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the event associated with drilling the wellbore comprises detecting a change in formation composition based on a determination of formation properties.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the event associated with drilling the wellbore comprises detecting a phase change of the formation based on a determination of material state of the formation.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the event associated with drilling the wellbore comprises detecting wear of the drilling tool based on a determination of a temperature of the drilling tool.

10. A downhole drilling system comprising:

a downhole drilling tool configured to drill a wellbore in a formation, the downhole drilling tool including:

a channel formed in the drilling tool; and

an opto-analytical device at a proximal end of the channel, the opto-analytical device configured to:

receive, at an integrated computational element of the opto-analytical device, electromagnetic radiation directed from a source of the electromagnetic radiation by the channel;

transmit a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using the integrated computational element; and

determine a drilling characteristic associated with drilling the wellbore based on an intensity of the transmitted portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using a processing unit of the opto-analytical device;

wherein the drilling tool is further configured to detect an event associated with drilling the wellbore based on the determined drilling characteristic.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:

the drilling tool includes the electromagnetic radiation source, the electromagnetic radiation source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation; and

the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from the emitted electromagnetic radiation.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from heat of the drilling tool.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the drilling characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a temperature of the formation, a temperature of the drilling tool, a temperature of fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, a porosity of the formation, a density of the formation, a chemical composition of the formation, a chemical composition of fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, a pH of the fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, and a material state of the formation.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drilling tool is configured to detect a presence of a natural gas reservoir based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of a concentration of natural gas.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drilling tool is configured to detect a change in formation composition based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of formation properties.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drilling tool is configured to detect a phase change of the formation based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of material state of the formation.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drilling tool is configured to detect wear of the drilling tool based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of a temperature of the drilling tool.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to cause a modification of the drilling of the wellbore based on the detected event.

19. A drill bit comprising:

a bit body;

a rotational axis about which the bit body rotates;

a plurality of blades disposed on the bit body to create a bit face;

a channel formed in the drill bit; and

an opto-analytical device integrated with the bit body at a proximal end of the channel, the opto-analytical device configured to:

receive, at an integrated computational element of the opto-analytical device, electromagnetic radiation directed from a source of the electromagnetic radiation by the channel;

transmit a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using the integrated computational element; and

determine a drilling characteristic associated with drilling the wellbore based on an intensity of the transmitted portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using a processing unit of the opto-analytical device;

wherein the drill bit is configured to detect an event associated with drilling a wellbore based on the determined drilling characteristic.

20. The drill bit of claim 19 , wherein:

the drill bit includes the electromagnetic radiation source, the electromagnetic radiation source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation; and

the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from the emitted electromagnetic radiation.

21. The drill bit of claim 19 , wherein the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from heat of the drill bit.

22. The drill bit of claim 19 , wherein the drilling characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a temperature of the formation, a temperature of the drill bit, a temperature of fluids between the drill bit and the formation, a porosity of the formation, a density of the formation, a chemical composition of the formation, a chemical composition of fluids between the drill bit and the formation, a pH of the fluids between the drill bit and the formation, and a material state of the formation.

23. The drill bit of claim 19 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drill bit is configured to detect a presence of a natural gas reservoir based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of a concentration of natural gas.

24. The drill bit of claim 19 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drill bit is configured to detect a change in formation composition based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of formation properties.

25. The drill bit of claim 19 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drill bit is configured to detect a phase change of the formation based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of material state of the formation.

26. The drill bit of claim 19 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drill bit is configured to detect wear of the drill bit based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of a temperature of the drill bit.

27. The drill bit of claim 19 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to cause a modification of the drilling of the wellbore based on the detected event.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2015
From: PELLETIER, MICHAEL T.; FREESE, ROBERT P.; WEAVER, GARY E.; CHEN, SHILIN
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035038/0022 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150322720A1 · Nov 12, 2015