Programmable data acquisition for tubular objects

• US 20070152054A1
• Filed: 01/03/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Mandal, Batakrishna, Bonavides, Clovis
• Granted Patent: US 8,270,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/002 by visual inspection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0025 generating an image of the borehole wall using down-hole measurements, e.g. acoustic or electric
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/106 one or more transducer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2636 cylindrical from inside
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/06 Visualisation of the interior, e.g. acoustic microscopy medical or veterinary diagnosis using sonic waves A61B8/00; representation of acoustic wave distribution G01H3/125, G01H9/002; short-range imaging systems using reflection of acoustic waves G01S15/8906
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2481 Wireless probes, e.g. with transponders or radio links
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/265 by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/46 Data acquisition

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to select an amount of imaging coverage associated with a substantially tubular object and a rotary scanner coupled to a telemetry system. Determining circumferential and longitudinal scan sampling intervals to provide substantially full coverage of the substantially tubular object may be included. Waveform sampling and transducer driving waveform parameters may also be determined according to an available data transmission bandwidth associated with the telemetry system.

Claims

1. An apparatus, including:

a rotary scanner; and

an imaging coverage module to select an amount of imaging coverage associated with a substantially tubular object and the rotary scanner by determining a circumferential scan sampling interval and a longitudinal scan sampling interval to provide substantially full coverage of the substantially tubular object, and to determine waveform sampling parameters and transducer driving waveform parameters according to a data transmission bandwidth.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a plurality of ultrasonic transducers included in the rotary scanner.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

an ultrasonic signal transreceiver coupled to the rotary scanner.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotary scanner is selected from one of a mechanical rotary scanner or an electronic rotary scanner.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotary scanner includes a variable circumferential scanning speed.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a measurement device to transmit size data associated with the substantially tubular object to the imaging coverage module.

7. A system, including:

a downhole tool; and

an imaging coverage module to select an amount of imaging coverage associated with a substantially tubular object into which the downhole tool is to be inserted by determining a circumferential scan sampling interval and a longitudinal scan sampling interval to provide substantially full coverage of the substantially tubular object, and to determine waveform sampling parameters and transducer driving waveform parameters according to a data transmission bandwidth.

8. The system of claim 7, further including:

a rotary scanner attached to the downhole tool to provide ultrasonic signal data to the imaging coverage module.

9. The system of claim 7, further including:

a display to display image data associated with the substantially tubular object.

10. The system of claim 7, further including:

a telemetry transmitter to transmit data provided by the imaging coverage module.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the imaging coverage module is to determine a firing interval for a rotary scanner mounted to the downhole tool based on the circumferential scan sampling interval and the longitudinal scan sampling interval.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the imaging coverage module is housed by the downhole tool.

13. The system of claim 12, further including:

a surface computer to receive data from the imaging coverage module.

14. The system of claim 7, further including:

one of a wireline or a drill string mechanically coupled to the downhole tool.

15. The system of claim 7, further including:

a data acquisition system to receive the circumferential scan sampling interval and the longitudinal scan sampling interval from a surface computer.

16. The system of claim 7, further including:

an azimuth sensor housed by the downhole tool.

17. A method, including:

selecting an amount of imaging coverage associated with a substantially tubular object and a rotary scanner coupled to a telemetry system by determining a circumferential scan sampling interval and a longitudinal scan sampling interval to provide substantially full coverage of the substantially tubular object; and

determining waveform sampling parameters and transducer driving waveform parameters according to an available data transmission bandwidth associated with the telemetry system.

18. The method of claim 17, acquiring size data associated with a substantially tubular object, wherein the size data includes at least one of a pipe thickness, a pipe inside diameter, or a pipe length.

19. The method of claim 17, further including:

acquiring transducer characteristics for at least one transducer mounted to the rotary scanner.

20. The method of claim 17, further including:

acquiring the available data transmission bandwidth to transmit image data associated with the substantially tubular object.

21. The method of claim 17, further including:

selecting a transmitting data bandwidth to transmit image data associated with the substantially tubular object, wherein the transmitting data bandwidth forms a portion of the available data transmission bandwidth.

22. The method of claim 21, further including:

determining a firing interval associated with the imaging coverage for a rotary scanner mounted in a downhole tool.

23. The method of claim 22, further including:

adjusting the firing interval based on a speed of rotation for the rotary scanner.

24. The method of claim 22, further including:

adjusting the firing interval based on a longitudinal speed of movement in the substantially tubular object.

25. The method of claim 17, further including:

adjusting at least one of the circumferential scan sampling interval, the longitudinal scan sampling interval, the waveform sampling interval, or the waveform recording time based on a variation in the size data.

26. The method of claim 17, further including:

selecting one of image oversampling or image undersampling based on a selected application to provide the amount of imaging coverage.

27. The method of claim 17, further including:

acquiring borehole identification data associated with the substantially tubular object.

28. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

acquiring size data associated with a substantially tubular object; and

selecting an amount of imaging coverage associated with the substantially tubular object to determine at least two of a circumferential scan sampling interval, a longitudinal scan sampling interval, a waveform sampling interval, or a waveform recording time.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

adjusting at least one of the circumferential scan sampling interval, the longitudinal scan sampling interval, the waveform sampling interval, or the waveform recording time based on a variation in the size data.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

determining a firing interval associated with the imaging coverage for a rotary scanner mounted in a downhole tool.