CUTTINGS BED DETECTION

• US 20090145661A1
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Jeffryes, Benjamin P., Boyle, Bruce W.
• Application Number:
  US11/952,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20090145661A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/46
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 37/00 Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells E21B21/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/09 Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells , e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes

Abstract

A system and method for detecting a cuttings bed that includes a drill bit, a drillstring and a cuttings bed detector. The cuttings bed detector is positioned uphole of the drill bit. The method includes the steps of positioning a drill bit downhole, and positioning a cuttings bed detector uphole of the drill bit.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a cuttings bed, the system comprising:

a drill string;

a drill bit disposed at a lower end of the drill string; and

a cuttings bed detector attached to the drill string.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cuttings bed remover attached to the drill string.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the cuttings bed detector is operatively coupled to the cuttings bed remover, and configured to transmit a signal indicative of a detection of a cuttings bed.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the drill string comprises a wired drill pipe, and wherein the cuttings bed detector and the cuttings bed remover are operatively connected to the wired drill string.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the cuttings bed detector comprises an ultrasonic source and ultrasonic sensor.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the cuttings bed detector comprises a low frequency pressure wave source and low pressure wave sensor.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the cuttings bed detector comprises an acoustic attenuation sensor.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the cuttings bed detector comprises a pressure transducer array.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the cuttings bed detector comprises a mechanical sensor.

10. A system for detecting a cuttings bed, the system comprising a section of casing having a cuttings bed detector.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a drillstring; and

a cuttings bed remover positioned on the drillstring.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a wired casing system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the cuttings bed detector comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the cuttings bed detector comprises a sonic sensor.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the cuttings bed detector comprises a low frequency pulse echo sensor.

16. A system for detecting a cuttings bed, the system comprising:

a section of casing comprising an ultrasonic source;

a drillstring comprising an ultrasonic receiver; and

a cuttings bed detector comprising the ultrasonic source and the ultrasonic receiver.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a cuttings bed remover positioned on the drillstring.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a wired drill pipe system.

19. A method for detecting a cuttings bed, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a drill bit downhole; and

positioning a cuttings bed detector uphole of the drill bit.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of activating a cuttings bed remover upon detecting the cuttings bed.