SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING DOWNHOLE MESAUREMENTS
First Claim
1. A system for making downhole measurements in an underground borehole, the system comprising:
- a neutron source for transmitting a neutron pulse to activate a target substance in an underground formation surrounding the borehole;
a nuclear radiation detector located at an axial distance L from the neutron source for detecting nuclear radiation emitted by the activated target substance; and
a downhole drilling progress monitoring unit configured to calculate incremental depth of a drilling assembly in the borehole based on detection of the nuclear radiation and the axial distance L.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for making downhole measurements utilize a neutron source (12) to create a marker (122) in an underground formation (2), a nuclear radiation detector (D, 124)) to detect gamma and/or other nuclear radiation emitted by the marker (122) and a downhole drilling progress monitoring unit (20) which generates real time information about incremental depth and/or associated Rate Of Penetration (ROP) of an automated or other drilling assembly (4) based on detection of the nuclear radiation and an axial distance L between the neutron source (120) and the nuclear radiation detector (D, 124) without requiring transmission of the real time incremental depth and/or ROP data to surface equipment via a complex wired or wireless data transmission system.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for making downhole measurements in an underground borehole, the system comprising:
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a neutron source for transmitting a neutron pulse to activate a target substance in an underground formation surrounding the borehole; a nuclear radiation detector located at an axial distance L from the neutron source for detecting nuclear radiation emitted by the activated target substance; and a downhole drilling progress monitoring unit configured to calculate incremental depth of a drilling assembly in the borehole based on detection of the nuclear radiation and the axial distance L. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of making downhole measurements in an underground borehole, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a neutron pulse by a neutron source to activate a target substance in an underground formation surrounding the borehole; and inducing a nuclear radiation detector located at an axial distance L from the neutron source to detect nuclear radiation emitted by the activated target substance; and inducing a downhole drilling progress monitoring unit to calculate incremental depth of a drilling assembly in the borehole based on detection of the nuclear radiation and the axial distance L. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification