High-speed, downhole, seismic measurement system

• US 20060044940A1
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Fox, Joe
• Application Number:
  US10/931,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044940A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/82
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/40 specially adapted for well-logging

Abstract

A high-speed seismic measurement system for use in cross-well and single-well seismic systems is disclosed in one aspect of the present invention as including a drill string and multiple high-speed network nodes integrated into and spaced at intervals along the drill string. A communication channel connects the network nodes. One or several seismic devices, such as seismic receivers and seismic wave generators, are connected to or communicate with one or several of the network nodes.

Claims

1. A high-speed seismic measurement system, the system comprising:

a first drill string;

a first plurality of network nodes integrated into and spaced at intervals along the first drill string;

a communication channel connecting the first plurality of network nodes; and

a first seismic device in communication with at least one network node of the first plurality of network nodes

wherein the first seismic device is used to conduct cross-well mapping.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second drill string;

a second plurality of network nodes integrated into and spaced at intervals along the second drill string;

a communication channel connecting the second plurality of network nodes; and

a second seismic device in communication with at least one of the second plurality of network nodes.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first and second seismic devices are used to conduct cross-well mapping.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first seismic device is a seismic wave generator.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the seismic wave generator is selected from the group consisting of an explosive, a compressed air gun, a vibrator, and a sparker.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the second seismic device is a seismic receiver.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the seismic receiver is selected from the group consisting of a hydrophone, geophone, and a seismometer.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second seismic device independent of the first drill string.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first seismic device is a seismic wave generator and the second seismic device is a seismic receiver.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first seismic device is a seismic receiver and the second seismic device is a seismic wave generator.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second seismic device in communication with another network node of the first plurality of network nodes.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first seismic device is operable while the first drill string is drilling.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first seismic device is operable while the first drill string is stationary.

14. A method for implementing a high speed seismic measurement system, the method comprising:

gathering first seismic data at a first point along a drill string;

transmitting the first seismic data to a first network node of a plurality of interconnected network nodes integrated into the drill string;

relaying the first seismic data by way of the plurality of interconnected network nodes to the ground'"'"'s surface; and

analyzing the first seismic data

wherein the seismic data is data used to generate cross-well maps.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising gathering second seismic data at a second point along the drill string.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting the second seismic data to a second network node of the plurality of interconnected network nodes.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

relaying the second seismic data by way of the plurality of interconnected network nodes to the ground'"'"'s surface; and

analyzing the second seismic data.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein gathering the first seismic data further comprises gathering the first seismic data while the drill string is rotating.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein gathering the first seismic data further comprises gathering the first seismic data while the drill string is stationary.

15. (canceled)

21. A system for conducting cross-well seismic mapping, comprising:

a first well comprising a seismic source;

a second well comprising a drill string;

the drill string comprising at least one seismic receiver in communications with at least one of a plurality of interconnected network nodes integrated into and spaced at intervals along the drill string; and

a communication channel connecting the plurality of network nodes to each other and to the surface;

wherein the receivers are adapted to measure properties of a signal created by the seismic source.